Discontinuities in a Collisionless Plasma Flow Having a Strong Magnetic Field

Abstract

Discontinuties in a collisionless anisotropic plasma flow having a strong magnetic field, their evolutionary condition, and the hose and mirror instability conditions for associated flow are considered on the basis of Chew, Goldberger and Low theory. Zero heat fluxes are assumed in both sides of the discontinuity, and the energy equation for transverse thermal motion is replaced by the adiabatic relation. Solutions are presented analytically and numerically for special angles of discontinuity and special upstream conditions. As a conclusion, it is found that remarkable differences exist between CGL discontinuity and MHD shock wave.