DAMPING OF WAVES IN CURRENT SHEET IN GEOMAGNETIC TAIL BY RADIATION

In the preceding paper it is seen that the velocity distribution in the current sheet will give energy to waves, but that the overall stability problem involves the radiation of energy from the sides of the sheet. For waves propagating parallel to the current, the problem is simple, radiation occurs when a Cerenkov condition is satisfied and then the rate of radiation is large, so that the waves are probably damped. For waves propagating perpendicular to the current the problem is more complicated and there is typically an evanescent wave as well as a radiated wave. The rate of radiation may then be much smaller. © 1969.