Evidence for monochromatic unstable Weibel modes in asymmetric counterstreaming pair plasmas

In this article, an asymmetric counterstreaming distribution function is investigated on the basis of three-dimensional relativistic particle-in-cell simulations for wave propagation at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of the counterstream. For such asymmetric distribution functions, any linear Weibel modes must be isolated and therefore restricted to discrete wavenumber values. Using analytical linear Vlasov theory, this result has recently been proven generally, and has been illustrated by the example of an electron beam counterstreaming with a positron beam. By the means of self-consistent particle-in-cell simulations, in this paper a realistic distribution function is investigated that consists of neutral asymmetric Maxwellian counterstreams. For this scenario, the existence of isolated modes can be confirmed, especially when compared to the case of symmetric counterstreams.