Magnetic guide field generation in thin collisionless current sheets
- Abstract
In thin ($\Delta<$ few $\lambda_i$) collisionless current sheets in a space plasma like the magnetospheric tail or magnetopause current layer, magnetic fields can grow {from thermal fluctuation level by the action of the non-magnetic Weibel instability \citep{weibel1959}. }The instability is driven by the counter-streaming electron inflow from the `ion diffusion' (ion inertial Hall) region into the inner current (electron inertial) region after thermalisation by the two-stream instability. Under magnetospheric tail conditions it takes $\sim$ 50 e-folding times ($\sim$ 100 s) for the Weibel field to reach observable amplitudes $|{\bf b}_{\,\rm W}|\sim 1$ nT. In counter-streaming inflows these fields are of guide field type.
- Further Information
- www.ann-geophys.net/28/789/2010
- BibTeX
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@article{id1539, author = {Baumjohann, W. and Nakamura, R. and Treumann, R. A.}, journal = {Annales Geophysicae}, language = {en}, note = {Refereed and substantially re-written Journal version with alphabetically listed authors}, pages = {789-793}, title = {Magnetic guide field generation in thin collisionless current sheets}, url = {www.ann-geophys.net/28/789/2010}, volume = {28}, year = {2010}, }
- EndNote
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%O Journal Article %A Baumjohann, W. %A Nakamura, R. %A Treumann, R. A. %J Annales Geophysicae %G en %O Refereed and substantially re-written Journal version with alphabetically listed authors %P 789-793 %T Magnetic guide field generation in thin collisionless current sheets %U www.ann-geophys.net/28/789/2010 %V 28 %D 2010