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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

A predicted energetic ion signature of a neutral line in the geomagnetic tail

Under certain assumptions one can predict the formation of a magnetic neutral line on theoretical grounds, generally as a result of an unstable current sheet. Neutral points also seen to form spontaneously in a wide variety of plasma simulatioons, from MHD to fully kinetic. Hence, such magnetic null regions are central to some models of magnetotail energization and magnetic substorms. Yet the observational evidence for such regions remains controversial. This paper presents a new signature of a neutral line: the field-aligned ion beam characteristic of current sheet acceleration becomes dispersed into a 'ridge' in the velocity space distribution function as a neutral line is approached. The results were obtained using single-particle simulations in a fixed magnetic field model. The origin of the ridge is shown to be due to initially earthward going ions which pass through the neutral line region. These ions come from a smaller part of the initially antiearthward flowing distribution, generating the depletion of the distribution function below the ridge.

Martin, R. F., Jr.↗

Transparent Large Strain Thermoplastic Polyurethane Magneto-Active Nanocomposites

Smart adaptive materials are an important class of materials which can be used in space deployable structures, morphing wings, and structural air vehicle components where remote actuation can improve fuel efficiency. Adaptive materials can undergo deformation when exposed to external stimuli such as electric fields, thermal gradients, radiation (IR, UV, etc.), chemical and electrochemical actuation, and magnetic field. Large strain, controlled and repetitive actuation are important characteristics of smart adaptive materials. Polymer nanocomposites can be tailored as shape memory polymers and actuators. Magnetic actuation of polymer nanocomposites using a range of iron, iron cobalt, and iron manganese nanoparticles is presented. The iron-based nanoparticles were synthesized using the soft template (1) and Sun's (2) methods. The nanoparticles shape and size were examined using TEM. The crystalline structure and domain size were evaluated using WAXS. Surface modifications of the nanoparticles were performed to improve dispersion, and were characterized with IR and TGA. TPU nanocomposites exhibited actuation for approximately 2wt% nanoparticle loading in an applied magnetic field. Large deformation and fast recovery were observed. These nanocomposites represent a promising potential for new generation of smart materials.

Yoonessi, Mitra↗

Kiloparsec-scale simulations of star formation in disk galaxies. III. Structure and dynamics of filaments and clumps in giant molecular clouds

We present hydrodynamic simulations of self-gravitating dense gas in a galactic disk, exploring scales ranging from 1 kpc down to ∼0.1 pc. Our primary goal is to understand how dense filaments form in giant molecular clouds (GMCs). These structures, often observed as infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) in the Galactic plane, are thought to be the precursors to massive stars and star clusters, so their formation may be the rate-limiting step controlling global star formation rates in galactic systems as described by the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation. Our study follows on from Van Loo et al., which carried out simulations to 0.5 pc resolution and examined global aspects of the formation of dense gas clumps and the resulting star formation rate. Here, using our higher resolution, we examine the detailed structural, kinematic, and dynamical properties of dense filaments and clumps, including mass surface density (Σ) probability distribution functions, filament mass per unit length and its dispersion, lateral Σ profiles, filament fragmentation, filament velocity gradients and infall, and degree of filament and clump virialization. Where possible, these properties are compared to observations of IRDCs. By many metrics, especially too large mass fractions of high Σ>1 g cm{sup −2} material, too high mass per unit length dispersion due to dense clump formation, too high velocity gradients, and too high velocity dispersion for a given mass per unit length, the simulated filaments differ from observed IRDCs. We thus conclude that IRDCs do not form from global fast collapse of GMCs. Rather, we expect that IRDC formation and collapse are slowed significantly by the influence of dynamically important magnetic fields, which may thus play a crucial role in regulating galactic star formation rates.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Analysis of optical and magnetooptical spectra of Fe{sub 5}Si{sub 3} and Fe{sub 3}Si magnetic silicides using spectral magnetoellipsometry

The optical, magnetooptical, and magnetic properties of polycrystalline (Fe{sub 5}Si{sub 3}/SiO{sub 2}/Si(100)) and epitaxial Fe{sub 3}Si/Si(111) films are investigated by spectral magnetoellipsometry. The dispersion of the complex refractive index of Fe{sub 5}Si{sub 3} is measured using multiangle spectral ellipsometry in the range of 250–1000 nm. The dispersion of complex Voigt magnetooptical parameters Q is determined for Fe{sub 5}Si{sub 3} and Fe{sub 3}Si in the range of 1.6–4.9 eV. The spectral dependence of magnetic circular dichroism for both silicides has revealed a series of resonance peaks. The energies of the detected peaks correspond to interband electron transitions for spin-polarized densities of electron states (DOS) calculated from first principles for bulk Fe{sub 5}Si{sub 3} and Fe{sub 3}Si crystals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Positive and negative effects of dielectric breakdown in transformer oil based magnetic fluids

The transformer oil based magnetic fluids can be considered as the next-generation insulation fluids because they offer exciting new possibilities to enhance dielectric breakdown voltage as well as heat transfer performance compared to pure transformer oils. In this study, we have investigated the dielectric breakdown strength of the fluids with the various volume concentrations of nanoparticles in accordance with IEC 156 standard and have tried to find the reason for changing the dielectric breakdown voltage of the fluids from the magnetic field analysis. It was found that the dielectric breakdown voltage of pure transformer oil is around 12 kV with the gap distance of 1.5 mm. In the case of our transformer oil-based magnetic fluids with 0.08% < Φ < 0.6% (Φ means the volume concentration of magnetic nanoparticles), the dielectric breakdown voltage shows above 40 kV, which is 3.3 times higher positively than that of pure transformer oil. Negatively in the case when the volume concentration of magnetic nanoparticles is above 0.65%, the dielectric breakdown voltage decreases reversely. From the magnetic field analysis, the reason might be considered as two situations: the positive is for the conductive nanoparticles dispersed well near the electrodes, which play an important role in converting fast electrons to slow negatively charged particles, and the negative is for the agglomeration of the particles near the electrodes, which leads to the breakdown initiation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Current driven instabilities of an electromagnetically accelerated plasma

A plasma instability that strongly influences the efficiency and lifetime of electromagnetic plasma accelerators was quantitatively measured. Experimental measurements of dispersion relations (wave phase velocities), spatial growth rates, and stability boundaries are reported. The measured critical wave parameters are in excellent agreement with theoretical instability boundary predictions. The instability is current driven and affects a wide spectrum of longitudinal (electrostatic) oscillations. Current driven instabilities, which are intrinsic to the high-current-carrying magnetized plasma of the magnetoplasmadynmic (MPD) accelerator, were investigated with a kinetic theoretical model based on first principles. Analytical limits of the appropriate dispersion relation yield unstable ion acoustic waves for T(i)/T(e) much less than 1 and electron acoustic waves for T(i)/T(e) much greater than 1. The resulting set of nonlinear equations for the case of T(i)/T(e) = 1, of most interest to the MPD thruster Plasma Wave Experiment, was numerically solved to yield a multiparameter set of stability boundaries. Under certain conditions, marginally stable waves traveling almost perpendicular to the magnetic field would travel at a velocity equal to that of the electron current. Such waves were termed current waves. Unstable current waves near the upper stability boundary were observed experimentally and are in accordance with theoretical predictions. This provides unambiguous proof of the existence of such instabilites in electromagnetic plasma accelerators.

Chouetri, E. Y.↗

The coupling of Alfven and compressional waves

The article studies the hydromagnetic wave propagation characteristics in a mixture of cold and hot plasma in the presence of an inhomogeneous magnetic field. Electron and ion distribution functions with a temperature anisotropy and a density gradient are used to obtain the dispersion equation by solving the Vlasov equation and Maxwell equations. From the solutions of the dispersion equation we find that the Alfven waves can couple to unstable drift mirror waves under certain conditions. The polarization of the coupled waves is studied for varying parameters of temperature anisotropy and the cold to hot density ratio. From detailed comparison of the theoretical results with the low-frequency wave properties observed in the magnetosphere we propose that the storm-associated magnetic field oscillations with periods of 100-600 s might be caused by the coupling of Alfven waves and the unstable drift mirror waves.

Lin, C. S.↗

A shortcut to gradient-corrected magnon dispersion: exchange-only case

Ab initio calculations of the magnon dispersion in ferromagnetic materials typically rely on the adiabatic local density approximation (ALDA) in which the effective exchange-correlation field is everywhere parallel to the magnetization. These calculations, however, tend to overestimate the “magnon stiffness”, defined as the curvature of the magnon frequency vs. wave vector relation evaluated at zero wave vector. Here we suggest a simple procedure to improve the magnon dispersion by taking into account gradient corrections to the ALDA at the exchange-only level. We find that this gradient correction always reduces the magnon stiffness. The surprisingly large size of these corrections (~30%) greatly improves the agreement between the calculated and the observed magnon stiffness for cobalt and nickel, which are known to be overestimated within the ALDA.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Lamb shift in muonic deuterium

We consider the two-photon exchange contribution to the 2P-2S Lamb shift in muonic deuterium in the framework of forward dispersion relations. The dispersion integrals are evaluated with minimal model dependence using experimental data on elastic deuteron form factors and inelastic electron-deuteron scattering, both in the quasielastic and hadronic range. The subtraction constant that is required to ensure convergence of the dispersion relation for the forward Compton amplitude T{sub 1} (ν,Q{sup 2}) is related to the deuteron magnetic polarizability β(Q{sup 2}) and represents the main source of uncertainty in our analysis. We obtain for the Lamb shift ΔE{sub 2P-2S} = 1.620±0.190 meV and discuss ways to further reduce this uncertainty.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Studying magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with synchrotron polarization dispersion

We test a new technique for studying magnetohydrodynamic turbulence suggested by Lazarian and Pogosyan, using synthetic observations of synchrotron polarization. This paper focuses on a one-point statistics, which is termed polarization frequency analysis, that is characterized by the variance of polarized emission as a function of the square of the wavelength along a single line of sight. We adopt the ratio η of the standard deviation of the line-of-sight turbulent magnetic field to the line-of-sight mean magnetic field to depict the level of turbulence. When this ratio is large (η≫1), which characterizes a region dominated by turbulent field, or small (η≲0.2), which characterizes a region dominated by the mean field, we obtain the polarization variance 〈P{sup 2}〉∝λ{sup −2} or 〈P{sup 2}〉∝λ{sup −2−2m}, respectively. At small η, i.e., in the region dominated by the mean field, we successfully recover the turbulent spectral index from the polarization variance. We find that our simulations agree well with the theoretical prediction of Lazarian and Pogosyan. With existing and upcoming data cubes from the Low-Frequency Array for Radio Astronomy (LOFAR) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), this new technique can be applied to study the magnetic turbulence in the Milky Way and other galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Giant suppression of phononic heat transport in a quantum magnet BiCu 2 PO 6

Thermal transport of quantum magnets has elucidated the nature of low energy elementary excitations and complex interplay between those excited states via strong scattering of thermal carriers. BiCu 2 PO 6 is a unique frustrated spin-ladder compound exhibiting highly anisotropic spin excitations that contain both itinerant and localized dispersion characters along the b- and a-axes respectively. Here, we investigate thermal conductivity κ of BiCu 2 PO 6 under high magnetic fields (H) of up to 30 tesla. A dip-feature in κ, located at ~15K at zero-H along all crystallographic directions, moves gradually toward lower temperature (T) with increasing H, thus resulting in giant suppression by a factor of ~30 near the critical magnetic field of H c ≅23.5 tesla. The giant H- and T-dependent suppression of κ can be explained by the combined result of resonant scattering of phononic heat carriers with magnetic energy levels and increased phonon scattering due to enhanced spin fluctuation at H c , unequivocally revealing the existence of strong spin-phonon coupling. Moreover, we find an experimental indication that the remaining magnetic heat transport along the b-axis becomes almost gapless at the magnetic quantum critical point realized at H c .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic excitations and phonons simultaneously studied by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering in optimally doped Bi 1.5 Pb 0.55 Sr 1.6 La 0.4 CuO 6 + δ

In this paper, magnetic excitations in the optimally doped high-T c superconductor Bi 1.5 Pb 0.55 Sr 1.6 La 0.4 CuO 6+δ (OP-Bi2201, T c ≃ 34 K) are investigated by Cu L 3 edge resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS), below and above the pseudogap opening temperature. At both temperatures the broad spectral distribution disperses along the (1,0) direction up to ~350 meV at zone boundary, similar to other hole-doped cuprates. However, above ~0.22 reciprocal lattice units, we observe a concurrent intensity decrease for magnetic excitations and quasielastic signals with weak temperature dependence. This anomaly seems to indicate a coupling between magnetic, lattice, and charge modes in this compound. We also compare the magnetic excitation spectra near the antinodal zone boundary in the single layer OP-Bi2201 and in the bilayer optimally doped Bi 1.5 Pb 0.6 Sr 1.54 CaCu 2 O 8+δ (OP-Bi2212, T c ≃ 96 K). Finally, the strong similarities in the paramagnon dispersion and in their energy at zone boundary indicate that the strength of the superexchange interaction and the short-range magnetic correlation cannot be directly related to T c , not even within the same family of cuprates.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

MAGNETOROTATIONAL INSTABILITY IN A COLLISIONAL WEAKLY IONIZED PLASMA

We use a multi-fluid model to describe the dynamic behavior of electrons, ions, and neutrals in a weakly ionized three-component plasma and investigate the differentially rotational instability. Charged species and neutrals are supposed to have the same angular velocity to eliminate the equilibrium current and collisions in the unperturbed state. By taking into account collisions between electrons/ions and neutrals, we derive the analytical expression of the general local dispersion relation and examine the collision effect on the rotational instability in different limiting cases. Collisions on neutrals are neglected in the first case to obtain a simplified dispersion, in which collisions play an important role in the instability criteria. In the low-frequency region, the previous result in the magnetohydrodynamic model is reproduced. The collision effect in the high-frequency case for non-magnetized electrons is found to be similar to the low-frequency region, but can induce instability for both the negative and positive radial derivative of rotational frequency.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Self-consistent particle modeling of radio frequency discharge in Ar/O{sub 2} mixtures: Effects of crossed electric and magnetic fields and partial pressure

A particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo model is developed to study and analyze the electrical characteristics of the nonequilibrium plasma created by radio frequency (RF) discharge in Ar/O{sub 2} mixtures in the presence of crossed electric and magnetic fields. The method of collision treatment is based on an optimized estimation of the free time flight. The needed basic data--more specifically, the ion-neutral cross sections--are determined first. The simulation conditions are 50 mTorr for the total gas pressure and 200 V for the peak of the RF voltage at a frequency of 13.56 MHz. The magnetic field is varied from 0 to 50 G. The effect of the partial pressure ratio of O{sub 2} in the mixture and the effect of the magnitude of the magnetic field are discussed. In particular, the results show an increase of the plasma density that is ten times higher in the presence of a magnetic field.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Ultrasonic dispersion determined from mechanical resonance frequency shifts

With standing wave ultrasonic techniques, small changes in phase velocity which result from changes in some external parameter (e.g., temperature or magnetic field) have traditionally been determined by observing shifts in the mechanical resonance frequency of a composite resonator. Some previous investigators have assumed that the fractional change in velocity is equal to the fractional change in frequency. We discuss quantitatively the errors involved in such an approach, showing that it leads to substantial inaccuracies when the loading effect of the transducer(s) cannot be neglected. Substantially improved formulas for determining the dispersion are presented and one of these is shown to be much more accurate than all previous approximations. The results of simulated and actual experiments over wide ranges of dispersion, transducer loading parameter, and frequency are analyzed in order to compare the errors inherent in the various approximations.

