Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T13:15:19.120Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A temperature-anisotropy instability for electromagnetic waves propagating across a static magnetic field

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2009

R. W. Landau
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy and The Institute of Planetary and Space Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
S. Cuperman
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy and The Institute of Planetary and Space Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Abstract

The instability of electromagnetic waves propagating across a static magnetic field in the presence of a thermal anisotropy (T > T) is investigated. The marginal stabifity criterion as well as the rate of growth of the instability are derived. When compared with the fire hose instability (of electromagnetic waves propagating along the static magnetic field) it is found that higher electron pressures are required for this new instability to be set up; however, the maximal rate of growth is much larger than in the fire hose case.

The interplanetary plasma is stable to this thermal anisotropy instability; high β plasma devices may be unstable.

The T = 0 case treated by Hamasaki is recovered.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Gradshteyn, I. S. & Ryzhik, I. M. 1965 Table of Integrals, Series and Products. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Hamasaki, S. 1968 Phys. Fluids 11, 1173.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hundhausen, A. J. 1968 Space Sci. Rev. 8, 690.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennel, C. F. & Scarf, F. L. 1968 J. Geophys. Res. 73, 6149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, D. C. & Tidman, D. A. 1964 Plasma Kinetic Theory. New York: McGraw- Hill.Google Scholar
Quinn, W. E., Little, E. M., Ribe, F. L. & Sawyer, G. A. 1966 Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion, vol. I, p. 237. Vienna: IAEA.Google Scholar
Scarf, F. L., Wolfe, J. H. & Silva, R. W. 1967 J. Geophys. Res. 72, 3.Google Scholar
Stix, T. H. 1962 The Theory of Plasma Waves. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar