Publications

2015

Towards an emerging understanding of non-locality phenomena and non-local transport
- Ida K.
- Shi Z.
- Sun H. J.
- Inagaki S.
- Kamiya K.
- Rice J.E.
- Tamura N.
- Diamond P.H.
- Dif-Pradalier Guilhem
- Zou X. L.
- Itoh K.
- Sugita S.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Estrada T.
- Hidalgo C.
- Hahm T.S.
- Field A.
- Ding X. T.
- Sakamoto Y.
- Oldenburger S.
- Yoshinuma M.
- Kobayashi T.
- Jiang M.
- Hahn S. -H.
- Jeon Y. M.
- Hong S. H.
- Kosuga Y.
- Dong J.
- Itoh S. I.
Nuclear Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2015, 55 (1), pp.013022. In this paper, recent progress on experimental analysis and theoretical models for non-local transport (non-Fickian fluxes in real space) is reviewed. The non-locality in the heat and momentum transport observed in the plasma, the departures from linear flux-gradient proportionality, and externally triggered non-local transport phenomena are described in both L-mode and improved-mode plasmas. Ongoing evaluation of 'fast front' and 'intrinsically non-local' models, and their success in comparisons with experimental data, are discussed (10.1088/0029-5515/55/1/013022)
DOI : 10.1088/0029-5515/55/1/013022
Comprehensive comparisons of geodesic acoustic mode characteristics and dynamics between Tore Supra experiments and gyrokinetic simulations
- Storelli A.
- Vermare Laure
- Hennequin Pascale
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Dif-Pradalier Guilhem
- Sarazin Y.
- Garbet X.
- Görler T.
- Singh Rameswar
- Morel Pierre
- Grandgirard Virginie
- Ghendrih Philippe
- Tore Supra Team
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2015, 22 (6). In a dedicated collisionality scan in Tore Supra, the geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) is detected and identified with the Doppler backscattering technique. Observations are compared to the results of a simulation with the gyrokinetic code GYSELA. We found that the GAM frequency in experiments is lower than predicted by simulation and theory. Moreover, the disagreement is higher in the low collisionality scenario. Bursts of non harmonic GAM oscillations have been characterized with filtering techniques, such as the Hilbert-Huang transform. When comparing this dynamical behaviour between experiments and simulation, the probability density function of GAM amplitude and the burst autocorrelation time are found to be remarkably similar. In the simulation, where the radial profile of GAM frequency is continuous, we observed a phenomenon of radial phase mixing of the GAM oscillations, which could influence the burst autocorrelation time. (10.1063/1.4922845)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4922845
Experimental turbulence studies for gyro-kinetic code validation using advanced microwave diagnostics
- Stroth U.
- Bañón Navarro A.
- Conway G. D.
- Görler T.
- Happel T.
- Hennequin Pascale
- Lechte C.
- Manz P.
- Simon P.
- Biancalani A.
- Blanco E.
- Bottereau C.
- Clairet F.
- Coda S.
- Eibert T.
- Estrada T.
- Fasoli A.
- Guimarais L.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Huang Z.
- Jenko F.
- Kasparek W.
- Koenen C.
- Krämer-Flecken A.
- Manso M.-E.
- Medvedeva A.
- Molina D.
- Nikolaeva V.
- Plaum B.
- Porte L.
- Prisiazhniuk D.
- Ribeiro T.
- Scott B.D.
- Siart U.
- Storelli A.
- Vermare Laure
- Wolf S.
Nuclear Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2015, 55 (8), pp.083027. For a comprehensive comparison with theoretical models and advanced numerical turbulence simulations, a large spectrum of fluctuation parameters was measured on the devices ASDEX Upgrade, TCV, and Tore-Supra. Radial profiles of scale-resolved turbulence levels in H-mode discharges are measured and compared with GENE simulations in the transition range from ion-temperature-gradient to trapped-electron-mode turbulence. Correlation reflectometry is used to study the microscopic structure of turbulence and GAMs in discharges where poloidal flow damping was varied by means of variations of the shape of the poloidal plasma cross-section and collisionality. Full-wave codes and synthetic diagnostics are applied for the interpretation of the data. (10.1088/0029-5515/55/8/083027)
DOI : 10.1088/0029-5515/55/8/083027
Finding the Elusive E × B Staircase in Magnetized Plasmas
- Dif-Pradalier Guilhem
- Hornung G
- Ghendrih Philippe
- Sarazin Yanick
- Clairet F
- Vermare L
- Diamond P H
- Abiteboul J
- Cartier-Michaud T
- Ehrlacher C
- Estève Daniel
- Garbet Xavier
- Grandgirard Virginie
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Hennequin P
- Kosuga Y
- Latu Guillaume
- Maget P
- Morel Pierre
- Norscini C
- Sabot R
- Storelli A.
Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2015, 114, pp.085004. Turbulence in hot magnetized plasmas is shown to generate permeable localized transport barriers that globally organize into the so-called "ExB staircase" [G. Dif-Pradalier et al., Phys. Rev. E, 82, 025401(R) (2010)]. Its domain of existence and dependence with key plasma parameters is discussed theoretically. Based on these predictions, staircases are observed experimentally in the Tore Supra tokamak by means of high-resolution fast-sweeping X-mode reflectometry. This observation strongly emphasizes the critical role of mesoscale self-organization in plasma turbulence and may have far-reaching consequences for turbulent transport models and their validation. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.085004)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.085004
Observations of discrete harmonics emerging from equatorial noise
- Balikhin M. A.
- Shprits Y. Y.
- Walker S. N.
- Chen Lunjin
- Cornilleau-Wehrlin Nicole
- Dandouras Iannis
- Santolík O.
- Carr Christopher
- Yearby K. H.
- Weiss Benjamin
Nature Communications, Nature Publishing Group, 2015, 6. A number of modes of oscillations of particles and fields can exist in space plasmas. Since the early 1970s, space missions have observed noise-like plasma waves near the geomagnetic equator known as `equatorial noise'. Several theories were suggested, but clear observational evidence supported by realistic modelling has not been provided. Here we report on observations by the Cluster mission that clearly show the highly structured and periodic pattern of these waves. Very narrow-banded emissions at frequencies corresponding to exact multiples of the proton gyrofrequency (frequency of gyration around the field line) from the 17th up to the 30th harmonic are observed, indicating that these waves are generated by the proton distributions. Simultaneously with these coherent periodic structures in waves, the Cluster spacecraft observes `ring' distributions of protons in velocity space that provide the free energy for the waves. Calculated wave growth based on ion distributions shows a very similar pattern to the observations. (10.1038/ncomms8703)
DOI : 10.1038/ncomms8703
Imprints of Expansion on the Local Anisotropy of Solar Wind Turbulence
- Verdini Andrea
- Grappin Roland
The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Bristol : IOP Publishing, 2015, 808, pp.L34. We study the anisotropy of II-order structure functions (SFs) defined in a frame attached to the local mean field in three-dimensional (3D) direct numerical simulations of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence, with the solar wind expansion both included and not included. We simulate spacecraft flybys through the numerical domain by taking increments along the radial (wind) direction that form an angle of 45° with the ambient magnetic field. We find that only when expansion is taken into account do the synthetic observations match the 3D anisotropy observed in the solar wind, including the change of anisotropy with scale. Our simulations also show that the anisotropy changes dramatically when considering increments oblique to the radial directions. Both results can be understood by noting that expansion reduces the radial component of the magnetic field at all scales, thus confining fluctuations in the plane perpendicular to the radial. Expansion is thus shown to affect not only the (global) spectral anisotropy, but also the local anisotropy of second-order SF by influencing the distribution of the local mean field, which enters this higher-order statistics. (10.1088/2041-8205/808/2/L34)
DOI : 10.1088/2041-8205/808/2/L34
Wide-banded NTC radiation: local to remote observations by the four Cluster satellites
- Décréau Pierrette
- Aoutou S.
- Denazelle A.
- Galkina I.
- Rauch Jean-Louis
- Vallières Xavier
- Canu Patrick
- Rochel Grimald S.
- El-Lemdani Mazouz Farida
- Darrouzet F.
