Relativistic filamentary equilibria

M. Gedalin, A. Spitkovsky, M. Medvedev, M. Balikhin, V. Krasnoselskikh, A. Vaivads, S. Perri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Plasma filamentation is often encountered in collisionless shocks and inertial confinement fusion. We develop a general analytical description of the two-dimensional relativistic filamentary equilibrium and derive the conditions for existence of potential-free equilibria. A pseudopotential equation for the vector-potential is constructed for cold and relativistic Maxwellian distributions. The role of counter-streaming is explained. We present single current sheet and periodic current sheet solutions, and analyze the equilibria with electric potential. These solutions can be used to study linear and nonlinear evolution of the relativistic filamentation instability.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)193-205
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Plasma Physics
Volume77
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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