Strong Magnetic Turbulence Research Articles

Strong turbulence and magnetic coherent structures in the interstellar medium

Magnetic turbulence is classified as weak or strong based on the relative amplitude of the magnetic field fluctuations compared to the mean field. These two classes have different energy transport properties. The purpose of this study is to analyze turbulence in the interstellar medium (ISM) based on this classification. Specifically, we examined the ISM of simulated galaxies to detect evidence of strong magnetic turbulence and provide statistics on the associated magnetic coherent structures (MCoSs), such as current sheets, that arise in this context. We analyzed magnetohydrodynamic galaxy simulations with different initial magnetic field structures (either completely ordered or completely random) and recorded statistics on the magnetic field fluctuations ($ B/B_0$) and the MCoSs, which are defined here as regions where the current density surpasses a certain threshold. We also studied the MCoS sizes and kinematics. The magnetic field disturbances in both models follow a log-normal distribution, peaking at values close to unity; this distribution turns into a power law at large values ($ B/B_0 > 1$), which is consistent with strong magnetic turbulence The current densities are widely distributed, with non-power-law deviations from a log-normal at the largest values. These deviating values of the current density define MCoSs. We find that, in both models, MCoSs are fractally distributed in space, with a typical volume-filling factor of about 10 percent, and tend to coincide with peaks of star formation density. Their fractal dimension is close to unity on sub-kiloparsec scales, and between 2 and 3 on larger scales. These values are consistent with MCoSs having a sheet-like or filament-like morphology. Our work challenges the prevailing paradigm of weak magnetic turbulence in the ISM by demonstrating that strong magnetic disturbances can occur even when the initial magnetic field is completely ordered. This strong magnetic turbulence arises self-consistently from differential rotation and supernova feedback. Our findings provide a foundation for a magnetic turbulence description of the galactic ISM that includes strong fluctuations of the magnetic field.

Nonthermal electron acceleration at collisionless quasi-perpendicular shocks

Shock waves propagating in collisionless heliospheric and astrophysical plasmas have been studied extensively over the decades. One prime motivation is to understand the nonthermal particle acceleration at shocks. Although the theory of diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) has long been the standard for cosmic-ray acceleration at shocks, plasma physical understanding of particle acceleration remains elusive. In this review, we discuss nonthermal electron acceleration mechanisms at quasi-perpendicular shocks, for which substantial progress has been made in recent years. The discussion presented in this review is restricted to the following three specific topics: The first is stochastic shock drift acceleration (SSDA), which is a relatively new mechanism for electron injection into DSA. The basic mechanism, related in-situ observations and kinetic simulations results, and how it is connected with DSA will be discussed. Second, we discuss shock surfing acceleration (SSA) at very high Mach number shocks relevant to young supernova remnants (SNRs). While the original proposal under the one-dimensional assumption is unrealistic, SSA has now been proven efficient by a fully three-dimensional kinetic simulation. We discuss the multidimensional nature of SSA and its role in electron injection. Finally, we discuss the current understanding of the magnetized Weibel-dominated shock. It is essentially a magnetized shock in which the reflected-gyrating ions dominate the formation of the shock structure but with a substantial magnetic field amplification by the ion-Weibel instability. Spontaneous magnetic reconnection of self-generated current sheets within the shock structure is an interesting consequence of Weibel-generated strong magnetic turbulence. Although the exact condition for active magnetic reconnection has not been clarified, we argue that high Mach number shocks with both Alfvén and sound Mach numbers exceeding 20–40 will likely behave as a Weibel-dominated shock. Despite a number of interesting recent findings, the relative roles of SSDA, SSA, and magnetic reconnection for electron acceleration at collisionless shocks and how the dominant particle acceleration mechanisms change depending on shock parameters remain to be answered.

