Topology of steady-state plasma configurations in transverse self-consistent fields: Spatial-periodic plasma structures: I

Abstract

Neglecting collisions, we consider a kinetic approximation for the Boltzmann function of particle distribution with a longitudinal macroscopic velocity that does not depend on the coordinates. With it we solve the two-dimensional problem (∂/∂x≠0, ∂/∂y≠0, ∂/∂z=0) of the equilibrium configurations of an l-component plasma in self-consistent internal and external transverse magnetic fields (and also in electric fields caused by a non-compensation of plasma charge as a whole).The solution obtained with the given assumptions is a general one and permits one to make a broad analysis of equilibrium plasma configurations with longitudinal currents in self-consistent external and internal transverse fields. It is shown that existence of steady plasma states with a spatial-periodic structure is possible. This corresponds to the data of experiments in which it has been reliably established that a plasma arising in pinch discharges has a fibrous structure characterized by a definite space periodicity.

Two-dimensional current-carrying plasma sheet in the near-Earth geomagnetic tail region:a quasi-stationary evolution

“…One of them has a monotonous character and transfers to the Harris (1962) solution. The other (Manankova et al, 2000a, b) describes a spatially oscillating, inhomogeneous solution along the tail distribution of plasma and magnetic field (see also Komarov, 1963;Fadeev et al, 1965). It is clear that neither monotonously declining down the tail nor oscillating solution can be applied to describe the formation in the near tail of such structures as thin, intense current sheets, formation of a "neck" (a region with minimum current density and negative B z values), steep gradients of plasma and magnetic field distributions, etc.…”