Current-driven plasma turbulence in a magnetic flux tube

The behaviour of a multi-component anisotropic plasma in a magnetic flux tu be is studied in the presence of current-driven electrostatic ion-cyclotron turbulence. The plasma transport is considered in both parallel and perpen dicular directions with respect to the given tube. As one of the sources of the parallel electric field, the anomalous resistivity of the plasma cause d by the turbulence is taken into account. The acceleration and heating pro cesses of the plasma are simulated numerically. It is found that at the upp er boundary of the nightside auroral ionosphere, the resonant wave-particle interactions are most effective in the case of upward field-aligned curren ts with densities of a few 10(-6) A/m(2). The occurring anomalous resistivi ty may cause differences of the electric potential along the magnetic field lines of some kV. Further it is shown that the thickness of the magnetic f lux tube and the intensity of the convection strongly influence the turbule nt plasma heating.