Kinetic Alfven Wave (KAW) is one of the low-frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that are identified extensively in space plasmas by in situ observations of satellites and has been an interesting topic for discussio...Kinetic Alfven Wave (KAW) is one of the low-frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that are identified extensively in space plasmas by in situ observations of satellites and has been an interesting topic for discussion widely in the fields of laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas because of its potential importance in plasma particle energization. Some satellite observations show that the number density ratio of the oxygen ions to the ambient plasma is 30% similar to 50%, sometimes, even as high as 80%. In this paper, effects of heavy ion species on KAWs are studied in a low-beta plasma. The results show that heavy ions not only considerably reduce the propagation speed of KAWs, but also remarkably influence the parallel component of perturbed electric field of KAWs (to the ambient magnetic field). The ratio of parallel to perpendicular components of perturbed field decreases (or increases) with the heavy ion abundance for KAWs dominated by the electron inertial length (or by ion acoustic gyroradius). In particular, the resonant condition of KAWs with thermal electrons is modified by the heavy ion species.展开更多
Stability of the kinetic Alfven wave in a plasma of hydrogen, oxygen and electrons is studied. Each species is modeled by drifting ring distributions in the direction parallel to the magnetic field, while in the perpe...Stability of the kinetic Alfven wave in a plasma of hydrogen, oxygen and electrons is studied. Each species is modeled by drifting ring distributions in the direction parallel to the magnetic field, while in the perpendicular direction the distribution is simulated with a loss cone type distribution obtained through the subtraction of two Maxwellian distributions with different temperatures. It is found that for frequencies ω* 〈 ωcH with ω* and ωcH the Doppler shifted and hydrogen ion gyro-frequencies, respectively, the growth rate of the kinetic Alfven wave increases with the increase in propagation angles and density of oxygen ions. On the other hand, for frequencies ω* 〈 ωco with ωco the oxygen ion gyro-frequency the growth rate is independent of the oxygen ion density.展开更多
文摘Kinetic Alfven Wave (KAW) is one of the low-frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that are identified extensively in space plasmas by in situ observations of satellites and has been an interesting topic for discussion widely in the fields of laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas because of its potential importance in plasma particle energization. Some satellite observations show that the number density ratio of the oxygen ions to the ambient plasma is 30% similar to 50%, sometimes, even as high as 80%. In this paper, effects of heavy ion species on KAWs are studied in a low-beta plasma. The results show that heavy ions not only considerably reduce the propagation speed of KAWs, but also remarkably influence the parallel component of perturbed electric field of KAWs (to the ambient magnetic field). The ratio of parallel to perpendicular components of perturbed field decreases (or increases) with the heavy ion abundance for KAWs dominated by the electron inertial length (or by ion acoustic gyroradius). In particular, the resonant condition of KAWs with thermal electrons is modified by the heavy ion species.
基金the University Grants Commission under its Special Assistance Programme is gratefully acknowledged
文摘Stability of the kinetic Alfven wave in a plasma of hydrogen, oxygen and electrons is studied. Each species is modeled by drifting ring distributions in the direction parallel to the magnetic field, while in the perpendicular direction the distribution is simulated with a loss cone type distribution obtained through the subtraction of two Maxwellian distributions with different temperatures. It is found that for frequencies ω* 〈 ωcH with ω* and ωcH the Doppler shifted and hydrogen ion gyro-frequencies, respectively, the growth rate of the kinetic Alfven wave increases with the increase in propagation angles and density of oxygen ions. On the other hand, for frequencies ω* 〈 ωco with ωco the oxygen ion gyro-frequency the growth rate is independent of the oxygen ion density.