Annales Geophysicae, European Geosciences Union, 2015, 33 (10), pp.1285-1300. The Cluster multi-point mission offers a unique collection of non-thermal continuum (NTC) radio waves observed in the 2-80 kHz frequency range over almost 15 years, from various view points over the radiating plasmasphere. Here we present rather infrequent case events, such as when primary electrostatic sources of such waves are embedded within the plasmapause boundary far from the magnetic equatorial plane. The spectral signature of the emitted electromagnetic waves is structured as a series of wide harmonic bands within the range covered by the step in plasma frequency encountered at the boundary. Developing the concept that the frequency distance df between harmonic bands measures the magnetic field magnitude B at the source (df = Fce, electron gyrofrequency), we analyse three selected events. The first one (studied in Grimald et al., 2008) presents electric field signatures observed by a Cluster constellation of small size (~ 200 to 1000 km spacecraft separation) placed in the vicinity of sources. The electric field frequency spectra display frequency peaks placed at frequencies fs = n df (n being an integer), with df of the order of Fce values encountered at the plasmapause by the spacecraft. The second event, taken from the Cluster tilt campaign, leads to a 3-D view of NTC waves ray path orientations and to a localization of a global source region at several Earth radii (RE) from Cluster (Décréau et al., 2013). The measured spectra present successive peaks placed at fs ~ (n 1/2) df. Next, considering if both situations might be two facets of the same phenomenon, we analyze a third event. The Cluster fleet, configured into a constellation of large size (~ 8000 to 25 000 km spacecraft separation), allows us to observe wide-banded NTC waves at different distances from their sources. Two new findings can be derived from our analysis. First, we point out that a large portion of the plasmasphere boundary layer, covering a large range of magnetic latitudes, is radiating radio waves. The radio waves are issued from multiple sources of small size, each related to a given fs series and radiating inside a beam of narrow cone angle, referred to as a beamlet. The beamlets illuminate different satellites simultaneously, at different characteristic fs values, according to the latitude at which the satellite is placed. Second, when an observing satellite moves away from its assumed source region (the plasmapause surface), it is illuminated by several beamlets, issued from nearby sources with characteristic fs values close to each other. The addition of radio waves blurs the spectra of the overall received electric field. It can move the signal peaks such that their position fs satisfiesfs = (n alpha) df, with 0 < alpha < 1. These findings open new perspectives for the interpretation of NTC events displaying harmonic signatures. (10.5194/angeo-33-1285-2015)
DOI : 10.5194/angeo-33-1285-2015
Magnetic noise contribution of the ferromagnetic core of induction magnetometers
- Coillot C
- El Moussalim M
- Brun E
- Rhouni A
- Lebourgeois R
- Sou Gérard
- Mansour Malik
Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems, Copernicus Publ, 2015, 4, pp.229 - 237. The performance of induction magnetometers, in terms of resolution, depends both on the induction sensor and the electronic circuit. To investigate accurately the sensor noise sources, an induction sensor, made of a ferrite ferromagnetic core, is combined with a dedicated low voltage and current noise preamplifier, designed in CMOS 0.35 µm technology. A modelling of the contribution of the ferromagnetic core to the noise through the complex permeability formalism is performed. Its comparison with experimental measurements highlight another possible source for the dominating noise near the resonance. (10.5194/jsss-4-229-2015)
DOI : 10.5194/jsss-4-229-2015
Direct identification of predator-prey dynamics in gyrokinetic simulations
- Kobayashi Sumire
- Gürcan Özgür D.
- Diamond P.H.
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2015, 22 (9), pp.090702. The interaction between spontaneously formed zonal flows and small-scale turbulence in nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations is explored in a shearless closed field line geometry. It is found that when clear limit cycle oscillations prevail, the observed turbulent dynamics can be quantitatively captured by a simple Lotka-Volterra type predator-prey model. Fitting the time traces of full gyrokinetic simulations by such a reduced model allows extraction of the model coefficients. Scanning physical plasma parameters, such as collisionality and density gradient, it was observed that the effective growth rates of turbulence (i.e., the prey) remain roughly constant, in spite of the higher and varying level of primary mode linear growth rates. The effective growth rate that was extracted corresponds roughly to the zonal-flow-modified primary mode growth rate. It was also observed that the effective damping of zonal flows (i.e., the predator) in the parameter range, where clear predator-prey dynamics is observed, (i.e., near marginal stability) agrees with the collisional damping expected in these simulations. This implies that the Kelvin-Helmholtz-like instability may be negligible in this range. The results imply that when the tertiary instability plays a role, the dynamics becomes more complex than a simple Lotka-Volterra predator prey. (10.1063/1.4930127)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4930127
Turbulence elasticity: a key concept to a unified paradigm of L -> I -> H transition
- Guo Z. B.
- Diamond P.H.
