Flute instability in a plasma confined by perfectly reflecting end walls

Abstract

The magnetohydrodynamic stability of a low‐pressure plasma confined along the magnetic field by the end walls that are perfectly reflecting the impinging particles is considered. It is shown that, if the magnetic field lines do not intersect the walls along the normal, a fast instability can develop. An explicit expression for the growth rate has been derived, and an analogy with the usual flute instability has been traced. The instability can play some role in the scrape‐off layers of tokamaks with poloidal limiter.