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Winske, Dan

Publications and source records attributed to Winske, Dan.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

High repetition rate mapping of the interaction between a laser plasma and magnetized background plasma via laser induced fluorescence

In this work, the laminar coupling of energy between a laser-produced plasma and a background magnetized plasma was investigated via planar laser induced fluorescence diagnostic and magnetic flux probes. Experiments performed on the Large Plasma Device at the University of California, Los Angeles, mapped out the two-dimensional spatiotemporal evolution of the laser-plasma (debris) ion velocity distribution function (VDF) to assess debris-background coupling in a sub-Alfvénic regime. The acquisition of these data necessitates high repetition rate (1 Hz) as each dataset is the accumulation of thousands of laser shots, which would not be feasible in single-shot experiments. Fully kinetic, three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are compared to the measured VDFs to provide a framework in which we can understand the coupling of a sub-Alfvénic plasma flow through a preformed, magnetized plasma. The simulations display the same departure from the expected gyromotion of the debris plasma as observed in the experimental data, and in conjunction with the measured magnetic field traces, have led to the direct observation of the collisionless coupling via laminar fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Linear Theory of Electromagnetic Ion Beam Instabilities in the Earth’s Forshock: Peter Gary’s Contributions (1981–1991)

We discuss Peter Gary’s contributions to the understanding of the origin and properties of ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves in the Earth’s foreshock during the period when the International Sun Earth Explorer spacecraft (ISEE-1 and -2) provided unique data about the plasma and wave environment in this region. Peter’s work concerning the linear theory of electromagnetic ion beam instabilities is contained in five journal articles and then summarized in a review article, all of which are discussed here. Brief summaries of observations and theory prior to ISEE as well as to later work are also included.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hybrid particle-in-cell simulations of electromagnetic coupling and waves from streaming burst debris

Various systems can be modeled as a point-like explosion of ionized debris into a magnetized, collisionless background plasma-including astrophysical examples, active experiments in space, and laser-driven laboratory experiments. Debris streaming from the explosion parallel to the magnetic field may drive multiple resonant and non-resonant ion-ion beam instabilities, some of which can efficiently couple the debris energy to the background and may even support the formation of shocks. We present a large-scale hybrid (kinetic ions + fluid electrons) particle-in-cell simulation, extending hundreds of ion inertial lengths from a 3D explosion, that resolves these instabilities. We show that the character of these instabilities differs notably from the 1D equivalent by the presence of unique transverse structure. Additional 2D simulations explore how the debris beam length, width, density, and speed affect debris-background coupling, with implications for the generation of quasi-parallel shocks.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Astrophysical Explosions Revisited: Collisionless Coupling of Debris to Magnetized Plasma

The coupling between a rapidly expanding cloud of ionized debris and an ambient magnetized plasma is revisited with a hybrid (kinetic ion/fluid electron) simulation code that allows a study over a wide range of plasma parameters. Over a specified range of hypothetical conditions, simple scaling laws in terms of the total debris mass and explosion speed are derived and verified for the maximal size of the debris cloud and the fraction of debris that free-streams from the burst along the magnetic field. Furthermore, the amount of debris that escapes from the burst with minimal coupling to the background magnetic field increases with the debris gyroradius. Test cases with two different debris species—including a heavy minority species with a relatively large gyroradius—highlight how the collisionless coupling of the debris depends on the single particle trajectories as well as the overall conservation of energy and momentum.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Summary of the UCLA HANE-Laser Experiment: 2011-2020

In the early years of this century, there was renewed interest at DTRA in artificial radiation belts, the dynamics of high altitude nuclear explosions that produced them, the development of large-scale kinetic plasma computer models at LLNL and LANL (particularly in the form of “hybrid” {i.e., particle ions, massless fluid electrons} algorithms), and the building of a laser facility at UCLA, under the direction of Prof. Niemann, which was connected to the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), a DOE user facility. These advances sparked the idea for a new laser experimental program to examine early-time HANE issues, reviving the concept from a former program at NRL in the 90’s. The basic motivation for this new effort can be traced back to the first DTRA artificial radiation belt workshop at Stanford in 2009. Subsequent discussions then led to a formal proposal from UCLA that was submitted to DTRA (Grant Jones) in 2010, vigorously reviewed, and finally approved in 2011, with funding begun in 2012. An historical perspective of this development process was presented at a DTRA review last year. In this document we review and summarize the major achievements of the DTRA-sponsored UCLA HANE-laser experiment over the past eight years. Our purpose is to briefly describe the major achievements of this program, as documented in the included extensive list of journal publications [which does not include all the publications nor any of the many invited and contributed presentations of the UCLA group], the role of the national laboratories in this effort, and how this work has impacted (and will continue to improve) our understanding of high altitude nuclear events.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Three Regimes and Four Modes for the Resonant Saturation of Parallel Ion-beam Instabilities

