Publications

2013

Autocalibration Method for Anisotropic Magnetoresistive Sensors Using Offset Coils
- Mohamadabadi K.
- Jeandet Alexis
- Hillion M.
- Coillot Christophe
IEEE Sensors Journal, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2013, 13 (2), pp.772-776. In this paper, we present a zero-cost indoor calibration method for anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors. The implemented circuit is designed to calibrate AMR sensors using integrated coils. A microcontroller is used to generate an artificial three-dimensional magnetic field by injecting three separate currents into three offset coils. We show the similarity of the results for residual calibration norm by using this method compared with the calibration of the sensor in free Earth's magnetic field. Furthermore, this method does not need any other instruments such as Helmholtz coils or a platform for rotating the sensor. Here the sensor is placed inside a mu-metal box during calibration, and the calibration process is completely autonomous. (10.1109/JSEN.2012.2227595)
DOI : 10.1109/JSEN.2012.2227595
Radial correlation of density fluctuations by coupling IPP and LPP W-band Doppler reflectometers on ASDEX Upgrade
- Hennequin Pascale
- Happel T.
- Conway G. D.
- Honoré Cyrille
- Vermare Laure
- Pisarev V.
- Giacalone J-C.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Asdex Upgrade Team
, 2013 (oral).
Spatio-temporal evolution of the H -> L back transition
- Miki K.
- Diamond P.H.
- Schmitz L.
- Mcdonald D. C.
- Estrada T.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Tynan G.R.
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2013, 20 (6), pp.062304. Since ITER will operate close to threshold and with limited control, the H → L back transition is a topic important for machine operations as well as physics. Using a reduced mesoscale model [Miki et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 092306 (2012)], we investigate ELM-free H → L back transition dynamics in order to isolate transport physics effects. Model studies indicate that turbulence spreading is the key process which triggers the back transition. The transition involves a feedback loop linking turbulence and profiles. The I-phase appears during the back transition following a slow power ramp down, while fast ramp-downs reveal a single burst of zonal flow during the back transition. The I-phase nucleates at the pedestal shoulder, as this is the site of the residual turbulence in H-mode. Hysteresis in the profile gradient scale length is characterized by the Nusselt number, where Nu = χi,turb/χi,neo. Relative hysteresis of temperature gradient vs density gradient is sensitive to the pedestal Prandtl number, where Prped = Dped/χi,neo. We expect the H-mode to be somewhat more resilient in density than in temperature. (10.1063/1.4812555)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4812555
Electron nongyrotropy in the context of collisionless magnetic reconnection
- Aunai Nicolas
- Hesse Michael
- Kuznetsova M. M.
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2013, 20, pp.2903. Collisionless magnetized plasmas have the tendency to isotropize their velocity distribution function around the local magnetic field direction, i.e., to be gyrotropic, unless some spatial and/or temporal fluctuations develop at the particle gyroscales. Electron gyroscale inhomogeneities are well known to develop during the magnetic reconnection process. Nongyrotropic electron velocity distribution functions have been observed to play a key role in the dissipative process breaking the field line connectivity. In this paper, we present a new method to quantify the deviation of a particle population from gyrotropy. The method accounts for the full 3D shape of the distribution and its analytical formulation allows fast numerical computation. Regions associated with a significant degree of nongyrotropy are shown, as well as the kinetic origin of the nongyrotropy and the fluid signature it is associated with. Using the result of 2.5D Particle-In-Cell simulations of magnetic reconnection in symmetric and asymmetric configurations, it is found that neither the reconnection site nor the topological boundaries are generally associated with a maximized degree of nongyrotropy. Nongyrotropic regions do not correspond to a specific fluid behavior as equivalent nongyrotropy is found to extend over the electron dissipation region as well as in non-dissipative diamagnetic drift layers. The localization of highly nongyrotropic regions in numerical models and their correlation with other observable quantities can, however, improve the characterization of spatial structures explored by spacecraft missions. (10.1063/1.4820953)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4820953
Antisunward structure of thin current sheets in the Earth's magnetotail : Implications of quasi-adiabatic theory
- Malova H. V.
- Popov V. Y.
- Delcourt Dominique C.
- Petrukovich A. A.
- Zelenyi L. M.
