On the effect of trapped particles in the regime of cyclotron resonance

Abstract

The motion of particles in a finite amplitude wave, propagating obliquely to the homogeneous magnetostatic field is discussed. As follows from simple integral properties, in the neighbourhood of Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance similar trapping effects appear as in a plasma without magnetostatic field. Consequences of this trapping are discussed, in particular, the possibility of a strong absorption of the wave, and the origin of stochastic instabilities caused by the perturbation of an effective trapping potential and leading to the acceleration of particles.