2D particle-in-cell simulations of the electron temperature anisotropy driven whistler instability in plasmas having kappa velocity distributions

Abstract

This study presents the results of 2D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations of the electron temperature anisotropy driven whistler instability for plasmas in which the electron species is modeled by a bi-kappa velocity distribution. These simulations utilize our previously developed method to generate the initial multi-dimensional kappa velocity distributions. The use of multi-dimensional kappa loadings in PIC simulations provides insights into the non-linear regime of wave evolution in plasmas having non-equilibrium velocity distributions. Three cases are considered, corresponding to κe=2,3, and ∞ (Maxwellian case). Owing to the use of a large value of electron anisotropy required for reasonable simulation run times, the Maxwellian electron run has the fastest growth rate, reaching saturation earliest. The κe=2 case exhibits the slowest growth rate. Spectral analysis of the fluctuating fields reveals considerable wave intensity at frequencies and wavenumbers that satisfy the linear whistler wave dispersion relation. In the runs with kappa distributions, the regions of most intense fluctuations comprise frequencies and wavenumbers that agree only qualitatively with linear whistler wave theory. The results suggest that after saturation, there is some degree of Landau damping of the oblique whistler modes, which returns energy to the electron species. The rate of damping of the oblique modes is highest in the Maxwellian case and lowest for κe=2. Evidence of significant superthermal acceleration of electrons in the direction parallel to the ambient magnetic field is also observed. Thus, the power-law index of the electron distribution is reduced by the anisotropic whistler turbulence produced.