Emission of nonlinear ion acoustic waves from a magnetized plasma boundary

Abstract

Nonlinear ion acoustic waves with relative amplitudes δn/n≲0.33 are emitted from the plasma boundary layer at the wall of a plasma confinement device using surface magnetic fields, when the voltage applied between the wall which forms the anode and the cathode is pulsed. The voltage pulse modulates the flow of primary electrons from the cathode. This leads to a transient change of plasma potential which induces ion wave emission from the sheath at the wall.