EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF THE EXCITATION OF LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATIONS AND ION-ACCELERATION IN HIGH-INTENSITY BEAM-PLASMA DISCHARGES

Results are presented from experiments on the excitation of low-freque ncy (ion-acoustic and drift) oscillations and ion acceleration in coll ective interactions of high-energy electron beams with plasmas. The ex citation and evolution of nonlinear large-amplitude ion-acoustic waves (a train of solitary pulses) with allowance for the dissipation of th eir energy due to collisions of ions with troth neutral particles and accelerated protons, and the excitation of stochastic drift oscillatio ns are studied. The mechanisms for ion acceleration in the electric fi elds of these waves and the dependence of these mechanisms upon the pa rameters of the beam-plasma discharge are studied. The experimental re sults are shown to agree with the theoretical predictions. The obtaine d results are discussed.