Electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves in a plasma with heavy negative ions

Results of a laboratory study of electrostatic ion-cyclotron (EIC) waves in a plasma containing K⁺ (39 amu) positive ions, electrons and C₇F₁₄⁻ (350 amu) negative ions are presented. Excitation of the fundamental and higher harmonic light and heavy ion EIC modes was observed. The presence of heavy negative ions in the plasma has a significant effect on the excitation of the light ion EIC modes. The results may be relevant to the understanding of plasma wave properties in plasmas containing negative ions, such as those found in the Earth's ionosphere, the solar system, and, in particular, near Saturn's moon Titan, where an abundance of heavy negative ion species has recently been discovered [Coates, et al., 2007. Discovery of heavy negative ions in Titan's ionosphere. Geophys. Res. Lett. 34, L22103].     

Higher harmonics electrostatic ion cyclotron parallel flow velocity shear instability with inhomogeneous DC electric field in the magnetosphere of Saturn

In present paper higher harmonic electrostatic ion-cyclotron (EIC) parallel flow velocity shear instability in presence of perpendicular inhomogeneous DC electric field with the ambient magnetic field has been studied, in different regions of the magnetosphere of Saturn. Dimensionless growth rate variation of EIC waves has been observed with respect to \(k_{ \bot } \rho _{i}\) for various plasma parameters. Effect of velocity shear scale length (\(A_{i}\)), temperature anisotropy (\(T_{ \bot } /T_{\|}\)), magnetic field (\(B\)), electric field (\(E\)), inhomogeneity (\(P/a\)), angle of propagation (\(\theta \)), ratio of electron to ion temperature (\(T_{e}/T_{i}\)) and density gradient (\(\varepsilon _{n}\rho _{i}\)) on the growth of EIC waves in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn has been studied and analyzed. The mathematical formulation for dispersion relation and growth rate has been done by using the method of characteristic solution and kinetic approach. This theoretical analysis has been done taking the data from the Cassini in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn in the extended region where ion cyclotron waves have been observed. The change in the growth of these waves due to the presence of Enceladus has been analyzed.     

The sign of temperature inhomogeneities deduced from time-distance helioseismology

Inhomogeneities in wave propagation conditions near and below the solar surface have been detected by means of time-distance helioseismology. Here we calculate the effect of temperature inhomogeneities on the travel times of sound waves. A temperature increase, e.g., in active regions, not only increases the sound speed but also lengthens the path along which the wave travels because the expansion of the heated layers shifts the upper turning of the waves upward. Using a ray-tracing approximation we find that in many cases the net effect of a temperature enhancement is an increase of the travel times. We argue that the reduced travel times that are observed are caused by a combination of magnetic fields in the active region and reduced subsurface temperatures. Such a reduction may be related to the increased radiative energy loss from small magnetic flux tubes.     

Standing hydromagnetic oscillations in the magnetosphere

Many types of ULF pulsations observed at geosynchronous orbit exhibit properties of standing shear Alfvén waves. Observation of the harmonic mode, polarization state and azimuthal wave number is crucial for determining the source of energy responsible for excitation of these waves. In recent years it has become possible to identify the harmonic mode of standing waves from dynamic spectral analysis, as well as simultaneous observations of electric and magnetic fields of the waves or a comparison between plasma mass density estimated from the frequency of the waves and that observed by direct measurement. It is then more reasonable to classify pulsations according to their physical properties, including the harmonic mode, polarization state, azimuthal wave number, and localization in occurrence, than according to the conventional scheme based on the wave form and period range. From analysis of magnetic pulsations observed at geosynchronous orbit, at least two distinctively different types of waves have been identified. One is azimuthally polarized waves simultaneously excited at the fundamental and several harmonics of a standing Alfvén wave which are observed throughout the day side. They have relatively small azimuthal numbers (less than 10) and propagate tailward. They are likely to be excited by the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetopause or bow shock. Another type is radially polarized waves most strongly excited at the second harmonic. They are observed mainly on the afternoon side. Bounce resonance of a few keV ions has been suggested as the mechanism for excitation of the radially polarized waves.     

Bifurcations of ion acoustic solitary waves and periodic waves in an unmagnetized plasma with kappa distributed multi-temperature electrons

Ion acoustic solitary waves and periodic waves in an unmagnetized plasma with superthermal (kappa distributed) cool and hot electrons have been investigated using non-perturbative approach. We have transformed basic model equations to an ordinary differential equation involving electrostatic potential. Then we have applied the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems to the obtained equation and we have proved the existence of solitary wave solutions and periodic wave solutions. We have derived two exact solutions of solitary and periodic waves depending on the parameters. From the solitary wave solution and periodic wave solution, we have shown the effects of density ratio p of cool electrons and ions, spectral index κ, and temperature ratio σ of cool electrons and hot electrons on characteristics of ion acoustic solitary and periodic waves.     

