Nonlinear Instability of Ion-Cyclotron Whistlers in the Ionosphere

Abstract

We provide a theoretical investigation on the nonlinear instability of ion-cyclotron whistlers in the ionosphere. The threshold power of the unstable electromagnetic wave, the total attenuation and the generated magnetic field are calculated for a proton whistler. Finally, the variation of different ionospheric parameters due to nonlinear effects in the medium are shown both numerically and graphically. Possible applications of this investigation to space plasmas are also pointed out.