Numerical solution of the electron distribution function for ECR heating in magnetic mirror

The Fokker-Planck equation is solved with electron cyclotron resonance heating in a magnetic mirror with a fixed electrostatic potential on a loss-cone boundary and ECR heating. A self-consistent calculation of the plasma concentration justifies the fact that the degree of ionization of the ECR plasma is about 10%. The high values of the total electron energy (15-30 eV) are achieved. The electron concentration and the EVDF anisotropy degree are the nonmonotonic functions of the applied MW electric field. The basis for such dependencies is discussed. A linear perturbation analysis of the Vlasov equation together with with Maxwell's equations is briefly reviewed. The criteria for the start of unstable whistler oscillation growth are proposed. Using the simulated distribution function, the regimes where the unstable oscillations should to be taken into account are considered.<
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