Nonlinear shift of wave parameters of whistlers in the ionosphere

The expression for nonlinear shift of a wave number of a whistler wave propagating through the ionosphere has been derived and the results have been discussed. It is seen that nonlinear shift of a wave number of a whistler is significant in some physical situations. From numerical estimations it is observed that wave number shifts of a whistler for both the LCP and RCP waves become significant when the frequency of the waves are nearly equal to the ion-cyclotron frequency.     

Heating of Jupiter’s thermosphere by the dissipation of upward propagating acoustic waves

Thunderstorms in Jupiter’s atmosphere are likely to be prodigious generators of acoustic waves, as are thunderstorms in Earth’s atmosphere. Accordingly, we have used a numerical model to study the dissipation in Jupiter’s thermosphere of upward propagating acoustic waves. Model simulations are performed for a range of wave periods and horizontal wavelengths believed to characterize these acoustic waves. The possibility that the thermospheric waves observed by the Galileo Probe might be acoustic waves is also investigated. Whereas dissipating gravity waves can cool the upper thermosphere through the effects of sensible heat flux divergence, it is found that acoustic waves mainly heat the Jovian thermosphere through effects of molecular dissipation, sensible heat flux divergence, and Eulerian drift work. Only wave-induced pressure gradient work cools the atmosphere, an effect that operates at all altitudes. The sum of all effects is acoustic wave heating at all heights. Acoustic waves and gravity waves heat and cool the atmosphere in fundamentally different ways. Though the amplitudes and mechanical energy fluxes of acoustic waves are poorly constrained in Jupiter’s atmosphere, the calculations suggest that dissipating acoustic waves can locally heat the thermosphere at a significant rate, tens to a hundred Kelvins per day, and thereby account for the high temperatures of Jupiter’s upper atmosphere. It is unlikely that the waves detected by the Galileo Probe were acoustic waves; if they were, they would have heated Jupiter’s thermosphere at enormous rates.     

Pc 1–2 observations of heavy ion effects by synchronous satellite ATS-6

Ion cyclotron waves generated in the magnetosphere by the ion cyclotron instability of protons are thought to be the origin of Pc 1–2 geomagnetic pulsations. Propagation characteristics of these waves have been measured using ATS-6 synchronous satellite magnetometer wave data. Of particular interest are the wave spectra, polarization properties, and wave diagnostics; all are characteristic of propagation in a cool ambient magnetospheric plasma containing He⁺ and O⁺ heavy ions.     

Bifurcations of electron acoustic traveling waves in an unmagnetized quantum plasma with cold and hot electrons

Bifurcations of nonlinear electron acoustic solitary waves and periodic waves in an unmagnetized quantum plasma with cold and hot electrons and ions has been investigated. The one dimensional quantum hydrodynamic model is used to study electron acoustic waves (EAWs) in quantum plasma. Applying the well known reductive perturbation technique (RPT), we have derived a Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation for EAWs in an unmagnetized quantum plasma. By using the bifurcation theory and methods of planar dynamical systems to this KdV equation, we have presented the existence of two types of traveling wave solutions which are solitary wave solutions and periodic traveling wave solutions. Under different parametric conditions, some exact explicit solutions of the above waves are obtained.     

A Statistical Analysis of the Solar Phenomena Associated with Global EUV Waves

Solar eruptions are the most spectacular events in our solar system and are associated with many different signatures of energy release including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, global waves, radio emission and accelerated particles. Here, we apply the Coronal Pulse Identification and Tracking Algorithm (CorPITA) to the high-cadence synoptic data provided by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to identify and track global waves observed by SDO. 164 of the 362 solar flare events studied (45%) were found to have associated global waves with no waves found for the remaining 198 (55%). A clear linear relationship was found between the median initial velocity and the acceleration of the waves, with faster waves exhibiting a stronger deceleration (consistent with previous results). No clear relationship was found between global waves and type II radio bursts, electrons or protons detected in situ near Earth. While no relationship was found between the wave properties and the associated flare size (with waves produced by flares from B to X-class), more than a quarter of the active regions studied were found to produce more than one wave event. These results suggest that the presence of a global wave in a solar eruption is most likely determined by the structure and connectivity of the erupting active region and the surrounding quiet solar corona rather than by the amount of free energy available within the active region.     

