In plasma physics, an electrostatic ion cyclotron wave is a longitudinal oscillation of the ions (and electrons) in a magnetized plasma, propagating nearly (but not exactly) perpendicular to the magnetic field. The angle (in radians) between the direction of propagation and the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field must be greater than about the square root of the mass ratio,
\sqrt{ | me |
mi |
in order that the electrons can move along the field lines from crest to trough to satisfy the Boltzmann relation. The dispersion relation is
2+k | |
\omega | |
c |
2 | |
s |