Does ion tearing exist

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91GL00123· OSTI ID:5371415

Pellat, R; Coroniti, F V; Pritchett, P L ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Los Angeles (USA)

In a quasi-neutral sheet the tearing mode is strongly stabilized by electron compressibility. The authors demonstrate that previous attempts to remove the compressibility by wave turbulent pitch-angle scattering or by non-adiabatic stochastic first invariant diffusion are incorrect since these processes do not change the pertubed number of particles on a flux tube. Only spatial diffusion of electrons across magnetic flux surfaces can remove the stabilizing effect of compressibility; in this case, the electron, but not the ion, tearing mode may exist.

• OSTI ID: 5371415
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 18:2; ISSN GPRLA; ISSN 0094-8276
• 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
COMPRESSION
DIFFUSION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FERMIONS
INSTABILITY
LEPTONS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
MAGNETOTAIL
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
STABILITY
TEARING INSTABILITY