We present the results of numerical studies of the whistler wave parametric decay instability in the system with the suppressed Landau damping of ion acoustic waves (IAWs) based on the self-consistent Darwin particle-in-cell (PIC) model. It has been demonstrated that a monochromatic whistler wave launched along the background magnetic field couples to a counter-propagating whistler mode and co-propagating ion acoustic mode. The coupling of the electromagnetic mode to the electrostatic mode is guided by a ponderomotive force that forms spatio-temporal beat patterns in the longitudinal electric field generated by the counter-propagating whistler and the pump whistler wave. The threshold amplitude for the instability is determined to be δB w / B 0 = 0.028 and agrees with a prediction for the ion decay instability: δB w / B 0 = 0.042 based on the linear kinetic damping rates, and δB w / B 0 = 0.030 based on the simulation derived damping rates. Increasing the amplitude of the pump whistler wave, the secondary and tertiary decay thresholds are reached, and cascading parametric decay from the daughter whistler modes is observed. At the largest amplitude ( δB w / B 0 ∼ 0.1) the primary IAW evolves into a short-lived and highly nonlinear structure. The observed dependence of the IAW growth rate on the pump wave amplitude agrees with the expected trend; however, quantitatively, the growth rate of the IAW is larger than expected from theoretical predictions. We discuss the relevant space regimes where the instability could be observed and extensions to the parametric coupling of whistler waves with the electron acoustic wave (EAW).
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Kinetic phenomena of helical plasma waves with orbital angular momentum
An accurate description of plasma waves is fundamental for the understanding of many plasma phenomena. It is possible to twist plasma waves such that, in addition to having longitudinal motion, they can possess a quantized orbital angular momentum. One such type of plasma wave is the Laguerre–Gaussian mode. Three-dimensional numerical particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate the existence of stable long-lived plasma waves with orbital angular momentum. These waves can be shown to create large amplitude static magnetic fields with unique twisted longitudinal structures. In this paper, we review the recent progress in studies of helical plasma waves and present a new analytical description of a standing Laguerre–Gaussian plasma wave mode along with 3D particle-in-cell simulation results. The Landau damping of twisted plasma waves shows important differences compared to standard longitudinal plasma wave Landau damping. These effects include an increased damping rate, which is affected by both the focal width and the orbital number of the plasma wave. This increase in the damping rate is of the same order as the thermal correction. Moreover, the direction of momentum picked up by resonant particles from the twisted plasma wave can be significantly altered. By contrast, the radial electric field has a subtle effect on the trajectories of resonant electrons.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1903098
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10427567
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Physics of Plasmas
- Volume:
- 29
- Issue:
- 7
- ISSN:
- 1070-664X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 072105
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0095017
