Kinetic temperature gradient driven modes in inhomogeneous plasmas

New unstable temperature gradient driven modes in an inhomogeneous plasma are identified. These modes represent transient ω ≃ k‖v (e,i) th sound oscillations in magnetized plasma that are kinetically destabilized via Landau interactions. Electron and ion sound branches are unstable for large values of the Larmor radius parameter k⊥ρe,i ≫ 1, respectively. The instability occurs due to a specific plasma response that significantly deviates from Boltzmann distribution in the region k⊥ρi,e ≫ 1 . Pacs: 52.35 Kt, 52.35 Qz Small scale instabilities driven by temperature gradients are believed to be responsible for particle and energy transport in a tokamak. The ion temperature gradient driven turbulence