Publications

2019

• High-Frequency Wave Generation in Magnetotail Reconnection: Linear Dispersion Analysis
  
  • Burch J. L.
  • Dokgo K.
  • Hwang K.-J.
  • Torbert R. B.
  • Graham D. B.
  • Webster J. M.
  • Ergun R. E.
  • Giles B. L.
  • Allen R. C.
  • Chen L.-J.
  • Wang S.
  • Genestreti K. J.
  • Russell C. T.
  • Strangeway R. J.
  • Le Contel Olivier
  Geophysical Research Letters, American Geophysical Union, 2019, 46 (8), pp.4089-4097. Plasma and wave measurements from the NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are presented for magnetotail reconnection events on 3 July and 11 July 2017. Linear dispersion analyses were performed using distribution functions comprising up to six drifting bi-Maxwellian distributions. In both events electron crescent-shaped distributions are shown to be responsible for upper hybrid waves near the X-line. In an adjacent location within the 3 July event a monodirectional field-aligned electron beam drove parallel-propagating beam-mode waves. In the 11 July event an electron distribution consisting of a drifting core and two crescents was shown to generate upper-hybrid and beam-mode waves at three different frequencies, explaining the observed broadband waves. Multiple harmonics of the upper hybrid waves were observed but cannot be explained by the linear dispersion analysis since they result from nonlinear beam interactions. (10.1029/2019GL082471)
  DOI : 10.1029/2019GL082471
• Four-Spacecraft Measurements of the Shape and Dimensionality of Magnetic Structures in the Near-Earth Plasma Environment
  
  • Fadanelli S
  • Lavraud B.
  • Califano F.
  • Jacquey C.
  • Kacem I.
  • Vernisse Y.
  • Penou E.
  • Gershman D J
  • Dorelli J
  • Pollock C.
  • Giles B L
  • Avanov L.
  • Burch J.
  • Chandler M. O.
  • Coffey V N
  • Eastwood J P
  • Ergun R
  • Farrugia C J
  • Fuselier S A
  • Genot V N
  • Grigorenko E
  • Hasegawa H
  • Khotyaintsev Y
  • Le Contel Olivier
  • Marchaudon Aurélie
  • Moore T E
  • Nakamura R
  • Paterson W R
  • Phan T
  • Rager A. C.
  • Russell C T
  • Saito Y
  • Sauvaud J.-A
  • Schiff C
  • Smith S E
  • Toledo Redondo S
  • Torbert R B
  • Wang S
  • Yokota S
  Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2019, 124 (8), pp.6850-6868. We present a new method for determining the main relevant features of the local magnetic field configuration, based entirely on the knowledge of the magnetic field gradient four-spacecraft measurements. The method, named "magnetic configuration analysis" (MCA), estimates the spatial scales on which the magnetic field varies locally. While it directly derives from the well-known magnetic directional derivative and magnetic rotational analysis procedures (Shi et al., 2005, htpps://doi.org/10.1029/ 2005GL022454; Shen et al., 2007, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005JA011584), MCA was specifically designed to address the actual magnetic field geometry. By applying MCA to multispacecraft data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) satellites, we perform both case and statistical analyses of local magnetic field shape and dimensionality at very high cadence and small scales. We apply this technique to different near-Earth environments and define a classification scheme for the type of configuration observed. While our case studies allow us to benchmark the method with those used in past works, our statistical analysis unveils the typical shape of magnetic configurations and their statistical distributions. We show that small-scale magnetic configurations are generally elongated, displaying forms of cigar and blade shapes, but occasionally being planar in shape like thin pancakes (mostly inside current sheets). Magnetic configurations, however, rarely show isotropy in their magnetic variance. The planar nature of magnetic configurations and, most importantly, their scale lengths strongly depend on the plasma β parameter. Finally, the most invariant direction is statistically aligned with the electric current, reminiscent of the importance of electromagnetic forces in shaping the local magnetic configuration. (10.1029/2019JA026747)
  DOI : 10.1029/2019JA026747
• Introduction to plasma physics
  
  • Belmont Gérard
  • Rezeau Laurence
  • Riconda C.
  • Zaslavsky A.
  , 2019.
• Nonlinear Diffusion Models for Gravitational Wave Turbulence
  
