Short wavelength striations on expanding plasma clouds

The present evaluation of current understanding of the growth and evolution of less-than-1 ion gyroradius 'flute modes' on a plasma as it expands across and ambient magnetic field notes that the mechanism by which the instability is generated, and its approximate linear theory (encompassing nonlocal, finite-beta, and collisional effects), have reached a satisfactory degree of development. AMPTE Ba releases have been the bases of most of the observational studies. Substantial progress is also noted in the development of a nonlinear mode-coupling theory which can resolve remaining differences between theory and observation.