Computational Simulation of Plasmas

This paper reviews the use of computational simulation in plasma physics. It describes a range of numerical models varying from particle models of low density collisionless plasmas to fluid models of high density collision-dominated plasmas. Some applications of these models, particularly to laser-produced and astrophysical plasmas, are described.     

一种快速的天文图像模拟方法及分析

图像模拟在天文学研究中已经发挥越来越重要的作用,其重要性主要表现在以下几方面:通过模拟可以为准备研制的天文观测设备评估提供重要的依据;通过对模拟数据的处理可以验证数据处理的算法。对图像模拟的整个过程进行描述,并在计算上对图像模拟的局部方法进行优化,使模拟结果能够高效准确的生成。主要工作包含以下几方面:对天体形态的模拟,包括点源(如恒星)和展源(星系),这里主要对展源建模;模拟观测条件,主要是仪器和天光背景等产生的噪声;模拟点扩散函数;从计算和程序的方法对计算流程进行优化;对结果进行分析。采用的数据是哈勃超深空场(HUDF) ACS WFC i(F775)波段的数据,其极限星等达到29等。通过对模拟结果的分析,可以看出该方法能够快速并且较为准确地对星系图像进行模拟。     

Thermal Instability for Convection in Astrophysical Plasmas

The plasma thermal stability condition under convection is discutided. Using Cattaneo law and mixing length theory before relaxation lets show a new thermal stability condition for plasmas in astrophysics. Application in neutron stars and low mass x-ray binaries stars is mentioned.     

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.     

小天体离散元仿真软件的搭建与测试

小天体探测是当今太阳系探测的一大热点, 对小行星演化的研究有助于人们了解太阳系的起源. 演化研究的一项重要内容是小天体结构的演化, 即小天体在多种力学机制作用下自身形状与结构的演化. 在小天体碎石堆结构的假设之下, 一种比较常见的模拟小天体结构演化的方法是离散元仿真算法(Discrete Element Method, DEM), 目前国内外有数个团队开发了相关算法软件. 本文介绍了团队开发的《基于DEM仿真算法的多粒子系统模拟软件》的基础理论、实现方法以及加速算法, 并使用二体接触模型、声速传播仿真、小行星内部压强、小行星旋转稳定性仿真算例验证了算法的可靠性.     

Nonlinear Electric Field Diffusion in Plasmas

Approximated similarity solutions are given for the problem of electric field penetration into a semi-infinite plasma with nonlinear saturating conductivity (exponential type), using the two point quasifractional approximants method.     

Radiation Properties of High-Energy Astrophysical Plasmas

We discuss radiation properties of plasmas in high-energy astrophysics with a keyword nonequilibrium: non-LTE level populations, nonequilibrium ionization, and non-Maxwellian distribution function, beginning with radiative transfer. We focus particularly on supernova remnants interacting with the circumstellar/interstellar matter, and also mention line emission processes in accretion gas onto a neutron star or black hole, and in the X-ray afterglow of γ-ray bursts.     

Some Physical Processes in Dusty Plasmas

Ionized gases containing fine (μm to sub-μm sized) charged dust grains, referred to as dusty plasmas, occur in diverse cosmic and laboratory environments. Dust occurs in many space and astrophysical environments, including planetary rings, comets, the Earth's ionosphere, and interstellar molecular clouds. Dust also occurs in laboratory plasmas, including processing plasmas, and crystallized dusty plasmas. Charged dust can lead to various effects in a plasma. In this review, some physical processes in dusty plasmas are discussed, with an emphasis on applications to dusty plasmas in space. This includes theoretical work on several wave instabilities, the role of dust as an electron source, and Coulomb crystals of positively charged dust. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quasi-Thermal Noise Diagnostics in Space Plasmas

We present the method of plasma diagnostics by quasi-thermal noise spectroscopy and show examples of application in the solar wind and the Earth's plasmasphere. Using only an electric antenna and a radio receiver, diagnostics of various space environments (magnetized or not) can be obtained in situ. Because of its accuracy, this technique can be used to cross-check other plasma sensors. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Magnetized Plasmas

We review the particle-in-cell simulation results related to the recently discovered particle acceleration mechanism called the Diamagnetic Relativistic Pulse Accelerator, or DRPA. This mechanism may be relevant to the prompt gamma-ray emission of gamma-ray bursts. It may also be testable with future laboratory experiments using ultra-intense lasers.     

