Lower hybrid wave instability in a spin-polarized degenerate plasma

Lower hybrid (LH) wave instability excited due to an electron beam in a spin-polarized degenerate plasma is studied. Using the Separate Spin Evolution quantum hydrodynamic model, incorporating Coulomb exchange interaction and Bohm potential, the general dispersion relation of nearly perpendicular propagating electrostatic waves is derived. Furthermore, in the low-frequency limit, the dispersion of LH wave is obtained. It is found that the electron spin polarization and beam streaming speed reduce the growth rate as well as the k-domain. However, the beam density and the propagation angle enhance both the growth rate and k-domain of LH instability. In addition, the contribution of the Bohm potential term increases the intensity of the growth rate. All these effects may have a strong bearing on the wave and instability phenomena in spin-polarized plasmas.