Superthermal Electron Population Research Articles

Effect of the superthermal electrons on the heat flux through a magnetized sheath

A one-dimensional model, in which the ionization and collision are omitted in the Debye sheath region, is applied to investigate the effect of the superthermal electrons on the heat flux through a magnetized sheath. For different temperatures and concentrations of the superthermal electron, and magnitudes and directions of the magnetic field, the profiles of plasma parameters including ion density and flow velocity perpendicular to the wall, the background and superthermal electron densities, and sheath potential in the presheath region are calculated. The variation of the plasma density and sheath potential drop at the Debye sheath entrance with the superthermal electrons and magnetic field modifies the particle and heat fluxes across the Debye sheath to the material surface. The sheath heat transmission coefficient can increase significantly even for a very small superthermal electron population. The dependence of the sheath heat transmission coefficient on the magnetic field angle decreases with the contribution of the superthermal electron in a strong magnetized sheath. When investigation of the heat flux including the superthermal electrons to a water-cooled W/Cu monoblack for the tokamak divertor, compared to the case of without superthermal electrons, it is found that the increase in both heat flux to the material surface and surface temperature of the material is mainly due to the enhancement of the sheath potential drop caused by the superthermal electrons, but the increase in the latter is not as pronounced as the former.

Sensitivity of synchrotron radiation to the superthermal electron population in mildly relativistic plasma

Synchrotron radiation has markedly different behavior in ∼ 10 keV and in ∼ 100 keV plasma. We show that high-energy electrons that occupy the tail of velocity distribution function have disproportionate impact on power loss of ∼ 100 keV plasma. If electrons with energy more than cutoff energy are redistributed while keeping the Maxwellian distribution function below cutoff energy intact, both emission and absorption of synchrotron radiation act to decrease the lost power. These novel radiation transport effects in non-equilibrium plasma suggest large utility in the deconfinement of high-energy electrons to reduce synchrotron radiation in applications where the radiation is deleterious.

Driven ion acoustic wave nonlinearities in superthermal electron plasmas

The fluid nonlinearities of driven ion acoustic waves (IAWs) in superthermal electron plasmas are investigated by fluid theory and one-dimensional fluid simulation. A kappa velocity distribution function is used to model superthermal electrons. Under the condition of small wave amplitudes, simulation results are presented to verify the conclusion of fluid theory, showing that the presence of superthermal electrons leads to stronger harmonic generation and larger nonlinear frequency shifts of IAWs. In addition, the growth rate and threshold of the IAW decay instability from simulations are well predicted by a simple three-wave fluid theory. It is shown that the nonlinear frequency shift has a significant effect on IAW decay, and for a larger population of superthermal electrons, the IAW decay has a smaller onset threshold and threshold range.

Electron Heat Fluxes Generated by Intense Whistler Waves at the Upper Ionospheric Altitudes

AbstractMagnetospheric whistler waves, chorus and hiss, can't provide the resonance heating of the core electron plasma population. However, these whistler‐mode branches, can implicitly participate in the heating processes of the core plasma thermal electron population by triggering the electron precipitation over a broad energy range from the magnetosphere and subsequent atmospheric ionization processes leading to the production of superthermal electron population. These superthermal electrons play a large role in the magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐atmosphere energy interplay with participation of both magnetically conjugate hemispheres, and their Coulomb interaction with background magnetospheric thermal electrons. Using strong hiss and chorus wave events measured by the Van Allen Probes and SuperThermal Electron Transport code, we evaluate the formation of electron heat fluxes at the upper ionospheric altitudes and discuss their consequences on the formation of electron temperature. It is found that chorus and hiss waves that initiate the precipitation of magnetospheric electrons with energies below 30 keV and the follow‐up production of secondary electrons play an important role in the energy balance of ionosphere‐magnetosphere system.

Broadband Energization of Superthermal Electrons in Jupiter’s Inner Magnetosphere

AbstractThe Juno spacecraft in a polar orbit around Jupiter has observed broadband electron energization signatures at high latitudes (Mauk et al., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature23648). We investigate the origin of this energization by simulating the propagation of dispersive Alfvén waves from the Io plasma torus to high latitudes. These waves may be triggered by mechanisms such as the moon‐magnetosphere interaction or inflows from radial transport. We build on the initial hybrid gyrofluid‐kinetic electron simulation of Damiano et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018gl081219) to further quantify electron energization by Alfvénic waves, and investigate this process as a local source mechanism for observed broadband superthermal electron populations. We find that the magnitude of energization increases with the wave amplitude, while decreasing the radial wavelength reduces the high‐latitude wave and particle energy flux. Over the examined range of initial conditions we successfully generate broadband electron populations consistent with Juno observations (Mauk et al., 2017, http://doi.org/10.1038/nature23648; Szalay et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018je005752), that contribute to both precipitating populations and those that form trans‐hemispheric beams. Our energized electron distributions are consistent with observed superthermal populations critical for the torus energy budget (Bagenal & Delamere, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010ja016294) and Io‐related auroral emission.

