Abstract
The growth rates for Weibel and Buneman instabilities of relativistic ion beams in a relativistically hot electron background are derived analytically for general propagation angles. The Weibel instability perpendicular to the streaming direction is found to be the fastest growing mode and probably the first to appear. Oblique, quasiperpendicular modes grow almost as fast as the growth rate varies only moderately with angle, and they may distort or corrugate the filaments after the perpendicular mode saturates. The growth rate of the purely longitudinal (Buneman) mode is significantly smaller, contrary to the non-relativistic case. The results are consistent with simulations, which display aligned magnetic filaments and their subsequent disruption.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 182 |
Journal | Astrophysical Journal |
Volume | 744 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 10 Jan 2012 |
Keywords
- instabilities
- magnetic fields
- plasmas
- shock waves
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science