10,262 research outputs found
Ion dynamics and acceleration in relativistic shocks
Ab-initio numerical study of collisionless shocks in electron-ion
unmagnetized plasmas is performed with fully relativistic particle in cell
simulations. The main properties of the shock are shown, focusing on the
implications for particle acceleration. Results from previous works with a
distinct numerical framework are recovered, including the shock structure and
the overall acceleration features. Particle tracking is then used to analyze in
detail the particle dynamics and the acceleration process. We observe an energy
growth in time that can be reproduced by a Fermi-like mechanism with a reduced
number of scatterings, in which the time between collisions increases as the
particle gains energy, and the average acceleration efficiency is not ideal.
The in depth analysis of the underlying physics is relevant to understand the
generation of high energy cosmic rays, the impact on the astrophysical shock
dynamics, and the consequent emission of radiation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
The impact of kinetic effects on the properties of relativistic electron-positron shocks
We assess the impact of non-thermally shock-accelerated particles on the
magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) jump conditions of relativistic shocks. The adiabatic
constant is calculated directly from first principle particle-in-cell
simulation data, enabling a semi-kinetic approach to improve the standard fluid
model and allowing for an identification of the key parameters that define the
shock structure. We find that the evolving upstream parameters have a stronger
impact than the corrections due to non-thermal particles. We find that the
decrease of the upstream bulk speed yields deviations from the standard MHD
model up to 10%. Furthermore, we obtain a quantitative definition of the shock
transition region from our analysis. For Weibel-mediated shocks the inclusion
of a magnetic field in the MHD conservation equations is addressed for the
first time
Cyclical Effects of Bank Capital Buffers with Imperfect Credit Markets: international evidence
This paper analyzes the cyclical effects of bank capital buffers using an international sample of 2,361 banks from 92 countries over the 1990-2007 period. We find that capital buffers reduce the bank credit supply but – through what could be “monitoring or signaling effects” – have also an expansionary effect on economic activity by reducing lending and deposit rate spreads. This influence on lending and deposit rate spreads is more pronunced in developing countries and during downturns. The results suggest that capital buffers have a counter-cyclical effect in these countries. Our data do not suggest differences in the cyclical effects of capital buffers between Basel I and Basel II.
Controlled Shock Shells and Intracluster Fusion Reactions in the Explosion of Large Clusters
The ion phase-space dynamics in the Coulomb explosion of very large ( atoms) deuterium clusters can be tailored using two consecutive
laser pulses with different intensities and an appropriate time delay. For
suitable sets of laser parameters (intensities and delay), large-scale shock
shells form during the explosion, thus highly increasing the probability of
fusion reactions within the single exploding clusters. In order to analyze the
ion dynamics and evaluate the intracluster reaction rate, a one-dimensional
theory is used, which approximately accounts for the electron expulsion from
the clusters. It is found that, for very large clusters (initial radius
100 nm), and optimal laser parameters, the intracluster fusion yield becomes
comparable to the intercluster fusion yield. The validity of the results is
confirmed with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, to appear in Physical Review
Exploring the nature of collisionless shocks under laboratory conditions
Collisionless shocks are pervasive in astrophysics and they are critical to
understand cosmic ray acceleration. Laboratory experiments with intense lasers
are now opening the way to explore and characterise the underlying
microphysics, which determine the acceleration process of collisionless shocks.
We determine the shock character - electrostatic or electromagnetic - based on
the stability of electrostatic shocks to transverse electromagnetic
fluctuations as a function of the electron temperature and flow velocity of the
plasma components, and we compare the analytical model with particle-in-cell
simulations. By making the connection with the laser parameters driving the
plasma flows, we demonstrate that shocks with different and distinct underlying
microphysics can be explored in the laboratory with state-of-the-art laser
systems
Quantum Electrodynamics vacuum polarization solver
The self-consistent modeling of vacuum polarization due to virtual
electron-positron fluctuations is of relevance for many near term experiments
associated with high intensity radiation sources and represents a milestone in
describing scenarios of extreme energy density. We present a generalized
finite-difference time-domain solver that can incorporate the modifications to
Maxwell's equations due to vacuum polarization. Our multidimensional solver
reproduced in one dimensional configurations the results for which an analytic
treatment is possible, yielding vacuum harmonic generation and birefringence.
The solver has also been tested for two-dimensional scenarios where finite
laser beam spot sizes must be taken into account. We employ this solver to
explore different types of counter-propagating configurations that can be
relevant for future planned experiments aiming to detect quantum vacuum
dynamics at ultra-high electromagnetic field intensities
Three-dimensional simulations of laser-plasma interactions at ultrahigh intensities
Three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations are used to
investigate the interaction of ultrahigh intensity lasers (
W/cm) with matter at overcritical densities. Intense laser pulses are
shown to penetrate up to relativistic critical density levels and to be
strongly self-focused during this process. The heat flux of the accelerated
electrons is observed to have an annular structure when the laser is tightly
focused, showing that a large fraction of fast electrons is accelerated at an
angle. These results shed light into the multi-dimensional effects present in
laser-plasma interactions of relevance to fast ignition of fusion targets and
laser-driven ion acceleration in plasmas.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figur
'Galculator': functional prototype of a Galois-connection based proof assistant
Galculator is the name of the prototype of a proof assistant of a special brand: it is solely based on the algebra of Galois connections. When combined with the pointfree transform and tactics such as the indirect equality principle, Galois connections offer a very powerful, generic device to tackle the complexity of proofs in program verification. The paper describes the architecture of the current Galculator prototype, which is implemented in Haskell in order to steer types as much as possible. The prospect of integrating the Galculator with other proof assistants such as e.g. Coq is also discussed.(undefined
All-optical trapping and acceleration of heavy particles
A scheme for fast, compact, and controllable acceleration of heavy particles
in vacuum is proposed, in which two counterpropagating lasers with variable
frequencies drive a beat-wave structure with variable phase velocity, thus
allowing for trapping and acceleration of heavy particles, such as ions or
muons. Fine control over the energy distribution and the total charge of the
beam is obtained via tuning of the frequency variation. The acceleration scheme
is described with a one-dimensional theory, providing the general conditions
for trapping and scaling laws for the relevant features of the particle beam.
Two-dimensional, electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations confirm the
validity and the robustness of the physical mechanism.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, to appear in New Journal of Physic
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