Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
O. Pezzi, H. Liang, J. L. Juno, P. A. Cassak, C. L. Vasconez, L. Sorriso-Valvo, D. Perrone, S. Servidio, V Roytershteyn, J. M. TenBarge, W. H. Matthaeus
Summary: This study compares different measures used for characterizing energy dissipation and kinetic-scale conversion in weakly collisional plasmas through kinetic numerical simulations. The results show overall agreement in dissipation measures between particle-in-cell (PIC) and continuum reconnection simulations, with slight differences in details. Distribution function-based measures show a broader width compared to energy-based proxies, indicating that energy transfer occurs in wider regions.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Keizo Fujimoto, Jin-Bin Cao
Summary: A new mechanism for strong electron heating in magnetic islands ejected from the reconnection current layer is proposed in this study. Full kinetic simulations in a three-dimensional system show that electrons are effectively accelerated by the non-ideal electric field generated through electromagnetic turbulence in the magnetic islands. High-energy electrons are efficiently scattered by the turbulence, leading to strong electron heating, which is consistent with recent satellite observations in the Earth's magnetosphere.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
M. Gobbin, M. Agostini, F. Auriemma, L. Carraro, R. Cavazzana, A. Fassina, P. Franz, L. Marrelli, B. Momo, R. Piovan, I Predebon, M. E. Puiatti, G. Spizzo, D. Terranova, M. Zuin
Summary: This paper investigates the collapse of electron temperature during reconnection events in high current reversed field pinch plasmas using high time resolution soft-x-ray diagnostics. The energy released during these events, similar to astrophysical plasmas, may be involved in ion heating. The authors further point out that these issues will be studied in RFX-mod2.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Giulia Murtas, Andrew Hillier, Ben Snow
Summary: The role of collisional ionization and recombination in the development of plasmoid coalescence in partially ionized plasmas (PIP) of the solar chromosphere is investigated. It is found that ionization and recombination processes slow down the coalescence in general, but turbulent reconnection can still occur in limited cases. However, the reconnection rate in PIP is faster than in a fully ionized plasma environment with the same bulk density.
PHYSICS OF PLASMAS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yongyuan Yi, Meng Zhou, Liangjin Song, Ye Pang, Xiaohua Deng
Summary: This study reveals the existence of electron-only magnetic reconnection during magnetic island coalescence, which is the early stage of the process. During this electron-only reconnection, ions are affected by the reconnection electric field although the ion bulk outflow is absent.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Yan Yang, Francesco Pecora, William H. H. Matthaeus, Sohom Roy, Manuel Enrique Cuesta, Alexandros Chasapis, Tulasi Parashar, Riddhi Bandyopadhyay, D. J. Gershman, B. L. Giles, J. L. Burch
Summary: This study analyzes the distribution of energy in weakly collisional plasmas, focusing on the partitioning between different species and energy channels. The fractions of isotropic compressive, gyrotropic, and nongyrotropic heating for each species are quantified through the analysis of pressure-strain interaction. Comparisons are made between kinetic turbulence simulations and Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission observation data. The results show that compressive heating is stronger than incompressive heating in the magnetosheath, while incompressive heating is stronger in kinetic plasma turbulence simulations. Gyrotropic heating dominates for electrons, while nongyrotropic heating is enhanced for protons in both simulations and observations. The impact of plasma beta on heating variations is also discussed, indicating that increasing beta leads to more heating for protons.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Quan-Zhi Zhang, Jia-Rui Liu, Yong-Xin Liu, Wen-Qi Lu, Jing-Yu Sun, You-Nian Wang
Summary: An enhanced electron heating mechanism based on the resonance between the cyclotron motion of electrons and radio frequency electric field has been discovered in weakly magnetized capacitively coupled argon plasmas. When the electron cyclotron frequency coincides with the applied power source frequency, the bulk electrons continuously acquire energy from the background electric field, resulting in a distinct increase in excitation rate and electron temperature in the plasma bulk.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Shan Wang, Yan Yang
Summary: We perform a simulation to study electron heating associated with magnetic reconnection in turbulent plasmas. The simulation shows that the electron temperature is higher near reconnection sites compared to other areas, and the heating rate of the electrons is influenced by the average ion Alfvén speed. We also investigate the mechanisms of electron energization and find that different mechanisms dominate at different stages of the reconnection process. The thickness of the current sheets plays a critical role in initiating reconnection.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
J. Zhou, G. Sanchez-Arriaga, E. Ahedo
Summary: The study investigates the transient and steady-state expansion of a weakly-collisional plasma beam in a paraxial magnetic nozzle using a kinetic Boltzmann-Poisson model. The simulations show that occasional collisions progressively populate the phase-space region of isolated trapped electrons until a steady state is reached, characterized by partial occupancy of that region increasing with the collisionality rate. In the downstream region of the expansion, ions and electrons lose all their perpendicular energy but retain part of their parallel thermal energy. The electron heat fluxes of parallel energy are not negligible and are approximately proportional to enthalpy fluxes.
