title: Excitation of ion-acoustic-like waves by subcritical currents in a plasma having equal electron and ion temperatures.
abstract: The effect of a magnetic-field-aligned plasma flow with a transverse velocity gradient on the excitation of current-driven ion-acoustic-like waves in a plasma having equal electron and ion temperatures (T(e) = T(i)) was investigated experimentally. In agreement with theoretical predictions, the presence of sheared plasma flow substantially reduces the critical electron drift velocity needed to produce the ion-acoustic instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agrimson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Merlino