Plasma heating at frequencies near the lower hybrid

The anomalous heating of plasma by large amplitude waves at frequencies close to the lower hybrid frequency has been examined by computer simulation on a two and one-half dimensional electrostatic model. The anomalous heating is due to the turbulent state induced by parametric instability. During the initial stages, the unstable waves propagate in a small cone about the direction of the pump-induced E0×B0 drift. During the development of the instability, the spectrum spreads in angle and creates two-dimensional turbulence in the plane of the self-consistent electric field used in the simulation. The electrons are anomalously heated in the direction parallel to the magnetic field, while the ions are heated in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field. In the turbulent state, the cross-field energy and momentum transport of electrons are found to be strongly enhanced. The effect of turbulence on the particle transport is discussed.