Published November 2007 | Version v1
Journal article

Spin solitons in magnetized pair plasmas

  • 1. Department of Physics, Umeaa University, SE-901 87 Umeaa (Sweden)

Description

A set of fluid equations, taking into account the spin properties of the electrons and positrons in a magnetoplasma, are derived. The magnetohydrodynamic limit of the pair plasma is investigated. It is shown that the microscopic spin properties of the electrons and positrons can lead to interesting macroscopic and collective effects in strongly magnetized plasmas. In particular, it is found that new Alfvenic solitary structures, governed by a modified Korteweg-de Vries equation, are allowed in such plasmas. These solitary structures vanish if the quantum spin effects are neglected. Our results should be of relevance for astrophysical plasmas, e.g., in pulsar magnetospheres, as well as for low-temperature laboratory plasmas

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physics of Plasmas
Journal Volume
14
Journal Issue
11
Journal Page Range
p. 112107-112107.4
ISSN
1070-664X
CODEN
PHPAEN

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2007 American Institute of Physics