Two-component Plasma Research Articles

On Classical Solutions to the First Mixed Problem for the Vlasov–Poisson System in an Infinite Cylinder

The first mixed problem for the Vlasov-Poisson system in an infinite cylinder is considered. This problem describes the kinetics of charged particles in a high-temperature two-component plasma under an external magnetic field. For an arbitrary electric field potential and a sufficiently strong external magnetic field, it is shown that the characteristics of the Vlasov equations do not reach the boundary of the cylinder. It is proved that the Vlasov-Poisson system with ion and electron distribution density functions supported at some distance from the cylinder boundary has a unique classical solution.

The idea of an experiment to explore dust clouds in outer space

The idea of a space experiment to create and explore dust clouds in outer space is described. Some estimations of the charge-dynamic characteristics of dust particles ejected into space near the orbit of the Earth outside its magnetosphere are made. For the model of optically transparent rarefied two-component plasma consisting of dust particles and photoelectrons emitted by them, we calculate the equilibrium surface potential of dust particles, depending on their sizes and materials, and also on solar activity. For the model of two initially uncharged particles in the presence of solar wind and short-wave radiation we estimate the characteristic velocities that closely located particles obtain due to charging and electrostatic interaction between them.

Collective excitations in a two-component one-dimensional massless Dirac plasma

We study spectra of long wavelength plasma oscillations in a system of two energy splitted one-dimensional (1D) massless Dirac fermion subbands coupled by spin-orbit interaction. Such a system may be formed by edge subbands in semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers. Intrasubband transitions of massless Dirac fermions give rise to optical and acoustic gapless branches of intrasubband 1D plasmons. We reveal that the optical branch is of quantum character with group velocity being inverse proportional to square root of the Planck constant, whereas the acoustic branch is classical one with group velocity proportional to geometric mean of the edge subband velocities. Spin-orbit interaction, allowing intersubband transitions in the system, results in emergence of two branches of intersubband 1D plasmons: upper and lower ones. The upper and lower branches are gapped at small wave vectors and evolve with positive and negative group velocities, respectively, from energy splitting of the edge subbands at Fermi-level. The both intersubband branches adjoin intersubband single particle excitation continuum from above, while in case of the edge subbands with unequal velocities the lower one experiences Landau damping at small wave vectors. In addition, the lower branch, attaining zero frequency at a non-zero wave vector, alters its group velocity from negative to positive one.

Logarithmic Finite-Size Correction in Non-neutral Two-Component Plasma on Sphere

We consider a general two-component plasma of classical pointlike charges $+e$ ($e$ is say the elementary charge) and $-Z e$ (valency $Z=1,2,\ldots$), living on the surface of a sphere of radius $R$. The system is in thermal equilibrium at the inverse temperature $\beta$, in the stability region against collapse of oppositely charged particle pairs $\beta e^2 < 2/Z$. We study the effect of the system excess charge $Q e$ on the finite-size expansion of the (dimensionless) grand potential $\beta\Omega$. By combining the stereographic projection of the sphere onto an infinite plane, the linear response theory and the planar results for the second moments of the species density correlation functions we show that for any $\beta e^2 < 2/Z$ the large-$R$ expansion of the grand potential is of the form $\beta\Omega \sim A_V R^2 + [\chi/6 - \beta (Qe)^2/2] \ln R$, where $A_V$ is the non-universal coefficient of the volume (bulk) part and the Euler number of the sphere $\chi=2$. The same formula, containing also a non-universal surface term proportional to $R$, was obtained previously for the disc domain ($\chi=1$), in the case of the symmetric $(Z=1)$ two-component plasma at the collapse point $\beta e^2=2$ and the jellium model $(Z\to 0)$ of identical $e$-charges in a fixed neutralizing background charge density at any coupling $\beta e^2$ being an even integer. Our result thus indicates that the prefactor to the logarithmic finite-size expansion does not depend on the composition of the Coulomb fluid and its non-universal part $-\beta (Qe)^2/2$ is independent of the geometry of the confining domain.

Impact of electron trapping in degenerate quantum plasma on the ion-acoustic breathers and super freak waves

The propagation of nonlinear ion-acoustic (IA) structures in a two-component plasma consisting of ‘classical’ ions and temperature degenerate trapped electrons is investigated. Using the reductive perturbation method, a nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is obtained and the modulational instability (MI) of the ion acoustic waves (IAWs) is investigated. The regions of the stability and instability of the modulated structures are defined precisely depending on the MI criteria. The analytical solutions of the NLSE in the form of various types of freak waves, including the Peregrine soliton, the Akhmediev breather, and the Kuznetsov–Ma breather are examined. Moreover, the higher-order freak waves are presented. The characteristics of the rogue waves and their dependence on relevant parameters (the temperature of the degenerate trapped electrons and wavenumber) are investigated.

