Current-driven ion cyclotron instability of multicomponent field-aligned sheared flow

The effect of velocity shear of the magnetic field-aligned plasma flow on excitation of the current-driven electrostatic oxygen ion cyclotron instability in the presence of hydrogen ions is considered by using kinetic formalism. It is shown that an increase of velocity shear as well as relative concentration of oxygen ions lead to a decrease of the instability threshold. The influence of the relative concentration of oxygen ions and velocity shear on the growth rate is investigated. For a weak velocity shear the growth rate decreases with reducing of the oxygen concentration, however for a strong shear the growth rate due to the presence of hydrogen ions may increase.