Equilibrium properties of a rotating ion layer in a uniform external magnetic field

Abstract

The equilibrium properties of a rotating, non-neutral ion layer are examined within the framework of a steady-state Vlasov-Maxwell equations with a monoenergetic, single-canonical angular momentum distribution function. The analysis is carried out assuming that the ion layer is thin and the strength parameter of the ion layer v is much smaller than unity. As the ion layer becomes colder and colder, the influence of the self-fields on the radical thickness of the layer becomes more and more significant and can be large even though v<<1. Effects of the self-fields on the mean radius of the layer are small. The influence of a conducting wall which encloses the ion layer is also shown. Relations between existing theories and the present theory are discussed.