Nonlinear Evolution of the Collisionless Tearing Mode

Abstract

For a broad $\overrightarrow{\mathrm{k}}$ spectrum, the collisionless tearing mode grows linearly until the Landau electrons become magnetized by the wave field. The electrons then spatially diffuse as a result of turbulent magnetic-gradient drifts which leads to a nonlinearly enhanced growth rate. At large amplitudes the nonlinear growth rate is dominated by ions.