Astrophysics and Space Science

, Volume 42, Issue 2, pp 261–283 | Cite as

Acceleration of particles by electron plasma waves in a moderate magnetic field

  • Dean F. Smith
Article
Received:

Abstract

A general scheme is established to examine any magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) configuration for its acceleration potential including the effects of various types of plasma waves. The analysis is restricted to plasma waves in a magnetic field with electron cyclotron frequency less than, but comparable to, the electron plasma frequency (moderate field). The general role of electron plasma waves is examined in this paper independent of a specific MHD configuration or generating mechanism in the weak turbulence limit. The evolution of arbitrary wave spectra in a non-relativistic plasma is examined, and it is shown that the nonlinear, process of induced scattering on the polarization clouds of ions leads to the collapse of the waves to an almost one-dimensional spectrum directed along the magnetic field. The subsequent acceleration of non-relativistic and relativistic particles is considered. It is shown for non-relativistic particles that when the wave distribution has a negative slope the acceleration is retarded for lower velocities and enhanced for higher velocities compared to acceleration by an isotropic distribution of electron plasma waves in a magnetic field. This change in behavior is expected to affect the development of wave spectra and the subsequent acceleration spectrum.

Keywords

Plasma Wave Wave Spectrum Cyclotron Frequency General Role Electron Cyclotron 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Buneman, O.: 1959,Phys. Rev. 115, 503.Google Scholar
  2. Dreicer, H.: 1960,Phys. Rev. 117, 329.Google Scholar
  3. Friedman, M.: 1969,Phys. Rev. 182, 1408.Google Scholar
  4. Hayakawa, S., Nishimura, J., Obayashi H., and Sato, H.: 1964,Prog. Theor. Phys. Suppl. No.30, 86.Google Scholar
  5. Heyvaerts, J. and de Genouillac, G.: 1974,Astron. Astrophys. 30, 211.Google Scholar
  6. Kane, S. R.: 1974,IAU Symp. 57, 105.Google Scholar
  7. Kaplan, S. A. and Tsytovich, V. N.: 1969,Usp. Fiz. Nauk 97, 77 (English transl. 1969,Soviet Phys. Uspekhi 12, 42).Google Scholar
  8. Kaplan, S. A. and Tsytovich, V. N.: 1973,Plasma Astrophys., Pergamon Press, Oxford.Google Scholar
  9. Kaplan, S. A., Pikelner, S. B., and Tsytovich, V. N.: 1974,Phys. Reports 15, 1.Google Scholar
  10. Kingsep, A. S., Rudakov, L. I., and Sudan, R. N.: 1973,Phys. Rev. Lett. 31, 1482.Google Scholar
  11. Lampe, M., Manheimer, W. M., McBride, J. B., Orens, J. H., Papadopoulos, K., Shanny, R., and Sudan, R. N.: 1972,Phys. Fluids 15, 662.Google Scholar
  12. Lin, R. P.: 1974,IAU Symp. 57, 201.Google Scholar
  13. Melrose, D. B. and Sy, W.: 1972a,Astrophys. Space Sci. 17, 343.Google Scholar
  14. Melrose, D. B. and Sy, W.: 1972b,Aust. J. Phys. 25, 387.Google Scholar
  15. Pikelner, S. B. and Tsytovich, V. N.: 1968,Zh. ETF 55, 99 (English transl.Soviet Phys. JETP 28, 507).Google Scholar
  16. Smith, D. F.: 1970,Adv. Astron. Astrophys. 7, 147.Google Scholar
  17. Smith, D. F.: 1974,IAU Symp. 57, 253.Google Scholar
  18. Smith, D. F. and Fung, P. C. W.: 1971,J. Plasma Phys. 5, 1.Google Scholar
  19. Smith, D. F. and Priest, E. R.: 1972,Astrophys. J. 176, 487.Google Scholar
  20. Stewart, R. T.: 1965,Aust. J. Phys. 18, 67.Google Scholar
  21. Tindo, I. P., Ivanov, V. D., Mandelstam, S. L., and Shuryghin, A. I.: 1972a,Solar Phys. 24, 429.Google Scholar
  22. Tindo, I. P., Ivanov, V. D., Valníček, B., and Livshits, M. A.: 1972b,Solar Phys. 27, 426.Google Scholar
  23. Tsytovich, V. N.: 1963,Astr. Zh. 40, 6121 (English transl. 1963,Soviet Astr. 7, 471).Google Scholar
  24. Tsytovich, V. N.: 1966,Astr. Zh. 42, 33 (English transl. 1965,Soviet Astr.-Aj. 9, 24).Google Scholar
  25. Tsytovich, V. N.: 1966,Usp. Fiz. Nauk 89, 89 (English transl. 1966,Soviet Phys. Uspekhi 9, 370).Google Scholar
  26. Tsytovich, V. N.: 1970,Nonlinear Processes in a Plasma, Plenum Press, New York.Google Scholar
  27. Tsytovich, V. N.: 1975,Theory of Turbulent Plasma, Plenum Press, New York.Google Scholar
  28. Tsytovich, V. N.: 1972,Usp. Fiz. Nauk 108, 143 (English transl. 1973,Soviet Phys. Uspekhi 15, 6321).Google Scholar
  29. Tsytovich, V. N. and Shvartsburg, A. B.: 1965,Zh. ETF 49 797 (English transl. 1966,Soviet Phys. JETP 22, 554).Google Scholar
  30. Tsytovich, V. N. and Shvartsburg, A. B.: 1966,Zh. TF 36, 1915 (English transl. 1967,Soviet Phys. Tech. Phys. 11, 1431).Google Scholar
  31. Wentzel, D. G.: 1969 in Wentzel and Tidman, (eds.),Plasma Instabilities in Astrophysics, Gordon and Breach, New York, p. 271.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© D. Reidel Publishing Company 1976

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dean F. Smith
    • 1
  1. 1.High Altitude ObservatoryNational Center for Atmospheric ResearchBoulderUSA

Personalised recommendations