Electrostatic structure of the rotational discontinuity II: Shock pair solutions

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Abstract
The structure of one-dimensional rotational discontinuities in a collision-free plasma is analyzed. The plasma consists of cold streaming ions, isothermal streaming electrons, and electrostatically trapped warm electrons or ions. Allowances for large deviations from charge neutrality are made. By properly adjusting the trapped particle population, the rotational discontinuity can acquire a width comparable to or greater than the ion inertial length. Its structure then consists of an approximately charge neutral region of helical magnetic field sandwiched between a reversible electrostatic shock pair in which large deviations from charge neutrality occur. The discontinuity has left-hand (ion) polarization for positive potentials, φ>0, and right-hand (electron) polarization for φ<0. The magnetic field magnitude is constant throughout the discontinuity and the plasma state is identical on its two sides.