Large-scale inverted-V channels of upflowing oxygen ions pumped by Alfvén waves

Large-scale inverted-V channels of upflowing oxygen ions are frequently identified in data collected by Cluster,at all local times,near the open-closed field line boundary over Earth’s high-latitude ionosphere-occur with downward propagating MHD Alfvén waves which have cascaded into kinetic regimes of plasma.The transverse acceleration of the oxygen ions in the center of these structures is interpreted as the integrated energization by these waves along the channels.Also observed within the channels are upward parallel electric fields,a key characteristic of kinetic Alfvén waves,which may contribute not only to lifting the ions but also to precipitating aurora electrons that might initiate ion upflow in the ionosphere below.Statistics on five-year observations of Cluster show that the channels typically form during geomagnetic perturbations,particularly when solar-wind dynamic pressure is high or highly fluctuated.Near the open-closed field line boundary,the stronger the wave power,the higher the upward oxygen flux and the higher the beam energy,indicating that these waves provide a simple but efficient way to drive oxygen upflows.

A simulation study of protons heated by left/right-handed Alfvén waves generated by electromagnetic proton-proton instability

Most protons in the solar wind belong to one of two different populations,the less dense beam protons and the denser core protons.The beam protons,with a velocity of(1-2)V_(A)(V_(A)is the local Alfvén speed),always drift relative to the core protons;this kind of distribution is unstable and stimulates several kinds of wave mode.In this study,using a 2 D hybrid simulation model,we find that the original right-handed elliptically polarized Alfvén waves become linearly polarized,and eventually become right-handed and circularly polarized.Given that linearly polarized waves are a superposition of left-handed and right-handed waves,cyclotron resonance in the right-handed/left-handed component heats beam/core protons perpendicularly.The resonance between beam protons and right-handed polarized waves is stronger when the beam relative density is lower,resulting in more dramatic perpendicular heating of beam protons,whereas the situation is reversed when the beam relative density is larger.

Generation of Alfvén wave energy during magnetic reconnection in Hall MHD

The effect of the reconnection rate on the generation of Alfvén wave energy is systematically investigated using Hall magnetohydrodynamics（MHD）. It is well known that a decrease in magnetic energy is proportional to the reconnection rate. It is found that an instantaneous increase in Alfvén wave energy in unit Alfvén time is the square dependence on the reconnection rate. The converted Alfvén wave energy is strongly enhanced due to the large increase in the reconnection rate in Hall MHD. For solar-terrestrial plasmas, the maximum converted Alfvén wave energy in unit Alfvén time with the Hall effect can be over 50 times higher than that without the Hall effect during magnetic reconnection.

Preliminary computation of the gap eigenmode of shear Alfvén waves on the LAPD

Characterizing the gap eigenmode of shear Alfv′en waves(SAWs) and its interaction with energetic ions is important to the success of magnetically confined fusion. Previous studies have reported an experimental observation of the spectral gap of SAW on the on Large Plasma Device(LAPD)(Zhang et al. 2008 Phys. Plasmas 15 012103), a linear large plasma device(Gekelman et al. 1991 Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62 2875) possessing easier diagnostic access and lower cost compared with traditional fusion devices, and analytical theory and numerical gap eigenmode using ideal conditions(Chang 2014 Ph.D Thesis at Australian National University). To guide experimental implementation, the present work models the gap eigenmode of SAWs using exact LAPD parameters. A full picture of the wave field for previous experiment reveals that the previously observed spectral gap is not global but an axially local result. To form a global spectral gap, the number of magnetic mirrors has to be increased and stronger static magnetic field makes it clearer. Such a spectral gap is obtained for the magnetic field of B0(z) = 1.2 + 0.6 cos[2π(z-33.68)/3.63] with 7.74-m magnetic beach. By introducing two types of local defects(corresponding to Eθ(z0) = 0 and E’θ(z0) = 0 respectively), odd-parity and even-parity discrete eigenmodes are formed clearly inside the gap. The strength of these gap eigenmodes decreases significantly with collision frequency, which is consistent with previous studies. Parameter scans show that these gap eigenmodes can be even formed successfully for the field strength of B0(z) = 0.2 + 0.1 cos[2π(z-33.68)/3.63] and with only four magnetic mirrors, which are achievable by the LAPD at its present status. This work can serve as a strong motivation and direct reference for the experimental implementation of the gap eigenmode of SAWs on the LAPD and other linear plasma devices.

