Generation of Low-Frequency Radiation by a Nonequilibrium Plasma of an RF Discharge in a Linear Mirror Magnetic Confinement System

The generation of ion-cyclotron radiation in a plasma resonator formed by an RF discharge in a linear mirror magnetic confinement system is revealed and investigated. It is shown that the experimental setup makes it possible to study the composition of a multicomponent discharge plasma and to detect multiply charged ions. Collisional losses in such a resonator are estimated, and the pressure range within which the growth rate of the ion-cyclotron instability substantially exceeds the collisional damping rate is determined.