Flute instability in the plasma shell of the earth's magnetosphere

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)

OSTI ID:7023982

Ivanov, V N; Pokhotelov, O A

In the plasma shell of the earth's magnetosphere, the surfaces of constant pressure may not coincide with surfaces of constant specific volume. This circumstance forces a reexamination of the theory for the flute instability, in which the pressure has been assumed to remain constant on surfaces of constant specific volume. The MHD equations for flute waves in a curvilinear magnetic field are used to show that an instability of a new type, with a pressure which does not remain constant on surfaces of constant specific volume, can occur in the plasma shell of the magnetosphere. An expression is derived for the growth rate of this instability. Analysis of the equation also shows that perturbations with wavelengths shorter than the ion Larmor radius are stable by virtue of magnetodrift effects. The growth rates of the flute instabilities are calculated for both a dipole magnetic field and an arbitrary magnetic-field configuration. Growth rates calculated for typical values of the characteristics of the earth's plasma shell are reported.

• Research Organization: Institute of Earth Physics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR
• OSTI ID: 7023982
• Journal Information: Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Plasma Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 13:12; ISSN SJPPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUTE INSTABILITY
HYDRODYNAMICS
INSTABILITY
INSTABILITY GROWTH RATES
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC SURFACES
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA MACROINSTABILITIES
PLASMA PRESSURE
RADIATION BELTS