Hard-loop dynamics of non-Abelian plasma instabilities

Non-Abelian plasma instabilities may be responsible for the fast apparent quark-gluon thermalization in relativistic heavy-ion collisions if their exponential growth is not hindered by nonlinearities. We study numerically the real-time evolution of instabilities in an anisotropic non-Abelian plasma with an SU(2) gauge group in the hard-loop approximation. We find exponential growth of non-Abelian plasma instabilities both in the linear and in the strongly nonlinear regimes, with only a brief phase of subexponential behavior in between.     

Sudden Jumps,Hysteresis, and Negative Resistance in an Argon Plasma Discharge. II. Discharges in Magnetic Fields

Experimental observations on the behavior of low-pressure, thermionic argon discharges in magnetic cusp and mirror configurations are presented. I–B characteristics showing jump and hysteresis behavior were found. In some cases, the sudden sharp decreases in discharge current that were observed were preceded by the onset of coherent, low-frequency plasma oscillations, suggesting the possible role of instabilities.     

Plasma instabilities in an anisotropically expanding geometry

We study (3+1)D kinetic (Boltzmann-Vlasov) equations for relativistic plasma particles in a one dimensionally expanding geometry motivated by ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions. We set up local equations in terms of Yang-Mills potentials and auxiliary fields that allow simulations of hard- (expanding-) loop dynamics on a lattice. We determine numerically the evolution of plasma instabilities in the linear (Abelian) regime and also derive their late-time behavior analytically, which is consistent with recent numerical results on the evolution of the so-called melting color-glass condensate. We also find a significant delay in the onset of growth of plasma instabilities which are triggered by small rapidity fluctuations, even when the initial state is highly anisotropic.     

Observation of centrifugally driven interchange instabilities in a plasma confined by a magnetic dipole

Centrifugally driven interchange instabilities are observed in a laboratory plasma confined by a dipole magnetic field. The instabilities appear when an equatorial mesh is biased to drive a radial current that causes rapid axisymmetric plasma rotation. The observed instabilities are quasicoherent in the laboratory frame of reference; they have global radial mode structures and low azimuthal mode numbers, and they are modified by the presence of energetic, magnetically confined electrons. Results from a self-consistent nonlinear simulation reproduce the measured mode structures.     

Experimental proof of mirror instabilities in the Isar I theta pinch

In the Isar I linear theta pinchm=0 instabilities were observed and experimentally investigated. The variation of the plasma parameters over a wide range (τ _ii =10^?2... 10²μsec) showed that them=0 instabilities only occurred in sufficiently hot and thin plasmas, and so they are most probably due to the anisotropic pressure of the ions and should be mirror instabilities. Perturbations of the plasma limited in space and time were observed by measuring the continuum radiation, by 90 ° laser scattering measurements and by measuring the magnetic field and the local neutron rate. All measurements showed distinct, correlated, local perturbations of the plasma cylinder. These perturbations were accompanied by bulging of the plasma cylinder and increasing density. The extent in the axial direction was of the order of the plasma diameter. It may be assumed that the observed instabilities contribute appreciably to relaxation of the anisotropic ion pressure and increase the end losses.     

Intense pulses in air: breakup of rotational symmetry

We investigate azimuthal instabilities of intense rotationally symmetric pulsed beams propagating in air. Although the spatial-temporal evolution of the field is strongly influenced by the onset of plasma generation, the instabilities are caused chiefly by the Kerr effect. We conclude that calculations that assume rotational symmetry become unrealistic because of the fast growth of azimuthal instabilities shortly after the onset of plasma generation.     

On the Theory of Ion-Cyclotron Instabilities in Collisional Rotating Plasma

The role of collisions in the ion-cyclotron instabilities in the rotating plasma has been investigated. Collisional varieties of such instabilities at moderate collisions have been shown possible. At frequent enough collisions the total stabilization of such instabilities takes place. A survey of the contemporary state of the problem of the ion-cyclotron instabilities in rotating plasma has been given.     