Moerner, W. E.↗

THE ANISOTROPIC TRANSPORT EFFECTS ON DILUTE PLASMAS

We examine the linear stability analysis of a hot, dilute, and differentially rotating plasma by considering anisotropic transport effects. In dilute plasmas, the ion Larmor radius is small compared with its collisional mean free path. In this case, the transport of heat and momentum along the magnetic field lines becomes important. This paper presents a novel linear instability that may be more powerful and greater than ideal magnetothermal instability and ideal magnetorotational instability in the dilute astrophysical plasmas. This type of plasma is believed to be found in the intracluster medium (ICM) of galaxy clusters and radiatively ineffective accretion flows around black holes. We derive the dispersion relation of this instability and obtain the instability condition. There is at least one unstable mode that is independent of the temperature gradient direction for a helical magnetic field geometry. This novel instability is driven by the gyroviscosity coupled with differential rotation. Therefore, we call it gyroviscous-modified magnetorotational instability (GvMRI). We examine how the instability depends on signs of the temperature gradient and the gyroviscosity and also on the magnitude of the thermal frequency and on the values of the pitch angle. We provide a detailed physical interpretation of the obtained results. The GvMRI is applicable not only to the accretion flows and ICM but also to the transition region between cool dense gas and the hot low-density plasma in stellar coronae, accretion disks, and the multiphase interstellar medium because it is independent of the temperature gradient direction.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The link between turbulence, magnetic fields, filaments, and star formation in the central molecular zone cloud G0.253+0.016

Star formation is primarily controlled by the interplay between gravity, turbulence, and magnetic fields. However, the turbulence and magnetic fields in molecular clouds near the Galactic center may differ substantially compared to spiral-arm clouds. Here we determine the physical parameters of the central molecular zone (CMZ) cloud G0.253+0.016, its turbulence, magnetic field, and filamentary structure. Using column density maps based on dust-continuum emission observations with ALMA+Herschel, we identify filaments and show that at least one dense core is located along them. We measure the filament width W{sub fil}=0.17±0.08 pc and the sonic scale λ{sub sonic}=0.15±0.11 pc of the turbulence, and find W{sub fil}≈λ{sub sonic}. A strong velocity gradient is seen in the HNCO intensity-weighted velocity maps obtained with ALMA+Mopra. The gradient is likely caused by large-scale shearing of G0.253+0.016, producing a wide double-peaked velocity probability distribution function (PDF). After subtracting the gradient to isolate the turbulent motions, we find a nearly Gaussian velocity PDF typical for turbulence. We measure the total and turbulent velocity dispersion, 8.8±0.2 km s{sup −1} and 3.9±0.1 km s{sup −1}, respectively. Using magnetohydrodynamical turbulence simulations, we find that G0.253+0.016's turbulent magnetic field B{sub turb}=130±50 μG is only ≲1/10 of the ordered field component. Combining these measurements, we reconstruct the dominant turbulence driving mode in G0.253+0.016 and find a driving parameter of b=0.22±0.12, indicating solenoidal (divergence-free) driving. We compare this to spiral-arm clouds, which typically have a significant compressive (curl-free) driving component (b>0.4). Motivated by previous reports of strong shearing motions in the CMZ, we speculate that shear causes the solenoidal driving in G0.253+0.016 and show that this reduces the star-formation rate by a factor of 6.9 compared to typical nearby clouds.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A Hamiltonian five-field gyrofluid model

A Lie-Poisson bracket is presented for a five-field gyrofluid model, thereby showing the model to be Hamiltonian. The model includes the effects of magnetic field curvature and describes the evolution of the electron and ion gyro-center densities, the parallel component of the ion and electron velocities, and the ion temperature. The quasineutrality property and Ampère's law determine, respectively, the electrostatic potential and magnetic flux. The Casimir invariants are presented, and shown to be associated with five Lagrangian invariants advected by distinct velocity fields. A linear, local study of the model is conducted both with and without Landau and diamagnetic resonant damping terms. Stability criteria and dispersion relations for the electrostatic and the electromagnetic cases are derived and compared with their analogs for fluid and kinetic models.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