Plasma Cloud Research Articles

Hall effects and diamagnetic cavity collapse during a laser plasma cloud expands into a vacuum magnetic field

This paper describes the results of a laboratory experiment on the sub-Alfven expansion of a quasi-spherical laser plasma cloud into a vacuum magnetic field in the regime of nonmagnetized ions. The role of Hall fields and currents in the anomalously fast dynamics of the magnetic field during the collapse phase of a diamagnetic cavity is considered. Detailed spatial measurements of the azimuthal Hall fields configuration are demonstrated and their relationship to diamagnetic cavity collapse is determined. As a result of the experiment, data were obtained confirming the hypothesis about the transfer of the main magnetic field by the movement of electrons associated with Hall currents.

HD 34382: A Photometrically Identified Candidate Centrifugal Magnetosphere Star

We identify the chemically peculiar B8/9V star HD 34382 as a candidate member of the rare class of rapidly rotating magnetic B stars. TESS photometry shows eclipses and smooth sinusoidal variability with a period of 2.46 days. We supplement this with Keck/HIRES spectroscopy, which shows that this is a Bp star. The data suggest that the star’s photometric variability results from a combination of chemical surface spots and eclipses by dense, magnetically confined plasma clouds, making this star’s behavior analogous to that of stars like σ Ori E. If the star’s magnetic nature is confirmed through spectropolarimetry, then HD 34382 may possess the longest rotational period known for such stars with photometrically detectable centrifugal magnetospheres. Furthermore, the star’s low temperature could make HD 34382 the coolest star of its class in which such detected centrifugal magnetosphere derived photometric variability has been observed, pending such magnetic confirmation.

Adiabatic spectrum of radio emission of plasma clouds, emitted by the Sun during solar flares, and inhomogeneities of the spectrum of radio emission of clouds

It is known that so-called solar flares systematically occur in the area of sunspots. They are accompanied by radiation in almost all frequency ranges and sometimes by the emission of hot plasma. Observations on the RATAN-600 radio telescope have shown that the radio emission spectrum of plasma clouds heated to values of the order of 106K erupted from the solar flare region turned out to be adiabatic. The high correlation of the inhomogeneities of the radio emission spectra of active formation over a group of sunspots indicates the stable presence of recombination radio lines in the radiation of active formation. However, the radio emission spectra of hot plasma clouds ejected from the region of solar flares occurring in this group of spots do not show any correlation.

Electrostatic Modeling of Dust Impact Signals Based on the Expanding Plasma Cloud

Signals generated by dust impacting spacecraft can be detected by electric field instruments. These signals have been simulated by numerous models. However, few models can accurately characterize the expansion of the plasma cloud generated by dust impact. The COMSOL model presented in this paper provides a way to understand the expansion properties of ions and electrons. The model can also be used to analyze the various expected waveforms of dust impact signals as a function of different parameters, such as the spacecraft voltage and the ambient plasma temperature. The results show that close to 50% of ions and electrons in the impact plasma cloud are collected by spacecraft at weak spacecraft potentials and that a fraction of the ions is still collected rather than all of them streaming away from the impact location at V SC > 0 V. The model also confirms that in the expanding plasma cloud, ions are in the form of plumes, while electrons diffuse in an isotropic manner.

Hybrid Kinetic Modeling of the Magnetosheath Impulsive Plasma Cloud Penetration Through the Magnetopause and Comparison With MMS and Other Spacecraft Observations

AbstractThis research examines the plasma processes under penetration of the plasma clouds (plasmoids) across the magnetopause which is modeled as a tangential discontinuity (TD). Cases with the parallel magnetic field in both sides out of the TD are under investigation. Plasma parameters and magnetic field were chosen from the MMS mission and other spacecraft observations. The results are important for understanding the following basic space plasma physics problems: (a) plasma cloud deformation and strong phase mixing with magnetospheric plasma; (b) the transfer of mass, momentum and energy of magnetosheath and magnetic cloud plasma into magnetospheric plasmas; (c) necessary conditions for plasma cloud penetration via the magnetopause; (d) wave generation by plasma clouds inside the magnetopause.

