A family of Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions describing a transition from the Harris sheet to the force-free Harris sheet
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Date
07/2020Funder
Grant ID
ST/K000950/1
ST/S000402/1
ST/N000609/1
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We discuss a family of Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for current sheet equilibria that are intermediate cases between the Harris sheet and the force-free (or modified) Harris sheet. These equilibrium distribution functions have potential applications to space and astrophysical plasmas. The existence of these distribution function had been briefly discussed in by Harrison and Neukirch 2009, but here it is shown that their approach runs into problems in the limit where the guide field goes to zero. The nature of this problem will be discussed and an alternative approach will be suggested that avoids the problem. This is achieved by considering a slight variation of the magnetic field profile, which allows a smooth transition between the Harris and force-free Harris sheet cases.
Citation
Neukirch , T , Wilson , F & Allanson , O 2020 , ' A family of Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions describing a transition from the Harris sheet to the force-free Harris sheet ' , Journal of Plasma Physics , vol. 86 , no. 3 , 825860302 . https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022377820000604
Publication
Journal of Plasma Physics
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0022-3778Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). This work has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies or with permission. Permission for further reuse of this content should be sought from the publisher or the rights holder. This is the author created accepted manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022377820000604
Description
Funding: UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) via the consolidated grants ST/K000950/1, ST/N000609/1, and ST/S000402/1(T.N. and F.W.) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Highlight Topic Grant no. NE/P017274/1 (Rad-Sat) (O.A.). T.N. and F.W. would also like to thank the University of St Andrews for general financial support.Collections
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