Ion phase-space vortices and their relation to small amplitude double-layers

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Abstract
The properties of ion phase-space vortices are reviewed with particular attention to their role in the formation of small amplitude double-layers in current-carrying plasmas. In a one-dimensional analysis, many such double-layers simply add up to produce a large voltage drop. A laboratory experiment is carried out in order to investigate the properties of ion phase-space vortices in three dimensions. Their lifetime is significantly reduced as compared with similar results from one-dimensional numerical simulations of the problem.