Particle Motion in Magnetic Mirrors with High-Frequency Electric Field Fluctuations

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Abstract
Particle motion in a magnetic mirror containing high-frequency short-wavelength longitudinal electric fields is followed numerically for many mirror bounce periods. It is found that while the magnetic moment undergoes large rapid changes, these fluctuations seldom imply rapid particle loss from the mirror. This behavior is shown to be completely consistent with nonlinear superadiabatic theory, wherein containment properties of the trap are affected only when particles cross isolated singular surfaces in phase space.