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Linear collapse of spatially linear, two-dimensional null points

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2003

C. MELLOR ,
V. S. TITOV  and
E. R. PRIEST
C. MELLOR
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Division, St Andrews University, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK (chris@mcs.st-and.ac.uk)
V. S. TITOV
Affiliation:
Theoretische Physik IV, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
E. R. PRIEST
Affiliation:
Applied Mathematics Division, St Andrews University, St Andrews KY16 9SS, UK (chris@mcs.st-and.ac.uk)
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Abstract

A technique is developed for analysing the linear collapse properties of spatially linear two-dimensional null points with open boundary conditions. A treatment is given of the collapse of nulls which have current and flow so that they are initially in a steady-state balance between a magnetic force, a pressure force and a centrifugal force. This extends the previous results for initially current-free X-type nulls with no flow. It is found that all X-points, regardless of the current and flow tend to collapse. Also, O-points collapse in the absence of a plasma flow, but O-points with a large current and possessing a highly super-Alfvénic plasma flow can be stable against linear collapse.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 68 , Issue 3 , April 2002 , pp. 221 - 235
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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