QUASILINEAR STABILIZATION OF LOWER-HYBRID-DRIFT INSTABILITY

The quasi-linear evolution of the lower-hybrid-drift instability is investigated for cross-field current velocities less than the ion thermal velocity (Vd<vi). It is shown that current relaxation (Vd→0) and plateau formation (∂Fi/∂v y→0) in the ion velocity distribution are generally competing processes for stabilization. A detailed analysis of the energetics of the system is utilized to estimate the saturation level ℰ = ∫dk yℰky(l→∞) of the turbulent field fluctuations. © 1978 American Institute of Physics.