Kinetic theory of electrostatic ion cyclotron waves (QPESIC) in multicomponent plasmas with negative ions

Abstract

The instabilities of the quasi-perpendicular electrostatic (?B = 0) ioncyclotron waves (QPESIC) are investigated. The kinetic theory with BGK model collision integrals is used to estimate the critical electron drift velocity in the presence of positively or negatively charged resonant ions in multi-component plasma. Analytical evaluation for the ion-cyclotron modes and instabilities in the long-wave range in a weakly-ionized Maxwellian plasma with two positive ion species, one negative ion species and with electrons, drifting along magnetic lines of force is demonstrated. The spectrum in these situations is also given. It is shown that the critical drift decreases as the state of plasma approaches the isothermic state.