Ponderomotive barrier for plasma particles on the boundary of astrophysical jets

Abstract

Abstract. We study kinetics of plasma particles on internal inhomogeneities and on the boundary of astrophysical jets in the presence of intensive low-frequency electromagnetic (surface and bulk waves). These waves with energy density exceeding or of the same order as the particle kinetic energy density can be generated due to the non-equilibrium state of plasma and lead to the jet stratification at various scales. The main reason is a ponderomotive force which is able to change dramatically the particle behavior, the plasma density cross-section profile and the wave collimation. We present results obtained on the basis of our simple ponderomotive model of the self-consistent analysis of the electromagnetic wave propagation and the formation of the plasma density profile.