Temporal Evolution of Whistler Instability Due to Cold Plasma Injection in the Presence of Perpendicular AC Electric Field in the Magnetosphere of Uranus

Temporal evolution of whistler instability has been studied due to cold plasma injectionin the presence of a perpendicular AC electric field in the magnetosphere of Uranus. Ageneralized distribution function with index j, which is a reducible to a bi-Maxwellianfor j = 0 and to a loss-cone for j = 1, for a plasma in the presence of a perpendicularAC electric field, has been derived from a hot/warm background plasma and atime-dependent plasma described by a simple Maxwellian distribution has been considered to represent the injected cold plasma. An expression for the growth rate of a system with added time-dependent cold plasma injection has been calculated using the method of characteristics and kinetic approach The results obtained for representative value of the parameters suited to the Uranian magnetosphere in both cases have been compared and discussed. It is inferred that the temperature anisotropy remains the major source of free energy whereas a loss-cone background acts as an additional source of free energy for the instability. It is not the magnitude but the frequency of the AC field which Influences the growth rate. In comparison to the Uranian magnetosphere this effect is more significant in Earth's magnetosphere. As the ionisation time of the time-dependent injected cold plasma increases, the growth rate goes on increasing, this effect being much greater in a loss-cone background in comparison to a bi-Maxwellian background plasma time-dependence of thecold plasma has been considered since it represents a more realistic situation in injection experiments.     

Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in Multi-Ions Hot Anisotropic Plasma in Auroral Acceleration Region-Particle Aspect Approach

Using particle aspect approach, the effect of multi-ions densities on the dispersion relation, growth rate, perpendicular resonant energy and growth length of electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave with general loss-cone distribution function in hot anisotropic multi-ion plasma is presented for auroral acceleration region. It is observed that higher He⁺ and O⁺ ions densities enhance the wave frequency closer to the H⁺ ion cyclotron frequency and growth rate of the wave. The differential heating of He⁺ ions perpendicular to the magnetic field is enhanced at higher densities of He⁺ ions. The waves require longer distances to achieve observable amplitude by wave-particle interactions mechanism as predicted by growth length. It is also found that electron thermal anisotropy of the background plasma enhances the growth rate and reduces the growth length of multi-ions plasma. These results are determined for auroral acceleration region.     

Effect of Cold Plasma Injection on Whistler Mode Instability Triggered by Perpendicular Ac Electric Field at Uranus

The effect of cold plasma injection on whistler mode instability has been studied separately for a bi-Maxwellian and a loss-cone hackground plasma with perpendicular AC electric field. The cold plasma is described by a simple Maxwellian distribution, whereas a generalized distribution function with index j that reduces to a bi-Maxwellian for j = 0 and to a loss-cone for j = 1 has been derived for a plasma in the presence of a perpendicular AC electric field, to form a hot/warm background. The dispersion relation is obtained using the method of characteristic solutions and kinetic approach. An expression for the growth rate of a system with added cold plasma injection has been calculated. Results of sample theoretical calculations for representative values of parameters suited to the magnetosphere of Uranus has been obtained. The salient features of the analysis and the results obtained in both cases have been compared and discussed. It is inferred that it is not the magnitude but the frequency of the AC field which influences the growth rate and a loss-cone background plasma has a triggering effect on the growth rate, increasing the value of the real frequency and maximum growth rate by an order of magnitude. These results may go a long way to enable one to get a better understanding of whistlers and diagnostics of plasma parameters in the Uranian magnetosphere.     

Whistler Mode Instability in a Lorentzian (κ) Magnetoplasma in the Presence of Perpendicular A.C. Electric Field and Cold Plasma Injection

The dielectric tensor, modified plasma dispersion function and dispersion relation for Whistler mode instability in an infinite magnetoplasma are obtained in the case of cold plasma injection to background hot anisotropic generalized bi-Lorentzian (κ) plasma in the presence of external perpendicular a.c. electric field. The method of characteristics solutions using perturbed and unperturbed particle trajectories have been used to determine the perturbed distribution function. Integrals and modified plasma dispersion function Z_κ ^*(ξ ) are reduced in power series expansion form. Numerical methods using computer technique have been used to obtained temporal growth rate for magnetospheric plasma at geostationary height. The bi-Lorentzian (κ) plasma is reducible to various forms of distribution function by changing the spectral index κ. The results of bi-Lorentzian (κ) plasma are compared with those of bi-Maxwellian plasma. It has been found that the addition of cold plasma injection gives different frequency spectra. The a.c. frequency of moderate amplitude increases the growth rate and instability in K space to lower range. Growth rate maximum is not affected by a.c. frequencies. However, it shifts the maximum to lower K space in both cases, rather than on the variation of the magnitude. Thus a physical situation like this may explain emission of various high frequency whistler emissions by cold plasma injection. The potential application of controlled plasma experiments in the laboratory and for planetary atmosphere are indicated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of hot injections on electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves in inner magnetosphere of Saturn

Encounter of Voyager with Saturn’s environment revealed the presence of electromagnetic ion-cyclotron waves (EMIC) in Saturnian magnetosphere. Cassini provided the evidence of dynamic particle injections in inner magnetosphere of Saturn. Also inner magnetosphere of Saturn has highest rotational flow shear as compared to any other planet in our solar system. Hence during these injections, electrons and ions are transported to regions of stronger magnetic field, thus gaining energy. The dynamics of the inner magnetosphere of Saturn are governed by wave-particle interaction. In present paper we have investigated those EMIC waves pertaining in background plasma which propagates obliquely with respect to the magnetic field of Saturn. Applying kinetic approach, the expression for dispersion relation and growth rate has been derived. Magnetic field model has been used to incorporate magnetic field strength at different latitudes for radial distance of \(6.18~R_{{s}}\) (\(1~R_{{s}}= 60{,}268~\mbox{km}\)). Various parameters affecting the growth of EMIC waves in cold bi-Maxwellian background and after the hot injections has been studied. Parametric analysis inferred that after hot injections, growth rate of EMIC waves increases till \(10^{\circ}\) and decreases eventually with increase in latitude due to ion density distribution in near-equatorial region. Also, growth rate of EMIC waves increases with increasing value of temperature anisotropy and AC frequency, but the growth rate decreases as the angle of propagation with respect to \(B_{0}\) (Magnetic field at equator) increases. The injection events which assume the Loss-cone distribution of particles, affect the lower wave numbers of the spectra.     

Dynamics of artificial plasma clouds in “SPOLOKH“ experiments : Cloud deformation

Data on the evolution of the density profiles of the neutral and ionized components of barium clouds obtained in “Spolokh” experiments are presented. The ion density in the cigar-like structure exceeds by more than an order of magnitude that of the background plasma, while the density in the plasma tail out flowing from the cigar-like structure is of the same order as that of the background plasma. The Ba⁺ outflow rate is determined. The results agree with observed cloud motion and with the estimates following from Dzubenko et al. (1983).     

Study of gradient effects on inertial Alfvén waves in plasma sheet boundary layer region—kinetic approach

Inertial Alfvén waves are investigated using Maxwell-Boltzmann-Vlasov equation to evaluate the dispersion relation and growth/damping rate in inhomogeneous plasma. Expressions for the dispersion relation and growth/damping rate are evaluated in inhomogeneous plasma. The effects of density, temperature and velocity gradient are included in the analysis. The results are interpreted for the space plasma parameters appropriate to the plasma sheet boundary layer. It is found that the inhomogeneities of plasma contribute significantly to enhance the growth rate of inertial Alfvén wave. The applicability of this model is assumed for auroral acceleration region and plasma sheet boundary layer.     

Plasma Physics in Astronomy and Cosmology

We discuss some of the major areas in astronomy and cosmology where plasma physics is important: (1) origin of stars; (2) distortions of the microwave background radiation; (3) expansion rate of the Early Universe; (4) the magnetic fields and relativistic electrons in jets; (5) the collimation of jets; (6) the origin of stellar winds; (7) the origin of filaments and clouds not gravitationally bound; and (8) the origin of cosmic rays.     

The Relationship Between Plasma Flow Doppler Velocities and Magnetic Field Parameters During the Emergence of Active Regions at the Solar Photospheric Level

A statistical study has been carried out of the relationship between plasma flow Doppler velocities and magnetic field parameters during the emergence of active regions at the solar photospheric level with data acquired by the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). We have investigated 224 emerging active regions with different spatial scales and positions on the solar disc. The following relationships for the first hours of the emergence of active regions have been analysed: i) of peak negative Doppler velocities with the position of the emerging active regions on the solar disc; ii) of peak plasma upflow and downflow Doppler velocities with the magnetic flux growth rate and magnetic field strength for the active regions emerging near the solar disc centre (the vertical component of plasma flows); iii) of peak positive and negative Doppler velocities with the magnetic flux growth rate and magnetic field strength for the active regions emerging near the limb (the horizontal component of plasma flows); iv) of the magnetic flux growth rate with the density of emerging magnetic flux; v) of the Doppler velocities and magnetic field parameters for the first hours of the appearance of active regions with the total unsigned magnetic flux at the maximum of their development.     

The Growth rate of upper-hybrid waves and dynamics of microwave zebra structures

The growth rate of the upper-hybrid waves with different velocities of superthermal electrons is computed considering a finite temperature of the background plasma and relativistic corrections. Based on these computations two examples of high-frequency zebra structures are interpreted. The sequence of the continuum, zebra structure, and continuum observed in the 29 October 2000, event is explained as an increase and following decrease of the velocity of superthermal electrons in the range of v=0.1–0.3 c. On the other hand, the zebra structure observed during the 18 March 2003 event represents an example with fast electron acceleration.     

Flushing effect in reconnection: Effects of minority species of oxygen ions

Effects of O⁺ ions on magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail are examined in a Harris equilibrium using a combination of linear Vlasov theory and large-scale driven and non-driven two-dimensional fully kinetic particle simulations. Linear theory of multiple species plasma indicates that the growth rate is rather insensitive to the composition of the background (lobe) or its temperature but more sensitive to the properties of the current carriers. Thus O⁺ can affect significant changes to the linear growth rate of tearing mode only as a current carrier. However, it is demonstrated that in the nonlinear stage reconnection can effectively move trace material from the lobes into the current sheet proper. If the supply of lobe markers (like O⁺) is sufficiently permanent in the lobe, an initially proton-dominated current sheet can be virtually replaced by the marker ions through this “flushing effect”. The dominance of marker ions introduces finite Larmor radius signatures with marker gyroradii scales rather than that of the protons. In this way, the presence of heavier marker species in the lobe can lead to (i) reduced efficiency of energy conversion, (ii) reduction in the number and repetition frequency of secondary islands, (iii) broadening of the quadrupole magnetic structure, (iv) slowing down of the coalescence process and (v) modification of the composition of the ion current carriers. Using Cluster observations, we show the evidence for the “flushing effect” in the data. Detailed comparison with observations is planned for future work.     

Saturated magnetic field amplification at supernova shocks

Cosmic ray streaming instabilities at supernova shocks are discussed in the quasi-linear diffusion formalism which takes into account the feedback effect of wave growth on the cosmic ray streaming motion. In particular, the non-resonant instability that leads to magnetic field amplification in the short wavelength regime is considered. The linear growth rate is calculated using kinetic theory for a streaming distribution. We show that the non-resonant instability is actually driven by a compensating current in the background plasma. The non-resonant instability can develop into a non-linear regime generating turbulence. The saturation of the amplified magnetic fields due to particle diffusion in the turbulence is derived analytically. It is shown that the evolution of parallel and perpendicular cosmic ray pressures is predominantly determined by non-resonant diffusion. However, the saturation is determined by resonant diffusion which tends to reduce the streaming motion through pitch angle scattering. The saturated level can exceed the mean background magnetic field.     

Limits for the Firehose Instability in Space Plasmas

Electromagnetic instabilities in high-β plasmas, where β is the ratio of the kinetic plasma energy to the magnetic energy, have a broad range of astrophysical applications. The presence of temperature anisotropies T _∥ /T _⊥ >1 (where ∥ and ⊥ denote directions relative to the background magnetic field) in solar flares and the solar wind is sustained by the observations and robust acceleration mechanisms that heat plasma particles in the parallel direction. The surplus of parallel kinetic energy can excite either the Weibel-like instability (WI) of the ordinary mode perpendicular to the magnetic field or the firehose instability (FHI) of the circularly polarized waves at parallel propagation. The interplay of these two instabilities is examined. The growth rates and the thresholds provided by the kinetic Vlasov – Maxwell theory are compared. The WI is the fastest growing one with a growth rate that is several orders of magnitude larger than that of the FHI. These instabilities are however inhibited by the ambient magnetic field by introducing a temperature anisotropy threshold. The WI admits a larger anisotropy threshold, so that, under this threshold, the FHI remains the principal mechanism of relaxation. The criteria provided here by describing the interplay of the WI and FHI are relevant for the existence of these two instabilities in any space plasma system characterized by an excess of parallel kinetic energy.     

