Topology and field strength in spherical, anelastic dynamo simulations

Numerical modelling of convection driven dynamos in the Boussinesq approximation revealed fundamental characteristics of the dynamo-generated magnetic fields and the fluid flow. Because these results were obtained for an incompressible fluid, their validity for gas planets and stars remains to be assessed. A common approach is to take some density stratification into account with the so-called anelastic approximation. The validity of previous results obtained in the Boussinesq approximation is tested for anelastic models. We point out and explain specific differences between both types of models, in particular with respect to the field geometry and the field strength, but we also compare scaling laws for the velocity amplitude, the magnetic dissipation time, and the convective heat flux. Our investigation is based on a systematic parameter study of spherical dynamo models in the anelastic approximation. We make use of a recently developed numerical solver and provide results for the test cases of the anelastic dynamo benchmark. The dichotomy of dipolar and multipolar dynamos identified in Boussinesq simulations is also present in our sample of anelastic models. Dipolar models require that the typical length scale of convection is an order of magnitude larger than the Rossby radius. However, the distinction between both classes of models is somewhat less explicit than in previous studies. This is mainly due to two reasons: we found a number of models with a considerable equatorial dipole contribution and an intermediate overall dipole field strength. Furthermore, a large density stratification may hamper the generation of dipole dominated magnetic fields. Previously proposed scaling laws, such as those for the field strength, are similarly applicable to anelastic models. It is not clear, however, if this consistency necessarily implies similar dynamo processes in both settings.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure

Simple Scalings for Various Regimes of Electron Acceleration in Surface Plasma Waves

Different electron acceleration regimes in the evanescent field of a surface plasma wave are studied by considering the interaction of a test electron with the high-frequency electromagnetic field of a surface wave. The non-relativistic and relativistic limits are investigated. Simple scalings are found demonstrating the possibility to achieve an efficient conversion of the surface wave field energy into electron kinetic energy. This mechanism of electron acceleration can provide a high-frequency pulsed source of relativistic electrons with a well defined energy. In the relativistic limit, the most energetic electrons are obtained in the so-called electromagnetic regime for surface waves. In this regime the particles are accelerated to velocities larger than the wave phase velocity, mainly in the direction parallel to the plasma-vacuum interface

Local rigidity for actions of Kazhdan groups on non commutative LpL_p-spaces

Given a discrete group $\Gamma$, a finite factor $\mathcal N$ and a real number $p\in [1, +\infty)$ with $p\neq 2,$ we are concerned with the rigidity of actions of $\Gamma$ by linear isometries on the $L_p$-spaces $L_p(\mathcal N)$ associated to $\mathcal N$. More precisely, we show that, when $\Gamma$ and $\mathcal N$ have both Property (T) and under some natural ergodicity condition, such an action $\pi$ is locally rigid in the group $G$ of linear isometries of $L_p(\mathcal N)$, that is, every sufficiently small perturbation of $\pi$ is conjugate to $\pi$ under $G$. As a consequence, when $\Gamma$ is an ICC Kazhdan group, the action of $\Gamma$ on its von Neumann algebra ${\mathcal N}(\Gamma)$, given by conjugation, is locally rigid in the isometry group of $L_p({\mathcal N}(\Gamma)).$Comment: 20 page

Anomalous Multiphoton Photoelectric Effect in Ultrashort Time Scales

International audienceIn a multiphoton photoelectric process, an electron needs to absorb a given number of photons to escape the surface of a metal. It is shown for the first time that this number is not a constant depending only on the characteristics of the metal and light, but varies with the interaction duration in ultrashort time scales. The phenomenon occurs when electromagnetic energy is transferred, via ultrafast excitation of electron collective modes, to conduction electrons in a duration less than the electron energy damping time. It manifests itself through a dramatic increase of electron production. A basic hypothesis of the photoelectric process is that the photoemissive properties of matter remain unaltered during the interaction with light. Light-metal coupling is tacitly assumed as a perturbation of the electron population that remains in equilibrium during the interaction. Now, it has recently been shown that transient nonequilibrium electron states can exist in ultrashort time scales, in particular , when electromagnetic energy is transferred from a laser pulse to conduction electrons in a lapse of time shorter than the electron-phonon energy transfer duration [1– 4]. In this Letter, we address the basic question of whether the photoemissive properties of a metal can be modified through ultrafast energy transfer and nonequilib-rium electron heating. In a metallic electron gas, transient density disturbances can result in electron collective oscillation modes in the volume and near the surface. Under certain conditions, these so-called surface plasmon (polariton) modes can be excited by light [5,6]. In the case of thin metal films, the surface plasmon modes on the two surfaces can be coupled [7–9] and energy can be transferred from one surface plasmon mode to the other [10]. Collective electron oscillations can exist as well at the interface [11] between two perfect metals due to symmetry breaking at the metal-metal interface. Furthermore, interface and surface plas-mon modes can be coupled [12] in a bilayer metal system made of a metal M 1 (of electron density n 1) covered by a thin metallic layer M 2 (of electron density n 2 < n 1). If the overlayer metal M 2 is thin enough, the field of the surface plasmon can tunnel through the M 2 bulk and excite electron density fluctuations at the interface between the two metals (see Fig. 1). If the metal overlayer is too thick, the field of the surface plasmon must tunnel through too large a distance to excite the density fluctuations between the two metals. Conversely, if it is too thin, the surface plasmon amplitude is damped because of increasing coupling between the two opposite faces of the overlayer. There exists therefore an optimum thickness of the overlayer for which the amplitude of the induced interface plasmon is maximum. An interesting consequence of the interface or surface plasmon coupling effect is that the electron population in the metal overlayer can be in transient nonequilibrium energy states through ultrafast energy transfer from the coupled interface and surface plasmons. Actually, the conduction electrons near the surface and the metal-metal interface experience an effective nonlinear low-frequency force, the so-called ponderomotive force [13,14], resulting from the strongly inhomogeneous high-frequency field of the plasmons, and are accelerated toward regions of decreasing field amplitude. The ponderomotive force plays the role of an applied electrostatic force that transfers electromagnetic energy in a coherent way to an electron population, in contrast with stochastic energy transfer via thermal heating. The maximum energy that can be transferred to a free electron with initial energy E 0 through ponderomotive acceleration in a strong oscillating electri