Disordered hyperuniformity in two-component nonadditive hard-disk plasmas

We study the behavior of a classical two-component ionic plasma made up of nonadditive hard disks with additional logarithmic Coulomb interactions between them. Due to the Coulomb repulsion, long-wavelength total density fluctuations are suppressed and the system is globally hyperuniform. Short-range volume effects lead to phase separation or to heterocoordination for positive or negative nonadditivities, respectively. These effects compete with the hidden long-range order imposed by hyperuniformity. As a result, the critical behavior of the mixture is modified, with long-wavelength concentration fluctuations partially damped when the system is charged. It is also shown that the decrease of configurational entropy due to hyperuniformity originates from contributions beyond the two-particle level. Finally, despite global hyperuniformity, we show that in our system the spatial configuration associated with each component separately is not hyperuniform, i.e., the system is not "multihyperuniform."

Nonplanar dissipative ion acoustic waves in electron-ion plasmas

The properties of nonlinear ion acoustic waves (IAWs) in a two-component electron-ion dissipative plasma are investigated by using a nonlinear perturbation method in bounded nonplanar geometries. The dissipation is introduced by taking into electron-ion elastic collisions. It is found that the nonlinear IAW is governed by nonplanar Kakutani-Kawahara equations. The temporal evolutions of the nonlinear structures for nonplanar geometries are investigated numerically. The collisions are found to significantly affect the basic features of the IAWs. The results are useful for the understanding of the properties of general nonlinear structures in space and laboratory plasmas.

Electrostatic fluctuations in collisional plasmas.

We present a theory of electrostatic fluctuations in two-component plasmas where electrons and ions are described by Maxwellian distribution functions at unequal temperatures. Based on the exact solution of the Landau kinetic equation, that includes electron-electron, electron-ion, and ion-ion collision integrals, the dynamic form factor, S(k[over ⃗],ω), is derived for weakly coupled plasmas. The collective plasma responses at ion-acoustic, Langmuir, and entropy mode resonances are described for arbitrary wave numbers and frequencies in the entire range of plasma collisionality. The collisionless limit of S(k[over ⃗],ω) and the strong-collision result based on the fluctuation-dissipation theorem and classical transport at T_{e}=T_{i} are recovered and discussed. Results of several Thomson scattering experiments in the broad range of plasma parameters are described and discussed by means of our theory for S(k[over ⃗],ω).

The characters of ion acoustic rogue waves in nonextensive plasma

Several well-known nonlinear waves in the rational solutions of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation are studied in two-component plasmas consisting of ions fluid and nonextensive electrons, such as Kuznetsov–Ma breather (K-M), bright soliton, rogue wave (RW), Akhmediev breather (AB) and dark soliton, and so on. In this paper, we have investigated the characteristics of K-M, AB, and RW's propagation in plasma with nonextensive electron distribution, and the dependence of amplitude and width for ion acoustic rogue waves in this system. It is found that K-M' triplet is appearance-disappearance-appearance-disappearance. AB solitons only appear once and RW is a single wave that appears from nowhere and then disappears. It is also noted that the wave number and nonextensive parameter of electrons have a significant influence on the maximum envelope amplitude, but, the influence of the width was not significant. At the same time, the effects of the small parameter, which represent the nonlinear strength, on the amplitude and width of ion acoustic rogue waves are also being highlighted.

Recombining Plasma and Gamma-Ray Emission in the Mixed-morphology Supernova Remnant 3C 400.2

Abstract 3C 400.2 belongs to the mixed-morphology supernova remnant class, showing center-filled X-ray and shell-like radio morphology. We present a study of 3C 400.2 with archival Suzaku and Fermi-LAT observations. We find recombining plasma (RP) in the Suzaku spectra of north–east and south–east regions. The spectra of these regions are well described by two-component thermal plasma models: the hard component is in RP, while the soft component is in collisional ionization equilibrium (CIE) conditions. The RP has enhanced abundances, indicating that the X-ray emission has an ejecta origin, while the CIE has solar abundances associated with the interstellar material. The X-ray spectra of north–west and south–west regions are best fitted by a two-component thermal plasma model: an ionizing and a CIE plasma. We have detected GeV gamma-ray emission from 3C 400.2 at the level of ∼5σ, assuming a point-like source model with a power-law (PL) type spectrum. We have also detected a new GeV source at the level of ∼13σ, assuming a Gaussian extension model with a PL-type spectrum in the neighborhood of the supernova remnant. We report the analysis results of 3C 400.2 and the new extended gamma-ray source, and discuss the nature of gamma-ray emission of 3C 400.2 in the context of existing NANTEN CO data, Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory H i data, and the Suzaku X-ray analysis results.