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2013, 118. We developed a self-consistent kinetic model of thin current sheets (TCS), taking into account the inhomogeneity of TCS parameters in the antisunward direction. We show that the charged particle dynamics depending on the magnetic field distribution in the downtail direction completely determines the magnetotail equilibrium structure. We demonstrate that transient ions as well as electrons are the main current carriers in this system, but the first ones support mostly the background (1-D) structure of the current sheet. The influence of electrons and quasi-trapped ions is found to vary depending upon downtail distance along the sheet. Assuming the conservation of the so-called quasi-adiabatic invariant, we show that quasi-trapped particles are distributed along the current sheet in such a way that they concentrate in the region with large values of normal magnetic field component. As a result quasi-trapped ions can dominate near the earthward edge of TCS. In contrast, the electron current becomes stronger in the TCS tailward region where the normal magnetic field component becomes weaker, and field line curvature drifts are enhanced. Our quasi-adiabatic model predicts that thin current sheets in the Earth's magnetotail should have weakly 2-D configuration which, similar to its 1-D analog considered earlier, conserves the multiscale matreshka structure with multiple embedded layers. (10.1002/jgra.50390)
DOI : 10.1002/jgra.50390
Inner radiation belt particle acceleration and energy structuring by drift resonance with ULF waves during geomagnetic storms
- Delcourt Dominique C.
- Benoist C.
- Penou E.
- Chen Y.
- Russell C. T.
- Sauvaud J.-A.
- Walt M.
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2013, 118 (4), pp.1723-1736. Geomagnetic storms are frequently associated with the formation of multiple bands of energetic electrons inside the inner radiation belt at L = 1.1-1.9 and with prominent energy structures of protons inside the slot region at L = 2.2-3.5. These structures typically from 100 keV up to the MeV range result from coherent interactions of energetic particles with quasi-monochromatic ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves. These waves are induced by magnetospheric changes due to the arrival of dense solar material and related nightside injections of particles from the outer magnetosphere that destabilize field lines in the inner magnetosphere down to L = 1.1. Using low-altitude data from the polar orbiting Demeter spacecraft, we perform case and statistical studies of these structures. We show that with such a spacecraft, these structures are best seen near the South Atlantic Anomaly because of lowering of the belt particle mirror point. As evidenced from ground measurements, energy bands are associated with quasi-sinusoidal ULF Pc5 and Pc4 waves with periods in the 1000 s range for L = 1.1-1.9 and in the 60 s range for L = 2.2-3.5. Numerical simulations of the coherent drift resonance of energetic particles with ultra-low frequency waves show how the particles are accelerated and how the observed structures build up. (10.1002/jgra.50125)
DOI : 10.1002/jgra.50125
Chlorine atom densities in the (3p5)2 P01/2 excited spin-orbit state measured by two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence in a chlorine inductively coupled plasma
- Sirse Nishant
- Booth Jean-Paul
- Chabert Pascal
- Surzhykov A.
- Indelicato P.
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, IOP Publishing, 2013, 46 (29), pp.295203. Chlorine atom densities in the spinorbit excited state were measured by two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) in an inductively coupled plasma discharge in pure Cl2. The atoms were excited by two photons at 235.702 nm to the state and detected by fluorescence to the (4s) 4P5/2 state at 726 nm. The population of this state relative to that in the ground state, was determined from the relative TALIF signal intensity from the two states, combined with new calculations of the two-photon absorption cross-sections. was found to increase continuously with radio-frequency power (50500 W), whereas with Cl2 pressure (590 mTorr) it passes through a maximum at 10 mTorr, reaching ~30% at 500 W. This maximum corresponds to the maximum of electron density in the discharge. Combining this density ratio measurement with previous measurements of the absolute ground state chlorine atom density [1] allows the absolute spin-orbit excited state density to be estimated. A significant fraction of the total chlorine atom density is in this excited state which should be included in plasma chemistry models. (10.1088/0022-3727/46/29/295203)
DOI : 10.1088/0022-3727/46/29/295203
Microsecond ramp compression of a metallic liner driven by a 5 MA current on the SPHINX machine using a dynamic load current multiplier pulse shaping
- d'Almeida Thierry
- Lassalle Francis
- Morell Alain
- Grunenwald Julien
- Zucchini Frédéric
- Loyen Arnaud
- Maysonnave Thomas
- Chuvatin Alexandre S.
