Nonsolid rotation of structures in isothermal magnetized atmospheres

Abstract

Possible equilibrium rotating magnetized plasma configurations in which angular asymmetry due to a nonuniform distribution of the molecular weight is absent are studied. The viscosity of the medium is assumed to be negligible. The variables in exact nonlinear equations are separated by representing the vector fields as series in orthogonal vector spherical harmonics. These series are normally divergent. However, the truncation of the series is also possible. Equilibrium models corresponding to the truncated series are generalizations of a simple rigidly rotating model. They are studied below. It is shown that nonaxisymmetric equilibrium structures with the magnetic field of a tilted dipole are possible. In the case of an isothermal atmosphere, conditions for the superrotation of the medium and meridional circulation of the matter may arise. The feasibility of such conditions in the Earth’s upper atmosphere is discussed.