Kinetic Alfven wave in the presence of general loss-cone distribution function in inhomogeneous magnetoplasma - particle aspect analysis

Particle aspect analysis is extended for kinetic Alfven waves in an inhomog eneous magnetoplasma in the presence of a general loss-cone distribution fu nction. The effect of finite Larmor radius is incorporated in the finite te mperature anisotropic plasma. Expressions for the field-aligned current, pe rpendicular current (to B), dispersion relation, particle energy and growth rate are derived and effects of steepness of loss-cone distribution and pl asma density inhomogeneity are discussed. The treatment of the kinetic Alfv en wave instability is based on the assumption that the plasma consists of resonant and non-resonant particles. It is assumed that resonant particles support the oscillatory nature of the wave. The excitation of the wave is t reated by the wave particle energy exchange method. The applicability of th e investigation is discussed for auroral acceleration phenomena. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.