Several classes of self‐consistent equilibria are examined with a view toward establishing their general character. It is found that within the context of self‐consistent equilibria current limitation in the sense of Alfvén and Lawson is not present per se. Practical considerations, however, would argue that this limit has rather broad validity in the strictly relativistic regime providing externally generated magnetic fields are absent. An example of potential practical interest in which field reversal occurs inside the beam while the bulk of it remains nearly force‐free is discussed in some detail.
Topics
Electron beams
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J. D. Lawson (private communication).
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O. Buneman, Plasma Physics, edited by J. E. Drummond (McGraw‐Hill, New York, 1961), p. 202.
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C. L. Longmire, Elementary Plasma Physics (Interscience, New York, 1963), p. 105.
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J. Hieronymus and N. Rostoker, Cornell University Laboratory of Plasma Studies Report No. 52 (1970).
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© 1974 American Institute of Physics.
1974
American Institute of Physics
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