Increasing Field Strength Research Articles

Characterization by Electric Impedance Sensing of Normal and Cancer Cell Attachment and the Effect of Ginseng

This research reestablishes an application of an Electric Cell Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) system to examine the effects of Ginseng on the attachment of epithelial cells; HaCAT (healthy human skin cells) and A431 (human carcinoma cells). The study is functionally a continuation of the authors’ previously published paper, where an identical set of experiments were carried out for the putative homeopathic Reishi. The purpose for this study was two-fold: (1) to investigate variations in results between a roundly discredited homeopathic (Reishi) and a studied, well-accepted homeopathic (Gensing), and (2) to justify the experimental technique from the results - as the electric impedance sensing technique has heretofore been considered itself experimental; specifically, impedance measurements reflecting cell-to-cell binding and their associated binding electric field strength and the high correlation to shape (normal vs. cancer) and cluster size (as measured by increased field strength in greater clusters). Here the impedance analysis shows that Ginseng at applied doses does not alter the impedance of HaCAT colonies but that Ginseng does significantly increase the strength of cell-to-cell attachments in A431 colonies and may confer previously suggested anti-inflammatory properties. This result is not seen with the previous set of Reishi experiments, and this correct distinction provides more ammunition for the electrical impedance sensing technique as a valid differentiation in cell attachment.

Antikaon condensation in magnetized neutron stars

This study investigates the possibility of antikaon condensation in strongly magnetized neutron stars (NSs) with [Formula: see text]-equilibrium condition using chiral [Formula: see text] model and chiral perturbation theory (ChPT). We explore the effect of finite strong magnetic field on particle fraction, effective masses of kaon/antikaon, and equation of state (EoS). The longitudinal EoS gets softened; whereas in transverse EoS, stiffness is observed as the magnetic field strength increases. The presence of antikaon condensation causes softness in both the longitudinal and transverse EoS. Finally, we investigate the structure of NSs through the mass–radius relation, tidal deformability, and Love number and present possible comparison with recent work in the field. The presence of antikaon condensed phase decreases the mass of NSs corresponding to both EoS (longitudinal and transverse). For longitudinal pressure, the mass–radius shows decrement with increase in magnetic field strength; whereas transverse pressure causes an increment.

Phosphorus transversal relaxation times and metabolite concentrations in the human brain at 9.4T.

A method to estimate phosphorus (31 P) transversal relaxation times (T2 s) of coupled spin systems is demonstrated. Additionally, intracellular and extracellular pH and relaxation-corrected metabolite concentrations are reported. Echo time (TE) series of 31 P metabolite spectra were acquired using stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) localization. Spectra were fitted using LCModel with accurately modeled Versatile Simulation, Pulses and Analysis (VeSPA) basis sets accounting for J-evolution of the coupled spin systems. T2 s were estimated by fitting a single exponential two-parameter model across the TE series. Fitted inorganic phosphate frequencies were used to calculate pH, and estimated relaxation times were used to determine the relaxation-corrected brain metabolite concentrations on an assumption of 3 mM γ-ATP. The method was demonstrated in healthy human brain at a field strength of 9.4T. T2 times of ATP and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) were shortest between 8 and 20 ms, followed by T2 s of inorganic phosphate between 25 and 50 ms, and phosphocreatine with a T2 of 100 ms. Phosphomonoesters and phosphodiesters had the longest T2 s of about 130 ms. The measured T2 s are comparable with literature values and fit in a decreasing trend with increasing field strengths. Calculated pHs and metabolite concentrations are also comparable with literature values.

Investigation of heat transfer enhancement using ferro-nanofluids (Fe3O4/water) in a heated pipe under the application of magnetic field

Different volume concentrations (1.2, 0.6, 0.3 wt%) of Fe3O4/water nanofluids and for different Reynolds number (Re) varying from 2180 to 9160 were used experimentally. The aim of work is to study the effect of applying various magnetic field intensity 15.1, 30.3, 45.5 mT on heat transfer enhancement in a horizontal pipe heated with constant heating flux of 420 W. Results showed that Nusselt number (Nu) increases with increasing Re for the nanofluids and water regardless the presence or absence of the magnetic field. Also, higher values were obtained than water. The average increase in Nu for Fe3O4-nanofluids is 16.7% relative to water when the magnetic field is not applied. However, the average increase in heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number are 9.4%, 26.1%, 31.3% and 8.8%, 13.1%, and 23.9% in the presence of magnetic field [Formula: see text] compared to the absence of magnetic field and base fluid water, respectively. Furthermore, pressure drop increases with the increase of Reynolds number and magnetic field strength. It can be concluded that the magnetic field has a big effect on the thermal transfer performance of Fe3O4/water nanofluid when compared with the thermal motion of magnetic nanoparticles. Finally, it is found that the performance factor is above unity in the presence and absence of magnetic field strength. This means that Nusselt number enhancement is higher than friction changes, which indicates the applicability of the heated pipe in the improvement of heat transfer. These results can be useful for enhancing heat transfer in many engineering applications such as heat exchangers, medical devices, and electronic devices.

