Multibeam selfchanneling of plasma waves

The effect of stationary multi beam self-channeling of plasma waves of a (ωsub(Hi)<ω<ωsub(He)) low-hybrid frequency range (ωsub(He), ωsub(Hi) is the electron and ion cyclotron frequencies) under conditions of ionization nonlinearity was experimentally observed. The high-frequency discharge was excited in a glass flask of the 20 cm diameter and 180 cm length using inductors of a cylindrical, a dipole and a quadrupole types. The radiation frequency was 60 MHz, the power changed from 0 to 200 W. The working gas (air) pressure was < or approximately 10-2 torr. The discharge was in a 500 Gauss longitudinal magnetic field, which inhomogeneity along the system axis did not exceed 6%. Detailed measurements were carried out on discharge excitation by the dipole inductor. The structure of plasma-waveguide channels excited by nonsymmetric sources is shown. The physical picture of the phenomenon observed is presented. The proposed theoretical model shows the existence of multisoliton solutions explaining the characteristic features of the phenomenon observed