Publications

2014

• Mars-Solar Wind Interaction: Coupling Between Hybrid, Ionospheric, Thermospheric and Exospheric Models
  
  • Leblanc François
  • Chaufray Jean-Yves
  • Modolo Ronan
  • Hess Sebastien
  • Yagi M.
  • Mancini M.
  • Forget François
  • Gonzalez-Galindo Francisco
  • Lorenzato L.
  • Mazelle Christian
  • Chanteur Gérard
  , 2014. The solar wind interaction with the Martian neutral envi- ronment is investigated by means of three dimensional hybrid magnetospheric simulations. In such formal- ism, ions have a kinetic description while electrons are treated as an inertialess fluid, ensuring the neutrality of the plasma and contributing to currents and pressure terms. This model has been successfully used to de- scribe the near ionized environment of Mars
• Ignition of CH4:O2:Ar and n-C4H10:O2:Ar(N2) mixtures with initial temperatures between 650-950 K by a surface pulsed discharge
  
  • Stepanyan S.A.
  • Boumehdi M.A.
  • Vanhove G.
  • Desgroux Pascale
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  • Popov N.A.
  , 2014. (10.2514/6.2014-0665)
  DOI : 10.2514/6.2014-0665
• Experimental and numerical study of fast gas heating and O atom production in a capillary nanosecond discharge
  
  • Klochko A.V.
  • Salmon A.
  • Lemainque J.
  • Popov N.A.
  • Booth Jean-Paul
  • Xiong Z.
  • Kushner M.J.
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  , 2014, pp.2014-1030.
• Adsorption, desorption and reactivity of O and N atoms on SiO2 surface
  
  • Rousseau Antoine
  , 2014.
• New ferromagnetic core shapes for induction sensors
  
  • Coillot Christophe
  • Moutoussamy Joël
  • Boda Mathieu
  • Leroy Paul
  Journal of Sensors and Sensor Systems, Copernicus Publ, 2014, pp.1-8. Induction sensors are used in a wide range of scientific and industrial applications. One way to improve these is rigorous modelling of the sensor combined with a low voltage and current input noise preamplifier aiming to optimize the whole induction magnetometer. In this paper, we explore another way, which consists in the use of original ferromagnetic core shapes of induction sensors, which bring substantial improvements. These new configurations are the cubic, orthogonal and coiled-core induction sensors. For each of them we give modelling elements and discuss their benefits and drawbacks with respect to a given noise-equivalent magnetic induction goal. Our discussion is supported by experimental results for the cubic and orthogonal configurations, while the coiled-core configuration remains open to experimental validation. The transposition of these induction sensor configurations to other magnetic sensors (fluxgate and giant magneto-impedance) is an exciting prospect of this work. (10.5194/jsss-3-1-2014)
  DOI : 10.5194/jsss-3-1-2014
• Multi Water Bag modelling of drift kinetic electrons and ions plasmas
  
  • Morel Pierre
  • Dreydemy Ghiro Florent
  • Berionni Vincent
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  , 2014.
• Spatial Propagation of Turbulence and Formation of Mesoscopic Structures in Plasma Turbulence
  
  • Dif-Pradalier Guilhem
  • Ghendrih Ph.
  • Diamond P.H.
  • Garbet X.
  • Grandgirard V.
  • Norscini C.
  • Palermo F.
  • Sarazin Y.
  • Abiteboul J.
  • Dong Yue
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Morel Pierre
  • Vermare Laure
  • Kosuga Y.
  , 2014.
• On the origin of falling-tone chorus elements in Earth's inner magnetosphere
  
