Low-frequency parametric instabilities of magnetized plasmas with two ion species

Abstract

A theoretical and computer simulation treatment is presented of the response of magnetized plasmas with two ion species to low-frequency, electric fields oscillating at ω0 near the lower-hybrid frequency ωlh that shows the existence of parametric instabilities. A new decay instability involving the Buchsbaum two ion resonance occurs for ω0>ωlh, and a purely growing instability occurs for ω0<ωlh. The analysis is valid even when the masses of the ion components are comparable and applies, for example, to deuterium-tritium plasmas. Computer simulation experiments demonstrate the potential importance of these instabilities as ion heating mechanisms.