PLASMA SOURCES SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
L. -N. Hau, C. -. Chang, M. Lazar
Summary: Harris sheet models with antiparallel magnetic field are equilibrium solutions widely used for studying plasma instabilities and magnetic reconnection. This paper presents the first results of adopting nonthermal RKDs in the Harris equilibrium models, showing that the new RKD-Harris equilibrium is applicable for all kappa values.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
H. Tanabe, H. Tanaka, Q. Cao, Y. Cai, M. Akimitsu, T. Ahmadi, C. Z. Cheng, M. Inomoto, Y. Ono
Summary: Experimental results reveal that during magnetic reconnection, ion heating and transport exhibit global characteristics, forming characteristic ring-like structures aligned with field lines, which are sensitive to factors such as the polarity of the toroidal field and the global structure's tilt. This study also demonstrates for the first time the existence of poloidally asymmetric non-classical features through parallel acceleration and global heat transport processes.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Q. Y. Xiong, S. Y. Huang, Z. G. Yuan, K. Jiang, S. B. Xu, R. T. Lin, L. Yu
Summary: Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process that converts magnetic energy into particles. The electron diffusion region (EDR) plays a crucial role in this process. In this study, it is revealed through simulations that part of the decelerated electrons in the outer EDR can even move back to the inner EDR, suggesting a magnetic Marangoni effect in space plasma. This finding introduces a novel mechanism in the EDR during magnetic reconnection.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Shu-Di Yang, Liang Wang, Chuanfei Dong
Summary: This article reports the first fully kinetic simulations of collisionless reconnection in a three-species dusty plasma with negatively charged dust grains, discovering the double Hall pattern and analyzing the reconnection rate. This study is significant for explaining observations of planetary magnetospheres and astrophysical objects, as well as for laboratory studies of dusty plasmas.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Matthew Goodbred, Yi-Hsin Liu
Summary: We have developed a first-principles model for the relativistic magnetic reconnection rate in strongly magnetized pair plasmas. Our analysis shows that in the magnetically dominated relativistic regime, the x-line thermal pressure is significantly lower than the upstream magnetic pressure, which leads to the collapse of the magnetic field lines and enables fast reconnection. This result is crucial for understanding various extreme astrophysical environments.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
A. A. Reva, S. A. Bogachev, I. P. Loboda, A. S. Ulyanov, A. S. Kirichenko
Summary: This paper presents experimental evidence of plasma heating caused by magnetic reconnection. By analyzing X-ray images, high-temperature emission was detected at the predicted location of the current sheet, confirming the connection between plasma heating and magnetic reconnection.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Physics, Mathematical
Shintaro Kondo, Ryusuke Numata
JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Muni Zhou, Nuno F. Loureiro, Dmitri A. Uzdensky
JOURNAL OF PLASMA PHYSICS
(2020)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Pallavi Bhat, Muni Zhou, Nuno F. Loureiro
Summary: Recent numerical studies have shown the existence of inverse transfer of magnetic energy in 3D magnetically dominated turbulence, likely driven by magnetic reconnection. The scaling behavior is found to be similar between 2D and 3D cases. Furthermore, simulations also demonstrate an inverse transfer of magnetic energy in 3D when the magnetic field is subdominant to the flow, with the emergence of a dynamo effect.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Ryusuke Numata
Summary: The method developed uses random forcing with constant power input for two-dimensional gyrokinetic turbulence simulations to study stationary plasma turbulence. Through this method, turbulence is demonstrated in both large-scale fluid and small-scale kinetic regimes, successfully reproducing theoretically predicted scaling laws in a statistically steady state.
JOURNAL OF PLASMA PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Ethan E. Peterson, Douglass A. Endrizzi, Michael Clark, Jan Egedal, Kenneth Flanagan, Nuno F. Loureiro, Jason Milhone, Joseph Olson, Carl R. Sovinec, John Wallace, Cary B. Forest
Summary: Quasi-periodic plasmoid formation at the tip of magnetic streamer structures is observed to depend on pressure gradients and magnetic curvature in experiments and simulations. The presence of plasmoids is influenced by the system drive, with turbulent ejection occurring at higher drive levels, and a critical pressure gradient prevents plasmoid formation below this threshold.
