- Drift Wave instabilities do not require neither a magnetic field, nor a magnetic configuration for which lower magnetic-energy states exist.
- They occur in the simplest and most ‘universal’ of plasma configurations, namely a plasma of non-uniform density maintained in equilibrium by a strong, essentially straight magnetic field.
- Draw upon the thermal energy of the plasma as it expands across a magnetic field.
- Unlike flute instabilities, drift waves have finite wavelengths and the plasma motion is decoupled from the motion of the magnetic field so as to avoid unfavorable bending of the field lines.
- Because of the difficulties of gaining energy this way, drift waves tend to have a rather small growth.
- Do not exhibit a significant perturbation of the magnetic field but of density and flow velocity