Ion Reflection Research Articles

Ion acceleration in electrostatic collisionless shock: on the optimal density profile for quasi-monoenergetic beams

A numerical study on ion acceleration in electrostatic shock waves is presented, with the aim of determining the best plasma configuration to achieve quasi-monoenergetic ion beams in laser-driven systems. It was recently shown that tailored near-critical density plasmas characterized by a long-scale decreasing rear density profile lead to beams with low energy spread (Fiúza et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 109 215001). In this work, a detailed parameter scan investigating different plasma scale lengths is carried out. As result, the optimal plasma spatial scale length that allows for minimizing the energy spread while ensuring a significant reflection of ions by the shock is identified. Furthermore, a new configuration where the required profile has been obtained by coupling micro layers of different densities is proposed. Results show that this new engineered approach is a valid alternative, guaranteeing a low energy spread with a higher level of controllability.

Hybrid modeling of diffusive shock acceleration in collisionless shocks in multispecies plasma

Diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) is a very efficient mechanism of high energy particle acceleration in heliosphere, supernova remnants, stellar winds and gamma-ray bursts. We present microscopic simulation of particle injection and diffusive shock acceleration which is performed with 3D divergence-conserving second-order accurate hybrid code "Maximus". Hydrogen plasma with admixture of various heavy ions is considered. The injection process is found to start through shock reflection for both hydrogen and heavier ions. However, the reflection process depends on charge-to-mass ratio. While hydrogen ions reflection appears at shock ramp and is governed by the cross-shock potential, the reflection of ions with greater A=Z proceeds deeper down-stream via gyration in perpendicular magnetic field component. The heavy ions appear to inject into the DSA preferentially, but this chemical enhancement saturates with growing A=Z. The protons injection efficiency is estimated within various approaches, and it is shown that about 20% of initial flow energy goes into accelerated particles.

Numerical Calculation of Light-Ion Backscattering in the Case of Normal Incidence on a Target Surface

The distributions of backscattered ions over paths in the target are calculated numerically for different ion energies and different ratios of masses and target atoms. The calculations are performed by solving the one-velocity transport equation with a scattering cross section for a truncated Coulomb potential. The problem is reduced to the Chandrasekhar integral equation, which is solved using the method of successive approximations. The path distribution of backscattered ions obtained as a result of the inverse Laplace transformation has a characteristic cupola-shaped form with a maximum. Within the framework of the model of continuous energy losses, the path distributions are recalculated to obtain the ion reflection coefficients and compared with the SRIM simulation results.

Electron Pre-acceleration at Nonrelativistic High-Mach-number Perpendicular Shocks

Abstract We perform particle-in-cell simulations of perpendicular nonrelativistic collisionless shocks to study electron heating and pre-acceleration for parameters that permit the extrapolation to the conditions at young supernova remnants. Our high-resolution large-scale numerical experiments sample a representative portion of the shock surface and demonstrate that the efficiency of electron injection is strongly modulated with the phase of the shock reformation. For plasmas with low and moderate temperature (plasma beta and ), we explore the nonlinear shock structure and electron pre-acceleration for various orientations of the large-scale magnetic field with respect to the simulation plane, while keeping it at 90° to the shock normal. Ion reflection off of the shock leads to the formation of magnetic filaments in the shock ramp, resulting from Weibel-type instabilities, and electrostatic Buneman modes in the shock foot. In all of the cases under study, the latter provides first-stage electron energization through the shock-surfing acceleration mechanism. The subsequent energization strongly depends on the field orientation and proceeds through adiabatic or second-order Fermi acceleration processes for configurations with the out-of-plane and in-plane field components, respectively. For strictly out-of-plane field, the fraction of suprathermal electrons is much higher than for other configurations, because only in this case are the Buneman modes fully captured by the 2D simulation grid. Shocks in plasma with moderate provide more efficient pre-acceleration. The relevance of our results to the physics of fully 3D systems is discussed.

