Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
One possible mechanism for ring current proton losses is the electrostatic ioncyclotron instability. Since typical ring-current parameters involve values of β of the order of one, the electron response must be treated electromagnetically. To this end, the effect of electromagnetic corrections on the electrostatic ioncyclotron instability is discussed. It is shown that the electromagnetic response of the electrons has been only partially included in previous studies. A relatively simple expression for the growth rate, including all relevant corrections, is derived. On the basis of this expression, growth rates for typical ring-current parameters are calculated and compared with previous results. Flute-like modes are shown not to be affected by these corrections.