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2013, 20 (09), pp.092512. SPHINX is a 6 MA, 1-μs Linear Transformer Driver (LTD) operated by the CEA Gramat (France) and primarily used for imploding Z-pinch loads for radiation effects studies. Among the options that are currently being evaluated to improve the generator performances are an upgrade to a 20 MA, 1-μs LTD machine and various power amplification schemes, including a compact Dynamic Load Current Multiplier (DLCM). A method for performing magnetic ramp compression experiments, without modifying the generator operation scheme, was developed using the DLCM to shape the initial current pulse in order to obtain the desired load current profile. In this paper, we discuss the overall configuration that was selected for these experiments, including the choice of a coaxial cylindrical geometry for the load and its return current electrode. We present both 3-D Magneto-hydrodynamic and 1D Lagrangian hydrodynamic simulations which helped guide the design of the experimental configuration. Initial results obtained over a set of experiments on an aluminium cylindrical liner, ramp-compressed to a peak pressure of 23 GPa, are presented and analyzed. Details of the electrical and laser Doppler interferometer setups used to monitor and diagnose the ramp compression experiments are provided. In particular, the configuration used to field both homodyne and heterodyne velocimetry diagnostics in the reduced access available within the liner's interior is described. Current profiles measured at various critical locations across the system, particularly the load current, enabled a comprehensive tracking of the current circulation and demonstrate adequate pulse shaping by the DLCM. The liner inner free surface velocity measurements obtained from the heterodyne velocimeter agree with the hydrocode results obtained using the measured load current as the input. An extensive hydrodynamic analysis is carried out to examine information such as pressure and particle velocity history profiles or magnetic diffusion across the liner. The potential of the technique in terms of applications and achievable ramp pressure levels lies in the prospects for improving the DLCM efficiency through the use of a closing switch (currently under development), reducing the load dimensions and optimizing the diagnostics. (10.1063/1.4823720)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4823720
CLUSTER observation of polar electron precipitation above the polar caps during periods of Northward IMF
- Fontaine Dominique
- Maggiolo R.
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, AGU, 2013, 21, pp.07. The CLUSTER spacecraft revealed the presence of successive current sheets of opposite polarity above the polar caps during periods of northward or weak IMF. We first present the general electrodynamical context. At CLUSTER altitude (5-7 RE), the upward part of this current system consists of ion beams accelerated by quasi-static electric fields, associated with precipitating electrons. They are surrounded by low energy upflowing electron beams carrying a downward current. We then focus on the precipitating electrons above the polar cap which form acceleration structures at about 100 - 300 eV. This acceleration is interpreted as the effect of an electrostatic potential along magnetic field lines located above CLUSTER altitude, i.e. typically above 5-7 RE. We present statistics on the characteristics of these precipitating electron structures and we discuss the source regions and the mechanisms possibly at their origin.
Building small scales in MHD turbulence
- Verdini Andrea
- Grappin Roland
- Pinto Rui
- Velli Marco
, 2013, 1539, pp.74-77. Magneto-hydrodynamic turbulence (MHD) with a mean large-scale field is known to produce an anisotropic cascade, with energy mostly in perpendicular scales. We use a shell-model version of the Reduced MHD equations to simulate turbulence in homogeneous periodic conditions, in coronal loops, and in the solar wind. We compare the perpendicular and parallel spectra and show that different regimes of weak turbulence develop in loops and in the solar wind. We briefly comment on the way their characteristic large-scale features influence the weak turbulence spectra and their transition to strong turbulence. (10.1063/1.4810993)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4810993
On the origin of the quasi-perpendicular ion foreshock: Full-particle simulations
- Savoini Philippe
- Lembège Bertrand
- Stienlet J.
