Electron whistler mode instability in an inhomogeneous thermal plasma in the presence of an inhomogeneous beam of suprathermal electrons

The excitation of the whistler mode waves propagating obliquely to the constant and uniform magnetic field in a warm and inhomogeneous plasma in the presence of an inhomogeneous beam of suprathermal electrons is studied. The full dispersion relation including electromagnetic effects is derived. In the electrostatic limit the expression for the growth rate is given. It is found that the inhomogeneities in both beam and plasma number densities affect the growth rates of the instabilities. (author)