Electromagnetic Instabilities, Filamentation, and Focusing of Relativistic Electron Beams

Dec 3, 1973
3 pages
Published in:
  • Phys.Rev.Lett. 31 (1973) 1390-1393

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Abstract: (APS)
We report nonlinear studies of the Weibel instability of a relativistic electron beam in a plasma. If nb≪np, the beam splits into self-pinched filaments at density np. These filaments then recombine into a single dense beam, from which the return current is expelled. The ratio of final magnetic to final streaming energy is O(νγ), and significant plasma heating occurs.