Space charge effects and stability of electron motion in the electrostatic electron cyclotron resonance maser

Abstract

Abstract The paper deals with the space charge effects and the stability of electron motion in the electrostatic electron cyclotron resonance maser (EECRM). The complete dispersion equation of EECRM is obtained and two types of instability included in it are analysed. The results indicate that: (a) there exists a critical value for the electrostatic potential which affects the inherent oscillation in the EECRM system; (b) the frequency of the inherent oscillation increases when the DC space charge effect is taken into consideration; (c) the inherent oscillation instability may still exist in non-relativistic mode; and (d) the space charge effect is conducive to the synchronous instability and it increases the growth rate of instability.