Space plasma physics research

During the course of this grant, work was performed on a variety of topics and there were a number of significant accomplishments. A summary of these accomplishments is included. The topics studied include empirical model data base, data reduction for archiving, semikinetic modeling of low energy plasma in the inner terrestrial magnetosphere and ionosphere, O(+) outflows, equatorial plasma trough, and plasma wave ray-tracing studies. A list of publications and presentations which have resulted from this research is also included

Research in plasma physics

Three aspects of barium ion cloud dynamics are discussed. First, the effect of the ratio of ion cloud conductivity to background ionospheric conductivity on the motion of barium ion clouds is investigated and compared with observations of barium ion clouds. This study led to the suggestion that the conjugate ionosphere participates in the dynamics of barium ion clouds. Second, analytic work on the deformation of ion clouds is presented. Third, a linearized stability theory was extended to include the effect of the finite extent of an ion cloud, as well as the effect of the ratio of ion cloud to ionospheric conductivities. The stability properties of a plasma with contra-streaming ion beams parallel to a magnetic field are investigated. The results are interpreted in terms of parameters appropriate for collisionless shock waves. It is found that this particular instability can be operative only if the up-stream Alfven Mach number exceeds 5.5

Mini-Conference on Hamiltonian and Lagrangian Methods in Fluid and Plasma Physics

A mini-conference on Hamiltonian and Lagrangian methods in fluid and plasma physics was held on November 14, 2002, as part of the 44th meeting of the Division of Plasma Physics of the American Physical Society. This paper summarizes the material presented during the talks scheduled during the Mini-Conference, which was held to honor Allan Kaufman on the occasion of his 75th birthday.Comment: 14 pages, conference summar

Plasma physics in clusters of galaxies

Clusters of galaxies are the largest self-gravitating structures in the universe. Each cluster is filled with a large-scale plasma atmosphere, in which primordial matter is mixed with matter that has been processed inside stars. This is a wonderful plasma physics laboratory. Our diagnostics are the data we obtain from X-ray and radio telescopes. The thermal plasma is a strong X-ray source; from this we determine its density and temperature. Radio data reveal a relativistic component in the plasma, and first measurements of the intracluster magnetic field have now been made. Energization of the particles and the field must be related to the cosmological evolution of the cluster. The situation is made even richer by the few galaxies in each cluster which host radio jets. In these galaxies, electrodynamics near a massive black hole in the core of the galaxy lead to a collimated plasma beam which propagates from the nucleus out to supergalactic scales. These jets interact with the cluster plasma to form the structures known as radio galaxies. The interaction disturbs and energizes the cluster plasma. This complicates the story but also helps us understand both the radio jets and the cluster plasma.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 3 in color. Invited review, to appear in Physics of Plasmas, May 2003. After publication it can be found at http://ojps.aip.org/po

Nonlinear aspects of quantum plasma physics

Dense quantum plasmas are ubiquitous in planetary interiors and in compact astrophysical objects, in semiconductors and micro-mechanical systems, as well as in the next generation intense laser-solid density plasma interaction experiments and in quantum x-ray free-electron lasers. In contrast to classical plasmas, one encounters extremely high plasma number density and low temperature in quantum plasmas. The latter are composed of electrons, positrons and holes, which are degenerate. Positrons (holes) have the same (slightly different) mass as electrons, but opposite charge. The degenerate charged particles (electrons, positrons, holes) follow the Fermi-Dirac statistics. In quantum plasmas, there are new forces associated with i) quantum statistical electron and positron pressures, ii) electron and positron tunneling through the Bohm potential, and iii) electron and positron angular momentum spin. Inclusion of these quantum forces provides possibility of very high-frequency dispersive electrostatic and electromagnetic waves (e.g. in the hard x-ray and gamma rays regimes) having extremely short wavelengths. In this review paper, we present theoretical backgrounds for some important nonlinear aspects of wave-wave and wave-electron interactions in dense quantum plasmas. Specifically, we shall focus on nonlinear electrostatic electron and ion plasma waves, novel aspects of 3D quantum electron fluid turbulence, as well as nonlinearly coupled intense electromagnetic waves and localized plasma wave structures. Also discussed are the phase space kinetic structures and mechanisms that can generate quasi-stationary magnetic fields in dense quantum plasmas. The influence of the external magnetic field and the electron angular momentum spin on the electromagnetic wave dynamics is discussed.Comment: 42 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in Physics-Uspekh

Solar Physics - Plasma Physics Workshop

A summary of the proceedings of a conference whose purpose was to explore plasma physics problems which arise in the study of solar physics is provided. Sessions were concerned with specific questions including the following: (1) whether the solar plasma is thermal or non-themal; (2) what spectroscopic data is required; (3) what types of magnetic field structures exist; (4) whether magnetohydrodynamic instabilities occur; (5) whether resistive or non-magnetohydrodynamic instabilities occur; (6) what mechanisms of particle acceleration have been proposed; and (7) what information is available concerning shock waves. Very few questions were answered categorically but, for each question, there was discussion concerning the observational evidence, theoretical analyses, and existing or potential laboratory and numerical experiments

CfA Plasma Talks

Notes from a series of 13 one hour (or more) lectures on Plasma Physics given to Ramesh Narayan' research group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, between January and July 2012. Lectures 1 to 5 cover various key Plasma Physics themes. Lectures 6 to 12 mainly go over the Review Paper on "Multidimensional electron beam-plasma instabilities in the relativistic regime" [\emph{Physics of Plasmas} \textbf{17}, 120501 (2010)]. Lectures 13 talks about the so-called Biermann battery and its ability to generate magnetic fields from scratch.Comment: 58 pages, 21 figure