Electron-cyclotron instabilities may be classified in two ways depending on whether the relativistic correction to the gyrofrequency is important (class S) or not (class N), and whether the instability mechanism is of a maser type (class M) or due to bunching (class B). Renewed interest in class SM has followed the Wu and Lee application of it to the interpretation of terrestrial kilometric radiation. The maser is assumed to be driven by a one-sided loss-cone distribution of electrons. This mechanism seems particularly favourable for the interpretation of certain planetary, solar and stellar radio emissions.The loss-cone driven SM instability is explored in detail here through numerical calculations of the growth rate and the development of a semi-quantitative theory for the maser mechanism. The numerical calculations are for a hot Maxwellian distribution with a hole in pitch angle IX; the distribution falls off with pitch angle inside the loss cone IX > 1X0 (> tn) as a power of a sine function of 1X-1X0. It is assumed that the dispersive properties of the waves are determined by a cold plasma (with frequency rop) and only emission in the x mode and the 0 mode above their respective cutoff frequencies is considered. The semi-quantitative theory involves the parameters 1X0 and the characteristic range of IIX -lXo lover which the distribution falls off inside the loss cone !!.IX, the energy tmv~ and the number density nH of the energetic electrons, and the ratio rop/Q., with Q. the electron-cyclotron frequency.The maser emission is possible at all harmonics s = 1,2, ... An application of the mechanism to the interpretation of the Jovian decametric radio emissions is outlined.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.