  • Galtier Sébastien
  • Nazarenko Sergey V.
  • Buchlin Éric
  • Thalabard Simon
  Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena, Elsevier, 2019, 390, pp.84-88. A fourth-order and a second-order nonlinear diffusion model in spectral space are proposed to describe gravitational wave turbulence in the approximation of strongly local interactions. We show analytically that the model equations satisfy the conservation of energy and wave action, and reproduce the power law solutions previously derived from the kinetic equations with a direct cascade of energy and an explosive inverse cascade of wave action. In the latter case, we show numerically by computing the second-order diffusion model that the non-stationary regime exhibits an anomalous scaling which is understood as a self-similar solution of the second kind with a front propagation following the law kf∼(t∗−t)3.296 , with t<t∗ . These results are relevant to better understand the dynamics of the primordial universe where potent sources of gravitational waves may produce space–time turbulence. (10.1016/j.physd.2019.01.007)
  DOI : 10.1016/j.physd.2019.01.007
• Nonlinear interaction of whistler waves in a magnetized plasma with density ducts
  
  • Zaboronkova T. M.
  • Krafft Catherine
  • Yashina N. F.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2019, 26, pp.102104. The nonlinear resonant interactions between whistler waves guided bydensity ducts surrounded by a uniform magnetized plasma are studied. Itis shown that, under specific conditions that are determined, a time-harmonic external electromagnetic field can drive the parametricinstability of guided whistlers. Both cases of cylindrical and planarducts are considered, of either decreased or increased plasma density.The frequency interval where the magnetized plasma may be resonant isanalyzed. The growth rate and the threshold of the parametricinstability are determined. Numerical calculations are presented forparameters typical of "space plasmas and" modeling laboratoryexperiments where guided whistler propagation was observed. (10.1063/1.5110958)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.5110958
• Experimental study of pulsed microwave discharges at pressures ranging over five orders of magnitude
  
  • Shcherbanev S.A.
  • Ali Cherif Mhedine
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  • Ikeda Yuji
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, 2019, 28, pp.045009 (10pp). Microwave discharge igniter (MDI) is a discharge system developed to initiate combustion in automotive engines. The MDI uses a sequence of N = 700 microwave (2.45 GHz) pulses 100 ns in duration separated by 1 &#956;s. The initial breakdown is provided by the &#64257;rst microwave pulse, 5 &#956;s in duration. The aim of pulsing the microwave signal is to keep an optimal combination of parameters when, even at elevated pressures, (i) the discharge propagates over the largest possible volume; (ii) the plasma is non-equilibrium. Properties of plasma produced by MDI igniter in non-combustible gas mixtures at ambient gas temperature and gas pressure in the range between 0.2 mbar and 8 bar were studied experimentally. Discharge spatial structure was analyzed with the help of time-resolved ICCD imaging. Near-UV optical emission spectra taken in different pulses provided the information about rotational and vibrational temperatures. The electric &#64257;eld was estimated on the basis of ratio of emission of the second positive and the &#64257;rst negative systems of molecular nitrogen. (10.1088/1361-6595/aae765)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6595/aae765
• Solar Wind Properties and Geospace Impact of Coronal Mass Ejection‐Driven Sheath Regions: Variation and Driver Dependence
  
