Heating and confinement of magnetized plasmas by low-frequency electromagnetic fields

The Cerenkov absorption of energy of waves propagating in the azimuthal direction by a plasma cylinder with a radial inhomogenity is studied. The power absorbed by the plasma and the radial particle and heat flux densities are found. It is shown that a rotating plasma can be heated by constant, inhomogeneous magnetic fields. In this case, the thermal energy of the plasma increases because of a decrease in the plasma rotation energy. A study is made of plasma heating by two waves propagating in opposite azimuthal directions when one of the waves is absorbed by ions and the other by electrons. The results show that in this case it is possible to produce plasma streams which are directed toward the center of the plasma column. If these streams carry more plasma inward than is carried outward by the diffusion fluxes, then the electromagnetic fields can confine as well as heat the plasma.