Motivated by recent advances in laboratory experiments on parallel ion-beam instabilities, we present a theoretical framework for—and simulations of—their evolution toward shock formation and Fermi acceleration. Here, after reviewing the linear theory of beam instabilities, with an emphasis on how magnetic helicity and polarization depend on properties of the beam, we compare the evolution and saturation of three distinct parameter regimes: (I) the left-handed "non-resonant" regime; (II) the right-handed beam-gyroresonant regime; (III) the balanced, mixed-turbulence regime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

On the Background-gyroresonant Character of Bell’s Instability in the Large-current Regime

We demonstrate that the Bell instability, which is widely considered potentially significant for cosmic-ray (CR) acceleration, is the low-frequency limit of a gyroresonant interaction between the protons of the interstellar medium and shear-Alfvén waves. At large CR current densities, its growth rate is therefore limited by the proton gyrofrequency, and two modes emerge from the cold-beam dispersion relation. A third mode driven by electron gyroresonance is only weakly unstable at low current densities. We report on implications for magnetic field amplification and its saturation in the vicinity of supernova remnants.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Recalling and Updating Research on Diamagnetic Cavities: Experiments, Theory, Simulations

In the decade from the mid 80's to the mid 90's there was considerable interest in the generation of diamagnetic cavities produced by the sub-Alfvenic expansion of heavy ions across a background magnetic field. Examples included the AMPTE and CRRES barium releases in the magnetotail and magnetosphere as well as laser experiments at various laboratories in the United States and the Soviet Union. In all of these experiments field-aligned striations and other small-scale structures were produced as the cavities formed. Local and non-local linear theory as well as full particle (PIC), hybrid, and Hall-MHD simulations (mostly 2-D) were developed and used to understand at least qualitatively the features of these experiments. Furthermore, much of this review is a summary of this work, with the addition of some new 3-D PIC and Hall-MHD simulations that clarify old issues associated with the origin and evolution of cavities and their surface features. In the last part of this review we discuss recent extensions of the earlier efforts: new space observations of cavity-like structures as well as new laboratory experiments and calculations with greatly improved diagnostics of cavities formed by expansions of laser-produced ions at super-Alfvenic speeds both across and along the background magnetic field.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Generation of Highly Oblique Lower Band Chorus Via Nonlinear Three-Wave Resonance

Chorus in the inner magnetosphere has been observed frequently at geomagnetically active times, typically exhibiting a two-band structure with a quasi-parallel lower band and an upper band with a broad range of wave normal angles. But recent observations by Van Allen Probes confirm another type of lower band chorus, which has a large wave normal angle close to the resonance cone angle. It has been proposed that these waves could be generated by a low-energy beam-like electron component or by temperature anisotropy of keV electrons in the presence of a low-energy plateau-like electron component. This paper, however, presents an alternative mechanism for generation of this highly oblique lower band chorus. Through a nonlinear three-wave resonance, a quasi-parallel lower band chorus wave can interact with a mildly oblique upper band chorus wave, producing a highly oblique quasi-electrostatic lower band chorus wave. This theoretical analysis is confirmed by 2-D electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulations. Furthermore, as the newly generated waves propagate away from the equator, their wave normal angle can further increase and they are able to scatter low-energy electrons to form a plateau-like structure in the parallel velocity distribution. As a result, the three-wave resonance mechanism may also explain the generation of quasi-parallel upper band chorus which has also been observed in the magnetosphere.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Scalings for the Alfvén-cyclotron instability: Linear dispersion theory and hybrid particle-in-cell simulations: Scalings of Alfven-Cyclotron Instability

The Alfvén-cyclotron instability is driven by an ion temperature anisotropy such that T ⊥ /T || >1 where ⊥ and || denote directions perpendicular and parallel to a uniform background magnetic field B o , respectively. The computations presented here consider a model of a magnetized, homogeneous, collisionless plasma. Two representations of the proton velocity distribution are considered: a single bi-Maxwellian and a magnetospheric-like configuration of two components, a more dense, relatively cool, isotropic component and a less dense, relatively hot, bi-Maxwellian component which drives the instability. Only wave propagation parallel to B o is considered. Here, using numerical solutions of the full kinetic linear dispersion equation, concise analytic expressions for the scaling of the dimensionless maximum instability growth rate and the corresponding dimensionless real frequency are derived as functions of three dimensionless variables: the hot proton temperature anisotropy, the relative hot proton density, and the hot proton β || . Furthermore, using one-dimensional hybrid particle-in-cell simulations of this same instability, a third relation for the scaling of the maximum amplitude of the dimensionless fluctuating magnetic field energy density is derived.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Hybrid simulations of a parallel collisionless shock in the large plasma device

