Microphysically modified magnetosonic modes in collisionless, high-β plasmas

Majeski, S.; Kunz, M. W.; Squire, J.

doi:10.1017/s0022377823000429

Title: Microphysically modified magnetosonic modes in collisionless, high-β plasmas

Journal Article · Wed May 24 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of Plasma Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022377823000429· OSTI ID:1992105

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Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
Princeton Univ., NJ (United States); Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
University of Otago (New Zealand)

With the support of hybrid-kinetic simulations and analytic theory, we describe the nonlinear behaviour of long-wavelength non-propagating (NP) modes and fast magnetosonic waves in high-β collisionless plasmas, with particular attention to their excitation of and reaction to kinetic micro-instabilities. The perpendicularly pressure balanced polarization of NP modes produces an excess of perpendicular pressure over parallel pressure in regions where the plasma β is increased. For mode amplitudes |δB/B₀|≳0.3, this excess excites the mirror instability. Particle scattering off these micro-scale mirrors frustrates the nonlinear saturation of transit-time damping, ensuring that large-amplitude NP modes continue their decay to small amplitudes. At asymptotically large wavelengths, we predict that the mirror-induced scattering will be large enough to interrupt transit-time damping entirely, isotropizing the pressure perturbations and morphing the collisionless NP mode into the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) entropy mode. In fast waves, a fluctuating pressure anisotropy drives both mirror and firehose instabilities when the wave amplitude satisfies |δB/B₀|≳2β^-1. The induced particle scattering leads to delayed shock formation and MHD-like wave dynamics. Taken alongside prior work on self-interrupting Alfvén waves and self-sustaining ion-acoustic waves, our results establish a foundation for new theories of electromagnetic turbulence in low-collisionality, high-β plasmas such as the intracluster medium, radiatively inefficient accretion flows and the near-Earth solar wind.

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Research Organization:: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Science Foundation (NSF); Rutherford Discovery Fellowship

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-09CH11466; 1944972; ACI-1548562; RDF-U001804

OSTI ID:: 1992105

Journal Information:: Journal of Plasma Physics, Vol. 89, Issue 3; ISSN 0022-3778

Publisher:: Cambridge University PressCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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