Electromagnetic Electron Cyclotron Research Articles

Nonlinear evolution of the electromagnetic electron-cyclotron instability in bi-Kappa distributed plasma

This paper presents a numerical study of the linear and nonlinear evolution of the electromagnetic electron-cyclotron (EMEC) instability in a bi-Kappa distributed plasma. Distributions with high energy tails described by the Kappa power-laws are often observed in collision-less plasmas (e.g., solar wind and accelerators), where wave-particle interactions control the plasma thermodynamics and keep the particle distributions out of Maxwellian equilibrium. Under certain conditions, the anisotropic bi-Kappa distribution gives rise to plasma instabilities creating low-frequency EMEC waves in the whistler branch. The instability saturates nonlinearly by reducing the temperature anisotropy until marginal stability is reached. Numerical simulations of the Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations show excellent agreement with the growth-rate and real frequency of the unstable modes predicted by linear theory. The wave-amplitude of the EMEC waves at nonlinear saturation is consistent with magnetic trapping of the electrons.

Oblique electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves for Kappa distribution with AC field in planetary magnetospheres

The dispersion relation for obliquely propagating relativistic electromagnetic electron cyclotron (EMEC) waves in collision-less magnetoplasma is obtained. Investigations for EMEC waves in magnetosphere of Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus have been done, in presence of perpendicular AC electric field for Kappa distribution function. The relativistic temporal growth rate is calculated using method of characteristic solution. Using the data provided by spacecrafts like Cassini, Voyager 1 and 2, while exploring the magnetosphere of Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, is used to plot graphs showing growth rate being effected by various parameters. Comprehensive parametric analysis have been done at different radial distances of the planets. It is concluded that beside huge difference in magnetospheric configuration, temperature anisotropy remains the main source of energy in case of Jupiter and Uranus. While studying EMEC waves in magnetosphere of Saturn, it is inferred that growth rate attains maximum magnitude when angle of propagation increases. Also, the results and its interpretations explain how the growth of EMEC wave modifies in different magnetospheric conditions.

Theoretical study of electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves in the presence of AC field in Uranian magnetosphere

Electromagnetic electron cyclotron (EMEC) waves with temperature anisotropy in the magnetosphere of Uranus have been studied in present work. EMEC waves are investigated using method of characteristic solution by kinetic approach, in presence of AC field. In 1986, Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus revealed that magnetosphere of Uranus exhibit non-Maxwellian high-energy tail distribution. So, the dispersion relation, real frequency and growth rate are evaluated using Lorentzian Kappa distribution function. Effect of temperature anisotropy, AC frequency and number density of particles is found. The study is also extended to oblique propagation of EMEC waves in presence and absence of AC field. Through comprehensive mathematical analysis it is found that when EMEC wave propagates parallel to intrinsic magnetic field of Uranus, its growth is more enhanced than in case of oblique propagation. Results are also discussed in context to magnetosphere of Earth and also gives theoretical explanation to existence of high energetic particles observed by Voyager 2 in the magnetosphere of Uranus. The results can present a further insight into the nature of electron-cyclotron instability condition for the whistler mode waves in the outer radiation belts of Uranus or other space plasmas.

COLD BEAM INJECTION IN RELATIVISTIC EMEC WAVE FOR KAPPA DISTRIBUTION FUNCTION WITH AC FIELD FOR MAGNETO-PLASMA

The effect of cold electron beam on electromagnetic electron cyclotron (EMEC) wave has been studied by using the unperturbed Lorentzian (Kappa) distribution in the magnetosphere for relativistic plasma. The dispersion relation is obtained by using the method of characteristic solutions and kinetic approach. An expression for the growth rate of a system has been calculated. It is inferred that in addition to the relativistic plasma obliquity and effect of cold electron beam modifies the growth rate and it also shifts the wave band significantly. The relativistic electrons by increasing the growth rate and widening the bandwidth may explain a wide frequency range of EMEC wave emissions in the magnetosphere.