Investigation of the fast magnetosonic wave excited by the Alfvén wave phase mixing by using the Hall–MHD model in inhomogeneous plasma

The inhomogeneity is introduced by a nonzero density gradient which separates the plasma into two different regions where plasma density are constant.The Alfvén waves,the phase mixing and the fast magnetosonic wave are excited by the boundary condition in inhomogeneous magnetized plasma.By using the Hall–magnetohydrodynamics(MHD)model,it is found that there are Alfvén waves in the homogeneous regions,while the phase mixing appears in the inhomogeneous region.The interesting result is that a fast magnetosonic wave is excited in a different direction which has a nonzero angle between the wave propagation direction and the direction of the background magnetic field.The dependence of the propagation direction of the excited fast magnetosonic wave and its strength of the magnetic field on the plasma parameters are given numerically.The results show that increasing both the driving frequency and the ratio of magnetic pressure to thermal pressure will increase the acceleration of the electrons.The electron acceleration also depends on the inhomogeneity parameters.

Observations of kinetic Alfvén waves and associated electron acceleration in the plasma sheet boundary layer

Kinetic Alfvén waves(KAWs),with a strong parallel disturbed electric field,play an important role in energy transport and particle acceleration in the magnetotail.On the basis of high-resolution observations of the Magnetospheric Multiscale(MMS)Mission,we present a detailed description of the acceleration process of electrons by KAWs in the plasma sheet boundary layer(PSBL).The MMS observed strong electromagnetic disturbances carrying a parallel disturbed electric field with an amplitude of up to 8 mV/m.The measured ratio of the electric to magnetic field perturbations was larger than the local Alfvén speed and was enhanced as the frequency increased,consistent with the theoretical predictions for KAWs.This evidence indicates that the electromagnetic disturbances should be identified as KAWs.During the KAWs,the energy flux of electrons at energies above 1 keV in the parallel and anti-parallel directions are significantly enhanced,implying occurrences of electron beams at higher energies.Additionally,the KAWs became more electrostaticlike and filled with high-frequency ion acoustic waves.The energy enhancement of electron beams is in accordance with the derived work done with the observed parallel disturbed electric field of KAWs,indicating electron acceleration caused by KAWs.Therefore,these results provide direct evidence of electron acceleration by KAWs embodying electrostatic ion acoustic waves in the PSBL.

Kinetic Alfvén waves in a deuterium-tritium fusion plasma with slowing-down distributed α-particles

The dispersion relation and damping rate of kinetic Alfvén waves(KAWs) in a deuterium-tritium fusion plasma with slowing-down distributed α-particles are investigated using the kinetic theory. The variations of wave frequency and damping rate with respect to the α concentration(n_(α)/n_(e)) and perpendicular wave number(k_(⊥)) are studied from a numerical way. The results show that the fluctuation of α concentration slightly affects the frequency and damping rate of KAWs at low n_(α)/n_(e). In addition, the frequency and the damping rate increase as the k_(⊥) and the background temperature Te increase. For comparison, the calculations are performed also in the case of α-particles following an equivalent Maxwellian distribution. For a given k_(⊥), the value of the frequency obtained in the slowing-down distribution case is smaller than that obtained in the Maxwellian distribution case. Conversely, the value of the damping rate obtained in the slowing-down distribution case is slightly larger than that obtained in the Maxwellian distribution case.

Solitary kinetic Alfvén waves in a dense electron–positron–ion plasma with degenerate electrons and positrons

Through the use of a reductive perturbation technique, solitary kinetic Alfvén waves（KAWs） are investigated in a low but finite b（particle-to-magnetic pressure ratio） dense electron–positron–ion plasma where electrons and positrons are degenerate. The degenerate plasma model considered here permits the existence of sub-Alfvénic compressive solitary KAWs. The influence of r（equilibrium positron-to-ion density ratio）, sF（electron-to-positron Fermi temperature ratio）, b and obliqueness parameter lzon various characteristics of solitary KAWs are examined through numerical plots. We have shown that there exists a critical value of lzat which a soliton width attains its maximum value which decreases with an increase in r and sF.It is also found that solitons with a higher energy propagate more obliquely in the direction of an ambient magnetic field. The results of the present investigation may be useful for understanding low frequency nonlinear electromagnetic wave propagation in magnetized electron–positron–ion plasmas in dense stars. Specifically, the relevance of our investigation to a pulsar magnetosphere is emphasized.