  • Kilpua E. K. J.
  • Fontaine D.
  • Moissard C.
  • Ala‐lahti M.
  • Palmerio E.
  • Yordanova E.
  • Good S.
  • Kalliokoski M. M. H.
  • Lumme E.
  • Osmane A.
  • Palmroth M.
  • Turc L.
  Space Weather: The International Journal of Research and Applications, American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2019, 17 (8), pp.1257-1280. We present a statistical study of interplanetary conditions and geospace response to 89 coronal mass ejection‐driven sheaths observed during Solar Cycles 23 and 24. We investigate in particular the dependencies on the driver properties and variations across the sheath. We find that the ejecta speed principally controls the sheath geoeffectiveness and shows the highest correlations with sheath parameters, in particular in the region closest to the shock. Sheaths of fast ejecta have on average high solar wind speeds, magnetic (B) field magnitudes, and fluctuations, and they generate efficiently strong out‐of‐ecliptic fields. Slow‐ejecta sheaths are considerably slower and have weaker fields and field fluctuations, and therefore they cause primarily moderate geospace activity. Sheaths of weak and strong B field ejecta have distinct properties, but differences in their geoeffectiveness are less drastic. Sheaths of fast and strong ejecta push the subsolar magnetopause significantly earthward, often even beyond geostationary orbit. Slow‐ejecta sheaths also compress the magnetopause significantly due to their large densities that are likely a result of their relatively long propagation times and source near the streamer belt. We find the regions near the shock and ejecta leading edge to be the most geoeffective parts of the sheath. These regions are also associated with the largest B field magnitudes, out‐of‐ecliptic fields, and field fluctuations as well as largest speeds and densities. The variations, however, depend on driver properties. Forecasting sheath properties is challenging due to their variable nature, but the dependence on ejecta properties determined in this work could help to estimate sheath geoeffectiveness through remote‐sensing coronal mass ejection observations (10.1029/2019SW002217)
  DOI : 10.1029/2019SW002217
• Filamentary nanosecond surface dielectric barrier discharge. Plasma properties in the filaments
  
  • Shcherbanev S.A.
  • Ding Chenyang
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  • Popov N.A.
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2019, 28 (6), pp.065013. Streamer-to-filament transition is a general feature of nanosecond discharges at elevated pressure. The transition is observed in different discharges by different groups: in the nanosecond surface dielectric barrier discharges (nSDBDs) in a single shot regime at high pressure (2-15 bar), in the point-to-point or point-to-plane open electrodes discharges at high repetitive frequency (so-called nanosecond repetitive pulsed discharges, NRPDs) at atmospherics pressure. The present paper contains experimental analysis of plasma properties in the filamentary nSDBD: the electrical current, the specific deposited energy, the electron density and the electron temperature were measured for a wide range of pressures and voltages. A model explaining plasma properties in filamentary nanosecond discharges and the role of excited species in streamer-to-filament transition is suggested and discussed. (10.1088/1361-6595/ab2230)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6595/ab2230
• Measuring the magnetic structure velocity for the 11 July 2017 magnetotail reconnection event
  
  • Denton R. E.
  • Hasegawa H.
  • Torbert R. B.
  • Manuzzo Roberto
  • Sonnerup B. U. Ö.
  • Genestreti K. J.
  • Dors I.
  • Belmont Gérard
  • Rezeau Laurence
  • Califano F.
  , 2019. Velocities in magnetic reconnection events, such as those of particles, are best understood in the frame of reference of the magnetic structure that is ultimately responsible for the reconnection process. We discuss four different methods for evaluating the velocity of the magnetic structure, and use those methods to find the magnetic structure velocity for the 11 July 2017 magnetotail reconnection event studied by Torbert et al. (Science, 2018). The four methods are timing analysis, the SpatioTemporal Difference (STD) method of Shi et al. (JGR, 2006), Electron Magnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) reconstruction (Sonnerup et al., JGR, 2016), and polynomial reconstruction of the magnetic field in the vicinity of the spacecraft using the magnetic field and particle current density as input to the model. The relative merits of the different techniques will be discussed, and the different results compared.
• Waves in Kinetic-Scale Magnetic Dips: MMS Observations in the Magnetosheath
  
  • Yao S. T.
  • Shi Q. Q.
  • Yao Z. H.
  • Li J. X.
  • Yue C.
  • Tao X.
  • Degeling A. W.
  • Zong Q. G.
  • Wang X. G.
  • Tian A. M.
  • Russell C. T.
  • Zhou X. Z.
  • Guo R. L.
  • Rae I. J.
  • Fu H.S.
  • Zhang H.
  • Li L.
  • Le Contel Olivier
  • Torbert R. B.
  • Ergun R. E.
  • Lindqvist P.-A.
  • Pollock C. J.
  • Giles B. L.
  Geophysical Research Letters, American Geophysical Union, 2019, 46 (2), pp.523-533. Kinetic-scale magnetic dips (KSMDs), with a significant depression in magnetic field strength, and scale length close to and less than one proton gyroradius, were reported in the turbulent plasmas both in recent observation and numerical simulation studies. These KSMDs likely play important roles in energy conversion and dissipation. In this study, we present observations of the KSMDs that are labeled whistler mode waves, electrostatic solitary waves, and electron cyclotron waves in the magnetosheath. The observations suggest that electron temperature anisotropy or beams within KSMD structures provide free energy to generate these waves. In addition, the occurrence rates of the waves are higher in the center of the magnetic dips than at their edges, implying that the KSMDs might be the origin of various kinds of waves. We suggest that the KSMDs could provide favorable conditions for the generation of waves and transfer energy to the waves in turbulent magnetosheath plasmas. (10.1029/2018GL080696)
  DOI : 10.1029/2018GL080696
• Electron affinity of lead
  
