Abstract
Using a one-dimensional electrostatic particle code, we examine processes associated with current interruption in a collisionless plasma when a density depression is present along the current channel. Current interruption due to double layers was suggested by Alfvén and Carlqvist (1967) as a cause of solar flares. At a local density depression, plasma instabilities caused by an electron current flow are accentuated, leading to current disruption. Our simulation study encompasses a wide range of the parameters in such a way that under appropriate conditions, both the Alfvén and Carlqvist (1967) regime and the Smith and Priest (1972) regime take place. In the latter regime the density depression decays into a stationary structure (‘ion-acoustic layer’) which spawns a series of ion-acoustic ‘solitons’ and ion phase space holes travelling upstream. A large inductance of the current circuit tends to enhance the plasma instabilities.
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Wagner, J.S., Tajima, T. & Akasofu, S.I. Current interruption by density depression. Sol Phys 98, 305–322 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152463
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152463