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This past year we completed the simulation campaign in support of our magnetospheric cold plasma research project. This project aimed to develop the next-generation particle instruments to measure the properties of the cold particle populations in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
Large-scale models of plasmaspheric refilling have revealed that during the early stage of the refilling counterstreaming ion beams are a common feature. However, the instability of such ion beams and its effect on refilling remain unexplored. In order to learn the basic effects of ion beam instabilities on refilling, we have performed numerical simulations of the refilling of an artificial magnetic flux tube. (The shape and size of the tube are assumed so that the essential features of the refilling problem are kept in the simulation and at the same time the small scale processes driven by the ion beams are sufficiently resolved.) We have also studied the effect of commonly found equatorially trapped warm and/or hot plasma on the filling of a flux tube with a cold plasma. Three types of simulation runs have been performed.
The results are presented of a detailed study that examines the effects of cold plasma on the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Both electrostatic and electromagnetic modes are considered. The interest in the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability stems from observations of low frequency waves in the polar cusp, magnetopause, in fast moving auroral forms, the plasma pause, and other regions of magnetospheric flow boundaries. It is pointed out that the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is driven by a velocity shear and can excite a broad spectrum of wave frequencies below the ion gyrofrequency. A model is obtained of a flow boundary that includes a density gradient perpendicular to the velocity shear. The analysis shows a compressional component in Kelvin-Helmholtz waves.
Absorption of propagating waves impinging on a surface in which the plasma and magnetic field may change is investigated by examining in depth the problem of a combination of cold plasma, uniform magnetic field and a surface density which varies linearly from zero at the left end to some finite value at the right end, beyond which the density is constant. Two cases are considered: one in which the plasma is a vacuum everywhere to the left of the surface (which may correspond to coronal conditions) and one in which the plasma density jumps to a very large value to the left of the surface (which may mimic the magnetosphere with the dense region at the left corresponding to the plasmasphere). A complete discussion of the resonance absorption of propagating fast waves for the case considered by Kiveloson and Southwood (1986) is presented, emphasizing approximate analytical results whenever possible; these results are then compared with exact numerical solutions.
Cold atmospheric plasma devices have shown promise for a variety of plasma medical applications, including wound healing and bacterial inactivation often performed in liquids. In the latter application, plasma-produced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) interact with and damage bacterial cells, though the exact mechanism by which cell damage occurs is unclear. Computational models can help elucidate relationships between plasma-produced RONS and cell killing by enabling direct comparison between dissimilar plasma devices and by examining the effects of changing operating parameters in these devices. In biological applications, computational models of plasma-liquid interactions would be most effective in design and optimization of plasma devices if there is a corresponding prediction of the biological outcome. In this work, we propose a hierarchal model for planktonic bacterial cell inactivation by plasma produced RONS in liquid. A previously developed reaction mechanism for plasma induced modification of cysteine was extended to provide a basis for cell killing by plasma-produced RONS. Results from the model are compared to literature values to provide proof of concept. Differences in time to bacterial inactivation as a function of plasma operating parameters including gas composition and plasma source configuration are discussed. Results indicate that optimizing gas-phase reactive nitrogen species production may be key in the design of plasma devices for disinfection.
Secular and nonsecular behavior for nonlinear cold electron plasma equations
A one-dimensional electromagnetic particle simulation model is constructed to study the excitation of whistler waves in the presence of a cold plasma cloud for conditions representative of those after the release of lithium in the inner plasma sheet during the Combined Release and Radiation Effect Satellite mission. The results indicate that a standing-wave pattern with discrete wave frequencies is formed within the cloud. The magnetic wave amplitude inside the cloud, which is limited by quasi-linear diffusion, is of the order of several nanoteslas. Assuming a magnetospheric loss cone of 5 deg, the observed pitch angle diffusion produced by the whistler waves is sufficient to put the electrons on strong diffusion.
Space-time evolution of a relativistic electron beam driven wake-field in a cold, homogeneous plasma is studied using 1D-fluid simulation techniques. It is observed that the wake wave gradually evolves and eventually breaks, exhibiting sharp spikes in the density profile and sawtooth like features in the electric field profile [Bera et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 073109 (2015)]. It is shown here that the excited wakefield is a longitudinal Akhiezer-Polovin mode [A. I. Akhiezer and R. V. Polovin, Sov. Phys. JETP 3, 696 (1956)] and its steepening (breaking) can be understood in terms of phase mixing of this mode, which arises because of relativistic mass variation effects. Further, the phase mixing time (breaking time) is studied as a function of beam density and beam velocity and is found to follow the well known scaling presented by Mukherjee and Sengupta [Phys. Plasmas 21, 112104 (2014)].
It is demonstrated that a self-consistent circularly polarized wave in an otherwise field-free homogeneous cold plasma is unstable to small amplitude perturbations. For either an electron-positron plasma or an electron-proton plasma the instability rate is at least about the order of the effective plasma frequency when the bulk flow speed is zero. For finite bulk flow speeds of the plasma, it is shown that the electron-positron plasma is unstable, again with a growth rate of the order of the effective plasma frequency; it is also shown that the electron-proton plasma is unstable (at least at small wave numbers, k) with a growth rate proportional to k. The calculated instability rates are conservative, for other modes not investigated here may be more unstable. The results of these calculations bear directly on the understanding of plasma systems thought to be driven by large amplitude waves.
Auroral arcs often extend for more than a thousand kilometers with little deviation of their relative position within the auroral oval. At high altitudes, the outer limits of the plasmasphere are usually marked by sharp decreases in the cold plasma densities. It is suggested that some auroral arcs follow the ionospheric trace of these boundary shells.
