Kibble mechanism for electroweak magnetic monopoles and magnetic fields

The vacuum manifold of the standard electroweak model is a three-sphere when one considers homogeneous Higgs field configurations. For inhomogeneous configurations we argue that the vacuum manifold is the Hopf fibered three sphere and that this viewpoint leads to general criteria to detect electroweak monopoles and Z-strings. We extend the Kibble mechanism to study the formation of electroweak monopoles and strings during electroweak symmetry breaking. The distribution of magnetic monopoles produces magnetic fields that have a spectrum Bλ ∝ λ−2, where λ is a smearing length scale. Even as the magnetic monopoles annihilate due to the confining Z-strings, the magnetic field evolves with the turbulent plasma and may be relevant for cosmological observations.

Anomalous transport of electrons in an electric discharge with transverse magnetic field

The experimental data showing the relationship of excitation of microwave oscillations with abnormally transport of electrons across the magnetic field in turbulent plasma are presented. The mechanism of the formation of the discharge current due to scattering of drift electrons in the near-electrode layers of the electric discharges on microwave oscillations has been substantiated. The conditions for the manifestation of the turbulent mechanism of anomalous electron transport through the magnetic barrier at the boundary of the toroidal electric discharge have been studied most fully. The mobility of electrons across a magnetic field is one of the main parameters of electric discharges that use crossed electric and magnetic fields for technological purposes.

Foreshock ULF fluctuations near the Moon: THEMIS observations

<p>The foreshock is a region filled with a turbulent plasma located upstream the Earth’s bow shock where interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) lines are connected to the bow shock surface. In this region, ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves are generated due to the interaction of the solar wind plasma with particles reflected from the bow shock back into the solar wind. It is assumed that excited waves grow and they are convected through the solar wind/foreshock, thus the inner spacecraft (close to the bow shock) would observe larger wave amplitudes than the outer (far from the bow shock) spacecraft. The paper presents a statistical analysis of excited ULF fluctuations observed simultaneously by two closely separated THEMIS spacecraft orbiting the Moon under a nearly radial IMF. We found that ULF fluctuations (in the plasma rest frame) can be characterized as a mixture of transverse and compressional modes with different properties at both locations. We discuss the growth and/or damping of ULF waves during their propagation.</p>

Evidence of chromospheric molecular hydrogen emission in a solar flare observed by the IRIS satellite

We have carried out the first comprehensive investigation of enhanced line emission from molecular hydrogen, H2 at 1333.79 Å, observed at flare ribbons in SOL2014-04-18T13:03. The cool H2 emission is known to be fluorescently excited by Si iv 1402.77 Å UV radiation and provides a unique view of the temperature minimum region (TMR). Strong H2 emission was observed when the Si iv 1402.77 Å emission was bright during the flare impulsive phase and gradual decay phase, but it dimmed during the GOES peak. H2 line broadening showed non-thermal speeds in the range 7-18 $\rm {km~s}^{-1}$, possibly corresponding to turbulent plasma flows. Small red (blue) shifts, up to 1.8 (4.9) $\rm {km~s}^{-1}$ were measured. The intensity ratio of Si iv 1393.76 Å and Si iv 1402.77 Å confirmed that plasma was optically thin to Si iv (where the ratio = 2) during the impulsive phase of the flare in locations where strong H2 emission was observed. In contrast, the ratio differs from optically thin value of 2 in parts of ribbons, indicating a role for opacity effects. A strong spatial and temporal correlation between H2 and Si iv emission was evident supporting the notion that fluorescent excitation is responsible.