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Instabilities in charge sheets and current sheets and their possible occurrence in the aurora
Author(s) -
Webster Harold F.,
Hallinan Thomas J.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs008i005p00475
Subject(s) - instability , bent molecular geometry , vortex sheet , current sheet , vortex , physics , mechanics , charge (physics) , current (fluid) , plasma sheet , classical mechanics , materials science , vorticity , magnetosphere , plasma , composite material , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics , magnetohydrodynamics
An experimental demonstration has been given of the initiation of a vortex‐forming instability in sheets of charge by perturbations in the shape of the sheet. The net motion of charge along the sheet wherever the sheet is bent is shown to be related to displacement of the potential minimum in the sheet. These results suggest the existence of an instability in current sheets which also produces vortex forms. There is evidence that both of these instabilities result in the formation of vortexes in the aurora.