Observations of the dissipative trapped electron instability in a mirror plasma produced by electron-cyclotron resonance

Abstract

The dissipative trapped electron instability driven by the finite Larmor radius effects is observed in a mirror plasma produced by electron-cyclotron resonance using the Lisitano coil. The effect of the radial electron temperature gradient on the excitation of this mode is studied theoretically and experimentally. It is found that the electron temperature gradient opposite to the density gradient tends to stabilize this mode.