Generalization of the Grad method in plasma physics

The Grad method is generalized based on the Bogolyubov idea of the functional hypothesis for states at the end of relaxation processes in a system. The Grad problem (i.e., description of the Maxwell relaxation) for a completely ionized spatially uniform two-component electron-ion plasma is investigated using the Landau kinetic equation. The component distribution functions and time evolution equations for parameters describing the state of a system are calculated, and corrections are obtained to the known results in a perturbation theory in a small electron-to-ion mass ratio.

Analytical research on the possibility of long orbital existence of submicron particles in the Earth’s plasmasphere by the methods of the KAM theory

Particles which move in the magnetosphere’s plasma gain an electric charge which depends on the density and temperature of the plasma and the sunlight stream. If motion is slow enough, it is possible to consider that the micro-particle’s electric charge is in quasi-equilibrium. For certain conditions, the Hamilton function can be written for the problem with a variable electric charge and, hence, the methods of the analysis of systems of Hamilton equations can be applied for research of such micro-particle motion. Although these conditions are strong enough, they correspond to the statement of many real problems. The spatial distribution of plasma in the Earth’s plasmasphere is described by a model of a two-component plasma. In the present paper, the capability of propagation of results which were received earlier for a case of the motion of a quasi-equilibrium electric charge in the Earth plasmasphere has been shown. The received result shows that there is an opportunity for long orbital holding (not less than one month) of micro-particles of space dust in the Earth’s plasmasphere.

Finite-Size Effects in Non-neutral Two-Dimensional Coulomb Fluids

Thermodynamic potential of a neutral two-dimensional (2D) Cou\-lomb fluid, confined to a large domain with a smooth boundary, exhibits at any (inverse) temperature $\beta$ a logarithmic finite-size correction term whose universal prefactor depends only on the Euler number of the domain and the conformal anomaly number $c=-1$. A minimal free boson conformal field theory, which is equivalent to the 2D symmetric two-component plasma of elementary $\pm e$ charges at coupling constant $\Gamma=\beta e^2$, was studied in the past. It was shown that creating a non-neutrality by spreading out a charge $Q e$ at infinity modifies the anomaly number to $c(Q,\Gamma) = - 1 + 3\Gamma Q^2$. Here, we study the effect of non-neutrality on the finite-size expansion of the free energy for another Coulomb fluid, namely the 2D one-component plasma (jellium) composed of identical pointlike $e$-charges in a homogeneous background surface charge density. For the disk geometry of the confining domain we find that the non-neutrality induces the same change of the anomaly number in the finite-size expansion. We derive this result first at the free-fermion coupling $\Gamma\equiv\beta e^2=2$ and then, by using a mapping of the 2D one-component plasma onto an anticommuting field theory formulated on a chain, for an arbitrary coupling constant.

Free-energy functional of the Debye–Hückel model of two-component plasmas

We present a generalization of the Debye–Hückel free-energy-density functional of simple fluids to the case of two-component systems with arbitrary interaction potentials. It allows one to obtain the two-component Debye–Hückel integral equations through its minimization with respect to the pair correlation functions, leads to the correct form of the internal energy density, and fulfills the virial theorem. It is based on our previous idea, proposed for the one-component Debye–Hückel approach, which was published recently in Ref. [1]. We use the Debye–Kirkwood charging method in the same way as in Ref. [1], in order to build an expression of the free-energy density functional. Main properties of the two-component Debye–Hückel free energy are presented and discussed, including the virial theorem in the case of long-range interaction potentials.

