Stabilization of the electrostatic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in high. beta. plasmas

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA086iA11p08991· OSTI ID:5948387

Huba, J D

A fully self-consistent theory of the electrostatic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in finite ..beta.. plasmas is presented. The instability is driven by a parallel velocity flow which is sheared transverse to the magnetic field. The important features of our analysis are as follows: Vlasov theory is used so that finite Larmor radius effects and wave-particle resonances are properly treated; the complete coupling of electrostatic and electromagnetic oscillations is considered (i.e., both the transverse and compressional magnetic fluctuations); and the del B orbit modifications (i.e., both resonant and nonresonant) are treated self-consistently. The primary result is that the electrostatic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is stable in high ..beta.. plasmas. The actual value of ..beta.. for stabilization depends upon the parameters. The stabilization is mainly attributed to resonant and nonresonant del Beta effects. These results are applied to several space plasmas (i.e., polar cusp, cometary tails, magnetopause) and estimates of the anomalous diffusion coefficient associated with this instability are presented.

• Research Organization: Science Applications, Inc., McLean, Virginia 22102
• OSTI ID: 5948387
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:A11; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700107* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Instabilities
BOLTZMANN-VLASOV EQUATION
COMETS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
EQUATIONS
FLUCTUATIONS
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
HIGH-BETA PLASMA
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETOPAUSE
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
POLAR CUSP
SHEAR
VARIATIONS