A new approach to the linear theory of single-species tearing in two-dimensional quasi-neutral sheets

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/94JA02743· OSTI ID:207157

Brittnacher, M; Quest, K B; Karimabadi, H ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)

The authors have developed the linear theory of collisionless ion tearing in a two-dimensional magnetotail equilibrium for a single resonant species. They have solved the normal mode problem for tearing instability by an algorithm that employs particle-in-cell simulation to calculate the orbit integrals in the Maxwell-Vlasov eigenmode equation. The results of their single-species tearing analysis can be applied to ion tearing where electron effects are not included. They have calculated the tearing growth rate as a function of the magnetic field component B{sub n} normal to the current sheet for thick and thin current sheets, and show that marginal stability occurs when the normal gyrofrequency {Omega}{sub n} is comparable to the Harris neutral sheet growth rate. A cross-tail B{sub y} component has little effect on the growth rate for B{sub y}{approx_equal}B{sub n}. Even in the limit B{sub y} >> B{sub n}, the mode is strongly stabilized by B{sub n}. They report that random pitch angle scattering can overcome the stabilizing effect of B{sub n} and drive the growth rate up toward the Harris neutral sheet (B{sub n}=0) value when the pitch angle diffusion rate is comparable to {Omega}{sub n}. 35 refs., 9 figs.

• OSTI ID: 207157
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: A3 Vol. 100; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA SHEET
TEARING INSTABILITY
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS