Ponderomotive modification of drift tearing modes

The linear characteristics of drift tearing modes are investigated in the presence of a significant background of radio-frequency waves in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies. The ponderomotive force, arising from the radial gradients in the rf field energy, is found to significantly modify the inner layer solutions of the drift tearing modes. It can have a stabilizing influence, even at moderate rf powers, provided the field energy has a decreasing radial profile at the mode rational surface.