On the role of perpendicular electron collisions in drift and acoustic wave instabilities

Abstract

Perpendicular electron dynamics and the associated collisions are discussed in relation to the collisional drift wave instability. In addition, the limit of small parallel wave numbers of this instability is studied and it is shown to yield a reduced wave frequency. It is also shown that in this case the growth rate in fact decreases for smaller parallel wave numbers, instead of growing proportional to 1 kz2. As a result, the growth rate appears to be angle dependent and to reach a maximum for some specific direction of propagation. The explanation for this strange behavior is given. A similar analysis is performed for acoustic perturbations in plasmas with unmagnetized ions and magnetized electrons, in the presence of a density gradient. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.