An experimental study of electrostatic ion cyclotron waves in a two-ion component plasma

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA094iA07p08966· OSTI ID:5837650

Suszcynsky, D M; D'Angelo, N; Merlino, R L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City (USA)

Two-ion component electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves are studied in a single-ended Q-machine containing variable concentrations of Cs{sup +} and K{sup +} ions. Measurements of the excitation and propagation characteristics of the waves are presented and compared with available theories. The waves are internally excited by drawing an electron current along the magnetic field to an 11-mm exciter disk. Both Cs{sup +} and K{sup +} EIC waves can be simultaneously excited over a large range of relative ion concentrations. The EIC wave features are found to depend on the relative ion concentrations. As the light ion (K{sup +}) concentration is increased, the frequency of the heavy ion (Cs{sup +}) mode shifts toward its cyclotron frequency. Likewise, the frequency of the light ion mode approaches the light ion cyclotron frequency as the heavy ion concentration is increased. The critical drift velocity for the excitation of the heavy ion (Cs{sup +}) mode is more strongly dependent on the relative ion concentrations than that of the light ion (K{sup +}) mode. These results are of interest in the context of EIC wave excitation in the ionosphere.

• OSTI ID: 5837650
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (USA) Vol. 94:A7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CATIONS
CESIUM IONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CYCLOTRON FREQUENCY
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
EXCITATION
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
ION WAVES
IONIC COMPOSITION
IONOSPHERE
IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
POTASSIUM IONS
WAVE PROPAGATION