- Kosuga Y.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
Nuclear Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2015, 55 (4), pp.043022. We present a theory of turbulence elasticity, which follows from delayed response of drift waves (DWs) to zonal flow (ZF) shears. It is shown that when |〈V〉'ZF|/Δωk ≥ 1, with |〈V〉'ZF| the ZF shearing rate and Δωk the local turbulence decorrelation rate, the ZF evolution equation is converted from a diffusion equation to a telegraph equation. This insight provides a natural framework for understanding temporally periodic ZF structures, e.g., propagation of the ZF/turbulence intensity fronts. Furthermore, by incorporating the elastic property of the DWZF turbulence, we propose a unified paradigm of low-confinement-mode to intermediate-confinement-mode to high-confinement-mode (L → I → H) transitions. In particular, we predict the onset and termination conditions of the limit cycle oscillations, i.e. the I-mode. The transition from an unstable L-mode to I-mode is predicted to occur when Δωk < |〈V〉'ZF|<〈V〉'cr, where 〈V〉'cr is a critical flow shearing rate and is derived explicitly. If |〈V〉'E×B| > 〈V〉'cr(〈V〉E×B is mean E × B shear flow driven by edge radial electrostatic field), the I-mode will terminate and spiral into the H-mode. (10.1088/0029-5515/55/4/043022)
DOI : 10.1088/0029-5515/55/4/043022
Predator-prey model for the self-organization of stochastic oscillators in dual populations.
- Moradi S.
- Anderson J.
- Gürcan Özgür D.
Physical Review E, American Physical Society (APS), 2015, 92, pp.06293. A predator-prey model of dual populations with stochastic oscillators is presented. A linear cross-coupling between the two populations is introduced following the coupling between the motions of a Wilberforce pendulum in two dimensions: one in the longitudinal and the other in torsional plain. Within each population a Kuramoto-type competition between the phases is assumed. Thus, the synchronization state of the whole system is controlled by these two types of competitions. The results of the numerical simulations show that by adding the linear cross-coupling interactions predator-prey oscillations between the two populations appear, which results in self-regulation of the system by a transfer of synchrony between the two populations. The model represents several important features of the dynamical interplay between the drift wave and zonal flow turbulence in magnetically confined plasmas, and a novel interpretation of the coupled dynamics of drift wave-zonal flow turbulence using synchronization of stochastic oscillator is discussed. (10.1103/PhysRevE.92.062930)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevE.92.062930
Asymmetric kinetic equilibria: Generalization of the BAS model for rotating magnetic profile and non-zero electric field
- Dorville Nicolas
- Belmont Gérard
- Aunai Nicolas
- Dargent Jérémy
- Rezeau Laurence
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2015, 22 (9), pp.092904. Finding kinetic equilibria for non-collisional/collisionless tangential current layers is a key issue as well for their theoretical modeling as for our understanding of the processes that disturb them, such as tearing or Kelvin Helmholtz instabilities. The famous Harris equilibrium [E. Harris, Il Nuovo Cimento Ser. 10 23, 115121 (1962)] assumes drifting Maxwellian distributions for ions and electrons, with constant temperatures and flow velocities; these assumptions lead to symmetric layers surrounded by vacuum. This strongly particular kind of layer is not suited for the general case: asymmetric boundaries between two media with different plasmas and different magnetic fields. The standard method for constructing more general kinetic equilibria consists in using Jeans theorem, which says that any function depending only on the Hamiltonian constants of motion is a solution to the steady Vlasov equation [P. J. Channell, Phys. Fluids (19581988) 19, 1541 (1976); M. Roth et al., Space Sci. Rev. 76, 251317 (1996); and F. Mottez, Phys. Plasmas 10, 15411545 (2003)]. The inverse implication is however not true: when using the motion invariants as variables instead of the velocity components, the general stationary particle distributions keep on depending explicitly of the position, in addition to the implicit dependence introduced by these invariants. The standard approach therefore strongly restricts the class of solutions to the problem and probably does not select the most physically reasonable. The BAS (Belmont-Aunai-Smets) model [G. Belmont et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 022108 (2012)] used for the first time the concept of particle accessibility to find new solutions: considering the case of a coplanar-antiparallel magnetic field configuration without electric field, asymmetric solutions could be found while the standard method can only lead to symmetric ones. These solutions were validated in a hybrid simulation [N. Aunai et al., Phys. Plasmas (1994-present) 20, 110702 (2013)], and more recently in a fully kinetic simulation as well [J. Dargent and N. Aunai, Phys. Plasmas (submitted)]. Nevertheless, in most asymmetric layers like the terrestrial magnetopause, one would indeed expect a magnetic field rotation from one direction to another without going through zero [J. Berchem and C. T. Russell, J. Geophys. Res. 87, 81398148 (1982)], and a non-zero normal electric field. In this paper, we propose the corresponding generalization: in the model presented, the profiles can be freely imposed for the magnetic field rotation (although restricted to a 180 rotation hitherto) and for the normal electric field. As it was done previously, the equilibrium is tested with a hybrid simulation. (10.1063/1.4930210)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4930210
A Review of General Physical and Chemical Processes Related to Plasma Sources and Losses for Solar System Magnetospheres
- Seki K.
