A statistical model of magnetic islands in a current layer

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3286437· OSTI ID:21344639

Fermo, R L; Drake, J F; Swisdak, M ^[1]

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1. Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-3511 (United States)

This letter describes a statistical model of the dynamics of magnetic islands in very large current layers that develop in space plasma. Two parameters characterize the island distribution: the flux psi contained in the island and the area A it encloses. The integrodifferential evolution equation for this distribution function is based on rules that govern the small-scale generation of secondary islands, the rates of island growth, and island merging. The numerical solutions of this equation produce island distributions relevant to the magnetosphere and solar corona. The solution of a differential equation for large islands explicitly shows the role merging plays in island growth.

• OSTI ID: 21344639
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3286437; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
MAGNETIC ISLANDS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
SOLAR CORONA
STATISTICAL MODELS
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
ATMOSPHERES
EQUATIONS
FUNCTIONS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
SIMULATION
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE