Nonconvective ion cyclotron instability
Abstract
The electromagnetic ion cyclotron instability is shown to be nonconvective for a wide range of plasma β's and ring current proton anisotropies A. The addition of cold plasma to the ring current enlarges the region of the β- A parameter space for nonconvective instability. Thus, despite the high Alfvén speed outside the plasmasphere, ion cyclotron wave amplitudes could grow to appreciable levels and contribute to the pitch-angle and energy diffusion of ring current protons.
- Publication:
-
Planetary and Space Science
- Pub Date:
- January 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0032-0633(75)90073-2
- Bibcode:
- 1975P&SS...23..123W
- Keywords:
-
- Ion Cyclotron Radiation;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Magnetospheric Instability;
- Plasma Waves;
- Ring Currents;
- Cold Plasmas;
- Convective Flow;
- Proton Precipitation;
- Wave Dispersion;
- Geophysics