Parametric excitation of ion Bernstein waves by parallel-propagating langmuir waves in a collisional magnetoplasma

Langmuir waves propagating along the geomagnetic field are considered as pump waves for the parametric excitation of ion Bernstein waves and daughter Langmuir waves. Analysis of thresholds and growth rates for the conditions of Arecibo's heating experiments show that ten-meter scale ion Bernstein modes can be preferentially excited. This process competes with others that generate “stationary” (i.e., zero-frequency) density striations in the meter scale range. Limitations on the detection and diagnoses of ion Bernstein modes in the HF heating experiments are discussed.