Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
The properties of certain wave modes excited in a weakly ionized plasma placed in an external d.c. electric field are analyzed from the standpoint of the linearized kinetic equation, the electron steady-state distribution function being taken in the form of the extended Margenau–Davydov and, in particular, Druyvesteinian. The presence of absolute stability cones formed by certain propagation directions is found. The corresponding critical values of the electron drift, destabilizing each of the modes considered, is also evaluated for a plasma with a Druyvesteinian distribution.