| trapped-particle instability | <radiobiology> Slowly-growing class of instabilities driven by particles which cannot circulate freely in a toroidal system. See: banana orbit. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| two-stream instability | <radiobiology> Instability which can develop when a stream of particles of one type has a velocity distribution with its peak well separated from that of another type of particle through which it is flowing. A stream of energetic electrons passing through a cold plasma can, for example: excite ion waves which will grow rapidly in magnitude at the expense of the kinetic energy of the electrons. (09 Oct 1997) |
| joint instability | Lack of stability of a joint or joint prosthesis. Factors involved are intra-articular disease and integrity of extra-articular structures such as joint capsule, ligaments, and muscles. (12 Dec 1998) |
| universal instability | <radiobiology> Low-frequency instability resulting from the presence of density gradients perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. An instability of this type is generally localised and usually has a small rate of growth. (09 Oct 1997) |
| flute instability | <radiobiology> Term used to describe an interchange instability in which the perturbation is uniform parallel to the magnetic field. In cylindrical geometry, the structure resembles a fluted column (as in classical architecture). Occurs in some mirror machines. (09 Oct 1997) |