The Maximum Energy of Shock-accelerated Electrons in a Microturbulent Magnetic Field

Abstract Relativistic shocks propagating into a medium with low magnetization are generated and sustained by small-scale but very strong magnetic field turbulence. This so-called “microturbulence” modifies the typical shock acceleration process, and in particular that of electrons. In this work we perform Monte Carlo (MC) simulations of electrons encountering shocks with microturbulent fields. The simulations cover a three-dimensional parameter space in shock speed, acceleration efficiency, and peak magnetic field strength. From these, a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method was employed to estimate the maximum electron momentum from the MC-simulated electron spectra. Having estimated this quantity at many points well-distributed over an astrophysically relevant parameter space, an MCMC method was again used to estimate the parameters of an empirical formula that computes the maximum momentum of a Fermi-accelerated electron population anywhere in this parameter space. The maximum energy is well-approximated as a broken power law in shock speed, with the break occurring when the shock decelerates to the point where electrons can begin to escape upstream from the shock.

Uncovering Magnetic Turbulence in Young Supernova Remnants with Polarized X-Ray Imaging

Abstract Observations of young supernova remnants (SNRs) in X-rays and γ-rays have provided conclusive evidence for particle acceleration to at least TeV energies. Analysis of high-spatial-resolution X-ray maps of young SNRs has indicated that the particle acceleration process is accompanied by strong nonadiabatic amplification of magnetic fields. If Fermi acceleration is the mechanism producing the energetic cosmic rays (CRs), the amplified magnetic field must be turbulent, and CR-driven instabilities are among the most probable mechanisms for converting the shock ram pressure into magnetic turbulence. The development and evolution of strong magnetic turbulence in collisionless plasmas forming SNR shells are complicated phenomena which include the amplification of magnetic modes, anisotropic mode transformations at shocks, as well as the nonlinear physics of turbulent cascades. Polarized X-ray synchrotron radiation from ultrarelativistic electrons accelerated in the SNR shock is produced in a thin layer immediately behind the shock and is not subject to the Faraday depolarization effect. These factors open up possibilities to study some properties of magnetic turbulence, and here we present polarized X-ray synchrotron maps of SNR shells assuming different models of magnetic turbulence cascades. It is shown that different models of anisotropic turbulence can be distinguished by measuring the predominant polarization angle direction. We discuss the detection of these features in Tycho’s SNR with the coming generation of X-ray polarimeters such as the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer.

Is the SNR HESS J1731-347 Colliding with Molecular Clouds?

Abstract The supernova remnant HESS J1731-347 is a young supernova remnant (SNR) that displays a nonthermal X-ray and TeV shell structure. A molecular cloud at a distance of ∼3.2 kpc is spatially coincident with the western part of the SNR, and it was likely hit by the SNR. The X-ray emission from this part of the shell is much lower than from the rest of the SNR. Moreover, a compact GeV emission region coincident with the cloud has been detected with a soft spectrum. These observations seem to imply a shock-cloud collision scenario at this area, where the stalled shock can no longer accelerate super-TeV electrons or maintain strong magnetic turbulence downstream, while the GeV cosmic rays (CRs) are released through this stalled shock. To test this hypothesis, we have performed a detailed Fermi-LAT reanalysis of the HESS J1731-347 region with over nine years of data. Two distinct GeV components are found, one displaying a soft spectrum is from the compact GeV emission region, the other one displaying a hard spectrum is from the rest of the SNR (excluding the cloud region). A hadronic model involving a shock-cloud collision scenario is built to explain the γ-ray emission from this area. It consists of three CR sources: run-away super-TeV CRs that have escaped from the fast shock, leaked GeV CRs from the stalled shock, and the local CR sea. The X-ray and γ-ray emission of the SNR excluding the shock-cloud interaction region is explained in a one-zone leptonic model. Our shock-cloud collision model explains the GeV–TeV observations from the clouds around HESS J1731-347, i.e., a cloud in contact with the SNR and a distant cloud in spatial coincidence to the TeV source HESS J1729-345. We find however that the leaked GeV CRs from the shock-cloud collision do not necessarily dominate the GeV emission from the clouds, due to a comparable contribution from the local CR sea.

