Filamentation instability in a quantum magnetized plasma

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum effects influence the filamentation instability in a magnetized plasma, showing that quantum effects can suppress the instability with weaker magnetic fields than classical physics predicts.

Contribution

It demonstrates that quantum effects can fully suppress filamentation instability in magnetized plasma with finite magnetic fields, introducing a key dimensionless parameter for quantum strength.

Findings

Quantum effects enable suppression of instability at lower magnetic fields.

A dimensionless parameter quantifies quantum effects on instability.

Quantum suppression is possible only with finite magnetic fields.

Abstract

The filamentation instability occurring when a non relativistic electron beam passes through a quantum magnetized plasma is investigated by means of a cold quantum magnetohydrodynamic model. It is proved that the instability can be completely suppressed by quantum effects if and only if a finite magnetic field is present. A dimensionless parameter is identified which measures the strength of quantum effects. Strong quantum effects allow for a much smaller magnetic field to suppress the instability than in the classical regime.