Mechanisms of E × B drift rotation of a vortex string in a pure electron plasma

Abstract

Energy distribution of a pure electron plasma column rotating around the axis of a cylindrical vessel due to an E × B flow in a Malmberg-Penning trap is investigated. An abrupt relaxation of the energy distribution was observed in an electron string trapped for a few microseconds after injection from an electron emitter. The macroscopic E × B drift rotation of the electron column is mainly dominated by the microscopic axial energy distribution which determines the effective position of reflection at the end of the trap, that is, a radial electric field acting on the particles from an external trap potential. © 2013 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research.