Simulation of voltage characteristics of vapor-gas shell during electrolyte-plasma treatment

Electrolytic plasma processing (EPT) is a method of surface treatment of materials based on the use of plasma and an electrolytic solution. This abstract discusses the principle of action, main applications and potential benefits of EPТ. The EPТ technique involves immersing the object being treated in an electrolytic solution, after which an electric current is applied, causing decomposition of the solution and the formation of a plasma cloud at the surface of the material being processed. Exposure to plasma and chemically active components of the solution makes it possible to modify the surface of the material, improving its properties, such as adhesion, strength and corrosion resistance. EPТ is widely used in a variety of industries, including metalworking, electronics, medical equipment and food processing. The advantages of the method include high efficiency, the ability to process complex shapes and materials, as well as environmental safety due to the absence of the use of chemically aggressive substances. Electrolytic plasma processing is a promising direction in the field of surface modification of materials with a wide range of potential applications. In this paper, theoretical studies of vapor-gas shell formation in the near-surface region of structural steels in the cathodic heating mode of electrolyte-plasma treatment were considered. The technology of electrolyte-plasma hardening, providing the required mechanical properties of products, which are often subjected to wear, temperature and force effects, was investigated. Based on the results of theoretical studies, mathematical calculations of voltage, current density, and dependence graphs were made to obtain a model of vapor-gas shell formation in the process of cathodic heating. Modeling of calculations of vapor-gas shell formation in the process of cathodic heating was carried out with the help of Maple program.

Laser-accelerated MeV-scale collimated electron bunch from a near-critical plasma of a liquid jet target

Generation of a collimated electron bunch with energy of a few MeV is demonstrated experimentally during propagation of 1 TW 10 Hz femtosecond laser radiation through a near-critical plasma formed from a micrometer-scale liquid jet (ethanol) target by ablation and boring with an intense nanosecond pulse. Hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell simulations reveal the evolution of the plasma cloud and help to identify the acceleration mechanism, which is related to self-modulated laser Wakefield acceleration during nonlinear propagation of laser radiation through plasma. The measured bunch divergence is at the level of 0.04 rad with high shot-to-shot stability. The total charge of the particles with energy above 1.6 MeV was estimated at ∼15 pC. The simplicity and robustness of the target design allows for enhanced pulse repetition rate with suppressed debris formation.

Decoding the Nature of Coherent Radio Emission in Pulsars I: Observational Constraints

Radio observations from normal pulsars indicate that the coherent radio emission is excited by curvature radiation from charge bunches. In this review, we provide a systematic description of the various observational constraints on the radio emission mechanism. We have discussed the presence of highly polarized time samples where the polarization position angle follow two orthogonal well-defined tracks across the profile that closely match the rotating vector model in an identical manner. The observations also show the presence of circular polarization, with both the right and left handed circular polarization seen across the profile. Other constraints on the emission mechanism are provided by the detailed measurements of the spectral index variation across the profile window, where the central part of the profile, corresponding to the core component, has a steeper spectrum than the surrounding cones. Finally, the detailed measurements of the subpulse drifting behaviour can be explained by considering the presence of non-dipolar field on the stellar surface and the formation of the partially screened gap (PSG) above the polar cap region. The PSG gives rise to a non-stationary plasma flow that has a multi-component nature, consisting of highly energetic primary particles, secondary pair plasma, and iron ions discharged from the surface, with large fragmentation resulting in dense plasma clouds and lower-density inter-cloud regions. The physical properties of the outflowing plasma and the observational constraints lead us to consider coherent curvature radiation as the most viable explanation for the emission mechanism in normal pulsars, where propagation effects due to adiabatic walking and refraction are largely inconsequential.