Nonlinear ion acoustic waves in dissipative and dispersive magneto‐rotating relativistic plasmas with two temperature superthermal electrons

AbstractA study has been presented for the nonlinear features of ion‐acoustic (IA) shock waves in a magnetorotating plasma consisting of warm viscous streaming ions along with kappa‐distributed electrons having two different temperatures. In this regard, we have employed the reductive perturbation technique to derive the Zakharov‐Kuznetsov‐Burgers (ZKB) equation that governs the dynamics of IA shock waves. The solution obtained by the hyperbolic tangent method has been shown to depend on various plasma parameters such as spectral index (κc), density fraction (f), effective rotation frequency (Ωc), ion kinematic viscosity (ηo), and temperature ratio (σ). In the limiting case when dissipative coefficient D → 0, we have also examined the solitary potential distributions, which are the solutions of Zakharov Kuznetsov (ZK) equation. It is found that both rarefactive and compressive structures exist for the system under consideration. The transition in the nature of such profiles is due to the enhancement in the density of cold electrons. The importance of present theoretical investigations has been carried out with regard to Saturn's magnetosphere, where two temperature superthermal electron populations have been observed by various satellite missions.

Localized Heating of the Martian Topside Ionosphere Through the Combined Effects of Magnetic Pumping by Large‐Scale Magnetosonic Waves and Pitch Angle Diffusion by Whistler Waves

AbstractWe present Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) observations of periodic ( 25 s) large‐scale (hundreds of km) magnetosonic waves propagating into the Martian dayside upper ionosphere. These waves adiabatically modulate the superthermal electron distribution function, and the induced electron temperature anisotropies drive the generation of observed electromagnetic whistler waves. The localized (in altitude) minimum in the ratio pe/ ce provides conditions favorable for the local enhancement of efficient wave‐particle interactions, so that the induced whistlers act back on the superthermal electron population to isotropize the plasma through pitch angle scattering. These wave‐particle interactions break the adiabaticity of the large‐scale magnetosonic wave compressions, leading to local heating of the superthermal electrons during compressive wave “troughs.” Further evidence of this heating is observed as the subsequent phase shift between the observed perpendicular‐to‐parallel superthermal electron temperatures and compressive wave fronts. This heating mechanism may be important at other unmagnetized bodies.

Solitary waves and double layers in an inhomogeneous electronegative plasma with heavier negative ions

The linear dispersion relation and partial differential equations are derived for the electronegative plasma with heavier negative ions embedded in an ambient magnetic field. The appropriate transformation is used to study the nonlinear structures without introducing multi-scale expansion of various quantities. The nonlinear partial differential equation obtained sustains nonlinear structures like solitons and double layers. All the linear waves and the nonlinear structures like solitons and double layers are found to be modified predominantly under the influence of superthermal particles, density inhomogeneity, electron populations, and positive to negative heavy ion ratios.

Evolution of dust ion acoustic soliton in the presence of superthermal electrons

Propagation of solitary wave in dusty plasmas started to draw the attention of the physicists since the early 90s. The presence of superthermal particles seems to have a great impact on such waves, as they indicate the existence of non-thermal systems. It has been observed that the superthermal population is capable of altering the nature of the plasmas waves. In the present paper, the effect of the superthermal electron population on the dust ion acoustic solitary wave has been explored. The plasma is considered un-magnetized and composed of two components of superthermal electrons (of two distinct temperature) along with positive ions, and negative dust particles. A major part of the work has been concentrated on the stability of the solitary structures considering the effect of the superthermal parameter. In addition, the dust charge has been considered as a variable and a detailed analysis has been provided on the same. The proposed plasma model is most suitable for analyzing Saturn magnetosphere and can be extended to any space plasmas with superthermal population.

Kinetic Alfvén solitary waves in a plasma with two-temperature superthermal electron populations: the case of Saturn’s magnetosphere

Kinetic Alfvén solitary waves in a plasma with two-temperature superthermal electron populations: the case of Saturn’s magnetosphere

EMEC instability based on kappa-Maxwellian distributed trapped electrons in auroral plasma

In space plasmas, particle distributions are often observed having high energy tails and are well fitted by kappa distribution function. However, in auroral region electrons are expected to be accelerated mainly along the magnetic field lines and one may expect Maxwellian behaviour in perpendicular direction. Therefore, in the present study propagation characteristics of electromagnetic electron cyclotron (EMEC) waves is studied by employing kappa-Maxwellian distribution function for energetic trapped electrons in auroral region. Real frequency and the growth rate expressions have been solved numerically for kappa-Maxwellian plasma and then analyzed by considering the effect of different plasma parameters for wide range of auroral altitudes. The numerical results obtained show that growth rate increases with the increase in ratio \({\omega_{pe}} / {\varOmega_{e}}\), plasma beta, temperature anisotropy \({T_{\bot}} / {T_{\parallel}}\) and trapped electron drift speed but decreases when superthermal electron population increases.

