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A family of Vlasov–Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions describing a transition from the Harris sheet to the force-free Harris sheet

Part of: The Many Facets of the Vlasov Equation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2020

T. Neukirch Open the ORCID record for T. Neukirch [Opens in a new window] ,
F. Wilson Open the ORCID record for F. Wilson [Opens in a new window]  and
O. Allanson Open the ORCID record for O. Allanson [Opens in a new window]
T. Neukirch*
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St AndrewsKY16 9SS, UK
F. Wilson
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, St AndrewsKY16 9SS, UK
O. Allanson
Affiliation:
Space and Atmospheric Electricity Group, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, ReadingRG6 6BB, UK
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

We discuss a family of Vlasov–Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for current sheet equilibria that are intermediate cases between the Harris sheet and the force-free (or modified) Harris sheet. These equilibrium distribution functions have potential applications to space and astrophysical plasmas. The existence of these distribution functions had been briefly discussed by Harrison & Neukirch (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 102, (2009a), 135003), but here it is shown that their approach runs into problems in the limit where the guide field goes to zero. The nature of this problem will be discussed and an alternative approach will be suggested that avoids the problem. This is achieved by considering a slight variation of the magnetic field profile, which allows a smooth transition between the Harris and force-free Harris sheet cases.

Keywords

astrophysical plasmasspace plasma physics
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 86 , Issue 3 , June 2020 , 825860302
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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