Cyclotron Resonance Conditions Research Articles

Understanding the growth rate patterns of ion Bernstein instabilities driven by ring‐like proton velocity distributions

AbstractFast magnetosonic waves in Earth's inner magnetosphere, which have as their source ion Bernstein instabilities, are driven by hot proton velocity distributions (fp) with ∂fp(v⊥)/∂v⊥>0. Two typical types of distributions with such features are ring and shell velocity distributions. Both have been used in studies of ion Bernstein instabilities and fast magnetosonic waves, but the differences between instabilities driven by the two types of distributions have not been thoroughly addressed. The present study uses linear kinetic theory to examine and understand these differences. It is found that the growth rate pattern is primarily determined by the cyclotron resonance condition and the structure of the velocity distribution in gyroaveraged velocity space. For ring‐driven Bernstein instabilities, as the parallel wave number (k∥) increases, the discrete unstable modes approximately follow the corresponding proton cyclotron harmonic frequencies while they become broader in frequency space. At sufficiently large k∥, the neighboring discrete modes merge into a continuum. In contrast, for shell‐driven Bernstein instabilities, the curved geometry of the shell velocity distribution in gyroaveraged velocity space results in a complex alternating pattern of growth and damping rates in frequency and wave number space and confines the unstable Bernstein modes to relatively small k∥. In addition, when k∥ increases, the unstable modes are no longer limited to the proton cyclotron harmonic frequencies. The local growth rate peak near an exact harmonic at small k∥ bifurcates into two local peaks on both sides of the harmonic when k∥ becomes large.

Ratchet transport of a two-dimensional electron gas at cyclotron resonance

The driving of charge carriers confined in a quantum well lacking the center of space inversion by an alternating electric field leads to the formation of a direct electric current. We develop a microscopic theory of such a quantum ratchet effect for quantum wells subjected to a static magnetic field. We show that the ratchet current emerges for a linearly polarized alternating electric field as well as a rotating electric field and drastically increases at the cyclotron resonance conditions. For the magnetic field tilted with respect to the quantum well normal, the ratchet current contains an additional resonance at the first subharmonic of the cyclotron resonance.

Experimental investigation of plasma flows in open trap with toroidal diverter under ECR discharge

The results of experimental investigations of plasma flows from an open trap with a toroidal diverter are presented. Cold plasma is generated when introducing microwave power under conditions of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR). The radiation is introduced by a waveguide through a vacuum-tight ceramic window across the axis of the device. By means of the Langmuir probes, the spatial distributions of plasma parameters are measured. The highest density is limited to a critical value nc (~1012 cm–3) for the generator frequency under use. It is found that the temperature and density of the plasma in the trap and in escaping flows are almost independent of the radius when the ECR zone is located near the open-trap confinement region and the density is close to nc. At the density n < nc, ring plasma structures, which collapse under the action of a low-frequency instability, are observed near the separatrix. The possible mechanisms of the occurrence of plasma structures and the nature of the plasma streams are discussed.

Simulation of plasma confinement in an electron cyclotron resonance zero-B trap

Currently the study of the nonlinear plasma evolution in magnetostatic fields of complex asymmetrical configurations is possible only through computer simulations. The confinement efficiency of plasma by a magnetic zero-B trap which is comprised of longitudinal mirror and transversal hexapole cusp fields is determined through a particle-in-cell method in the electrostatic approximation. In the simulation model the plasma heating by 14 GHz microwave power is realized at electron cyclotron resonance conditions. The space localizations of electron and ion components are visualized. It is found that the plasma electron population can be subdivides into cold, hot and superhot groups. The obtained data for the ion density distribution along radial and longitudinal trap directions are compared with the same distributions calculated for the case of minimum-B trap. It is found that the zero-B trap has some advantage over the minimum-B trap in reference to the Lawson criterion.