Bifurcations of dust ion acoustic travelling waves in a magnetized quantum dusty plasma

Bifurcation behavior of nonlinear dust ion acoustic travelling waves in a magnetized quantum dusty plasma has been studied. Applying the reductive perturbation technique (RPT), we have derived a Kadomtsev-Petviashili (KP) equation for dust ion acoustic waves (DIAWs) in a magnetized quantum dusty plasma. By using the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems to the KP equation, we have proved that our model has solitary wave solutions and periodic travelling wave solutions. We have derived two exact explicit solutions of the above travelling waves depending on different parameters.     

Ion-acoustic waves in the solar atmosphere

A model for ion-acoustic waves in the solar atmosphere is presented. In the limit of strongly magnetized plasma this model leads to the Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation which possesses a flat solitary wave solution. An initial-value problem for this equation is solved numerically to show a transition of the flat solitary waves into spherical solitary waves. The paper suggests further developments of an ion-acoustic wave theory that may improve our knowledge of ion-acoustic waves and lead to the possibility of their being detected in the solar atmosphere.     

Polar observations of plasma waves in and near the dayside magnetopause/magnetosheath

The plasma wave instrument (PWI) on board the Polar spacecraft made numerous passages of the dayside magnetopause and several probable encounters with the magnetosheath during the years 1996 and 1997. During periods of relatively high density, the PWI antenna-receiver system is coupled to the plasma and oscillates. The oscillations have been shown (cf. Radio Sci. 36 (2001) 203) to be indicative of periods of higher plasma density and plasma flows, possibly associated with magnetic reconnection. We have studied the plasma waves observed on three distinct magnetopause passes distinguished by the presence of these oscillations of the PWI receivers, and we report on the data obtained near, but not during, the times of the oscillations and the possible role of these waves in magnetic reconnection. Sweep-frequency receiver and high-resolution waveform data for some of these times are presented. The plasma wave measurements on each of the passes are characterized by turbulence. The most stable waves are whistler mode emissions typically of several hundred hertz that are seen intermittently in these regions. The data indicate the presence of impulsive solitary-like wave structures with strong electric fields both parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field near, but not always within, suspected reconnection sites. The solitary waves show the highest occurrence when observed with electrostatic electron cyclotron waves. These latter waves have been observed in the past in the cusp, polar magnetosphere, and auroral regions and therefore may represent excursions into the cusp, but also indicate the presence of low-energy electron beams. Turbulence near the lower hybrid frequency, low-frequency EM waves, and impulsive monopolar electrostatic pulses are seen throughout the magnetopause and particularly near regions of large decrease in the local magnetic field and enhanced field-aligned flows, the suspected reconnection sites. The absence of significant solitary wave signatures within suspected reconnection sites may require modifications to some reconnection models.     

Radio Pulsating Structures with Coronal Loop Contraction

We present a multi-wavelength study of a solar eruption event on 20 July 2004, comprising observations in H??, EUV, soft X-rays, and in radio waves with a wide frequency range. The analyzed data show both oscillatory patterns and shock wave signatures during the impulsive phase of the flare. At the same time, large-scale EUV loops located above the active region were observed to contract. Quasi-periodic pulsations with ???10 and ???15 s oscillation periods were detected both in microwave??C?millimeter waves and in decimeter??C?meter waves. Our calculations show that MHD oscillations in the large EUV loops ?C but not likely in the largest contracting loops ?C could have produced the observed periodicity in radio emission, by triggering periodic magnetic reconnection and accelerating particles. As the plasma emission in decimeter??C?meter waves traces the accelerated particle beams and the microwave emission shows a typical gyrosynchrotron flux spectrum (emission created by trapped electrons within the flare loop), we find that the particles responsible for the two different types of emission could have been accelerated in the same process. Radio imaging of the pulsed decimetric??C?metric emission and the shock-generated radio type II burst in the same wavelength range suggest a rather complex scenario for the emission processes and locations. The observed locations cannot be explained by the standard model of flare loops with an erupting plasmoid located above them, driving a shock wave at the CME front.     

Variations of Photospheric Magnetic Field Associated with Flares and CMEs

Using high-cadence magnetograms from the SOHO/MDI we have investigated variations of the photospheric magnetic field during solar flares and CMEs. In the case of a strong X-class flare of May 2, 1998, we have detected variations of magnetic field in a form of a rapidly propagating magnetic wave. During the impulsive phase of the flare we have observed a sudden decrease of the magnetic energy in the flare region. This provides direct evidence of magnetic energy release in solar flares. We discuss the physics of the magnetic field variations, and their relations to the Moreton Hα waves and the coronal waves observed by the EIT.     

