Experimental Investigation of Wave Generation by a Relativistic Electron Beam in Magnetized Plasma*

The interaction between relativistic electron beams and a magnetized plasma is a fundamental and practical problem that is relevant to many challenging issues in space physics and astrophysics.  For example, compact high-energy electron beam sources may be used on future spacecraft to generate waves that would remove the energetic particles from the radiation belt region.  Similar classes of waves (whistler, Langmuir, etc.) may also be generated by naturally occurring relativistic electron beams, possibly explaining type II/III solar radio emissions.  Proposed experiments on the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) and UCLA and supporting simulations will investigate in detail the generation of waves produced by such beams, beam stability, and applicability to space-based beams and type II/III radio bursts. Initial experiments using a 20 keV electron gun, the proposed 1 MeV experimental setup, and ongoing simulation feasibility studies will be discussed.