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Scalings for the Alfvén-cyclotron instability: Linear dispersion theory and hybrid particle-in-cell simulations: Scalings of Alfven-Cyclotron Instability

Journal Article · · Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JA023425· OSTI ID:1505958
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4]
  1. Space Science Inst., Boulder CO (United States)
  2. New Mexico Consortium, Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  4. Auburn Univ., AL (United States). Dept. of Physics
+ Show Author Affiliations
The Alfvén-cyclotron instability is driven by an ion temperature anisotropy such that T⊥/T|| >1 where ⊥ and || denote directions perpendicular and parallel to a uniform background magnetic field Bo, respectively. The computations presented here consider a model of a magnetized, homogeneous, collisionless plasma. Two representations of the proton velocity distribution are considered: a single bi-Maxwellian and a magnetospheric-like configuration of two components, a more dense, relatively cool, isotropic component and a less dense, relatively hot, bi-Maxwellian component which drives the instability. Only wave propagation parallel to Bo is considered. Here, using numerical solutions of the full kinetic linear dispersion equation, concise analytic expressions for the scaling of the dimensionless maximum instability growth rate and the corresponding dimensionless real frequency are derived as functions of three dimensionless variables: the hot proton temperature anisotropy, the relative hot proton density, and the hot proton β||. Furthermore, using one-dimensional hybrid particle-in-cell simulations of this same instability, a third relation for the scaling of the maximum amplitude of the dimensionless fluctuating magnetic field energy density is derived.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001
OSTI ID:
1505958
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--16-27692
Journal Information:
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 122; ISSN 2169-9380
Publisher:
American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Polarization properties of low frequency electromagnetic cyclotron waves associated with magnetic clouds journal February 2018

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Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Alfven-cyclotron instability
Heliospheric and Magnetospheric Physics