Finite-Larmor-radius equations for collisionless plasmas in general magnetic fields

Technical Report · Mon Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1970

OSTI ID:5794553

Bowers, E

Expressing the Vlasov equation in a local system of coordinates defined by the magnetic field, the distribution function is expanded in terms of a small parameter epsilon (assumed <1), the ratio of the ion Larmor radius to a characteristic length of change perpendicular to the magnetic field. Since the finite-Larmor-radius (FLR) approximation restricts consideration to weakly unstable systems, the equations apply only to magnetic configurations in which the curvature of the lines of force is weak. In allowing for the effects of plasma pressure (..beta.. approx. 1) it is found that the FLR corrections to the stress tensor take their simplest form in the center-of mass frame, while the case of low ..beta.. yields equations best expressed in the guiding-center frame. A comparison is made with magnetic viscosity terms derived using different ordering schemes. 17 refs.

• Research Organization: Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Plasma Physics Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• OSTI ID: 5794553
• Report Number(s): MATT-772; ON: DE88002033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700103* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Kinetics
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLASMA
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
TENSORS