Oblique electron fire hose instability: Particle-in-cell simulations

Abstract

Nonlinear properties of the oblique resonant electron fire hose instability are investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations in the Darwin approximation for weak initial growth rates. The weak electron fire hose instability has a self-destructive nonlinear behavior; it destabilizes a nonpropagating branch which only exists for a sufficiently strong temperature anisotropy. The nonlinear evolution leads to generation of nonpropagating waves which in turn scatter electrons and reduce their temperature anisotropy. As the temperature anisotropy is being reduced, the nonpropagating branch disappears and the generated standing waves are transformed to propagating whistler waves which are rapidly damped. Consequently, the oblique electron fire hose efficiently reduces the electron temperature anisotropy.