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Title: High and low frequency instabilities driven by a single electron beam in two-electron temperature space plasmas

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4851995· OSTI ID:22218325
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science, P.O. Box 32, Hermanus 7200, Republic of South Africa (South Africa)
  2. University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, Republic of South Africa (South Africa)

In an attempt to understand the excitation mechanisms of broadband electrostatic noise, beam-generated electrostatic instabilities are investigated using kinetic theory in a four-component magnetised plasma model composed of beam electrons (magnetic field-aligned), background hot and cool electrons and ions. All species are fully magnetised and considered to be Maxwellian. The dependence of the instability growth rates and real frequencies on various plasma parameters such as beam speed, particle densities and temperatures, magnetic field strength, wave propagation angle, and temperature anisotropy of the beam are examined. In this study we have found that the electron-acoustic, electron beam-resonant and ion-acoustic instabilities are excited. Our studies have focused on three velocity regimes, namely, the low (v{sub dbz}2 C{sub h}) regimes, where v{sub dbz} (C{sub h}) is the electron beam drift speed (thermal speed of the hot electrons). Plasma parameters from satellite measurements are used where applicable to provide realistic predictions.

OSTI ID:
22218325
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English