On the two-fluid modification of the resistive tearing instability

Journal Article · Sun Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2759893· OSTI ID:20975146

Bian, N; Vekstein, G ^[1]

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1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester M60 1QD (United Kingdom)

We consider the two-fluid resistive tearing mode for an inviscid highly conducting (a large Lundquist number S) plasma in a sheared force-free magnetic field. It is shown that under the 'constant-{psi}' approximation there are four possible instability regimes, each of which corresponds to the specific domain in the parameter space ({beta},d{sub i}). Here, {beta} is a standard plasma thermal pressure parameter, while d{sub i}{identical_to}c/({omega}{sub pi}l) is the normalized ion inertial skin depth, with l being the shear length of the magnetic field. A qualitative analysis emphasizing when and why the transitions from one regime to another occur is also provided.

• OSTI ID: 20975146
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 14; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
APPROXIMATIONS
FORCE-FREE MAGNETIC FIELDS
IONS
MODIFICATIONS
PLASMA
SHEAR
TEARING INSTABILITY