Parametric Excitation of an Ion Cyclotron Wave and Plasma Heating by a Modulated Electron Beam

An electron beam modulated near the lower-hybrid frequency is injected into a target plasma immersed in a longitudinal magnetic field. The parametric excitation of the electrostatic ion cyclotron wave and lower-hybrid wave is observed. The threshold and the excited wave potentials are measured by the use of a capacitive probe with a small tip capacitance. Substantial heating of ions and electrons is observed with growth of the instability. Such a rapid heating of ions is ascribed to the electrostatic ion cyclotron wave.