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A. Kuiroukidis

Publications and source records attributed to A. Kuiroukidis.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Axisymmetric hybrid Vlasov equilibria with applications to tokamak plasmas

We derive axisymmetric equilibrium equations in the context of the hybrid Vlasov model with kinetic ions and massless fluid electrons, assuming isothermal electrons and deformed Maxwellian distribution functions for the kinetic ions. The equilibrium system comprises a Grad-Shafranov partial differential equation and an integral equation. These equations can be utilized to calculate the equilibrium magnetic field and ion distribution function, respectively, for given particle density or given ion and electron toroidal current density profiles. The resulting solutions describe states characterized by toroidal plasma rotation and toroidal electric current density. Additionally, due to the presence of fluid electrons, these equilibria also exhibit a poloidal current density component. This is in contrast to the fully kinetic Vlasov model, where axisymmetric Jeans equilibria can only accommodate toroidal currents and flows, given the absence of a third integral of the microscopic motion.

physics.plasm-ph

A tokamak pertinent analytic equilibrium with plasma flow of arbitrary direction

An analytic solution to a generalized Grad-Shafranov equation with flow of arbitrary direction is obtained upon adopting the generic linearizing ansatz for the free functions related to the poloidal current, the static pressure and the electric field. Subsequently, a D-shaped tokamak pertinent equilibrium with sheared flow is constructed using the aforementioned solution.

physics.plasm-ph

A generalized Grad-Shafranov equation with plasma flow under a conformal coordinate transformation

We employ a conformal mapping transformation to solve a generalized Grad-Shafranov equation with incompressible plasma flow of arbitrary direction and construct particular up-down asymmetric D-shaped and diverted tokamak equilibria. The proposed method can also be employed as an alternative quasi-analytic method to solving two dimensional elliptic partial differential equations.

physics.plasm-ph

Certain developments on the equilibrium of magnetized plasmas

Recent results will be presented on steady states of magnetically confined plasmas obtained by conventional and Hamiltonian methods. The presentation consists of three parts. The first one concerns the derivation of a generalized Grad-Shafranov equation describing helically symmetric equilibria with pressure anisotropy and incompressible plasma flow of arbitrary direction with application to straight-stellarator configurations [1]. The impact of pressure anisotropy and flow on the equilibrium characteristics is also examined. In the second part the axisymmetric equilibrium code HELENA is extended for pressure anisotropy and flow parallel to the magnetic field and ITER-pertinent equilibria are constructed. In the third part the Hamiltonian formulation of helically symmetric plasmas is established within the framework of extended MHD, a simplified two-fluid model including Hall-ion and electron-inertia contributions [2,3]. Four families of Casimir invariants are obtained and they are used to construct Energy-Casimir variational principles for deriving generalized extended MHD equilibrium equations with arbitrary flow. The system is then cast into the form of Grad-Shafranov-Bernoulli equations. In addition, an example of an incompressible double-Beltrami equilibrium will be presented in connection with a straight-stellarator configuration.

physics.plasm-ph

A class of simple bouncing and late-time accelerating cosmologies in f(R) gravity

We consider the field equations for a flat FRW cosmological model, in a generic $f(R)$ gravity model and cast them into a, completely normalized-dimensionless, system of O.D.Es for the scale factor and the function $f(R)$, with respect to the scalar curvature $R$. It is shown that under reasonable assumptions one can produce simple analytical and numerical solutions describing bouncing cosmological models where in addition there are late-time accelerating. Possibility of extending these results is briefly discussed.

gr-qc

Inflationary $α-$attractors and $F(R)$ gravity

We consider a generic class of the so-called inflationary $-α$ attractor models and compute the cosmological observables in the Einstein and Jordan frames, of the corresponding $F(R)-$gravity theory. We find that the two sets coincide (to within errors from the use of the slow-roll approximation) for moderate and large values of the number of e-foldings $N$, which is the novel result of this paper, generalizing previous results on the subject (see e.g. Ref. (\citen{oik1})). We briefly comment on the possible generalizations of these results.