Effect of ion compensation of the beam space charge on gyrotron operation

In gyrotrons, the coherent radiation of electromagnetic waves takes place when the cyclotron resonance condition between the wave frequency and the electron cyclotron frequency or its harmonic holds. The voltage depression caused by the beam space charge field changes the relativistic cyclotron frequency and, hence, can play an important role in the beam-wave interaction process. In long pulse and continuous-wave regimes, the beam space charge field can be partially compensated by the ions, which appear due to the beam impact ionization of neutral molecules of residual gases in the interaction space. In the present paper, the role of this ion compensation of the beam space charge on the interaction efficiency is analyzed. We also analyze the effect of the electron velocity spread on the limiting currents and discuss some effects restricting the ion-to-beam electron density ratio in the saturation stage. It is shown that the effect of the ion compensation on the voltage depression caused by the beam space charge field can cause significant changes in the efficiency of gyrotron operation and, in some cases, even result in the break of oscillations.

Unconventional dynamics of electrons in topological insulators in a magnetic field: Berry phase effects

The semiclassical dynamics of charge carriers moving over the surface of a Bi2Te3-type 3D topological insulator in a static magnetic field is studied. The effects related to the changes in the symmetry of constant energy surfaces (contours), as well as to the nonzero Berry curvature, are taken into account. It is shown that effects related both to the anomalous velocity proportional to the Berry curvature and to the distortions of the trajectories stemming from the additional contribution to the energy proportional the orbital magnetic moment of a wave packet appear in contrast to the conventional dynamics of electrons moving in a uniform static magnetic field along trajectories determined by the conditions E(k) = const and p z = const. This should lead to changes in the cyclotron resonance conditions for surface electrons. Although the magnetic field breaks the time-reversal symmetry and the topological order, the studies of the cyclotron resonance allow finding out whether a given insulator is a trivial one or not in zero magnetic field.

Laboratory study of kinetic instabilities in a nonequilibrium mirror-confined plasma

Kinetic instabilities of nonequilibrium plasma heated by powerful radiation of gyrotron in electron cyclotron resonance conditions and confined in a mirror magnetic trap are reported. Instabilities are manifested as the generation of short pulses of electromagnetic radiation accompanied by precipitation of hot electrons from magnetic trap. Measuring electromagnetic field with high temporal resolution allowed to observe various dynamic spectra of electromagnetic radiation related to at least five types of kinetic instabilities. This paper may be of interest in the context of a laboratory modeling of nonstationary wave-particle interaction processes in nonequilibrium space plasma since the observed phenomena have much in common with similar processes occurring in the magnetosphere of the Earth, planets, and in solar coronal loops.

Effects of weak magnetic fields on different phases of planarian regeneration

We analyzed the effects of weak combined magnetic fields, tuned to the cyclotron resonance condition for calcium ions, obtained in different phases of planarian regeneration. We showed that the result of regeneration in 72 hours after decapitation depends on the length of exposure, and the time between decapitation and initiation of a half-hour exposure. The experimental dependence can be explained by a multiplicity of enzymatic targets activated in different phases of the regeneration process.

High-frequency conductivity of multilayer graphene and graphite under the conditions of quantum cyclotron resonance

The conductivity tensor of a layered conductor with the Dirac-type energy spectrum of charge carriers placed in a quantizing magnetic field under the condition of normal skin-effect is investigated using the method of quantum kinetic equation. It is shown that under the cyclotron resonance conditions there appear high-temperature quantum oscillations of conductivity, which are weakly sensitive to thermal broadening of the Fermi level. We present the expressions for the classical and high-temperature contributions to the conductivity tensor which determine the conductivity in the range of not too low temperatures where the Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations are vanishing.

Temperature dependence of the cyclotron resonance in graphene

The dynamic conductivity of graphene in a magnetic field under the conditions of cyclotron resonance has been calculated. The effect of the temperature on cyclotron resonance has been analyzed. So-called multiple resonances have been considered. A dimensionless quantity determining the width and amplitude of the cyclotron peak in the conductivity has been found. Coulomb corrections to the electronic spectrum have been discussed.

