Saturation mechanism of the Weibel instability in weakly magnetized plasmas
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588 (Japan)
The saturation mechanism of the Weibel instability is investigated theoretically by considering the evolution of currents in numerous cylindrical beams that are generated in the initial stage of the instability. Based on a physical model of the beams, it is shown that the magnetic field strength attains a maximum value when the currents in the beams evolve into the Alfven current and that there exist two saturation regimes. The theoretical prediction of the magnetic field strength at saturation is in good agreement with the results of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations for a wide range of initial anisotropy.
- OSTI ID:
- 20764440
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 12, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2017942; (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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