Landau damping in space plasmas with generalized (r,q) distribution function

Space plasmas possessing non-Maxwellian particle distribution functions with an enhanced high-energy tail and shoulder in the profile of distribution function take an important role to the wave particle interaction. In the present paper Landau damping of electron plasma (Langmuir) waves and ion-acoustic waves in a hot, isotropic, unmagnetized plasma is studied with the generalized (r,q) distribution function. The results show that for the Langmuir oscillations Landau damping becomes severe as the spectral index r or q reduces. However, for the ion-acoustic waves Landau damping is more sensitive to the ion temperature than the spectral indices.