Magnetic Field Torque Research Articles

The magnetised plasma Richtmyer–Meshkov instability: elastic collisions in an ion–electron multifluid plasma

The influence of an applied magnetic field on the collisional plasma Richtmyer–Meshkov instability (RMI) is investigated through numerical simulation. The instability is studied within the five-moment multifluid plasma model without any simplifying assumptions such as infinite speed of light, negligible electron inertia or quasineutrality. The plasma is composed of ion and electron fluids, and elastic collisions are modelled with the Braginskii transport coefficients. A collisional regime is investigated and the magnetic field is applied in the direction of shock propagation, which is perpendicular to the density interface. The primary instability is influenced by several terms affecting the evolution of circulation, the most significant of which are the baroclinic, magnetic field torque and intraspecies collisional terms. The applied magnetic field results in a reduction of interface perturbation growth, agreeing qualitatively with previous numerical simulations for the case of an ideal multifluid plasma RMI. The only major difference in the present case's instability mitigation by applied magnetic field, relative to the ideal case with applied magnetic field, is that the elastic collisions replace and obstruct the secondary vorticity suppression mechanism through collisional dissipation of vorticity. Additionally the collisions, influenced by the combination of self-generated and the applied magnetic field, introduce anisotropy to the problem. The primary suppression mechanism for the RMI is unchanged relative to the ideal case, i.e. the magnetic field torque resisting baroclinic deposition of vorticity in the ion fluid.

Element-Specific Detection of Sub-Nanosecond Spin-Transfer Torque in a Nanomagnet Ensemble.

Spin currents can exert spin-transfer torques on magnetic systems even in the limit of vanishingly small net magnetization, as recently shown for antiferromagnets. Here, we experimentally show that a spin-transfer torque is operative in a macroscopic ensemble of weakly interacting, randomly magnetized Co nanomagnets. We employ element- and time-resolved X-ray ferromagnetic resonance (XFMR) spectroscopy to directly detect subnanosecond dynamics of the Co nanomagnets, excited into precession with cone angle ≳0.003° by an oscillating spin current. XFMR measurements reveal that as the net moment of the ensemble decreases, the strength of the spin-transfer torque increases relative to those of magnetic field torques. Our findings point to spin-transfer torque as an effective way to manipulate the state of nanomagnet ensembles at subnanosecond time scales.

Exchange magnetic field torques in YIG/Pt bilayers observed by the spin-Hall magnetoresistance

The effective field torque of an yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) film on the spin accumulation in an attached platinum (Pt) film is measured by the spin-Hall magnetoresistance (SMR). As a result, the magnetization direction of a ferromagnetic insulating layer can be measured electrically. Experimental transverse and longitudinal resistances are well described by the theoretical model of SMR in terms of the direct and inverse spin-Hall effect, for different Pt thicknesses [3, 4, 8, and 35 nm]. Adopting a spin-Hall angle of Pt θSH=0.08, we obtain the spin diffusion length of Pt (λ=1.1±0.3 nm) as well as the real (Gr=(7±3)×1014 Ω−1m−2) and imaginary part (Gi=(5±3)×1013 Ω−1m−2) of the spin-mixing conductance and their ratio (Gr/Gi=16±4).

Compression of matter in the center of accreting neutron stars

To estimate the feasibility of dense-matter phase transition, we studied the evolution of the central density as well as the baryon chemical potential of accreting neutron stars. We compared the thin-disk accretion with and without the magnetic field torque with the spin-down scenario for a selection of recent equations of state. We compared the prevalent (in the recycled-pulsar context) Keplerian thin-disk model, in which the matter is accreted from the marginally-stable circular orbit, with the recent magnetic-torque model that takes into account the influence of stellar magnetic field on the effective inner boundary of the disk. Calculations were performed using a multi-domain spectral methods code in the framework of General Relativity. We considered three equations of state consistent with the recently measured mass of PSR J1614-2230, 1.97 +- 0.04 M_sun (one of them softened by the appearance of hyperons). If there is no magnetic torque and efficient angular momentum transfer from the disk to the star, substantial central compression is limited to the region of initial stellar masses close to the maximum mass. Outside the maximum mass vicinity, accretion-induced central compression is significant only if the angular momentum transfer is inefficient. Accounting for the magnetic field effectively decreases the efficiency of angular momentum transfer and implies a significant central compression. An efficient angular momentum transfer from a thin disk onto a non-magnetized neutron star does not provide a good mechanism for the central compression and possible phase transition. Substantial central compression is possible for a broad range of masses of slowly-rotating initial configurations for magnetized neutron stars. Accretion-induced central compression is particularly strong for stiff equation of state with a high-density softening.

