Representations of currents and magnetic fields in anisotropic magnetohydrostatic plasma

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA095iA06p07789· OSTI ID:5268578

Heinemann, M ^[1]

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1. Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)

The authors discuss the mathematical representation of the electric current density and the magnetic field in equilibrium anisotropic magnetized plasma for which the particle motions parallel to the magnetic field are adiabatic. The current density is the sum of contributions due to plasma-pressure currents and force-free currents. The plasma pressure contribution can be expressed in terms of a vector field that is a function of the equatorial parallel pressure, the equatorial pitch angel distribution, and the magnetic filed geometry. In the absence of force-free currents it is possible to introduce a magnetic scalar potential in the presence of anisotropic magnetized plasma. The second-order partial differential equation governing the scalar potentail expresses the full coupling between the plasma and the magnetic field.

• OSTI ID: 5268578
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:A6; 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
ADIABATIC PROCESSES
ANISOTROPY
CURRENT DENSITY
CURRENTS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
EQUATIONS
LOSS CONE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA PRESSURE