Spatial characterization of H 2 :CH 4 dissociation level in microwave ECR plasma source by fibre-optic OES

Spatially resolved optical emission spectroscopy (SR-OES) was used to investigate microwave activated H2/Ar/CH4 plasma under conditions of the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR). The chemistry and composition of the gas phase were studied using self-designed fibre-optic system with echelle type spectrometer during CVD deposition of polycrystalline diamond. One-dimensional intensity profiles of the main species were collected along the vertical axis of chamber. The dominant species in the flux, originating from excited hydrogen and hydrocarbons, were identified as H, H+, CH and CH+; they are crucial for the diamond deposition process. The effect of ECR on the spatial distribution of H2 and CH4 dissociation profiles was studied in depth. The influence of processing parameters (gas flow rates, input power, pressure and magnetic field level) on species excitation as a function of the distance above substrate was asessed. The obtained data can be used for the ECR system optimization.

Optical and Electrical Properties of Fluorine-Doped Tin Oxide Prepared by Chemical Vapor Deposition at Low Temperature

The electrical and optical properties of fluorine-doped tin oxide films grown on polyethylene terephthalate film with a hardness of 3 using electron cyclotron resonance plasma with linear microwave of 2.45 GHz of high ionization energy were investigated. Fluorine-doped tin oxide films with a magnetic field of 875 Gauss and the highest resistance uniformity were obtained. In particular, the magnetic field could be controlled by varying the distribution in electron cyclotron deposition positions. The films were deposited at various gas flow rates of hydrogen and carrier gas of an organometallic source. The surface morphology, electrical resistivity, transmittance, and color in the visible range of the deposited film were examined using SEM, a four-point probe instrument, and a spectrophotometer. The electromagnetic field for electron cyclotron resonance condition was uniformly formed in at a position 16 cm from the center along the Z-axis. The plasma spatial distribution of magnetic current on the roll substrate surface in the film was considerably affected by the electron cyclotron systems. The relative resistance uniformity of electrical properties was obtained in film prepared with a magnetic field in the current range of 180~200A. SEM images showing the surface morphologies of a film deposited on PET with a width of 50 cm revealed that the grains were uniformly distributed with sizes in the range of 2~7 nm. In our experimental range, the electrical resistivity of film was able to observe from <TEX>$1.0{\times}10^{-2}$</TEX> to <TEX>$1.0{\times}10^{-1}{\Omega}cm$</TEX> where optical transmittance at 550 nm was 87~89 %. These properties were depended on the flow rate of the gas, hydrogen and carrier gas of the organometallic source, respectively.

Quantum Chemical Studies on Dioxygen Activation and Methane Hydroxylation by Diiron and Dicopper Species as well as Related Metal–Oxo Species

Abstract Quantum chemical studies by the author and co-workers on dioxygen activation and methane hydroxylation by diiron and dicopper enzyme species as well as related metal–oxo species are reviewed. The activation of the O–O bond of dioxygen at the mono- and dimetal sites of metalloenzymes is an essential process in the initial catalytic stages of naturally occurring oxygenation reactions. A way of orbital thinking about dioxygen activation at diiron and dicopper enzymes is developed at the extended Hückel level of theory. Two different reaction pathways that lead from dimetal peroxo complexes with µ-η1:η1-O2 and µ-η2:η2-O2 modes to the corresponding dioxo complexes are discussed in detail. In considering the mechanism of methane hydroxylation, special attention to FeO+-mediated methane hydroxylation that occurs under ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) conditions is given. Mechanistic aspects about methane hydroxylation by the bare transition-metal oxide ions ScO+, TiO+, VO+, CrO+, MnO+, FeO+, CoO+, NiO+, and CuO+ are systematically analyzed on the basis of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. An important feature in the reaction is the spin crossover between the high-spin and low-spin potential energy surfaces in particular in the C–H activation process. The spin inversion from the high-spin state to the low-spin state effectively decreases the barrier height of C–H activation. Another feature in the reaction is that no radical species is involved in the course of the hydroxylation because the methyl species formed as a result of the C–H bond cleavage can directly coordinate to the metal active site. The coupling of the OH and CH3 ligands occurs to produce methanol at the metal active center. The reaction profiles obtained from DFT calculations are similar to those of the Gif chemistry proposed by D. H. R. Barton, in particular the involvement of the HO–M–CH3 species as an intermediate in the hydroxylation of methane. The nonradical mechanism is extended to methane hydroxylation by the diiron and dicopper species of methane monooxygenase (MMO). This mechanism is possible when the metal active center is coordinatively unsaturated to have a space for the coordination of the OH and CH3 groups as ligands. Although compelling discussion to support the involvement of oxygen- and carbon-centered radicals is provided, the nonradical mechanism still seems to be applicable for methane hydroxylation from the viewpoint of reaction selectivity. Kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in the C–H activation process by the bare FeO+ complex and diiron and dicopper enzyme models are compared with respect to the radical and nonradical mechanisms by using transition state theory.