  • Breuillard H
  • Agapitov O
  • Artemyev A
  • Krasnoselskikh V
  • Le Contel Olivier
  • Cully C. M.
  • Angelopoulos V
  • Zaliznyak Y
  • Rolland G
  Annales Geophysicae, European Geosciences Union, 2014, 32, pp.1477-1485. Generation of extremely/very low frequency (ELF/VLF) chorus waves in Earth's inner magnetosphere has received increased attention recently because of their significance for radiation belt dynamics. Though past theoretical and numerical models have demonstrated how rising-tone chorus elements are produced, falling-tone chorus element generation has yet to be explained. Our new model proposes that weak-amplitude falling-tone chorus elements can be generated by magnetospheric reflection of rising-tone elements. Using ray tracing in a realistic plasma model of the inner magnetosphere, we demonstrate that rising-tone elements originating at the magnetic equator propagate to higher latitudes. Upon reflection there, they propagate to lower L-shells and turn into oblique falling tones of reduced power, frequency, and bandwidth relative to their progenitor rising tones. Our results are in good agreement with comprehensive statistical studies of such waves, notably using magnetic field measurements from THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) spacecraft. Thus, we conclude that the proposed mechanism can be responsible for the generation of weak-amplitude falling-tone chorus emissions. (10.5194/angeo-32-1477-2014)
  DOI : 10.5194/angeo-32-1477-2014
• Radiation sources with planar wire arrays and planar foils for inertial confinement fusion and high energy density physics research
  
  • Kantsyrev Viktor L.
  • Chuvatin Alexandre S.
  • Safronova Alla S.
  • Rudakov Leonid I.
  • Esaulov A. A.
  • Velikovich A. L.
  • Shrestha Ishor
  • Astanovitsky A.
  • Osborne Glenn C.
  • Shlyaptseva V. V.
  • Weller Michael E.
  • Keim S.
  • Stafford A.
  • Cooper M. C.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2014, 21 (03), pp.031204. This article reports on the joint success of two independent lines of research, each of them being a multi-year international effort. One of these is the development of innovative sources, such as planar wire arrays (PWAs). PWAs turned out to be a prolific radiator, which act mainly as a resistor, even though the physical mechanism of efficient magnetic energy conversion into radiation still remains unclear. We review the results of our extensive studies of PWAs. We also report the new results of the experimental comparison PWAs with planar foil liners (another promising alternative to wire array loads at multi-mega-ampere generators). Pioneered at UNR, the PWA Z-pinch loads have later been tested at the Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) on the Saturn generator, on GIT-12 machine in Russia, and on the QiangGuang-1 generator in China, always successfully. Another of these is the drastic improvement in energy efficiency of pulsed-power systems, which started in early 1980s with Zucker's experiments at Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Successful continuation of this approach was the Load Current Multiplier (LCM) proposed by Chuvatin in collaboration with Rudakov and Weber from NRL. The 100 ns LCM was integrated into the Zebra generator, which almost doubled the plasma load current, from 0.9 to 1.7 MA. The two above-mentioned innovative approaches were used in combination to produce a new compact hohlraum radiation source for ICF, as jointly proposed by SNL and UNR [Jones et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 125001 (2010)]. The first successful proof-of-the-principle experimental implementation of new hohlraum concept at university-scale generator Zebra/LCM is demonstrated. A numerical simulation capability with VisRaD code (from PRISM Co.) established at UNR allowed for the study of hohlraum coupling physics and provides the possibility of optimization of a new hohlraum. Future studies are discussed. (10.1063/1.4865367)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.4865367
• The FIELDS Instrument Suite on MMS: Scientific Objectives, Measurements, and Data Products
  
  • Torbert R. B.
  • Russell C. T.
  • Magnes W.
  • Ergun R. E.
  • Lindqvist P.-A.
  • Le Contel Olivier
  • Vaith H.
  • Macri J.
  • Myers S.
  • Rau D.
  • Needell J.
  • King B.
  • Granoff M.
  • Chutter M.
  • Dors I.
  • Olsson G.
  • Khotyaintsev Y. V.
  • Eriksson A.
  • Kletzing C. A.
  • Bounds S.
  • Anderson B.
  • Baumjohann W.
  • Steller M.
  • Bromund K.
  • Le G.
  • Nakamura R.
  • Strangeway R. J.
  • Leinweber H. K.
  • Tucker S.
  • Westfall J.
  • Fischer D.
  • Plaschke F.
  • Porter J.
  • Lappalainen K.
  Space Science Reviews, Springer Verlag, 2014, pp.1-31. Not Available (10.1007/s11214-014-0109-8)
  DOI : 10.1007/s11214-014-0109-8
• Complete multi-field characterization of the geodesic acoustic mode in the TCV tokamak
  
