Stabilization of Drift-Cyclotron Loss-Cone Instability of Plasmas by High Frequency Field

Abstract

The drift-cyclotron loss-cone (DCLC) instability is driven by both the loss-cone velosity distribution of ions and the density gradient. The instability is most dangerous for MHD stabilized mirror plasma confinements. We investigate the stabilization mechanism by the high frequency field, which suppresses the end loss. The Fokker-Planck equation is numerically computed under the boundary conditions for the end stopper effect. The time varying distribution function deduced is used to calculate the dispersion equation of DCLC instability. It is estimated that the minimum energy of h.f. field to stabilize is 60% of the ion thermal energy.