Experimental investigation of the whistler cyclotron instability in ECR-produced plasma in a simple mirror trap

摘要

We present a study of pulsating regime of whistler cyclotron instability in a simple magnetic mirror trap. The hot-electron population (～10 keV) with anisotropic velocity distribution is produced in the trap by the ECR discharge. Quasi-periodic spikes of precipitated energetic electrons are observed by the pin-diode. The dynamics of pulsating regime depends on the position of the gyroresonance level for the heating radiation with respect to the trap center. The energetic spectrum of the hot electrons is measured with set of filters. We found that the spike-like regimes of precipitation observed in the laboratory trap are generally consistent with the theory of cyclotron masers and can have much in common with similar regimes in space magnetic traps, in particular, in magnetospheric radiation belts.