Theory of negative-energy waves in the solar atmosphere

The effect of electro magnetic (EM) waves on negative-energy perturbations (NEPs) is investigated within the framework of Maxwell-drift kinetic theory. It is found that the pon-deromotive force and its radial gradient can modify the conditions for the existence of the perpendicular NEPs, which are found to be the most important perturbations. It is shown that if the profile of the EM field energy is properly chosen, the EM wave will have a stabilizing effect on the electron NEP so that the fraction of the active particles associated with the perpendicular NEP decreases from the plasma interior to the edge. This result might have important implications for solar atmosphere.