Published June 16, 2010 | Version v1
Journal article

Nonlinear mirror structures in a plasma with thermal pressure anisotropy

  • 1. P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, 53 Leninsky ave., 119991 Moscow, Russia, and Space Research Institute, 84/31 Profsoyuznaya str., 117997 Moscow (Russian Federation)
  • 2. Universite de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur, B.P. 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4 (France)
  • 3. Institute of Atmospheric Physics, AS CR, Prague 14131 (Czech Republic)

Description

An asymptotic model based on a reductive perturbative expansion of the drift kinetic and the Maxwell equations, is used to demonstrate that, near the instability threshold, the nonlinear dynamics of mirror modes in a magnetized plasma with anisotropic ion temperatures, involves a subcritical bifurcation, leading to the formation of small-scale structures with amplitudes comparable with the ambient magnetic field. The influence of quasilinear effects on the initial stage of formation of mirror structures is discussed.

Additional details

Identifiers

Publishing Information

Journal Title
AIP Conference Proceedings
Journal Volume
1242
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
p. 164-174
ISSN
0094-243X
CODEN
APCPCS

Conference

Title
Interactions, patterns, and turbulence
Acronym
International symposium on plasmas in the laboratory and the Universe
Dates
1-4 Dec 2009
Place
Como (Italy)

Optional Information

Notes
(c) 2010 American Institute of Physics