We discuss plasma instabilities in the upstream of supernova shock waves due to nonthermal particles. The presence of nonthermal particle current interacting with the thermal plasma through fluctuating electromagnetic fields is shown to result in specific MHD instabilities. Basic mechanisms of generation of magnetic fluctuations in interstellar shock waves with a presence of some tiny neutral component are considered, with applications to SN1006. We discuss the effect of nonresonant generation of long-wavelength magnetic field fluctuations in the connection with the origin of astrophysical magnetic fields and energetic charged particles.

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