57 research outputs found
Hawking radiation in an electro-magnetic wave-guide?
It is demonstrated that the propagation of electro-magnetic waves in an
appropriately designed wave-guide is (for large wave-lengths) analogous to that
within a curved space-time -- such as around a black hole. As electro-magnetic
radiation (e.g., micro-weaves) can be controlled, amplified, and detected (with
present-day technology) much easier than sound, for example, we propose a
set-up for the experimental verification of the Hawking effect. Apart from
experimentally testing this striking prediction, this would facilitate the
investigation of the trans-Planckian problem. PACS: 04.70.Dy, 04.80.-y,
42.50.-p, 84.40.Az.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 1 figur
Comment on `Electromagnetic force on a moving dipole'
Using the Lagrangian formalism, the electromagnetic force on a moving dipole
derived by Kholmetskii, Missevitch and Yarman (2011, Eur. J. Phys. 32, 873) is
found to be missing some important terms.Comment: The version as accepted by Eur. J. Phys.; 4 page
Self-Organization of Reconnecting Plasmas to Marginal Collisionality in the Solar Corona
We explore the suggestions by Uzdensky (2007) and Cassak et al. (2008) that
coronal loops heated by magnetic reconnection should self-organize to a state
of marginal collisionality. We discuss their model of coronal loop dynamics
with a one-dimensional hydrodynamic calculation. We assume that many current
sheets are present, with a distribution of thicknesses, but that only current
sheets thinner than the ion skin depth can rapidly reconnect. This assumption
naturally causes a density dependent heating rate which is actively regulated
by the plasma. We report 9 numerical simulation results of coronal loop
hydrodynamics in which the absolute values of the heating rates are different
but their density dependences are the same. We find two regimes of behavior,
depending on the amplitude of the heating rate. In the case that the amplitude
of heating is below a threshold value, the loop is in stable equilibrium.
Typically the upper and less dense part of coronal loop is collisionlessly
heated and conductively cooled. When the amplitude of heating is above the
threshold, the conductive flux to the lower atmosphere required to balance
collisionless heating drives an evaporative flow which quenches fast
reconnection, ultimately cooling and draining the loop until the cycle begins
again. The key elements of this cycle are gravity and the density dependence of
the heating function. Some additional factors are present, including pressure
driven flows from the loop top, which carry a large enthalpy flux and play an
important role in reducing the density. We find that on average the density of
the system is close to the marginally collisionless value.Comment: accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, 33 pages, 12
figure
Magnetic Pinching of Hyperbolic Flux Tubes: I. Basic Estimations
The concept of hyperbolic flux tubes (HFTs) is a generalization of the
concept of separator field lines for coronal magnetic fields with a trivial
magnetic topology. An effective mechanism of a current layer formation in HFTs
is proposed. This mechanism is called magnetic pinching and it is caused by
large-scale shearing motions applied to the photospheric feet of HFTs in a way
as if trying to twist the HFT. It is shown that in the middle of an HFT such
motions produce a hyperbolic flow that causes an exponentially fast growth of
the current density in a thin force-free current layer. The magnetic energy
associated with the current layer that is built up over a few hours is
sufficient for a large flare. Other implications of HFT pinching for solar
flares are discussed as well.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, accepted to Astrophysical Journal, added typos
in Eq. (A9) and new comments to Sections 2 and 7, references update
Electron acceleration and heating in collisionless magnetic reconnection
We discuss electron acceleration and heating during collisionless magnetic
reconnection by using the results of implicit kinetic simulations of Harris
current sheets. We consider and compare electron dynamics in plasmas with
different \beta values and perform simulations up to the physical mass ratio.
We analyze the typical trajectory of electrons passing through the reconnection
region, we study the electron velocity, focusing on the out-of-plane velocity,
and we discuss the electron heating along the in-plane and out-of-plane
directions
On Solving the Coronal Heating Problem
This article assesses the current state of understanding of coronal heating,
outlines the key elements of a comprehensive strategy for solving the problem,
and warns of obstacles that must be overcome along the way.Comment: Accepted by Solar Physics; Published by Solar Physic
Recent Advances in Understanding Particle Acceleration Processes in Solar Flares
We review basic theoretical concepts in particle acceleration, with
particular emphasis on processes likely to occur in regions of magnetic
reconnection. Several new developments are discussed, including detailed
studies of reconnection in three-dimensional magnetic field configurations
(e.g., current sheets, collapsing traps, separatrix regions) and stochastic
acceleration in a turbulent environment. Fluid, test-particle, and
particle-in-cell approaches are used and results compared. While these studies
show considerable promise in accounting for the various observational
manifestations of solar flares, they are limited by a number of factors, mostly
relating to available computational power. Not the least of these issues is the
need to explicitly incorporate the electrodynamic feedback of the accelerated
particles themselves on the environment in which they are accelerated. A brief
prognosis for future advancement is offered.Comment: This is a chapter in a monograph on the physics of solar flares,
inspired by RHESSI observations. The individual articles are to appear in
Space Science Reviews (2011
Why are flare ribbons associated with the spines of magnetic null points generically elongated?