- Nagy A.
- Jackman C. M.
- Crary F.
- Fontaine Dominique
- Zarka P.
- Wurz Peter
- Milillo A.
- Slavin J. A.
- Delcourt Dominique C.
- Wiltberger M.
- Ilie R.
- Jia X.
- Ledvina S. A.
- Liemohn M. W.
- Schunk R. W.
Space Science Reviews, Springer Verlag, 2015, 192 (1-4), pp.27-89. The aim of this paper is to provide a review of general processes related to plasma sources, their transport, energization, and losses in the planetary magnetospheres. We provide background information as well as the most up-to-date knowledge of the comparative studies of planetary magnetospheres, with a focus on the plasma supply to each region of the magnetospheres. This review also includes the basic equations and modeling methods commonly used to simulate the plasma sources of the planetary magnetospheres. In this paper, we will describe basic and common processes related to plasma supply to each region of the planetary magnetospheres in our solar system. First, we will describe source processes in Sect. 1. Then the transport and energization processes to supply those source plasmas to various regions of the magnetosphere are described in Sect. 2. Loss processes are also important to understand the plasma population in the magnetosphere and Sect. 3 is dedicated to the explanation of the loss processes. In Sect. 4, we also briefly summarize the basic equations and modeling methods with a focus on plasma supply processes for planetary magnetospheres. (10.1007/s11214-015-0170-y)
DOI : 10.1007/s11214-015-0170-y
Distribution of energetic oxygen and hydrogen in the near-Earth plasma sheet
- Kronberg E. A.
- Grigorenko E. E.
- Haaland S. E.
- Daly P. W.
- Delcourt Dominique C.
- Luo H.
- Kistler L. M.
- Dandouras I.
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2015, 120 (5), pp.3415-3431. The spatial distributions of different ion species are useful indicators for plasma sheet dynamics. In this statistical study based on 7 years of Cluster observations, we establish the spatial distributions of oxygen ions and protons at energies from 274 to 955 keV, depending on geomagnetic and solar wind (SW) conditions. Compared with protons, the distribution of energetic oxygen has stronger dawn-dusk asymmetry in response to changes in the geomagnetic activity. When the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is directed southward, the oxygen ions show significant acceleration in the tail plasma sheet. Changes in the SW dynamic pressure (Pdyn) affect the oxygen and proton intensities in the same way. The energetic protons show significant intensity increases at the near-Earth duskside during disturbed geomagnetic conditions, enhanced SW Pdyn, and southward IMF, implying there location of effective inductive acceleration mechanisms and a strong duskward drift due to the increase of the magnetic field gradient in the near-Earth tail. Higher losses of energetic ions are observed in the dayside plasma sheet under disturbed geomagnetic conditions and enhanced SW Pdyn. These observations are in agreement with theoretical models. (10.1002/2014JA020882)
DOI : 10.1002/2014JA020882
Strong Ionization Asymmetry in a Geometrically Symmetric Radio Frequency Capacitively Coupled Plasma Induced by Sawtooth Voltage Waveforms
- Bruneau Bastien
- Gans T.
- O'Connell D.
- Greb Arthur
- Johnson E.V.
- Booth Jean-Paul
Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2015, 114, pp.125002. The ionization dynamics in geometrically symmetric parallel plate capacitively coupled plasmas driven by radio frequency tailored voltage waveforms is investigated using phase resolved optical emission spectroscopy (PROES) and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. Temporally asymmetric waveforms induce spatial asymmetries and offer control of the spatiotemporal dynamics of electron heating and associated ionization structures. Sawtooth waveforms with different rise and fall rates are employed using truncated Fourier series approximations of an ideal sawtooth. Experimental PROES results obtained in argon plasmas are compared with PIC simulations, showing excellent agreement. With waveforms comprising a fast voltage drop followed by a slower rise, the faster sheath expansion in front of the powered electrode causes strongly enhanced ionization in this region. The complementary waveform causes an analogous effect in front of the grounded electrode. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.125002)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.125002
Intensities and spatiotemporal variability of equatorial noise emissions observed by the Cluster spacecraft
- Nemec F.
- Santolík O.
- Hrbackova Z.
