The kinetic Alfven wave instability driven by a sheared plasma flow and the associated anomalous transport

It is shown that the kinetic Alfven wave instability can be driven by a sheared plasma flow. The dispersion relation is derived. The wave characteristics and associated anomalous transport are investigated. Calculations indicate that the cross-field diffusion coefficient can reach 10 to the 9th m sq/sec, while the magnetic field perturbations are only about 1 nT at the earth's magnetopause. Therefore, it can be expected that the kinetic Alfven wave turbulence may lead to strong anomalous transport, which is responsible for sustaining the quasi-static boundary-layer structure and the magnetospheric convection.