Accurate Rock Mineral Characterization With Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging is a powerful formation evaluation technology that provides mineralogy-independent porosity and helps distinguish clay-bound water, capillary-bound water, and free fluids. NMR logging tool generally operates at 1H NMR frequency of 2 MHz (magnetic field, B0 ~ 470 Gauss) or lower. At this magnetic field, it is only feasible to detect 1H signal from fluids in pores and rely on the relaxation time variation to characterize fluid and pore types. As magnetic field strength increases, NMR sensitivity increases very dramatically, and NMR signals from solid matrix become easier to be detected in high field. For example, NMR at 600 MHz is about 5,000 times more sensitive than the NMR at 2 MHz. Meanwhile, the spectral resolution of high-field NMR is also greatly increased, and high-field NMR spectrum can resolve the detailed differences between molecule types. Therefore, the high sensitivity and spectral resolution of high-field NMR open a totally new horizon for the characterization of geological samples, especially in organic shale reservoirs, in which organic matter and complex mineralogy remain challenging to be accurately characterized. In this work, we report high-field NMR applications for mineral characterization using a 600-MHz NMR spectrometer equipped with a multichannel and Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS) probe. Compared to X-ray diffraction (XRD), which is the primary tool for identifying and quantifying the mineralogy of crystalline compounds in geological samples based on Bragg’s diffraction, NMR can provide more compositional and structural information for noncrystalline compounds due to its sensitivity to local electronic binding structures. Here we demonstrate such an application of high-resolution 27Al NMR to determine the composition and bonding chemistry of 27Al as a fingerprint for a wide range of minerals. The ratio of 27Al at tetrahedral and octahedral binding sites is quantitative and essential to differentiate the dioctahedral and trioctahedral phases. 27Al NMR can also distinguish plagioclase series members ranging from albite to anorthite end members, where Na and Ca atoms can substitute for each other. 27Al NMR can be further combined with 1H, 13C, 29Si, 25Mg, 23Na, and 31P for more detailed mineral determination and clay typing. Our results show that, combined with XRD, this group of high-field NMR spectroscopic methods can greatly improve the accuracy of rock mineral and formation clay characterization in tight-rock and unconventional reservoirs.

Detectability of Retinal Diffusion Restriction in Central Retinal Artery Occlusion is Linked to Inner Retinal Layer Thickness

PurposeTo investigate retinal microstructure differences in central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) patients with and without visible retinal diffusion restriction (RDR) on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI).MethodsConsecutive CRAO patients with available optical coherence tomography (OCT) and DWI, both performed within 7 days after symptom onset, were included in a retrospective cohort study. The OCT scans were reviewed to assess retinal layer thickness, optical intensity and structural integrity. The OCT findings were compared between patients with and without visible RDR on DWI using Mann-Whitney U or Pearson’s Χ2 test.ResultsA total of 56 patients (mean age 70.8 ± 12.8 years) were included. RDR was observed in 38 subjects (67.9%) with visually correlating low ADC map in 26 of 38 cases (68.4%). Superior and inferior parafoveal macular thickness measurements (SMT, IMT) of RDR negative patients were significantly lower when compared to RDR+ patients (370.5 ± 43.8 µm vs. 418.2 ± 76.0 µm, p = 0.016; 374.4 ± 42.9 µm vs. 428.8 ± 63.2 µm, p = 0.004) due to differences in inner retinal layer thickness (IRLT, 188.8 ± 34.4 µm vs. 234.7 ± 49.0 µm, p = 0.002). IRLT values of RDR negative patients were higher in 1.5T compared to 3T the DWI (205.0 ± 26.0 µm vs. 168.6 ± 32.8 µm, p = 0.026).ConclusionsDetectability of RDR is likely contingent upon the degree of ischemic retinal swelling in CRAO. Technical adjustments to the DWI protocol, such as increased field strength, may improve visibility of RDR.

Efficiency improvement of an E × B Penning discharge source by enhanced cross-field transport of electrons

Precise control of the particle motion in externally applied electric and magnetic fields is of great significance in the development of the E × B source to generate high-density plasma and deliver a stable ion beam current. Especially, in the E × B Penning discharge source, the heating and energy relaxation of the beam electrons is concentrated in the plasma column along the magnetic field line. Plasma researchers have thus far focused on the relevant physical phenomena of the partially magnetized plasma that arises from the gradient of the plasma properties in the E × B Penning source. Here, we point out that current methods of radially centered electron confinement do not guarantee efficient ion beam extraction, and newly introduce the improvement of the efficiency of a cylindrical E × B Penning source targeting radial extraction of ion beam. We concentrate on the method to enhance the cross-field transport of electrons toward the extraction region. The generation of a spatially asymmetric sheath structure allows the beam and energetic electrons to be transported to the extraction region via the E × B drift of the electrons. The transported electrons contribute to expansion of the electron heating and ionization regions to the extraction region by breaking of axial symmetry of the sheath, thereby increasing the temperature and density of the electrons in the extraction region as the magnetic field strength increases. The enhanced discharge efficiency defined as the ratio of the electron density to the discharge current is noticeable, recording approximately twice the improved efficiency compared to the conventional mode with symmetric sheath structure.

Electronic properties and behavior of carbon network based on graphene and single-walled carbon nanotubes in strong electrical fields: quantum molecular dynamics study

Using the self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding method (SCC-DFTB) and extended lagrangian DFTB-based molecular dynamics, we performed in silico studies of the behavior of graphene–nanotube hybrid structures that are part of a branched 3D carbon network in strong electrical fields. It has been established that strong fields with strength ranging from 5 to 10 V nm−1 cause oscillating deformations of the atomic framework with a frequency in the range from 1.22 to 1.38 THz. It has been revealed that the oscillation frequency is determined primarily by the topology of the atomic framework of graphene–nanotube hybrid, while the electric field strength has an effect within 1%–2%. A further increase in electric field strength reduces the oscillation frequency to 0.7 THz, which accompanies the partial destruction of the atomic framework. The critical value of the electric field strength when the graphene is detached from the nanotube is ∼20 V nm−1.

Calculating the Raman signal beyond perturbation theory for a diatomic molecular crystal

We calculate the eigenstates of a diatomic molecule in a range of model mean-field potentials, and evaluate the evolution of their associated Raman spectra with field strength. We demonstrate that dramatic changes in the appearance of the Raman spectrum for a diatomic molecule occur without any associated change in the symmetry of the surrounding potential. The limiting cases of the quantum eigenstates correspond, in the classical sense, to free rotation, and libration of well-oriented molecules. However, there are also many mixed modes which are neither rotons nor librons. The consequence for Raman spectroscopy is a series of complications — the non-harmonic potential splits the Raman active modes, and breaks the selection rules on forbidden modes. The mass-dependence of the various states is different — rotors, oscillators and reorientations have 1/m, 1/m and weaker mass dependence respectively. This may allow one to identify the character of the mode with isotope spectroscopy. However it is complicated by mixed modes and transitions between two different eigenstates with different character. We conclude that significant changes in the Raman spectrum of molecular systems are insufficient to demonstrate a phase transition since such changes can also occur in a fixed symmetry potential upon increasing field strength.

Diagnostic value of MRI in the presurgical evaluation of patients with epilepsy: influence of field strength and sequence selection: a systematic review and meta-analysis from the E-PILEPSY Consortium.

MRI is a cornerstone in presurgical evaluation of epilepsy. Despite guidelines, clinical practice varies. In light of the E-PILEPSY pilot reference network, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the diagnostic value of MRI in the presurgical evaluation of epilepsy patients. We included original research articles on diagnostic value of higher MRI field strength and guideline-recommended and additional MRI sequences in detecting an epileptogenic lesion in adult or paediatric epilepsy surgery candidates. Lesion detection rate was used as a metric in meta-analysis. Eighteen studies were included for MRI field strength and 25 for MRI sequences, none were free from bias. In patients with normal MRI at lower-field strength, 3T improved lesion detection rate by 18% and 7T by 23%. Field strengths higher than 1.5T did not have higher lesion detection rates in patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS). The lesion detection rate of epilepsy-specific MRI protocols was 83% for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. Dedicated MRI protocols and evaluation by an experienced epilepsy neuroradiologist increased lesion detection. For HS, 3DT1, T2, and FLAIR each had a lesion detection rate at around 90%. Apparent diffusion coefficient indices had a lateralizing value of 33% for TLE. DTI fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity had a localizing value of 8% and 34%. A dedicated MRI protocol and expert evaluation benefits lesion detection rate in epilepsy surgery candidates. If patients remain MRI negative, imaging at higher-field strength may reveal lesions. In HS, apparent diffusion coefficient indices may aid lateralization and localization more than increasing field strength. DTI can add further diagnostic information. For other additional sequences, the quality and number of studies is insufficient to draw solid conclusions. Our findings may be used as evidence base for developing new high-quality MRI studies and clinical guidelines.