- Cornilleau-Wehrlin Nicole
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2015, 120, pp.1620-1632. Equatorial noise (EN) emissions are electromagnetic waves observed in the equatorial region of the inner magnetosphere at frequencies between the proton cyclotron frequency and the lower hybrid frequency. We present the analysis of 2229 EN events identified in the Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Field Fluctuations (STAFF) experiment data of the Cluster spacecraft during the years 2001-2010. EN emissions are distinguished using the polarization analysis, and their intensity is determined based on the evaluation of the Poynting flux rather than on the evaluation of only the electric/magnetic field intensity. The intensity of EN events is analyzed as a function of the frequency, the position of the spacecraft inside/outside the plasmasphere, magnetic local time, and the geomagnetic activity. The emissions have higher frequencies and are more intense in the plasma trough than in the plasmasphere. EN events observed in the plasma trough are most intense close to the local noon, while EN events observed in the plasmasphere are nearly independent on magnetic local time (MLT). The intensity of EN events is enhanced during disturbed periods, both inside the plasmasphere and in the plasma trough. Observations of the same events by several Cluster spacecraft allow us to estimate their spatiotemporal variability. EN emissions observed in the plasmasphere do not change on the analyzed spatial scales (DeltaMLT<0.2h, Deltar<0.2 RE), but they change significantly on time scales of about an hour. The same appears to be the case also for EN events observed in the plasma trough, although the plasma trough dependencies are less clear. (10.1002/2014JA020814)
DOI : 10.1002/2014JA020814
Multipoint observations of plasma phenomena made in space by Cluster
- Goldstein M. L.
- Escoubet P.
- Hwang K.-J.
- Wendel D. E.
- Viñas A.-F.
- Fung S. F.
- Perri S.
- Servidio S.
- Pickett J. S.
- Parks G. K.
- Sahraoui Fouad
- Gurgiolo C.
- Matthaeus W.
- Weygand J. M.
Journal of Plasma Physics, Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2015, 81 (3), pp.325810301. Plasmas are ubiquitous in nature, surround our local geospace environment, and permeate the universe. Plasma phenomena in space give rise to energetic particles, the aurora, solar flares and coronal mass ejections, as well as many energetic phenomena in interstellar space. Although plasmas can be studied in laboratory settings, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to replicate the conditions (density, temperature, magnetic and electric fields, etc.) of space. Single-point space missions too numerous to list have described many properties of near-Earth and heliospheric plasmas as measured both in situ and remotely (see http://www.nasa.gov/missions/#.U1mcVmeweRY for a list of NASA-related missions). However, a full description of our plasma environment requires three-dimensional spatial measurements. Cluster is the first, and until data begin flowing from the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS), the only mission designed to describe the three-dimensional spatial structure of plasma phenomena in geospace. In this paper, we concentrate on some of the many plasma phenomena that have been studied using data from Cluster. To date, there have been more than 2000 refereed papers published using Cluster data but in this paper we will, of necessity, refer to only a small fraction of the published work. We have focused on a few basic plasma phenomena, but, for example, have not dealt with most of the vast body of work describing dynamical phenomena in Earth's magnetosphere, including the dynamics of current sheets in Earth's magnetotail and the morphology of the dayside high latitude cusp. Several review articles and special publications are available that describe aspects of that research in detail and interested readers are referred to them (see for example, Escoubet et al. 2005Multiscale Coupling of Sun-Earth Processes, p. 459, Keith et al. 2005Sur. Geophys.26, 307339, Paschmann et al. 2005Outer Magnetospheric Boundaries: Cluster Results, Space Sciences Series of ISSI. Berlin: Springer, Goldstein et al. 2006Adv. Space Res.38, 2136, Taylor et al. 2010The Cluster Mission: Space Plasma in Three Dimensions, Springer, pp. 309330 and Escoubet et al. 2013Ann. Geophys.31, 10451059). (10.1017/S0022377815000185)
DOI : 10.1017/S0022377815000185
Weak magnetohydrodynamic turbulence and intermittency
- Meyrand Romain
- Kiyani K. H.
- Galtier Sébastien
Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2015, 770. Three-dimensional numerical simulation is used to investigate intermittency in incompressible weak magnetohydrodynamic turbulence with a strong uniform magnetic field and zero cross-helicity. At leading order, this asymptotic regime is achieved via three-wave resonant interactions with the scattering of a wave on a 2D mode for which . When the interactions with the 2D modes are artificially reduced, we show numerically that the system exhibits an energy spectrum with , whereas the expected exact solution with is recovered with the full nonlinear system. In the latter case, strong intermittency is found when the vector separation of structure functions is taken transverse to . This result may be explained by the influence of the 2D modes whose regime belongs to strong turbulence. In addition to shedding light on the origin of this intermittency, we derive a log-Poisson law, , which fits the data perfectly and highlights the important role of parallel current sheets. (10.1017/jfm.2015.141)
DOI : 10.1017/jfm.2015.141
Chorus intensity modulation driven by time-varying field-aligned low-energy plasma
- Nishimura Y.
