Kinetic alfven waves in the presence of loss-cone distribution function in plasma sheet boundary layer – particle aspect analysis

Summary form only given. This paper studies, dispersion relation, damping-rate and associated currents of the kinetic Alfven wave with general distribution function in homogenous plasma by particle aspect approach. Kinetic effects of both electrons and ions are included to study kinetic Alfven wave because both are important in the transition region. It is found the loss-cone distribution index affects the dispersion relation, damping-rate and associated currents. The treatment of kinetic Alfven wave instability is based on the assumption that the plasma consists of resonant and non-resonant particles. The resonant particles participate in an energy exchange process, whereas the non-resonant particles support the oscillatory motion of the wave.