Electron-cyclotron maser instability caused by hot electrons

Abstract

The electron-cyclotron maser instability is studied for energetic electrons with a loss-cone distribution. The instability can occur at all angles of propagation for a wide range of parameters. The growth rate is significantly reduced by the presence of a population of cold electrons, and the instability can be suppressed if the density of the cold electrons is sufficiently large and the temperature of the energetic electrons is not too high.