- Bortnik J.
- Li W.
- Liang Jun
- Thorne R. M.
- Angelopoulos V.
- Le Contel Olivier
- Auster U.
- Bonnell J. W.
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2015, 120 (9), pp.7433-7446. Recent studies have shown that chorus waves are responsible for scattering and precipitating the energetic electrons that drive the pulsating aurora. While some of the chorus intensity modulation events are correlated with <~100 eV electron density modulation, most of the chorus intensity modulation events in the postmidnight sector occur without apparent density changes. Although it is generally difficult to measure evolution of low-energy (<~20 eV) electron fluxes due to constraints imposed by the spacecraft potential and electrostatic analyzer (ESA) energy range limit, we identified using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellite data that low-energy ions of ~100 eV show density modulation that is correlated with chorus intensity modulation. Those low-energy ions and electrons are field-aligned with major peaks in 0° (for northern hemisphere winter event) and 180° (for northern hemisphere summer event) pitch angle, indicating that outflowing plasma from the sunlit hemisphere is the source of the low-energy plasma density modulation near the equator. Plasma sheet plasma density, and ambient electric and magnetic fields do not show modulations that are correlated with the chorus intensity modulation. Assuming charge neutrality, the low-energy ions can be used to represent cold plasma density in wave growth rate calculations, and the enhancements of the low-energy plasma density are found to contribute most effectively to chorus linear growth rates. These results suggest that chorus intensity modulation is driven by a feedback process where outflowing plasma due to energetic electron precipitation increases the equatorial density that drives further electron precipitation. (10.1002/2015JA021330)
DOI : 10.1002/2015JA021330
Experimental determination of the dispersion relation of magnetosonic waves
- Balikhin M. A.
- Shklyar D. R.
- Yearby K. H.
- Canu Patrick
- Carr C. M.
- Dandouras I.
- Walker S. N.
Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2015, 120, pp.9632-9650. Magnetosonic waves are commonly observed in the vicinity of the terrestrial magnetic equator. It has been proposed that within this region they may interact with radiation belt electrons, accelerating some to high energies. These wave-particle interactions depend upon the characteristic properties of the wave mode. Hence, determination of the wave properties is a fundamental part of understanding these interaction processes. Using data collected during the Cluster Inner Magnetosphere Campaign, this paper identifies an occurrence of magnetosonic waves, discusses their generation and propagation properties from a theoretical perspective, and utilizes multispacecraft measurements to experimentally determine their dispersion relation. Their experimental dispersion is found to be in accordance with that based on cold plasma theory. (10.1002/2015JA021746)
DOI : 10.1002/2015JA021746
Control and optimization of the slope asymmetry effect in tailored voltage waveforms for capacitively coupled plasmas
- Bruneau Bastien
- Novikova T.
- Lafleur Trevor
- Booth Jean-Paul
- Johnson E.V.
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2015, 24 (1), pp.015021. Through the use of particle-in-cell simulations, we study the ion flux asymmetry in an argon discharge that is induced by a ?sawtooth-like? excitation voltage waveform. In a previous article we have shown that, due to their differing rising and falling slopes, these waveforms can create a plasma with a significantly higher ion flux to one electrode in a geometrically symmetric reactor. Furthermore, they have the unique property of providing a lower ion energy at the electrode with a higher ion flux. In the present work, we show that a refined waveform allows the ion flux asymmetry to be increased for a given number of harmonics by reducing the ionization rate in front of the low-flux electrode. The flux asymmetry is found to disappear at low pressure due to the increased electron energy transport, which causes a transition from sheath edge ionization to bulk ionization. Changing the fundamental frequency is shown to have two counterbalancing effects: reducing the ionization on the low ion-flux electrode and shifting the maximum ionization to the center of the discharge. Under the representative conditions that we have studied, a maximum asymmetry is found for a base frequency of 3.4 MHz. Finally, it is shown that, by adjusting the rise- to fall-time ratio of the refined waveforms, the ion-flux asymmetry can be continuously shifted from one electrode to the other. (10.1088/0963-0252/24/1/015021)
DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/24/1/015021
Electron-less negative ion extraction from ion-ion plasmas
- Rafalskyi D.V.
