COALESCENCE OF 2 PARALLEL CURRENT LOOPS IN A NONRELATIVISTIC ELECTRON-POSITRON PLASMA

Citation
J. Zhao et al., COALESCENCE OF 2 PARALLEL CURRENT LOOPS IN A NONRELATIVISTIC ELECTRON-POSITRON PLASMA, Physics of plasmas, 3(3), 1996, pp. 844-852
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Phsycs, Fluid & Plasmas
Journal title
ISSN journal
1070664X
Volume
3
Issue
3
Year of publication
1996
Pages
844 - 852
Database
ISI
SICI code
1070-664X(1996)3:3<844:CO2PCL>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
The coalescence of two parallel current loops in an electron-positron plasma is investigated by a three-dimensional electromagnetic relativi stic particle code. Instead of mixing uniformly in the dissipation reg ion as observed for current coalescence in an electron-ion plasma, ele ctrons and positrons initially in the loops are driven to move separat ely by the magnetic gradient drift. Redistribution of the current-carr ying electrons and positrons creates new current loops, which coalesce again, if the initial drift velocities remain greater than a critical value after coalescence. It was found that the energy stored in the c urrent loops dissipates gradually through several coalescences. Conseq uently, the electrons and positrons near the current loops are heated through the coalescence. This process is qualitatively different from the explosive energy release during coalescence in an electron-ion pla sma. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.