THE EFFECT OF A TILTED MAGNETIC-FIELD ON THE EQUILIBRIUM OF A PURE ELECTRON-PLASMA

If the magnetic field in a pure electron plasma containment device is not aligned with the axis of the conducting walls, the electrons in the device will accumulate at the ends of the plasma where the magnetic field lines come closest to the walls and the electrons bound to the field lines can be closest to their image charges. If the plasma is also offset radially from the center (as with an l = 1 diocotron mode), then more density will accumulate at one end than the other. As the plasma revolves around the center, the electrons will slosh from one end to the other, creating a measurable signal. This signal has been experimentally measured and its origin verified using a three-dimensional equilibrium code. This signal can be used experimentally to align the magnetic field with the conducting walls.