  • de Meijere C. A.
  • Coda S.
  • Huang Z.
  • Vermare Laure
  • Vernay T.
  • Vuille V.
  • Brunner Stephan
  • Dominski J.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Kraemer-Flecken A.
  • Merlo G.
  • Porte L.
  • Villard Laurent
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2014, 56 (7), pp.072001. The geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) is a coherently oscillating zonal flow that may regulate turbulence in toroidal plasmas. Uniquely, the complete poloidal and toroidal structure of the magnetic component of the turbulence-driven GAM has been mapped in the TCV tokamak. Radially localized measurements of the fluctuating density, ECE radiative temperature and poloidal flow show that the GAM is a fully coherent, radially propagating wave. These observations are consistent with electrostatic, gyrokinetic simulations. (10.1088/0741-3335/56/7/072001)
  DOI : 10.1088/0741-3335/56/7/072001
• Turbulence elasticity-A new mechanism for transport barrier dynamics
  
  • Guo Z. B.
  • Diamond P.H.
  • Kosuga Y.
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2014, 21 (9). We present a new, unified model of transport barrier formation in ``elastic'' drift wave-zonal flow (DW-ZF) turbulence. A new physical quantity-the delay time (i.e., the mixing time for the DW turbulence)-is demonstrated to parameterize each stage of the transport barrier formation. Quantitative predictions for the onset of limit-cycle-oscillation (LCO) among DW and ZF intensities (also denoted as I-mode) and I-mode to high-confinement mode (H-mode) transition are also given. The LCO occurs when the ZF shearing rate (vertical bar < u >(ZF)'vertical bar) enters the regime Delta omega(k) < vertical bar < V >(ZF)'vertical bar < tau(-1)(cr), where Delta omega(k) is the local turbulence decorrelation rate and tau(cr) is the threshold delay time. In the basic predator-prey feedback system, tau(cr) is also derived. The I-H transition occurs when vertical bar < V >(ExB)'vertical bar > tau(-1)(cr), where the mean E x B shear flow driven by ion pressure ``locks'' the DW-ZF system to the H-mode by reducing the delay time below the threshold value. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC. (10.1063/1.4894695)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.4894695
• Ion flux asymmetry in radiofrequency capacitively-coupled plasmas excited by sawtooth-like waveforms
  
  • Bruneau Bastien
  • Novikova T.
  • Lafleur Trevor
  • Booth Jean-Paul
  • Johnson E.V.
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2014, 23 (6), pp.065010. Using particle-in-cell simulations, we predict that it is possible to obtain a significant difference between the ion flux to the powered electrode and that to the grounded electrode?with about 50% higher ion flux on one electrode?in a geometrically symmetric, radiofrequency capacitively-coupled plasma reactor by applying a non-sinusoidal, ?Tailored? voltage waveform. This sawtooth-like waveform presents different rising and falling slopes over one cycle. We show that this effect is due to differing plasma sheath motion in front of each electrode, which induces a higher ionization rate in front of the electrode which has the fastest positive rising voltage. Together with the higher ion flux comes a lower voltage drop across the sheath, and therefore a reduced maximum ion bombardment energy; a result in contrast to typical process control mechanisms. (10.1088/0963-0252/23/6/065010)
  DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/23/6/065010
• Plasma-assisted ignition and combustion: nanosecond discharges and development of kinetic mechanisms
  
