About the equilibrium and stability of the magnetopause

Methods for studying the stability of the magnetopause by taking into account the effects of plasma polarization are proposed. The kinetic equation with a self-consistent electromagnetic field is solved for the perturbation of the distribution function. Based on this solution, the plasma permittivity tensor of the non-electroneutral contact discontinuity is computed, and the dispersion equation for the examination of possible modes of instability of this discontinuity obtained. The instability of the magnetopause is explored with respect to the tearing perturbation and the effects of plasma polarization on the development of tearing instability.