Kinetic theory of collisionless ballooning modes

Abstract

A kinetic ballooning mode equation retaining full finite ion Larmor radius and ion magnetic drift resonance effects is derived by employing the high n ballooning mode formalism. It is found that the critical β is smaller than the ideal magnetohydro-dynamic critical β, except that when ηi = O(ηi≡d ln Ti/d ln N), that are identical. The finite Larmor radius effects reduce the growth rate but do not stabilize the mode. The ion magnetic drift resonance effects are destabilizing.