Sub-Alfvenic plasma expansion

A large ion Larmor radius plasma undergoes a particularly robust form of Rayleigh–Taylor instability when sub‐Alfvenically expanding into a magnetic field. Results from an experimental study of this instability are reported and compared with theory, notably a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) treatment that includes the Hall term, a generalized kinetic lower‐hybrid drift theory, and with computer simulations. Many theoretical predictions are confirmed while several features remain unexplained. New and unusual features appear in the development of this instability. In the linear stage there is an onset criterion insensitive to the magnetic field, initial density clumping (versus interchange), linear growth rate much higher than in the ‘‘classic’’ MHD regime, and dominant instability wavelength of order of the plasma density scale length. In the nonlinear limit free‐streaming flutes, apparent splitting (bifurcation) of flutes, curling of flutes in the electron cyclotron sense, and a highly asymmetric expansion are ...