Radiation from Instabilities in Space Plasmas

Some successful features of the theory of radiation from plasma instabilities in space plasmas are reviewed, with emphasis on plasma emission in type III solar radio bursts due to the bump-in-tail instability, and planetary radio emissions due to loss-cone driven electron cyclotron maser emission. The emission occurs in sporadic, localized bursts, and the theory for the instability needs to be combined with some statistical ideas to model the observed emissions. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Jeans Instability in Collisional Dusty Plasmas

It is shown that dust-neutral and ion-neutral drags can produce instabilities of electrostatic waves in multicomponent self-gravitating dusty plasmas. Explicit expressions for the growth rates of the instabilities are presented. The relevance of our investigation to fragmentation of molecular dust clouds is discussed.     

Waves and Instabilities in Magnetized Dusty Plasmas

The status of waves and instabilities in magnetized dusty plasmas is summarized. The effects of an external magnetic field on low-frequency electrostatic and electromagnetic waves in dusty plasmas are discussed. The kinetic and hydrodynamic instabilities are shown to excite magnetized dusty plasma waves. The presence of the latter can give rise to an oscillatory wake-potential which can be responsible for the charged dust grain attraction. The relevance of our investigation to laboratory and space plasmas has been pointed out. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Simulation for a Planetary Nebular Plasma

A plasma simulation code is applied to interpret the instabilities in an expanding planetary nebula. The temperature of the central star of a planetary nebula is assumed as above 50,000 K. Most of the atoms are ionized at this temperature. Since ionization cannot be neglected for such a hot plasma, the electrostatic instability should be taken into account. In the one dimensional electrostatic simulation, Maxwell and Vlasov equations are used and the fast Fourier transform is applied. The calculated drift velocity in the simulation is found comparable with the expansion velocity of a planetary nebula. The linear and non-linear behaviors of the simulated nebular plasma have been investigated in phase space; the simulation results agree with the theory. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Alfvénic Solitons in Ultrarelativistic Electron-Positron Plasmas

In electron-positron plasmas some of the plasma modes are decoupled due to the equal charge-to-mass ratio of both species. We derive the dispersion law for a low-frequency, generalized X-mode, which exists at all angles of propagation with respect to the static magnetic field. Its nonlinear evolution is governed by a Korteweg-de Vries equation, valid at all angles of propagation except strictly parallel propagation, for which a different approach leads to a vector form of the modified Korteweg-de Vries equation. The nonlinearity is strongest at perpendicular propagation. Ultrarelativistic effects are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the Thermochemical Instability of Optically Thin Plasmas

The effects of the thermal conduction on the linear stability analysis of an optically thin plasma with metallicity Z = 1 and including chemical relaxation time effects, is carried out. Generally, a further stabilizing effect on the unstable modes and an increasing of the damping of stable modes appear for disturbances with values of wave number large enough. However, the oscillating mode appearing at low temperature remain unaffected by the thermal conduction.     

On the Nature of Transport in Fusion Plasmas

A view of the mechanisms underlying particle and energy transport in fusion plasmas devices (tokamak and stellarators) is given. The heat and energy transport in fusion plasmas is generally due to turbulent processes. Several driving (plasma gradients) and damping (electric field) mechanisms of turbulence have been investigated. The development of methods to modify and control plasma turbulence by electric field effects has opened a new era on fusion confinement research. Recently, a new approach based on multi-field probability density function statistical analysis has been proposed to describe transport in non-equilibrium systems and to unravel the overall picture connecting transport, gradients and flows in fusion plasmas.