Plasma Rotation in a Hollow-Cathode Discharge

Abstract

Langmuir probe measurements of the external plasma generated by a hollow-cathode discharge indicate the presence of a ``flutelike'' density perturbation, or ``vane'' of plasma, rotating with a left-handed sense about the magnetic field. The velocity of rotation is found to be closely related to the Hall drift speed of particles in the measured outward radial electric and axial magnetic fields. Azimuthal electric fields are found whose net effect is to increase the outward radial transport of plasma across the magnetic field. A discussion of this phenomenon in terms of a previously described theory is given.