Physics of Open-Field Line Plasma 2.Stability of Mirror-Confined Plasmas

Abstract

The stability of mirror-confined plasmas is reviewed. The equilibrium of mirror-confined plasmas is first briefly discussed. Then, MHD stability is studied based on an energy priciple with the paraxial approximation and flute and ballooning interchange-mode equations are derived. The effects of E×B rotation due to an ambipolar electric field and the finite Larmor radius of ions on MHD stability are briefly described. Alfven ion cyclotron instability driven by the temperature anisotropy of ions, and E×B drift shear stabilization of electrostatic drift waves due to an ambipolar electric field are reported.