Computer Calculations of Electron Cyclotron Heating in a Nonuniform Magnetic Field

J. C. Sprott and P. H. Edmonds
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
(Received 24 May 1971; final manuscript recieved 7 September 1971)

ABSTRACT

A computer is used to calculate the trajectories of a collection of noninteracting, nonrelativistic electrons near the axis of a spatially sinusoidal, dc magnetic field in the presence of a spatially homogeneous, perpendicular rf electric field. The computed heating rate is in good agreement with the prediction of various equivalent stochastic models for a wide variation of parameters. The distribution is approximately Maxwellian, and the particles tend to turn at the resonance surface. Departure from the stochastic theory is observed for high-energy particles that turn near the resonance surface, and a condition for stochasticity is derived. Trapping of particles initially in the loss cone is observed with strong electric fields.

Ref: J. C. Sprott and P. H. Edmonds, Phys. Fluids 14, 2703-2707 (1971)

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