Two-dimensional hybrid simulations of the oblique electromagnetic alpha/proton instability in the solar wind

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3116651· OSTI ID:21277016

Quanming, Lu ^[1]; Aimin, Du ^[1]; Xing, Li ^[1]

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1. School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026 (China)

In the solar wind, alpha particles are observed to flow faster than the core protons. In this paper, two-dimensional hybrid simulations are performed to investigate the nonlinear evolution of oblique Alfven waves excited by an alpha/proton beam instability in a low beta plasma. The propagation angles of the excited waves are within a finite range suggesting the generation of oblique Alfven waves. During the nonlinear evolution, both the wave numbers and frequencies of the waves drift to smaller values, and the propagation angles decrease. At the same time, the propagation angle of the dominant mode also changes. Eventually the plasma system reaches a marginally stable state according to linear theory.

• OSTI ID: 21277016
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 16; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALFVEN WAVES
ALPHA PARTICLES
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
LOW-BETA PLASMA
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
PROTONS
SOLAR WIND
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION