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Title: Force-free Jacobian equilibria for Vlasov-Maxwell plasmas

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4826502· OSTI ID:22218509
 [1]
  1. Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130 (United States)

New analytic force-free Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria for thin current sheets are presented. The magnetic flux densities are expressed in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions of one Cartesian spatial coordinate. The magnetic flux densities reduce to previously reported hyperbolic functions in one limit and sinusoidal functions in another limit of the modulus k. A much wider class of nonlinear force-free Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria open expanded possibilities for modeling of solar system, astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Modified Maxwellian distribution functions are determined explicitly in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions. Conditions for double peaked distribution functions that could be unstable are developed.

OSTI ID:
22218509
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English