Linear kinetic theory of high-m tearing modes

Abstract
A linear electromagnetic kinetic theory of high‐m tearing modes, for frequencies less than or comparable to the electron‐ion collision frequency, is presented. A pitch‐angle scattering Fokker–Planck operator is used to model electron‐ion collisions. In the presence of an electron temperature gradient, a high‐m tearing mode instability occurs over a broad range of tokamak parameters. Electrostatic effects are vital in obtaining these unstable modes.