Force-free collisionless current sheet models with non-uniform temperature and density profiles

Fiona Wilson; Thomas Neukirch; Oliver Douglas Allanson

doi:10.1063/1.4997703

Force-free collisionless current sheet models with non-uniform temperature and density profiles

Fiona Wilson, Thomas Neukirch, Oliver Douglas Allanson

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Abstract

We present a class of one-dimensional, strictly neutral, Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for force-free current sheets, with magnetic fields defined in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions, extending the results of Abraham-Shrauner [Phys. Plasmas 20, 102117 (2013)] to allow for non-uniform density and temperature profiles. To achieve this, we use an approach previously applied to the force-free Harris sheet by Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)]. In one limit of the parameters, we recover the model of Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)], while another limit gives a linear force-free field. We discuss conditions on the parameters such that the distribution functions are always positive and give expressions for the pressure, density, temperature, and bulk-flow velocities of the equilibrium, discussing the differences from previous models. We also present some illustrative plots of the distribution function in velocity space.

Original language	English
Article number	092105
Number of pages	11
Journal	Physics of Plasmas
Volume	24
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4997703
Publication status	Published - 17 Aug 2017

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Copyright 2017 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4997703]
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@article{dd07f286160b41999d5e3924db9964ac,

title = "Force-free collisionless current sheet models with non-uniform temperature and density profiles",

abstract = "We present a class of one-dimensional, strictly neutral, Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for force-free current sheets, with magnetic fields defined in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions, extending the results of Abraham-Shrauner [Phys. Plasmas 20, 102117 (2013)] to allow for non-uniform density and temperature profiles. To achieve this, we use an approach previously applied to the force-free Harris sheet by Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)]. In one limit of the parameters, we recover the model of Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)], while another limit gives a linear force-free field. We discuss conditions on the parameters such that the distribution functions are always positive and give expressions for the pressure, density, temperature, and bulk-flow velocities of the equilibrium, discussing the differences from previous models. We also present some illustrative plots of the distribution function in velocity space.",

author = "Fiona Wilson and Thomas Neukirch and Allanson, \{Oliver Douglas\}",

note = "The authors acknowledge the support of the Science and Technology Facilities Council via the consolidated grants ST/K000950/1 and ST/N000609/1 and the doctoral training grant ST/K502327/1 (O. A.), and the Natural Environment Research Council via grant no. NE/P017274/1 (Rad-Sat) (O. A.). F. W. and T. N. would also like to thank the University of St Andrews for general financial support",

year = "2017",

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doi = "10.1063/1.4997703",

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AU - Wilson, Fiona

AU - Neukirch, Thomas

AU - Allanson, Oliver Douglas

N1 - The authors acknowledge the support of the Science and Technology Facilities Council via the consolidated grants ST/K000950/1 and ST/N000609/1 and the doctoral training grant ST/K502327/1 (O. A.), and the Natural Environment Research Council via grant no. NE/P017274/1 (Rad-Sat) (O. A.). F. W. and T. N. would also like to thank the University of St Andrews for general financial support

PY - 2017/8/17

Y1 - 2017/8/17

N2 - We present a class of one-dimensional, strictly neutral, Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for force-free current sheets, with magnetic fields defined in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions, extending the results of Abraham-Shrauner [Phys. Plasmas 20, 102117 (2013)] to allow for non-uniform density and temperature profiles. To achieve this, we use an approach previously applied to the force-free Harris sheet by Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)]. In one limit of the parameters, we recover the model of Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)], while another limit gives a linear force-free field. We discuss conditions on the parameters such that the distribution functions are always positive and give expressions for the pressure, density, temperature, and bulk-flow velocities of the equilibrium, discussing the differences from previous models. We also present some illustrative plots of the distribution function in velocity space.

AB - We present a class of one-dimensional, strictly neutral, Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for force-free current sheets, with magnetic fields defined in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions, extending the results of Abraham-Shrauner [Phys. Plasmas 20, 102117 (2013)] to allow for non-uniform density and temperature profiles. To achieve this, we use an approach previously applied to the force-free Harris sheet by Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)]. In one limit of the parameters, we recover the model of Kolotkov et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902 (2015)], while another limit gives a linear force-free field. We discuss conditions on the parameters such that the distribution functions are always positive and give expressions for the pressure, density, temperature, and bulk-flow velocities of the equilibrium, discussing the differences from previous models. We also present some illustrative plots of the distribution function in velocity space.

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U2 - 10.1063/1.4997703

DO - 10.1063/1.4997703

M3 - Article

SN - 1070-664X

VL - 24

JO - Physics of Plasmas

JF - Physics of Plasmas

IS - 9

M1 - 092105

ER -

Force-free collisionless current sheet models with non-uniform temperature and density profiles

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Solar and Magnetospheric - Consolidated: Solar and Magnetospheric Magnetohydrodynamics and Plasmas: Theory and Application

Plasma Theory: Solar and Magnetospheric Plasma Theory

Thomas Neukirch

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Force-free collisionless current sheet models with non-uniform temperature and density profiles

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Solar and Magnetospheric - Consolidated: Solar and Magnetospheric Magnetohydrodynamics and Plasmas: Theory and Application

Plasma Theory: Solar and Magnetospheric Plasma Theory

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Thomas Neukirch

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