Stability analysis of double‐peaked proton distribution functions in the solar wind

Abstract

Twelve proton velocity distribution functions as measured for different solar wind speeds by the plasma analyzer at the Helios spacecraft are modelled analytically by a superposition of two bi‐Maxwellians. The stability of these distributions is investigated by solving the linear dispersion equation for parallel propagation of both left‐ and right‐hand polarized modes. Due to the temperature anisotropy of the main proton component the presence of the resonant left‐hand ion cyclotron instability is found to be typical for high‐speed streams and is independent of an ion beam. The results indicate that the ratio of the beam density to total particle density and the beam drift velocity are generally close to the threshold values necessary to drive a highly unstable nonresonant right‐hand mode. This instability is found for one proton distribution and is a consequence of the beam particles. It is concluded that both the ion cyclotron instability and the ion beam instability act as a regulating mechanism on the shape of solar wind double humped proton distribution functions.