Parametric decay instabilities in an infinite, homogeneous, weakly anisotropic plasma

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Phys. Rev., A; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.14.457· OSTI ID:7275366

Grandal, B

The parametric decay of a transverse electromagnetic (em) wave with a frequency close to, but larger than, the electron plasma frequency is investigated for an infinite, homogeneous, weakly magnetoactive plasma. A two-component fluid description is employed, and the damping of the linear plasma waves is introduced phenomenologically to include both Landau and collisional damping. The transverse em wave will decay into a longitudinal electron plasma wave and an em ion-acoustic wave. Only the latter wave is assumed to be affected by the weak, constant magnetic field. The threshold expression for growth of electron plasma waves is equal to that of the isotropic plasma when the em ion-acoustic wave's direction of propagation lies inside a wide double cone, whose axis is along the constant magnetic field. When the em ion-acoustic wave propagates outside this double cone, an additional factor, which depends directly upon the magnetic field, appears in the threshold expression. This factor can, under certain conditions, reduce the threshold for growth of electron plasma waves below that of the isotropic plasma. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106
• OSTI ID: 7275366
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., A; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., A; (United States) Vol. 14:1; ISSN PLRAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
DISPERSION RELATIONS
HOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
ION ACOUSTIC WAVES
ION WAVES
PARAMETRIC INSTABILITIES
PLASMA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA WAVES