Current-driven drift modes in sheared magnetic field

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Abstract
The radial eigenmode problem for current‐driven drift modes in a plasma slab with sheared magnetic field is solved including the full electron dynamics and effects of electron temperature gradient and electron‐ion collisions. Particular attention is given to the eigenmode structure and comparisons with the universal drift mode are made. The threshold current for the onset of current‐driven drift mode is found to be close to that predicted by analytic theory and not greatly affected by electron temperature gradient or collisionality.