Towards realistic parametrization of the kinetic anisotropy and the resulting instabilities in space plasmas. Electromagnetic electron–cyclotron instability in the solar wind

Measuredin situ, the particle velocity distributions in the solar wind plasma reveal two distinct components: a Maxwellian (thermal) core, and a less dense but hotter suprathermal halo with a power-law distribution described by Lorentzian/Kappa distribution function. Despite this evidence, the existing attempts to parametrize anisotropic distributions and the resulting wave instabilities are limited to idealized models, which either ignore the suprathermal populations, or minimize the core, assuming it is cold. Here, a more realistic approach is identified, combining an isotropic Maxwellian core and an anisotropic bi-Kappa halo. This model is relevant at large heliocentric distances and for the slow winds, when the field-aligned strahl is less pronounced and kinetic energy densities in the core and halo are comparable. A comparative study with the cold-core-based model is performed on the electron whistler–

The interplay of Kappa and core populations in the solar wind: Electromagnetic electron cyclotron instability

AbstractRecently, a realistic parameterization was proposed for the kinetic anisotropy and the resulting instabilities in the solar wind plasma. This parameterization is based on observations of the particle velocity distribution, which always comprises a Maxwellian population at low energies, viz. the core, and a suprathermal halo in the tail of the distribution which is best described by the Kappa (power law) models. The cyclotron instability, driven by an anisotropic electron halo, was found to be inhibited by the finite thermal spread in the core, and this effect is highly dependent on the halo‐core relative density. In this paper, the interplay between the Kappa and Maxwellian populations is further investigated for more complex (less idealized) situations when both the core and halo temperatures are anisotropic. Growth of this instability is markedly stimulated by the core anisotropy. The wave numbers that are stable for an isotropic core become unstable even for small anisotropies of this population. Just a modest increase of the core anisotropy from Ac=T⊥/T∥=1.2 to 2 causes the growth rates to enhance by 1 order of magnitude, and the range of unstable wave numbers to extend considerably. When the anisotropies in the core and halo are comparable, the growth rate exhibits two distinct peaks, the first driven by the halo at lower wave numbers and the second driven by the core. However, the first peak is inhibited by the suprathermal populations, while the second peak is sustained, suggesting a more intricate connection between the core and Kappa populations.

Study of Electromagnetic Electron-Cyclotron Waves with Kappa Distribution Function in the Magnetosphere

Study of Electromagnetic Electron-Cyclotron Waves with Kappa Distribution Function in the Magnetosphere

ELECTROMAGNETIC ELECTRON-CYCLOTRON WAVES WITH AC FIELD IN THE MAGNETOSPHERE

In this paper the effect of externally injected beam of cold electrons on electromagnetic electron-cyclotron (EMEC) waves in the magnetosphere has been discussed. The investigation is conducted using the methodology of characteristic solution and considering kappa distribution function in the presence of AC field. The objective of present study is to examine the variation in growth rate of EMEC waves when temperature anisotropy, magnitude of AC field and number density of energetic particles varies. It is inferred that EMEC waves grow more significantly when propagating oblique to magnetic field direction rather than parallel to magnetic field direction. Also that as the temperature anisotropy and number density of background plasma increases, growth rate of EMEC waves increases.

Modulational instability of electromagnetic waves in a collisional quantum magnetoplasma

The modulational instability of right-hand circularly polarized electromagnetic electron cyclotron (CPEM-EC) wave in a magnetized quantum plasma is studied taking into account the collisional effects. Employing quantum hydrodynamic and nonlinear Schrödinger equations, the dispersion relation of modulated CPEM-EC wave in a collisional plasma has been derived. It is found that this wave is unstable in such a plasma system and the growth rate of the associated instability depends on various parameters such as electron Fermi temperature, plasma number density, collision frequency, and modulation wavenumber. It is shown that while the increase of collision frequency leads to increase of the growth rate of instability, especially at large wavenumber limit, the increase of plasma number density results in more stable modulated CPEM-EC wave. It is also found that in contrast to collisionless plasma in which modulational instability is restricted to small wavenumbers, in collisional plasma, the interval of instability occurrence can be extended to a large domain.

