Quasilinear theory and particle-in-cell simulation of proton cyclotron instability
- Korean Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Daejeon (Korea, Republic of)
The electromagnetic ion (proton) cyclotron instability is important for regulating the excessive development of perpendicular temperature anisotropy in the solar wind, for instance, when it is compressed in the vicinity of the Earth's magnetosheath environment. A recent letter [Seough et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 071103 (2013)] successfully employed the quasilinear kinetic theory to explain the observed temperature anisotropy upper bound. The present paper rigorously examines the reliability of the quasilinear theory by making a direct comparison against results from the particle-in-cell simulation method. It is found that the quasilinear approach is indeed a valid first-cut theoretical tool in the study of proton cyclotron instability.
- OSTI ID:
- 22299967
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 21, Issue 6; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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