Accelerated self-constricted electron streams in plasma

Abstract

The mechanism is described of radial oscillations in a neutralized cylindrical electron stream in an accelerating electric field. The analysis is based on the two-fluid model of plasma. Analytical expressions for small amplitude oscillations and numerical solutions for large amplitudes are derived. It is found, when electron-positive ion collisions are taken into account, that for dense streams in low electric fields the radial oscillations (pinch oscillations) can destroy the streaming character of the electron flow and thus prevent its acceleration.