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Collisionless distribution functions for force-free current sheets: using a pressure transformation to lower the plasma beta

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2018

F. Wilson Open the ORCID record for F. Wilson [Opens in a new window] ,
T. Neukirch Open the ORCID record for T. Neukirch [Opens in a new window]  and
O. Allanson Open the ORCID record for O. Allanson [Opens in a new window]
F. Wilson*
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK
T. Neukirch
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK
O. Allanson
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK Space and Atmospheric Electricity Group, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6BB, UK
*
†Email address for correspondence: fionaw237@gmail.com
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Abstract

So far, only one distribution function giving rise to a collisionless nonlinear force-free current sheet equilibrium allowing for a plasma beta less than one is known (Allanson et al., Phys. Plasmas, vol. 22 (10), 2015, 102116; Allanson et al., J. Plasma Phys., vol. 82 (3), 2016a, 905820306). This distribution function can only be expressed as an infinite series of Hermite functions with very slow convergence and this makes its practical use cumbersome. It is the purpose of this paper to present a general method that allows us to find distribution functions consisting of a finite number of terms (therefore easier to use in practice), but which still allow for current sheet equilibria that can, in principle, have an arbitrarily low plasma beta. The method involves using known solutions and transforming them into new solutions using transformations based on taking integer powers ($N$) of one component of the pressure tensor. The plasma beta of the current sheet corresponding to the transformed distribution functions can then, in principle, have values as low as $1/N$. We present the general form of the distribution functions for arbitrary $N$ and then, as a specific example, discuss the case for $N=2$ in detail.

Keywords

astrophysical plasmasspace plasma physics
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 84 , Issue 3 , June 2018 , 905840309
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2018 

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