  • Bresteau D.
  • Drag Cyril
  • Blondel Christophe
  Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, IOP Publishing, 2019, 52, pp.065001. A beam of Pb&#8722; ions produced by a cesium sputtering ion source is photodetached in the presence of an electric field, inside a linear optical cavity. Amplification of the light flux by the resonant cavity makes it possible to record exploitable photoelectron interferograms, even though the Pb&#8722; current does not exceed a few pA. The laser wavenumber is set either just above the first 3P1 finestructure excited threshold of neutral Pb, or above the higher 3P2 threshold. The photoelectron kinetic energy is deduced from the electron interferograms with a precision high enough to provide a new experimental value of the electron affinity of lead, 8 times more precise and slightly lower than the one measured in 2016: eA(Pb) = 287 714.9(1.5) m-1 or 0.356 721(2) eV, instead of 287 733(13) m&#8722;1 or 0.356 743(16) eV. (10.1088/1361-6455/aaf685)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6455/aaf685
• Properties of the singing comet waves in the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko plasma environment as observed by the Rosetta mission
  
  • Breuillard Hugo
  • Henri Pierre
  • Bucciantini Luca
  • Volwerk M.
  • Karlsson T.
  • Eriksson A.
  • Johansson F.
  • Odelstad E.
  • Richter I.
  • Goetz C.
  • Vallieres Xavier
  • Hajra R.
  Astronomy & Astrophysics - A&A, EDP Sciences, 2019, 630, pp.A39. Using in situ measurements from different instruments on board the Rosetta spacecraft, we investigate the properties of the newly discovered low-frequency oscillations, known as singing comet waves, that sometimes dominate the close plasma environment of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. These waves are thought to be generated by a modified ion-Weibel instability that grows due to a beam of water ions created by water molecules that outgass from the comet. We take advantage of a cometary outburst event that occurred on 2016 February 19 to probe this generation mechanism. We analyze the 3D magnetic field waveforms to infer the properties of the magnetic oscillations of the cometary ion waves. They are observed in the typical frequency range (~50 mHz) before the cometary outburst, but at ~20 mHz during the outburst. They are also observed to be elliptically right-hand polarized and to propagate rather closely (~0−50°) to the background magnetic field. We also construct a density dataset with a high enough time resolution that allows us to study the plasma contribution to the ion cometary waves. The correlation between plasma and magnetic field variations associated with the waves indicates that they are mostly in phase before and during the outburst, which means that they are compressional waves. We therefore show that the measurements from multiple instruments are consistent with the modified ion-Weibel instability as the source of the singing comet wave activity. We also argue that the observed frequency of the singing comet waves could be a way to indirectly probe the strength of neutral plasma coupling in the 67P environment. (10.1051/0004-6361/201834876)
  DOI : 10.1051/0004-6361/201834876
• Statistics of incompressible hydrodynamic turbulence: An alternative approach
  
  • Andrés Nahuel
  • Banerjee Supratik
  Physical Review Fluids, American Physical Society, 2019, 4, pp.024603. Using a recent alternative form of the Kolmogorov-Monin exact relationfor fully developed hydrodynamics (HD) turbulence, the incompressibleenergy cascade rate ? is computed. Under this current theoreticalframework, for three-dimensional (3D) freely decaying homogeneousturbulence, the statistical properties of the fluid velocity (u ),vorticity (? =? ×u ), and Lamb vector (L =? ×u ) are numericallystudied. For different spatial resolutions, the numerical results showthat ? can be obtained directly as the simple products of two-pointincrements of u and L , without the assumption of isotropy. Finally, theresults for the largest spatial resolutions show a clear agreement withthe cascade rates computed from the classical four-thirds law forisotropic homogeneous HD turbulence. (10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.024603)
  DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.024603
• ELM-induced cold pulse propagation in ASDEX Upgrade
  