Modeling of the spatially resolved nonthermal emission from the Vela Jr. supernova remnant

Vela Jr. (RX J0852.0−4622) is one of just a few known supernova remnants (SNRs) with a resolved shell across the whole electromagnetic spectrum from radio to very-high-energy (>100 GeV; VHE) gamma-rays. Its proximity and large size allow for detailed spatially resolved observations of the source, making Vela Jr. one of the primary sources used for the study of particle acceleration and emission mechanisms in SNRs. High-resolution X-ray observations reveal a steepening of the spectrum toward the interior of the remnant. In this study we aim for a self-consistent radiation model of Vela Jr. which at the same time would explain the broadband emission from the source and its intensity distribution. We solve the full particle transport equation combined with the high-resolution one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic simulations (using Pluto code) and subsequently calculate the radiation from the remnant. The equations are solved in the test particle regime. We test two models for the magnetic field profile downstream of the shock: damped magnetic field, which accounts for the damping of strong magnetic turbulence downstream, and transported magnetic field. Neither of these scenarios can fully explain the observed radial dependence of the X-ray spectrum under spherical symmetry. We show, however, that the softening of the spectrum and the X-ray intensity profile can be explained under the assumption that the emission is enhanced within a cone.

Investigation of the strong turbulence in the geospace environment

Abstract. Plasma vortices are often detected by spacecraft in the geospace (atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere) environment, for instance in the magnetosheath and in the magnetotail region. Large scale vortices may correspond to the injection scale of turbulence, so that understanding their origin is important for understanding the energy transfer processes in the geospace environment. In a recent work, turbulent state of plasma medium (especially, ionosphere) is overviewed. Experimental observation data from THEMIS mission (Keiling et al., 2009) is investigated and numerical simulations are carried out. By analyzing the THEMIS data for that event, we find that several vortices in the magnetotail are detected together with the main one and these vortices constitute a vortex chain. Such vortices can cause the strong turbulent state in the different media. The strong magnetic turbulence is investigated in the ionsophere as an ensemble of such strongly localized (weakly interacting) vortices. Characteristics of power spectral densities are estimated for the observed and analytical stationary dipole structures. These characteristics give good description of the vortex structures.

PARTICLE ACCELERATION AND PLASMA DYNAMICS DURING MAGNETIC RECONNECTION IN THE MAGNETICALLY DOMINATED REGIME

Magnetic reconnection is thought to be the driver for many explosive phenomena in the universe. The energy release and particle acceleration during reconnection have been proposed as a mechanism for producing high-energy emissions and cosmic rays. We carry out two- and three-dimensional kinetic simulations to investigate relativistic magnetic reconnection and the associated particle acceleration. The simulations focus on electron-positron plasmas starting with a magnetically dominated, force-free current sheet ($\sigma \equiv B^2/(4\pi n_e m_e c^2) \gg 1$). For this limit, we demonstrate that relativistic reconnection is highly efficient at accelerating particles through a first-order Fermi process accomplished by the curvature drift of particles along the electric field induced by the relativistic flows. This mechanism gives rise to the formation of hard power-law spectra $f \propto (\gamma-1)^{-p}$ and approaches $p = 1$ for sufficiently large $\sigma$ and system size. Eventually most of the available magnetic free energy is converted into nonthermal particle kinetic energy. An analytic model is presented to explain the key results and predict a general condition for the formation of power-law distributions. The development of reconnection in these regimes leads to relativistic inflow and outflow speeds and enhanced reconnection rates relative to non-relativistic regimes. In the three-dimensional simulation, the interplay between secondary kink and tearing instabilities leads to strong magnetic turbulence, but does not significantly change the energy conversion, reconnection rate, or particle acceleration. This study suggests that relativistic reconnection sites are strong sources of nonthermal particles, which may have important implications to a variety of high-energy astrophysical problems.

