Anomalous High-Frequency Resistivity and Heating of a Plasma

Abstract

Computer experiments have been carried out on the anomalous heating of a one-dimensional plasma by a large-amplitude long-wavelength electric field oscillating near the plasma frequency. Above a certain threshold the large driver field excites an instability in the plasma and drives up ion-density fluctuations as well as plasma oscillations. When the ion fluctuations reach a sufficiently large level, the plasma begins to heat very efficiently according to an anomalous resistivity. An effective collision frequency as high as $0.2{\omega }_{\mathrm{pe}}$ has been observed. A theoretical explanation of the observed results is given.