Theory of plasma heating by nonlinear excitation of lower hybrid resonance

A theory of plasma heating when the lower hybrid wave is parametrically excited by an electromagnetic pump at frequency ω0 close to the lower hybrid resonant frequency ωlh (i.e., ω0<√2ωlh) is presented. In this case, the excitation is made through electron nonlinear Landau damping. The saturation level is obtained using the cascading model and the heating rate is calculated. It is shown that the heating rate may be obtained without knowing the saturation spectrum of the excited turbulence. In particular, the heating rate of ions is given by νfε0E02/2, where νf≈1/16ωlh(ωpe/ω0)2 (E0/B0ve)2.