Stabilization of linear ion beam right-hand polarized instabilities by nonlinear Alfvén/ion-cyclotron waves

Abstract

It is shown that ion-beam plasma electromagnetic right-hand polarized instabilities can be stabilized by nonlinear left-hand polarized waves. This phenomenon constitutes a nonlinear saturation mechanism for right-hand polarized instabilities. Complete stabilization occurs for left-hand wave amplitudes above a threshold value. The saturation mechanism takes place within a large range of pump wave frequencies and plasma temperatures. Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.