ISSN:
1089-7666
Source:
AIP Digital Archive
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
A purely growing mode propagating exactly parallel to the ambient magnetic field, driven by a cross-field current was first discussed by Chang et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 1104 (1990)]. This paper examines the nonlinear evolution of this instability and the resulting heating of the plasma with particular emphasis on application to the quasiperpendicular collisionless shock wave. It is found that when the cross-field current is due to electrons, the instability saturates to extremely low level and the resulting heating becomes insignificant, whereas if the ions are allowed to drift the saturation level of the unstable wave is very large with substantial heating of both electrons and ions. On the other hand, if the electron drift is determined by equilibrium conditions such as the magnetic field and density inhomogeneities and local electric field at the shock front, it is found that the plasma heating becomes greatly enhanced.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.859787
