Dynamics of kink instability in a non-uniform magnetoplasma

Abstract

Accounting for an external electron current gradient, a set of nonlinear fluid equations governing the dynamics of kink instability in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma has been derived. In the linear regime, the dispersion relation is analysed and the variation of the growth rate is graphically shown. In the nonlinear regime, it is shown that a quasi-stationary solution of the mode coupling equations can be represented as a dipolar vortex. Conditions under which the latter arises are given.