Peter H. Yoon

On the current sheet model with κ distribution

The present paper (re)derives current sheet equilibrium solutions on the basis of the so-called κ distribution functions for the particles. The present work builds upon a recent paper [W.-Z. Fu and L.-N. Hau, Phys. Plasmas 12, 070701 (2005)], where the authors formulated the equilibrium current sheet model with the κ distribution. According to their work, however, the global temperature profile monotonically increases in the asymptotic regime. In the present paper it is shown that the presence of a finite stationary background population of the particles arrests the unlimited increase of the global temperature profile in the asymptotic limit. The present paper further extends the analysis by considering a current sheet model where the electron current is embedded within a thicker ion current layer, and where there exists a weak electrostatic potential drop across the current sheet.