Study of plasma parameters of coaxial plasma source using triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup diagnostics

Coaxial plasma guns are a type of plasma source that produces plasma which propagates radially and axially controlled by the shape of the ground electrode, which has attracted much interest in several applications. In this work, a 120° opening angle of CPG nozzle is used as a plasma gun configuration that operates at the energy of 150 J. The ionization of polyethylene insulator between the electrodes of the gun produces a cloud of hydrogen and carbon plasma. The triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup are used to measure plasma density and plasma temperature. These methods are used to measure the on-axis and off-axis plasma divergence of the coaxial plasma gun. The peak values of ion densities measured at a distance of 25 mm on-axis from the plasma gun are (1.6 0.5) 10 m and (2.8 0.6) 10 m for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively and the peak temperature is 3.02 0.5 eV. The mean propagation velocity of plasma is calculated using the transit times of plasma at different distances from the plasma gun and is found to be 4.54 0.25 cm/ s and 1.81 0.18 cm/ s for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively. The Debye radius is obtained from the measured experimental data that satisfies the thin sheath approximation. The shot-to-shot stability of plasma parameters facilitates the use of plasma guns in laboratory experiments. These types of plasma sources can be used in many applications like plasma opening switches, plasma devices, and as plasma sources.

Hall Effects and Diamagnetic Cavity Collapse during a Laser Plasma Cloud Expansion into a Vacuum Magnetic Field

Hall Effects and Diamagnetic Cavity Collapse during a Laser Plasma Cloud Expansion into a Vacuum Magnetic Field

3D Multi‐Fluid MHD Simulation of the Early Time Behavior and Cross‐Field Propagation of an Artificial Plasma Cloud in the Bottom Side Ionosphere

AbstractThe relative motion of an artificial plasma stream in an ambient plasma background transverse to the geomagnetic field produces a polarization current and an drift in the direction of the injected photoionized neutral cloud. The polarization current couples the ion cloud momentum to the ambient plasma causing the stream to brake or “skid” before coming to rest. A multi‐fluid five‐moment resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model has been previously developed and is used in this study to simulate an artificial barium cloud released at 8 km/s in the lower ionosphere transverse to the magnetic field. The MHD model’s governing equations are used to derive 2D analytical solutions to the equations of motion that capture oscillatory behavior relating the cloud ion cyclotron frequency, artificial and ambient plasma density, initial release velocity, and photoionization rate. The analytical solutions are compared to the MHD results for time t < 1 s and previous 1D momentum coupling models. It is shown that motion in the cloud release direction is consistent with previous models while motion in the polarization direction is consistent with numerical results.

Weibel- and non-resonant Whistler wave growth in an expanding plasma in a 1D simulation geometry

Ablating a target with an ultraintense laser pulse can create a cloud of collisionless plasma. A density ramp forms, in which the plasma density decreases and the ion’s mean speed increases with distance from the plasma source. Its width increases with time. Electrons lose energy in the ion’s expansion direction, which gives them a temperature anisotropy. We study with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations the expansion of a dense plasma into a dilute one, yielding a density ramp similar to that in laser-plasma experiments and a thermal-anisotropy-driven instability. Non-propagating Weibel-type wave modes grow in the simulation with no initial magnetic field. Their magnetic field diffuses across the shock and expands upstream. Circularly polarized propagating Whistler waves grow in a second simulation, in which a magnetic field is aligned with the ion expansion direction. Both wave modes are driven by non-resonant instabilities, they have similar exponential growth rates, and they can leave the density ramp and expand into the dilute plasma. Their large magnetic amplitude should make them detectable in experimental settings.