MODELING BRIGHTγ-RAY AND RADIO EMISSION AT FAST CLOUD SHOCKS

Recent observations by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) onboard the Fermi satellite have revealed bright gamma-ray emission from middle-aged supernova remnants (SNRs) inside our Galaxy. These remnants, which also possess bright non-thermal radio shells, are often found to be interacting directly with surrounding gas clouds. We explore the non-thermal emission mechanism at these dynamically evolved SNRs by constructing a hydrodynamical model. Two scenarios of particle acceleration, either a re-acceleration of Galactic cosmic rays (CRs) or an efficient nonlinear diffusive shock acceleration (NLDSA) of particles injected from downstream, are considered. Using parameters inferred from observations, our models are contrasted with the observed spectra of SNR W44. For the re-acceleration case, we predict a significant enhancement of radio and GeV emission as the SNR undergoes a transition into the radiative phase. If sufficiently strong magnetic turbulence is present in the molecular cloud, the re-acceleration scenario can explain the observed broadband spectral properties. The NLDSA scenario also succeeds in explaining the $\gamma$-ray spectrum but fails to reproduce the radio spectral index. Efficient NLDSA also results in a significant post-shock non-thermal pressure that limits the compression during cooling and prevents the formation of a prominent dense shell. Some other interesting differences between the two models in hydrodynamical behavior and resulting spectral features are illustrated.

X-ray and γ-ray variability of Mrk 421

We present an ordinary case in the momentum diffusion equation for the electron spectrum evolution and investigate the energy spectra and time dependent properties of flare in Mrk 421 in the frame of a time-dependent one-zone synchrotron self-Compton model. In this model, electrons are accelerated to extra-relativistic energy through the strong magnetic turbulence and evolve with time, and non-thermal photons are produced by both synchrotron and inverse Comtpon scattering off synchrotron photons. Moreover, non-thermal photons during a pre-flare are produced by the relativistic electrons in the steady state and those during a flare are produced by the electrons whose injection rate is changed during some time interval. We apply the model to the energy spectra and time-dependent properties of flares in Mrk 421 by reproducing the pre-burst spectrum of the source and varying the injection rate in the Bohm diffusion (q=1) and the hard sphere approximation (q=2) case, respectively. Our results show that Bohm diffusion case leads to hard photon spectra, and hard sphere case approximation seems to reproduce the energy spectra and the time dependent properties of flare still better.

SUPERNOVA REMNANT KES 17: AN EFFICIENT COSMIC RAY ACCELERATOR INSIDE A MOLECULAR CLOUD

Supernova remnant Kes 17 (SNR G304.6+0.1) is one of a few but growing number of remnants detected across the electromagnetic spectrum. In this paper, we analyze recent radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray observations of this object, determining that efficient cosmic ray acceleration is required to explain its broadband non-thermal spectrum. These observations also suggest that Kes 17 is expanding inside a molecular cloud, though our determination of its age depends on whether thermal conduction or clump evaporation is primarily responsible for its center-filled thermal X-ray morphology. Evidence for efficient cosmic ray acceleration in Kes 17 supports recent theoretical work that the strong magnetic field, turbulence, and clumpy nature of molecular clouds enhances cosmic ray production in supernova remnants. While additional observations are needed to confirm this interpretation, further study of Kes 17 is important for understanding how cosmic rays are accelerated in supernova remnants.

EARLY-TIME VELOCITY AUTOCORRELATION FOR CHARGED PARTICLES DIFFUSION AND DRIFT IN STATIC MAGNETIC TURBULENCE

Using test-particle simulations, we investigate the temporal dependence of the two-point velocity correlation function for charged particles scattering in a time-independent spatially fluctuating magnetic field derived from a three-dimensional isotropic turbulence power spectrum. Such a correlation function allowed us to compute the spatial coefficients of diffusion both parallel and perpendicular to the average magnetic field. Our simulations confirm the dependence of the perpendicular diffusion coefficient on turbulence energy density and particle energy predicted previously by a model for early-time charged particle transport. Using the computed diffusion coefficients, we exploit the particle velocity autocorrelation to investigate the time-scale over which the particles "decorrelate" from the solution to the unperturbed equation of motion. Decorrelation time-scales are evaluated for parallel and perpendicular motions, including the drift of the particles from the local magnetic field line. The regimes of strong and weak magnetic turbulence are compared for various values of the ratio of the particle gyroradius to the correlation length of the magnetic turbulence. Our simulation parameters can be applied to energetic particles in the interplanetary space, cosmic rays at the supernova shocks, and cosmic-rays transport in the intergalactic medium.

