Electromagnetic instability and anomalous resistivity in a magnetic neutral sheet

Abstract

An electromagnetic instability in a magnetic neutral sheet is investigated by means of a two-and-one-half dimensional (21/2-D) semi-implicit particle simulation code. Electromagnetic waves are excited slowly in a field null region after saturation of the lower hybrid drift waves excited in an early time on both sides of the neutral sheet. This instability is found to be a new instability, independent of the lower hybrid drift instability. Examination of its characteristic properties indicates that the new instability is highly related to the meandering motions of ions in the neutral sheet. The growth of the instability gives rise to anomalous resistivity in the neutral sheet current.