Stimulated Excitation Of Thermal Waves In A Magnetized Plasma*

Results are presented from basic heat transport experiments using a magnetized electron temperature filament that behaves as a thermal resonator. A CeB₆ cathode injects low energy electrons along the magnetic field into the afterglow of a pre-existing plasma forming a hot electron filament embedded in a colder plasma. A series of low amplitude, sinusoidal perturbations are added to the cathode discharge bias that create an oscillating heat source capable of driving thermal waves. Langmuir probe measurements demonstrate driven thermal oscillations and allow for the determination of the amplitude and parallel phase velocity of the thermal waves over a range of driver frequencies. The results demonstrate the presence of a thermal resonance and are used to verify the parallel thermal wave dispersion relation based on classical transport theory. A nonlinear transport code is used to verify the analysis procedure. This technique provides a measure of the density normalized thermal conductivity, independent of the electron temperature.