Deterministic instabilities in the magneto-optical trap

The cloud of cold atoms obtained from a magneto-optical trap is known to exhibit two types of instabilities in the regime of high atomic densities: stochastic instabilities and deterministic instabilities. In the present paper, the experimentally observed deterministic dynamics is described extensively. Three different behaviors are distinguished. All are cyclic, but not necessarily periodic. Indeed, some instabilities exhibit a cyclic behavior with an erratic return time. A one-dimensional stochastic model taking into account the shadow effect is shown to be able to reproduce the experimental behavior, linking the instabilities to a several bifurcations. Erraticity of some of the regimes is shown to be induced by noise.Received: 27 April 2004, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 32.80.Pj Optical cooling of atoms; trapping - 05.45.-a Nonlinear dynamics and nonlinear dynamical systems - 05.40.Ca Noise     

Velocity gradient driven flute instabilities in plasmas

The effect of velocity gradient across the magnetic field on the low frequency flute modes is examined in detail, using the normal mode analysis. It is shown that some new type of instabilities driven primarily by the velocitygradient arise and these excited modes eventually attain the convective saturation. The onset of plasma turbulence due to these instabilities may possibly be one of the major contributors for anomalous heating process and enhanced plasma resistivity.     

托卡马克高约束模边缘等离子体不稳定性研究

托卡马克高约束模运行可大幅提高磁约束核聚变等离子体约束品质,该模式下的等离子体不稳定性研究对于控制约束和保护装置有重要意义。本文主要介绍了高约束模及其边缘等离子体不稳定性的研究概况,并重点介绍了中国环流器二号A托卡马克装置上关于高约束模转换、边缘局域模特征和控制方法、台基区不稳定性和台基饱和机制等方面的研究进展。研究结果表明,实验上有望通过粒子和射频波注入等外部激励的方法,影响台基区等离子体湍流,进行控制台基动力学演化以及ELM,实现既保持高约束又降低高热负荷的等离子体稳态运行。     

关于等离子体川流激发回旋不稳定性的尼奎斯特判据

本文分析沿外磁场方向的等离子体川流激发回旋不稳定性的尼奎斯特图.阐述包含变量n_s(川流等离子体的电子密度),n₀(静止等离子体的电子密度),B(外磁场强度),k(波数),v(川流速度)与T(体系温度)的不稳定性判据的计算方法。具体算出氢等离子体的定量结果。为探讨不稳定区域的特征,还分析了有两支川流时的回旋与静电不稳定性。 关键词：     

Parametric decay instabilities of lower hybrid wave into electromagnetic wave

The parametric decay instabilities of lower hybrid wave into electromagnetic modes are investigated in homogenous magnetized plasma. The resonant decay instabilities and the oscillating two stream instabilities are studied numerically in detail.     

Simulation of femtosecond pulse propagation in air

We present numerical simulations of the propagation of intense spatio-temporal fields propagating in air. Characteristic parameters of the propagation like peak intensities, plasma densities and diameters of the plasma channels are obtained. The evolution of the spectral content of the pulses is investigated and, in agreement with recent experiments, white-light supercontinuum generation is observed. We show in which areas of the pulse the supercontinuum is generated and conclude that self-phase modulation is responsible for the spectral broadening. Furthermore we investigate azimuthal instabilities of intense rotationally symmetric pulsed beams propagating in air. Although the spatial-temporal evolution of the field is strongly influenced by the onset of plasma generation, the instabilities are basically caused by the Kerr effect. We conclude that calculations assuming rotational symmetry become unrealistic due to the fast growth of azimuthal instabilities in the focal region.     

Visualizing color plasma instabilities

I discuss recent advances in the understanding of non-equilibrium gauge field dynamics in plasmas which have particle distributions which are locally anisotropic in momentum space. In contrast to locally isotropic plasmas such anisotropic plasmas have a spectrum of soft unstable modes which are characterized by exponential growth of transverse (chromo)-magnetic fields at short times. The long-time behavior of such instabilities depends on whether or not the gauge group is Abelian or non-Abelian. I will report on recent numerical simulations which attempt to determine the long-time behavior of an anisotropic non-Abelian plasma within hard-loop effective theory. For novelty I will present an interesting method for visualizing the time dependence of SU(2) gauge field configurations produced during our numerical simulations.     

