Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron Research Articles

Multifluid Theory of Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron Waves in Partially Ionized Plasmas

Partially ionized plasmas universally exist in various astrophysical environments, such as the solar atmosphere and the E region of the ionosphere. In these contexts, the existence and propagation of waves in plasmas could be significantly influenced by effects of weakly ionized plasma (e.g., ion–neutral collisions). In this work, we investigate electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves in partially ionized plasmas based on the multifluid model with adiabatic electrons. Two distinct branches of EIC waves coexist in partially ionized plasmas: one branch is the conventional EIC waves; the other branch propagates around the “effective ion cyclotron frequency” which originates from self-consistent ion–neutral collisions. Furthermore, theoretical predictions in the new branch of EIC waves are qualitatively consistent with laboratory observations. In addition, a comparison between our theory and the previous work is also performed. This work can aid in understanding the acceleration and transverse heating of ions in partially ionized astrophysical plasmas where the ion–neutral collisions are frequent.

Detection of a low-frequency ion instability in a magnetic nozzle

Abstract A low-frequency ion instability, with frequency f I between the ion gyrofrequency and the lower hybrid frequency f c , i < f I ≪ f LH , is detected in an argon plasma expanding in a magnetic nozzle for magnetic fields between 240 < B z , max < 700 G. The frequency of the instability exhibits a linear dependence with magnetic field strength, and the wave amplitude has a radial maximum that would match the location of a conical density structure, i.e. high-density cones. For all of the magnetic field cases analysed, the high-frequency spectra showed upper and lower sidebands centred around the driving frequency and at a separation equal to the instability frequency, 27.12 MHz ± f I kHz. Measurements of the perpendicular wavenumber would satisfy, for certain magnetic field strengths, the dispersion relation of both an electrostatic ion cyclotron wave (ICW) and of an ion acoustic wave. It is hypothesised that the observed low-frequency wave could be an acoustic-like instability propagating perpendicular to the magnetic field, which develops as an ICW at some magnetic field strengths. From the data collected, it is suggested that the high-frequency sidebands may be caused by modulation of the low-frequency wave.

The collisional study of EIC waves in a magnetized dusty plasma with the inclusion of a DC electric field

This study investigates Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron (EIC) waves and their behaviour in weakly collisional plasmas, utilizing a proposed kinetic analytical model. The findings include alterations in EIC wave dispersion characteristics due to collisions, with parameters such as dust density, collision frequency, gyro-radius, magnetic field, density ratio, and electric field influencing wave growth rate and frequency. Temperature analysis reveals that higher electron-to-ion temperature ratios lead to increased frequency and critical drift velocity, while decreasing the growth rate. In addition, the critical drift velocity is studied for the unstable mode and it is observed that the relative density ratio increases with a reduction in critical drift velocity. Electron collisions destabilize EIC waves, while ion collisions stabilize them. Furthermore, the presence of dust particles decreases the growth rate of EIC waves as dust grain density increases. These results align with observations reported in previous literature.

Existence of Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron Waves in a Laboratory Created E Region Ionospheric‐Like Plasma

AbstractMolecular ions are relatively cold in the E region ionosphere; however, they can upwell to the magnetosphere during geomagnetically active times. Resonance between electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves is a potential pathway to energize molecular ions. In this work, the E region ionospheric plasma was modeled in the laboratory, and EIC waves were excited by a nonuniform field‐aligned current. The EIC wave was excited even when the ion neutral collision frequency is much higher than the ion cyclotron frequency, and the fundamental frequency was observed to be below the ion cyclotron frequency. In addition, the wave dispersion of the collisional EIC wave was calculated, which shows a consistent trend with experimental results as the collisions increasing. Therefore, this work suggests that EIC waves can be excited in the E region ionospheric‐like plasma, which can support the explanation of the energization of molecular ions in the E region ionosphere.