On Nori's Fundamental Group Scheme

We determine the quotient category which is the representation category of the kernel of the homomorphism from Nori's fundamental group scheme to its \'etale and local parts. Pierre Deligne pointed out an error in the first version of this article. We profoundly thank him, in particular for sending us his enlightning example reproduced in Remark 2.4 2).Comment: 29 page

Electron acceleration by surface plasma waves in the interaction between femtosecond laser pulses and sharp-edged overdense plasmas

International audienceThe relativistic acceleration of electrons by the field of surface plasma waves created in the interaction between ultrashort high-intensity laser pulses with sharp-edged overdense plasmas has been investigated. It is shown that the initial phase of the wave experienced by the electrons play a leading part by yielding a well-defined peaked structure in the energy distribution function. This study suggests that resonant excitation of surface plasma waves could result in quasi-monokinetic energetic electron bunches. When the space charge field becomes too strong, this mechanism can evolve toward a true absorption process of the surface wave energy via an enhanced ''vacuum heating'' mechanism generalized to the case of surface plasma waves

Efficient laser-overdense plasma coupling via surface plasma waves and steady magnetic field generation

International audienceThe efficiency of laser overdense plasma coupling via surface plasma wave excitation is investigated. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are performed over a wide range of laser pulse intensity from 10 15 to 10 20 W cm À2 lm 2 with electron density ranging from 25 to 100n c to describe the laser interaction with a grating target where a surface plasma wave excitation condition is fulfilled. The numerical studies confirm an efficient coupling with an enhancement of the laser absorption up to 75%. The simulations also show the presence of a localized, quasi-static magnetic field at the plasma surface. Two interaction regimes are identified for low (Ik 2 10 17 W cm À2 lm 2) laser pulse intensities. At " relativistic " laser intensity, steady magnetic fields as high as $580 MG lm/k 0 at 7 Â 10 19 W cm À2 lm 2 are obtained in the simulations

Optical properties of an ensemble of G-centers in silicon

We addressed the carrier dynamics in so-called G-centers in silicon (consisting of substitutional-interstitial carbon pairs interacting with interstitial silicons) obtained via ion implantation into a silicon-on-insulator wafer. For this point defect in silicon emitting in the telecommunication wavelength range, we unravel the recombination dynamics by time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. More specifically, we performed detailed photoluminescence experiments as a function of excitation energy, incident power, irradiation fluence and temperature in order to study the impact of radiative and non-radiative recombination channels on the spectrum, yield and lifetime of G-centers. The sharp line emitting at 969 meV ($\sim$1280 nm) and the broad asymmetric sideband developing at lower energy share the same recombination dynamics as shown by time-resolved experiments performed selectively on each spectral component. This feature accounts for the common origin of the two emission bands which are unambiguously attributed to the zero-phonon line and to the corresponding phonon sideband. In the framework of the Huang-Rhys theory with non-perturbative calculations, we reach an estimation of 1.6$\pm$0.1 \angstrom for the spatial extension of the electronic wave function in the G-center. The radiative recombination time measured at low temperature lies in the 6 ns-range. The estimation of both radiative and non-radiative recombination rates as a function of temperature further demonstrate a constant radiative lifetime. Finally, although G-centers are shallow levels in silicon, we find a value of the Debye-Waller factor comparable to deep levels in wide-bandgap materials. Our results point out the potential of G-centers as a solid-state light source to be integrated into opto-electronic devices within a common silicon platform