Linear theory of the mirror instability in non‐Maxwellian space plasmas

Pokhotelov, O. A.; Treumann, R. A.; Sagdeev, R. Z.; Balikhin, M. A.; Onishchenko, O. G.; Павленко, В. Б.; Sandberg, Ingmar

doi:10.1029/2001ja009125

Cited by 71 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(91 reference statements)

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“…Linear theory of the mirror instability with arbitrary distribution functions has been considered in Shapiro and Shevchenko (1964); Pokhotelov et al (2002);Hellinger (2007); Califano et al (2008). In particular, simulations by Califano et al (2008) show that near threshold initially Gaussian distributions are flattened by quasi-linear effects for small velocities, which requires the use of the full criterion…”

Section: Mirror Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mirror structures above and below the linear instability threshold: Cluster observations, fluid model and hybrid simulations

et al. 2009

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Abstract. Using 5 years of Cluster data, we present a detailed statistical analysis of magnetic fluctuations associated with mirror structures in the magnetosheath. We especially focus on the shape of these fluctuations which, in addition to quasi-sinusoidal forms, also display deep holes and high peaks. The occurrence frequency and the most probable location of the various types of structures is discussed, together with their relation to local plasma parameters. While these properties have previously been correlated to the β of the plasma, we emphasize here the influence of the distance to the linear mirror instability threshold. This enables us to interpret the observations of mirror structures in a stable plasma in terms of bistability and subcritical bifurcation. The data analysis is supplemented by the prediction of a quasistatic anisotropic MHD model and hybrid numerical simulations in an expanding box aimed at mimicking the magnetosheath plasma. This leads us to suggest a scenario for the formation and evolution of mirror structures.

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Section: Mirror Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mirror structures above and below the linear instability threshold: Cluster observations, fluid model and hybrid simulations

et al. 2009

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“…The most complete theory, including inhomogeneity, finite electron temperatures, and arbitrary distribution functions has recently been given by Pokhotelov et al (2002) and Pokhotelov et al (2003) where the simple quasihydrodynamic criterion for instability has been generalized. In this approach even two previously unknown new branches of the mirror mode have been uncovered, a hydrodynamic and a kinetic branch which under favorable circumstances should occur in nonuniform plasmas with finite-temperature electrons and in some cases can have larger growth rates than the ordinary ion-drift mirror mode.…”

Section: Summary Of Linear Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

The strange physics of low frequency mirror mode turbulence in the high temperature plasma of the magnetosheath

Treumann

Jaroschek

Constantinescu

et al. 2004

Nonlin. Processes Geophys.

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Abstract. Mirror mode turbulence is the lowest frequency perpendicular magnetic excitation in magnetized plasma proposed already about half a century ago by Rudakov and Sagdeev (1958) and Chandrasekhar et al. (1958) from fluid theory. Its experimental verification required a relatively long time. It was early recognized that mirror modes for being excited require a transverse pressure (or temperature) anisotropy. In principle mirror modes are some version of slow mode waves. Fluid theory, however, does not give a correct physical picture of the mirror mode. The linear infinitesimally small amplitude physics is described correctly only by including the full kinetic theory and is modified by existing spatial gradients of the plasma parameters which attribute a small finite frequency to the mode. In addition, the mode is propagating only very slowly in plasma such that convective transport is the main cause of flow in it. As the lowest frequency mode it can be expected that mirror modes serve as one of the dominant energy inputs into plasma. This is however true only when the mode grows to large amplitude leaving the linear stage. At such low frequencies, on the other hand, quasilinear theory does not apply as a valid saturation mechanism. Probably the dominant processes are related to the generation of gradients in the plasma which serve as the cause of drift modes thus transferring energy to shorter wavelength propagating waves of higher nonzero frequency. This kind of theory has not yet been developed as it has not yet been understood why mirror modes in spite of their slow growth rate usually are of very large amplitudes indeed of the order of |B/B 0 | 2 ∼O(1). It is thus highly , 1998). Such trapped electrons excite banded whistler wave emission known under the name of lion roars and indicating that the mirror modes contain a trapped particle component while leading to the splitting of particle distributions (see Baumjohann et al., 1999) into trapped and passing particles. The most amazing fact about mirror modes is, however, that they evolve in the practically fully collisionless regime of high temperature plasma where it is on thermodynamic reasons entirely impossible to expel any magnetic field from the plasma. The fact that magnetic fields are indeed locally extracted makes mirror modes similar to "superconducting" structures in matter as known only at extremely low temperatures. Of course, microscopic quantum effects do not play a role in mirror modes. However, it seems that all mirror structures have typical scales of the order of the ion inertial length which implies that mirrors evolve in a regime where the transverse ion and electron motions decouple. In this case the Hall kinetics comes into play. We estimate that in the marginally stationary nonlinear state of the evolution of mirror modes the modes become stretched along the magnetic field with k =0 and that a small number the order of a few percent of the particle density is responsible only for the screening of the field from the interior of the...

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“…Among the temperature anisotropy instabilities, the mirror mode is still not completely understood, especially its nonlinear development. For discussions on mirror instabilities, see the works by Southwood and Kivelson (1993), series of papers by Pokhotelov et al (2000Pokhotelov et al ( , 2002Pokhotelov et al ( , 2003, and other related works, e.g., papers by Treumann et al (2004) and Porazik and Johnson (2013a). For other instabilities in the context of space plasmas, see also the early work by Hasegawa (1971).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinetic instabilities in the solar wind driven by temperature anisotropies

Yoon

2017

Rev. Mod. Plasma Phys.

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The present paper comprises a review of kinetic instabilities that may be operative in the solar wind, and how they influence the dynamics thereof. The review is limited to collective plasma instabilities driven by the temperature anisotropies. To limit the scope even further, the discussion is restricted to the temperature anisotropy-driven instabilities within the model of bi-Maxwellian plasma velocity distribution function. The effects of multiple particle species or the influence of field-aligned drift will not be included. The field-aligned drift or beam is particularly prominent for the solar wind electrons, and thus ignoring its effect leaves out a vast portion of important physics. Nevertheless, for the sake of limiting the scope, this effect will not be discussed. The exposition is within the context of linear and quasilinear Vlasov kinetic theories. The discussion does not cover either computer simulations or data analyses of observations, in any systematic manner, although references will be made to published works pertaining to these methods. The scientific rationale for the present analysis is that the anisotropic temperatures associated with charged particles are pervasively detected in the solar wind, and it is one of the key contemporary scientific research topics to correctly characterize how such anisotropies are generated, maintained, and regulated in the solar wind. The present article aims to provide an up-to-date theoretical development on this research topic, largely based on the author's own work.

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Linear theory of the mirror instability in non‐Maxwellian space plasmas

Cited by 71 publications

References 43 publications

Mirror structures above and below the linear instability threshold: Cluster observations, fluid model and hybrid simulations

Mirror structures above and below the linear instability threshold: Cluster observations, fluid model and hybrid simulations

The strange physics of low frequency mirror mode turbulence in the high temperature plasma of the magnetosheath

Kinetic instabilities in the solar wind driven by temperature anisotropies

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