Electric fields in plasmas under pulsed currents

Electric fields in a plasma that conducts a high-current pulse are measured as a function of time and space. The experiment is performed using a coaxial configuration, in which a current rising to 160 kA in 100 ns is conducted through a plasma that prefills the region between two coaxial electrodes. The electric field is determined using laser spectroscopy and line-shape analysis. Plasma doping allows for 3D spatially resolved measurements. The measured peak magnitude and propagation velocity of the electric field is found to match those of the Hall electric field, inferred from the magnetic-field front propagation measured previously.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, submitted to PR

Corrigendum to "Time-varying magnetotail magnetic flux calculation: a test of the method" published in Ann. Geophys., 27, 1583–1591, 2009

No abstract available

Contribution of magnetotail reconnection to the cross-polar cap electric potential drop

Since the work of Dungey (1961), the global circulation pattern with two (dayside and nightside) reconnection regions has become a classic concept. However, the contributions of dayside and nightside sources to the cross-polar cap potential (PCP) are not fully understood, particularly, the relative role and specifics of the nightside source are poorly investigated both in quantitative and qualitative terms. To fill this gap, we address the contributions of dayside and nightside sources to the PCP by conducting global MHD simulations with both idealized solar wind input and an observed event input. The dayside source was parameterized by solar wind–based “dayside merging potential” Φd = LeffVBt sin4(θ/2), whereas to characterize the nightside source we integrated across the tail the dawn-dusk electric field in the plasma sheet (to obtain the “cross-tail potential” Φn). For the idealized run we performed simulations using four MHD codes available at the Community Coordinated Modeling Center to show that contribution of the nightside source is a code-independent feature (although there are many differences in the outputs provided by different codes). Particularly, we show that adding a nightside source to the linear fit function for the ionospheric potential (i.e., using the fit function Φfit = KdΦd + KnΦn + Φ0) considerably improves the fitting results both in the idealized events as well as in the simulation of an observed event. According to these simulations the nightside source contribution to the PCP has a fast response time (<5 min) and a modest efficiency (potential transmission factor from tail to the ionosphere is small, Kn < 0.2), which is closely linked to the primarily inductive character of strong electric field generated in the plasma sheet. The latter time intervals are marked by strongly enhanced nightside (lobe) reconnection and can be associated with substorm expansion phases. This association is further strengthened by the simulated patterns of precipitation, the R1-type field-aligned substorm current wedge currents and Hall electrojet currents, which are consistent with the known substorm signatures

Method Quantitative for Determination of Carbonate Ions in Layered Rare-Earth Hydroxides by X-Ray Fluoriscence Spectrometry

Слоистые гидроксиды редкоземельных элементов являются перспективными прекурсорами для создания многофункциональных материалов. Содержание карбонат-ионов в этих соединениях негативно сказывается на оптические свойства синтезированных из них материалов. Разработанная методика позволяет определять карбонат-ионы в слоистых гидроксидах иттрия-европия в диапазоне содержания углерода от 0,05 до 2,00 мас. %. Показатели точности для этой методики достаточно низкие для таких низких концентраций.Layered rare earth hydroxides are promising precursors for creating multifunctional materials. The content of carbonate ions in these compounds negatively affects the optical properties of the materials synthesized from them. The developed technique makes it possible to determine carbonate ions in layered yttrium-europium hydroxides in the range of carbon content from 0.05 to 2.00 wt. %. The accuracy rates for this technique are quite low for such low concentrations

Mass Transfer Mechanism in Real Crystals by Pulsed Laser Irradiation

The dynamic processes in the surface layers of metals subjected activity of a pulsing laser irradiation, which destroyed not the crystalline structure in details surveyed. The procedure of calculation of a dislocation density generated in bulk of metal during the relaxation processes and at repeated pulse laser action is presented. The results of evaluations coincide with high accuracy with transmission electron microscopy dates. The dislocation-interstitial mechanism of laser-stimulated mass-transfer in real crystals is presented on the basis of the ideas of the interaction of structure defects in dynamically deforming medium. The good compliance of theoretical and experimental results approves a defining role of the presented mechanism of mass transfer at pulse laser action on metals. The possible implementation this dislocation-interstitial mechanism of mass transfer in metals to other cases of pulsing influences is justifiedComment: 10 pages, 2 figures, Late

Near-seismic effects in ULF fields and seismo-acoustic emission: statistics and explanation

International audiencePreseismic intensification of fracturing has been investigated from occurrence analysis of seismo-acoustic pulses (SA foreshocks) and ULF magnetic pulses (ULF foreshocks) observed in Karimshino station in addition to seismic foreshocks. Such analysis is produced for about 40 rather strong and nearby isolated earthquakes during 2 years of recording. It is found that occurrence rate of SA foreshocks increases in the interval (-12, 0 h) before main shock with 3-times exceeding of background level in the interval (-6, -3 h), and occurrence probability of SA foreshocks (pA~75%) is higher than probability of seismic foreshocks (ps~30%) in the same time interval.ULF foreshocks are masked by regular ULF activity at local morning and daytime, nevertheless we have discovered an essential ULF intensity increase in the interval (-3, +1 h) at the frequency range 0.05-0.3 Hz. Estimated occurrence probability of ULF foreshocks is about 40%. After theoretical consideration we conclude: 1) Taking into account the number rate of SA foreshocks, their amplitude and frequency range, they emit due to opening of fractures with size of L=70-200 m (M=1-2); 2) The electro-kinetic effect is the most promising mechanism of ULF foreshocks, but it is efficient only if two special conditions are fulfilled: a) origin of fractures near fluid-saturated places or liquid reservoirs (aquifers); b) appearance of open porosity or initiation of percolation instability; 3) Both SA and ULF magnetic field pulses are related to near-distant fractures (r<20-30 km); 4) Taking into account number rate and activation period of seismic, SA and ULF foreshocks, it is rather probable that opening of fractures and rupture of fluid reservoirs occur in the large preparation area with horizontal size about 100-200km

MODERN IDEA ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: MOLECULAR MECHANISMS

As of now, impaired immune homeostasis of the intestinal mucosa in genetically predisposed individuals is considered to be one of the major components in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA), which leads to systemic chronic inflammation. The results of recent studies may suggest that the interleukin-23/interleukin-17 (IL-23/IL-17) axis plays a leading role in the development of these diseases. The multifactorial components of the pathogenesis of SpA are characterized by not only the hyperproduction of IL-23, but also by the change in cell target susceptibility to this cytokine with aconcurrent increase in their number, resulting in the chronic autoinflammatory process that occurs via a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of different types of Sp

About possibility to locate an EQ epicenter using parameters of ELF/ULF preseismic emission

A relation between parameters of preseismic ULF/ELF emissions and EQ is studied. The magnetic data measured at Karymshino station (Kamchatka, Russia) along with data on local seismic activity during eight years of observations (2001–2008) are taken for the analysis. Source azimuth is detected in different techniques, based on the analysis of the total field and its polarized pulsed component. The latter technique shows a better accuracy in the source azimuth detection. The errors of the method are associated with existence of non-seismic sources and with use of one-point observation. The second error can be eliminated by development of multi-point observations