ELECTRON TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATIONS IN AN ALKALI MAGNETOPLASMA

The electron temperature of a large diameter (8 cm)Q machine has been increased by a factor of 3 by electron cyclotron resonance heating. Using this technique we have eperimentally studied the effect of electron temperature on coherent flute modes driven by a strong radial electric field. We have found a strong stabilizing effect, as shown by the relationship between the threshold voltage required to excite the instability and the electron temperature. In fact the threshold seems to be proportional to a positive power of temperature. © 1969 Società Italiana di Fisica.