Dispersion of the whistler mode for a velocity distribution with a loss cone
Abstract
Considering the general dispersion equation for the whistler mode, the condition of critical stability is discussed and the values of k2 and the field strength for critical stability are determined. The waves grow due to resonance; the stability criterion is studied and the growth rate is also calculated. The results for a special case of simple velocity distribution with a loss cone are obtained and compared with those due to cold dispersion. In the magnetosphere the thermal electrons which can be treated as cold, should be included in the distribution and this is discussed in § 5. Finally, we have established the regions of stable and unstable plasma for the special velocity distribution function and it can be seen how these depend on the size of loss cone.
- Publication:
-
Journal of Plasma Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 1967
- DOI:
- 10.1017/S002237780000307X
- Bibcode:
- 1967JPlPh...1...29D