Wave localization in solar type III events

A suggested application of the theory of wave localization to type III solar radio events in the solar wind is discussed critically. A classical wave theory that enables one to relate wave localization to the observed spectrum of density fluctuations is summarized. Localization (in one dimension) is due to backscattering and depends on the density spectrum at a wavenumber equal to twice that of the scattered wave. The localization length is estimated for the Langmuir waves, for which the appropriate density fluctuations require ion sound waves, and for transverse waves, for which (at least for the fundamental) the spectrum of the appropriate density fluctuations has been measured in situ. In all cases the localization length is much shorter than the size of a type III event. For fundamental radiation the localization length can be even shorter than the observed sizes of clumps of Langmuir waves.It is concluded that although wave localization may be significant in type III events, most of its consequences have already been recognized in models that invoke multiple scattering. A notable exception is localization of fundamental transverse waves to the clumps of Langmuir waves, which provides a natural explanation for the observed brightness temperatures and for the initial predominance of fundamental over harmonic emission.     

引力波理论和实验的新进展

引力波的存在是爱因斯坦在广义相对论理论中提出的一个重要预言．由于目前技术水平的限制,无法在实验室产生足以被探测到的引力波,因此宇宙中大量的大质量剧烈活动的天体成为科学家研究引力波的首选,从而诞生了引力波天文学．引力波探测将开启研究宇宙的新窗口,是继电磁辐射、宇宙线和中微子探测后探索宇宙奥秘的又一重要手段,对天文学研究有着极为重要的意义.新一代应用了高灵敏度的迈克耳逊干涉仪装置的长基线引力波探测仪正在建造中．该综述从引力波理论出发,阐述了目前研究较多的可探测引力波源,给出了目前观测上的最新进展,并展望了今后的发展前景．     

引力波、引力波源和引力波探测实验

引力波是爱因斯坦和其他物理学家提出的关于广义相对论的四大预言之一。除了PSR1 91 3 + 1 6引力辐射阻尼的观测提供了引力波存在的间接证据外 ,科学家至今仍没有在实验室中确证引力波的存在。由于人类目前的技术水平还不可能在实验室中产生强度可供探测的引力波 ,而宇宙中存在大量大质量、高速运动的天体 ,有可能产生较强的引力波 ,天体引力波源自然成为现阶段科学家研究引力波的首选。本文介绍广义相对论框架下预言的引力波性质 ,引力波探测的理论依据 ,共振型棒式天线和激光干涉仪两大类探测器的基本原理 ,引力波探测实验的现状和面临的困难 ,科学家采取的对策 ,以及爆发型和连续型两类天体引力波源。最后介绍了正在计划中的几个引力波探测空间实验     

The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the magnetopause

Conditions for the development of Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) waves on the magnetopause have been known for more than 15 years; more recently, spacecraft observations have stimulated further examination of the properties of K-H waves. For amagnetopause with no boundary layer, two different modes of surface waves have been identified and their properties have been investigated for various assumed orientations of magnetic field and flow velocity vectors. The power radiated into the magnetosphere from the velocity shear at the boundary has been estimated. Other calculations have focused on the consequences of finite thickness boundary layers, both uniform and non-uniform. The boundary layer is found to modify the wave modes present at the magnetopause and to yield a criterion for the wavelength of the fastest growing surface waves. The paper concludes by questioning the extent to which the inferences from boundary layer models are model dependent and identifies areas where further work is needed or anticipated.     

Stokes Diagnostics of Magneto-Acoustic Wave Propagation in the Magnetic Network on the Sun

The solar atmosphere is magnetically structured and highly dynamic. Owing to the dynamic nature of the regions in which the magnetic structures exist, waves can be excited in them. Numerical investigations of wave propagation in small-scale magnetic flux concentrations in the magnetic network on the Sun have shown that the nature of the excited modes depends on the value of plasma β (the ratio of gas to magnetic pressure) where the driving motion occurs. Considering that these waves should give rise to observable characteristic signatures, we have attempted a study of synthesised emergent spectra from numerical simulations of magneto-acoustic wave propagation. We find that the signatures of wave propagation in a magnetic element can be detected when the spatial resolution is sufficiently high to clearly resolve it, enabling observations in different regions within the flux concentration. The possibility to probe various lines of sight around the flux concentration bears the potential to reveal different modes of the magnetohydrodynamic waves and mode conversion. We highlight the feasibility of using the Stokes-V asymmetries as a diagnostic tool to study the wave propagation within magnetic flux concentrations. These quantities can possibly be compared with existing and new observations in order to place constraints on different wave excitation mechanisms.