Electrothermal instability

Not to be confused with the magnetoacoustic instability discovered by the same author.

The electrothermal instability (also known as ionization instability, non-equilibrium instability or Velikhov instability in the literature) is a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability appearing in magnetized non-thermal plasmas used in MHD converters. It was first theoretically discovered in 1962 and experimentally measured into a MHD generator in 1963 by Evgeny Velikhov.[1][2][3]

"This paper shows that it is possible to assert sufficiently specifically that the ionization instability is the number one problem for the utilization of a plasma with hot electrons."

— Dr. Evgeny Velikov, at the 7th International Conference on Ionization Phenomena in Gases, Belgrade, Yugoslavia (1965).[3]
  1. ^ Velikhov, E. P. (1962). "Paper 47". Hall instability of current carrying slightly ionized plasmas. 1st International Conference on MHD Electrical Power Generation. Newcastle upon Tyne, England. p. 135.
  2. ^ Velikhov, E. P.; Dykhne, A. M. (8–13 July 1963). "Plasma turbulence due to the ionization instability in a strong magnetic field". Proceedings. 6th International Conference on Phenomena in Ionized Gases. Vol. 4. Paris, France. p. 511. Bibcode:1963pig4.conf..511V.
  3. ^ a b Velikhov, E. P.; Dykhne, A. M.; Shipuk, I. Ya (1965). Ionization instability of a plasma with hot electrons (PDF). 7th International Conference on Ionization Phenomena in Gases. Belgrade, Yugoslavia.