A plasma current is initiated and raised to a quasistationary level of about 20 kA by injection of the lower hybrid wave into a cold and low-density plasma produced by electron cyclotron resonance. The plasma current rises more slowly than the experimentally obtained $\frac{L_p}{R_p}$ magnetic diffusion time of the bulk plasma. The current rise time is inversely proportional to the bulk electron density, and agrees well with the collision time of the current-carrying high-energy electrons with the bulk plasma.

• Received 2 February 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.52.2144