Representations of currents and magnetic fields in isotopic magnetohydrostatic plasma

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA01p00251· OSTI ID:5254465

Heinemann, M ^[1]; Pontius, Jr, D H ^[2]

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1. Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)
2. Rice Univ., Houston, TX (United States)

The authors develop the theory describing electric currents in magnetized plasma for the case of static equilibrium with isotropic pressure. The current density is determined by pressure balance and charge conservation. They show that the current density can be expressed as the sum of the current density determined by plasma pressure gradients, J{sub p} = c{del}F x {del}P, and the force-free current density, J{sub f} = gB, where F = {integral} ds/B is the flux tube volume per unit flux measured from a surface at which the normal component of J{sub p} vanishes, P is the scalar pressure, and g is a field line constant. The expression explicitly satisfies charge conservation, and its perpendicular component is the usual perpendicular current density. In the absence of force-free currents, J is a curl; in this case it is possible to introduce a magnetic scalar potential, {psi}, that satisfies the equation {del}{sup 2}{psi} = {minus}4{pi}{del}{center dot}P{del}F; the magnetic field can then be determined from B = {minus}{del}{psi} {minus} 4{pi}P{del}F.

• OSTI ID: 5254465
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:A1; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGE CONSERVATION
CURRENT DENSITY
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
EQUILIBRIUM PLASMA
GLOBAL ASPECTS
ISOTROPY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MORPHOLOGY
PLASMA
PLASMA PRESSURE
PRESSURE GRADIENTS