Numerical modeling of radio-frequency waves in plasma with sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution remains challenging even with modern computers. However, such simulations can be sped up using quantum computers in the future. In this work, we propose how to do such modeling for cold plasma waves, in particular, for an X wave propagating in an inhomogeneous one-dimensional plasma. The wave system is represented in the form of a vector Schrödinger equation with a Hermitian Hamiltonian. Block encoding is used to represent the Hamiltonian through unitary operations that can be implemented on a quantum computer. To perform the modeling, we apply the so-called quantum signal processing algorithm and construct the corresponding circuit. Quantum simulations with this circuit are emulated on a classical computer, and the results show agreement with traditional classical calculations. We also discuss how our quantum circuit scales with the resolution.
The linear Vlasov dispersion relation for the lower hybrid density drift instability is studied in a four component (hot electrons and protons, cold electrons and protons) plasma. The introduction of a cold ion population monotonically reduces the maximum growth rate of the instability. Reduction of the ratio of temperatures of the cold and hot plasmas reduces both the real frequency and the growth rate of the instability. Near a ratio of the cold and hot plasma temperatures of 0.01 a higher frequency branch of this instability emerges and for a fixed ratio of cold and hot electron density exhibits an increasing maximum growth rate as the ratio of the cold and hot plasma temperatures decreases further. The ratio of the cold and hot plasma temperatures for the ions is the crucial parameter and deserves detailed magnetospheric studies.
Higher order effects of electromagnetic wave, propagating in cold electron plasma
Vacuum spectrum modification theory for inverse Compton scattering in cold collisionless plasma
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is an emerging tobamovirus infecting tomatoes and peppers, resulting in a pandemic in recent years. In addition to its abilities of being seed-borne, transmitted mechanically and overcoming current resistance, we speculated other factors may also contribute to such catastrophic effect on tomato production in a hydroponic greenhouse. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether ToBRFV can be transmissible through recirculating hydroponic systems and, more importantly, search for an effective approach to contain its spread. We not only detected ToBRFV in the runoff water samples collected from three greenhouses but also determined the virus’ infectivity through a bioassay. We then conducted a water treatment using cold plasma ozone to assess its efficacy in inactivating ToBRFV. The results showed that, with a high concentration of ToBRFV (inoculum in 1:100 dilution), a prolonged exposure (72 min) to two higher ozone concentrations (0.6 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L) achieved partial effects. With a medium virus concentration (inoculum in 1:1000 dilution), an exposure to ozone for 48 min was sufficient to completely suppress the virus’ infectivity. However, with a low virus concentration (inoculum in 1:10,000 dilution), the virus was completely inactivated even with just a short ozone exposure (24 min). Future work will need to confirm the efficacy of the ozone treatment against ToBRFV as well as its impact on tomato plants in a hydroponic greenhouse.
In magnetized tenuous plasma, typical at the plasma edge of fusion devices, a nearly electrostatic wave mode with relatively enhanced electric field can propagate along a specific angle with the magnetic field. For this characteristic, it is known as a “resonance cone.” For instance, these waves can be excited by radio frequency antennas in the ion-cyclotron and lower-hybrid range of frequencies. We consider the resonance cones emitted by idealized spatially extended sources. In 2D, we use a novel geometric construction which generalizes the d'Alembert solution to curved boundaries/moving sources, and show, for the first time, that singular electric fields arise under these conditions, thereby bringing the resonance cones in line with the other resonances of the cold plasma theory. Still in 2D, we give an expression for the amount of power radiated by resonance cones in terms of surface quantities on the source, which is finite despite the singular electric field. In conclusion, we generalize the conclusions regarding the presence and location of singular electric fields to the 3D electromagnetic case.
The program goal was the development and demonstration of a novel material coating system using an innovative atmospheric cold microwave plasma jet to enable surface functionalization for corrosion protection, wear resistance and improved bonding strength. The technical approach was directed towards proof-of-concept demonstration of advanced point-of-manufacturing material bonding to improve adhesive joint performance subject to harsh environmental exposure. The assembled team, consisting of the researchers at the University of Illinois, end-users at General Motors and small business manufacturer Starfire Industries, successfully demonstrated a single, cost-effective, high-volume production process that meets the requirements of multi-material combinations relevant to the energy-intensive transportation industry (e.g. Al-steel, Mg-steel, Al-Mg and Al-CFRP joints for body-in-white structures) while eliminating offline pretreatment for Al and Mg alloy substrates that are energy intensive, have chemical waste disposal issues, and add cost. Technical demonstration of dissimilar material joining while maintaining bonding strength and cohesion after long-duration environmental exposure was accomplished for all materials of interest. This novel approach has broad applicability for manufacturing in automotive, aerospace, marine, railcar, and specialty consumer goods, etc.
Abstract Plasmas have been recently studied as topological materials. However, a comprehensive picture of topological phases and topological phase transitions in cold magnetized plasmas is still missing. Here we systematically map out all the topological phases and establish the bulk-edge correspondence in cold magnetized plasmas. We find that for the linear eigenmodes, there are 10 topological phases in the parameter space of density n , magnetic field B , and parallel wavenumber k z , separated by the surfaces of Langmuir wave-L wave resonance, Langmuir wave-cyclotron wave resonance, and zero magnetic field. For fixed B and k z , only the phase transition at the Langmuir wave-cyclotron wave resonance corresponds to edge modes. A sufficient and necessary condition for the existence of this type of edge modes is given and verified by numerical solutions. We demonstrate that edge modes exist not only on a plasma-vacuum interface but also on more general plasma-plasma interfaces. This finding broadens the possible applications of these exotic excitations in space and laboratory plasmas.