Electrostatic structure of the rotational discontinuity: The elementary pulse

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.864809· OSTI ID:6713226

Wang, D; Sonnerup, B U

An analysis is presented of the rotational discontinuity in a collision-free plasma when the width of the discontinuity is comparable to the Debye length, lambda/sub D/, so that a large deviation from charge neutrality occurs. It is found that such discontinuities have positive electrostatic potentials and structures similar to those of ion-acoustic solitons. The tangential magnetic field changes direction by a small angle ..delta..theta across the discontinuity, where ..delta..theta is of the order of lambda/sub D//lambda/sub i/, lambda/sub i/ being the ion inertial length. The polarization is left handed. These elementary pulse solutions exist only in a limited range of ..beta../sub x/e and ..beta../sub x/i values where ..beta../sub x/e and ..beta../sub x/i are the ratios of electron and ion pressure to magnetic pressure, the latter based on the magnetic field component B/sub x/, normal to the layer. The possibility that rotational discontinuities with a large angle change ..delta..theta are composed of wave trains of elementary pulses is discussed. Applications in the solar wind, at the magnetopause, and above the auroral zones are examined briefly.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
• OSTI ID: 6713226
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Fluids; (United States) Vol. 27:7; ISSN PFLDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700105* -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Plasma Kinetics-Theoretical-- (-1987)
AURORAL ZONES
COLD PLASMA
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
COULOMB FIELD
DEBYE LENGTH
DIMENSIONS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
LENGTH
MAGNETIZATION
MAGNETOPAUSE
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
USES