A first assessment of the free energy in nongyrotropic plasmas

Introduction of gyrophase bunching in a particle population can enhance previously existing instabilities or destabilize a thoroughly passive magnetoplasma. The occurrence and intensity of these effects depend on the properties of the background medium and the nature of the gyrophase organization that brings about nongyrotropy. As a first step towards the characterization of the nongyrotropic free energy that drives the stimulated wave activity, this analysis studies the dependence of nongyrotropic growth rates on several gyrophase bunching and magnetoplasma parameters. In general, the unstable modes are reasonably rugged and endure sizeable modifications in their environment before quenching occurs.