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, IOP Publishing, 2014, 47 (35), pp.353001 (34pp). This review covers the results obtained in the period 20062014 in the field of plasma-assisted combustion, and in particular the results on ignition and combustion triggered or sustained by pulsed nanosecond discharges in different geometries. Some benefits of pulsed high voltage discharges for kinetic study and for applications are demonstrated. The necessity of and the possibility of building a particular kinetic mechanism of plasma-assisted ignition and combustion are discussed. The most sensitive regions of parameters for plasmacombustion kinetic mechanisms are selected. A map of the pressure and temperature parameters (PT diagram) is suggested, to unify the available data on ignition delay times, ignition lengths and densities of intermediate species reported by different authors. (10.1088/0022-3727/47/35/353001)
  DOI : 10.1088/0022-3727/47/35/353001
• The influence of the geometry and electrical characteristics on the formation of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet
  
  • Sobota Ana
  • Guaitella Olivier
  • Rousseau Antoine
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2014, 23, pp.025016. An extensive electrical study was performed on a coaxial geometry atmospheric pressure plasma jet source in helium, driven by 30 kHz sine voltage. Two modes of operation were observed, a highly reproducible low-power mode that features the emission of one plasma bullet per voltage period and an erratic high-power mode in which micro-discharges appear around the grounded electrode. The minimum of power transfer efficiency corresponds to the transition between the two modes. Effective capacitance was identified as a varying property influenced by the discharge and the dissipated power. The charge carried by plasma bullets was found to be a small fraction of charge produced in the source irrespective of input power and configuration of the grounded electrode. The biggest part of the produced charge stays localized in the plasma source and below the grounded electrode, in the range 1.23.3 nC for ground length of 38 mm. (10.1088/0963-0252/23/2/025016)
  DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/23/2/025016
• What is the size of a floating sheath?
  
  • Chabert Pascal
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2014, 23 (6), pp.065042. The size of the positive space charge sheath that forms in front of an object immersed in a plasma and not dc-connected to ground with an external circuit (a floating sheath) is calculated numerically. If the sheath edge is defined as the position at which the ion fluid speed equals the Bohm speed, it is shown that the sheath size varies significantly with the discharge parameters, typically from s float &#8776; 7 &#955; Des to s float &#8776; 14 &#955; Des , where s float is the floating sheath size and &#955; Des is the Debye length at the sheath edge. However, if the sheath edge is defined as a significant departure from quasi-neutrality, then the floating sheath size is almost independent of the discharge parameters and may be approximated by s float &#8776; 5 &#955; Des . (10.1088/0963-0252/23/6/065042)
  DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/23/6/065042
• Circulation of Heavy Ions and Their Dynamical Effects in the Magnetosphere: Recent Observations and Models
  
  • Kronberg E. A.
  • Ashour-Abdalla M.
  • Dandouras I.
  • Delcourt Dominique C.
  • Grigorenko E. E.
  • Kistler L. M.
  • Kuzichev I. V.
  • Liao J.
  • Maggiolo R.
  • Malova H. V.
  • Orlova K. G.
  • Peroomian V.
  • Shklyar D. R.
  • Shprits Y. Y.
  • Welling D. T.
  • Zelenyi L. M.
  Space Science Reviews, Springer Verlag, 2014, 184 (1-4), pp.173-235. Knowledge of the ion composition in the near-Earths magnetosphere and plasma sheet is essential for the understanding of magnetospheric processes and instabilities. The presence of heavy ions of ionospheric origin in the magnetosphere, in particular oxygen (O ), influences the plasma sheet bulk properties, current sheet (CS) thickness and its structure. It affects reconnection rates and the formation of Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. This has profound consequences for the global magnetospheric dynamics, including geomagnetic storms and substorm-like events. The formation and demise of the ring current and the radiation belts are also dependent on the presence of heavy ions. In this review we cover recent advances in observations and models of the circulation of heavy ions in the magnetosphere, considering sources, transport, acceleration, bulk properties, and the influence on the magnetospheric dynamics. We identify important open questions and promising avenues for future research. (10.1007/s11214-014-0104-0)
  DOI : 10.1007/s11214-014-0104-0
• Evolution of Turbulence in the Expanding Solar Wind, a Numerical Study
  
