High frequency drift instabilities in a dusty plasma

Abstract

High frequency drift instabilities with ω ce ⪢ ω ⪢ ω ci are investigated in a dusty magnetized plasma in which locally there is an electron density gradient which is opposite in sign to a dust density gradient. Two different equilibria are considered, characterized by ρ d ≶ L nd , where ρ d is the dust gyroradius and L nd is the dust density scale length. Possible application to Saturn's F-ring is discussed.