Linear density drift instabilities in very low beta plasmas: a different approach

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Abstract
This paper reports a study of the linear Vlasov electromagnetic dispersion equation for density drift instabilities in very low β plasmas. A uniform magnetic field and a weak uniform density gradient are assumed. This paper differs from most other studies of this topic in three important ways: (i) no low-frequency or long-wavelength approximations are made, (ii) no gauge condition is imposed and (iii) a modification of the local approximation is used which is argued to be less arbitrary than the usual local approximation. Numerical solution of the resulting dispersion equation yields stabilization of the universal density drift instability at values of β somewhat higher than those obtained from the local approximation, and near maximum growth shows no evidence of coupling between the universal and Alfvén modes.