Excitation of lower hybrid waves by a gyrating ion beam in a magnetized plasma cylinder

Abstract

A long plasma cylinder with uniform density supports lower hybrid modes. In the presence of an energetic gyrating ion beam these modes are driven unstable via cyclotron harmonic interaction. A nonlocal theory of this process has been developed. It is seen that the modes with wavefunction maximum at the location of the beam possess a large growth rate. The instability frequency is close to the ion plasma frequency.