Abstract

The kinetic Alfven wave is studied in a cylindrical force-free plasma with self-consistent magnetic fields. This equilibrium represents a reversed field pinch or a spheromak. The stability of the wave is found to depend on the ratio of the electron drift velocity to the Alfven velocity. This ratio varies inversely with the square root of the plasma line density. The critical line density using the Spitzer-Harm electron distribution function is found for reversed field pinches with deuterium plasmas to be approximately 2 x 10/sup 18/ m/sup -1/ and is 5 x 10/sup 17/ m/sup -1/ in spheromaks with hydrogen plasmas. The critical line density is in reasonable agreement with experimental data for reversed field pinches.

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