hep-th

Axisymmetric equilibria with central current reversal caused by non-parallel plasma flow

We obtain analytic solutions of a generalised Grad-Shafranov equation describing steady states with incompressible plasma flow of arbitrary direction, toroidal current reversal and either nested or non-nested magnetic surfaces. It turns out that the component of the flow velocity non parallel to the magnetic field can result in normal equilibria with central current-reversal, i.e. equilibria with nested magnetic surfaces and monotonically varying pressure profiles.

physics.plasm-ph

Charged cosmic strings interacting with gravitational and electromagnetic waves

Under a particular choice of the Ernst potential, we solve analytically the Einstein-Maxwell equations to derive a new exact solution depending on five parameters: the mass, the angular-momentum (per unit mass), the electromagnetic-field strength, k, the parameter-p and the Kerr-NUT parameter, l. This (Petrov Type D) solution is cylindrically-symmetric and represents the curved background around a charged, rotating cosmic string, surrounded by gravitational and electromagnetic waves, under the influence of the Kerr-NUT parameter. A C-energy study in the radiation zone suggests that both the incoming and the outgoing radiation is gravitational, strongly focused around the null direction and preserving its profile. In this case, the absence of the k-parameter from the C-energy implies that, away from the linear defect the electromagnetic field is too weak to contribute to the energy-content of the cylindrically-symmetric space-time under consideration. In order to explain this result, we have evaluated the Weyl and the Maxwell scalars near the axis of the linear defect and at the spatial infinity. Accordingly, we have found that the electromagnetic field is concentrated (mainly) in the vicinity of the axis, while falling-off prominently at large radial distances. However, as long as k differs from unity, the non-zero Kerr-NUT parameter enhances those scalars, both near the axis and at the spatial infinity, introducing some sort of gravitomagnetic contribution.

gr-qc

Dynamo effects in magnetized ideal-plasma cosmologies

The excitation of cosmological perturbations in an anisotropic cosmological model and in the presence of a homogeneous magnetic field has been studied, using the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. In this case, the system of partial differential equations which governs the evolution of the magnetized cosmological perturbations can be solved analytically. Our results verify that fast-magnetosonic modes propagating normal to the magnetic field, are excited. But, what's most important, is that, at late times, the magnetic-induction contrast grows, resulting in the enhancement of the ambient magnetic field. This process can be particularly favored by condensations, formed within the plasma fluid due to gravitational instabilities.

astro-ph

Magnetohydrodynamics and Plasma Cosmology

We study the linear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, both in the Newtonian and the general-relativistic limit, as regards a viscous magnetized fluid of finite conductivity and discuss instability criteria. In addition, we explore the excitation of cosmological perturbations in anisotropic spacetimes, in the presence of an ambient magnetic field. Acoustic, electromagnetic (e/m) and fast-magnetosonic modes, propagating normal to the magnetic field, can be excited, resulting in several implications of cosmological significance.

gr-qc

Dilaton Brane Cosmology with Second Order String Corrections and the Cosmological Constant

We consider, in five dimensions, the effective action from heterotic string which includes quantum gravity corrections up to (a')^2. The expansion, in the string frame, is in terms of |a'R|, where R is the scalar curvature and uses the third order Euler density, next to the Gauss-Bonnet term. For a positive tension brane and infinite extra dimension, the logarithmic class of solutions is less dependent from fine-tuning problems than in previous formulations. More importantly, the model suggests that in the full non-perturbative formulation, the string scale can be much lower than the effective Planck mass, without the string coupling to be vanishingly small. Also a less severe fine-tuning of the brane tension in needed.