Surface morphology evolution during plasma etching of silicon: roughening, smoothing and ripple formation

Atomic- or nanometer-scale roughness on feature surfaces has become an important issue to be resolved in the fabrication of nanoscale devices in industry. Moreover, in some cases, smoothing of initially rough surfaces is required for planarization of film surfaces, and controlled surface roughening is required for maskless fabrication of organized nanostructures on surfaces. An understanding, under what conditions plasma etching results in surface roughening and/or smoothing and what are the mechanisms concerned, is of great technological as well as fundamental interest. In this article, we review recent developments in the experimental and numerical study of the formation and evolution of surface roughness (or surface morphology evolution such as roughening, smoothing, and ripple formation) during plasma etching of Si, with emphasis being placed on a deeper understanding of the mechanisms or plasma–surface interactions that are responsible for. Starting with an overview of the experimental and theoretical/numerical aspects concerned, selected relevant mechanisms are illustrated and discussed primarily on the basis of systematic/mechanistic studies of Si etching in Cl-based plasmas, including noise (or stochastic roughening), geometrical shadowing, surface reemission of etchants, micromasking by etch inhibitors, and ion scattering/chanelling. A comparison of experiments (etching and plasma diagnostics) and numerical simulations (Monte Carlo and classical molecular dynamics) indicates a crucial role of the ion scattering or reflection from microscopically roughened feature surfaces on incidence in the evolution of surface roughness (and ripples) during plasma etching; in effect, the smoothing/non-roughening condition is characterized by reduced effects of the ion reflection, and the roughening-smoothing transition results from reduced ion reflections caused by a change in the predominant ion flux due to that in plasma conditions. Smoothing of initially rough surfaces as well as non-roughening of initially planar surfaces during etching (normal ion incidence) and formation of surface ripples by plasma etching (off-normal ion incidence) are also presented and discussed in this context.

Interactions of LiI with Thin Methanol Films during Glass–Liquid Transition and Premelting

This study investigated interaction of thin methanol films with LiI at cryogenic temperatures using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, temperature-programmed desorption, and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy to elucidate properties of liquid-like phases formed during the glass–liquid transition and premelting of crystallites. The LiI additives are incorporated into the film interior from both the free surface and substrate interface at temperatures higher than methanol’s glass-transition temperature of 103 K. A dilute LiI solution is formed in supercooled methanol, as revealed from invariance of the OH stretching vibration frequencies relative to those of pure methanol. The uptake of LiI in supercooled methanol is quenched after crystallization at 120 K, where film morphology changes because of the grain growth. The incorporated LiI additives diffuse into deeper positions of the crystalline film at temperatures >140 K because premelting occurs at grain boundaries. When methanol is d...

The Dynamics of Very High Alfvén Mach Number Shocks in Space Plasmas

Abstract Astrophysical shocks, such as planetary bow shocks or supernova remnant shocks, are often in the high or very-high Mach number regime, and the structure of such shocks is crucial for understanding particle acceleration and plasma heating, as well inherently interesting. Recent magnetic field observations at Saturn’s bow shock, for Alfvén Mach numbers greater than about 25, have provided evidence for periodic non-stationarity, although the details of the ion- and electron-scale processes remain unclear due to limited plasma data. High-resolution, multi-spacecraft data are available for the terrestrial bow shock, but here the very high Mach number regime is only attained on extremely rare occasions. Here we present magnetic field and particle data from three such quasi-perpendicular shock crossings observed by the four-spacecraft Cluster mission. Although both ion reflection and the shock profile are modulated at the upstream ion gyroperiod timescale, the dominant wave growth in the foot takes place at sub-proton length scales and is consistent with being driven by the ion Weibel instability. The observed large-scale behavior depends strongly on cross-scale coupling between ion and electron processes, with ion reflection never fully suppressed, and this suggests a model of the shock dynamics that is in conflict with previous models of non-stationarity. Thus, the observations offer insight into the conditions prevalent in many inaccessible astrophysical environments, and provide important constraints for acceleration processes at such shocks.

Ion reflection by shock waves and pulse generation by cross-field ion beams

Comparisons are made of two different particle simulations: one for the study of plasma-based accelerators (Gueroult & Fisch, Phys. Plasmas, vol. 23, 2016, 032113) and the other for the study of shock formation in the interstellar medium (Yamauchi & Ohsawa, Phys. Plasmas, vol. 14, 2007, 053110). In the former, shock waves used for plasma density control create ion beams by reflection. In the latter, a fast and dense beam of exploding ions penetrates a surrounding plasma. In both simulations, magnetic bumps are generated from the motion of ion beams perpendicular to a magnetic field. Despite the apparent differences of their purposes, configurations and spatial scales, the two simulations show strong similarities in the generation processes and effects of the bumps, suggesting that these are not rare plasma phenomena. The bump created by the exploding ions develops into backward and forward magnetosonic pulses.

