Abstract
Current sheets in the collisionless solar wind usually have kinetic spatial scales. In-situ measurements show that these current sheets are often approximately force-free, i.e. the directions
of their current density and magnetic field are aligned, despite the fact that the plasma beta
is found to be of the order of one. The measurements also often show systematic asymmetric spatial variations of the plasma density and temperature across the current sheets, whilst
the plasma pressure is approximately uniform. Neukirch et al. (2020) found exact equilibrium
models of force-free collisionless current sheets which allowed for asymmetric plasma density
and temperature gradients. These models assumed that the form of the distribution function for
electrons and ions is the same. In this contribution we generalise this approach to current sheets
with static ions. As a consequence the force-free condition is only satisfied approximately and
quasi-neutrality requires the presence of a nonvanishing electric potential.
of their current density and magnetic field are aligned, despite the fact that the plasma beta
is found to be of the order of one. The measurements also often show systematic asymmetric spatial variations of the plasma density and temperature across the current sheets, whilst
the plasma pressure is approximately uniform. Neukirch et al. (2020) found exact equilibrium
models of force-free collisionless current sheets which allowed for asymmetric plasma density
and temperature gradients. These models assumed that the form of the distribution function for
electrons and ions is the same. In this contribution we generalise this approach to current sheets
with static ions. As a consequence the force-free condition is only satisfied approximately and
quasi-neutrality requires the presence of a nonvanishing electric potential.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
| Event | 48th European Physical Society Conference on Plasma Physics - Virtual, Online Duration: 27 Jun 2022 → 1 Jul 2022 https://indico.fusenet.eu/event/28/ (Conference in online conference environment) |
Conference
| Conference | 48th European Physical Society Conference on Plasma Physics |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | EPS 2022 |
| City | Virtual, Online |
| Period | 27/06/22 → 1/07/22 |
| Internet address |
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Bibliographical note
Funding Information:TN acknowledges financial support by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) via Consolidated Grant ST/W001195/1. OA acknowledges financial support by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Independent Research Fellowship NE/ V013963/1.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics