Quasilinear theory of the ponderomotive force: Induced stability and transport in axisymmetric mirrors

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Abstract
A kinetic theory of the ponderomotive force density produced by an electromagnetic cyclotron wave is developed within the quasilinear approximation. The theory is applied to identify the effects of the rf-plasma interaction in equilibrium, stability and transport in paraxial, axisymmetric mirror geometry. The force caused by nonresonant particles is shown to modify the usual magnetohydrodynamic interchange stability drive, and the corresponding arbitrary-m ballooning equation is derived. Resonant particle contributions to the force are shown to arise from the absorption of photon momentum and spin. This effect produces a radial particle flux, modifies the radial ambipolar potential profile, and couples transport and stability.