Rotational discontinuities in anisotropic plasmas

Journal Article · Mon Jul 06 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92GL01127· OSTI ID:7174736

Omidi, N ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, San Diego (United States)

The kinetic structure of rotational discontinuities (RDs) in anisotropic plasmas with T[sub [perpendicular]]/T[sub [parallel]] > 1 is investigated by using a one-dimensional electromagnetic hybrid code. To form the RD, a new approach is used where the plasma is injected from one boundary and reflected from the other, resulting in the generation of a traveling fast shock and an RD. Unlike the previously used methods, no a priori assumptions are made regarding the initial structure (i.e. width or sense of rotation) of the rotational discontinuity. The results show that across the RD both the magnetic field strength and direction, as well as the plasma density change. Given that such a change can also be associated with an intermediate shock, the Rankine-Hugoniot relations are used to confirm that the observed structures are indeed RDs. It is found that the thickness of RDs is a few ion inertial lengths and is independent of the rotation angle. Also, the preferred sense of rotation is in the electron sense; however, RDs with a rotation angle larger than 180[degree] are found to be unstable, changing their rotation to a stable ion sense.

• OSTI ID: 7174736
• Journal Information: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States), Journal Name: Geophysical Research Letters (American Geophysical Union); (United States) Vol. 19:13; ISSN GPRLAJ; ISSN 0094-8276
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANISOTROPY
DIMENSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH MAGNETOSPHERE
EQUATIONS
FLUID MECHANICS
HYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MAGNETOPAUSE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
RANKINE-HUGONIOT EQUATIONS
REFLECTION
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
THICKNESS