Adiabatic Spectrum of Radio Emission of Plasma Clouds, Emitted by the Sun During Solar Flares, and Inhomogeneities of the Spectrum of Radio Emission of Clouds

Adiabatic Spectrum of Radio Emission of Plasma Clouds, Emitted by the Sun During Solar Flares, and Inhomogeneities of the Spectrum of Radio Emission of Clouds

High energy laser & systems to neutralise stellar coronal mass ejections (CME) plasma

With CME plasma and shockwave travelling at 600+ km/sec, active methods such as high energy electron lasers (HEL) and mirrors are effective at making contact with ionised atoms in CME. Electrons pulsed from kW to MW laser(s) could polarise ionised atoms such as Fe16+, O7/8+, Mg, He2+,etc to fill valence pairs. As high-FIP atoms are electromagnetically trapped with a higher susceptibility from lower e- density and temperatures, CME plasma clouds can be neutralised, separated, and reduced in velocity trajectory around planet. Study outlines interactions between Electron Laser and CME plasma cloud, orbital geometry, build of high energy lasers, subsystems, as well as recoils, and cloud charge dynamics with e- interactions to neutralise CME particles. Additional space-based systems are designed such as mirrors in closer orbit to align lower velocity light beams. In approaching higher electron recombination and FIP ionisation of laser-plasma ion cluster density, max absorption of e- to CME could be approached with similar beam, CME, mirror angles and alignment, where e- couple and fill valence shells. Models evaluate efficacy of coherent laser beams of charged electrons, X-rays, infrared (IR), and/or electron/radio Hz to polarize CME column charge densities, with optimal CME scatter geometry and time window. Low cost ground experiments are discussed. Models suggest every ~1 km gap laser creates when CME t=8.255min creates a 10,067 km gap for Earth to orbit through. Such a HEL laser, reflecting mirrors, and space systems could neutralize plasma CME Cloud within 92.818M mi (Sun-Earth distance) and mitigate effects and trillion dollar costs from Carrington-type CME flares, and supernovae.

Scattering of UAV Swarm via Artificial Plasma Cloud for Probable Over-the-Horizon Detection at VHF Band

Scattering of UAV Swarm via Artificial Plasma Cloud for Probable Over-the-Horizon Detection at VHF Band

Fast Spacecraft Charging Mitigation With Plasma Contactors During High‐Power Electron Beam Emission in the GEO Environment

AbstractThe emission of artificial electron beams causes an active spacecraft charging effect that poses challenges for electron beam sounding experiments. Plasma contactors have been suggested as a potential solution to this issue based on theoretical and simulation studies, but the impact of these contactors on spacecraft potentials in complex space environments remains unexplored. This paper investigates the fast active charging effect of spacecraft under the action of plasma contactors in the geostationary Earth orbit environment by using a two‐dimensional Particle‐in‐Cell model. We analyze and compare the effects of the “ion emission” process of the plasma contactor and the “electron collection” process of the background plasma on the spacecraft potential at different beam and environment parameters, as well as the coupling effects when both processes occur simultaneously. Our findings indicate that the “ion emission” and “electron collection” processes are the primary factors in determining the spacecraft potential in relatively thin and dense plasma environments, respectively. When the two processes occur together, the contactor plasma cloud increases the “electron collection” return current by expanding the range of the positive potential area around the spacecraft, while the dense background plasma mediates and provides the return current to ensure that the plasma contactor can effectively suppress the active charging effect even after the ion sheath is present. These results suggest that a reasonable adjustment of the contactor parameters based on the relationship between the electron beam and the background environment can effectively extend the normal emission time of the electron beam.

Influence of a Secondary Plasma Cloud on the Ablation of Pellets in Magnetic Confinement Devices

The analysis of experimental data on the structure of hydrocarbon pellet clouds on the LHD stellarator has allowed one to estimate the relative contributions of neutral and plasma shielding at the ablation of macroparticles (pellets) in a high-temperature magnetized toroidal plasma. A method for the self-consistent calculation of the pellet ablation rate, the characteristic size of the pellet cloud, and the electron density in its singly ionized part including neutral gas and plasma shielding is described. This calculation for polystyrene pellets injected into the LHD plasma gives the results that agree with the experimental data obtained during the early ablation phase, when the ablation rate is determined by thermal electrons and the contribution of the superthermal component of the hot plasma to ablation can be neglected.

