Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron Instability due to a Nonuniform Electric Field Perpendicular to the External Magnetic Field.
Abstract
We suggest a new mechanism that can destabilize the kinetic ion cyclotron waves in the presence of a nonuniform electric field perpendicular to the uniform ambient magnetic field. In the absence of the electric field the mode energy is positive while in the presence of a uniform electric field the mode energy and could be negative. However, when the electric field is nonuniform, it is possible for a finite region to be of negative wave energy surrounded by regions of positive wave energy. A nonlocal wave packet couples the two regions so that a flow of energy from the region of negative wave energy to the region of positive wave energy will cause the mode to grow. This gives rise to the instability. Keywords: Nonlocal; Ion-cyclotron turbulence; Localized electric field; Positive-negative energy. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 28, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA155474
Entities
People
- G. Ganguli
- P. Palmadesso
- Y. C. Lee
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory