Trapping of plasmons in ion holes

We present analytical and numerical studies of a new electron plasma wave interaction mechanism, which reveals trapping of Langmuir waves in ion holes associated with nonisothermal ion distribution functions. This Langmuir ion hole interaction is a unique kinetic phenomenon governed by two second nonlinear differential equations in which the Langmuir wave electric field and ion hole potential are coupled in a complex fashion. Numerical analyses of our nonlinearly coupled differential equations exhibit trapping of localized Langmuir wave envelops in the ion hole, which is either standing or moving with sub-or super ion thermal speed. The resulting ambipolar potential of the ion hole is essentially negative, giving rise to bipolar slow electric fields. The present investigation thus offers a new Langmuir wave contraction scenario that has not been rigorously explored in plasma physics.     

Electron exchange-correlation effects on dispersion properties of electrostatic waves in degenerate quantum plasmas

Based on the quantum Magnetohydrodynamic (QMHD) model, the obliquely propagation of electrostatic waves in degenerate magnetized quantum plasmas with electron exchange-correlation effects are theoretically investigated. The modified linear dispersion relations of electrostatic waves are obtained and discussed in some specific cases. The analytical results clearly show that the dispersion properties of the high frequency electron waves (including the Langmuir wave and upper-hybrid wave) and the low frequency ion acoustic wave are modified by the quantum effects together with the electron exchange-correlation effects. The numerical results depict that the Langmuir wave and upper-hybrid wave can be unstable in the presence of the electron exchange-correlation effects, and it is also evidently indicated that the electron exchange-correlation effects can reduce the phase velocity of the waves, especially in the high wave number region. The corresponding results should be of relevance for identifying electrostatic fluctuations which transport in an inhomogeneous and magnetized quantum plasmas.     

Terahertz radiation from interaction between an electron beam and a planar surface plasmon structure

The possibility of an electron beam exciting surface plasmons in conducting metal is discussed in this paper. A planar perfect-structure with subwavelength holes is proposed. The phenomenon that mimicking surface plasmon waves can be excited and amplified by an electron beam is proved theoretically and numerically. The mechanism of transmission through a subwavelength hole array is exploited to enhance the interaction between the electron beam and the mimicking surface plasmons.     

Collision of two rotating Hayward black holes

We investigate the spin interaction and the gravitational radiation thermally allowed in a head-on collision of two rotating Hayward black holes. The Hayward black hole is a regular black hole in a modified Einstein equation, and hence it can be an appropriate model to describe the extent to which the regularity effect in the near-horizon region affects the interaction and the radiation. If one black hole is assumed to be considerably smaller than the other, the potential of the spin interaction can be analytically obtained and is dependent on the alignment of angular momenta of the black holes. For the collision of massive black holes, the gravitational radiation is numerically obtained as the upper bound by using the laws of thermodynamics. The effect of the Hayward black hole tends to increase the radiation energy, but we can limit the effect by comparing the radiation energy with the gravitational waves GW150914 and GW151226.     

Photodetachment microscopy of a hydrogen negative ion in an electric field near a metal surface

According to the semi-classical theory, we study the photodetachment microscopy of H- in the electric field near a metal surface. During the photodetachment, the electron is photo-detached by a laser and the electron is drawn toward a position-sensitive detector. The electron flux distribution is measured as a function of position. Two classical paths lead the ion to any point in the classically allowed region on the detector, and waves traveling along these paths produce an interference pattern. If the metal surface perpendicular to the electric field is added, we find that the interference pattern is related not only to the electron energy and the electric-field strength, but also to the ion-surface distance. In addition, the laser polarization also has a great influence on the electron flux distribution. We present calculations predicting the interference pattern that may be seen in experiment. We hope that our study can provide a new understanding of the electron flux distribution of negative ions in an external field and surface, and can guide future experimental research on negative ion photo-detachment microscopy.     

Electron hole generation and propagation in an inhomogeneous collisionless plasma

The generation of "trains" of electron holes in phase space due to an external electrostatic disturbance is investigated by using a Vlasov-Ampere code with open boundary conditions. Electron holes are produced mostly during the initial phase of the wave-plasma interaction, with a given drift velocity which is maintained until they exit the integration box, even in the presence of plasma inhomogeneities. They present macroscopic features, a dipolar electrostatic field and an electron density perturbation, which can be exploited for diagnostic purposes. Their equilibrium is intrinsically kinetic, in that they are accompanied by a stationary hole in the electron distribution function.     

Hydrodynamic analysis of electrostatic counter-streaming instability in a spin-polarized electron–positron–ion plasma

In this study, we present linear analysis of electrostatic counter-streaming instability in spin-polarized electron–positron–ion (e-p-i) plasma. With the aid of the separate spin evolution-quantum hydrodynamic (SSE-QHD) model, we derive the dispersion relation of counter-streaming instability. We numerically solve the dispersion and find four wave solutions: Langmuir wave, positron acoustic mode, and two electron and positron spin-dependent waves. It is noted that coupling of streaming and spin effects excites Langmuir instability and positron acoustic mode instability. However, in the absence of spin effect, only Langmuir instability will survive in e-p-i plasma. We have also discussed the effects of positron concentration, streaming speed, and spin polarization on the real frequency of waves and the growth rate. The present study may be helpful for understanding longitudinal wave propagation and instabilities in dense magnetized environments.     

Stability of ion acoustic turbulent states

Several proposed renormalized theories for strong ion acoustic turbulence are compared to the direct interaction approximation. These are applied to the calculation of the stability of ion acoustic turbulent states to the excitation of Langmuir waves. A kinetic instability proposed by Tsytovich, Stenflo, and Wilhelmsson is shown to be stabilized by resonant and nonresonant decay processes. The global kinetic stability of the Langmuir spectrum is enhanced through the coupling of opposite phase velocity Langmuir waves by the decay processes and by nonresonant scattering to regions of strong Landau damping.     

Numerical simulations of type-III solar radio bursts

The first numerical simulations are presented for type-III solar radio bursts in the inhomogeneous solar corona and interplanetary space, that include microscale quasilinear and nonlinear processes, intermediate-scale driven ambient density fluctuations, and large scale evolution of electron beams, Langmuir and ion sound waves, and fundamental and harmonic electromagnetic emission. Bidirectional coronal emission is asymmetric between the upward and downward directions, and harmonic emission dominates fundamental emission. In interplanetary space, fundamental and/or harmonic emission can be important. Langmuir and ion sound waves are bursty and the statistics of Langmuir wave energy agree well with the predictions of stochastic growth theory.     

Auger-electron-ion coincidence study of photon-stimulated ion desorption for condensed acetonitrile

Auger-electron-photoion coincidence (AEPICO) studies of photon-stimulated ion desorption (PSID) for condensed acetonitrile induced by carbon core excitation have been performed to elucidate the desorption mechanism related to the Auger process. We have detected only the H⁺ ion in AEPICO spectra. The total ion yield spectrum divided by the total electron yield shows that the desorption efficiency is largely increased at the resonant excitation to C---H*. We have also measured the Auger electron spectrum and the AEPICO yield spectrum at the C---H* excitation. The AEPICO yield spectrum shows enhancement at 245–250 eV electron energy. This seems to be related to the spectator resonant Auger stimulated ion desorption. That is, H⁺ desorption is enhanced due to a two-hole-one-electron state at which the electron is in an anti-bonding C---H* orbital and the two holes can be in a 1π bonding orbital localized on the ---CH₃ group. We have also measured similar spectra for other resonant excitation (π*_CN, σ*_CC, σ*_CN). The results are discussed in connection with the bonding/anti-bonding character and localized character of the excited state.     

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.     

First observation of ion acoustic waves produced by the langmuir decay instability

Thomson scattering measurements are presented which demonstrate conclusively the occurrence of the Langmuir decay instability (LDI) in a laser-produced plasma experiment. Both products of the instability, the ion acoustic wave and the electron plasma wave, were simultaneously observed and identified with their spectral characteristics. The secondary decay of the LDI-generated electron plasma wave, into another Langmuir wave and an ion acoustic wave, has been observed for the first time. The connection with growth and saturation of the stimulated Raman instability is discussed.     

Light scattering studies of the ion acoustic instability in a positive column plasma

Light scattering is used to study the amplitude, spectrum, and angular distribution of the saturated state of the ion acoustic instability in a He positive column plasma. The ion acoustic waves are driven unstable by the electron current in the column. The properties of the saturated state are studied as a function of the concentration of hydrogen impurities which are found to be present in positive column plasmas. At concentrations of a few percent, the hydrogen ions can cause linear wave damping. Their role in saturating the instability by nonlinear processes is studied by varying the hydrogen concentration.     

Influence of Generalized (r, q) Distribution Function on Electrostatic Waves

Non-Maxwellian particle distribution functions possessing high energy tail and shoulder in the profile of distribution function considerably change the damping characteristics of the waves. In the present paper Landau damping of electron plasma (Langmuir) waves and ion-acoustic waves in a hot, isotropic, unmagnetized plasma is studied with the generalized (r,q) distribution function. The results show that for the Langmuir oscillations Landau damping becomes severe as the spectral index r or q reduces. However, for the ion-acoustic waves Landau damping is more sensitive to the ion temperature than the spectral indices.     

Theory of cavitons in complex plasmas

Nonlinear coupling between Langmuir waves with finite amplitude dispersive dust acoustic perturbations is considered. It is shown that the interaction is governed by a pair of coupled nonlinear differential equations. Numerical results reveal the formation of Langmuir envelope solitons composed of the dust density depression created by the ponderomotive force of bell-shaped Langmuir wave envelops. The associated ambipolar potential is positive. The present nonlinear theory should be able to account for the trapping of large amplitude Langmuir waves in finite amplitude dust density holes. This scenario may appear in Saturn's dense rings, and the Cassini spacecraft should be able to observe fully nonlinear cavitons, as presented herein. Furthermore, we propose that new electron-beam plasma experiments should be conducted to verify our theoretical prediction.     

Hybrid phononic crystal plates for lowering and widening acoustic band gaps

We propose hybrid phononic-crystal plates which are composed of periodic stepped pillars and periodic holes to lower and widen acoustic band gaps. The acoustic waves scattered simultaneously by the pillars and holes in a relevant frequency range can generate low and wide acoustic forbidden bands. We introduce an alternative double-sided arrangement of the periodic stepped pillars for an enlarged pillars’ head diameter in the hybrid structure and optimize the hole diameter to further lower and widen the acoustic band gaps. The lowering and widening effects are simultaneously achieved by reducing the frequencies of locally resonant pillar modes and prohibiting suitable frequency bands of propagating plate modes.     

High-frequency emissions during the propagation of an electron beamin high-density plasma

A relativistic annular electron beam passing through a high-density plasma excites Langmuir waves via Cerenkov interaction. The Langmuir waves are backscattered off ions via nonlinear ion Landau damping. At moderately high amplitudes these waves are parametrically up-converted by the beam into high-frequency electromagnetic radiation, as observed in some recent experiments. A nonlocal theory of this process is developed in a cylindrical geometry. It is seen that the growth rate of the Langmuir wave scales as one-third the power of beam density. The growth rate of parametric instability scales as one-fourth the power of beam density and the square root of beam thickness     

Parametric instabilities in quantum plasmas with electron exchange-correlation effects

Parametric instabilities induced by the nonlinear interaction between high frequency quantum Langmuir waves and low frequency quantum ion-acoustic waves in quantum plasmas with the electron exchange-correlation effects are presented.By using the quantum hydrodynamic equations with the electron exchange-correlation correction,we obtain an effective quantum Zaharov model,which is then used to derive the modified dispersion relations and the growth rates of the decay and four-wave instabilities.The influences of the electron exchange-correlation effects and the quantum effects on the existence of quantum Langmuir waves and the parametric instabilities are discussed in detail.It is shown that the electron exchange-correlation effects and quantum effects are strongly coupled.The quantum Langmuir wave can propagate in quantum plasmas only when the electron exchange-correlation effects and the quantum effects satisfy a certain condition.The electron exchange-correlation effects tend to enhance the parametric instabilities,while quantum effects suppress the instabilities.