Electron heating process of the lower hybrid drift instability

In order to clarify the macroscopic magnetic field diffusion process associated with the lower hybrid drift and the drift kink instabilities, a large-scale two-dimensional electromagnetic full particle simulation has been performed. We find a new magnetic diffusion process which is caused by coupling of the lower hybrid and drift kink instabilities. This process can dissipate the cross-tail current much more efficiently than without coupling. Furthermore, we find that electrons are accelerated along the ambient magnetic field and form flat-top distributions at the outside edge of the plasma sheet in the case of oblique propagation. This electron acceleration may result from the wave-particle interaction between the obliquely propagating lower hybrid waves and electrons. (C) 1999 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.