Influence of electron density, temperature and decay energy on β – decay rates in a stellar environment * *Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11822503) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Nanjing University)

In this paper, the decay rates in the magnetic field of a neutron star are investigated under different conditions of electron density, temperature, and decay energy. By considering the influence of magnetic field on the electron spectrum, we improve the Takahashi–Yokoi model and perform the calculations of decay rates for the nickel (Ni) isotopes, which are the typical neutron-rich nuclei participating in the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process). It is found that the decay rates are increased significantly in the extremely strong magnetic field ( G). Furthermore, we find oscillation of decay rates with the increase of magnetic field strength, implying that the magnitude of decay rates is closely related to not only the decay energy but also the environmental electron density. In contrast, the impact of temperature on the decay rates is found to be negligible in the range of K K.

Heterogeneous Iron Oxide/Dysprosium Oxide Nanoparticles Target Liver for Precise Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Liver Fibrosis.

Challenges remain in precisely diagnosing the progress of liver fibrosis in a noninvasive way. We here synthesized small (4 nm) heterogeneous iron oxide/dysprosium oxide nanoparticles (IO-DyO NPs) as a contrast agent (CA) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to precisely diagnose liver fibrosis in vivo at both 7.0 and 9.4 T field strength. Our IO-DyO NPs can target the liver and show an increased T2 relaxivity along with an increase of magnetic field strength. At a ultrahigh magnetic field, IO-DyO NPs can significantly improve spatial/temporal image resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of the liver and precisely distinguish the early and moderate liver fibrosis stages. Our IO-DyO NP-based MRI diagnosis can exactly match biopsy (a gold standard for liver fibrosis diagnosis in the clinic) but avoid the invasiveness of biopsy. Moreover, our IO-DyO NPs show satisfactory biosafety in vitro and in vivo. This work illustrates an advanced T2 CA used in ultrahigh-field MRI (UHFMRI) for the precise diagnosis of liver fibrosis via a noninvasive means.

Research on the Induced Electrostatic Discharge of Spacecraft Typical Dielectric Materials under the ESD Pulse Irradiation.

Based on polyimide (PI), epoxy resin (EP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) typical dielectric materials used in spacecraft, a research platform for charge-discharge experiment under strong field was established. The influence of irradiation field strength, beam energy, dielectric thickness, etc., on electrostatic discharge characters of dielectric materials were studied and summarized. The results show that with the increase of field strength, the frequency of induced electrostatic discharge increases, the accumulated charge on the dielectric surface decreases, and the dielectric surface potential decreases; Under the same conditions, PI has the lowest discharge frequency and the highest surface dynamic balance potential. The thicker the dielectric material, the lower the discharge frequency, the higher the surface dynamic equilibrium potential; The shape and size of the background electrodes also affect the discharge frequency. When the area is the same, the sharper the electrode edge, the higher the discharge frequency. When the shape is the same, the larger the grounding area, the higher the discharge frequency. By proposing the induced discharge test method, the function mechanism of spatial environmental factors on the electrostatic discharge of typical dielectric materials are obtained. Comparative analysis on electrostatic properties of different dielectric materials can provide data reference and technical support for spacecraft electrostatic safety and protection.

Effect of low-frequency alternating-current electric field parameters on laminar and turbulent flames of CH4/air mixture

To improve combustion efficiency, a low-frequency alternating-current electric field was applied to the laminar and turbulent combustion of premixed CH4/air flame. Experiments were carried out under the condition of 0.3 MPa, excess air ratios of 1.2 ∼ 1.6, applied voltage of 1 kV ∼ 5 kV, and the frequency of 40 Hz ∼ 100 Hz in a constant volume combustion bomb. Results showed that the electric field could promote both laminar and turbulent combustion, the flame propagation velocity was increased by an increase in the electric field strength. However, as the frequency of the electric field increases, the promoting effect of combustion gradually weakens. This phenomenon was more significant for laminar combustion, and the flame propagation speed in the turbulent field significantly increased, such that the effect of adding an electric field was relatively insignificant. Particularly, for the combustion pressure, the electric field strength had a significant impact on the pressure of the turbulent flame only when it reached a certain level.

Structural model for amorphous aluminosilicates.

An analytical model is developed for the composition-dependent structure of the amorphous aluminosilicate materials (M2O)x(Al2O3)y(SiO2)1-x-y and (MO)x(Al2O3)y(SiO2)1-x-y, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ y ≤ 1. The model is based on a simple set of reactions and contains a single adjustable parameter p (0 ≤ p ≤ 1). The latter is found from 27Al solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments in the regime where R = x/y ≥ 1, aided by new experiments on the magnesium and zinc aluminosilicate systems. The parameter p decreases linearly as the cation field strength of M+ or M2+ increases, as per the observation previously made for the degree of aluminum avoidance [Lee et al., J. Phys. Chem. C 120, 737 (2016)]. The results indicate that as the cation field strength increases, there are less fourfold coordinated aluminum atoms to contribute toward the glass network, and Al-O-Al bonds become more prevalent in a progressive breakdown of Loewenstein's aluminum avoidance rule. The model gives a good account of the composition-dependent fraction of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) atoms for R ≥ 1, as assessed from the results obtained from solid-state NMR experiments. An extension of the model to (M2O3)x(Al2O3)y(SiO2)1-x-y glasses leads, however, to an excess of NBO atoms, the proportion of which can be reduced by invoking network-forming fivefold coordinated Al atoms and/or oxygen triclusters. The model provides a benchmark for predicting the structure-related properties of aluminosilicate materials and a starting point for predicting the evolution in the structure of these materials under the extreme conditions encountered in the Earth's interior or in processes such as sharp-contact loading.

A study of the magneto-controlled mechanical properties and polishing performance for single-crystal SiC used as a magnetorheological-elastomer polishing pad

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are widely used in vibration control due to their excellent magneto-controlled mechanical properties. In this research, polyurethane-based MRE polishing pads were prepared and used for the polishing of single-crystal SiC to investigate the magneto-controlled mechanical properties, the magneto-polishing effect, and the mechanism of action thereof. The results show that the pre-structuring process is affected by parameters such as mass fraction and particle size of magnetic particles in MREs and curing magnetic field strength, different chain strings that demonstrate different magnetorheological effects are formed. The greater the mass fraction of magnetic particles and curing magnetic field strength, the more the MREs exhibit magnetorheological effects, especially so when the magnetic particles size of 3 μm. A series of 90 min polishing experiments on single-crystal SiC with original surface roughness (R a) 80 nm were conducted using an MRE pad. The results indicate that with the increase of polishing magnetic field strengths, the shear modulus of MRE polishing pads increases, the material removal rate (MRR) of the polishing process increases and R a decreases. As the magnetic field strength is increased from 0 mT to 335 mT, the shear modulus is increased from 1.392 MPa to 1.825 MPa (an increase of 31.1%), while MRR is increased from 706.3 nm h−1 to 835.3 nm h−1 (an increase of 18.3%), R a is decreased from 19.92 nm to 3.62 nm (an improvement in surface quality of 81.8%). The results show that the increase of the polishing magnetic field strengths changes the material modulus of the MRE polishing pads, which cause the decreases in the compressive and shear elastic deformation of the abrasive grains on the elastic substrate. This increases the positive pressure of the abrasive grains on the SiC wafer, which enhances the material-removal ability of the SiC wafer, thereby improving the surface quality of the wafer.

Physics design point of high-field stellarator reactors

The ongoing development of electromagnets based on high temperature superconductors has led to the conceptual exploration of high-magnetic-field fusion reactors of the tokamak type, operating at on-axis fields above 10 T. In this work we explore the consequences of the potential future availability of high-field three-dimensional electromagnets on the physics design point of a stellarator reactor. We find that, when an increase in the magnetic field strength B is used to maximally reduce the device linear size R ∼ B −4/3 (with otherwise fixed magnetic geometry), the physics design point is largely independent of the chosen field strength/device size. A similar degree of optimization is to be imposed on the magnetohydrodynamic, transport and fast ion confinement properties of the magnetic configuration of that family of reactor design points. Additionally, we show that the family shares an invariant operation map of fusion power output as a function of the auxiliary power and relative density variation. The effects of magnetic field over-engineering and the R(B) scaling of design points with constant neutron wall loading are also inspected. In this study we use geometric parameters characteristic of the helical axis advanced stellarator reactor, but most results apply to other stellarator configurations.

Polaronic corrections on magnetization and thermodynamic properties of electron–electron in 2D systems with Rashba spin–orbit coupling

Magnetic and thermodynamic properties of two electron system confined in 2-D quantum structures submitted to an applied magnetic field are studied taking into account the spin–orbit and electron–phonon interactions. The confinement is considered as a harmonic potential and the electron–electron interaction is taken as coulombic. We have first solved the Schrödinger equation to obtain energy levels and then obtain all the thermodynamic functions using canonical ensemble. The numerical calculation of our formalism is applied essentially for the GaN and InAs which are (III–V) compounds. Our results show that even at B=0 T, the susceptibility of GaN shows diamagnetic behavior for all temperatures. However, with an increase in the magnetic field, susceptibility increases and the system shows paramagnetic behavior for both cases associated with and without polaron effect. We demonstrate that taking into account the Rashba spin–orbit interaction leads to a shift of the cutoff magnetic field Bc (value of B for which the magnetic nature of the dot changes from diamagnetic to paramagnetic) to the higher magnetic field with an increase in temperature. We also show that by taking into account the polaronic effect, Rashba spin–orbit interaction lowers the mean energy of the system. The heat capacity curve shows a peak at a low temperature (Schottky anomaly) and shifts toward high temperature with an increase in confinement and magnetic field strength. The consideration of the polaron effect shifts the heat capacity curve to lower temperatures.

The effect of cosmic variance on the characteristics of dust polarization power spectra

In the context of cosmic microwave background polarization studies and the characterization of the Galactic foregrounds, the power spectrum analysis of the thermal dust polarization sky has led to intriguing evidence of an E∕B asymmetry and a positive TE correlation. In this work, we produce synthesized dust polarization maps from a set of global magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of Milky-Way-sized galaxies, and analyze their power spectra at intermediate angular scales (intermediate angular multipoles ℓ∈[60, 140]). We study the role of the initial configuration of the large-scale magnetic field, its strength, and the feedback on the power spectrum characteristics. Using full-galaxy MHD simulations, we were able to estimate the variance induced by the peculiar location of the observer in the galaxy. We find that the polarization power spectra sensitively depend on the observer’s location, impeding a distinction between different simulation setups. In particular, there is a clear statistical difference between the power spectra measured from within the spiral arms and those measured from the inter-arm regions. Also, power spectra from within supernova-driven bubbles share common characteristics, regardless of the underlying model. However, no correlation was found between the statistical properties of the polarization power spectra and the local (with respect to the observer) mean values of physical quantities such as the density and the strength of the magnetic field. Finally, we find some indications that the global strength of the magnetic field may play a role in shaping the power spectrum characteristics; as the global magnetic field strength increases, the E∕B asymmetry and the TE correlation increase, whereas the viewpoint-induced variance decreases. However, we find no direct correlation with the strength of the local magnetic field that permeates the mapped region of the interstellar medium.

Non-thermal electron velocity distribution functions due to 3D kinetic magnetic reconnection for solar coronal plasma conditions

Magnetic reconnection can convert magnetic energy into kinetic energy of non-thermal electron beams. Those accelerated electrons can, in turn, cause radio emission in astrophysical plasma environments, such as solar flares via micro-instabilities. The properties of the electron velocity distribution functions (EVDFs) of those non-thermal beams generated by reconnection are, however, still not well understood, in particular, properties that are necessary conditions for some relevant micro-instabilities. We aim at characterizing the EVDFs generated in 3D magnetic reconnection by means of fully kinetic particle-in-cell code simulations. In particular, our goal is to identify the possible sources of free energy offered by the generated EVDFs and their dependence on the strength of the guide field. By applying a machine learning algorithm on the EVDFs, we find that (1) electron beams with positive gradients in their 1D parallel (to the local magnetic field direction) velocity distribution functions are generated in both diffusion region and separatrices. (2) Electron beams with positive gradients in their perpendicular (to the local magnetic field direction) velocity distribution functions are observed in the diffusion region and outflow region near the reconnection midplane. In particular, perpendicular crescent-shaped EVDFs (in the perpendicular velocity space) are mainly observed in the diffusion region. (3) As the guide field strength increases, the number of locations with EVDFs featuring a perpendicular source of free energy significantly decreases. The formation of non-thermal electron beams in the field-aligned direction is mainly due to magnetized and adiabatic electrons, while in the direction perpendicular to the local magnetic field, it is attributed to unmagnetized electrons.