Stochastic broadening of ion cyclotron resonances due to development of lower hybrid turbulence

Theory of stochastic broadening of ion cyclotron resonances due to scatteri ng of particles by turbulent rf fields has been applied to the problem of l ower-hybrid wave instability excited by an energetic ion beam in a magnetiz ed plasma. We show that resonance broadening play the major role in the cas e of hydrodynamic cyclotron instabilities. The closed set of equations has been derived and the time dynamics of LH turbulence has been investigated. We find that exponential growth is changed by power one before quasilinear relaxation become essential. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.