Effects of finite radial beam geometry and magnetic self-fields on beam-plasma interactions in a plasma filled waveguide

Abstract

The stability analysis of a beam-plasma filled waveguide presented previously will be extended to include radial beam geometry effects and azimuthal magnetic self-field effects. Here, the dispersion equations cannot be solved analytically, therefore, the equations must be integrated numerically. Because boundary conditions are specified at both r=0 and r=Rw (i.e., at the conducting wall), this is a two-point boundary value problem and solutions are sought using a generalized shooting method. This shooting technique is described and then used to solve the fully electromagnetic linear dispersion equations, in order to investigate radial beam geometry effects and azimuthal magnetic self-field effects on the wave and stability properties of a bounded beam-plasma system immersed in an applied axial magnetic field.