Unified theory of whistler mode instability in the presence of a parallel electric field

Abstract

The propagation characteristics of right-hand circularly polarized whistler mode waves propagating parallel to the external magnetic field in an anisotropic plasma have been reformulated including the effect of a parallel electric field. Analytical expressions for the real frequency and growth rate have been obtained for the full range of the parameters ß (the ratio of particle pressure to magnetic pressure of the hot particles), A (temperature anisotropy) and P (= ßA(A + 1)2) without any restriction on the magnitude of the imaginary part of the wave frequency. The effect of cold plasma injection on the marginal instability has also been studied. Possible application of the present theory to the atmospheres of Earth and Jupiter has been discussed. © 1984, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.