Structure and Dynamics of Magnetized Dark Molecular Clouds

Massive infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are believed to be the precursors to star clusters and massive stars (e.g. Bergin & Tafalla 2007). The supersonic, turbulent nature of molecular clouds in the presence of magnetic fields poses a great challenge in understanding the structure and dynamics of magnetized molecular clouds and the star formation therein. Using the high-order radiation-magneto-hydrodynamic adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) code ORION2 (Li et al. 2012), we perform a large-scale driven-turbulence simulation to reveal the 3D filamentary structure and dynamical state of a highly supersonic (thermal Mach number = 10) and strongly magnetized (plasma β=0.02) massive infrared dark molecular cloud. With the high resolution afforded by AMR, we follow the dynamical evolution of the cloud in order to understand the roles of strong magnetic fields, turbulence, and self-gravity in shaping the cloud and in the formation of dense cores.

Relation of astrophysical turbulence and magnetic reconnection

Astrophysical fluids are generically turbulent and this must be taken into account for most transport processes. We discuss how the preexisting turbulence modifies magnetic reconnection and how magnetic reconnection affects the MHD turbulent cascade. We show the intrinsic interdependence and interrelation of magnetic turbulence and magnetic reconnection, in particular, that strong magnetic turbulence in 3D requires reconnection and 3D magnetic turbulence entails fast reconnection. We follow the approach in Eyink et al. [Astrophys. J. 743, 51 (2011)] to show that the expressions of fast magnetic reconnection in A. Lazarian and E. T. Vishniac [Astrophys. J. 517, 700 (1999)] can be recovered if Richardson diffusion of turbulent flows is used instead of ordinary Ohmic diffusion. This does not revive, however, the concept of magnetic turbulent diffusion which assumes that magnetic fields can be mixed up in a passive way down to a very small dissipation scales. On the contrary, we are dealing the reconnection of dynamically important magnetic field bundles which strongly resist bending and have well defined mean direction weakly perturbed by turbulence. We argue that in the presence of turbulence the very concept of flux-freezing requires modification. The diffusion that arises from magnetic turbulence can be called reconnection diffusion as it based on reconnection of magnetic field lines. The reconnection diffusion has important implications for the continuous transport processes in magnetized plasmas and for star formation. In addition, fast magnetic reconnection in turbulent media induces the First order Fermi acceleration of energetic particles, can explain solar flares and gamma ray bursts. However, the most dramatic consequence of these developments is the fact that the standard flux freezing concept must be radically modified in the presence of turbulence.

Analytical description for field-line wandering in strong magnetic turbulence

We investigate analytically the random walk of magnetic field lines. In previous analytical treatments of field line wandering or random walk, it was assumed that the turbulent magnetic field is much weaker than the mean field. In the present paper, we develop an improved analytical method to describe the stochastic properties of turbulent magnetic fields. This approach is an extension of the standard theory of field line wandering and can be applied to weak as well as to strong magnetic turbulence.

Time intermittency and spectral features of the geomagnetic field

In the field of geomagnetism a number of studies have been devoted to the investigation of turbulence and intermittency in the outer core fluid motions. Here, in order to obtain information on such phenomena we study the time spectral and self-similarity features of the main geomagnetic field fluctuations as measured on the Earth’s surface. The existence of a power law spectrum, characterised by an exponent a˜-11/3, and an anomalous scaling of q-th order structure functions on time scales longer than 5 years, suggests the occurrence of intermittent turbulence rather than classical Kolmogorov turbulence in the fluid core motions. These results are briefly discussed in connection with the existence of a strong magnetic field and drift-wave turbulence.

