Electric Field in a Double Layer and the Imparted Momentum

Journal Article · Fri Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2006 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.065002· OSTI ID:20777027

Fruchtman, A ^[1]

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1. Holon Academic Institute of Technology, 52 Golomb Street, Holon 58102 (Israel)

It is shown that the net momentum delivered by the large electric field inside a one-dimensional double layer is zero. This is demonstrated through an analysis of the momentum balance in the double layer at the boundary between the ionosphere and the aurora cavity. For the recently observed double layer in a current-free plasma expanding along a divergent magnetic field, an analysis of the evolution of the radially averaged variables shows that the increase of plasma thrust results from the magnetic-field pressure balancing the plasma pressure in the direction of acceleration, rather than from electrostatic pressure.

• OSTI ID: 20777027
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 96, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.065002; (c) 2006 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EVOLUTION
IONOSPHERE
LAYERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA PRESSURE