Transition from flute modes to drift waves in a magnetized plasma column

Recent experiments performed on the low β plasma device Mirabelle [T. Pierre, G. Leclert, and F. Braun, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 58, 6 (1987)] using a limiter have shown that transitions between various gradient driven instabilities occurred on increasing the magnetic field strength. New thorough measurements allow to identify unambiguously three instability regimes. At low magnetic field the strong E×B velocity shear drives a Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, whereas at high magnetic field drift waves are only observed. A centrifugal (Rayleigh–Taylor) instability is also observed in between when the E×B velocity is shearless and strong enough. A close connection is made between the ratio ρs∕L⊥ of the drift parameter to the radial density gradient length and each instability regime.