Remote Feedback Stabilization of Collisional Drift Instability by Modulated Microwave Energy Source

Abstract

The collisional drift instability is remotely feedback stabilized by irradiating the plasma with microwaves to heat the electrons locally, by upper-hybrid resonance absorption, at interior plasma locations. The phase and amplitude of the feedback-modulated heating necessary for stabilization agree qualitatively with a linear theory, which includes a feedback-controlled heat source.