Abstract
A quasilinear theory of hydromagnetic waves in nonrelativistic collisionless plasma (with no superthermal “tail”) is derived. It is shown that the time evolution of the space-averaged velocity distribution function of each species is described by a diffusion equation in velocity space, and that this “diffusion” can be split into resonant and nonresonant parts. The resonant diffusion determines the heating of the (finite-β) plasma by damping hydromagnetic waves; such heating enhances electron and ion kinetic temperatures parallel to the average magnetic field, and does not affect transverse temperatures. Quasilinear quenching of the hose instability is discussed as an example.
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