Linear theory of drift-tearing and -interchange modes

Abstract

A drift dispersion relation, as applied to a resistive incompressible plasma in cylindrical geometry, is derived. This dispersion relation incorporates both drift-tearing and drift-interchange modes and is valid throughout the collisional regime by including kinetic theory factors. The dispersion relation reduces to the drift-tearing dispersion relation in the zero pressure gradient limit, and to the classical resistive dispersion relation in the zero drift limit. The electron temperature-gradient instability is still present. Now, however, the introduction of the drift-interchange instability increases the growth rate further above the drift-tearing case.