Abstract
A quasi-linear prediction of the two-fluid dynamo effect is analyzed with the use of tearing eigen-functions obtained for force-free equilibrium. In the range of parameters of practical interest, the basic shear Alfvén mode is decoupled from fast compressional Alfvén and slow magneto-acoustic modes. Kinetic Alfvén modification of the shear Alfvén wave drives an instability with a growth rate ∝δ1/3ρ s2/3, where δ is the electron skin depth and ρs is the ion-sound gyroradius. A net dynamo effect parallel to the magnetic field is calculated at ρs ≫ δ for large values of the stability factor Δ′ ρs1/3 δ2/3 ≫ 1. The dynamo effect caused by the j × B Hall term dominates the contribution from the v × B term (the alpha effect) by a factor ∝(ρs/δ)2 in the narrow electron layer, while in the broader ion layer these contributions are comparable. The results are compared with the case of a strong guiding field where ρ s ≫ δ and the tearing instability is described by resistive MHD.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 566-570 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Plasma Physics Reports |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2003 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)