  • Dong Yue
  • Verdini Andrea
  • Grappin Roland
  The Astrophysical Journal, American Astronomical Society, 2014, 793, pp.118. We study the evolution of turbulence in the solar wind by solving numerically the full three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations embedded in a radial mean wind. The corresponding equations (expanding box model or EBM) have been considered earlier but never integrated in 3D simulations. Here, we follow the development of turbulence from 0.2 AU up to about 1.5 AU. Starting with isotropic spectra scaling as k <SUP>-1</SUP>, we observe a steepening toward a k <SUP>-5/3</SUP> scaling in the middle of the wave number range and formation of spectral anisotropies. The advection of a plasma volume by the expanding solar wind causes a non-trivial stretching of the volume in directions transverse to radial and the selective decay of the components of velocity and magnetic fluctuations. These two effects combine to yield the following results. (1) Spectral anisotropy: gyrotropy is broken, and the radial wave vectors have most of the power. (2) Coherent structures: radial streams emerge that resemble the observed microjets. (3) Energy spectra per component: they show an ordering in good agreement with the one observed in the solar wind at 1 AU. The latter point includes a global dominance of the magnetic energy over kinetic energy in the inertial and f <SUP>-1</SUP> range and a dominance of the perpendicular-to-the-radial components over the radial components in the inertial range. We conclude that many of the above properties are the result of evolution during transport in the heliosphere, and not just the remnant of the initial turbulence close to the Sun. (10.1088/0004-637X/793/2/118)
  DOI : 10.1088/0004-637X/793/2/118
• Whistler mode waves at magnetotail dipolarization fronts
  
  • Viberg H.
  • Khotyaintsev Y. V.
  • Vaivads A.
  • André M.
  • Fu H.S.
  • Cornilleau-Wehrlin Nicole
  Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2014, 119, pp.2605-2611. We report the statistics of whistler mode waves observed in relation to dipolarization fronts (DFs) in Earth's magnetotail using data from the four Cluster spacecraft spanning a period of 9 years, 20012009. We show that whistler mode waves are common in a vicinity of DFs: between 30 and 60% of all DFs are associated with whistlers. Whistlers are about 7 times more likely to be observed near a DF than at any random location in the magnetotail. Therefore, whistlers are a characteristic signature of DFs. We find that whistlers are most often detected in the flux pileup region (FPR) following the DF, close to the center of the current sheet (Bx&#8201;&#8764;&#8201;0) and in association with anisotropic electron distributions (Tperp>T&#8741;). This suggests that we typically observe emissions in the source region where they are generated by the anisotropic electrons produced by the betatron process inside the FPR. (10.1002/2014JA019892)
  DOI : 10.1002/2014JA019892
• Radiation from Ag high energy density Z-pinch plasmas and applications to lasing
  
  • Weller Michael E.
  • Safronova Alla S.
  • Kantsyrev Viktor L.
  • Esaulov A. A.
  • Shrestha Ishor
  • Apruzese J. P.
  • Giuliani J. L.
  • Chuvatin Alexandre S.
  • Stafford A.
  • Keim S. F.
  • Shlyaptseva V. V.
  • Osborne Glenn C.
  • Petkov E. E.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2014, 21 (03), pp.031206. Silver (Ag) wire arrays were recently introduced as efficient x-ray radiators and have been shown to create L-shell plasmas that have the highest electron temperature (>1.8&#8201;keV) observed on the Zebra generator so far and upwards of 30&#8201;kJ of energy output. In this paper, results of single planar wire arrays and double planar wire arrays of Ag and mixed Ag and Al that were tested on the UNR Zebra generator are presented and compared. To further understand how L-shell Ag plasma evolves in time, a time-gated x-ray spectrometer was designed and fielded, which has a spectral range of approximately 3.55.0&#8201;Å. With this, L-shell Ag as well as cold L&#945; and L&#946; Ag lines was captured and analyzed along with photoconducting diode (PCD) signals (>0.8&#8201;keV). Along with PCD signals, other signals, such as filtered XRD (>0.2&#8201;keV) and Si-diodes (SiD) (>9&#8201;keV), are analyzed covering a broad range of energies from a few eV to greater than 53&#8201;keV. The observation and analysis of cold L&#945; and L&#946; lines show possible correlations with electron beams and SiD signals. Recently, an interesting issue regarding these Ag plasmas is whether lasing occurs in the Ne-like soft x-ray range, and if so, at what gains? To help answer this question, a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) kinetic model was utilized to calculate theoretical lasing gains. It is shown that the Ag L-shell plasma conditions produced on the Zebra generator at 1.7 maximum current may be adequate to produce gains as high as 6&#8201;cm&#8722;1 for various 3p&#8201;&#8594;&#8201;3s transitions. Other potential lasing transitions, including higher Rydberg states, are also included in detail. The overall importance of Ag wire arrays and plasmas is discussed. (10.1063/1.4865368)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.4865368
• Acetylene photocatalytic oxidation using continuous flow reactor: Gas phase and adsorbed phase investigation, assessment of the photocatalyst deactivation
  
