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Effect of Hall current on the instability of an anisotropic plasma jet
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 March 2009
Abstract
The modified Chew—Goldberger—Low (CGL) equations are applied to the effect of Hall current on the instability of an incompressible plasma jet surrounded by non-conducting, compressible matter. The dispersion relation is obtained and discussed. The following is found. (i) When λ (the ratio of plasma density to the density of surrounding medium) is much greater than unity, the plasma jet is unstable for all wavenumbers for which k* = Küα < [(4R22 – 1)ü(1 + V2α)], where R2 = p∥/p⊥, V2α = H2/4αρ, K = (l2 + α2)½. Also, the jet is unstable for R2 > 1 + V2α. (ii) When λ ≪ 1, the critical wavenumber ratio for the instability to set in is k* < [(V2α + 3R2)ü(1 + V2α)½. Also, the jet becomes unstable for R2 < ⅓. (iii) When either l = 0 or α= 0, we must have R2 > 1 + V2α for instability. It is established that the Hall current has a destabilizing effect for certain wave- numbers. The dispersion relation for the incompressible plasma jet in cylindrical geometry is solved numerically on a computer.
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