Nonmodal kinetic theory of the stability of the compressed–sheared plasma flows generated by the inhomogeneous microscale turbulence in the tokamak edge plasma

The nonmodal kinetic theory of the stability of the two-dimensional compressed–sheared mesoscale plasma flows, generated by the radially inhomogeneous electrostatic ion cyclotron parametric microturbulence in the pedestal plasma with a sheared poloidal flow, is developed. It bases on the investigation of the temporal evolution of the compressed–sheared modes. The integral equation, which governs the temporal evolution of the electrostatic potential of the plasma species responses on the mesoscale compressed–sheared convective flows, is derived. The exceptional advantage of the derived integral equation, which uses the wavevector-time variables, is the ability to perform the analysis of the nonmodal evolution of electrostatic potential during any finite time domain and to investigate the transient processes which occurs at any definite time scales. The approximate nonmodal solution of this equation for the kinetic drift instability in the compressed flow is given.

Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron Waves Observed by CSES in the Equatorial Plasma Bubble

AbstractBroadband ELF electrostatic emissions have been observed by the China Seismo‐Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) inside the equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). Analyses reveal that the electric field fluctuates nearly perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field, with the transverse component gyrotropically distributed around the magnetic field line. The observed emissions, Doppler shifted and broadened, are found to be close to the local oxygen ion (O+) cyclotron frequency in the plasma reference frame. Accompanying ion heating and deceleration are consistent with the consequences of the ion cyclotron resonance. All these results indicate that the electrostatic emissions pervading a major part of the EPB are the O+ electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves. The inhomogeneous‐energy‐density‐driven instability triggered by the non‐uniform electric field and density gradient across the EPBs could be the source of the EIC waves. The CSES observation provides new evidence for the shear driven EIC wave in the equatorial ionosphere.

СРАВНЕНИЕ СПЕКТРАЛЬНЫХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК УЗКОПОЛОСНОГО ИСКУССТВЕННОГО РАДИОИЗЛУЧЕНИЯ ИОНОСФЕРЫ ПРИ Х-НАГРЕВЕ ВЫСОКОШИРОТНОЙ F-ОБЛАСТИ ИОНОСФЕРЫ НА ЧАСТОТАХ НИЖЕ И ВЫШЕ КРИТИЧЕСКОЙ ЧАСТОТЫ Х-КОМПОНЕНТА СЛОЯ F2

The paper presents the results of investigating generation conditions and features of the narrowband stimulated electromagnetic emission (NSEE) induced by an extraordinary (X-mode) HF pumping into the high-latitude ionosphere F region. It was shown that NSEE spectral features were recorded at a distance of more than 1100 km from the heating facility. Distinctive features of NSEE discrete spectral lines at the pump frequencies fH below and above the F2 layer X-component critical frequency (fH < fXF2 and fH і fXF2) were analyzed. It was found that the NSEE spectrum contains the strongly pronounced discrete lines ordered by the electrostatic ion cyclotron frequency for the atomic oxygen ions (O+). When fH < fXF2, the multiple downshifted and upshifted spectral components (Stokes and anti-Stokes modes, respectively) were excited in the NSEE spectra. When fH і fXF2, the Stokes modes were only generated. The plausible mechanisms for the NSEE excitation by an X-mode HF pump waves are discussed.

Nonlinear electrostatic ion cyclotron wave collapse and formation of wave packets in the presence of trapped electrons.

The weakly nonlinear and dispersive electrostatic ion cyclotron wave dynamics in the presence of Schamel distributed trapped electrons is studied in collisionless plasmas. The dynamics of the nonlinear wave is shown to be governed by a Schamel-Ostrovsky type equation. Analytical and numerical solutions of this equationreveal the collapse of a solitary (localized) pulse at a critical time that depends on the trapping parameter and the strength of the magnetic field. The time-dependent computational result is noteworthy, which predictstheformation of wave packets (wave group) beyond the critical time. The results are in good agreement with the astrophysical observations in auroral plasmas.

In the existence of a transverse dc electric field, the kinetic theory of current‐driven electrostatic ion cyclotron waves excitation in a magnetized dusty plasma

AbstractThe theoretical modelling for the electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves in the existence of a transverse direct current (dc) electric field in a collisionless magnetized dusty plasma has been investigated using the kinetic theory model. It is examined that after incorporation of dc electric field with the dust grains can alter the dispersion properties of EIC waves in a magnetized dusty plasma. Our model developed accounts for the critical drift velocity, electron‐to‐ion temperature ratio, magnetic field, the number density of dust grains, relative density of negatively charged dust grains, and finite gyroradius parameter. Our investigation found that normalized growth rate and frequency increase with the relative density ratio and electric field. Moreover, the critical drift velocity for the excitation of the mode with negatively charged dust grains and electron‐to‐ion temperature ratio has been studied, and it was found that critical drift velocity decreases with the increase in negatively charged dust grains. The impact of dust grains on the low‐frequency waves has also been studied, and it was found that an increase in dust grain number density results in the reduction of growth rate. Some of our theoretical findings are consistent with the experimental observations.

