Ionizational instability in an ionized inert gas flowing in a magnetic field - art. no. 036402

We discuss the evolution of ionization instability, which gives rise to the formation of regular structures in plasma. The experiment was conducted in a disk magnetohydrodynamic channel in Xe. The evolution of luminous inhomo geneities, and changes in the luminosities of individual inhomogeneities, a re traced. Electron concentrations and temperatures in fluctuations are mea sured. Average values of the electron concentration and temperature, plasma conductivity, and the Hall parameter are estimated. The average conductivi ty and Hall parameter are compared with the effective values. The influence of positive and negative fluctuations in plasma parameters on the enhancem ent of ionization oscillations and average current is analyzed. Based on ex perimental data, a mechanism is suggested that is responsible for the incre ase in the effective conductivity of ionizationally unstable inert gas plas ma with increasing magnetic induction.