Continuous double adiabatic spectrum in a plasma confined in a poloidal magnetic field

The continuous spectrum of an anisotropic toroidal plasma confined in a poloidal magnetic field is investigated with the double adiabatic theory. The continuous spectrum is given by an eigenvalue problem of two uncoupled second order ordinary differential equations. In contrast to the magnetohydrodynamic continuum the double adiabatic continuum may become unstable. The stability depends upon the perpendicular and parallel pressure distributions along the field lines. (author)