INTERACTIONOF A PLASMABEAM WITHA TRANSVERSEMAGNETICBARRIER

Theinteraction ofanenergetic Heplasma beamwithaquasi step-like transverse magnetic barrier is reported. Whentherateofflowofmomentumintheincident beamisless thanthepressure ofthemagnetic field, acollisionless electrostatic shock isobserved toforminfront ofthebarrier asaresult ofthe drastic compression oftheplasma. Theinitially coldplasma issubstantially thermalized bytheshock and theelectron density isincreased byafactor offour. Intheopposite limit theplasma penetrates thebarrier inaflute-like manner.