Coronal magnetic null points exist in abundance as demonstrated by
extrapolations of the coronal field, and have been inferred to be important for
a broad range of energetic events. These null points and their associated
separatrix and spine field lines represent discontinuities of the field line
mapping, making them preferential locations for reconnection. This field line
mapping also exhibits strong gradients adjacent to the separatrix (fan) and
spine field lines, that can be analysed using the `squashing factor', . In
this paper we make a detailed analysis of the distribution of in the
presence of magnetic nulls. While is formally infinite on both the spine
and fan of the null, the decay of away from these structures is shown in
general to depend strongly on the null-point structure. For the generic case of
a non-radially-symmetric null, decays most slowly away from the spine/fan
in the direction in which increases most slowly. In particular,
this demonstrates that the extended, elliptical high- halo around the spine
footpoints observed by Masson et al. (Astrophys. J., 700, 559, 2009) is a
generic feature. This extension of the halos around the spine/fan
footpoints is important for diagnosing the regions of the photosphere that are
magnetically connected to any current layer that forms at the null. In light of
this, we discuss how our results can be used to interpret the geometry of
observed flare ribbons in `circular ribbon flares', in which typically a
coronal null is implicated. We conclude that both the physics in the vicinity
of the null and how this is related to the extension of away from the
spine/fan can be used in tandem to understand observational signatures of
reconnection at coronal null points.Comment: Pre-print version of article accepted for publication in Solar
Physic
On Landau damping
Going beyond the linearized study has been a longstanding problem in the
theory of Landau damping. In this paper we establish exponential Landau damping
in analytic regularity. The damping phenomenon is reinterpreted in terms of
transfer of regularity between kinetic and spatial variables, rather than
exchanges of energy; phase mixing is the driving mechanism. The analysis
involves new families of analytic norms, measuring regularity by comparison
with solutions of the free transport equation; new functional inequalities; a
control of nonlinear echoes; sharp scattering estimates; and a Newton
approximation scheme. Our results hold for any potential no more singular than
Coulomb or Newton interaction; the limit cases are included with specific
technical effort. As a side result, the stability of homogeneous equilibria of
the nonlinear Vlasov equation is established under sharp assumptions. We point
out the strong analogy with the KAM theory, and discuss physical implications.Comment: News: (1) the main result now covers Coulomb and Newton potentials,
and (2) some classes of Gevrey data; (3) as a corollary this implies new
results of stability of homogeneous nonmonotone equilibria for the
gravitational Vlasov-Poisson equatio
Tixagevimab–cilgavimab for treatment of patients hospitalised with COVID-19: a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial
Background: Tixagevimab–cilgavimab is a neutralising monoclonal antibody combination hypothesised to improve outcomes for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. We aimed to compare tixagevimab–cilgavimab versus placebo, in patients receiving remdesivir and other standard care. Methods: In a randomised, double-blind, phase 3, placebo-controlled trial, adults with symptoms for up to 12 days and hospitalised for COVID-19 at 81 sites in the USA, Europe, Uganda, and Singapore were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive intravenous tixagevimab 300 mg–cilgavimab 300 mg or placebo, in addition to remdesivir and other standard care. Patients were excluded if they had acute organ failure including receipt of invasive mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, vasopressor therapy, mechanical circulatory support, or new renal replacement therapy. The study drug was prepared by an unmasked pharmacist; study participants, site study staff, investigators, and clinical providers were masked to study assignment. The primary outcome was time to sustained recovery up to day 90, defined as 14 consecutive days at home after hospital discharge, with co-primary analyses for the full cohort and for participants who were neutralising antibody-negative at baseline. Efficacy and safety analyses were done in the modified intention-to-treat population, defined as participants who received a complete or partial infusion of tixagevimab–cilgavimab or placebo. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04501978 and the participant follow-up is ongoing. Findings: From Feb 10 to Sept 30, 2021, 1455 patients were randomly assigned and 1417 in the primary modified intention-to-treat population were infused with tixagevimab–cilgavimab (n=710) or placebo (n=707). The estimated cumulative incidence of sustained recovery was 89% for tixagevimab–cilgavimab and 86% for placebo group participants at day 90 in the full cohort (recovery rate ratio [RRR] 1·08 [95% CI 0·97–1·20]; p=0·21). Results were similar in the seronegative subgroup (RRR 1·14 [0·97–1·34]; p=0·13). Mortality was lower in the tixagevimab–cilgavimab group (61 [9%]) versus placebo group (86 [12%]; hazard ratio [HR] 0·70 [95% CI 0·50–0·97]; p=0·032). The composite safety outcome occurred in 178 (25%) tixagevimab–cilgavimab and 212 (30%) placebo group participants (HR 0·83 [0·68–1·01]; p=0·059). Serious adverse events occurred in 34 (5%) participants in the tixagevimab–cilgavimab group and 38 (5%) in the placebo group. Interpretation: Among patients hospitalised with COVID-19 receiving remdesivir and other standard care, tixagevimab–cilgavimab did not improve the primary outcome of time to sustained recovery but was safe and mortality was lower. Funding: US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Operation Warp Speed
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