Diffusion of energetic particles in turbulent MHD plasmas

In this paper we investigate the transport of energetic particles in turbulent plasmas. A numerical approach is used to simulate the effect of the background plasma on the motion of energetic protons. The background plasma is in a dynamically turbulent state found from numerical MHD simulations, where we use parameters typical for the heliosphere. The implications for the transport parameters (i.e. pitch-angle diffusion coefficients and mean free path) are calculated and deviations from the quasi-linear theory are discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

Colloquium: Nonlinear collective interactions in quantum plasmas with degenerate electron fluids

The current understanding of some important nonlinear collective processes in quantum plasmas with degenerate electrons is presented. After reviewing the basic properties of quantum plasmas, we present model equations (e.g. the quantum hydrodynamic and effective nonlinear Schr\"odinger-Poisson equations) that describe collective nonlinear phenomena at nanoscales. The effects of the electron degeneracy arise due to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and Pauli's exclusion principle for overlapping electron wavefunctions that result in tunneling of electrons and the electron degeneracy pressure. Since electrons are Fermions (spin-1/2), there also appears an electron spin current and a spin force acting on electrons due to the Bohr magnetization. The quantum effects produce new aspects of electrostatic (ES) and electromagnetic (EM) waves in a quantum plasma that are summarized in here. Furthermore, we discuss nonlinear features of ES ion waves and electron plasma oscillations (ESOs), as well as the trapping of intense EM waves in quantum electron density cavities. Specifically, simulation studies of the coupled nonlinear Schr\"odinger (NLS) and Poisson equations reveal the formation and dynamics of localized ES structures at nanoscales in a quantum plasma. We also discuss the effect of an external magnetic field on the plasma wave spectra and develop quantum magnetohydrodynamic (Q-MHD) equations. The results are useful for understanding numerous collective phenomena in quantum plasmas, such as those in compact astrophysical objects, in plasma-assisted nanotechnology, and in the next-generation of intense laser-solid density plasma interaction experiments.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figures. To be published in Reviews of Modern Physic

