Equations describing evolution of the velocity of a rarefied ion beam in a plasma with ion-acoustic turbulence are derived and solved. An ion beam with velocity $u$ greater than the sound speed $v_s$ decelerates due to Cherenkov radiation of ion-acoustic waves. Conversely, a beam with $u<v_s$ accelerates to a velocity $\sim v_s$ due to Cherenkov interaction with field beats at a difference frequency of ion-acoustic waves. The acceleration of a slow beam is accompanied by anisotropic turbulent heating of beam ions. Characteristic deceleration (or acceleration) distances of beam ions are obtained.

Close

PrevNext

View figure in article

• Ion-acoustic waves
• Plasma-beam interactions
• Wave-wave, wave-particle interactions
• Solar wind