Hybrid simulations of thin current sheets

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93JA02098· OSTI ID:183245

Burkhart, G R; Dusenbery, P B; Speiser, T W ^[1]; Lopez, R E ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
2. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)

A one-dimensional, hybrid simulation code is used to study current sheets with a nonzero normal magnetic field B{sub z} and a dawn-to-dusk electric field E{sub y}. Such configurations are dependent upon only two parameters: the authors use the normalized normal magnetic field B{sub z}=B{sub z}/(4{pi}n{sub b}v{sub T}{sup 2}){sup 1/2} and normalized electric field v{sub D}=(1/v{sub T})(cE{sub y}/B{sub z}), where v{sub T} is the thermal velocity of ions prior to their interaction with the current sheet and n{sub b} is the number density outside the current sheet (at the simulation boundary). A third parameter that is relevant to the motion of particles in current sheets is {kappa}{sub A}, the value of {kappa}=(Rmin/{rho}max){sup 1/2} for particles of average energy. The authors find that if either B{sub z} is close to or greater than 1, or if {kappa}{sub A} is close to 1, a rotational mode develops in which the z=0 current rotates with the ion sense about the normal magnetic field, while for small values of both B{sub z} or {kappa}{sub A}, the configuration is quasi-steady. To achieve values of {kappa}{sub A} of the order of or larger than 1, the authors decrease the value of v{sub D} uniformly. They find that the magnetic field fluctuations and particle distribution functions are similar in many respects to what was observed in the day 240, 1986, AMPTE/CCE current disruption event, an event that appears to be located at the site of initiation of current disruption and related particle energization. 27 refs., 20 figs., 1 tab.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 183245
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A12 Vol. 98; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
KINETIC EQUATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC STORMS
PLASMA FLUID EQUATIONS
PLASMA SHEET
THICKNESS