Slow convection of a magnetized plasma and the earth plasma sheet

Stationary convection of an isotropic, infinitely conducting plasma in a magnetic field with non-trivial geometry is discussed under the assumption that the inertial term in the equation of motion may be ignored. The energy gained or lost by a volume element of plasma per unit time does not vary along the field-lines. Simple relations between the components of the current density, depending on the field-line geometry, exist. Similar relations hold for the components of the plasma velocity.The theoretical analysis is applied to the geomagnetically-quiet plasma sheet and a qualitative physical picture of the sheet is suggested. The observed structure of the sheet is compatible with Axford-Hines type of convection perhaps combined with a low-speed flow from a distant neutral point. The magnetic-field-aligned currents are driven by the deformations of the closed field-lines which are enforced by the solar wind.     

Radiative transfer in a homogeneous magnetized plasma

On the ground of the proper wave representation the general theory is developed of radiative transfer in a homogeneous plasma with the strong magnetic field ( _B /1). The linear and nonlinear equations are derived which generalize the corresponding equations of scalar radiative transfer theory in isotropic media. The solutions of some problems are given for the cases when the magnetic field is perpendicular to the surface: diffuse reflection of radiation from a semiinfinite medium, provided the sources are placed far from the surface (Milne's problem) and have constant intensity, increase linearly or quadratically with the optical depths, or decrease exponentially from the surface.     

Spectra of radiation from a strongly magnetized plasma

Radiation from an optically thick, tenuous, isothermal and magnetized plasma is considered under conditions typical for X-ray pulsars, in the approximation of coupled diffusion of normal modes. The spectra are calculated of the fluxes and specific intensities of outgoing radiation, their dependences on the plasma densityN, temperatureT and magnetic fieldB are analysed with due regard to the vacuum polarization by a strong magnetic field. Simple analytical expressions are obtained in the limiting cases for the fluxes and intensities. It is shown that atE _B »E _a (E _B =11.6B ₁₂ keV,E _a ?0.1N ₂₂ ^1/2 T ₁ ^?3/4 keV,B ₁₂=B/10¹² G,N ₂₂=N/10²² cm^?3,T ₁=T/10 keV) the magnetic field strongly intensifies the flux and changes its spectrum in the regionE _a ?E ?E _B . AtE ?T the spectrum of the energy flux is almost flat in the region \(\sqrt {E_a E_B } \lesssim E \lesssim E_B \) . For homogeneous plasma without Comptonization the cyclotron line atE?=E _B appears in emission, though in many other cases it may appear in absorption. The vacuum polarization may produce the ‘vacuum feature’ atE?E _W ?13N ₂₂ ^1/2 B ₁₂ ^?1 keV, which, as a rule, appears in absorption. The intensity spectra vary noticeably with the direction of radiation, in particular, at some directions nearB, the spectra become harder than in other directions. Quantization of the magnetic field (E _B >T) strongly increases the plasma luminosity (∝E _B /T for homogeneous plasma). The results obtained explain a number of basic features in the observed X-ray pulsar spectra.     

Waves in a one-dimensional magnetized relativistic pair plasma

Normal modes of a one-dimensional relativistically streaming electron–positron plasma in a superstrong magnetic field are considered, taking into account possible different bulk velocities and thermal effects. This physical picture corresponds to the plasma present on the open field lines of rotating neutron stars where the observed radio emission is generated. Various cases are considered: relativistic and non-relativistic relative streaming of cold components, and relativistically hot distributions. A distinction between superluminous and subluminous waves (which can be excited by the Cherenkov effect) is clearly stated. In the low-frequency regime the Cherenkov and cyclotron two-stream instabilities occur. Polarization of the quasi-transverse modes changes from circular for the propagation along magnetic field lines to linear for angles of propagation larger than some critical angle that depends on the relative velocity of the plasma components.     

Neutrino pair emission by a magnetized stellar plasma

The decay of a plasmon into two neutrinos in the presence of an intense magnetic field has been studied by Canutoet al. (1970). They suggest that one of the principal longitudinal plasmon modes, which occurs only in magnetized plasmas, would cause certain magnetic stars to cool more rapidly than their unmagnetized counterparts. We show here that this mechanism is inoperative since the plasmon mode involved cannot be excited in the direction parallel to the magnetic field as considered by Canutoet al. Moreover, for ω_c/ω_p?1, we show that the other principal longitudinal plasmon mode considered earlier by Adamset al. (1963) (which is largely independent of the magnetic field) dominates the plasmon-neutrino decay cooling of magnetic stars.     

Perpendicular flow deviation in a magnetized counter-streaming plasma

Charged dust exists in various regions in the Solar System. How this charged dust interacts with the surrounding plasma is not well understood. In this study we neglect the charging process and treat the charged dust as a fluid interacting with the ambient magnetized plasma fluid. The model reproduces the expected plasma deceleration with both positively charged and negatively charged dust, but a new effect arises. Negatively charged dust causes the magnetic field to bend in the direction of the convection electric field, while positively charged dust causes the opposite magnetic field bending. Consequently, the interaction does not only result in a perpendicular shift in the downstream current system, but also a rotation in these currents. We present quantitative results using the multi-fluid MHD code BATSRUS for both subsonic and supersonic interactions. We find that the same perpendicular bending exists for all counter-streaming interaction problems, independent of the shape of the dust cloud. The new model can be applied to plasma interaction studies including, but not limited to, charged dust particles in the solar wind, cometary plasma, the Enceladus plume, and active plasma releases, such as the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Experiment (AMPTE) mission. The predicted behavior is consistent with observations at Enceladus.     