Parametric excitation of magnetic electron drift vortex modes by Langmuir waves

A new multi-dimensional parametric interaction coupling Langmuir waves with magnetic electron drift vortex modes is presented. A general dispersion relation for the parametric instabilities is derived, and the growth rates of the decay and modulational instabilities are obtained. The present instabilities can be the source of large-scale magnetic fields near the critical surface of a laser-produced plasma.     

惯性约束聚变黑腔内等离子体界面处的动理学效应及其影响

在惯性约束聚变物理研究中,等离子体界面处的动理学效应及其时空演化特性近年来受到重点关注,因为它会显著影响激光能量沉积、激光等离子体不稳定性、辐照对称性、黑腔和内爆性能等诸多物理。准确描绘等离子体特征界面附近的动理学效应是惯性约束聚变物理设计的基本需求,也是高能量密度物理中的具有挑战且未完全解决的问题。重点回顾近几年来本团队围绕等离子体动理学效应及其影响开展的一些研究工作:（1）聚变黑腔中金等离子体与靶丸冕区等离子体边缘处的电场结构及其加速的高能离子对内爆对称性的影响;（2）激光光路上高Z-低Z等离子体界面处的电场产生机制及其导致的反常离子扩散对激光等离子体不稳定性的影响;（3）等离子体中电磁场结构的质子照相反演。     

Instabilities in Yukawa Liquids

A strongly coupled Yukawa liquid is a system of charged particles which interact via a screened Coulomb interaction and in which the electrostatic energy between neighboring particles is larger than their thermal energy but not large enough for crystallization. Various plasma systems including ultracold neutral plasmas and complex (dusty) plasmas can exist in this strongly coupled liquid phase.Here we investigate instabilities driven by the relative streaming of plasma components in three‐dimensional Yukawa liquids with a focus on complex plasmas. This includes a dust acoustic instability driven by weakly coupled ions streaming through the dust liquid, and a dust‐dust instability driven by the counter‐streaming of strongly coupled dust grains. Compared to the Vlasov behavior we find there can be a substantial modification of the unstable wavenumber spectrum due to strong coupling effects (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Laser–plasma interaction physics in the context of fusion

Of vital importance for Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) are the understanding and control of the nonlinear processes which can occur during the propagation of the laser pulses through the underdense plasma surrounding the fusion capsule. The control of parametric instabilities has been studied experimentally, using the LULI six-beam laser facility, and also theoretically and numerically. New results based on the direct observation of plasma waves with Thomson scattering of a short wavelength probe beam have revealed the occurence of the Langmuir decay instability. This secondary instability may play an imporant role in the saturation of stimulated Raman scattering. Another mechanism for reducing the growth of the scattering instabilities is the so-called `plasma-induced incoherence'. Namely, recent theoretical studies have shown that the propagation of laser beams through the underdense plasma can increase their spatial and temporal incoherence. This plasma-induced beam smoothing can reduce the levels of parametric instabilities. One signature of this process is a large increase of the spectral width of the laser light after propagation through the plasma. Comparison of the experimental results with numerical simulations shows an excellent agreement between the observed and calculated time-resolved spectra of the transmitted laser light at various laser intensities.     

Electrostatic Instabilities at High Frequency in a Plasma Shock Front

New electrostatic instabilities in the plasma shock front are reported. These instabilities are driven by the electro- static field which is caused by charge separation and the parameter gradients in a plasma shock front. The linear analysis to the high frequency branch of electrostatic instabilities has been carried out and the dispersion relations are obtained numerically. There are unstable disturbing waves in both the parallel and perpendicular directions of shock propagation. The real frequencies of both unstable waves are similar to the electron electrostatic wave, and the unstable growth rate in the parallel direction is much greater than the one in the perpendicular direction. The dependence of growth rates on the electric field and parameter gradients is also presented.