Dispersion calculation for lower hybrid waves in the current sheet of reconnection with guide field

POSTER

Abstract

Lower hybrid waves have been observed in the current sheet during reconnection with guide field in both the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) and Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. The observed waves produce density fluctuations correlated with electric field, generating anomalous resistivity. To understand the excitation mechanism and propagation of the lower hybrid waves, the dispersion relation and growth rate will be calculated by a linear calculation [Ji et al. 2005]. In this local calculation, both parallel and perpendicular electron flows exist in the ion rest frame. Based on the measured value of the phase velocity, which is comparable to the ion thermal speed, it is important to include ion thermal effects in the calculation. We use the J-pole expansion of the plasma dispersion function to capture ion thermal effects in the dispersion relation. Results with ion thermal effects will be compared with those from the cold ion limit.

*This research was completed as part of the summer 2018 Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

Presenters

  • Manfred Virgil Ambat

    • University of California, Berkeley, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

Authors

  • Manfred Virgil Ambat

    • University of California, Berkeley, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

  • Jongsoo Yoo

    • Princeton Plasma Phys Lab
    • Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
    • PPPL
    • Princeton Plasma Physics Lab

  • Hantao Ji

    • Princeton Univ, Princeton Plasma Phys Lab
    • Princeton Univ
    • Princeton University, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
    • Princeton University, Princeton Plasma Phys Lab
    • Princeton University
    • Princeton Plasma Physics Lab