Identification of Dissipative Drift Waves by Microwave Scattering in a Moderately Ionized Plasma

Abstract

A drift-type wave of m=5 mode was observed by the microwave scattering technique in an r.f.-generated magnetoplasma contained in the mirror magnetic field. The maximum density fluctuation estimated by integrating the power spectral density function was \ ilden_e⁄\ ilden_e\simeq0.08. A theoretical analysis based on a three-fluid model disclosed that the observed wave was governed by not only the neutral but also the coulomb collision and the predicted growth rate was large especially in the experimental range.