Effect of Kinetic Alfvén Waves on Electron Transport in an Ion-Scale Flux Rope

At the Earth＇s magnetopause, the electron transport due to kinetic Alfvén waves（KAWs） is investigated in an ion-scale flux rope by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. Clear electron dropout around 90° pitch angle is observed throughout the flux rope, where intense KAWs are identified. The KAWs can effectively trap electrons by the wave parallel electric field and the magnetic mirror force, allowing electrons to undergo Landau resonance and be transported into more field-aligned directions. The pitch angle range for the trapped electrons is estimated from the wave analysis, which is in good agreement with direct pitch angle measurements of the electron distributions. The newly formed beam-like electron distribution is unstable and excites whistler waves,as revealed in the observations. We suggest that KAWs could be responsible for the plasma depletion inside a flux rope by this transport process, and thus be responsible for the formation of a typical flux rope.

Effects of Heavy Ions on Kinetic Alfvén Waves

Kinetic Alfven Wave (KAW) is one of the low-frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that are identified extensively in space plasmas by in situ observations of satellites and has been an interesting topic for discussion widely in the fields of laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas because of its potential importance in plasma particle energization. Some satellite observations show that the number density ratio of the oxygen ions to the ambient plasma is 30% ～ 50%, sometimes, even as high as 80%. In this paper, effects of heavy ion species on KAWs are studied in a Iow-beta plasma. The results show that heavy ions not only considerably reduce the propagation speed of KAWs, but also remarkably influence the parallel component of perturbed electric field of KAWs (to the ambient magnetic field). The ratio of parallel to perpendicular components of perturbed field decreases (or increases) with the heavyion abundance for KAWs dominated by the electron inertial length (or by ion acoustic gyroradius). In particular, the resonant condition of KAWs with thermal electrons is modified by the heavy ion species.

Alfvén continuum in the presence of a magnetic island in a cylinder configuration

In this work,the effect of a magnetic island on Alfvén waves is studied.A physical model is established wherein Alfvén waves propagate in the presence of a magnetic island in a cylindrical geometry.The structure of the Alfvén wave continuum is calculated by considering only the coupling caused by the periodicity in the helical angle of the magnetic island.The results show that the magnetic island can induce an upshift in the Alfvén continuum.Moreover,the coupling between different branches of the continuous spectrum becomes more significant with increasing continuum mode numbers near the boundary of the magnetic island.

Discrete Alfvén eigenmodes in the CFETR steady-state scenario

The stability features of discrete Alfvén eigenmodes(αTAEs) trapped by α-induced potential wells are explored in the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor(CFETR) advanced steady-state operation environment, where α denotes a measure of the pressure gradient. For the reversed magnetic shear(RS) H-mode scenario with an enhanced internal transport barrier(ITB), the αTAEs are trapped in the electron cyclotron(EC) power deposition region and the effects of different pedestals on αTAEs are analyzed. For the negative off-axis magnetic shear scenario, the αTAEs are discussed, and the effect of different magnetic shears on the α TAEs is presented. Finally, the effects of beam energies and pitch-angle distributions onαTAE stability are also presented.

The Modulation of Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator on Heating HF Waves and the Doppler Effect

The propagation of HF waves in IAR can produce many nonlinear effects, including the modulation effect of IAR on HF waves and the Doppler effect. To start with the dependence of the ionospheric electron temperature variations on the Alfvén resonant field, We discuss the mechanism of the modulation effect and lucubrate possible reasons for the Doppler effect. The results show that the Alfvén resonant field can have an observable modulation effect on HF waves while its mechanism is quite different from that of Schumann resonant field on HF waves. The depth of modulation of IAR on HF waves has a quasi\|quadratic relation with the Alfvén field, which directly inspires the formation of cross\|spectrum between ULF waves and HF waves and results in spectral peaks at some gyro\|frequencies of IAR. With respect to the Doppler effect during the propagation of HF waves in IAR, it is mainly caused by the motion of the high\|speed flyer and the drifting electrons and the frequency shift from the phase variation of the reflected waves can be neglected when the frequency of HF incident wave is high enough.

扭转Alfvén波共振的数学描述

提出完备正交函数基(OFSE)展开方法,求解冕环中无耗散扭转Alfvn波。每个基函数对应冕环中每根磁力线的一个固有角频率ω_n,当冕环足点驱动频率等于磁力线的固有频率时,Alfvn波将在这根磁力线处发生共振。采用OFSE方法求解了双足点驱动时冕环Alfvn波的时变演化问题,给出了时变解析解的新形式,其中包含共振项,从共振项可以发现,在共振角频率为ω的共振磁力线附近,在时间t为π/ω的整数倍时,出现δ型间断;在t为π/(2ω)的奇数倍时,出现1/x间断。共振磁力线振幅随时间线性增加,增加的斜率正比于Alfvn波速,反比于冕环长度,与驱动频率无关。

Alfvén Instabilities Excited by Energetic Particles in a Parameter Regime Similar to EAST Operation