Ray trajectories near the electron cyclotron resonance surface in an axisymmetric magnetic trap

Characteristic features of the propagation of electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves in the vicinity of the electron cyclotron resonance surface are investigated both analytically and numerically with allowance for variation in the magnetic field strength and a corresponding variation in the magnetic field direction. It is demonstrated that variation in the magnetic field direction can qualitatively change the wave propagation pattern and can markedly affect the efficiency of electron cyclotron resonance plasma heating in an axisymmetric magnetic trap.

Localized whistlers in magnetized spin quantum plasmas

The nonlinear propagation of electromagnetic (EM) electron-cyclotron waves (whistlers) along an external magnetic field, and their modulation by electrostatic small but finite amplitude ion-acoustic density perturbations are investigated in a uniform quantum plasma with intrinsic spin of electrons. The effects of the quantum force associated with the Bohm potential and the combined effects of the classical as well as the spin-induced ponderomotive forces (CPF and SPF, respectively) are taken into consideration. The latter modify the local plasma density in a self-consistent manner. The coupled modes of wave propagation is shown to be governed by a modified set of nonlinear Schrödinger-Boussinesq-like equations which admit exact solutions in form of stationary localized envelopes. Numerical simulation reveals the existence of large-scale density fluctuations that are self-consistently created by the localized whistlers in a strongly magnetized high density plasma. The conditions for the modulational instability (MI) and the value of its growth rate are obtained. Possible applications of our results, e.g., in strongly magnetized dense plasmas and in the next generation laser-solid density plasma interaction experiments are discussed.

Dark and grey electromagnetic electron-cyclotron envelope solitons in an electron-positron magnetoplasma

AbstractWe present an investigation of the amplitude modulation of an external magnetic field-aligned right-hand circularly polarized electromagnetic electron-cyclotron (EMEC) wave in a strongly magnetized electron-positron plasma. It is shown that the dynamics of the modulated EMEC wave packet is governed by a cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The latter reveals that a modulated wave packet can propagate in the form of either a dark or a grey envelope soliton. This result could have relevance to the transport of electromagnetic wave energy over long distances via envelope solitons in the magnetospheres of pulsars and magnetars.

Nonlinear model for bipolar electric field structures in the magnetosphere with non-Maxwellian electron distribution

Recently, we have derived a nonlinear model [H. Abbasi et al., Phys. Plasmas 15, 092902 (2008)] based on general features reported from the polar orbiting (POLAR) and fast auroral snapshot satellite observations of the magnetosphere in the low-frequency ion dynamics. The parametric coupling between large amplitude magnetic field-aligned circularly polarized electromagnetic electron-cyclotron (EMEC) waves and pondermotively driven ion-acoustic perturbations in the magnetosphere has been considered. Accordingly, a nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation for the modulated EMEC wave envelope was derived. In this paper, solitary structures of the NLS equation and their attributes are investigated focusing on the deviation of electron velocity distribution from the Maxwellian equilibrium and the effect of trapped electrons as well. The results are in good agreement with POLAR observations of solitary waves at the Earth’s magnetopause.

Modulational instability of electromagnetic electron-cyclotron wave packets in the magnetosphere with non-Maxwellian electron distribution

The satellite observations of the magnetosphere in the low-frequency ion dynamics revealed several facts: (1) localized structures for electric field signal parallel to the magnetic field; (2) anisotropy for the electron velocity distribution such that T⊥⪡T∥; and (3) non-Maxwellian distribution function for the electrons. Based on these evidences, a nonlinear model is presented to develop the electromagnetic electron-cyclotron (EMEC) theory to the non-Maxwellian plasmas. Then, the modulational instability analysis of EMEC waves is investigated.