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2013, 118 (3), pp.1132-1145. Many space missions have already evidenced the existence of the ion foreshock region located upstream of the Earth's bow shock and populated by energetic backstreaming ions reflected by the shock front. In order to analyse this region, a curved shock is simulated with a 2-D particle-in-cell (PIC) code. The analysis is presently restricted to the quasi-perpendicular angular range defined by 45° ≤ θBn ≤ 90°. In agreement with experimental data, present results evidence two distinct ion populations back-streaming from the shock front along the interplanetary magnetic field: (i) the Field-Aligned Beam population (hereafter "FAB") and (ii) the gyrophase bunched population (hereafter "GPB") which differ from each other by their gyrotropic or non-gyrotropic behavior, respectively. Excluded by a simulation time which is too short, ion instabilities pitch-angle scattering cannot be the source of "GPB". Two new criteria are proposed to identify more precisely each population: their interaction time Δtint with the shock front and their downstream penetration depth. These criteria show that (i) the "FAB" population moves back and forth between the upstream edge of the shock front and the overshoot, and is characterized by a Δtint covering several upstream gyro-periods. (ii) In contrast, the "GPB" ions suffer a short interaction time (i.e. 1 < τci). We observe that the "FAB" ions may have different originsalthough all "GPB" ions seem to be produced by the electrostatic field built up at the shock and are emitted in a burst-like mode rather than in continuous way. (10.1002/jgra.50158)
DOI : 10.1002/jgra.50158
Solar wind turbulence: the fight between the direct turbulent cascade and the (anisotropic) expansion
- Grappin Roland
, 2013.
A spectroscopic study of ethylene destruction and by-product generation using a three-stage atmospheric packed-bed plasma reactor
- Hubner Antoine
- Guaitella Olivier
- Rousseau Antoine
- Roepcke J.
Journal of Applied Physics, American Institute of Physics, 2013, 114, pp.033301. Using a three-stage dielectric packed-bed plasma reactor at atmospheric pressure, the destruction of ethylene, a typical volatile organic compound, and the generation of major by-products have been studied by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. A test gas mixture air at a gas flow of 1 slm containing 0.12% humidity with 0.1% ethylene has been used. In addition to the fragmentation of the precursor gas, the evolution of the concentration of ten stable reaction products, CO, CO2, O3, NO2, N2O, HCN, H2O, HNO3, CH2O, and CH2O2 has been monitored. The concentrations of the by-products range between 5 ppm, in the case of NO2, and 1200 ppm, for H2O. By the application of three sequentially working discharge cells at a frequency of f = 4 kHz and voltage values between 9 and 12 kV, a nearly complete decomposition of C2H4 could be achieved. Furthermore, the influence of the specific energy deposition (SED) on the destruction process has been studied and the maximum value of SED was about 900 J l−1. The value of the characteristic energy β, characterizing the energy efficiency of the ethylene destruction in the reactor, was found to be 330 J l−1. It was proven that the application of three reactor stages suppresses essentially the production of harmful by-products as formaldehyde, formic acid, and NO2 compared to the use of only one or two stages. Based on the multi-component detection, the carbon balance of the plasma chemical conversion of ethylene has been analyzed. The dependence of the fragmentation efficiencies of ethylene (RF(C2H4) = 5.5 × 1019 molecules J−1) and conversion efficiencies to the produced molecular species (RC = (0.13) × 1016 molecules J−1) on the discharge conditions could be estimated in the multistage plasma reactor. (10.1063/1.4813409)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4813409
Physics of Stimulated L->H Transitions
- Miki K.
- Diamond P.H.
- Hahn S. -H.
- Xiao W. W.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Tynan G.R.
Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2013, 110, pp.195002. We report on model studies of stimulated L→H transitions. These studies use a novel reduced mesoscale model. Studies reveal that L→H transitions can be triggered by particle injection into a subcritical state (i.e., P<PThresh). Particle injection alters the edge mean flow shear via changes of density and temperature gradients. The change of edge mean flow shear is critical to turbulence collapse and the subsequent stimulated transition. For low ambient heating, strong injection is predicted to trigger a transient turbulence collapse. We predict that repetitive injection can maintain the turbulence collapse and so sustain a driven H-mode-like state. The total number of particles required to induce a transition by either injection or gas puffing is estimated. Results indicate that the total number of injected particles required is much smaller than that required for inducing a transition by gas puffing. Thus, we show that internal injection is more efficient than gas puffing of comparable strength. We also observe that zonal flows do not play a critical role in stimulated transitions. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.195002)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.195002
Anisotropy of radiation emitted from planar wire arrays
- Kantsyrev Viktor L.
