Covariant form of the ideal magnetohydrodynamic "connection theorem" in a relativistic plasma

The magnetic connection theorem of ideal Magnetohydrodynamics by Newcomb [Newcomb W.A., Ann. Phys., 3, 347 (1958)] and its covariant formulation are rederived and reinterpreted in terms of a "time resetting" projection that accounts for the loss of simultaneity in different reference frames between spatially separated events.Comment: 3 pages- 0 figures EPL, accepted in pres

Solitary versus Shock Wave Acceleration in Laser-Plasma Interactions

The excitation of nonlinear electrostatic waves, such as shock and solitons, by ultraintense laser interaction with overdense plasmas and related ion acceleration are investigated by numerical simulations. Stability of solitons and formation of shock waves is strongly dependent on the velocity distribution of ions. Monoenergetic components in ion spectra are produced by "pulsed" reflection from solitary waves. Possible relevance to recent experiments on "shock acceleration" is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Coherent transport structures in magnetized plasmas II: Numerical results

In a pair of linked articles (called Article I and II respectively) we apply the concept of Lagrangian Coherent Structures borrowed from the study of Dynamical Systems to magnetic field configurations in order to separate regions where field lines have different kind of behavior. In the present article, article II, by means of a numerical procedure we investigate the Lagrangian Coherent Structures in the case of a two-dimensional magnetic configuration with two island chains that are generated by magnetic reconnection and evolve nonlinearly in time. The comparison with previous results, obtained by assuming a fixed magnetic field configuration, allows us to explore the dependence of transport barriers on the particle velocity

Coherent transport structures in magnetized plasmas, I : Theory

In a pair of linked articles (called Article I and II respectively) we apply the concept of Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCSs) borrowed from the study of Dynamical Systems to magnetic field configurations in order to separate regions where field lines have different kind of behaviour. In the present article, article I, after recalling the definition and the properties of the LCSs, we show how this conceptual framework can be applied to the study of particle transport in a magnetized plasma. Futhermore we introduce a simplified model that allows us to consider explicitly the case where the magnetic configuration evolves in time on timescales comparable to the particle transit time through the configuration. In contrast with previous works on this topic, this analysis requires that a system that is aperiodic in time be investigated. In this case the Poincar\'e map technique cannot be applied and LCSs remain the only viable tool

Coupling between reconnection and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in collisionless plasmas

In a collisionless plasma, when reconnection instability takes place, strong shear flows may develop. Under appropriate conditions these shear flows become unstable to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Here, we investigate the coupling between these instabilities in the framework of a four-field model. Firstly, we recover the known results in the low β limit, β being the ratio between the plasma and the magnetic pressure. We concentrate our attention on the dynamical evolution of the current density and vorticity sheets which evolve coupled together according to a laminar or a turbulent regime. A three-dimensional extension in this limit is also discussed. Secondly, we consider finite values of the β parameter, allowing for compression of the magnetic and velocity fields along the ignorable direction. We find that the current density and vorticity sheets now evolve separately. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability involves only the vorticity field, which ends up in a turbulent regime, while the current density maintains a laminar structure

Corona poling for polarization of nanofibrous mats: advantages and open issues

This paper deals with the polarization process of piezoelectric nanofibrous mats of PVdF-TrFE by using a corona discharge process. With respect to traditional contact poling this process reduces the electrical breakdown risk which could easily occur when a highly porous mat is placed between two solid electrodes. Different set-up configurations were investigated by varying the applied voltage and the distance between the needle and the sample. The polarized nanofibers show a piezoelectric strain coefficients (mathrmd_33) comparable with the values of a commercial stiff film

Response to Comment on `Undamped electrostatic plasma waves' [Phys. Plasmas 19, 092103 (2012)]

Numerical and experimental evidence is given for the occurrence of the plateau states and concomitant corner modes proposed in \cite{valentini12}. It is argued that these states provide a better description of reality for small amplitude off-dispersion disturbances than the conventional Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal or cnoidal states such as those proposed in \cite{comment

Coupling between reconnection and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in collisionless plasmas

Abstract. In a collisionless plasma, when reconnection instability takes place, strong shear flows may develop. Under appropriate conditions these shear flows become unstable to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Here, we investigate the coupling between these instabilities in the framework of a four-field model. Firstly, we recover the known results in the low β limit, β being the ratio between the plasma and the magnetic pressure. We concentrate our attention on the dynamical evolution of the current density and vorticity sheets which evolve coupled together according to a laminar or a turbulent regime. A three-dimensional extension in this limit is also discussed. Secondly, we consider finite values of the β parameter, allowing for compression of the magnetic and velocity fields along the ignorable direction. We find that the current density and vorticity sheets now evolve separately. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability involves only the vorticity field, which ends up in a turbulent regime, while the current density maintains a laminar structure