Computer simulations of finite plasmas convected across magnetized plasmas

Summary form only given, as follows. A two-dimensional electrostatic particle-in-cell code has been used to simulate the convection of a finite slab of neutral plasma across a uniform magnetic field. The simulations show that the plasma is convected with a velocity that approaches the injection velocity for denser plasmas. The plasma loses p/sub y/ momentum with distance due to erosion effects. Three mechanisms that cause erosion of the plasma have been identified: (1) the erosion of the charge layers due to the velocity shear, (2) the erosion of the charge layers due to their expansion along the magnetic field lines, and (3) the erosion of the head of the stream due to Larmor-radius effects. The simulations have also shown that these erosions have greater effect for denser plasmas. The electron charge layer is subject to the dicotron instability: the head of the stream broadens and shows a flutelike instability, and the tail of the stream narrows due to electric field fringe effects. When the plasma streams across a magnetized plasma, these erosion effects are diminished due to the short circuiting of the electric field by the background plasma. However, the convection velocity decreases with distance until the plasma stream is stopped.<>