On small‐signal amplification of a TM circular cylindrical wave‐guide mode in a gyro‐TWT

A self-consistent kinetic-theory based method of analysing the small-signal amplification of a transverse magnetic (TM) mode of a circular cylindrical waveguide linearly interacting with an annular beam of gyrating electrons in a gyro-travelling wave tube (TWT) configuration is presented. When the cyclotron-resonance condition is enforced over the entire frequency range by allowing the gyro-radius and the relativistic factor to be frequency-dependent for a constant value of the axial electron speed chosen to coincide with the reciprocal of the TM-mode phase speed at a particular frequency, the initial growth rate of the interacting TM wave is seen to exhibits a shallow minimum close to, but shifted to the right of, that frequency. The growth-rate curve, however, exhibits two maxima on either side of the minimum, a sharp but large maximum to the left and a broad but a smaller maximum to the right. A gyro-TWT designed by choosing the amplifier parameters (none of them varying any longer with frequency) in such a way as to place the broad maximum of the growth-rate curve at the design frequency is shown to be capable of operation over a wide band of frequencies around the design frequency coupled with a decent value of small-signal gain and negligible frequency distortion.

Backscattering of gyrotron radiation and short-wavelength turbulence during electron cyclotron resonance plasma heating in the L-2M stellarator

Backscattering of gyrotron radiation (θ = π) by short-wavelength density fluctuations (k ⊥ = 30 cm−1) in the plasma of the L-2M stellarator was studied under conditions of electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma heating at the second harmonic of the electron gyrofrequency (75 GHz). The scattering of the O-wave emerging due to the splitting of the linearly polarized gyrotron radiation into the X- and O-waves was analyzed. The signal obtained after homodyne detection of scattered radiation is a result of interference of the reference signal, the quasi-steady component, and the fast oscillating component. The coefficients of reflection of the quasi-steady component, R = 2 (Y), and fast oscillating component, R ∼ 2 (Y), of scattered radiation are estimated. The growth of the R ∼ 2 (Y) coefficient from 3.7 × 10−4 to 5.2 × 10−4 with increasing ECR heating power from 190 to 430 kW is found to correlate with the decrease in the energy lifetime from 1.9 to 1.46 ms. The relative density of short-wavelength fluctuations is estimated to be 〈n ∼ 2 〉/〈n 2 〉 = 3 × 10−7. It is shown that the frequencies of short-wavelength fluctuations are in the range 10–150 kHz. The recorded short-wavelength fluctuations can be interpreted as structural turbulence, the energy of which comprises ∼10% of the total fluctuations energy. Simulations of transport processes show that neoclassical heat fluxes are much smaller than anomalous ones. It is suggested that short-wavelength turbulence plays a decisive role in the anomalous heat transport.