A study of Io’s sodium jets with the TRAPPIST telescopes

Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. This volcanic activity results in the ejection of material into Io’s atmosphere, which may then escape from the atmosphere to form various structures in the Jovian magnetosphere, including the plasma torus and clouds of neutral particles. The physical processes involved in the escape of particles – for example, how the volcanoes of Io provide material to the plasma torus – are not yet fully understood. In particular, it is not clear to what extent the sodium jet, one of the sodium neutral clouds related to Io, is a proxy of processes that populate the various reservoirs of plasma in Jupiter’s magnetosphere. Here, we report on observations carried out over 17 nights in 2014–2015, 30 nights in 2021, and 23 nights in 2022–2023 with the TRAPPIST (TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) telescopes, in which particular attention was paid to the sodium jet and the quantification of their physical properties (length and brightness). It was found that these properties can vary greatly from one jet to another and independently of the position of Io in its orbit. No clear link was found between the presence of jets and global brightening of the plasma torus and extended sodium nebula, indicating that jets do not contribute straightforwardly to their population. This work also demonstrates the advantage of regular and long-term monitoring in understanding the variability of the sodium jet and presents a large corpus of jet detections against which work in related fields may compare.

Interplanetary Signatures during the 1972 Early August Solar Storms

In 1972, early August, a series of interplanetary shocks were observed in the heliosphere from 0.8 to 2.2 au. These shocks were attributed to a series of brilliant flares and plasma clouds since at that time coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their interplanetary counterparts (ICMEs) were unknown to the scientific community. This paper aims to reinterpret the interplanetary data in light of the current understanding about interplanetary transients and to track the evolution of the ICMEs, taking advantage of the alignment of Pioneers 9 and 10 spacecraft. For this purpose, we reanalyze in situ data from these two Pioneers and also from Heos, Prognoz 1 and 2, and Explorer 41 spacecraft searching for ICMEs and high-speed streams. Then we assemble the interplanetary transients and solar activity and analyze the propagation of the ejections through the heliosphere. The evolution of four ICMEs and a high-speed stream from a low-latitude coronal hole is followed using the multipoint in situ observations. The first three ICMEs show clear signatures of ICME–ICME interaction in the interplanetary medium, suggesting the first observations of an ICME which developed into an ICME-in-the-sheath. For a non-perturbed ICME event, we obtain the evolution parameter, ζ, related to the local expansion of ICMEs, getting similar values for Pioneer 9 (ζ = 0.80) and Pioneer 10 (ζ = 0.78). These results support previous findings of ζ being independent of the heliocentric distance and the magnetic field strength decreasing as r −2ζ .

Dynamics of a Plasma Cloud Generated by a Compact Coaxial Gun upon Expansion into Vacuum and Large-Volume Background Plasma in an External Magnetic Field

Results of experiments on injection of dense plasma clouds created by a small-scale coaxial generator into vacuum and large-volume background plasma in an ambient magnetic field are presented. The regime of an “infinite” background medium that allows studying the plasma-cloud dynamics on the scale of about one meter in the directions perpendicular and parallel to a quasi-uniform magnetic field is realized on “Krot” plasma device. The dynamics of the diamagnetic cavity appearing upon magnetic-field expulsion by a plasma blob, the electromagnetic noise appearing in the cavity, along with the evolution of plasma-cloud structure during injection and at the stage of its decay, were studied. It is demonstrated that the key properties of the cloud dynamics that are typical of the active space and high-energy laboratory experiments, including complete expulsion of the magnetic field from the cloud and development of the flute instability at its boundary, are reproduced at low injection speed (below 30 km/s) and low plasma energy (on the order of 0.1 J).