Mirror modes: Non-Maxwellian distributions

Direct analysis of mirror mode instabilities from the general dielectric te nsor for several model distributions in the long wavelength limit is perfor med. The growth rate at the instability threshold depends on the derivative of the distribution for zero parallel energy. The maximum growth rate is s imilar tok(parallel to)v(T parallel to) well above the instability threshol d. The instability threshold and growth rate and their dependence on the pr opagation angle depend on the shapes of the ion and electron distribution f unctions. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.