Evidence for transient, local ion foreshocks caused by dayside magnetopause reconnection

Abstract. We present a scenario resulting in time-dependent behaviour of the bow shock and transient, local ion reflection under unchanging solar wind conditions. Dayside magnetopause reconnection produces flux transfer events driving fast-mode wave fronts in the magnetosheath. These fronts push out the bow shock surface due to their increased downstream pressure. The resulting bow shock deformations lead to a configuration favourable to localized ion reflection and thus the formation of transient, travelling foreshock-like field-aligned ion beams. This is identified in two-dimensional global magnetospheric hybrid-Vlasov simulations of the Earth's magnetosphere performed using the Vlasiator model (http://vlasiator.fmi.fi). We also present observational data showing the occurrence of dayside reconnection and flux transfer events at the same time as Geotail observations of transient foreshock-like field-aligned ion beams. The spacecraft is located well upstream of the foreshock edge and the bow shock, during a steady southward interplanetary magnetic field and in the absence of any solar wind or interplanetary magnetic field perturbations. This indicates the formation of such localized ion foreshocks.

Effect of PSI on Momentum Input to Plasma‐Facing Material Surfaces

AbstractA comprehensive formulation for momentum input to plasma‐facing material surfaces is newly tried, including a momentum increase due to ion reflection on surfaces with a new definition of momentum reflection coefficient, a momentum due to reaction of evaporated atoms, an increase due to physical sputtering, and the effect of plasma flow. Experimentally observed momentum input is evaluated with a simple formula as well as a mechanical cantilever model. In addition, the measurement with dial tension gauge in off‐plasma condition gives a total force, the value of which is compared with the above two estimations. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

On the current density reduction ahead of dipolarization fronts

AbstractDuring their earthward propagation, dipolarization fronts (DFs) interact with the ambient plasma sheet on kinetic scales. The interaction region is important to the front's structure, propagation, and regional closure of the current system. However, the physics in this region, especially of its current system, is poorly understood. We present Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations of the interaction region between DFs and the ambient plasma sheet at x ~ − 12 RE downtail; these observations show that the current density ahead of the DFs is significantly reduced near the neutral plane. We use a two‐dimensional particle‐in‐cell model to simulate the current density reduction ahead of DFs and investigate the physical mechanism that causes it: Ion reflection and acceleration at the front cause positive charge density to build up. The resultant electrostatic field, Ez, is directed away from the neutral plane. The positive cross‐tail Ez × Bx drift of electrons (which remain magnetized) does not affect demagnetized ions. This electron‐ion decoupling results in a dawnward cross‐field current carried by electrons that reduces the cross‐tail current ahead of the approaching front.

Ion-acoustic shocks with self-regulated ion reflection and acceleration

An analytic solution describing an ion-acoustic collisionless shock, self-consistently with the evolution of shock-reflected ions, is obtained. The solution extends the classic soliton solution beyond a critical Mach number, where the soliton ceases to exist because of the upstream ion reflection. The reflection transforms the soliton into a shock with a trailing wave and a foot populated by the reflected ions. The solution relates parameters of the entire shock structure, such as the maximum and minimum of the potential in the trailing wave, the height of the foot, as well as the shock Mach number, to the number of reflected ions. This relation is resolvable for any given distribution of the upstream ions. In this paper, we have resolved it for a simple “box” distribution. Two separate models of electron interaction with the shock are considered. The first model corresponds to the standard Boltzmannian electron distribution in which case the critical shock Mach number only insignificantly increases from M≈1.6 (no ion reflection) to M≈1.8 (substantial reflection). The second model corresponds to adiabatically trapped electrons. They produce a stronger increase, from M≈3.1 to M≈4.5. The shock foot that is supported by the reflected ions also accelerates them somewhat further. A self-similar foot expansion into the upstream medium is described analytically.

ION ACCELERATION AT THE QUASI-PARALLEL BOW SHOCK: DECODING THE SIGNATURE OF INJECTION

ABSTRACT Collisionless shocks are efficient particle accelerators. At Earth, ions with energies exceeding 100 keV are seen upstream of the bow shock when the magnetic geometry is quasi-parallel, and large-scale supernova remnant shocks can accelerate ions into cosmic-ray energies. This energization is attributed to diffusive shock acceleration; however, for this process to become active, the ions must first be sufficiently energized. How and where this initial acceleration takes place has been one of the key unresolved issues in shock acceleration theory. Using Cluster spacecraft observations, we study the signatures of ion reflection events in the turbulent transition layer upstream of the terrestrial bow shock, and with the support of a hybrid simulation of the shock, we show that these reflection signatures are characteristic of the first step in the ion injection process. These reflection events develop in particular in the region where the trailing edge of large-amplitude upstream waves intercept the local shock ramp and the upstream magnetic field changes from quasi-perpendicular to quasi-parallel. The dispersed ion velocity signature observed can be attributed to a rapid succession of ion reflections at this wave boundary. After the ions’ initial interaction with the shock, they flow upstream along the quasi-parallel magnetic field. Each subsequent wavefront in the upstream region will sweep the ions back toward the shock, where they gain energy with each transition between the upstream and the shock wave frames. Within three to five gyroperiods, some ions have gained enough parallel velocity to escape upstream, thus completing the injection process.

Vlasov simulation of laser-driven shock acceleration and ion turbulence

We present a Vlasov, i.e. a kinetic Eulerian simulation study of nonlinear collisionless ion-acoustic shocks and solitons excited by an intense laser interacting with an overdense plasma. The use of the Vlasov code avoids problems with low particle statistics and allows a validation of particle-in-cell results. A simple, original correction to the splitting method for the numerical integration of the Vlasov equation has been implemented in order to ensure the charge conservation in the relativistic regime. We show that the ion distribution is affected by the development of a turbulence driven by the relativistic ‘fast’ electron bunches generated at the laser-plasma interaction surface. This leads to the onset of ion reflection at the shock front in an initially cold plasma where only soliton solutions without ion reflection are expected to propagate. We give a simple analytical model to describe the onset of the turbulence as a nonlinear coupling of the ion density with the fast electron currents, taking the pulsed nature of the relativistic electron bunches into account.

Interplanetary shocks and foreshocks observed by STEREO during 2007–2010

AbstractInterplanetary shocks in the heliosphere modify the solar wind through which they pass. In particular, shocks play an important role in particle acceleration. During the extended solar minimum (2007–2010) STEREO observed 65 forward shocks driven by stream interactions (SI), with magnetosonic Mach numbers Mms ≈ 1.1–4.0 and shock normal angles ~ 20–87°. We analyze the waves associated with these shocks and find that the region upstream can be permeated by whistler waves (f ~ 1 Hz) and/or ultra low frequency (ULF) waves (f ~ 10−2–10−1 Hz). While whistlers appear to be generated at the shock, the origin of ULF waves is most probably associated with local kinetic ion instabilities. We find that when the Mach number (Mms) is low and the shock is quasi‐perpendicular ( > 45°) whistler waves remain close to the shock. As Mms increases, the shock profile changes and can develop a foot and overshoot associated with ion reflection and gyration. Whistler precursors can be superposed on the foot region, so that some quasi‐perpendicular shocks have characteristics of both subcritical and supercritical shocks. When the shock is quasi‐parallel ( < 45°) a large foreshock with suprathermal ions and waves can form. Upstream, there are whistler trains at higher frequencies whose characteristics can be slightly modified probably by reflected and/or leaked ions and by almost circularly polarized waves at lower frequencies that may be locally generated by ion instabilities. In contrast with planetary bow shocks, most of the upstream waves studied here are mainly transverse and no steepening occurs. Some quasi‐perpendicular shocks (45° < < 60°) are preceded by ULF waves and ion foreshocks. Fluctuations downstream of quasi‐parallel shocks tend to have larger amplitudes than waves in the sheath of quasi‐perpendicular shocks. We compare SI‐driven shock properties with those of shocks generated by interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). During the same years, STEREO observed 20 ICME‐driven shocks with Mms ≈ 1.2–4.0 and ~ 38–85°. We find that shocks driven by ICMEs tend to have larger proton foreshocks (dr ~ 0.1 AU) than shocks driven by stream interactions (dr ≤ 0.05 AU). This difference of ion foreshock size should be linked to shock age: ICME‐driven shocks form at shorter distances to the Sun and therefore can energize particles for longer times as they propagate to 1 AU, while stream interaction shocks form closer to Earth's orbit and have been accelerating ions for a shorter interval of time.

Reflection properties of hydrogen ions at helium irradiated tungsten surfaces

Nanostructured W surfaces prepared by He bombardment exhibit characteristic angular distributions of hydrogen ion reflection upon injection of 1 keV H+ beam. A magnetic momentum analyzer that can move in the vacuum chamber has measured the angular dependence of the intensity and the energy of reflected ions. Broader angular distributions were observed for He-irradiated tungsten samples compared with that of the intrinsic polycrystalline W. Both intensity and energy of reflected ions decreased in the following order: the polycrystalline W, the He-bubble containing W, and the fuzz W. Classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulations based on Atomic Collision in Amorphous Target code suggests that lower atom density near the surface can make the reflection coefficients lower due to increasing number of collisions.

Contribution of ion reflection to the energy budgets of dipolarization fronts

AbstractDipolarization fronts, earthward propagating structures in the Earth's magnetotail characterized by sharp enhancements of the northward magnetic field, are important sites of energy conversion from electromagnetic to particle energy. The large energy conversion rate observed at these fronts suggests significant particle acceleration and heating, which powers the ambient current sheet to generate plasma flows in the magnetotail plasma sheet and its boundary layer. Using a simple model of ion reflection at the dipolarization front, we estimate ion energy enhancement in the ambient plasma sheet and find it to be comparable with typical electromagnetic energy converted at the front. Validated by dipolarization front statistics from THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) observations, this result suggests the important contribution of ion reflection to the energy budgets of dipolarization fronts during their earthward propagation.

Flux threshold measurements of He-ion beam induced nanofuzz formation on hot tungsten surfaces

We report measurements of the energy dependence of flux thresholds and incubation fluences for He-ion induced nano-fuzz formation on hot tungsten surfaces at UHV conditions over a wide energy range using real-time sample imaging of tungsten target emissivity change to monitor the spatial extent of nano-fuzz growth, corroborated by ex situ SEM and FIB/SEM analysis, in conjunction with accurate ion-flux profile measurements. The measurements were carried out at the multicharged ion research facility (MIRF) at energies from 218 eV to 8.5 keV, using a high-flux deceleration module and beam flux monitor for optimizing the decel optics on the low energy MIRF beamline. The measurements suggest that nano-fuzz formation proceeds only if a critical rate of change of trapped He density in the W target is exceeded. To understand the energy dependence of the observed flux thresholds, the energy dependence of three contributing factors: ion reflection, ion range and target damage creation, were determined using the SRIM simulation code. The observed energy dependence can be well reproduced by the combined energy dependences of these three factors. The incubation fluences deduced from first visual appearance of surface emissivity change were (2–4) × 1023 m−2 at 218 eV, and roughly a factor of 10 less at the higher energies, which were all at or above the displacement energy threshold. The role of trapping at C impurity sites is discussed.

Ion acceleration and reflection on magnetotail antidipolarization fronts

AbstractAntidipolarization fronts (ADFs), tailward moving structures in the Earth's magnetotail with sharp decreases in their magnetic Bz component, are thought to be mirror images of earthward propagating dipolarization fronts (DFs) generated on the opposite side of the reconnection site. We use ARTEMIS (Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon's Interaction with the Sun) observations and numerical simulations to study the role of ADFs in accelerating and reflecting ambient plasma sheet ions. In both case and statistical observations before ADF arrival, tailward streaming, energy‐dispersed ions are seen first. After about 1 min, the ion fluxes are enhanced significantly with the peak shifted duskward, and then the peak gradually shifts back to the tailward direction until the ADF arrives. All these signatures are reproduced by our simulation model of ion acceleration and reflection on ADFs. We further examine typical ion trajectories before and after ADF reflection, to understand these seemingly complicated ion signatures as well as their similarities with and differences from the DF preceding signatures.

Quasiperpendicular High Mach Number Shocks.

Shock waves exist throughout the Universe and are fundamental to understanding the nature of collisionless plasmas. Reformation is a process, driven by microphysics, which typically occurs at high Mach number supercritical shocks. While ongoing studies have investigated this process extensively both theoretically and via simulations, their observations remain few and far between. In this Letter we present a study of very high Mach number shocks in a parameter space that has been poorly explored and we identify reformation using in situ magnetic field observations from the Cassini spacecraft at 10 AU. This has given us an insight into quasiperpendicular shocks across 2 orders of magnitude in Alfvén Mach number (M_{A}) which could potentially bridge the gap between modest terrestrial shocks and more exotic astrophysical shocks. For the first time, we show evidence for cyclic reformation controlled by specular ion reflection occurring at the predicted time scale of ~0.3τ_{c}, where τ_{c} is the ion gyroperiod. In addition, we experimentally reveal the relationship between reformation and M_{A} and focus on the magnetic structure of such shocks to further show that for the same M_{A}, a reforming shock exhibits stronger magnetic field amplification than a shock that is not reforming.