Texturing hard Nd-Fe-B powdered ribbons in high magnetic field

A new route to texture NdFeB alloys in magnetic field was presented in a recent paper [1], constituting an attempt towards the preparation of anisotropic bonded magnets. NdFeB ribbons composed of Nd2Fe14B grains embedded in a Nd-Cu eutectic matrix, were annealed under an applied magnetic field up to 16T, at temperatures above the Nd-Cu melting temperature. A crystallographic texture was found to progressively develop at annealing temperatures, above 700 °C. In this paper, it is proposed that the grain orientation mechanism involves a competition between the aligning magnetic field torque acting on the magnetic grains and thermal disordering effects which becomes more and more significant as the temperature is increased. A simple model is developed to evaluate these effects. It is shown as well that a lowering of the alloy coercivity takes place during annealing.

Texturing Nd–Fe–B magnets under high magnetic field

An original approach is explored in the preparation of anisotropic hard magnetic alloys. This constitutes a proof of principle toward the preparation of anisotropic bonded magnets. Nd–Fe–B ribbons (50% Nd2Fe14B+50% Nd–Cu alloy), constituted of Nd2Fe14B grains embedded in a Nd–Cu eutectic matrix, were annealed under an applied magnetic field up to 16 T at various temperatures above the Nd–Cu melting temperature. The grain orientation mechanism is described in terms of a competition between the aligning magnetic field torque acting on the solid magnetic grains and the friction counter torque at the interface between the grains and the liquid matrix. The large temperature effect on the orientation behavior is attributed to the associated increase in the liquid phase volume fraction.

Magnetic field effect on heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of blood flow in multi-stenosis arteries

Heat and fluid flow characteristics of blood flow in multi-stenosis arteries in the presence of magnetic field is considered. A mathematical model of the multi-stenosis inside the arteries is introduced. A finite difference scheme is used to solve the governing equations in terms of vorticity-stream function along with their boundary conditions. The effect of magnetic field and the degree of stenosis on wall shear stress and Nusselt number is investigated. It was found that magnetic field modifies the flow patterns and increases the heat transfer rate. The severity of the stenosis affects the wall shear stress characteristics significantly. The magnetic field torque will increase the thermal boundary layer thickness and the temperature gradient in the streaming blood, and hence increasing the local Nusselt number

Kerr black holes and time profiles of gamma ray bursts

The cumulative light curves of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) smooth the spiky nature of the running light curve. The cumulative count increases in an approximate linear way with time t for most bursts. In 19 out of 398 GRBs with s, the cumulative light curve was found to increase with time as ~t2 implying a linear increase in the running light curve. The non-linear sections last for a substantial fraction of the GRB duration, have a large proportion of the cumulative count and many resolved pulses that usually end with the highest pulse in the burst. The reverse behaviour was found in 11 GRBs where the running light curve decreased with time and some bursts are good mirror images of the increases. These GRBs are among the spectrally hardest bursts observed by BATSE. The most likely interpretation is that these effects are signatures of black holes that are either being spun up or down in the accretion process. In the spin up case, the increasing Kerr parameter of the black hole allows additional rotational and accretion energy to become available for extraction. The process is reversed if the black hole is spun down by magnetic field torques. The luminosity changes in GRBs are consistent with the predictions of the BZ process and neutrino annihilation and thus provide the link to spinning black holes. GRBs provide a new window for studying the general relativistic effects of Kerr black holes.