A Statistical Model of Magnetic Islands in a Large Current Layer

We develop a statistical model describing the dynamics of magnetic islands in very large current layers that develop in space plasma. Two parameters characterize the island distribution: the flux contained in the island and the area it encloses. We derive an integro-differential evolution equation f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inarXiv.org
Main Authors Fermo, R L, Drake, J F, Swisdak, M
Format Paper Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Ithaca Cornell University Library, arXiv.org 26.10.2009
Subjects
Differential equations
Distribution functions
Evolutionary computation
Island growth
Islands
Magnetic islands
Magnetospheres
Physics - Plasma Physics
Physics - Space Physics
Space plasmas
Statistical models
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Summary:We develop a statistical model describing the dynamics of magnetic islands in very large current layers that develop in space plasma. Two parameters characterize the island distribution: the flux contained in the island and the area it encloses. We derive an integro-differential evolution equation for this distribution function, based on rules that govern the small-scale generation of secondary islands, the rates of island growth, and island merging. Our numerical solutions of this equation produce island distributions relevant to the magnetosphere and corona. We also derive and analytically solve a differential equation for large islands that explicitly shows the role merging plays in island growth.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.0910.4971