hep-th

Brane Cosmology from Heterotic String Theory

We consider brane cosmologies within the context of five-dimensional actions with O(a') higher curvature corrections. The actions are compatible with bulk string amplitude calculations from heterotic string theory. We find wrapped solutions that satisfy the field equations in an approximate but acceptable manner given their complexity, where the internal four-dimensional scale factor is naturally inflating, having an exponential De-Sitter form. The temporal dependence of the metric components is non-trivial so that this metric cannot be factored as in a conformally flat case. The effective Planck mass is finite and the brane solutions localize four-dimensional gravity, while the four-dimensional gravitational constant varies with time. The Hubble constant can be freely specified through the initial value of the scalar field, to conform with recent data.

gr-qc

Pre-Inflation in the Presence of Conformal Coupling

We consider a massless scalar field, conformally coupled to the Ricci scalar curvature, in the pre-inflation era of a closed FLRW Universe. The scalar field potential can be of the form of the Coleman-Weinberg one-loop potential, which is flat at the origin and drives the inflationary evolution. For positive values of the conformal parameter ξ, less than the critical value xi_c=(1/6), the model admits exact solutions with non-zero scale factor and zero initial Hubble parameter. Thus these solutions can be matched smoothly to the so called Pre-Big-Bang models. At the end of this pre-inflation era one can match inflationary solutions by specifying the form of the potential and the whole solution is of the class C^(1).

gr-qc

Interactive Quadratic Gravity

A quadratic semiclassical theory, regarding the interaction of gravity with a massive scalar quantum field, is considered in view of the renormalizable energy-momentum tensor in a multi-dimensional curved spacetime. According to it, a self-consistent coupling between the square curvature term R^{2} and the quantum field Φshould be introduced in order to yield the "correct" renormalizable energy-momentum tensor in quadratic gravity theories. The subsequent interaction discards any higher-order derivative terms from the gravitational field equations, but, in the expence, it introduces a geometric source term in the wave equation for the quantum field. Unlike the conformal coupling case (RΦ^{2}), this term does not represent an additional "mass" and, therefore, the quantum field interacts with gravity not only through its mass (or energy) content (~Φ^{2}), but also, in a more generic way (R^{2}Φ). Within this context, we propose a general method to obtain mode-solutions for the quantum field, by means of the associated Green's function in an anisotropic six-dimensional background.

hep-th

Exact Inflationary Models and Consequences

New exact inflationary solutions are presented in the scalar field theory, minimally coupled to gravity, with a potential term. No use is made of the slow rollover approximation. The scale factors are completely nonsingular and the transition to the deccelerating phase is smooth. Moreover, in one of these models, asymptotically one has transition to the matter dominated Universe.

gr-qc

Strings in Kerr-Newmann Black Holes

We study the evolution of strings in the equatorial plane of a Kerr-Newmann black hole. Writting the equations of motion and the constraints resulting from Hamilton's principle, three classes of exact solutions are presented, for a closed string, encircling the black hole. They all depend on two arbitrary integration functions and two constants. A process of extracting energy is examined for the case of one of the three families of solutions. This is the analog of the Penrose process for the case of a particle.

gr-qc

String Thermalization in Static Spacetimes

We study the evolution, the transverse spreading and the subsequent thermalization of string states in the Weyl static axisymmetric spacetime. This possesses a singular event horizon on the symmetry axis and a naked singularity along the other directions. The branching diffusion process of string bits approaching the singular event horizon provides the notion of temperature that is calculated for this process. We find that the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation in the phase space of the transverse variables of the string, can be factored as a product of two thermal distributions, provided that the classical conjugate variables satisfy the uncertainty principle. We comment on the possible physical significance of this result.

hep-th

String Propagation in Bianchi Type I models: Dynamical anisotropy Damping and Consequences

A generic ansatz is introduced which provides families of exact solutions to the equations of motion and constraints for null-strings in Bianchi type I cosmological models. This is achieved irrespective of the form of the metric. Within classes of dilaton cosmologies a backreaction mapping relation is established where the null string leads to more or less anisotropic members of the family. The equations of motion and constraints for the generic model are casted in their first order form and integrated both analytically and numerically.

hep-th