Effect of ion beam current on dust charge fluctuations and ion-acoustic waves in electronegative dusty plasmas

The effects of ion beam current associated with the streaming positive ions on the dust charge fluctuations and ion acoustic wave propagation in quiescent electronegative dusty plasma have been investigated using fluid theory. The dust charging phenomenon and unstable mode of ion waves are modified for two streaming conditions of positive ions which are extended and graphically illustrated. The dependencies of the growing and damping rate of ion waves on dust density and the size of dust grains are studied. The evolution of dust surface potential is found in the negative domain with the increase in concentration of negative ions and the instability rate for ion wave decreases. Furthermore, it is shown that the dust surface potential shifts into positive domain as the electrons are significantly depleted (and the plasma becomes ion-ion plasma) from the electronegative plasma and thus ion waves exhibit a damping phenomenon.

Properties of the singing comet waves in the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko plasma environment as observed by the Rosetta mission

Using in situ measurements from different instruments on board the Rosetta spacecraft, we investigate the properties of the newly discovered low-frequency oscillations, known as singing comet waves, that sometimes dominate the close plasma environment of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. These waves are thought to be generated by a modified ion-Weibel instability that grows due to a beam of water ions created by water molecules that outgass from the comet. We take advantage of a cometary outburst event that occurred on 2016 February 19 to probe this generation mechanism. We analyze the 3D magnetic field waveforms to infer the properties of the magnetic oscillations of the cometary ion waves. They are observed in the typical frequency range (~50 mHz) before the cometary outburst, but at ~20 mHz during the outburst. They are also observed to be elliptically right-hand polarized and to propagate rather closely (~0−50°) to the background magnetic field. We also construct a density dataset with a high enough time resolution that allows us to study the plasma contribution to the ion cometary waves. The correlation between plasma and magnetic field variations associated with the waves indicates that they are mostly in phase before and during the outburst, which means that they are compressional waves. We therefore show that the measurements from multiple instruments are consistent with the modified ion-Weibel instability as the source of the singing comet wave activity. We also argue that the observed frequency of the singing comet waves could be a way to indirectly probe the strength of neutral plasma coupling in the 67P environment.

Nonlinear calcium ion waves along actin filaments control active hair–bundle motility

Actin filaments are highly dynamic semiflexible cellular biopolymers with diverse functions, such as cell motility. They also play the role of conduits for propagation of calcium ion waves. In this paper, we propose a new biophysical model that describes how actin filaments with their polyelectrolyte properties serve as pathways for calcium ion flows in hair cells. We show this can be utilized for the tuning of force–generating myosin motors. In this model, we unify the calcium nonlinear dynamics involved in the control of the myosin adaptation motors with mechanical displacements of hair– bundles. The model shows that the characteristic time scales fit reasonably well with the available experimental data for spontaneous oscillations in the inner ear. This model offers promises to fill a gap in our understanding of the role of calcium ion nonlinear dynamics in the regulation of processes in the auditory cells of the inner ear.