- Chuvatin Alexandre S.
- Esaulov A. A.
- Safronova Alla S.
- Rudakov Leonid I.
- Velikovich A. L.
- Williamson Kenneth M.
- Osborne Glenn C.
- Shrestha I. K.
- Weller Michael E.
- Shlyaptseva V. V.
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2013, 20 (07), pp.070702. The planar wire array (PWA) is a promising load for new multi-source inertial confinement fusion (ICF) hohlraums [B. Jones et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 104 125001 (2010)]. The hohlraum radiation symmetry is an important issue for ICF. It was found that extreme ultraviolet and sub-keV photon emission from PWAs may have considerable anisotropy in the load azimuthal plane. This experimental result is obtained on the UNR 11.7 MA Zebra generator. The time-dependent anisotropy effect is detected. This feature is studied in 2D numerical simulations and can be explained by initial anisotropy of implosion of those non-cylindrical loads radiating essentially as surface sources in sub-keV quanta and also by radiation absorption in cold magnetized plasma tails forming in the direction of magnetic compression. (10.1063/1.4817023)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4817023
Various Coiled Magnetoimpedance Based on Differential Magnetic Permeability Variation
- Moutoussamy Joël
- Coillot C.
- Chanteur Gérard
- Alves Francisco
Sensor letters, American Scientific Publishers, 2013, 11 (1), pp.40-43. The present work is focused on high sensitivity (5000 V/T) transverse coiled GMI transducers manufactured with various magnetic materials, magnetically excited at low frequencies (f < 50 kHz) by an insulated coil which is also used for the measurement of the DC and low frequency magnetic field. The impedance and the sensitivity of different types of ferromagnetic material as nanocrystalline ribbons (Finemet) annealed under longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields, as mumetal ribbons and Mn–Zn thin ferrite core are investigated with respect to the static magnetic field. From these results, the differential magnetic permeability is approximated in order to predict sensitivity behavior in relation to the anisotropy magnetic field and the magnitude and the frequency of current excitation. (10.1166/sl.2013.2800)
DOI : 10.1166/sl.2013.2800
Nonlinear saturation of wave packets excited by low-energy electron horseshoe distributions
- Krafft C.
- Volokitin A.
Physical Review E, American Physical Society (APS), 2013, 87, pp.053107. Horseshoe distributions are shell-like particle distributions that can arise in space and laboratory plasmas when particle beams propagate into increasing magnetic fields. The present paper studies the stability and the dynamics of wave packets interacting resonantly with electrons presenting low-energy horseshoe or shell-type velocity distributions in a magnetized plasma. The linear instability growth rates are determined as a function of the ratio of the plasma to the cyclotron frequencies, of the velocity and the opening angle of the horseshoe, and of the relative thickness of the shell. The nonlinear stage of the instability is investigated numerically using a symplectic code based on a three-dimensional Hamiltonian model. Simulation results show that the dynamics of the system is mainly governed by wave-particle interactions at Landau and normal cyclotron resonances and that the high-order normal cyclotron resonances play an essential role. Specific features of the dynamics of particles interacting simultaneously with two or more waves at resonances of different natures and orders are discussed, showing that such complex processes determine the main characteristics of the wave spectrum's evolution. Simulations with wave packets presenting quasicontinuous spectra provide a full picture of the relaxation of the horseshoe distribution, revealing two main phases of the evolution: an initial stage of wave energy growth, characterized by a fast filling of the shell, and a second phase of slow damping of the wave energy, accompanied by final adjustments of the electron distribution. The influence of the density inhomogeneity along the horseshoe on the wave-particle dynamics is also discussed. (10.1103/PhysRevE.87.053107)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevE.87.053107
Goniopolarimetry with Coupled Electric and Magnetic Measurements
- Cecconi B.
- Gautier A.-L.
- Bergman J.E.S
- Chust Thomas
- Marchaudon A.
- Cavoit C.
- Santolík O.
, 2013.
Reinterpretation of Slowdown of Solar Wind Mean Velocity in Nonlinear Structures Observed Upstream of Earth's Bow Shock
- Parks G. K.
- Lee E.
- Lin N.
- Fu S. Y.
- Mccarthy M.
- Cao J.B.
- Hong J.
- Liu Y.
- Shi J. K.
- Goldstein M. L.
- Canu Patrick
- Dandouras I.
- Rème H.
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Bristol : IOP Publishing, 2013, 771, pp.L39. Two of the many features associated with nonlinear upstream structures are (1) the solar wind (SW) mean flow slows down and deviates substantially and (2) the temperature of the plasma increases in the structure. In this Letter, we show that the SW beam can be present throughout the entire upstream event maintaining a nearly constant beam velocity and temperature. The decrease of the velocity is due to the appearance of new particles moving in the opposite direction that act against the SW beam and reduce the mean velocity as computed via moments. The new population, which occupies a larger velocity space, also contributes to the second moment, increasing the temperature. The new particles include the reflected SW beam at the bow shock and another population of lower energies, accelerated nearby at the shock or at the boundary of the nonlinear structures. (10.1088/2041-8205/771/2/L39)
DOI : 10.1088/2041-8205/771/2/L39
Generation mechanism of the whistler-mode waves in the plasma sheet prior to magnetic reconnection
- Wei X.H.
- Cao J.B.
- Zhou G.C.
- Fu H.S.
- Santolík O.
- Rème H.
- Dandouras I.
- Cornilleau-Wehrlin Nicole
- Fazakerley A.
Advances in Space Research, Elsevier, 2013, 52 (1), pp.205-210. The whistler-mode waves and electron temperature anisotropy play a key role prior to and during magnetic reconnection. On August 21, 2002, the Cluster spacecrafts encountered a quasi-collisionless magnetic reconnection event when they crossed the plasma sheet. Prior to the southward turning of magnetospheric magnetic field and high speed ion flow, the whistler-mode waves and positive electron temperature anisotropy are simultaneously observed. Theoretic analysis shows that the electrons with positive temperature anisotropy can excite the whistler-mode waves via cyclotron resonances. Using the data of particles and magnetic field, we estimated the whistler-mode wave growth rate and the ratio of whistler-mode growth rate to wave frequency. They are 0.0016fce (Electron cyclotron frequency) and 0.0086fce, respectively. Therefore the whistler-mode waves can grow quickly in the current sheet. The combined observations of energetic electron beams and waves show that after the southward turning of magnetic field, energetic electrons in the reconnection process are accelerated by the whistler-mode waves. (10.1016/j.asr.2013.02.016)
DOI : 10.1016/j.asr.2013.02.016
Interplanetary Nanodust Detection by the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory/WAVES Low Frequency Receiver
- Le Chat G.
- Zaslavsky A.
- Meyer-Vernet N.
- Issautier K.
- Belheouane S.
- Pantellini F.
- Maksimovic M.
- Zouganelis I.
- Bale S. D.
- Kasper J. C.
Solar Physics, Springer Verlag, 2013, 286 (2), pp.549-559. New measurements using radio and plasma-wave instruments in interplanetary space have shown that nanometer-scale dust, or nanodust, is a significant contributor to the total mass in interplanetary space. Better measurements of nanodust will allow us to determine where it comes from and the extent to which it interacts with the solar wind. When one of these nanodust grains impacts a spacecraft, it creates an expanding plasma cloud, which perturbs the photoelectron currents. This leads to a voltage pulse between the spacecraft body and the antenna. Nanodust has a high charge/mass ratio, and therefore can be accelerated by the interplanetary magnetic field to the speed of the solar wind: significantly faster than the Keplerian orbital speeds of heavier dust. The amplitude of the signal induced by a dust grain grows much more strongly with speed than with mass of the dust particle. As a result, nanodust can produce a strong signal despite its low mass. The WAVES instruments on the twin Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory spacecraft have observed interplanetary nanodust particles since shortly after their launch in 2006. After describing a new and improved analysis of the last five years of STEREO/WAVES Low Frequency Receiver data, we present a statistical survey of the nanodust characteristics, namely the rise time of the pulse voltage and the flux of nanodust. We show that previous measurements and interplanetary dust models agree with this survey. The temporal variations of the nanodust flux are also discussed. (10.1007/s11207-013-0268-x)
DOI : 10.1007/s11207-013-0268-x
Atmospheric Pressure Townsend Discharges in nitrogen with small admixtures of oxygen: discussion on the origin of the memory effect
- Naudé Nicolas
- Bouzidi Mohamed Cherif
- Dang V.S.
- Dang van Sung Mussard Marguerite
- Puechagut Loïc
- Belinger Antoine
- Ségur Pierre
- Gherardi Nicolas
, 2013.
Electrical characteristics of micro-hollow cathode discharges
- Lazzaroni Claudia
- Chabert Pascal
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, IOP Publishing, 2013, 46, pp.455203. A cathode sheath model of micro-hollow cathode discharges is proposed to calculate the voltagecurrent characteristics and discuss the physics of the discharge resistance. Three different approaches are compared: (i) a self-consistent model where the electric field is determined self-consistently with the electron flux, (ii) a matrix sheath model where the electric field profile in the sheath is imposed, (iii) a constant electric field model where the electric field in the sheath is assumed to be equal to a constant fraction of the electric field at the cathode. The sheath size is found to decrease with the pressure, the voltage and the secondary emission coefficient. There is a strong effect of the secondary emission coefficient and the pressure on the voltagecurrent characteristics. The discharge resistance is found to be several hundreds of kΩ and decreases with the discharge current, the pressure and the secondary emission coefficient. A comparison between the matrix sheath model and experiments suggests that both the secondary emission coefficient and the surface area on which the current is collected at the cathode increase with the discharge current. This increase is related to a transition between a discharge confined in the hole at low current and a plasma abruptly expanded on the cathode backside at higher current. (10.1088/0022-3727/46/45/455203)
DOI : 10.1088/0022-3727/46/45/455203
Fine-structure-resolved electron collisions from chlorine atoms in the (3p5)2P3/2o and (3p5)2P1/2o states
- Wang Yang
- Zatsarinny Oleg
- Bartschat Klaus
- Booth Jean-Paul
Physical Review A : Atomic, molecular, and optical physics [1990-2015], American Physical Society, 2013, 87, pp.022703. The B-spline R-matrix method is employed to calculate elastic electron scattering from chlorine atoms in the (3p5)2P3/2,1/2o states and electron-induced collisions between these two finestructure levels. The polarizability of the target states is accounted for by including polarized pseudostates in the close-coupling expansion, while relativistic effects are treated at the level of the semirelativistic Breit-Pauli approximation. We find the Ramsauer minimum in the elastic channels at a significantly lower projectile energy (≈0.2 eV) than previous calculations, due to an apparent strong sensitivity of the theoretical predictions on the details of the model, especially the target structure. The present results are relevant to the determination of chlorine atomic densities in Cl2-containing industrial plasma etch reactors. (10.1103/PhysRevA.87.022703)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevA.87.022703
Hysteresis effects in the formation of a neutralizing beam plasma at low ion energy
- Rafalskyi D.V.
- Aanesland Ane
EPL - Europhysics Letters, European Physical Society / EDP Sciences / Società Italiana di Fisica / IOP Publishing, 2013, 104 (3), pp.35004. In this paper, the PEGASES II thruster prototype is used as an ion source generating low-energy positive Ar ion beam, extracted without an external neutralizer. The ions are extracted and accelerated from the source using a two-grid system. The extracted positive ion beam current is measured on a large beam target that can be translated along the acceleration axis. The ion beam current shows a stepwise transition from a low-current to a high-current extraction regime with hysteresis. The hysteresis region depends strongly upon the beam target position. Langmuir probe measurements in the plume show high plasma potentials and low plasma densities in the low-current mode, while the plasma potential drops and the density increases in the high-current mode. The ion energy distribution functions of the beam are measured for different regimes of ion extraction. The ion beam extracted in the high-current mode is indicated by the presence of an additional low-energy peak corresponding to ions from an ion-beam plasma created in the downstream chamber, as well as 1020 times higher intensity of the primary ion beam peak. The hysteresis behavior is explained by the formation of a downstream neutralizing beam plasma, that depends on the target position and pressure in agreement with a Paschen-like breakdown by secondary electrons. The obtained results are of high relevance for further development of the PEGASES thruster, as well as for improving existing neutralizer-free concepts of the broad-beam ion sources. (10.1209/0295-5075/104/35004)
DOI : 10.1209/0295-5075/104/35004

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