Anomalous convective transport of the tokamak edge plasma, caused by the inhomogeneous ion cyclotron parametric turbulence

In this paper, we develop the kinetic and hydrodynamic theories of the convective mesoscale flows driven by the spatially inhomogeneous electrostatic ion cyclotron parametric microturbulence in the pedestal plasma with a sheared poloidal flow. The developed kinetic theory predicts the generation of the sheared poloidal convective flow and of the radial compressed flow with radial flow velocity gradient. The developed hydrodynamic theory of the convective flows reveals the radial compressed convective flow as the dominant factor in the formation of the steep pedestal density profile with density gradient exponentially growing with time. This gradient density growth is limited by the formation of the radial oscillating with time ion outflow of pedestal plasma to the scrape-off layer.

Nonlinear dynamical modelling of high frequency electrostatic drift waves using fluid theoretical approach in magnetized plasma

A novel third order nonlinear evolution equation governing the dynamics of the recently observed high frequency electrostatic drift waves has been derived in the framework of a plasma fluid model in an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma. The corresponding linear dispersion relation arising out of the fluid equations has been studied in detail for the conventional low frequency as well as the recently observed high frequency electrostatic drift waves along with the electrostatic ion cyclotron waves. The derived nonlinear evolution equation of third order is then decomposed into two second order equations as the order of the equation becomes reduced after this kind of decomposition under certain conditions, and one equation becomes linear whereas the other equation becomes nonlinear. The detailed analysis of fixed points leading to bifurcations has been performed using the qualitative theory of differential equations and the bifurcation theory of planar dynamical systems for the reduced second order nonlinear equation. The bifurcation curves for the individual fixed points are also shown for the variations of different parameters in the parameter space of this reduced nonlinear equation. Then some exact as well as approximate travelling wave solutions of this reduced nonlinear equation have been derived. As the other second order reduced equation is linear in nature, its exact oscillatory and exponential solutions are obtained. The intersection of the solutions of these two reduced second order equations provides the solutions of the original third order nonlinear evolution equation; it is verified that the solutions of the reduced nonlinear second order equation are subsets of the oscillatory solution of the reduced linear second order equation in most cases whereas the intersection is different if the exponential solution of the reduced linear second order equation is considered. This further implies that the solutions of the reduced second order nonlinear equation can directly represent the solutions of the original third order nonlinear evolution equation in most cases representing the dynamics of the nonlinear high frequency electrostatic drift waves. These solutions of the novel third order nonlinear evolution equation represent certain vortex-like structures as our work is restricted to (1 + 1) dimensions only. The possible applications of our novel results on the dynamics of the high frequency electrostatic drift waves are discussed along with future directions for research in this field.

Study of Electrostatic Ion-Cyclotron Waves in Magnetosphere of Uranus

In this manuscript, the method of characteristics particle trajectories details used and the dispersion relation for the ionosphere of Uranus were being used to investigate electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves with parallel flow velocity shear in the presence of perpendicular inhomogeneous DC electric field and density gradient. The growth rate has been calculated using the dispersion relation. Electric fields parallel to the magnetic field transmit energy, mass, and momentum in the auroral regions of the planetary magnetosphere by accelerating charged particles to extremely high energies. The rate of heating of plasma species along and perpendicular to the magnetic field is also said to be influenced by the occurrence of ion cyclotron waves and a parallel electric field in the acceleration area.

