Nonlinear saturation of the drift cyclotron loss-cone instability. II. Comparison with PR-6 data

Abstract

The single-mode time-asymptotic nonlinear saturation of the drift-cyclotron loss-cone instability is considered. In this model, there is a uniform magnetic field as well as mirror losses. The linear stability boundary, and the saturation levels of unstable oscillations and floating potential near this boundary, are determined. The theory is then compared with observations on the PR-6 mirror experiment. Good agreement is obtained using a simple energy model for the slow time variation of the equilibrium distribution function.