JOURNAL OF PLASMA PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jin-Peng Liu, Herman Oie Kolden, Hari K. Krovi, Nuno F. Loureiro, Konstantina Trivisa, Andrew M. Childs
Summary: The paper presents a quantum algorithm for dissipative quadratic n-dimensional ordinary differential equations, allowing for an exponential improvement in complexity over existing quantum algorithms. The method involves Carleman linearization and provides a lower bound on the worst-case complexity for general quadratic differential equations, showing potential applications in realistic epidemiological models and fluid dynamics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Muni Zhou, David H. Wu, Nuno F. Loureiro, Dmitri A. Uzdensky
Summary: The study focuses on the evolution of interacting magnetic islands under different initial distributions, revealing the decay of magnetic energy, decrease in number of islands, and growth in average island area over time. General properties of the distribution function and the magnetic energy spectrum are also explored, with a discussion on the underlying connection to the decay of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence.
JOURNAL OF PLASMA PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Lucio M. Milanese, Nuno F. Loureiro, Stanislav Boldyrev
Summary: In Navier-Stokes turbulence, energy and helicity are subject to a joint direct cascade with scaling proportional to k(-5/3), due to a strong scale-dependent phase alignment between velocity and vorticity fluctuations, where the phase alignment angle scales as cos alpha(k) proportional to k(-1).
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muni Zhou, Vladimir Zhdankin, Matthew W. Kunz, Nuno F. Loureiro, Dmitri A. Uzdensky
Summary: In this study, we investigate the generation of seed magnetic fields through the Weibel instability in an initially unmagnetized plasma driven by a large-scale shear force. We develop an analytical model and confirm its predictions through particle simulations. This work has important implications for magnetogenesis in dilute astrophysical systems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Mitsuyoshi Yagyu, Ryusuke Numata
Summary: The destabilization mechanism of the collisional microtearing mode driven by an electron temperature gradient is investigated using theoretical analyses and gyrokinetic simulations including a comprehensive collision model. The essential destabilization mechanism is the lag of the parallel inductive electric field due to time-dependent thermal force and inertia force induced by velocity-dependent electron-ion collisions. Quantitative measurements of collision effects identify the unstable regime against collisionality and reveal the relevance of the collisional microtearing mode with existing toroidal experiments. A nonlinear simulation demonstrates that the microtearing mode does not drive magnetic reconnection with explosive release and conversion of magnetic energy.
PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muni Zhou, Zhuo Liu, Nuno F. Loureiro
Summary: We conducted analytical and numerical investigations on subion-scale turbulence in low-beta plasmas using a rigorous reduced kinetic model. The results show that electron heating is primarily caused by Landau damping of kinetic Alfven waves rather than Ohmic dissipation. This collisionless damping is facilitated by the weakening of advective nonlinearities near intermittent current sheets, where free energy concentrates. The linearly damped energy of electromagnetic fluctuations explains the steepening of their energy spectrum compared to a fluid model.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
C. Granier, D. Borgogno, L. Comisso, D. Grasso, E. Tassi, R. Numata
Summary: The marginal stability conditions for the formation of plasmoids in a purely collisionless and strong guide field situation are investigated in this study. It is found that plasmoids can be obtained from current sheets with a smaller aspect ratio in the marginal stability current layers.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Erika Ye, Nuno F. G. Loureiro
Summary: This study explores the practicality of using matrix product state (MPS) methods to solve the Vlasov-Poisson equations for systems with one coordinate in space and one coordinate in velocity. The results show that important features of linear and nonlinear dynamics can be captured while compressing the solution significantly. By comparing the performance of different mappings of the distribution functions onto the MPS, the study provides insights into the behavior of MPS representation in solving the Vlasov-Poisson equations.
Article
Optics
Julien Zylberman, Giuseppe Di Molfetta, Marc Brachet, Nuno F. Loureiro, Fabrice Debbasch
Summary: This paper investigates numerical methods for efficiently simulating nonlinear fluid dynamics on universal quantum computers. It proposes an algorithm to solve quantum relativistic charged fluid equations using the generalization of the Madelung transform and discrete-time quantum walks. The algorithm is shown to be applicable on current NISQ devices and enables simulations of relativistic and nonrelativistic hydrodynamical shocks. The study demonstrates the potential of simulating fluid dynamics on NISQs and opens the door for further research on simulating other fluids.
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stanislav Boldyrev, Nuno F. Loureiro, Vadim Roytershteyn
Summary: This review examines simple physical models describing plasma dynamics in regions where the electron thermal energy is smaller than the magnetic one, discussing their conservation laws and the limits of their applicability.
FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCES
(2021)
