Effects of finite current channel width on the current convective instability

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1985 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA05p04311· OSTI ID:5476250

Satyanarayana, P; Chen, J; Keskinen, M J

The effects of the finite current channel width on the current convective instability are studied both analytically and numerically. First, using a sharp boundary field-aligned current distribution which has a finite width along the plasma density gradient, the dispersion relation is obtained analytically. It is found that for the long wavelength modes (k/sub y/ d <<1) where the nonlocal effects are most prominent, the growth rate ..gamma.. is proportional to Vertical BarV-bar/sub d/ d/L/sup 2/Vertical Bar in the collisional limit (v/sub in/ >>Vertical Bar..omega..Vertical Bar), where d is the half width of the current channel, L is the plasma density gradient scale length, V-bar/sub d/ is the field-aligned current velocity, v/sub in/ is the ion-neutral collision frequency, and ..omega.. is the perturbation frequency. For the long wavelength modes in the inertial limit (v/sub in/ <

• Research Organization: Science Applications, Inc., McLean, Virginia
• OSTI ID: 5476250
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 90:A5; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
&amp; Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COLLISIONS
CURRENTS
DISPERSION RELATIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
EARTH PLANET
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRON-ION COLLISIONS
ION COLLISIONS
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLANETS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMASPHERE