scholarly journals Collisionless magnetic reconnection in a plasmoid chain

2012 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Markidis ◽  
P. Henri ◽  
G. Lapenta ◽  
A. Divin ◽  
M. V. Goldman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Phase Space ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Electron Distribution Function ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Out Of Plane ◽  
Formation And Evolution ◽  
Electron Holes ◽  
Kinetic Features

Abstract. The kinetic features of plasmoid chain formation and evolution are investigated by two dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. Magnetic reconnection is initiated in multiple X points by the tearing instability. Plasmoids form and grow in size by continuously coalescing. Each chain plasmoid exhibits a strong out-of plane core magnetic field and an out-of-plane electron current that drives the coalescing process. The disappearance of the X points in the coalescence process are due to anti-reconnection, a magnetic reconnection where the plasma inflow and outflow are reversed with respect to the original reconnection flow pattern. Anti-reconnection is characterized by the Hall magnetic field quadrupole signature. Two new kinetic features, not reported by previous studies of plasmoid chain evolution, are here revealed. First, intense electric fields develop in-plane normally to the separatrices and drive the ion dynamics in the plasmoids. Second, several bipolar electric field structures are localized in proximity of the plasmoid chain. The analysis of the electron distribution function and phase space reveals the presence of counter-streaming electron beams, unstable to the two stream instability, and phase space electron holes along the reconnection separatrices.

scholarly journals Double layers in the downward current region of the aurora

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
L. Andersson ◽  
C. W. Carlson ◽  
D. L. Newman ◽  
M. V. Goldman
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electron Beam ◽  
Phase Space ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Double Layers ◽  
Parallel Electric Field ◽  
Electrostatic Waves ◽  
Current Region ◽  
Decisive Evidence

Abstract. Direct observations of magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) electric fields in the downward current region of the aurora provide decisive evidence of naturally occurring double layers. We report measurements of parallel electric fields, electron fluxes and ion fluxes related to double layers that are responsible for particle acceleration. The observations suggest that parallel electric fields organize into a structure of three distinct, narrowly-confined regions along the magnetic field (B). In the "ramp" region, the measured parallel electric field forms a nearly-monotonic potential ramp that is localized to ~ 10 Debye lengths along B. The ramp is moving parallel to B at the ion acoustic speed (vs) and in the same direction as the accelerated electrons. On the high-potential side of the ramp, in the "beam" region, an unstable electron beam is seen for roughly another 10 Debye lengths along B. The electron beam is rapidly stabilized by intense electrostatic waves and nonlinear structures interpreted as electron phase-space holes. The "wave" region is physically separated from the ramp by the beam region. Numerical simulations reproduce a similar ramp structure, beam region, electrostatic turbulence region and plasma characteristics as seen in the observations. These results suggest that large double layers can account for the parallel electric field in the downward current region and that intense electrostatic turbulence rapidly stabilizes the accelerated electron distributions. These results also demonstrate that parallel electric fields are directly associated with the generation of large-amplitude electron phase-space holes and plasma waves.

scholarly journals Radiation in the neighbourhood of a double layer

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 677-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pottelette ◽  
M. Berthomier ◽  
J. Pickett
Keyword(s):  
Phase Space ◽  
Electron Distribution ◽  
Electron Distribution Function ◽  
Source Region ◽  
Double Layers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
High Time Resolution ◽  
Local Electron ◽  
Nonlinear Phase ◽  
Electron Holes

Abstract. In the auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) source region, acceleration layers narrow in altitude and associated with parallel field-aligned potential drops of several kV can be identified by using both particles and wave-field high time-resolution measurements from the Fast Auroral SnapshoT explorer spacecraft (FAST). These so-called double layers (DLs) are recorded around density enhancements in the auroral cavity, where the enhancement can be at the edge of the cavity or even within the cavity at a small scale. Once immersed in the plasma, DLs necessarily accelerate particles along the magnetic field lines, thereby generating locally strong turbulent processes leading to the formation of nonlinear phase space holes. The FAST data reveal the asymmetric character of the turbulence: the regions located on the high-potential side of the DLs are characterized by the presence of electron holes, while on the low-potential side, ion holes are recorded. The existence of these nonlinear phase space holes may affect the AKR radiation pattern in the neighbourhood of a DL where the electron distribution function is drastically different from a horseshoe shape. We present some observations which illustrate the systematic generation of elementary radiation events occurring significantly above the local electron gyrofrequency in the presence of electron holes. These fine-scale AKR radiators are associated with a local electron distribution which presents a pronounced beam-like shape.

scholarly journals Brief Communication: The double layer in the separatrix region during magnetic reconnection

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-171
Author(s):  
J. Guo ◽  
B. Yu
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Double Layer ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Acoustic Instability ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
Evolution Stage ◽  
Spatial Size ◽  
Electron Holes ◽  
Observation Results

Abstract. With two-dimensional (2-D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations we investigate the evolution of the double layer (DL) driven by magnetic reconnection. Our results show that an electron beam can be generated in the separatrix region as magnetic reconnection proceeds. This electron beam could trigger the ion-acoustic instability; as a result, a DL accompanied with electron holes (EHs) can be found during the nonlinear evolution stage of this instability. The spatial size of the DL is about 10 Debye lengths. This DL propagates along the magnetic field at a velocity of about the ion-acoustic speed, which is consistent with the observation results.

scholarly journals The formation of relativistic plasma structures and their potential role in the generation of cosmic ray electrons

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 831-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Dieckmann
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Phase Space ◽  
Magnetic Energy ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
Compact Objects ◽  
Space Structures ◽  
Magnetic Field Generation ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Field Generation

Abstract. Recent particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation studies have addressed particle acceleration and magnetic field generation in relativistic astrophysical flows by plasma phase space structures. We discuss the astrophysical environments such as the jets of compact objects, and we give an overview of the global PIC simulations of shocks. These reveal several types of phase space structures, which are relevant for the energy dissipation. These structures are typically coupled in shocks, but we choose to consider them here in an isolated form. Three structures are reviewed. (1) Simulations of interpenetrating or colliding plasma clouds can trigger filamentation instabilities, while simulations of thermally anisotropic plasmas observe the Weibel instability. Both transform a spatially uniform plasma into current filaments. These filament structures cause the growth of the magnetic fields. (2) The development of a modified two-stream instability is discussed. It saturates first by the formation of electron phase space holes. The relativistic electron clouds modulate the ion beam and a secondary, spatially localized electrostatic instability grows, which saturates by forming a relativistic ion phase space hole. It accelerates electrons to ultra-relativistic speeds. (3) A simulation is also revised, in which two clouds of an electron-ion plasma collide at the speed 0.9c. The inequal densities of both clouds and a magnetic field that is oblique to the collision velocity vector result in waves with a mixed electrostatic and electromagnetic polarity. The waves give rise to growing corkscrew distributions in the electrons and ions that establish an equipartition between the electron, the ion and the magnetic energy. The filament-, phase space hole- and corkscrew structures are discussed with respect to electron acceleration and magnetic field generation.

Electron holes in the Earth's magnetotail current sheet: role of magnetic field gradients and electron anisotropy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Shustov ◽  
Ilya Kuzichev ◽  
Ivan Vasko ◽  
Anton Artemyev ◽  
Anatoliy Petrukovich
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Current Sheet ◽  
Magnetic Field Gradient ◽  
Electron Distribution Function ◽  
Inhomogeneous Magnetic Field ◽  
Field Configuration ◽  
Slow Electron ◽  
Electron Hole ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Electron Holes

<p>Electron holes are nonlinear electrostatic structures that are often observed in the vicinity of the magnetotail energy release regions, e.g. magnetic reconnection. In this work we develop 1.5D Vlasov code simulations of the electron hole dynamics in the magnetic field configuration typical of the current sheet of the Earth's magnetotail. We consider the propagation of electron holes along magnetic field lines in the inhomogeneous magnetic field of the current sheet with realistically anisotropic electron distribution function. We demonstrate that electron holes generated near the equatorial plane of the current sheet brake as they propagate toward the boundaries of the current sheets. This effect is stronger for higher magnetic field gradient and larger electron field-aligned anisotropy. These simulations demonstrate that slow electron holes observed in the plasma sheet boundary layer may appear due to that effect of electron hole braking.</p>

scholarly journals Analysis and simulation of BGK electron holes

1999 ◽  
Vol 6 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 211-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Muschietti ◽  
I. Roth ◽  
R. E. Ergun ◽  
C. W. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Incident Beam ◽  
Distribution Functions ◽  
Simulation Code ◽  
Nonlinear Structure ◽  
Trapped Electrons ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Cell Simulation ◽  
Electron Holes ◽  
The Stability

Abstract. Recent observations from satellites crossing regions of magnetic-field-aligned electron streams reveal solitary potential structures that move at speeds much greater than the ion acoustic/thermal velocity. The structures appear as positive potential pulses rapidly drifting along the magnetic field, and are electrostatic in their rest frame. We interpret them as BGK electron holes supported by a drifting population of trapped electrons. Using Laplace transforms, we analyse the behavior of one phase-space electron hole. The resulting potential shapes and electron distribution functions are self-consistent and compatible with the field and particle data associated with the observed pulses. In particular, the spatial width increases with increasing amplitude. The stability of the analytic solution is tested by means of a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation code with open boundaries. We consider a strongly magnetized parameter regime in which the bounce frequency of the trapped electrons is much less than their gyrofrequency. Our investigation includes the influence of the ions, which in the frame of the hole appear as an incident beam, and impinge on the BGK potential with considerable energy. The nonlinear structure is remarkably resilient

Ion phase-space vortices in 2.5-dimensional simulations

2001 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEINAR BØRVE ◽  
HANS L. PÉCSELI ◽  
JAN TRULSEN
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Phase Space ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Plasma Boundary ◽  
Space Structures ◽  
Beam Diameter ◽  
Particle In Cell ◽  
Spatial Dimensions ◽  
Cell Simulation ◽  
Transverse Modulation

The formation and propagation of ion phase-space vortices are observed in a numerical particle-in-cell simulation in two spatial dimensions and with three velocity components. The code allows for an externally applied magnetic field. The electrons are assumed to be isothermally Boltzmann-distributed at all times, implying that Poisson's equation becomes nonlinear for the present problem. Ion phase-space vortices are formed by the nonlinear saturation of the ion-ion two-stream instability, excited by injecting an ion beam at the plasma boundary. We consider the effect of a finite beam diameter and a magnetic field, in particular. A vortex instability is observed, appearing as a transverse modulation, which slowly increases with time and ultimately breaks up the vortex. When many vortices are present at the same time, we find that it is their interaction that eventually leads to a gradual filling-up of the phase-space structures. The ion phase-space vortices have a finite lifetime, which is noticeably shorter than that found in one-dimensional simulations. An externally imposed magnetic field can increase this lifetime considerably. For high injected beam velocities in magnetized plasmas, we observe the excitation of electrostatic ion-cyclotron instabilities, but see no associated formation of ion phase-space vortices. The results are relevant, for instance, for the interpretation of observations by instrumented spacecraft in the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere.

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