One dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of relativistic Buneman instability

Summary form only given. Spatio-temporal evolution of relativistic Buneman instability has been investigated in one dimension using a particle-in-cell simulation code. Starting from the excitation of the instability, its evolution has been followed numerically till its quenching and beyond. It is found that the maximum growth rate(γ_max) reduces due to relativistic effects and varies with γ_e0 and m/M as γ_max ~ √(3/4γ_e0) (m/2M)^1/3, where γ_e0 is Lorentz factor associated with the initial electron beam velocity(v_o) and (m/M) is the electron to ion mass ratio. Further it is observed that in contrast to the non-relativistic results^1,2 at the saturation point, ratio of electrostatic field energy density (E²/8π) to the initial drift kinetic energy density (W₀) scales with γ_e0 as ~1/γ_e0². These results are found to be in good agreement with that derived using fluid theory.