  • Trier Elisée
  • Wolfrum E.
  • Willensdorfer M.
  • Yu Q.
  • Hoelzl M.
  • Orain F.
  • Ryter F.
  • Angioni C.
  • Bernert M.
  • G Dunne M.
  • S Denk S.
  • C Fuchs J.
  • Fischer R.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Kurzan B.
  • Mink F.
  • Mlynek A.
  • Odstrcil T.
  • a Schneider P.
  • Stroth U.
  • Tardini G.
  • Vanovac B.
  • Asdex Upgrade Team The
  • Eurofusion Mst1 Team The
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2019, 61 (4), pp.045003. In ASDEX Upgrade, the propagation of cold pulses induced by type-I edge localized modes (ELMs) is studied using electron cyclotron emission measurements, in a dataset of plasmas with moderate triangularity. It is found that the edge safety factor or the plasma current are the main determining parameters for the inward penetration of the T e perturbations. With increasing plasma current the ELM penetration is more shallow in spite of the stronger ELMs. Estimates of the heat pulse diffusivity show that the corresponding transport is too large to be representative of the inter-ELM phase. Ergodization of the plasma edge during ELMs is a possible explanation for the observed properties of the cold pulse propagation, which is qualitatively consistent with non-linear magneto-hydro-dynamic simulations. (10.1088/1361-6587/aaf9c3)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6587/aaf9c3
• Comparison between ad-hoc and instability-induced electron anomalous transport in a 1D fluid simulation of Hall-effect thruster
  
  • Martorelli Roberto
  • Lafleur Trevor
  • Bourdon Anne
  • Chabert Pascal
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2019, 26 (8), pp.083502. Anomalous electron transport is a long-standing problem in the understanding of Hall-effect thrusters. Recent results have suggested as a possible cause a kinetic instability, but few attempts have succeeded in implementing such phenomena in a fluid simulation of the thruster. The common approach in this case relies on including an ad-hoc model of the anomalous transport and so to fit experimental results. We propose here a comparison between the friction force and the anomalous heating arising from the ad-hoc model, with the corresponding effects coming from the use of the instability-induced transport. The results are obtained through a one-dimensional fluid simulation of the Hall-effect thruster with ad-hoc anomalous transport. The comparison shows good agreement between the two approaches, suggesting indeed that the instability-induced anomalous transport is the good candidate for reproducing the ad-hoc simulations and paving the way for a full self-consistent implementation of the phenomena in a fluid simulation. (10.1063/1.5089008)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.5089008
• Non-thermal DBD plasma array on seed germination of different plant species
  
  • Liu Bo
  • Honnorat Bruno
  • Yang Hang
  • Arancibia Monreal J.
  • Rajjou Loic
  • Rousseau Antoine
  Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, IOP Publishing, 2019, 52 (2), pp.025401. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor producing cold plasma at atmospheric pressure has been used to treat seeds of eight different species and investigate their responses in term of germination. The device is made of nine cylindrical DBDs organized in a array and partially immersed in water. O2, N2, and air were flown in the device; the cold plasma from such gas is formed in the bubbles and touch liquid surface. Seeds were either located inside the water during plasma treatment process (direct treatment) or were watered by the water exposed to cold plasma beforehand (indirect treatment). Such plasma activated water contains reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. The statistical analysis shows that the probability of germinating of treated mung bean, mustard and radish is significantly higher than in control groups (p&#8201;&#8201;<&#8201;&#8201;0.05) for indirect treatments. A comparison of different treatment modalities (direct versus indirect treatment and gas composition) on germination boost has been completed on mung bean seeds. It is shown that direct plasma treatment using different gas (O2, N2, and air) give a strong enhancement of the mung bean germination probability compared to the control group; in the case of indirect treatment, only plasma air-treated water lead to a significant germination boost compared to the control group; this effect is still smaller than the one obtained using a direct treatment. (10.1088/1361-6463/aae771)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6463/aae771
• ViDA: a Vlasov-DArwin solver for plasma physics at electron scales
  
