Exitation of low-frequency resonance waves by moving conductor in space plasma

The excitation of low frequency resonance waves as a conductor is moved along a magnetic field is investigated. A thin ideal cylindrical conductor moving in a plasma along a constant magnetic field is examined. It is demonstrated that plasma oscillations can be generated effectively at the lower resonance frequency, causing absolute instability of the oscillations of the current on the conducting body. The threshold of occurrence and the increments of this electron ion instability are computed, the instability is found to be periodic with large increments. The possibility of low frequency resonance instability occurring as man made satellites travel through the upper ionosphere is assessed.