Whistler Heat Flux Instability at High Beta
Enhanced fluctuations from electromagnetic heat flux instabilities in collisionless plasmas may, through wave-particle scattering, constrain the electron heat flux q{sub e} which flows parallel to the background magnetic field. This manuscript examines the linear Vlasov theory predictions for threshold conditions on the whistler heat flux instability at high {beta}{sub e}, the electron beta, a situation which may have application to both solar wind and astrophysical plasmas. Theory predicts a threshold heat flux which scales approximately as {beta}{sup -0.9}{sub e}. One possible consequence of this instability is that it imposes an upper bound on q{sub e}. We discuss possible applications of such a heat flux limit in the cooling flows of clusters of galaxies with {beta}{sub e}>>1. (c) (c) 2000. The American Astronomical Society.
- OSTI ID:
- 20216509
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 529, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: 1 Feb 2000; ISSN 0004-637X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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