  • Pezzi Oreste
  • Cozzani Giulia
  • Califano Francesco
  • Valentini Francesco
  • Guarrasi Massimiliano
  • Camporeale Enrico
  • Brunetti Gianfranco
  • Retinò Alessandro
  • Veltri Pierluigi
  Journal of Plasma Physics, Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2019, 85 (5), pp.905850506. We present a VlasovDArwin numerical code (ViDA) specifically designed to address plasma physics problems, where small-scale high accuracy is requested even during the nonlinear regime to guarantee a clean description of the plasma dynamics at fine spatial scales. The algorithm provides a low-noise description of proton and electron kinetic dynamics, by splitting in time the multi-advection Vlasov equation in phase space. Maxwell equations for the electric and magnetic fields are reorganized according to the Darwin approximation to remove light waves. Several numerical tests show that ViDA successfully reproduces the propagation of linear and nonlinear waves and captures the physics of magnetic reconnection. We also discuss preliminary tests of the parallelization algorithm efficiency, performed at CINECA on the Marconi-KNL cluster. ViDA will allow the running of Eulerian simulations of a non-relativistic fully kinetic collisionless plasma and it is expected to provide relevant insights into important problems of plasma astrophysics such as, for instance, the development of the turbulent cascade at electron scales and the structure and dynamics of electron-scale magnetic reconnection, such as the electron diffusion region. (10.1017/S0022377819000631)
  DOI : 10.1017/S0022377819000631
• Crossing of Plasma Structures by spacecraft: a path calculator
  
  • Manuzzo Roberto
  • Belmont Gérard
  • Rezeau Laurence
  • Califano F.
  • Denton R E
  Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, American Geophysical Union/Wiley, 2019, 124 (12), pp.10119-10140. When spacecraft (s/c) missions probe plasma structures (PSs) the relative location of the s/c with respect to the PS is unknown. This information is, however, needed to measure the geometrical features of the PS (orientation and thickness) and to understand the physical processes underlying the PS dynamics. Methods to determine the s/c location exist, but they need strong assumptions to be satisfied (stationarity and special spatial dependencies). The number of cases for which these assumptions are likely to be valid for the entire PS seems to be limited, and even weak departures from these hypotheses may affect the results. For a quasi‐1‐D geometry in particular, the determination of the velocity component along the two quasi‐invariant directions is very inaccurate and the assumption of strict stationarity may lead these quantities to diverge. In this paper we present new methods to compute the s/c trajectory through a PS, without a priori assumption on its spatial geometry, and able to work even in the presence of weak nonstationarities. The methods are tested both on artificial and real data, the latter provided by the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission probing the Earth's magnetopause. The 1‐D and 2‐D trajectories of the Magnetospheric Multiscale are found that can be used as an initial step for future reconstruction studies. Advanced minimization procedures to optimize the results are discussed. (10.1029/2019JA026632)
  DOI : 10.1029/2019JA026632
• Energy Conversion and Electron Acceleration in the Magnetopause Reconnection Diffusion Region
  
  • Pritchard K. R.
  • Burch J. L.
  • Fuselier S. A.
  • Webster J. M.
  • Torbert R. B.
  • Argall M. R.
  • Broll J.
  • Genestreti K. J.
  • Giles B. L.
  • Le Contel Olivier
  • Mukherjee J.
  • Phan T. D.
  • Rager A. C.
  • Russell C. T.
  • Strangeway R. J.
  Geophysical Research Letters, American Geophysical Union, 2019, 46 (17-18), pp.10274-10282. Data are analyzed from a Magnetospheric Multiscale encounter with a dayside magnetopause reconnection region on 29 December 2016. The uniqueness of the event stems from the small ( 7 km) average spacecraft separation and the sequential sampling of an electron diffusion region with electron crescent distributions. We quantitatively investigate the earthward acceleration of magnetosheath electrons through the in-plane null by the polarization electric field EN that points radially outward from the magnetopause. The results compare favorably with previous plasma simulations with one important difference that the reconnection electric field (EM) extends throughout the region of strong EN so that both fields energize electrons in the same region. This acceleration is quantified here for the first time. As the spacecraft penetrate deeper into the region of enhanced EN, the magnetic reflection of lower-energy electrons produces a thinner crescent. (10.1029/2019GL084636)
  DOI : 10.1029/2019GL084636
• Plasma gun for medical applications: engineering an equivalent electrical target of human body and deciphering relevant electrical parameters
  
