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Title: Nonlinear damping of a finite amplitude whistler wave due to modified two stream instability

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4926523· OSTI ID:22490960
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya (Japan)
  2. Faculty of Human Development, University of Toyama, Toyama (Japan)
  3. Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University, Nagoya (Japan)

A two-dimensional, fully kinetic, particle-in-cell simulation is used to investigate the nonlinear development of a parallel propagating finite amplitude whistler wave (parent wave) with a wavelength longer than an ion inertial length. The cross field current of the parent wave generates short-scale whistler waves propagating highly oblique directions to the ambient magnetic field through the modified two-stream instability (MTSI) which scatters electrons and ions parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field, respectively. The parent wave is largely damped during a time comparable to the wave period. The MTSI-driven damping process is proposed as a cause of nonlinear dissipation of kinetic turbulence in the solar wind.

OSTI ID:
22490960
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English