An exact collisionless equilibrium for the Force-Free Harris Sheet with low plasma beta
Abstract
We present a first discussion and analysis of the physical properties of a new exact collisionless equilibrium for a one-dimensional nonlinear force-free magnetic field, namely, the force-free Harris sheet. The solution allows any value of the plasma beta, and crucially below unity, which previous nonlinear force-free collisionless equilibria could not. The distribution function involves infinite series of Hermite polynomials in the canonical momenta, of which the important mathematical properties of convergence and non-negativity have recently been proven. Plots of the distribution function are presented for the plasma beta modestly below unity, and we compare the shape of the distribution function in two of the velocity directions to a Maxwellian distribution.
Citation
Allanson , O D , Neukirch , T , Wilson , F & Troscheit , S 2015 , ' An exact collisionless equilibrium for the Force-Free Harris Sheet with low plasma beta ' , Physics of Plasmas , vol. 22 , no. 10 , 102116 . https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4934611
Publication
Physics of Plasmas
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1070-664XType
Journal article
Rights
Copyright 2015 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Description
Funding: STFC Consolidated Grant [ST/K000950/1] (OA, TN & FW) and a Doctoral Training Grant [ST/K502327/1] (OA). EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant [EP/K503162/1] (ST).Collections
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