title: Laboratory evidence for stochastic plasma-wave growth.
abstract: The first laboratory confirmation of stochastic growth theory is reported. Floating potential fluctuations are measured in a vacuum arc centrifuge using a Langmuir probe. Statistical analysis of the energy density reveals a lognormal distribution over roughly 2 orders of magnitude, with a high-field nonlinear cutoff whose spatial dependence is consistent with the predicted eigenmode profile. These results are consistent with stochastic growth and nonlinear saturation of a spatially extended eigenmode, the first evidence for stochastic growth of an extended structure.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hole
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Iver H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dallaqua