Cosmic-ray propagation in simulations of cross-helical plasma turbulence

Turbulence is a ubiquitous phenomenon in astrophysical plasmas. Most of these systems exhibit a property called cross helicity, a non-zero correlation between velocity fluctuations and magnetic-field fluctuations. In the presence of a magnetic mean-field, such as in the solar wind or in the interstellar medium, cross helicity is equivalent to an imbalance between Alfven waves co- and counter-propagating with respect to the mean-field direction. Although this imbalance can have a dramatic influence on the heating and scattering rate of charged particles which propagate through the plasma, it is often neglected in computational studies of turbulent particle transport. In an effort to remedy this situation, we present numerical simulations of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in which we can control the energy and the cross helicity of the system, without injecting kinetic or magnetic helicity as an unwanted side effect. Varying the strength of a magnetic guide-field allows us to determine the degree of anisotropy that the system assumes as a steady-state configuration. Detailed analysis proves that these simulations conform to theoretical models of realistic turbulence. The diffusion of cosmic-ray particles in turbulent plasmas is often calculated using quasilinear theory and a simplified description of the electromagnetic-field spectra. By computing the trajectories of test-particles in dynamically evolving turbulence simulations with non-zero cross helicity, we study whether such quasilinear predictions of the heating rate of charged particles are valid under realistic conditions. Theory and numerical results agree well for particles propagating at the Alfven velocity, unless resistive effects play a dominant role. Furthermore, strongly anisotropic field configurations are used to compare quasilinear pitch-angle diffusion coefficients with measurements of test-particle scattering after one gyroperiod. In particular, we focus on the scaling of the scattering rate with cross helicity. We observe excellent agreement in simulations of both balanced and imbalanced turbulence and explain the role of the magnetic moment, an approximate invariant of charged-particle motion, for pitch-angle scattering on timescales of several gyroperiods.Turbulenz ist in astrophysikalischen Plasmen allgegenwärtig. Viele solche Systeme weisen eine sogenannte Kreuz-Helizität auf, also eine von Null verschiedene Korrelation zwischen Geschwindigkeits- und Magnetfeld-Fluktuationen. In einer anisotropen Magnetfeldgeometrie, z. B. im Sonnenwind oder dem interstellaren Medium, deutet die Kreuz-Helizität auf ein Ungleichgewicht zwischen Alfven-Wellen, die sich in Richtung des gemittelten Feldes ausbreiten, und solchen, die in die Gegenrichtung propagieren, hin. Obwohl dieses Ungleichgewicht die stochastische Beschleunigung und Streuung, die geladene Teilchen in einem Plasma erfahren, dramatisch beeinflusst, wurde es in bisherigen numerischen Studien über turbulenten Teilchentransport gemeinhin außer Acht gelassen. In dieser Arbeit nun werden rechnergestützte Simulationen von magnetohydrodynamischer Turbulenz präsentiert, in denen die Energie und die Kreuz-Helizität kontrolliert werden können, ohne jedoch kinetische oder magnetische Helizität als unerwünschte Nebenwirkung zu erzeugen. Die Stärke des mittleren Magnetfeldes bestimmt dabei die Anisotropie des Gleichgewichtszustandes. Die Simulationen erfüllen in allen Parameterbereichen die Vorhersagen, die theoretische Modelle für realistische Plasmaturbulenz treffen. Die Diffusion kosmischer Strahlung in turbulenten Plasmen wird häufig im Rahmen der quasilinearen Theorie unter Heranziehung eines stark vereinfachten Turbulenzspektrums berechnet. Indem die Trajektorien von Testteilchen in dynamischen Turbulenzsimulationen mit Kreuz-Helizität berechnet werden, lassen sich quasilineare Ergebnisse für die Beschleunigungsrate geladener Teilchen nachprüfen. Theorie und numerische Simulation stimmen für Teilchen mit der Alfven-Geschwindigkeit gut überein, solange resistive Effekte vernachlässigt werden können. Weiterhin werden aus der quasilinearen Theorie berechnete Diffusionskoeffizienten mit numerisch ermittelten Streuraten für Testteilchen nach einer Gyroperiode in stark anisotropen Feldkonfigurationen verglichen, wobei der Schwerpunkt erneut beim Einfluss der Kreuz-Helizität liegt. Für alle verwendeten Werte der Kreuz-Helizität ergibt sich eine exzellente Übereinstimmung zwischen Simulationsergebnis und Vorhersage. Schließlich wird die Rolle des magnetischen Moments, einer adiabatischen Invarianten bei der Bewegung geladener Teilchen in einem Magnetfeld, für die Streuung über Zeitskalen von mehreren Gyroperioden erläutert

OBLIQUE MAGNETIC FIELDS AND THE ROLE OF FRAME DRAGGING NEAR ROTATING BLACK HOLE

Magnetic null points can develop near the ergosphere boundary of a rotating black hole by the combined effects of strong gravitational field and the frame-dragging mechanism. The induced electric component does not vanish in the magnetic null and an efficient process of particle acceleration can occur in its immediate vicinity. Furthermore, the effect of imposed (weak) magnetic field can trigger an onset of chaos in the motion of electrically charged particles. The model set-up appears to be relevant for low-accretion-rate nuclei of some galaxies which exhibit episodic accretion events (such as the Milky Way's supermassive black hole) embedded in a large-scale magnetic field of external origin with respect to the central black hole. In this contribution we summarise recent results and we give an outlook for future work with the focus on the role of gravito-magnetic effects caused by rotation of the black hole

ORB5: a global electromagnetic gyrokinetic code using the PIC approach in toroidal geometry

This paper presents the current state of the global gyrokinetic code ORB5 as an update of the previous reference [Jolliet et al., Comp. Phys. Commun. 177 409 (2007)]. The ORB5 code solves the electromagnetic Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations using a PIC scheme and also includes collisions and strong flows. The code assumes multiple gyrokinetic ion species at all wavelengths for the polarization density and drift-kinetic electrons. Variants of the physical model can be selected for electrons such as assuming an adiabatic response or a ``hybrid'' model in which passing electrons are assumed adiabatic and trapped electrons are drift-kinetic. A Fourier filter as well as various control variates and noise reduction techniques enable simulations with good signal-to-noise ratios at a limited numerical cost. They are completed with different momentum and zonal flow-conserving heat sources allowing for temperature-gradient and flux-driven simulations. The code, which runs on both CPUs and GPUs, is well benchmarked against other similar codes and analytical predictions, and shows good scalability up to thousands of nodes

