Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Gas Discharge Systems

T. Klinger , F. Greiner , A. Latten , A. Piel , T. Pierre , Gildas Bonhomme , C. Arnas Capeau , G. Bachet , F. Doveil

This paper summarizes recent experimental work on nonlinear dynamical phenomena in gas discharge plasmas. As a relatively simple example, chaotic oscillations in low-pressure thermionic discharges are discussed in detail. Period doubling bifurcations and intermittency are clearly identified as standard routes to chaotic behaviour. Most of its dynamical features are well described by simple nonlinear oscillator models. In contrast, plasma waves are spatiotemporal phenomena and thus show a much richer dynamical behaviour. This is demonstrated for current-driven drift waves in a linear magnetized plasma. Probe arrays provide the required information about the time evolution of the azimuthal wave structure.

Domains: Physics archives

T. Klinger, F. Greiner, A. Latten, A. Piel, T. Pierre, et al.. Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Gas Discharge Systems. Journal de Physique IV Proceedings, 1995, 05 (C6), pp.C6-131-C6-136. ⟨10.1051/jp4:1995624⟩. ⟨jpa-00253992⟩