Peculiarities of THz-electromagnetic wave transmission through the GaN films under conditions of cyclotron and optical phonon transit-time resonances

The theory of THz radiation transmission through the film of compensated GaN of cubic modification under action of electric and magnetic fields has been developed. In the THz frequency range, spectra of the dynamic mobility tensor have been obtained for applied steady-state electric fields of several kV/cm and magnetic fields of several T. The spectra of transmission, reflection and loss coefficients have been analyzed for the Voigt configuration used for the applied fields. It has been shown that the transmitted wave becomes elliptically polarized, and the spectra of polarization characteristics such as ellipticity and rotation angle of the large axis of polarization ellipse were investigated under conditions of cyclotron resonance and optical phonon transit-time one. It has been found that, in certain frequency bands, polarization characteristics have the features valid for both resonances. The new optical method based on the analysis of ellipticity and rotation angle spectra is offered for determination of the low-field mobility.

Growing InN films by plasma-assisted metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy on Al2O3 and YSZ substrates in plasma generated by gyrotron radiation under electron cyclotron resonance conditions

Hexagonal indium nitride (InN) films on (111)- and (100)-oriented yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) substrates and (0001)-oriented Al2O3 substrates have been grown for the first time at a rate of 1 μm/h by the method of metalorganic vapor-phase epitaxy with plasma-assisted nitrogen activation in an electron cyclotron resonance discharge generated by gyrotron radiation at low-temperature (350°C) growth. InN films grown without buffer layers possess a textured polycrystalline structure. Using an InN/GaN double buffer layer, single-crystalline InN films have been obtained on Al2O3(0001) substrates. Data on the morphology, structure, and photoluminescent properties of the obtained InN films are presented.

Resonant wave-particle interactions modified by intrinsic Alfvénic turbulence

The concept of wave-particle interactions via resonance is well discussed in plasma physics. This paper shows that intrinsic Alfvén waves can qualitatively modify the physics discussed in conventional linear plasma kinetic theories. It turns out that preexisting Alfvén waves can affect particle motion along the ambient magnetic field and, moreover, the ensuing force field is periodic in time. As a result, the meaning of the usual Landau and cyclotron resonance conditions becomes questionable. It turns out that this effect leads us to find a new electromagnetic instability. In such a process intrinsic Alfvén waves not only modify the unperturbed distribution function but also result in a different type of cyclotron resonance which is affected by the level of turbulence. This instability might enable us to better our understanding of the observed radio emission processes in the solar atmosphere.

Lunar precursor effects in the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosphere

The two ARTEMIS probes observe significant precursor activity upstream from the Moon, when magnetically connected to the dayside lunar surface. The most common signature consists of high levels of whistler wave activity near half of the electron cyclotron frequency. This precursor activity extends to distances of many thousands of km, in both the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosphere. In the magnetosphere, electrons reflect from a combination of magnetic and electrostatic fields above the lunar surface, forming loss cone distributions. In the solar wind they generally form conics, as a result of reflection from an obstacle moving with respect to the plasma frame (just as at a shock). The anisotropy associated with these reflected electrons provides the free energy source for the whistlers, with cyclotron resonance conditions met between the reflected source population and Moonward‐propagating waves. These waves can in turn affect incoming plasma, and we observe significant perpendicular electron heating and plasma density depletions in some cases. In the magnetosphere, we also observe broadband electrostatic modes driven by beams of secondary electrons and/or photoelectrons accelerated outward from the surface. We also occasionally see waves near the ion cyclotron frequency in the magnetosphere. These lower frequency waves, which may result from the presence of ions of lunar origin, modulate the whistlers described above, as well as the electrons. Taken together, our observations suggest that the presence of the Moon leads to the formation of an upstream region analogous in many ways to the terrestrial electron foreshock.

Mechanism of terahertz photoconductivity in semimetallic HgTe/CdHgTe quantum wells

Terahertz photoconductivity in magnetic fields in semimetallic HgTe/CdHgTe quantum wells has been studied. The main contribution to photoconductivity comes from a signal that appears as a result of electron-gas heating. It is shown that, with the cyclotron resonance conditions satisfied, the photoconductivity signal is composed of cyclotron-resonance and bolometric components. However, in this case too, the bolometric contribution predominates.