Generation of ion acoustic solitary waves through wave breaking in superthermal plasmas

Space plasmas provide abundant evidence of a highly energetic particle population that results in a long-tailed non-Maxwellian distribution. Such plasmas can be effectively modeled with kappa distribution. The superthermal population in the tail of kappa distribution can have significant effects on the wave dynamical processes. We perform the fluid simulations to examine the effects of superthermal populations on the breaking of the electrostatic ion-acoustic (IA) wave, which is the most fundamental mode, existing in the unmagnetized plasmas. We construct a fluid model for exciting IA waves by employing a kappa distribution function for the superthermal population of electrons along with inertial cold ions (protons). We focused on the nonlinear excitations; in the form of ion acoustic solitary wave (IASW) structures formed through the process of wave breaking, and investigated the role of superthermal electron population in the initiation of the steepening, wave breaking, and propagation characteristics of the IASWs in plasma. From the output of the simulation, we established the criteria for the steepening time based on the variations in the phase velocity of the IASWs. Furthermore, we examined the maximum ponderomotive potential and ponderomotive frequency during the wave breaking process. We found that the time corresponding to the peak in the maximum ponderomotive potential is the time of the initialization of the wave breaking process. We present a detailed investigation of the role of the ponderomotive forces acting on the plasma at each time step, which explains the physics of the wave breaking in nonthermal plasmas.

Photoelectrons in the quiet polar wind

AbstractThis study presents a newly coupled model capable of treating the superthermal electron population in the global polar wind solution. The model combines the hydrodynamic Polar Wind Outflow Model (PWOM) with the kinetic SuperThermal Electron Transport (STET) code. The resulting PWOM‐STET coupled model is described and then used to investigate the role of photoelectrons in the polar wind. We present polar wind results along single stationary field lines under dayside and nightside conditions, as well as the global solution reconstructed from nearly 1000 moving field lines. The model results show significant day‐night asymmetries in the polar wind solution owing to the higher ionization and photoelectron fluxes on the dayside compared to the nightside. Field line motion is found to modify this dependence and create global structure by transporting field lines through different conditions of illumination and through the localized effects of Joule heating.

Magneto-thermal reconnection processes, related mode momentum and formation of high energy particle populations

In the context of a two-fluid theory of magnetic reconnection, when the longitudinal electron thermal conductivity is relatively large, the perturbed electron temperature tends to become singular in the presence of a reconnected field component and an electron temperature gradient. A finite transverse thermal diffusivity removes this singularity while a finite ‘inductivity’ can remove the singularity of the relevant plasma displacement. Then (i) a new ‘magneto-thermal’ reconnection producing mode, is found with characteristic widths of the reconnection layer remaining significant even when the macroscopic distances involved are very large; (ii) the mode phase velocities can be both in the direction of the electron diamagnetic velocity as well in the opposite (ion) direction. A numerical solution of the complete set of equations has been carried out with a simplified analytical reformulation of the problem. A sequence of processes is analyzed to point out that high-energy particle populations can be produced as a result of reconnection events. These involve mode-particle resonances transferring energy of the reconnecting mode to a superthermal ion population and the excitation of lower hybrid waves that can lead to a significant superthermal electron population. The same modes excited in axisymmetric (e.g. toroidal) confinement configurations can extract angular momentum from the main body of the plasma column and thereby sustain a local ‘spontaneous rotation’ of it.

Modeling physical chemistry of the Io plasma torus in two dimensions

AbstractPeriodicities in the Io plasma illustrate the rich complexity of magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling in space plasmas. The confounding System IV period (slower than the rotation of Jupiter's magnetic field ≡ System III) remains a mystery of the torus. Common to both System III and IV are modulations of the superthermal electron population. The small fraction (<1%) of hot electrons plays a vital role in torus physical and chemical properties, modulating the abundance and temperature of ion species. Building on previous models of torus physical chemistry, we have developed a two‐dimensional model that includes azimuthal and radial transport (diffusion equation) while averaging chemical processes in latitude. This paper presents initial results of the model, demonstrating the role of hot electrons in forming a single‐peaked torus structure. The effect of azimuthal shear is investigated as plasma is transported radially outward, showing how the torus properties evolve during transport from a chemically dominated regime (inner torus) to a transport dominated regime (outer torus). Surprisingly, we find that hot electron populations influence torus properties at all radial distances. While many of our results are preliminary, suggestions for future modeling experiments are suggested to provide additional insight into the origin of the ubiquitous superthermal electrons.

