On The Nonlinear Dynamics of Potential Relaxation Instability in a Weakly Magnetized Discharge Plasma

Some aspects of the nonlinear dynamics of the potential relaxation instability (PRI) that is triggered by a positive electrode (collector) in a weakly magnetized discharge plasma column are investigated experimentally. Some properties of the instability can be described by the van der Pol equation with an external force term. When the collector bias is increased the oscillations of plasma parameters become irregular. No low dimensional attractor can be positively identified for these signals. At high collector biases the plasma is probably in the state of a fully developed turbulence.