Influence of RF on ion drift dissipative instabilities

Ion drift and ion cyclotron drift waves have been observed in the density gradient of a plasma column. Launching RF near the lower hybrid frequency into the plasma results in a suppression of the ion drift waves and a parametric amplification of the ion cyclotron drift waves. Spectral analysis of probe signals monitoring the plasma density fluctuations demonstrates the importance of three wave coupling for the saturation of the observed instabilities.