Eur. Phys. J. D (2012) 66: 193
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjd/e2012-30264-4

Regular Article

An exact solution of the moving boundary problem for the relativistic plasma expansion in a dipole magnetic field

¹ Plasma Theory Group, Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics, 0203 Ashtarak, Armenia
² Centre of Strong Fields Physics, Yerevan State University, Alex Manoogian str. 1, 0025 Yerevan, Armenia

^a e-mail: hrachya@irphe.am

Received: 20 April 2012
Received in final form: 16 May 2012
Published online: 20 July 2012

Abstract

An exact analytic solution is obtained for a uniformly expanding, neutral, highly conducting plasma sphere in an ambient dipole magnetic field with an arbitrary orientation of the dipole moment in the space. Based on this solution the electrodynamical aspects related to the emission and transformation of energy have been considered. In order to highlight the effect of the orientation of the dipole moment in the space we compare our results obtained for parallel orientation with those for transversal orientation. The results obtained can be used to treat qualitatively experimental and simulation data, and several phenomena of astrophysical and laboratory significance.