Cyclotron-Induced Damping of Gould –Trivelpiece Modes in Plasma Column with Dual Ion Species

Cyclotron damping of Gould –Trivelpiece modes is analysed in this study for a cylindrical plasma column containing either SF₆⁻ or K⁺ ions. The study highlights the contrasting roles of ion polarity in mediating wave–particle interactions that govern damping behaviour. It is observed that negative ions, due to their higher mass and weaker cyclotron resonance, result in reduced damping rates of TG modes. Conversely, positive ions enable stronger cyclotron coupling, leading to enhanced damping through more effective resonance with the wave field. Furthermore, the sensitivity of cyclotron damping rates to plasma electronegativity exhibits opposite trends for negative and positive ion plasmas. These findings underscore the critical influence of ion species and plasma composition on the propagation and attenuation of electrostatic waves in electronegative plasma columns, with implications for wave control and energy dissipation in beam-plasma systems.