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Effect of non-thermal ion distributions on the Jeans instability in dusty plasmas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2005

S. R. PILLAY  and
F. VERHEEST
S. R. PILLAY
Affiliation:
School of Physics (Westville Campus), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
F. VERHEEST
Affiliation:
Sterrenkundig Observatorium, Universiteit Gent, Krijgslaan 281, B–9000 Gent, Belgium (frank.verheest@ugent.be) School of Physics (Howard College Campus), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa
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Abstract

Non-thermal ion distributions are a characteristic feature of space plasmas, and in the current work the influence of such non-thermal ion distributions on the Jeans instability is examined. Following previous general models, the electrons are taken to be Boltzmann on the timescales involved, whilst the negative dust component is modelled by the continuity and momentum equations. The ion dynamics are described via a non-thermal Cairns distribution. The linear dispersion relation is derived and analysed for varying degrees of deviation from ordinary thermal behaviour, determined by the characteristic parameter of the Cairns distribution.

Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 71 , Issue 2 , April 2005 , pp. 177 - 184
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

It is a pleasure to dedicate this paper to Alan Cairns on the occasion of his 60th birthday.