Polarization transfer of electromagnetic waves in a magnetized plasma

In this investigation, the polarization transfer equations in terms of the Stokes parameters are derived for electromagnetic waves propagating in an arbitrary direction in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma. This system of transfer equations is then solved analytically in the case when the magnetized plasma is homogeneous. For simplicity in presentation, the source term in the equation of transfer has been omitted. Transitting to the special case of quasi-longitudinal propagation, the results obtained here are shown to be in agreement to that derived by Zheleznyakov earlier.     

Nonlinear convective motion in a rotating magnetized electron-positron plasma

A set of coupled nonlinear equations is derived which describes the coupling of the vorticity and the external-field aligned flow of a strongly magnetized rotating electron-positron plasma. The possibility of dipole vortex formation is discussed.     

Strong electromagnetic waves in a magnetized relativistic electron-positron plasma

It is shown that in a strongly magnetized relativistic electron-positron plasma, strongly localized large amplitude circularly polarized electromagnetic wave pulses exist. The localization is due to relativistic mass variation as well as ponderomotive force effects. Three types of pulses are found analytically: the sharply spiked pulse in a strongly magnetized cold plasma, the smooth pulse in a week magnetized warm plasma, and the moderately spiked pulse for a weakly magnetized cold plasma. The physical mechanisms giving rise to these pulses are distinct for each case. Possible implications of our investigation to pulsar radiation are discussed.     

Heating of astrophysical plasma by mildly-relativistic non-thermal protons

We study the energy deposited collisionally by mildly-relativistic, non-thermal protons as they travel away from a spatially localised acceleration region. In particular, we generalise previous results for energy deposition by monodirectional protons in a medium of homogeneous magnetic field, to the case where the protons have a range of pitch angles and traverse a region of spatially varying magnetic field (field strength variation length scale gyroradius). The possibility of multiple traversals of protons in a region contained between two regions of field strengthening is also considered. By way of illustration, the results are applied to proton energy deposition in the solar atmosphere.     

A revised version of synchrotron radiation in a magnetized plasma

We analyze the propagation features of synchrotron radiation of a charge moving with a gyrating helix trajectory (3-dimensional) in a magnetoplasma. We found that a new factor (1+ cot ) should be included into the relevant spectrum radiation formulae and the usual relativistic factor has to be modified as , ifv <v _g , the radiative energy are more concentrated along the velocity of the moving charge; but ifv>v _g, the direction of maximum energy cone deviates from the direction of the moving charge.     

The interaction of cosmic rays and magnetized plasma

A large flux of cosmic rays streaming through a magnetized plasma creates cavities of low plasma density and low magnetic field. The magnetic field focuses the cosmic ray trajectories into the cavities with the possible formation of filaments or beams of high-energy cosmic rays.     

The propagation of a dense quasi-neutral ion beam across a magnetized plasma

Propagation of a quasi-neutral narrow ion beam across a magnetised cold plasma is investigated in slab geometry. This problem is of interest in connection with artificial beam injection experiments and with naturally appearing plasma injections into magnetic fields as astrophysical jets. Several different cases are discussed briefly where the beam is assumed either slow or fast. For fast beams it is shown that they propagate due to generation of a polarisation electric field even in the case of presence of a background plasma. Slow beams can depolarise by currents flowing into the beam along the field lines and providing the required electrons for charge neutralisation. Some implications of the model are discussed in the context of recent active beam injection experiments into space plasma.     

Stokes parameters for thomson scattering in a cold magnetized plasma

The effect of a strong magnetic field on neutron stars or white dwarfs is calculated for Thomson scattering in a fully ionized collisionless plasma. The Stokes parameters for the scattered radiation are computed explicitly in terms of the state of polarization of the incident wave, the electron-cyclotron frequency, the plasma frequency, the angle of incidence, and the angle of scattering. The effects of the plasma are very insensitive to specific values of ( = ₂ ^p /²,_p denotes the electron plasma frequency) so long as 1, whereas the criterion for the magnetic field to substantially affect the Stokes parameters is that the photon frequency be less than the electron-cyclotron frequency. The effects of classical radiation damping and natural line broadening are briefly mentioned.     

Velocity limitation of a neutral dust cloud colliding with a magnetized plasma

The problem is considered of a cloud of neutral dust moving into a cloud of static plasma which is confined in a magnetic field. Earlier experiments with rotating plasma devices and plasma guns on critical velocity limitation suggest that such limitation could also arise in the case of plasma-neutral dust interaction in cosmos.Nevertheless further analysis is required to provide a clear picture of the relations between the cosmical and laboratory conditions for plasma-neutral gas and plasma-neutral dust interaction. In particular this applies to the question how to relate the experiments, which are largely in the plasma-physical MHD range, to the cosmical interaction which appears to be mainly governed by kinetic effects.Paper dedicated to Professor Hannes Alfvén on the occasion of his 80th birthday, 30 May 1988.     

Arbitrary amplitude electron acoustic waves in a magnetized nonextensive plasma

Arbitrary amplitude electron acoustic (EA) solitary waves in a magnetized nonextensive plasma comprising of cool fluid electrons, hot nonextensive electrons, and immobile ions are investigated. The linear dispersion properties of EA waves are discussed. We find that the electron nonextensivity reduces the phase velocities of both modes in the linear regime: similarly the nonextensive electron population leads to decrease of the EA wave frequency. The Sagdeev pseudopotential analysis shows that an energy-like equation describes the nonlinear evolution of EA solitary waves in the present model. The effects of the obliqueness, electron nonextensivity, hot electron temperature, and electron population are incorporated in the study of the existence domain of solitary waves and the soliton characteristics. It is shown that the boundary values of the permitted Mach number decreases with the nonextensive electron population, as well as with the electron nonextensivity index, q. It is also found that an increase in the electron nonextensivity index results in an increase of the soliton amplitude. A comparison with the Vikong Satellite observations in the dayside auroral zone is also taken into account.