  • Thevenet F.
  • Guillard C.
  • Rousseau A.
  Chemical Engineering Journal, Elsevier, 2014, 244, pp.50-58. Acetylene, used as a model volatile organic compound (VOC), is submitted to photocatalytic oxidation. This study is based on the simultaneous characterisation of: (i) the gas phase at the reactor outlet; (ii) the adsorbed phase on the photocatalytic media. Experiments are performed in a continuous flow reactor, and analytical procedures have been developed to identify and quantify the gaseous and adsorbed side-products. The photocatalytic media consists in P25 Degussa TiO2 nanoparticles deposited on glass fibres. First, the process efficiency is investigated through C2H2 conversion rate and mineralisation. The treatment performances tend to decrease with time regarding conversion and mineralisation. Then, the oxidation process is investigated through gaseous and adsorbed by-products. Three carboxylic acids have been quantified in the adsorbed phase during oxidative treatment; their temporal evolutions are determined. Their contribution to the carbon balance is discussed. It is evidenced that their adsorption on the photocatalytic media leads to a saturation of the surface. Formaldehyde, glyoxal and formic acid are quantified in the gas phase. Their cumulative temporal profiles and their contribution to the carbon balance confirm the hypothesis of a surface deactivation. The decrease of the process performances with time and the increase of gaseous by-products are correlated with the photocatalyst coverage by adsorbed acids. Carbon balances calculated for various treatment times, give an overview of the process evolution. The regeneration of the photocatalyst surface is possible under synthetic air; 80% of the adsorbed compounds are mineralised. The performances of a cyclic procedure (treatment/regeneration) are evaluated. This approach preserves the photocatalyst performances and ensures a mineralisation of 85% of the converted acetylene. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (10.1016/j.cej.2014.01.038)
  DOI : 10.1016/j.cej.2014.01.038
• Waveforms of Langmuir turbulence in inhomogeneous solar wind plasmas
  
  • Krafft C
  • Volokitin A.
  • Krasnoselskikh V.V.
  • Dudok de Wit Thierry
  Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2014, 119, pp.9369–9382. Modulated Langmuir waveforms have been observed by several spacecraft in various regions of the heliosphere, such as the solar wind, the electron foreshock, the magnetotail, or the auroral ionosphere. Many observations revealed the bursty nature of these waves, which appear to be highly modulated, localized, and clumped into spikes with peak amplitudes typically 3 orders of magnitude above the mean. The paper presents Langmuir waveforms calculated using a Hamiltonian model describing self-consistently the resonant interaction of an electron beam with Langmuir wave packets in a plasma with random density fluctuations. These waveforms, obtained for different profiles of density fluctuations and ranges of parameters relevant to solar type III electron beams and plasmas measured at 1 AU, are presented in the form they would appear if recorded by a satellite moving in the solar wind. Comparison with recent measurements by the STEREO and WIND satellites shows that their characteristic features are very similar to the observations. (10.1002/2014JA020329)
  DOI : 10.1002/2014JA020329
• Simulation of long term variation of the F2-layer critical frequency f0F2 at the northern tropical crest of ionization at Phu Thuy, Vietnam with the thermosphere-ionosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model (TIE-GCM)
  
