Jungjoon Seough

Analytic model of electromagnetic ion-cyclotron anisotropy instability

In the present paper, the real frequency and growth rate associated with the electromagnetic ion cyclotron instability driven by temperature anisotropy are analytically modeled on the basis of conjecture and upon comparison with numerical roots of the dispersion relation. The ions are assumed to have an anisotropic distribution function with Maxwellian parallel distribution. Under such an assumption complex roots of the dispersion relation depend only on two dimensionless parameters, namely, the temperature anisotropy factor A=T⊥i/T∥i−1, where T⊥i and T∥i are the perpendicular and parallel ion temperatures, respectively, and the parallel ion beta, β=(8πnT∥i/B2)1/2, where n and B are the plasma density and magnetic field intensity, respectively. The ion-cyclotron instability is thus heuristically modeled by complex frequency which is parametrically dependent on A and β. The present result constitutes a useful shortcut research tool that may be employed in a wide variety of applications.

ASYMMETRIC SOLAR WIND ELECTRON DISTRIBUTIONS

The present paper provides a possible explanation for the solar wind electron velocity distribution functions possessing asymmetric energetic tails. By numerically solving the electrostatic weak turbulence equations that involve nonlinear interactions among electrons, Langmuir waves, and ion-sound waves, it is shown that different ratios of ion-to-electron temperatures lead to the generation of varying degrees of asymmetric tails. The present finding may be applicable to observations in the solar wind near 1 AU and in other regions of the heliosphere and interplanetary space.

Analytic models of warm plasma dispersion relations

The present paper is concerned with analytic models of warm plasma dispersion relations for electromagnetic waves propagating parallel to the ambient magnetic field. Specifically, effects of finite betas on two slow modes, namely, the left-hand circularly polarized ion-cyclotron mode and the right-hand circularly polarized whistler mode, are investigated. Analytic models of the warm plasma dispersion relations are constructed on the basis of conjecture and upon comparisons with numerically found roots. It is shown that the model solutions are good substitutes for actual roots. The significance of the present work in the context of nonlinear plasma research is discussed.

Solar wind proton temperature anisotropy versus beta inverse correlation

The present paper theoretically constructs the proton temperature anisotropy versus beta distribution by means of quasi-linear theory. It is shown that the simulated solar wind data distribution is constrained by the apparent mirror and oblique fire-hose marginal instability curves, which is consistent with observation. To achieve this closure, it is note that the actual magnetic field intensity near 1 AU is characterized intermediate-scale temporal variations. Making use of this fact, the present paper carries out the quasi-linear analysis of the temperature anisotropy-driven instabilities with adiabatically time-varying B field. This prescription successfully leads to the superficial mirror and oblique marginal instability constraints for the proton anisotropy, thus providing a possible explanation for the observation.