Bernstein mode generated anomalous resistivity in a current carrying plasma focusing cell.

The influence of microinstabilities and turbulence on the resistivity of plasma filled electron beam focusing cells is presented. Using a particle-in-cell simulation code, we have observed the onset of anomalous resistivity for low plasma densities and large embedded magnetic fields. The enhanced resistivity results from wave-particle interactions due to the saturation of the ion Bernstein mode instability in the current-carrying plasma. The growth rate of the mode scales with the relative drift speed between the electrons and ions. Here the scaling of the instability derived from simulation and theory and its impact on the operation of a plasma focusing cell for electron beam driven radiography are discussed. Enhanced resistivity up to 70 times larger than the classical Spitzer value is calculated for relevant plasma parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]