Simulation study of the interaction between large-amplitude HF radio waves and the ionosphere

The time evolution of a large-amplitude electromagnetic (EM) wave injected vertically into the overhead ionosphere is studied numerically. The EM wave has a carrier frequency of 5 MHz and is modulated as a Gaussian pulse with a width of approximately 0.1 milliseconds and a vacuum amplitude of 1.5 V/m at 50 km. This is a fair representation of a modulated radio wave transmitted from a typical high-power HF broadcast station on the ground. The pulse is propagated through the neutral atmosphere to the critical points of the ionosphere, where the L-O and R-X modes are reflected, and back to the neutral atmosphere. We observe mode conversion of the L-O mode to electrostatic waves, as well as harmonic generation at the turning points of both the R-X and L-O modes, where their amplitudes rise to several times the original ones. The study has relevance for ionospheric interaction experiments in combination with ground-based and satellite or rocket observations.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Conservation laws for the Maxwell-Dirac equations with a dual Ohm's law

Using a general theorem on conservation laws for arbitrary differential equations proved by Ibragimov, we have derived conservation laws for Dirac's symmetrized Maxwell-Lorentz equations under the assumption that both the electric and magnetic charges obey linear conductivity laws (dual Ohm's law). We find that this linear system allows for conservation laws which are non-local in time

Neutrino orbital angular momentum in a plasma vortex

It is shown that an electron-neutrino beam, propagating in a background plasma, can be decomposed into orbital momentum (OAM) states, similar to the OAM photon states. Coupling between different OAM neutrino states, in the presence of a plasma vortex, is considered. We show that plasma vorticity can be transfered to the neutrino beam, which is relevant to the understanding of the neutrino sources in astrophysics. Observation of neutrino OAM states could eventually become possible.Comment: 4 pages. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

Zakharov simulation study of spectral features of on-demand Langmuir turbulence in an inhomogeneous plasma

We have performed a simulation study of Langmuir turbulence in the Earth's ionosphere by means of a Zakharov model with parameters relevant for the F layer. The model includes dissipative terms to model collisions and Landau damping of the electrons and ions, and a linear density profile, which models the ionospheric plasma inhomogeneity whose length scale is of the order 10--100 km. The injection of energy into the system is modeled by a constant source term in the Zakharov equation. Langmuir turbulence is excited ``on-demand'' in controlled ionospheric modification experiments where the energy is provided by an HF radio beam injected into the overhead ionospheric plasma. The ensuing turbulence can be studied with radars and in the form of secondary radiation recorded by ground-based receivers. We have analyzed spectral signatures of the turbulence for different sets of parameters and different altitudes relative to the turning point of the linear Langmuir mode where the Langmuir frequency equals the local plasma frequency. By a parametric analysis, we have derived a simple scaling law, which links the spectral width of the turbulent frequency spectrum to the physical parameters in the ionosphere. The scaling law provides a quantitative relation between the physical parameters (temperatures, electron number density, ionospheric length scale, etc.) and the observed frequency spectrum. This law may be useful for interpreting experimental results.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

Linear and angular momentum of electromagnetic fields generated by an arbitrary distribution of charge and current densities at rest

Starting from Stratton-Panofsky-Phillips-Jefimenko equations for the electric and magnetic fields generated by completely arbitrary charge and current density distributions at rest, we derive far-zone approximations for the fields, containing all components, dominant as well as sub-dominant. Using these approximate formulas, we derive general formulas for the total electromagnetic linear momentum and angular momentum, valid at large distances from arbitrary, non-moving charge and current sources.Comment: Six pages, one figure. Errors correcte

Measurement of the spin of the M87 black hole from its observed twisted light

We present the first observational evidence that light propagating near a rotating black hole is twisted in phase and carries orbital angular momentum (OAM). This physical observable allows a direct measurement of the rotation of the black hole. We extracted the OAM spectra from the radio intensity data collected by the Event Horizon Telescope from around the black hole M87* by using wavefront reconstruction and phase recovery techniques and from the visibility amplitude and phase maps. This method is robust and complementary to black-hole shadow circularity analyses. It shows that the M87* rotates clockwise with an estimated rotation parameter $a=0.90\pm0.05$ with $\sim 95\%$ confidence level (c.l.) and inclination $i=17^\circ \pm2^\circ$, equivalent to a magnetic arrested disk with inclination $i=163^\circ\pm2^\circ$. From our analysis we conclude, within a 6 $\sigma$ c.l., that the M87* is rotating.Comment: Small addition on coherence. 5 pages, 2 figures Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter