Entropy Maximization and Instability of Uniformly Magnetized Plasma

TL;DR

This paper investigates conditions under which a uniformly magnetized plasma becomes unstable due to entropy considerations, with implications for magnetic phenomena like reconnection and dynamo effects.

Contribution

It identifies a regime where uniform magnetization is entropy-unstable, challenging the assumption of maximum entropy in such plasma states.

Findings

Uniform magnetized plasma can be entropy-unstable under certain conditions.

Implications for magnetic reconnection and dynamo processes are discussed.

The study provides a new perspective on plasma stability beyond traditional models.

Abstract

A regime where a uniformly magnetized plasma could be unstable to a spatial perturbation in the magnetic field is explored. In this regime, a uniformly magnetized state does not maximize the entropy. The physical implication is discussed in the context of the current generation, the magnetic reconnection, and the dynamo effect.