Plasma–neutral coupling allows electrostatic ion cyclotron waves to propagate below ion cyclotron frequency

The effect of ion–neutral collisions on the propagation characteristics of electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves in a partially ionized plasma is investigated. The dispersion relation of EIC waves is derived using a fluid model taking neutral dynamics into account. The propagation properties of EIC modes, including the damping factor, are examined for various ionization degrees and collision frequencies, which determine the momentum transferred from ions to neutral particles. It is found that the motion of neutral particles driven by plasma–neutral coupling leads to an increase in the effective ion mass, and consequently, EIC waves can propagate even below the ion cyclotron frequency. In a hot neutral gas, the gas-thermal mode can also propagate as well as the EIC mode. The possibility of observing in the laboratory and the Earth's ionosphere is discussed.

Fine-scale dynamics of fragmented aurora-like emissions

Abstract. Fragmented aurora-like emissions (FAEs) are small (few kilometres) optical structures which have been observed close to the poleward boundary of the aurora from the high-latitude location of Svalbard (magnetic latitude 75.3 ∘N). The FAEs are only visible in certain emissions, and their shape has no magnetic-field-aligned component, suggesting that they are not caused by energetic particle precipitation and are, therefore, not aurora in the normal sense of the word. The FAEs sometimes form wave-like structures parallel to an auroral arc, with regular spacing between each FAE. They drift at a constant speed and exhibit internal dynamics moving at a faster speed than the envelope structure. The formation mechanism of FAEs is currently unknown. We present an analysis of high-resolution optical observations of FAEs made during two separate events. Based on their appearance and dynamics, we make the assumption that the FAEs are a signature of a dispersive wave in the lower E-region ionosphere, co-located with enhanced electron and ion temperatures detected by incoherent scatter radar. Their drift speed (group speed) is found to be 580–700 m s−1, and the speed of their internal dynamics (phase speed) is found to be 2200–2500 m s−1, both for an assumed altitude of 100 km. The speeds are similar for both events which are observed during different auroral conditions. We consider two possible waves which could produce the FAEs, i.e. electrostatic ion cyclotron waves (EIC) and Farley–Buneman waves, and find that the observations could be consistent with either wave under certain assumptions. In the case of EIC waves, the FAEs must be located at an altitude above about 140 km, and our measured speeds scaled accordingly. In the case of Farley–Buneman waves a very strong electric field of about 365 mV m−1 is required to produce the observed speeds of the FAEs; such a strong electric field may be a requirement for FAEs to occur.

Electrostatic Ion-cyclotron Wave Excitation by a Gyrating Ion Beam in a Magnetized Plasma Containing Heavy Positive Ions

In the present paper, we have developed a theoretical model of cylindrical magnetized plasma column consisting of electrons, ions & heavy positive ion species. A gyrating ion beam of potassium having radius ~1.5 cm and energy 10eV is launched through one end of the cylinder parallel to the static magnetic field and the electrostatic ion cyclotron wave is assumed to propagate nearly perpendicular to the magnetic field. The presence of heavy positive ions in the collisionless magnetized plasma decreases the critical drift for the excitation of EIC waves and hence the injected beam drives the electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves to instability through Cerenkov interaction. Therefore, the plasma is observed to contains two excited EIC wave modes; a (light positive) ion mode and a (heavy positive) ion mode. The frequencies and growth rates for both the positive unstable modes are worked out using fluid theory for the typical existing experimental parameters which are found to increase with the increase in ion beam energy and beam density. It is also observed that the unstable wave frequency and growth rate for both the modes increases with the increase in relative ion concentration of and heavy positive ions respectively. Magnetic field is also one of the important factors which influence the plasma instabilities appreciably. As the magnetic field increases, the frequency of both the ion modes increases linearly.

Physically significant wave solutions to the Riemann wave equations and the Landau-Ginsburg-Higgs equation

The nonlinear Riemann wave equations (RWEs) and the Landau-Ginsburg-Higgs (LGH) equation are related to plasma electrostatic waves, ion-cyclotron wave electrostatic potential, superconductivity, and drift coherent ion-cyclotron waves in centrifugally inhomogeneous plasma. In this article, the interactions between the maximum order linear and nonlinear factors are balanced to compute realistic soliton solutions to the formerly stated equations in terms of hyperbolic functions. The linear and nonlinear effects rheostat the structure of the wave profiles, which vary in response to changes in the subjective parameters combined with the solutions. The established solutions to the aforementioned models using the extended tanh scheme are descriptive, typical, and consistent, and include standard soliton shapes such as bright soliton, dark soliton, compacton, peakon, periodic, and others that can be used to analyze in ion-acoustic and magneto-sound waves in plasma, homogeneous, and stationary media, particularly in the propagation of tidal and tsunami waves.

