Stabilization effect of magnetic shear on the diocotron instability

The diocotron instability in a magnetized non-neutral plasma is a close cou sin of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. A sheared magnetic field brings ab out coupling between the diocotron modes and the Langmuir waves that propag ate along the magnetic field. The motion of electrons parallel to the magne tic field cancels the electric charge produced by the diocotron modes, resu lting in stabilization of the diocotron instability. (C) 2001 American Inst itute of Physics.