We present two-dimensional hybrid kinetic/magnetohydrodynamic simulations of planned laser-ablation experiments in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). Our results, based on parameters which have been validated in previous experiments, show that a parallel collisionless shock can begin forming within the available space. Carbon-debris ions that stream along the magnetic- eld direction with a blow-o speed of four times the Alfv en velocity excite strong magnetic uctuations, eventually transfering part of their kinetic energy to the surrounding hydrogen ions. This acceleration and compression of the background plasma creates a shock front, which satis es the Rankine{Hugoniot conditions and can therefore propagate on its own. Furthermore, we analyze the upstream turbulence and show that it is dominated by the right-hand resonant instability.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Predicting electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave amplitude from unstable ring current plasma conditions

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the Earth's inner magnetosphere are enhanced fluctuations driven unstable by ring current ion temperature anisotropy. EMIC waves can resonate with relativistic electrons and play an important role in precipitation of MeV radiation belt electrons. In this study, we investigate the excitation and saturation of EMIC instability in a homogeneous plasma using both linear theory and nonlinear hybrid simulations. We have explored a four-dimensional parameter space, carried out a large number of simulations, and derived a scaling formula that relates the saturation EMIC wave amplitude to initial plasma conditions. Finally, such scaling can be used in conjunction with ring current models like ring current-atmosphere interactions model with self-consistent magnetic field to provide global dynamic EMIC wave maps that will be more accurate inputs for radiation belt modeling than statistical models.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Whistler anisotropy instabilities as the source of banded chorus: Van Allen Probes observations and particle-in-cell simulations

Magnetospheric banded chorus is enhanced whistler waves with frequencies ω r < Ω e , where Ω e is the electron cyclotron frequency, and a characteristic spectral gap at ω r ≃ Ω e /2. This paper uses spacecraft observations and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations in a magnetized, homogeneous, collisionless plasma to test the hypothesis that banded chorus is due to local linear growth of two branches of the whistler anisotropy instability excited by two distinct, anisotropic electron components of significantly different temperatures. The electron densities and temperatures are derived from Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron instrument measurements on the Van Allen Probes A satellite during a banded chorus event on 1 November 2012. The observations are consistent with a three-component electron model consisting of a cold (a few tens of eV) population, a warm (a few hundred eV) anisotropic population, and a hot (a few keV) anisotropic population. The simulations use plasma and field parameters as measured from the satellite during this event except for two numbers: the anisotropies of the warm and the hot electron components are enhanced over the measured values in order to obtain relatively rapid instability growth. The simulations show that the warm component drives the quasi-electrostatic upper band chorus and that the hot component drives the electromagnetic lower band chorus; the gap at ~Ω e /2 is a natural consequence of the growth of two whistler modes with different properties.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Understanding Debris-Background Ion Interactions in High Altitude Nuclear Explosions

The Starfish Prime event produced many interesting nuclear, electromagnetic, atomic and plasma effects, which have led over the past 50 years to much research in understanding the overall phenomenology of high altitude nuclear explosions (HANE). At altitudes lower than Starfish, where collisional processes come into play, the physics of a nuclear fireball in the atmosphere is well understood. But at high altitudes, where collisions are much weaker, the fundamental issue how the ionized weapon debris is stopped in the ionosphere in order to produce a relatively localized debris cloud remains unresolved. In the last 30 years this issue has been investigated in the laboratory using high-power lasers to simulation the explosion and subsequent expansion of the debris plasma. While experiments that were carried out on the Helios laser at Los Alamos and then later on the Pharos laser at NRL were able to produce some plasma conditions representative of the HANE environment and obtained interesting results, they were not very successful in addressing the basic debris-air coupling problem in the collisionless regime. This problem is being revisited in a new DTRA-funded experimental program with the 500 J Raptor glass laser on the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Data from HANE-Generated Radiation Belts and the Origin of Diffusion Theory [Slides]

In this presentation we briefly review some of the published data regarding the artificial radiation belts produced by the Starfish and R2 high altitude nuclear explosions in 1962. The data showed slow temporal variations of the belts in altitude (L) and pitch angle ({alpha}) that could be modeled as a diffusion process. That early work formed the basis for more complex radiation belt diffusion models that are in use at present.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2012

Lower Hybrid ←→Whistler Wave Conversion [Slides]

In this presentation we discuss recent work concerning the conversion of whistler waves to lower hybrid waves (as well as the inverse process). These efforts have been motivated by the issue of attenuation of upward propagating whistler waves in the ionosphere generated by VLF transmitters on the ground, i.e., the 'Starks 20 db' problem, which affects the lifetimes of energetic electrons trapped in the geomagnetic field at low magnetic altitude (L). We discuss recent fluid and kinetic plasma simulations as well as ongoing experiments at UCLA to quantify linear and nonlinear mode conversion of lower hybrid to whistler waves.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