A Strong Instability in the Ion Cyclotron Frequency Range of the Upward Sheared Flow of the Oxygen Ions in Aurora

The dispersion relation of a new electrostatic ion cyclotron (IC) instability of a plasma with a sheared current of the oxygen ions along the magnetic field is investigated analytically and solved by numerical analysis. The considered case corresponds to the upward sheared flow of the oxygen ions in the aurora where the velocity shearing rate of ion current may be larger than the cyclotron frequency of O+ ion. In such a plasma, we found a new instability in the IC frequency range which develops in the sheared flow and can have a growth rate larger than O+ cyclotron frequency. This instability develops jointly with the known IC instability for the uniform current with a growth rate much less than O+ cyclotron frequency

On O+ Ion Heating by BBELF Waves at Low Altitude: Test Particle Simulations

AbstractWe investigate mechanisms of wave particle heating of ionospheric O+ ions resulting from broadband extremely low frequency (BBELF) waves using numerical test particle simulations that take into account ion‐neutral collisions, in order to explain observations from the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (e‐POP) satellite at low altitudes (∼400 km) (Shen et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1002/2017JA024955). We argue that in order to reproduce ion temperatures observed at e‐POP altitudes, the most effective ion heating mechanism is through cyclotron acceleration by short‐scale electrostatic ion cyclotron (EIC) waves with perpendicular wavelengths λ⊥ ≤ 200 m. The interplay between finite perpendicular wavelengths, wave amplitudes, and ion‐neutral collision frequencies collectively determine the ionospheric ion heating limit, which begins to decrease sharply with decreasing altitude below approximately 500 km, where the ratio becomes larger than 10−3, νc and fci denoting the O+‐O collision frequency and ion cyclotron frequency. We derive, both numerically and analytically, the ion gyroradius limit from heating by an EIC wave at half the cyclotron frequency. The limit is 0.28λ⊥. The ion gyroradius limit from an EIC wave can be surpassed either through adding waves with different λ⊥ or through stochastic “breakout,” meaning ions diffuse in energy beyond the gyroradius limit due to stochastic heating from large‐amplitude waves. Our two‐dimensional simulations indicate that small‐scale (<1 km) Alfvén waves cannot account for the observed ion heating through trapping or stochastic heating.

Excitation and characteristics of electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves launched by a grid

Previous experimental studies on electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves (EICWs) and their instability were often performed in a narrow plasma column in Q-machines, in which the wave was conventionally generated via the instability driven by an electron current parallel to a magnetic field. The propagation characteristics of wave patterns have seldom been studied, especially the different characteristics in pulse and continuous wave patterns. In this paper, we present the experimental launching of the EICW via a grid applied with either a pulsed or a sinusoidal external excitation voltage in a magnetized plasma device. Either pulsed or continuous EICWs were excited, and the wave pattern trajectories were observed. Using the time-of-flight method, both phase and pulse (group) velocities of the wave signals were directly measured. It was shown that for the continuous EICW excitation, the measured dispersion relation is in agreement with the result from the kinetic theory in some range of parameters in the fundamental and harmonic frequency bands. The dependence of the measured pulse and phase velocities on the magnetic field shows agreement with the fluid theory only in the low field strength case but is closer to the result from the kinetic theory in the high field strength case.

Route to Chaos in an Electrostatic Ion Cyclotron with Higher-Order Source Term

Many conventional experimental analyses have helped us to understand most of the properties of plasma wave interactions and its behavior; nonlinear dynamics has helped us to enhance our analysis. In this paper we have tried to analyze a plasma jerk system for an ion cyclotron plasma oscillation in a magnetic field by including a higher-order source term caused by large-amplitude fluctuations. The multistability and antimonotonicity properties of the plasma system are discussed which were not explored earlier. We have also shown that the large-amplitude limit cycle in the original jerk system model of plasma is now reduced to a much smaller chaotic cycle for the new proposed system with higher-order source term.