WITHDRAWN: Free-energy functional of the Debye-Hückel model of two-component plasmas

WITHDRAWN: Free-energy functional of the Debye-Hückel model of two-component plasmas

Study of the progenitor of the magnetar 1E 2259+586 through Suzaku observations of the associated supernova remnant CTB 109

Abstract We present a study of the progenitor of the magnetar 1E 2259+586, from Suzaku observations of the associated supernova remnant CTB 109. The Suzaku spectra, either spatially integrated or spatially resolved, were successfully described by a two-component plasma model, which reconfirms a previous Chandra result on the northwestern part of this remnant (Sasaki et al. 2013, A&amp;A, 552, A45). The hotter component, with a temperature of ∼0.7 keV, can be identified as the stellar ejecta heated by reverse shock, because its contribution increases towards the remnant center. The cooler one, with a temperature of ∼0.25 keV, can be identified as the shocked interstellar matter. The abundances of Ne, Mg, Si, and S of the hotter component support these identifications. The total masses of the cooler and hotter components are estimated to be 220 ± 40 M⊙ and 42 ± 11 M⊙, respectively. The remnant is considered to be adiabatically expanding as in the Sedov–Taylor phase. The explosion energy, estimated to be 1.0 × 1051 erg by a canonical Sedov model, is typical of a core-collapse supernova explosion. Assuming that the hotter component includes the ejecta as well as the matter lost by the progenitor star via stellar winds, 1E 2259+586 is inferred to have originated from a very massive star.

Molecular dynamics studies of electron-ion temperature equilibration in hydrogen plasmas within the coupled-mode regime.

We use classical molecular dynamics (MD) to study electron-ion temperature equilibration in two-component plasmas in regimes for which the presence of coupled collective modes has been predicted to substantively reduce the equilibration rate. Guided by previous kinetic theory work, we examine hydrogen plasmas at a density of n=10^{26}cm^{-3},T_{i}=10^{5}K, and 10^{7}K<T_{e}<10^{9}K. The nonequilibrium classical MD simulations are performed with interparticle interactions modeled by quantum statistical potentials (QSPs). Our MD results indicate (i) a large effect from time-varying potential energy, which we quantify by appealing to an adiabatic two-temperature equation of state, and (ii) a notable deviation in the energy equilibration rate when compared to calculations from classical Lenard-Balescu theory including the QSPs. In particular, it is shown that the energy equilibration rates from MD are more similar to those of the theory when coupled modes are neglected. We suggest possible reasons for this surprising result and propose directions of further research along these lines.

Doped Silicon Nanocrystal Plasmonics

Doped semiconductor nanocrystals represent an exciting new type of plasmonic material with optical resonances in the infrared. Unlike noble metal nanoparticles, the plasmon resonance can be tuned by altering the doping density. Recently, it has been shown that silicon nanocrystals can be doped using phosphorus and boron resulting in highly tunable infrared plasmon resonances. Due to the band structure of silicon, doping with phosphorus contributes light (transverse) and heavy (longitudinal) electrons, while boron contributes light and heavy holes and one would expect two distinct plasmon branches. Here we develop a classical hybridization theory and a full quantum mechanical TDLDA approach for two-component carrier plasmas and show that the interaction between the two plasmon branches results in strongly hybridized plasmon modes. The antibonding mode where the two components move in phase is bright and depends sensitively on the doping densities. The low energy bonding mode with opposite charge alignment ...

Pulse-Periodic Regimes of Kinetic Instabilities in the Non-Equilibrium Plasma of an Electron Cyclotron Resonance Discharge Maintained by Continuous-Wave Radiation of a 24 GHz Gyrotron

We have experimentally discovered an instability, which manifests itself as precipitations of hot electrons occurring synchronously with generation of bursts of electromagnetic radiation, in the plasma of an electron cyclotron resonance discharge maintained by a high-power, continuous-wave radiation of a 24 GHz gyrotron, for the first time. The observed instability has the kinetic nature and is determined by the formation of the non-equilibrium velocity distribution of hot particles. Two possible explanations are proposed for the mechanism of wave excitation in a two-component plasma with a stationary source of non-equilibrium particles. The results of the studies performed are of interest for modeling of the dynamics of magnetospheric cyclotron masers.

Effect of Ambipolar Diffusion on the Flow of a Two-Component Plasma Gas Model in the Earth’s Planetary Ionosphere

The paper presents analytical study on the effect of ambipolar diffusion on the flow of a two-component plasma gas in the Earth’s Planetary Ionosphere as a model to examine the ions-neutral and electrons-neutral atom interactions. The problem which consists of a set of partial non-linear differential equations was addressed using a plane wave and perturbation method of solutions. The result indicates that plasma frequency and electron-density in the Ionosphere increase with increase in magnetic field strength as well as with radiation and free convection parameters. It is observed that for; the plasma interactive state becomes more stable, otherwise some bit of oscillation is noticed. The stability is seen to depend on the magnetic (M 2 ) and thermal convection (G r ) parameters. Under this condition the signal propagation becomes less diffuse when the frequency of the signal is far greater than the plasma frequency, that is, ω >> p. The study aids our understanding of the effect of coupling frequency on the propagation of satellite signals through the ionosphere.