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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Keywords

  • mirror mode
  • quasi-linear diffusion
  • coherent structures

Index Terms

  • Space Plasma Physics: Kinetic waves and instabilities
  • Space Plasma Physics: Nonlinear phenomena
  • Space Plasma Physics: Wave/particle interactions
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetosheath
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Numerical modeling

Abstract

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 36, L06103, 5 PP., 2009
doi:10.1029/2008GL036805

Mirror instability: From quasi-linear diffusion to coherent structures

P. Hellinger

Institute of Atmospheric Physics and Astronomical Institute, AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic

E. A. Kuznetsov

P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow, Russia

Space Research Institute, Moscow, Russia

T. Passot

Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Nice, France

P. L. Sulem

Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Nice, France

P. M. Trávníček

Institute of Atmospheric Physics and Astronomical Institute, AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic

A model for the nonlinear dynamics of mirror modes near the instability threshold is presented. By matching the quasi-linear theory for the space-averaged distribution function with a reductive perturbative description of the mirror modes, the model reproduces the early-time flattening of the distribution function and the development of magnetic humps from an initial noise, in agreement with Vlasov-Maxwell numerical simulations. It suggests a possible mechanism at the origin of the mirror structures observed in planetary magnetosheaths and in the solar wind.

Received 26 November 2008; accepted 10 February 2009; published 28 March 2009.

Citation: Hellinger, P., E. A. Kuznetsov, T. Passot, P. L. Sulem, and P. M. Trávníček (2009), Mirror instability: From quasi-linear diffusion to coherent structures, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L06103, doi:10.1029/2008GL036805.

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