Effects of pressure anisotropy on magnetospheric magnetohydrodynamics equilibrium of an internal ring current system

Journal Article · Wed Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2014 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4862037· OSTI ID:22252155

Effects of pressure anisotropy on magnetospheric magnetohydrodynamics equilibrium are studied analytically and numerically, where the plasma is confined by only poloidal magnetic field generated by an internal ring current. The plasma current due to finite pressure can be divided into two components; one remains at isotropic pressure and the other arises from pressure anisotropy. When p{sub ⊥}, the pressure perpendicular to the magnetic field, is larger than p{sub ∥}, the pressure parallel to the magnetic field, those two components of plasma current tend to cancel each other to reduce the total amount of plasma current. Equilibrium beta limit is also examined, where the beta is a ratio of the plasma pressure to the magnetic pressure. The equilibrium beta limit decreases as the pressure anisotropy becomes strong. The beta value is strictly limited by ellipticity of the equilibrium equation when p{sub ∥}>p{sub ⊥}. On the other hand, when p{sub ⊥}>p{sub ∥}, although the tendency of the beta limit agrees with the ellipticity condition of the equilibrium equation, equilibria with a hyperbolic region can be obtained by iterative procedure with practically reasonable convergence criteria.

• OSTI ID: 22252155
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 21; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANISOTROPY
CONVERGENCE
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
ITERATIVE METHODS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
PLASMA PRESSURE
RING CURRENTS