EFFECT OF CURRENT SHEAR ON THE TEARING INSTABILITY

A fully relativistic stream superposition model is employed to conduct a linear numerical simulation of a self-consistently confined sheet of collisionless, neutral plasma. This multi-stream model employs a novel variable termed the ‘canonical momentum potential’ (or ‘action function’) to follow the ion and electron dynamics. For the classic, unsheared sheet pinch, growth rates obtained for the tearing instability are in reasonable agreement with previous estimates using an approximate Vlasov approach. Current shear is then introduced into the sheet and growth rates are again measured. Stabilization of the shorter wavelength modes is observed. © 1979, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.