Formation and dynamics of dark solitons and vortices in quantum electron plasmas

We present simulation studies of the formation and dynamics of dark solitons and vortices in quantum electron plasmas. The electron dynamics in the latter is governed by a pair of equations comprising the nonlinear Schr?dinger and Poisson system of equations, which conserves the number of electrons as well as their momentum and energy. The present governing equations in one spatial dimension admit stationary solutions in the form a dark envelope soliton. The dynamics of the latter reveals its robustness. Furthermore, we numerically demonstrate the existence of cylindrically symmetric two-dimensional quantum electron vortices, which survive during collisions. The nonlinear structures presented here may serve the purpose of transporting information at quantum scales in ultracold micromechanical systems and dense plasmas, such as those created during intense laser-matter interactions.     

Vortical dynamics in the wake of water strider locomotion

Abstract  

Previous studies reported that the hydrodynamic propulsion of the water strider also results from transferring momentum to the underlying fluid through hemispherical dipolar vortices shed by its driving legs. However, there are no accuracy experimental measurements of these vortical structures to prove the mechanics of vortical propulsion. Here, we reveal the vortical structures by reporting the simultaneous measurements of the water strider’s motion and the fluid velocity field with the high-speed PIV, and proposing a new method of calculating the vortex kinetic energy and vortex momentum. We found that the asymmetrical vortical structure in each dipolar vortex, generated by one driving stroke, propels the water strider forward, and the outer elliptic vortex is weaker than the inner circular vortex. The movement of the dipolar vortex is divided into two stages: (1) translating backward and (2) return curving. In this way, the water strider obtains the maximum velocity with minimal consumption of energy. The fluid vortical momentum, generated by the driving stroke, accounts for about 64–90% of the water strider’s momentum.     

Diffractive vector mesons beyond the s-channel helicity conservation

We derive a full set, and determine the twist, of helicity amplitudes for diffractive production of light to heavy vector mesons in deep inelastic scattering. For large Q ² all helicity amplitudes but the double-flip are calculable in perturbative QCD and are proportional to the gluon structure function of the proton at a similar hardness scale. We find a substantial breaking of the s-channel helicity conservation, which must persist in real photoproduction also. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 68, No. 9, 667–673 (10 November 1998) Published in English in the original Russian journal. Edited by Steve Torstveit.     

Dust-lower-hybrid waves in quantum plasmas

The dispersion relation of the dust-lower-hybrid wave has been derived using the quantum hydrodynamic model of plasmas in an ultracold Fermi dusty plasma in the presence of a uniform external magnetic field. The dust dynamics, electron Fermi temperature effect, and the quantum corrections give rise to significant effects on the dust-lower-hybrid wave of the magnetized quantum dusty plasmas.     

Fluid turbulence in quantum plasmas

Nonlinear fluid simulations are developed by us to investigate the properties of fully developed two-dimensional (2D) electron fluid turbulence in a very dense Fermi (quantum) plasma. We find that a 2D quantum electron plasma exhibits dual cascades, in which the electron number density cascades towards smaller turbulent scales, while the electrostatic potential forms larger scale eddies. The characteristic turbulent spectrum associated with the nonlinear electron plasma oscillations (EPO) is determined critically by a ratio of the energy density of the EPOs and the electron kinetic energy density of quantum plasmas. The turbulent transport corresponding to the large-scale potential distribution is predominant in comparison with the small-scale electron number density variation, a result that is consistent with the classical diffusion theory.     

Phase transitions in quantum plasmas

We present a theory for a critical point and phase transitions in quantum plasmas (QPs). We use a newly obtained Lennard-Jones-type interaction potential or an oscillating exponential-screened Coulomb potential around ions that are screened by degenerate electrons in an unmagnetized QP. Expressions for the free energy and an equation of state for non-degenerate ions are obtained. It is found that the existence of a critical point and phase separations in our QPs depends on the Wigner–Seitz electron radius and the equilibrium ion temperature. Our results are relevant for understanding superdense astrophysical objects such as the cores of white dwarfs.     

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.     

Hybrid helicity and magneto-vorticity flux conservation in superdense npe-plasma

In this paper, it is shown that the magnetic helicity dissipation per unit volume, coupled with the longitudinal conductivity, causes enhancement of the kinematic rotation of the electric (and magnetic) lines if the npe-plasma vorticity vector aligns with the electric (or the magnetic) field. In the case of a rigidly rotating npe-plasma under the influence of a strong magnetic field, the electric lines are rotating faster than the magnetic lines. It is deduced that the orthogonality of the electric and magnetic fields is an essential condition for the conduction current to remain finite in the limit of infinite electric conductivity of the npe-plasma. In this case, the magnetic field is not frozen into the npe-plasma, but the magnetic flux in the magnetic tube is conserved. The hybrid helicity is conserved if the “magneto-vorticity” vector is tangent to the level surfaces of constant entropy per baryon. The “magneto-vorticity” lines are rotating on the level surfaces of constant entropy per baryon due to the electromagnetic energy flow in the direction of the npe-plasma vorticity and the chemical potential variation locked with the kinematic rotation of the npe-plasma flow lines. In the case of an isentropic npe-plasma flow, there exists a family of timelike 2-surfaces spanned by the “magneto-vorticity” lines and the npe-plasma flow lines. In this case, the electric field is normal to such a family of timelike 2-surfaces. Maxwell like equations satisfied by “magneto-vorticity” bivector field are solved in axially symmetric stationary case. It is shown that the npe-plasma is in differential rotation in such a way that its each plasma shell (i.e., plasma surface spanned by “magneto-vorticity” lines) is rotating differentially without continually winding up “magneto-vorticity” lines frozen into the npe-plasma. It is also found that gravitational isorotation and Ferraro’s law of isorotation are intimately connected to each other because of coexistence of both the plasma vorticity and the magnetic field due to interaction between the electromagnetic field and npe-plasma flows.     

