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The stability of charged-particle motion in sheared magnetic reversals

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Tsalas, M., Chapman, Sandra C. and Rowlands, G. (George). (2001) The stability of charged-particle motion in sheared magnetic reversals. Journal of Plasma Physics, Vol.65 (No.4). pp. 331-352. ISSN 0022-3778

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Abstract

We consider the motion of charged particles in a static magnetic reversal with a shear component, which has application for the stability of current sheets, such as in the Earth's geotail and in solar flares. We examine how the topology of the phase space changes as a function of the shear component by. At zero by, the phase space may be characterized by regions of stochastic and regular orbits (KAM surfaces). Numerically, we find that as we vary by, the position of the periodic orbit at the centre of the KAM surfaces changes. We use multiple-timescale perturbation theory to predict this variation analytically. We also find that for some values of by, all the KAM surfaces are destroyed owing to a resonance effect between two timescales, making the phase space globally chaotic. By investigating the stability of the solutions in the vicinity of the fixed point, we are able to predict for what values of by this happens and when the KAM surfaces reappear.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Faculty of Science > Physics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Particles (Nuclear physics), Plasma physics, Topology, Phase space (Statistical physics), Perturbation (Mathematics)
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Plasma Physics
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISSN: 0022-3778
Official Date: May 2001
Volume: Vol.65
Number: No.4
Page Range: pp. 331-352
Identification Number: 10.1017/S0022377801001039
Status: Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
References:

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URI: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/801

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