Effect of the return plasma current radial profile on the dynamics of resistive hose instability of a relativistic electron beam propagating in a dense gas-plasma medium

The effect of the return plasma current with a characteristic radius differing from the relevant radius of the current density in a relativistic electron beam on the dynamics of the resistive hose instability of the beam is analyzed. The equations are derived for the linear stage of instability evolution. It is shown that when the return plasma current is broader in the radial direction (as compared to the beam), the resistive hose instability becomes noticeably weaker.