Published December 2013 | Version v1
Journal article

High and low frequency instabilities driven by a single electron beam in two-electron temperature space plasmas

  • 1. University of the Western Cape, Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville 7535, Republic of South Africa (South Africa)
  • 2. South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Space Science, P.O. Box 32, Hermanus 7200, Republic of South Africa (South Africa)

Description

In an attempt to understand the excitation mechanisms of broadband electrostatic noise, beam-generated electrostatic instabilities are investigated using kinetic theory in a four-component magnetised plasma model composed of beam electrons (magnetic field-aligned), background hot and cool electrons and ions. All species are fully magnetised and considered to be Maxwellian. The dependence of the instability growth rates and real frequencies on various plasma parameters such as beam speed, particle densities and temperatures, magnetic field strength, wave propagation angle, and temperature anisotropy of the beam are examined. In this study we have found that the electron-acoustic, electron beam-resonant and ion-acoustic instabilities are excited. Our studies have focused on three velocity regimes, namely, the low (vdbz2 Ch) regimes, where vdbz (Ch) is the electron beam drift speed (thermal speed of the hot electrons). Plasma parameters from satellite measurements are used where applicable to provide realistic predictions

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
20
Journal Issue
12
Journal Page Range
p. 122115-122115.11
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

Optional Information

Notes
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