DRIFT WAVE INSTABILITY WITH LOSS-CONE DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION - PARTICLE ASPECT ANALYSIS

Drift wave instability has been studied using the loss-cone distribution function by investigating trajectories of charged particles in the presence of a wave electric field. A low-beta (ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure) plasma, consisting of resonant and non-resonant particles, has been considered. It is assumed that the resonant particles participate in energy exchange with the wave, whereas non-resonant particles support the oscillatory motion of the wave. A dispersion relation has been derived in the electrostatic approximation and the growth rate is evaluated by the energy conservation method. Effects of steepness of loss-cone distribution with temperature anisotropy are discussed with regard to the dispersion relation and the growth rate of the instability. Destabilizing effects due to steepness of the loss-cone and temperature anisotropy have been predicted.