Magnetic Field Generation in Core-Sheath Jets via the Kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability

We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2014-07
Main Authors: K -I Nishikawa, Hardee, P E, Dutan, I, Niemiec, J, Medvedev, M, Mizuno, Y, Meli, A, Sol, H, Zhang, B, Pohl, M, Hartmann, D H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electron-positron plasmas
Electrons
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
Magnetic fields
Particle in cell technique
Plasma
Plasma jets
Plasma sheaths
Relativistic plasmas
Skin
Weibel instability
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Summary:We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15 for both electron-proton and electron-positron plasmas. For electron-proton plasmas we find generation of strong large-scale DC currents and magnetic fields which extend over the entire shear-surface and reach thicknesses of a few tens of electron skin depths. For electron-positron plasmas we find generation of alternating currents and magnetic fields. Jet and sheath plasmas are accelerated across the shear surface in the strong magnetic fields generated by the kKHI. The mixing of jet and sheath plasmas generates transverse structure similar to that produced by the Weibel instability.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1405.5247