  • Judée Florian
  • Dufour Thierry
  Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, IOP Publishing, 2019, 52 (16), pp.16 - 18. Simulations and experimental works have been carried out in a complementary way to engineer a basic material target mimicking the same dielectric properties of the human body. It includes a resistor in parallel with a capacitor, whose values (Rh=1500 Ω and Ch=100 pF) are estimated in regard of parameters commonly utilized upon in vivo campaigns (frequency=30 kHz, gap=10 mm, high voltage electrode surface=12.6 mm 2). This equivalent electrical human body (EEHB) circuit can be used as a reference and realistic target to calibrate electrical properties of therapeutic plasma sources before their utilization on patients. In this letter, we consider a configuration where this EEHB target interacts with a plasma gun (PG). Plasma power measurements performed in such configuration clearly indicate two operating modes depending on the value of the supplied voltage. Hence, the plasma gun generates pulsed atmospheric plasma streams likely to present therapeutic interest for voltages comprised between 3.0 and 8.5 kV while for higher values, transient arcs of thermal plasma are generated and represent substantial risks for the patient. (10.1088/1361-6463/ab03b8)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6463/ab03b8
• Dependence on plasma shape and plasma fueling for small edge-localized mode regimes in TCV and ASDEX Upgrade
  
  • Labit B.
  • Eich T.
  • Harrer G.F.
  • Wolfrum E.
  • Bernert M.
  • Dunne M.G.
  • Frassinetti L.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Maurizio R.
  • Merle A.
  • Meyer H.
  • Saarelma S.
  • Sheikh U.
  • Eurofusion Mst1 Team The
  Nuclear Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2019, 59 (8), pp.086020. Within the EUROfusion MST1 work package, a series of experiments has been conducted on AUG and TCV devices to disentangle the role of plasma fueling and plasma shape for the onset of small ELM regimes. On both devices, small ELM regimes with high confinement are achieved if and only if two conditions are fulfilled at the same time. Firstly, the plasma density at the separatrix must be large enough (), leading to a pressure profile flattening at the separatrix, which stabilizes type-I ELMs. Secondly, the magnetic configuration has to be close to a double null (DN), leading to a reduction of the magnetic shear in the extreme vicinity of the separatrix. As a consequence, its stabilizing effect on ballooning modes is weakened. (10.1088/1741-4326/ab2211)
  DOI : 10.1088/1741-4326/ab2211
• Experimental and numerical investigation of the transient charging of a dielectric surface exposed to a plasma jet
  
  • Slikboer Elmar
  • Viegas Pedro
  • Bonaventura Z.
  • Garcia-Caurel Enric
  • Sobota Ana
  • Bourdon Anne
  • Guaitella Olivier
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2019, 28 (9), pp.095016. This work investigates the dynamical charging of a surface under exposure of a non-equilibrium plasma jet at atmospheric pressure through a quantitative comparison between modeling and experiments. We show using mono-polar pulses with variable pulse duration and amplitude that the charging time (i.e. the time from impact of the ionization wave till the fall of the high voltage pulse) is a crucial element determining the plasma-surface interaction. This is done through direct measurements of the electric field induced inside the target using the optical diagnostic technique called Mueller polarimetry and comparison with the electric field calculated using a 2D fluid model of the plasma jet interaction with the target in the same conditions as in the experiments. When the charging time is kept relatively short (less than 100 ns), the surface spreading of the discharge and consequent surface charge deposition are limited. When it is relatively long (up to microseconds), the increased surface spreading and charge deposition significantly change the electric field to which the target is exposed during the charging time and when the applied voltage returns to zero. (10.1088/1361-6595/ab3c27)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6595/ab3c27
• Inverse cascade of hybrid helicity in B&#937;-MHD turbulence
  
