Experimental observation of electron-acoustic wave propagation in laboratory plasma

Abstract

In the field of fundamental plasma waves, the direct observation of electron-acoustic wave (EAW) propagation in laboratory plasmas remains a challenging problem, mainly because of heavy damping. In the Magnetized Plasma Linear Experimental device, the wave is observed and seen to propagate with the phase velocity ∼1.8 times the electron thermal velocity. A small amount of cold, drifting electrons, with the moderate bulk to cold temperature ratio (≈2−3), is present in the device. It plays a crucial role in reducing the damping. Our calculation reveals that the drift relaxes the stringent condition on the temperature ratio for wave destabilization. Growth rate becomes positive above a certain drift velocity even if the temperature ratio is moderate. The observed phase velocity agrees well with the theoretical estimate. Experimental realization of the mode may open up a new avenue in the EAW research.