Contributions of plasma physics to chaos and nonlinear dynamics

This topical review focusses on the contributions of plasma physics to chaos and nonlinear dynamics bringing new methods which are or can be used in other scientific domains. It starts with the development of the theory of Hamiltonian chaos, and then deals with order or quasi order, for instance adiabatic and soliton theories. It ends with a shorter account of dissipative and high dimensional Hamiltonian dynamics, and of quantum chaos. Most of these contributions are a spin-off of the research on thermonuclear fusion by magnetic confinement, which started in the fifties. Their presentation is both exhaustive and compact. [15 April 2016

Collisions in Global Gyrokinetic Simulations of Tokamak Plasmas using the Delta-f Particle-In-Cell Approach:Neoclassical Physics and Turbulent Transport

The present work takes place within the general context of research related to the development of nuclear fusion energy. More specifically, this thesis is mainly a numerical and physical contribution to the understanding of turbulence and associated transport phenomena occuring in tokamak plasmas, the most advanced and promising form of magnetically confined plasmas. The complexity of tokamak plasma phenomena and related physical models, either fluid or kinetic, requires the development of numerical codes to perform simulations of the plasma behaviour under given conditions defined by the magnetic geometry as well as density and temperature profiles. The studies presented in this work are based on electrostatic kinetic simulations, taking advantage of a reduced kinetic model (the gyrokinetic model) which is particularly suitable for studying turbulent transport in magnetically confined plasmas, in effect solving an approximate form of the Vlasov equation for the distribution function of each species (electrons, ions) along with a reduced form of the Poisson equation providing the self-consistent electric fields. The main tool of this work, the gyrokinetic ORB5 code making use of numerical particles according to the Particle-In-Cell (PIC) method, has been upgraded during this thesis with different linearized collision operators related to both ions and electrons. The BIRDIE code, enabling to study collisional effects on the evolution of Langmuir waves in an unmagnetized plasma, has been written in order to serve as a test-bed for the collision operators ultimately implemented in ORB5. Some essential algorithms related to collisional simulations have been jointly implemented, such as the two-weight scheme which is extensively described in this work. The collision operators in ORB5 have been further carefully tested through neoclassical simu- lations and benchmarked against other codes, providing reliable levels of collisional transport. Together with different procedures controlling the numerical noise, the collision operators have then been applied to the study of collisional turbulent transport in two different regimes, the Ion-Temperature-Gradient (ITG) regime and the Trapped-Electron-Mode (TEM) regime re- quiring a trapped electron kinetic response. Although not dominant in core tokamak plasmas, collisional effects nevertheless lead to interesting modifications in the turbulence behaviour which are not captured by the often considered collisionless gyrokinetic models. The so-called coarse-graining procedure, a noise-control algorithm which is suitable for collisional gyrokinetic simulations with particles, is shown to enable carrying out relevant simulations over many col- lision times. Consequently, reliable conclusions regarding turbulent transport in the presence of collisions could be drawn in this thesis. Namely, the turbulent transport in the ITG regime is found to be enhanced by ion collisions through interactions with so-called zonal flows as- sociated to axisymmetric modes, while it is reduced by electron collisions in the TEM regime through electron detrapping processes. The zonal flow dynamics in collisionless and collisional ITG turbulence simulations is studied, emphasizing the limitation of the zonal flow level due to Kelvin-Helmoltz-type instabilities. Additionally, some purely collisionless issues related to tokamak physics are discussed, such as the finite plasma size effects in TEM-dominated regime which are found to be important in non-linear simulations but unimportant in linear simu- lations. The role of zonal flows in temperature-gradient-driven TEM turbulence saturation is confirmed to be weak, in agreement with previous studies. Finally, a realistic global gy- rokinetic simulation, accounting for a proper TCV tokamak magnetic equilibrium and related experimental profiles, has been successfully carried out thus demonstrating the relevance of the ORB5 code for predictions related to physics of real tokamaks. A good agreement with GAM experimental measurements is indeed obtained