Abstract
Spontaneous low-frequency oscillations have been observed in the circuit of a positively biased electrode immersed in a non-Maxwellian laboratory plasma containing an energetic ion component produced by the resonant absorption of a short microwave pulse in a nonuniform plasma column. The oscillations are found to be due to an instability of the electron-rich sheath. The instability with its characteristic frequency below the ion plasma frequency is driven by the energetic ion component reflected in the sheath area. A qualitative model of the instability is suggested.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 012103 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Physics of Plasmas |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2006/01 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics