Microwave ponderomotive action on the inhomogeneous collisionless and collisional plasmas

The nonlinear interaction of a high-power microwave (MW) with an unmagnetized inhomogeneous plasma is investigated in collisionless and collisional regimes. The electron density distribution and the nonlinear wave equation in an inhomogeneous plasma are obtained by taking into account the ponderomotive force due to the high-power MW. It is shown that the electron density distribution becomes very steepened in the presence of the ponderomotive force. In the collisional regime, the expression for electron temperature is also found by considering ohmic heating. It is indicated that the amplitude of oscillations of the electron temperature and dielectric permittivity increases and the wavelength of these oscillations decreases with increasing energy flux, hence modulation occurs.     

Effect of deviations from isothermality of ions on the propagation of localized dust-acoustic waves

The effect of deviations from isothermality of ions on arbitrary amplitude dust-acoustic solitary structures is studied in an unmagnetized dusty plasma which consists of a negative charged dust fluid, free electrons and hot ions obeying a trapped distribution. For the finite deviation from isothermality of ions, the basic properties of large amplitude solitary waves are studied by employing pseudo-potential approach. It is shown that the effect of such ion behavior changes the maximum values of the Mach number and the amplitude for which solitary wave can exist. For the case that the deviation from isothermality due to nonlinear resonant particle effects is small, calculations by reductive perturbation method leads to a generalized Korteweg-de Vries equation with mixed nonlinearity. The latter admits a stationary dust-acoustic solitary solution with similar width and qualitatively different amplitude in comparison to the case that deviations from isothermality are finite. Furthermore, effects of the equilibrium free electron density and such trapped ions on the amplitude of solitary structures imply a non-uniform transition from the Boltzmann ion distribution to the trapped ion one.     

Electron heating by the magnetic field-aligned electron-cyclotron waves in plasmas

It is shown that resonant nonlinear interactions between the magnetic-field aligned right-hand circularly polarized electromagnetic (CPEM) electron-cyclotron waves and electrons can produce electron temperature anisotropy due to the stochastic electron heating by waves in magnetized plasmas. The present result can thus account for the simultaneous presence of CPEM waves and an anisotropic electron temperature distribution in laboratory and space magnetoplasmas.     

Effects of adiabaticity of electrons and ions on dust-ion-acoustic solitary waves

The nonlinear propagation of dust-ion-acoustic (DIA) waves in an adiabatic dusty plasma (containing adiabatic inertial-less electrons, adiabatic inertial ions, and negatively charged static dust) is investigated by the pseudo-potential approach. The combined effects of adiabatic electrons and negatively charged static dust on the basic properties (critical Mach number, amplitude, and width) of small as well as arbitrary amplitude DIA solitary waves are explicitly examined. It is found that the combined effects of adiabatic electrons and negatively charged static dust significantly modify the basic properties (critical Mach number, amplitude, and width) of the DIA solitary waves. It is also found that due to the effect of adiabaticity of electrons, negative DIA solitary waves [which are found to exist in a dusty plasma (containing isothermal electrons, cold ions, and negatively charged static dust) for α=zdnd0/ni0>2/3, where zd is the number of electrons residing onto a dust grain surface, nd0 is the constant (static) dust number density and ni0 is the equilibrium ion number density] disappears, i.e. due to the effect of adiabatic electrons, one cannot have negative DIA solitary waves for any possible set of dusty plasma parameters [0?α<1 and 0?σ=Ti0/Te0?1, where Ti0 (Te0) is electron (ion) temperature at equilibrium].     

Localized plasmons in quantum plasmas

We consider the nonlinear interactions between finite amplitude electron and ion plasma oscillations in a fermionic quantum plasma. Accounting for the quantum statistical electron pressure and the quantum Bohm potential, we derive a set of coupled nonlinear equations that govern the dynamics of modulated electron plasma oscillations (EPOs) in the presence of the nonlinear ion oscillations (NLIOs). We numerically study stationary solutions of our coupled nonlinear equations. We find that the quantum parameter H (equal to the ratio between the plasmonic and electron Fermi energy densities) introduces new features to the electron density and electric potential humps of localized NLIOs in the absence of EPOs. Furthermore, the nonlinear coupling between the EPOs and NLIOs gives rise to a new class of envelope solitons composed of bell shaped electric field envelope of the EPOs, which are trapped in the electron density hole (and an associated negative oscillatory electric potential) that is produced by the ponderomotive force of the EPOs. The knowledge of the localized plasmonic structures is of immense value for interpreting experimental observations in dense quantum plasmas.     

低密等离子体通道中的非共振激光直接加速

在低密等离子体通道中, 横向有质动力可以有效调制电子的横向振荡过程. 一方面, 横向有质动力可以向外推动电子, 增大电子横向振荡振幅, 减小失相率, 使电子获得能量增益; 另一方面, 横向有质动力也可以通过对失相率的非线性调制来降低失相率, 在电子横向振荡振幅很小的情况下导致激光直接加速. 横向有质动力调制的大小由等离子体密度、激光强度和束宽共同决定. 三维模型结果也证实可以通过参数放大实现激光直接加速, 弥补了准二维模型的局限性.     

Head-on collision of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a Thomas-Fermi plasma containing degenerate electrons and positrons

Head-on collision between two ion acoustic solitary waves in a Thomas-Fermi plasma containing degenerate electrons and positrons is investigated using the extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo (PLK) method. The results show that the phase shifts due to the collision are strongly dependent on the positron-to-electron number density ratio, the electron-to-positron Fermi temperature ratio and the ion-to-electron Fermi temperature ratio. The present study might be helpful to understand the excitation of nonlinear ion-acoustic solitary waves in a degenerate plasma such as in superdense white dwarfs.     

Effect of driving frequency on electron heating in capacitively coupled RF argon glow discharges at low pressure

A one-dimensional(1D) fluid model on capacitively coupled radio frequency(RF) argon glow discharge between parallel-plates electrodes at low pressure is established to test the effect of the driving frequency on electron heating. The model is solved numerically by a finite difference method. The numerical results show that the discharge process may be divided into three stages: the growing rapidly stage, the growing slowly stage, and the steady stage. In the steady stage,the maximal electron density increases as the driving frequency increases. The results show that the discharge region has three parts: the powered electrode sheath region, the bulk plasma region and the grounded electrode sheath region. In the growing rapidly stage(at 18 μs), the results of the cycle-averaged electric field, electron temperature, electron density, and electric potentials for the driving frequencies of 3.39, 6.78, 13.56, and 27.12 MHz are compared, respectively. Furthermore,the results of cycle-averaged electron pressure cooling, electron ohmic heating, electron heating, and electron energy loss for the driving frequencies of 3.39, 6.78, 13.56, and 27.12 MHz are discussed, respectively. It is also found that the effect of the cycle-averaged electron pressure cooling on the electrons is to "cool" the electrons; the effect of the electron ohmic heating on the electrons is always to "heat" the electrons; the effect of the cycle-averaged electron ohmic heating on the electrons is stronger than the effect of the cycle-averaged electron pressure cooling on the electrons in the discharge region except in the regions near the electrodes. Therefore, the effect of the cycle-averaged electron heating on the electrons is to "heat" the electrons in the discharge region except in the regions near the electrodes. However, in the regions near the electrodes, the effect of the cycle-averaged electron heating on the electron is to "cool" the electrons. Finally, the space distributions of the electron pressure cooling the electron ohmic heating and the electron heating at 1/4 T, 2/4 T, 3/4 T, and 4/4 T in one RF-cycle are presented and compared.     

Effect of excavated trapped electron distributions on ion-acoustic solitary structures in an electron-positron-ion plasma

Fully nonlinear propagation of ion-acoustic solitary waves in an unmagnetized electron-positron-ion plasma is investigated. A more realistic situation is considered in which electrons interact with the wave potential during its evolution and, follow the vortex-like excavated trapped distribution. The basic properties of large amplitude solitary waves are studied by deriving an energy integral equation involving Sagdeev potential. It is shown that effects of such electron behavior and positron concentration change the maximum values of the Mach number and amplitude for which solitary waves can exist. The small amplitude limit is also investigated by expanding the Sagdeev potential to include third-order nonlinearity of electric potential. In this case, exact analytical solution is obtained which is related to the contribution of the resonant electron to the electron density. It is shown from both highly and weakly nonlinear analysis that the plasma system under consideration supports only compressive solitary waves.     

Dispersion properties of low-frequency electrostatic oscillations in metallic carbon nanotubes

Dispersion properties of low-frequency electrostatic waves in metallic carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are investigated. We assume that metallic CNTs are charged due to the field emission, and hence the metallic nanotubes can be regarded as charged dust rods surrounded by degenerate electrons and ions. We deduce the perturbed electron and ion number densities by using the quantum hydrodynamic model, while the dust rod density perturbation follows the classical expression. The Poisson equation, in turn, gives the dispersion relation for the low-frequency electrostatic oscillations in our three-species bounded plasma system composed of metallic CNTs. The oscillation frequency of CNTs can be used for diagnostic purposes, e.g. for the determination of charge on nanotubes.     

An electrohydrodynamics model for non-equilibrium electron and phonon transport in metal films after ultra-short pulse laser heating

The electrons and phonons in metal films after ultra-short pulse laser heating are in highly non-equilibrium states not only between the electrons and the phonons but also within the electrons. An electrohydrodynamics model consisting of the balance equations of electron density, energy density of electrons, and energy density of phonons is derived from the coupled non-equilibrium electron and phonon Boltzmann transport equations to study the nonlinear thermal transport by considering the electron density fluctuation and the transient electric current in metal films, after ultra-short pulse laser heating. The temperature evolution is calculated by the coupled electron and phonon Boltzmann transport equations, the electrohydrodynamics model derived in this work, and the two-temperature model. Different laser pulse durations, film thicknesses, and laser fluences are considered. We find that the two-temperature model overestimates the electron temperature at the front surface of the film and underestimates the damage threshold when the nonlinear thermal transport of electrons is important. The electrohydrodynamics model proposed in this work could be a more accurate prediction tool to study the non-equilibrium electron and phonon transport process than the two-temperature model and it is much easier to be solved than the Boltzmann transport equations.     

Generation of Broadband High Harmonics through Linear Mode Conversion in Inhomogeneous Plasmas

The generation of high order harmonics from an inhomogeneous ovderdense plasma target irradiated by an ultrashort intense laser pulse is studied by numerical simulation. During such interaction, ultrafast electron bunches are generated and excite electron plasma oscillations as they pass through the overdense target. These plasma oscillations will emit high-frequency electromagnetic emission by linear mode conversion. Instead of the integer harmonies generation, the emission appears with a broadband and even continuous spectrum corresponding to the electron plasma frequency range of the inhomogeneous plasma density.     

Electron energy spectrum in the field-ionized plasma

In this article, the effect of ionization on the energy spectrum of electrons within the interaction of a laser pulse with hydrogen atoms is investigated using particle-in-cell simulation codes. The results show that the behaviour of electrons' energy distribution function in the field-ionized plasma, which occurred due to the field ionization, compared with that in the pre-plasma strongly depends on the pulse shape. For short rise-time pulses (here 30 fs), due to the rapid enhancement of laser electric field, ionization occurs quickly, and as a result, there is not much difference in the electron energy in both the media. However, for pulses with rise time of 40 fs, in the pre-plasma state, the electron population reaches higher energies compared with the field-ionized plasma state. The main reason for this difference is the nonlinear wave breaking that happens earlier due to density inhomogeneity in the field-ionized plasma. On the other hand, at longer rise-time pulses (here 60 and 70 fs), electrons achieve higher energies in the field-ionized plasma than those in the case of pre-plasma. In this case, because of density fluctuations in the field-ionized plasma, the Raman backscattered radiations are seeded by a strong initial noise at the earlier times and the Mendonca condition for chaos threshold is met sooner. Therefore, the electrons gain more energy through the stochastic mechanism that is in agreement with chaotic nature of the motion.     

Electrostatic solitons in unmagnetized hot electron-positron-ion plasmas

Linear and nonlinear electrostatic waves in unmagnetized electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasmas are studied. The electrons and positrons are assumed to be isothermal and dynamic while ions are considered to be stationary to neutralize the plasma background only. It is found that both upper (fast) and lower (slow) Langmuir waves can propagates in such a type of pair (e-p) plasma in the presence of ions. The small amplitude electrostatic Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) solitons are also obtained using reductive perturbation method. The electrostatic potential hump structures are found to exist when the temperature of the electrons is larger than the positrons, while the electrostatic potential dips are obtained in the reverse temperature conditions for electrons and positrons in e-p-i plasmas. The numerical results are also shown for illustration. The effects of different ion concentration and temperature ratios of electrons and positrons, on the formation of nonlinear electrostatic potential structures in e-p-i plasmas are also discussed.     

Self-focusing of Gaussian laser beam in collisionless plasma and its effect on stimulated Raman scattering process

This paper presents an investigation of self-focusing of Gaussian laser beam in collisionless plasma and its effect on stimulated Raman scattering process. The pump beam interacts with a pre-excited electron plasma wave thereby generating a back-scattered wave. On account of Gaussian intensity distribution of laser beam, the time independent component of the ponderomotive force along a direction perpendicular to the beam propagation becomes finite, which modifies the background plasma density profile in a direction transverse to pump beam axis. This modification in density affects the incident laser beam, electron plasma wave and back-scattered beam. We have set up the non-linear differential equations for the beam width parameters of the main beam, electron plasma wave, back-scattered wave and SRS-reflectivity by taking full non-linear part of the dielectric constant of collisionless plasma with the help of moment theory approach. It is observed from the analysis that focusing of waves greatly enhances the SRS reflectivity.     

Nonlinear dynamical modelling of chaotic electrostatic ion cyclotron oscillations by jerk equations

Plasma being a nonlinear and complex system, is capable of sustaining a wide spectrum of waves, oscillations and instabilities. These fluctuations interact nonlinearly amongst themselves and also with particles: electrons/ions and thus lead to nonlinear wave-wave or wave-particle interaction. In the presence of coherent waves the particles are accelerated whereas irregular oscillations can give rise to particle heating which is also called stochastic heating. Particle orbits are known to be randomized by the wave fields such that their motion can also become stochastic. For fusion to be sustained one needs a very high temperature plasma for an extended duration. It quite common to deploy external waves like electron cyclotron waves or ion cyclotron waves for plasma heating and current drive. These external waves also work only in certain regimes. Conventional plasma techniques have been able to answer several of the observations of the above processes related to heating transport etc, but nonlinear dynamics as a tool has helped in comprehending the plasma oscillations better. We have for the first time obtained a Third Order nonlinear ordinary differential equation (TONLODE) also known as jerk equation to describe the electrostatic ion cyclotron plasma oscillations in a magnetic field. The interesting feature of this equation is that it does not require an external forcing term to obtain chaotic behaviour.     

HL—1M装置等离子体中类锯齿电子密度振荡

在欧姆放电和低杂波电流驱动（ＬＨＣＤ）及激光吹气注入杂质的联合实验中,首次在ＨＬ－１Ｍ 装置上观测到了与软Ｘ射线对应得非常好的锯齿型密度振荡。这种类锯齿型的密度振荡存在于低杂波电流驱动与激光吹气等离子体中。分析表明,该锯齿不是通常的ｑ ＝ １ 有理面上的锯齿,而是在低杂波与杂质共同作用下产生的类锯齿型的密度振荡。一种可能的机制是低杂波电流驱动下杂质的中心积累及崩塌引起的扰动磁场导致了快电子的损失,从而使得密度发生振荡