New invariance in electroweak standard model and conservation of helicity

The Lagrangian of the electroweak standard model is invariant under the chirality transformation of fermionic fields and reversal of the Higgs field. This invariance implies the conservation of helicity in weak interaction processes. The application to leptonic weak interaction is discussed in detail.     

Two-stream instabilities in degenerate quantum plasmas

The quantum effects on the plasma two-stream instability are studied by the dielectric function approach. The analysis suggests that the instability condition in a degenerate dense plasma deviates from the classical theory when the electron drift velocity is comparable to the Fermi velocity. Specifically, for a high wave vector comparable to the Fermi wave vector, a degenerate quantum plasma has larger regime of instability than predicted by the classical theory. A regime is identified, where there are unstable plasma waves with frequency 1.5 times of a normal Langmuir wave.     

Streaming instability in quantum dusty plasmas

By using a quantum hydrodynamic (QHD) model, we derive a generalized dielectric constant for an unmagnetized quantum dusty plasma composed of electrons, ions, and charged dust particulates. Neglecting the electron inertial force in comparison with the electron pressure, and the force associated with the electron correlations at a quantum scale, we discuss two classes of electrostatic instabilities that are produced by streaming ions, and dust grains. The effects of the plasma streaming speeds, the thermal speed of electrons, and the quantum parameter are examined on the growth rates. The relevance of our investigation to dense astrophysical plasmas is discussed.     

Scaling ands-channel helicity conservation via optimal state description of hadron-hadron scattering

Two important physical laws of hadron-hadron scattering—the scaling of the angular distributions ands-channel helicity conservation—are proved using reproducing-kernel Hilbert space methods. All the results are obtained as special properties of optimal state dominance in hadron-hadron scattering.     

Ultrafast dynamics of strongly coupled plasmas

The ultrafast dynamics of a strongly coupled plasma following an energy landscape shift is studied theoretically and with simulation. To lowest order in time, the inertial dynamics on the new landscape can be characterized by the plasma microfield, which, for the randomly ordered case of an ultracold neutral plasma, is dominated by nearest neighbor interactions. Formation of the pair correlation function arises after ballistic overshoot, which leads to oscillations in the effective temperature. Warm dense matter systems are also considered in this context.     

Quasi-two-dimensional dynamics of plasmas and fluids

In the lowest order of approximation quasi-two-dimensional dynamics of planetary atmospheres and of plasmas in a magnetic field can be described by a common convective vortex equation, the Charney and Hasegawa-Mima (CHM) equation. In contrast to the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation, the CHM equation admits "shielded vortex solutions" in a homogeneous limit and linear waves ("Rossby waves" in the planetary atmosphere and "drift waves" in plasmas) in the presence of inhomogeneity. Because of these properties, the nonlinear dynamics described by the CHM equation provide rich solutions which involve turbulent, coherent and wave behaviors. Bringing in nonideal effects such as resistivity makes the plasma equation significantly different from the atmospheric equation with such new effects as instability of the drift wave driven by the resistivity and density gradient. The model equation deviates from the CHM equation and becomes coupled with Maxwell equations. This article reviews the linear and nonlinear dynamics of the quasi-two-dimensional aspect of plasmas and planetary atmosphere starting from the introduction of the ideal model equation (CHM equation) and extending into the most recent progress in plasma turbulence.     

A new dust mode in quantum plasmas

By employing the quantum hydrodynamic model for electron–ion–dust plasmas, we derive a dispersion relation for a new dust mode. The latter can appear as a quantum noise in microelectronics, and can be used for diagnostics of charged dust impurities.     

Spin magnetosonic shock-like waves in quantum plasmas

The propagation of one-dimensional shock-like waves (SLWs) in a dissipative quantum magnetoplasma medium is studied. A quantum magnetohydrodynamic (QMHD) model is used to take into account the effects of quantum force associated with the Bohm potential and the pressure-like spin force for electrons. It is shown that the nonlinear evolution equation [Korteweg-de-Vries-Burger (KdVB)], which describes the dynamics of small but finite amplitude magnetosonic waves (MSWs) (where the dissipation is provided by the plasma resistivity) exhibits both oscillatory and monotonic shock-like perturbations (SLPs) by the effects of collective tunneling and spin alignment. Both the quantum and spin force significantly modify the shock-like structures and the strength of SLPs. The theoretical results could be of important for strongly magnetized astrophysical (e.g., pulsars, magnetars) plasmas.     

Domain wall solitons in quantum electron plasmas

We show the existence of new stationary solutions in the form of domain wall soliton in the nonlinear Schrödinger-Poisson equations describing the dynamics of quantum electron plasmas. It is found that the domain wall soliton exists at strong coupling constant regime and shows a different dynamical behavior in comparison with the previously found dark and gray solitons. The robustness and the conservation of the energy of the domain wall solitons is demonstrated by numerical simulations.