Modulational instabilities of electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves in a dense magnetized plasma

Modulational instabilities of electromagnetic electron-cyclotron waves in a dense magnetized plasma are investigated. Dispersion relations for the modulational instabilities are derived and analyzed. The effects of quantum statistical pressure and quantum electron tunneling are discussed.

Dynamics of nonlinearly coupled magnetic-field-aligned electromagnetic electron-cyclotron waves near the zero-group-dispersion point in magnetized plasmas

The nonlinear coupling between two magnetic-field-aligned electromagnetic electron-cyclotron (EMEC) waves in plasmas is considered. Evaluating the ponderomotive coupling between the EMEC waves and quasistationary plasma density perturbations, a pair of coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations (CNLSEs) is obtained. The CNLSEs are then used to investigate the occurrence of modulational instability in magnetized plasmas. Waves in the vicinity of the zero-group-dispersion point are considered, so that the group dispersion terms may either bear the same or different signs. It is found that a stable EMEC wave can be destabilized due to its nonlinear interactions with an unstable one, while a pair of unstable EMEC waves yields an increased instability growth rate. Individually stable waves remain stable while interacting with one another. Stationary nonlinear solutions of the coupled equations are presented. The relevance of our investigation to nonlinear phenomena in space plasmas is discussed.

Modulation of electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves in the presence of nonisothermal electrons in plasmas

Nonlinear interactions between electromagnetic electron cyclotron (EMEC) waves and ion-acoustic perturbations involving nonisothermal electrons and cold inertial ions are considered. Following standard methods, a reduced wave equation for the slowly varying EMEC wave envelope is derived, including nonlinear effects associated with relativistic electron mass variation and electron density changes caused by the EMEC ponderomotive force and trapped electrons in the ion-acoustic perturbations which modulate the EMEC waves. The governing equations are employed to investigate the influence of trapped electrons on the modulational instability and envelope EMEC solitons. It is found that the static magnetic field intensifies the reduction of the growth rate, and makes the conditions for constructing envelope soliton solutions harder.

Plasma emission mechanism for radio spikes from solar flares

Narrowband spiky radio bursts, at decimetric and decametric wavelengths, with high degree of circular polarization are observed in solar flares. We discuss a new plasma emission mechanism for solar radio spikes. It is shown that narrowband radio bursts of right- and left-hand circular polarizations can be produced via nonlinear conversion of Langmuir waves into high-frequency electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves near the plasma frequency by coupling to low-frequency electromagnetic cyclotron waves such as Alfvén-ion cyclotron or magnetosonic-whistler waves.

OBLIQUE EMISSION OF WHISTLER-MODE WAVES AROUND INTERPLANETARY SHOCKS

We present a study of whistler-mode wave generation and wave particle interaction in the vicinity of interplanetary shocks as observed by the Ulysses spacecraft. Generally the whistler-mode waves (measured in the frequency range 0.22–448 Hz) are observed downstream of the shocks where they persist for some hours. From the electron distribution functions (EDF) in the energy range 1.6 to 862 eV measured by the spacecraft, we compute the wave growth rate of the electromagnetic electron cyclotron and Landau instabilities for the case of oblique propagation of the waves with respect to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B. In general, in agreement with the wave measurements, the instability grows mostly downstream of the shock fronts. Following the wave activity, velocity space diffusion of the electrons results in a marginally stable state with some sporadic fluctuations.

COHERENT GENERATION OF NARROW-BAND CIRCULARLY POLARIZED RADIO BURSTS FROM THE SUN AND FLARE STARS

It is shown that narrow-band radio bursts of right- and left-hand circular polarizations from the Sun and flare stars can be produced via nonlinear conversion of Langmuir waves into high-frequency electromagnetic electron cyclotron waves near the plasma frequency by coupling to low-frequency electromagnetic cyclotron waves such as Alfven-ion cyclotron or magnetosonic-whistler waves.