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Title: Constraints for the aperiodic O-mode streaming instability

Abstract

In plasmas, where the thermal energy density exceeds the magnetic energy density (β{sub ∥} > 1), the aperiodic ordinary mode (O-mode) instability is driven by an excess of parallel temperature A = T{sub ⊥}/T{sub ∥} < 1 (where ∥ and ⊥ denote directions relative to the uniform magnetic field). When stimulated by parallel plasma streams, the instability conditions extend to low beta states, i.e., β{sub ∥} < 1, and recent studies have proven the existence of a new regime, where the anisotropy threshold decreases steeply with lowering β{sub ∥} → 0 if the streaming velocity is sufficiently high. However, the occurrence of this instability is questionable especially in the low-beta plasmas, where the electrostatic two-stream instabilities are expected to develop much faster in the process of relaxation of the counterstreams. It is therefore proposed here to identify the instability conditions for the O-mode below those required for the onset of the electrostatic instability. A hierarchy of these two instabilities is established for both the low β{sub ∥} < 1 and large β{sub ∥} > 1 plasmas. The conditions where the O-mode instability can operate efficiently are markedly constrained by the electrostatic instabilities especially in the low-beta plasmas.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];
  1. Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics (CmPA), Celestijnenlaan 200B, 3001 Leuven (Belgium)
  2. Institut für Theoretische Physik, Lehrstuhl IV: Weltraum- und Astrophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum (Germany)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22407980
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 22; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ANISOTROPY; ENERGY DENSITY; LIMITING VALUES; LOW-BETA PLASMA; MAGNETIC FIELDS; RELAXATION; TWO-STREAM INSTABILITY; VELOCITY

Citation Formats

Lazar, M., Institut für Theoretische Physik, Lehrstuhl IV: Weltraum- und Astrophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Schlickeiser, R., Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Poedts, S., Stockem, A., and Vafin, S., E-mail: mlazar@tp4.rub.de. Constraints for the aperiodic O-mode streaming instability. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4905707.
Lazar, M., Institut für Theoretische Physik, Lehrstuhl IV: Weltraum- und Astrophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Schlickeiser, R., Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Poedts, S., Stockem, A., & Vafin, S., E-mail: mlazar@tp4.rub.de. Constraints for the aperiodic O-mode streaming instability. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905707
Lazar, M., Institut für Theoretische Physik, Lehrstuhl IV: Weltraum- und Astrophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Schlickeiser, R., Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Poedts, S., Stockem, A., and Vafin, S., E-mail: mlazar@tp4.rub.de. 2015. "Constraints for the aperiodic O-mode streaming instability". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905707.
@article{osti_22407980,
title = {Constraints for the aperiodic O-mode streaming instability},
author = {Lazar, M. and Institut für Theoretische Physik, Lehrstuhl IV: Weltraum- und Astrophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum and Schlickeiser, R. and Research Department Plasmas with Complex Interactions, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44780 Bochum and Poedts, S. and Stockem, A. and Vafin, S., E-mail: mlazar@tp4.rub.de},
abstractNote = {In plasmas, where the thermal energy density exceeds the magnetic energy density (β{sub ∥} > 1), the aperiodic ordinary mode (O-mode) instability is driven by an excess of parallel temperature A = T{sub ⊥}/T{sub ∥} < 1 (where ∥ and ⊥ denote directions relative to the uniform magnetic field). When stimulated by parallel plasma streams, the instability conditions extend to low beta states, i.e., β{sub ∥} < 1, and recent studies have proven the existence of a new regime, where the anisotropy threshold decreases steeply with lowering β{sub ∥} → 0 if the streaming velocity is sufficiently high. However, the occurrence of this instability is questionable especially in the low-beta plasmas, where the electrostatic two-stream instabilities are expected to develop much faster in the process of relaxation of the counterstreams. It is therefore proposed here to identify the instability conditions for the O-mode below those required for the onset of the electrostatic instability. A hierarchy of these two instabilities is established for both the low β{sub ∥} < 1 and large β{sub ∥} > 1 plasmas. The conditions where the O-mode instability can operate efficiently are markedly constrained by the electrostatic instabilities especially in the low-beta plasmas.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4905707},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22407980}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 1,
volume = 22,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}