Modulational instability of electron-acoustic waves in plasmas with superthermal electrons

The propagation of electron-acoustic waves (EAWs) in plasmas composed of inertial cold electrons, hot superthermal electrons, and stationary ions is investigated. By means of the reduction perturbation technique, a nonlinear Schrödinger equation is derived and the modulation instability of EAW is analyzed, where the superthermal parameter is found to be of significant importance. It is shown that the presence of superthermal electrons enhances the critical wave number of the modulational instability of EAWs. Besides, due to the presence of the superthermal electrons, EAWs are stable on a vaster region. Moreover, the modulational instability growth rate is lower for a larger population of superthermal electrons. Further, it is shown that increasing values of the relative density ratio α = ne0/nc0 shifts the instability domain to lower values of wave number k.

Electron-scale electrostatic solitary waves and shocks: the role of superthermal electrons

The propagation of electron-acoustic solitary waves and shock structures is investigated in a plasma characterized by a superthermal electron population. A three-component plasma model configuration is employed, consisting of inertial (“cold”) electrons, inertialess κ (kappa) distributed superthermal (“hot”) electrons and stationary ions. A multiscale method is employed, leading to a Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation for the electrostatic potential (in the absence of dissipation). Taking into account dissipation, a hybrid Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers (KdVB) equation is derived. Exact negative-potential pulse- and kink-shaped solutions (shocks) are obtained. The relative strength among dispersion, nonlinearity and damping coefficients is discussed. Excitations formed in superthermal plasma (finite κ) are narrower and steeper, compared to the Maxwellian case (infinite κ). A series of numerical simulations confirms that energy initially stored in a solitary pulse which propagates in a stable manner for large κ (Maxwellian plasma) may break down to smaller structures or/and to random oscillations, when it encounters a small-κ (nonthermal) region. On the other hand, shock structures used as initial conditions for numerical simulations were shown to be robust, essentially responding to changed in the environment by a simple profile change (in width).

Effect of dust polarity on dust ion-acoustic localized structures in a superthermal dusty plasma

The effects of dust polarity and superthermal electrons are incorporated in the study of dust ion-acoustic (DIA) solitary waves (SWs) as well double layers (DLs) in a dusty plasma containing warm adiabatic ions, superthermal electrons, and arbitrarily (positively or negatively) charged immobile dust. Based on the energy-like integral equation, a new relationship between the localized electrostatic disturbances and dust polarity is derived. It is shown that there exists rarefactive SWs and DLs with qualitatively different structures in a way that depends on the population of superthermal electrons. As the electrons evolve their thermodynamic equilibrium, the localized structures are found with larger amplitude. It is also found that their amplitude increases (decreases) with the increase in the negative (positive) dust number density.

Hybrid (particle in cell-fluid) simulation of ion-acoustic soliton generation including super-thermal and trapped electrons

The present paper is devoted to the simulation of the nonlinear disintegration of a localized perturbation into an ion-acoustic soliton in a plasma. Recently, this problem was studied by a simple model [H. Abbasi et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 50, 095007 (2008)]. The main assumptions were (i) in the electron velocity distribution function (DF), the ion-acoustic soliton velocity was neglected in comparison to the electron thermal velocity, (ii) on the ion-acoustic evolution time-scale, the electron velocity DF was assumed to be stationary, and (iii) the calculation was restricted to the small amplitude case. In order to generalize the model, one has to consider the evolution of the electron velocity DF for finite amplitudes. For this purpose, a one dimensional electrostatic hybrid code, particle in cell (PIC)-fluid, was designed. It simulates the electrons dynamics by the PIC method and the cold ions dynamics by the fluid equations. The plasma contains a population of super-thermal electrons and, therefore, a Lorentzian (kappa) velocity DF is used to model the high energy tail in the electron velocity DF. Electron trapping is included in the simulation in view of their nonlinear resonant interaction with the localized perturbation. A Gaussian initial perturbation is used to model the localized perturbation. The influence of both the trapped and the super-thermal electrons on this process is studied and compared with the previous model.

Modulational instability of ion-acoustic waves in plasmas with superthermal electrons

Using the reductive perturbation technique, the modulational instability of ion- acoustic waves in a plasma containing superthermal electrons is studied. It is found that the presence of superthermal electrons significantly changes the instability domain. A Lorentzian (kappa) velocity distribution function is used to model superthermal electrons. It is shown that the presence of superthermal electrons reduces the critical frequency of the modulational instability of ion-acoustic waves. Besides, due to the presence of the superthermal electrons, ion-acoustic waves are unstable on a vaster region. Moreover, the modulational instability growth rate is larger for a larger population of superthermal electrons.