Diver, D. and Laing, E. (2015) Scale-lengths and instabilities in magnetized classical and relativistic plasma fluid models. Physica Scripta, 90(2), 025602. (doi: 10.1088/0031-8949/90/2/025602)
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Abstract
The validity of the traditional plasma continuum is predicated on a hierarchy of scale-lengths, with the Debye length being considered to be effectively unresolvable in the continuum limit. In this article, we revisit the strong magnetic field case in which the Larmor radius is comparable or smaller than the Debye length in the classical plasma, and also for a relativistic plasma. Fresh insight into the validity of the continuum assumption in each case is offered, including a fluid limit on the Alfven speed that may impose restrictions on the validity of MHD in some solar and fusion contexts. Additional implications concerning the role of the firehose instability are also explored.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Laing, Professor Ernest and Diver, Professor Declan |
| Authors: | Diver, D., and Laing, E. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Journal Name: | Physica Scripta |
| Publisher: | Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd. |
| ISSN: | 0031-8949 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1402-4896 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2015 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences |
| First Published: | First published in Physica Scripta 90(2):025602 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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