  • Menu Mélissa
  • Galtier Sébastien
  • Petitdemange Ludovic
  Physical Review Fluids, American Physical Society, 2019, 4, pp.073701. We investigate the impact of a solid-body rotation &#937;0 on the large-scale dynamics of an incompressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulent flow in presence of a background magnetic field B0 and at low Rossby number. Three-dimensional direct numerical simulations are performed in a periodic box, at unit magnetic Prandtl number and with a forcing at intermediate wave number kf=20. When &#937;0 is aligned with B0 (i.e., &#952;&#8801;(&#937;0,B0)=0), inverse transfer is found for the magnetic spectrum at k<kf. This transfer is stronger when the forcing excites preferentially right-handed (rather than left-handed) fluctuations; it is smaller when &#952;>0 and becomes weak when &#952;&#8805;35&#8728;. These properties are understood as the consequence of an inverse cascade of hybrid helicity which is an inviscid/ideal invariant of this system when &#952;=0. Hybrid helicity emerges, therefore, as a key element for understanding rotating dynamos. Implication of these findings on the origin of the alignment of the magnetic dipole with the rotation axis in planets and stars is discussed. (10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.073701)
  DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.073701
• Training on GNSS and Space Weather in Africa in the framework of the North-South scientific network GIRGEA
  
  • Amory-Mazaudier Christine
  • Fleury Rolland
  • Masson F.
  • Gadimova S.
  • Anas Emran
  Sun and Geosphere, BBC SWS Regional Network, 2019, 1 (141), pp.71-79. This paper presents the successful setting up of a research and teaching network for space weather in developed and fragile countries. This development took nearly a quarter of a century with the help of international cooperation. Numerous studies have been developed in different domains of Space Weather concerning the impact of solar events on the ionosphere and the Earth's magnetic field, ionospheric electric currents and the induced currents in the ground (GIC) Other studies have also been conducted on climate change, lightning and the movement of tectonic plates. We underline the importance of Global Navigation Satellite Systems [GNSS] for the development of space weather research and capacity building during the last decades (10.31401/SunGeo.2019.01.10)
  DOI : 10.31401/SunGeo.2019.01.10
• [Plasma 2020 Decadal] Disentangling the Spatiotemporal Structure of Turbulence Using Multi-Spacecraft Data
  
  • Tenbarge J.
  • Alexandrova O.
  • Boldyrev S.
  • Califano F.
  • Cerri S.
  • Chen C.
  • Howes G.
  • Horbury T.
  • Isenberg P.
  • Ji H.
  • Klein K.
  • Krafft C.
  • Kunz M.
  • Loureiro N.
  • Mallet A.
  • Maruca B.
  • Matthaeus W.
  • Meyrand R.
  • Quataert E.
  • Perez J.
  • Roberts O.
  • Sahraoui F.
  • Salem C.
  • Schekochihin A.
  • Spence H.
  • Squire J.
  • Told D.
  • Verscharen D.
  • Wicks R.
  Plasma 2020 Decadal Survey, 2019. This white paper submitted for 2020 Decadal Assessment of Plasma Science concerns the importance of multi-spacecraft missions to address fundamental questions concerning plasma turbulence. Plasma turbulence is ubiquitous in the universe, and it is responsible for the transport of mass, momentum, and energy in such diverse systems as the solar corona and wind, accretion discs, planet formation, and laboratory fusion devices. Turbulence is an inherently multi-scale and multi-process phenomenon, coupling the largest scales of a system to sub-electron scales via a cascade of energy, while simultaneously generating reconnecting current layers, shocks, and a myriad of instabilities and waves. The solar wind is humankind's best resource for studying the naturally occurring turbulent plasmas that permeate the universe. Since launching our first major scientific spacecraft mission, Explorer 1, in 1958, we have made significant progress characterizing solar wind turbulence. Yet, due to the severe limitations imposed by single point measurements, we are unable to characterize sufficiently the spatial and temporal properties of the solar wind, leaving many fundamental questions about plasma turbulence unanswered. Therefore, the time has now come wherein making significant additional progress to determine the dynamical nature of solar wind turbulence requires multi-spacecraft missions spanning a wide range of scales simultaneously. A dedicated multi-spacecraft mission concurrently covering a wide range of scales in the solar wind would not only allow us to directly determine the spatial and temporal structure of plasma turbulence, but it would also mitigate the limitations that current multi-spacecraft missions face, such as non-ideal orbits for observing solar wind turbulence. Some of the fundamentally important questions that can only be addressed by in situ multipoint measurements are discussed. (10.48550/arXiv.1903.05710)
  DOI : 10.48550/arXiv.1903.05710