The large density electron beam-plasma Buneman instability

Abstract

The threshold conditions and growth rate of the Buneman (electron beam-stationary ion) instability are calculated with kinetic theory including a stationary electronic population. A criteria on the wave energy sign is used to separate the Buneman hydrodynamic instability from the ion-acoustic kinetic instability. The stationary electron population raises the instability threshold and, for large beam velocities yields a maximum growth rate oblique to the beam.