The kinetic excitation of ideal magnetohydrodynamic （MHD） Alfvén instabilities is investigated for operations at the EAST tokamak. The instabilities include α-induced toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes （αTAE; here, α =-q2 Rdβ/dr, with q being the safety factor, β the ratio between the plasma and magnetic pressures, R the major radius, and r the minor radius）, toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes （TAE）, and the energetic particle continuum mode （EPM）. The αTAE, trapped by α-induced potential wells along the magnetic field line, can be readily destabilized by energetic particles due to negligible continuum damping via wave energy tunneling. It is shown for the geometry and the parameters similar to those of the EAST equilibrium that αTAE is different not only from the EPM by the potential-well determined frequency, but also from the TAE by the broad frequency spectrum outside the toroidal frequency gap.

Formation of the mass density peak at the magnetospheric equator triggered by EMIC waves

We report a simultaneous observation of two band electromagnetic ion cyclotron(EMIC)waves and toroidal Alfvén waves by the Van Allen Probe mission.Through wave frequency analyses,the mass densityρis found to be locally peaked at the magnetic equator.Perpendicular fluxes of ions(<100 eV)increase simultaneously with the appearances of EMIC waves,indicating a heating of these ions by EMIC waves.In addition,the measured ion distributions also support the equatorial peak formation,which accords with the result of the frequency analyses.The formation of local mass density peaks at the equator should be due to enhancements of equatorial ion concentrations,which are triggered by EMIC waves’perpendicular heating on low energy ions.

惯性区低-β等离子体中的动力学Alfvén孤波

运用双流体MHD方程描述电子和离子的行为 ,采用非扰动理论 ,把孤子看作经典粒子 ,通过推导的赝势 (也称Sagdeev势 )方程 ,结合数值计算来研究惯性区低 - β等离子体中动力学Alfv啨ｎ孤波的特性 .结果表明离子热效应对Alfv啨ｎ孤波特性的影响不可忽略 ,且在惯性区稀疏型孤波和压缩型孤波均存在 .此结论与Freja卫星在极区上空所观测结果吻合很好 .Alfv啨ｎ孤波携带有平行电场 ,它对带电粒子的加速有重要作用 ,这给极光粒子加速提供了一种可能的物理机制 .

低频Alfvén波谱与冷等离子体的非共振作用研究

本文讨论了低频率Alfvén波谱与冷等离子体的非线性相互作用。研究表明,对于多个低频Alfvén波,在波的振幅相对于背景磁场较小时,随着时间的增加,粒子动理学温度的各向异性会降低;随着振幅的增加,平行方向的动理学温度不断升高,且在A2=0.1处,平行方向的动理学温度将超过垂直方向的动理学温度。

Chirping instabilities produced by a runaway electron beam at a spherical tokamak

Two different types of MHD instabilities with rapidly chirping frequency were found to arise in the Globus-M2 spherical tokamak in substantially different frequency ranges.The first type arises at frequencies of an order of 1 MHz in ohmic plasmas at relatively low density(n_(e))<2×10^(19) m^(-3) in a wide range of toroidal magnetic fields and plasma currents.This type of instability was identified as compressional Alfven waves,driven by electrons,accelerated during a sawtooth crush.It was found that the mode frequency is sweeping in time,according to the Berk-Breizman hole-clump nonlinear chirping model.The second type of wave arises in a specific single-swing regime of the central solenoid current with a very narrow plasma column,when the plasma tends to decay at extremely low density(n_(e))<2×10^(18) m^(-3) and,in fact,is an instability of the runaway electron beam.The exited modes cover the whole observed frequency range and are divided into several(two or three)frequency regions:approximately 0-30 MHz,60-120 MHz and sometimes 30-60 MHz.Reconnection of the branches was also observed.Single chirps are more rapid than for 1 MHz Alfven instability and follow an exponential law.This paper,to our knowledge,is the first report of frequency chirping instabilities excited by accelerated electrons at a spherical tokamak.

低频Alfvén波多波相干加热粒子模拟

采用粒子模拟方法,考察多支沿背景磁场方向传播的低频Alfvén波对磁化等离子体的加热过程,研究不同频率的多支低频Alfvén波相干加热.结果表明可以通过调整波的频率比实现对非共振加热过程和随机加热过程这两个阶段的强化.符合相干共振条件的多波加热会强化低频Alfvén波对粒子拾取,进而强化非共振加热,明显提高加热效率.在多波加热的过程中,如果多支波之间的频率差足够小,则多波在调制过程中会形成波包.波包的出现标志着粒子各向异性的强化,从而提升随机加热效率.