Computer simulation of nonlinear interaction between a monochromatic whistler wave and an electron beam

Abstract

A computer experiment on the self‐consistent nonlinear interaction between a large amplitude whistler mode wave propagating along an external magnetic field and plasma particles is described. The plasma is composed of cold electrons, cold ions, and a hot electron beam with the mean velocity around the resonance velocity of the propagating large amplitude whistler mode wave. In addition to an amplitude oscillation of the whistler mode wave, an interesting evolution of the velocity distribution function of the hot beam electrons is observed. These results are first compared with the theory by Palmadesso and Schmidt and then are explained by a simpler physical picture. The computer code for the present simulation followed nonrelativistic dynamics of 3072 electrons in a self‐consistent electromagnetic field. The total energy in the system under consideration was conserved well with a maximum numerical error of 0.3%.