Initial results of H-mode edge pedestal turbulence evolution with quadrature reflectometer measurements on DIII-D

High-resolution quadrature reflectometer measurements of density fluctuation levels have been obtained on DIII-D for H-mode edge pedestal studies. Initial results are presented from the L–H transition to the first ELM for two cases: (i) a low pedestal beta discharge, in which density turbulence in the pedestal has little change during the ELM-free phase, and (ii) a high pedestal beta discharge in which both density and magnetic turbulence are observed to increase before the first ELM. These high beta data are consistent with the existence of electromagnetic turbulence suggested by some transport models. During Type-I ELM cycles, when little magnetic turbulence can be observed, pedestal turbulence increases just after an ELM crash and then decreases before next ELM strikes, in contrast to a drop after ELM crash and then it re-grows when strong magnetic turbulence shows similar behavior. Clear ELM precursors are observed on ⩽20% of Type-I ELMs observed to date.

Magnetically Limited X-Ray Filaments in Young Supernova Remnants

We discuss the damping of strong magnetic turbulence downstream of the forward shock of young supernova remnants (SNRs). We find that strong magnetic fields that have been produced by the streaming instability in the upstream region of the shock or by other kinetic instabilities at the shock may be efficiently damped, so the region of enhanced magnetic field strength would typically have a thickness of the order ld = 1016-1017?cm. The nonthermal X-ray filaments observed in young SNRs are thus possibly limited by the magnetic field and not by the energy losses of the radiating electrons. Therefore, the thickness of the filaments would not be a measure of the magnetic field strength, and claims of efficient cosmic-ray acceleration on account of a runaway streaming instability would appear premature.

Energetic ions, large diamagnetic cavities, and Chapman‐Ferraro cusp

Extremely large diamagnetic cavities with a size of as large as 6 RE have been observed in the dayside high‐altitude cusp regions. These diamagnetic cavities were associated with strong magnetic field turbulence. Associated with these cavities are >40 keV ions that are more typical of the trapped ring current and radiation belt populations than the solar wind. The charge state distribution of these cusp cavity ions was indicative of their seed populations being a mixture of ionospheric and solar wind particles. In April 1999, the cusp diamagnetic cavities were observed by the Polar spacecraft almost in every orbit, indicating that such cavities are always there day by day. Some of the diamagnetic cavities were independent of the interplanetary magnetic field directions, suggesting that the cusp diamagnetic cavities are different from the magnetospheric sash predicted by MHD simulations. During a high solar wind pressure period on 21 April 1999, the Polar spacecraft observed lower energetic (>20 keV/e) ion fluxes in the dayside high‐latitude magnetosheath than that in the neighboring cusp cavities. By their geometry cusp magnetic field lines are connected to all of the magnetopause boundary layers. These energetic particles in the cusp diamagnetic cavity together with the cusp's connectivity probably have significant global impacts on the geospace environment.

Shock waves in the solar corona and their radio emission

In the solar corona shock waves can be generated by coronal mass ejections and/or solar flares. They manifest themselves in solar type II radio bursts. A sample of 25 such radio bursts is investigated concerning their spectral features. Assuming that the type II burst radiation is generated in the vicinity of the transition region of coronal shock waves as indicated by plasma wave measurements at interplanetary shock waves the instantaneous bandwidth reflects the density jump of the shock. Comparing the observational results with the evaluation of the Rankine-Hugoniot relations of MHD shock waves solar type II bursts should be regarded as being generated by weak supercritical, quasi-parallel fast magnetosonic shock waves in the solar corona. As well-known from Earth's bow shock, quasi-parallel collisionless shocks are associated by strong magnetic field turbulence, e.g., in form of short large amplitude magnetic field structures (SLAMS). Assuming that these features also appear at quasi-parallel shock waves in the solar corona, electrons can be accelerated at such shock waves due to drift acceleration within SLAMS up to suprathermal energies. These electrons are able to excite Langmuir waves which can convert into radio waves observed as solar type II bursts.