  • Pham Thi Thu Hong
  • Amory-Mazaudier Christine
  • Le Huy Minh
  Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 2014 (36), pp.470-479. In this work, the long-term variations of the simulated f0F2 by the NCAR thermosphere ionosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model (TIE-GCM) at the northern tropical crest of ionization at Phu Thuy-Vietnam (geographic latitudes 21.030N and longitude: 105.950E) during the period from 1962 to 2002 are examined to evaluate the ability of this model to reproduce the major features of the f0F2 as observed. The TIE-GCM simulates the influences of migrating and non-migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tides at the lower thermosphere, and changes of geomagnetic activity on the long-term variation of the f0F2. It reproduces well the diurnal and seasonal variations. We analyze the diurnal and seasonal variations of the observed f0F2 at Phu Thuy in approximately the same solar activity condition as in 1964, 1996 for the March and September equinoxes and June and December solstices. The local time and seasonal structures of these simulated results correspond well to those that are observed in 1964. On the contrary, the TIE-GCM model does not reproduce the amplitude observed at Thuy Phu in 1996. The TIE-GCM model with the chosen inputs does not yet allow us to explain well the long-term variations observed at Phu Thuy. We also try the different numerical simulations to understand how the long-term variation of the f0F2 is formed, how it relates to the current global system and its relationship with the thermosphere wind. The simulations show that the calculated NmF2 values are lower than the observed values. We find that the modeled contributions of the migrating and non-migrating diurnal and semidiurnal tides may cause them to play a major role in reducing the amplitude of the NmF2. The contributions of the integrated hemispheric power of auroral electrons and the cross polar cap potential seem to play an important role in increasing the amplitude of the NmF2. Keywords: F2 layer; Long-term trends; Ionosphere equatorial ionization anomaly; Ionosphere (ionospheric conductivities, ionospheric currents and electric field), thermospheric tides, Electrodynamics of the ionosphere (ionospheric dynamo).
• On the relationship between quadrupolar magnetic field and collisionless reconnection
  
  • Smets Roch
  • Aunai Nicolas
  • Belmont Gérard
  • Boniface C.
  • Fuchs J. C.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2014, 21 (6), pp.062111. Using hybrid simulations, we investigate the onset of fast reconnection between two cylindrical magnetic shells initially close to each other. This initial state mimics the plasma structure in High Energy Density Plasmas induced by a laser-target interaction and the associated self-generated magnetic field. We clearly observe that the classical quadrupolar structure of the out-of-plane magnetic field appears prior to the reconnection onset. Furthermore, a parametric study reveals that, with a non-coplanar initial magnetic topology, the reconnection onset is delayed and possibly suppressed. The relation between the out-of-plane magnetic field and the out-of-plane electric field is discussed. (10.1063/1.4885097)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.4885097
• Characterization of predator-prey dynamics, using the evolution of free energy in plasma turbulence
  
  • Morel Pierre
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  • Berionni Vincent
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2014, 56 (1), pp.015002. A simple dynamical cascade model for the evolution of free energy is considered in the context of gyrokinetic formalism. It is noted that the dynamics of free energy, that characterize plasma micro-turbulence in magnetic fusion devices, exhibit a predatorprey character. Various key features of predatorprey dynamics such as the time delay between turbulence and large-scale flow structures, or the intermittency of the dynamics are identified in the quasi-steady-state phase of the nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations. A novel prediction on the ratio of turbulence amplitudes in different parts of the wavenumber domain that follows from this simple predatorprey model is compared to a set of nonlinear simulation results and is observed to hold quite well in a large range of physical parameters. Detailed validation of the predatorprey hypothesis using nonlinear gyrokinetics provides a very important input for the effort to apprehend plasma micro-turbulence, since the predatorprey idea can be used as a very effective intuitive tool for understanding and designing efficient transport models. (10.1088/0741-3335/56/1/015002)
  DOI : 10.1088/0741-3335/56/1/015002