Year: 2010
Type: article
Abstract: . In thin (Δ< few λi) collisionless current sheets in a space plasma like the magnetospheric tail or magnetopause current layer, magnetic fields can grow from thermal fluctuation level by the action of the non-magnetic Weibel instability (Weibel, 1959). The instability is driven by the counter-streaming electron inflow from the "ion diffusion" (ion inertial Hall) region into the inner current (electron inertial) region after thermalisation by the two-stream instability. Under magnetospheric tail conditions it takes ~50 e-folding times (~100 s) for the Weibel field to reach observable amplitudes |bW|~1 nT. In counter-streaming inflows these fields are of guide field type.
Source: Annales Geophysicae
Authors: W. Baumjohann, R. Nakamura, R. A. Treumann
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,186
OpenAlex ID: W2154302401