Drift compressional instability in the magnetosphere

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Abstract
The properties of the drift compressional instability in the magnetosphere with a two‐component plasma are examined by using gyrokinetic theory. A dipole field is used to approximate the equilibrium geomagnetic field. In contrast to the slab model it is found that electrons of the hot component have a stabilizing effect on the mode excited by the protons. With appropriate values of various parameters, the wave periods in the range of 30–200 s are obtained from numerical calculations of the model. The drift compressional instability may provide possible explanation of the compressional waves observed in the magnetosphere.