Backward waves in the nonlinear regime of the Buneman instability
Abstract
Observation of low- and high-frequency backward waves in the nonlinear regime of the Buneman instability is reported. Intense low-frequency backward waves propagating in the direction opposite to the electron drift (with respect to the ion population) of ions and electrons are found. The excitation of these waves is explained based on the linear theory for the stability of the electron velocity distribution function that is modified by nonlinear effects. In the nonlinear regime, the electron distribution exhibits a wide plateau formed by electron hole trapping and extends into the negative velocity region. It is shown that within the linear approach, the backward waves correspond to the weakly unstable or marginally stable modes generated by the large population of particles with negative velocities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1063/5.0032520
Entities
People
- A. I. Smolyakov
- Arash Tavassoli
- M. Shoucri
- Mina Papahn Zadeh
- Raymond J Spiteri
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Compute Canada
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
- University of Saskatchewan