- Aanesland Ane
Applied Physics Letters, American Institute of Physics, 2015, 106 (10), pp.104101. This paper presents experimental results showing that continuous negative ion extraction, without co-extracted electrons, is possible from highly electronegative SF6 ion-ion plasma at low gas pressure (1 mTorr). The ratio between the negative ion and electron densities is more than 3000 in the vicinity of the two-grid extraction and acceleration system. The measurements are conducted by both magnetized and non-magnetized energy analyzers attached to the external grid. With these two analyzers, we show that the extracted negative ion flux is almost electron-free and has the same magnitude as the positive ion flux extracted and accelerated when the grids are biased oppositely. The results presented here can be used for validation of numerical and analytical models of ion extraction from ion-ion plasma. (10.1063/1.4914507)
DOI : 10.1063/1.4914507
Highly vibrationally excited O2 molecules in low-pressure inductively-coupled plasmas detected by high sensitivity ultra-broad-band optical absorption spectroscopy
- Foucher Mickaël
- Marinov Daniil
- Carbone Emile
- Chabert Pascal
- Booth Jean-Paul
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2015, 24 (4), pp.042001. Inductively-coupled plasmas in pure O 2 (at pressures of 5?80?mTorr and radiofrequency power up to 500?W) were studied by optical absorption spectroscopy over the spectral range 200?450?nm, showing the presence of highly vibrationally excited O 2 molecules (up to v? = 18) by Schumann?Runge band absorption. Analysis of the relative band intensities indicates a vibrational temperature up to 10,000?K, but these hot molecules only represent a fraction of the total O 2 density. By analysing the (11-0) band at higher spectral resolution the O 2 rotational temperature was also determined, and was found to increase with both pressure and power, reaching 900?K at 80?mTorr 500?W. These measurements were achieved using a new high-sensitivity ultra-broad-band absorption spectroscopy setup, based on a laser-plasma light source, achromatic optics and an aberration-corrected spectrograph. This setup allows the measurement of weak broadband absorbances due to a baseline variability lower than 2???×???10 ?5 across a spectral range of 250?nm. (10.1088/0963-0252/24/4/042001)
DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/24/4/042001
Ignition of methane and n-butane containing mixtures at high pressures by pulsed nanosecond discharge
- Boumehdi M.A.
- Stepanyan S.A.
- Vanhove Guillaume
- Desgroux Pascale
- Starikovskaia Svetlana
Combustion and Flame, Elsevier, 2015, 162, pp.1336-1349. A novel experimental scheme to study the ignition of combustible mixtures at high pressures under the action of a high-voltage nanosecond discharge has been developed. The experiments were performed in the combustion chamber of a Rapid Compression Machine (RCM) with a specially designed system of electrodes. A nanosecond surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) provided two-dimensional low-temperature non-equilibrium plasma in the vicinity of the end plate of the combustion chamber. Radially symmetric plasma channels triggered multi-point ignition of gas mixtures at controlled pressure and temperature. Ignition delay times and energies deposited in the gaseous mixtures by the discharge were measured for different parameters of high voltage pulse, for positive or negative high-voltage pulses. The propagation of the subsequent flame in the combustion chamber was recorded with the help of high repetition rate imaging. Preliminary numerical analysis of the ignition under the action of a pulsed nanosecond discharge has been made; it was shown that production of atomic oxygen by the discharge, will modify the ignition chemistry by perturbation of the radical pool. Experiments and calculations were performed in methaneoxygen and n-butaneoxygen mixtures with equivalence ratios between 0.3 and 1 diluted by 7076% of Ar or nitrogen for temperatures between 600 and 1000 K and pressures between 6 and 16 bar. (10.1016/j.combustflame.2014.11.006)
DOI : 10.1016/j.combustflame.2014.11.006
TALIF measurements of oxygen atom density in the afterglow of a capillary nanosecond discharge
- Klochko A.V.
- Lemainque J.
- Booth Jean-Paul
- Starikovskaia Svetlana
Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2015, 24 (2), pp.025010. The atomic oxygen density has been measured in the afterglow of a capillary nanosecond discharge in 2430 mbar synthetic air (N 2  : O 2 = 4 : 1) by the two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) technique, combined with absolute calibration by comparison with xenon TALIF. The discharge was initiated by a train of 30 ns FWHM pulses of alternating positivenegativepositive polarity, separated by 250 ns, with a train repetition frequency of 10 Hz. The amplitude of the first pulse was 10 kV in the cable. A flow of synthetic air through the tube provided complete gas renewal between pulse trains. The O-atom density measurements were made over the time interval200 ns2 µ s after the initial pulse. The gas temperature was determined by analysis of the molecular nitrogen second positive system optical emission spectrum. The influence of the gas temperature on the atom density measurements, and the reactions producing O atoms, are discussed. (10.1088/0963-0252/24/2/025010)
DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/24/2/025010

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