Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron instability in space plasmas

Physics – Plasma Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

50

Space Plasma Physics: Wave/Particle Interactions, Space Plasma Physics: Waves And Instabilities, Interplanetary Physics: Plasma Waves And Turbulence, Magnetospheric Physics: Plasma Waves And Instabilities

Scientific paper

Natural space plasmas generally exhibit a pronounced high-energy tail distribution that can best be modeled by a generalized Lorentzian (kappa) distribution. We employ the recently introduced modified plasma dispersion function [Summers and Thorne, 1991] to obtain the dispersion relation for field-aligned electromagnetic waves in such a plasma, and use this to study the instability properties of R mode and L mode waves in the solar wind and in planetary magnetospheres. We demonstrate for a wide range of plasma parameters that the growth of R mode waves in the solar wind can be significantly enhanced by the presence of a pronounced high-energy tail; previous studies based on a Maxwellian distribution could therefore be seriously in error. The corresponding enhancement in the growth rate of L mode waves in planetary magnetospheres is less dramatic, but the kappa distribution tends to produce significant wave amplification over a broader range of frequency than a Maxwellian distribution with comparable bulk properties. At frequencies comparable to the ion gyrofrequency wave growth is primarily caused by cyclotron resonance with ions. Hot anisotropic electrons can nevertheless influence the instability as a result of changes in the wave phase velocity. This modulating effect is most important for a Maxwellian plasma and becomes less significant as the spectral index of the kappa distribution is reduced.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron instability in space plasmas does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron instability in space plasmas, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron instability in space plasmas will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1328425

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.