Published June 2008 | Version v1
Journal article

Magnetic instabilities in collisionless astrophysical rotating plasma with anisotropic pressure

  • 1. Institute of Nuclear Fusion, Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, 1, Kurchatov Sq., Moscow 123182 (Russian Federation)
  • 2. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, 1, Aleksidze Str., Tbilisi 0193 (Georgia)
  • 3. Kharadze Abastumani National Astrophysical Observatory, 2a, Kazbegi Ave., Tbilisi 0160 (Georgia)
  • 4. University of Saskatchewan, 116 Science Place, Saskatoon S7N 5E2 (Canada)
  • 5. Syzran Branch of Samara Technical University, 45, Sovetskaya Str., Syzran, Samara Region 446001 (Russian Federation)

Description

A technique is developed for analytical study of instabilities in collisionless astrophysical rotating plasma with anisotropic pressure that may lead to magnetic turbulence. Description is based on a pair of equations for perturbations of the radial magnetic field and the sum of magnetic field and perpendicular plasma pressures. From these equations, a canonical second-order differential equation for the perturbed radial magnetic field is derived and, subsequently, the dispersion relation for local perturbations. The paper predicts two varieties of hybrid instabilities due to the effects of differential plasma rotation and pressure anisotropy: The rotational-firehose and rotational-mirror ones. When the gravitation force is weak compared with the perpendicular pressure gradient, a new family of instabilities (the pressure-gradient-driven) is revealed

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
15
Journal Issue
6
Journal Page Range
p. 062904-062904.8
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
40002974
Subject category
S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
Descriptors DEI
ANISOTROPY; ASTROPHYSICS; DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS; DISPERSION RELATIONS; GRAVITATION; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PERTURBATION THEORY; PLASMA INSTABILITY; PLASMA PRESSURE; PRESSURE GRADIENTS; ROTATING PLASMA
Descriptors DEC
EQUATIONS; INSTABILITY; PHYSICS; PLASMA

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2008 American Institute of Physics