Dust ion acoustic instability with q-distribution in nonextensive statistics

The instability of dust ion acoustic waves (DIAWs) driven by ions and electrons with different drift velocities in an unmagnetized, collisionless, isotropic dusty plasma was investigated. The electrons, ions and dust particles are assumed to be the generalized q-nonextensive distributions. The spectral indices of the q-distributions for the three plasma components are different from each other. Based on kinetic theory, the dispersion relation and the instability growth rate of DIAWs are obtained. It is found that the presence of the nonextensive distribution electrons and ions significantly modify the domain of the instability growth rate, as well as the ion-electron density ratio (ρ) and drifting-thermal velocity ratio (u _i0/v _Te ). In reverse, the index of dust grains has nearly no any effect on the instability growth rate. Furthermore, the effects of these parameters on the growth rate have also been discussed in detail.     

Thermal instability in slab geometry in the presence of anisotropical thermal conduction

Prominences and filaments are thought to arise as a consequence of a magnetized plasma undergoing thermal instability. Therefore, the thermal stability of a magnetized plasma is investigated under coronal conditions. The equilibrium structure of the plasma is approximated by a 1-D slab configuration. This is investigated in thermal instability taking into account optically thin plasma radiation and anisotropic thermal conduction. The thermal conduction perpendicular to the magnetic field is taken to be small but non-zero.The classic rigid wall boundary conditions which are often applied in the literature, either directly on the plasma or indirectly through some other medium, are replaced by a more physical situation in which the plasma column is placed in a low-density background stretching towards infinity. Results for a uniform equilibrium structure indicate the major effect of this change is on the eigenfunctions rather than on the growth rate. Essentially, perpendicular thermal conduction introduces field-aligned fine structure. It is also shown that in the presence of perpendicular thermal conduction, thermal instability in a slab model is only possible if the inner plasma has the shortest thermal instability time scale.Research Assistant of the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium).     

Two-photon 2s ↔ 1s transitions during hydrogen recombination in the universe

Based on the standard cosmological model, we calculate the correction to the rate of two-photon 2s ? 1s transitions in the hydrogen atom under primordial hydrogen plasma recombination conditions that arises when the induced transitions under equilibrium background radiation with a blackbody spectrum and plasma recombination radiation are taken into account.     

Modeling of type III bursts dynamic spectra

The one-dimensional process of spatially limited electron stream propagation in the solar corona is simulated. It is shown that the beam instability development results either in strong relaxation in velocity space and inhibition of spatial diffusion (high-stream density) or in velocity space relaxation decrease and simultaneous growth of spatial stream length (low-stream density). Assuming a profile of background plasma density to be exponential, dynamic spectra of type III bursts are modeled, which shows that the emission source velocity is constant, and a duration of the burst emission at a given frequency reduces for high-stream densities.     

Weakly relativistic solitary waves in multicomponent plasmas with electron inertia

Existence of compressive relativistic solitons is established in an arbitrary ξ-direction, inclining at an angle to the direction of the weak magnetic field (ω _pi ≫ω _Bi ) in this plasma compound with ions, relativistic electrons and relativistic electron beams. It is observed that the absolute linear growth of amplitudes of compressive solitons is due to inactive role of the weak magnetic field and the initial streaming speeds of relativistic electrons, electron beams, and Q _b (ion mass to electron beam mass). Besides, the small initial streaming of electrons is found to be responsible to generate relatively high amplitude compressive solitons. The non-relativistic ions in the background plasma, but in absence of electron-beam drift and in presence of weak magnetic field are the causing effect of interest for the smooth growth of soliton amplitudes in this model of plasma.     

Plasma instability in relativistic jets

Based on the Maxwel-Vlasov equations, we consider the possible generation mechanisms of hard emission through the growth of plasma instabilities in a relativistic jet composed of electrons and protons. The accelerated material of the jet moves by inertia. When a small difference arises between the electron and proton velocities (which may result from the interaction of jet material with background plasma or from the acceleration mechanism) plasma instabilities can grow. The particle distribution functions, which were initially delta functions both in angle and in energy, transform into complex angular and energy dependences. In this case, the probability of collisions between high-energy particles in the jet increases, resulting in hard gamma-ray emission.     

Albedo heterogeneity on the surface of (1943) Anteros

We have investigated the effect of rotation on the polarization of scattered light for the near-Earth asteroid (1943) Anteros using the Dual Beam Imaging Polarimeter on the University of Hawaii’s 2.2 m telescope. Anteros is an L-type asteroid that has not been previously observed polarimetrically. We find weak but significant variations in the polarization of Anteros as a function of rotation, indicating albedo changes across the surface. Specifically, we find that Anteros has a background albedo of p_v = 0.18 ± 0.02 with a dark spot of p_v < 0.09 covering <2% of the surface.