arXiv subjects

Cesare Tronci

Publications and source records attributed to Cesare Tronci.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

Energy-Casimir stability of hybrid Vlasov-MHD models

Different variants of hybrid kinetic-fluid models are considered for describing the interaction of a bulk fluid plasma obeying MHD and an energetic component obeying a kinetic theory. Upon using the Vlasov kinetic theory for energetic particles, two planar Vlasov-MHD models are compared in terms of their stability properties. This is made possible by the Hamiltonian structures underlying the considered hybrid systems, whose infinite number of invariants makes the energy-Casimir method effective for determining stability. Equilibrium equations for the models are obtained from a variational principle and in particular a generalized hybrid Grad-Shafranov equation follows for one of the considered models. The stability conditions are then derived and discussed with particular emphasis on kinetic particle effects on classical MHD stability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2014

Hybrid Vlasov-MHD models: Hamiltonian vs. non-Hamiltonian

This paper investigates hybrid kinetic-MHD models, where a hot plasma (governed by a kinetic theory) interacts with a fluid bulk (governed by MHD). Different nonlinear coupling schemes are reviewed, including the pressure-coupling scheme (PCS) used in modern hybrid simulations. This latter scheme suffers from being non-Hamiltonian and to not exactly conserve total energy. Upon adopting the Vlasov description for the hot component, the non-Hamiltonian PCS and a Hamiltonian variant are compared. Special emphasis is given to the linear stability of Alfvén waves, for which it is shown that a spurious instability appears at high frequency in the non-Hamiltonian version. This instability is removed in the Hamiltonian version.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2013

Equivalent theories of liquid crystal dynamics

There are two competing descriptions of nematic liquid crystal dynamics: the Ericksen-Leslie director theory and the Eringen micropolar approach. Up to this day, these two descriptions have remained distinct in spite of several attempts to show that the micropolar theory comprises the director theory. In this paper we show that this is the case by using symmetry reduction techniques and introducing a new system that is equivalent to the Ericksen-Leslie equations and includes disclination dynamics. The resulting equations of motion are verified to be completely equivalent, although one of the two different reductions offers the possibility of accounting for orientational defects. After applying these two approaches to the ordered micropolar theory of Lhuiller and Rey, all the results are eventually extended to flowing complex fluids, such as nematic liquid crystals.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2013

Energy stability analysis for a hybrid fluid-kinetic plasma model

In plasma physics, a hybrid fluid-kinetic model is composed of a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) part that describes a bulk fluid component and a Vlasov kinetic theory part that describes an energetic plasma component. While most hybrid models in the plasma literature are non-Hamiltonian, this paper investigates a recent Hamiltonian variant in its two-dimensional configuration. The corresponding Hamiltonian structure is described along with its Casimir invariants. Then, the energy-Casimir method is used to derive explicit sufficient stability conditions, which imply a stable spectrum and suggest nonlinear stability.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

A Lagrangian kinetic model for collisionless magnetic reconnection

A new fully kinetic system is proposed for modeling collisionless magnetic reconnection. The formulation relies on fundamental principles in Lagrangian dynamics, in which the inertia of the electron mean flow is neglected in the expression of the Lagrangian, rather then enforcing a zero electron mass in the equations of motion. This is done upon splitting the electron velocity into its mean and fluctuating parts, so that the latter naturally produce the corresponding pressure tensor. The model exhibits a new Coriolis force term, which emerges from a change of frame in the electron dynamics. Then, if the electron heat flux is neglected, the strong electron magnetization limit yields a hybrid model, in which the electron pressure tensor is frozen into the electron mean velocity.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

Collisionless kinetic theory of rolling molecules

We derive a collisionless kinetic theory for an ensemble of molecules undergoing nonholonomic rolling dynamics. We demonstrate that the existence of nonholonomic constraints leads to problems in generalizing the standard methods of statistical physics. In particular, we show that even though the energy of the system is conserved, and the system is closed in the thermodynamic sense, some fundamental features of statistical physics such as invariant measure do not hold for such nonholonomic systems. Nevertheless, we are able to construct a consistent kinetic theory using Hamilton's variational principle in Lagrangian variables, by regarding the kinetic solution as being concentrated on the constraint distribution. A cold fluid closure for the kinetic system is also presented, along with a particular class of exact solutions of the kinetic equations.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2012

Multiscale Turbulence Models Based on Convected Fluid Microstructure

The Euler-Poincaré approach to complex fluids is used to derive multiscale equations for computationally modelling Euler flows as a basis for modelling turbulence. The model is based on a \emph{kinematic sweeping ansatz} (KSA) which assumes that the mean fluid flow serves as a Lagrangian frame of motion for the fluctuation dynamics. Thus, we regard the motion of a fluid parcel on the computationally resolvable length scales as a moving Lagrange coordinate for the fluctuating (zero-mean) motion of fluid parcels at the unresolved scales. Even in the simplest 2-scale version on which we concentrate here, the contributions of the fluctuating motion under the KSA to the mean motion yields a system of equations that extends known results and appears to be suitable for modelling nonlinear backscatter (energy transfer from smaller to larger scales) in turbulence using multiscale methods.

physics.flu-dyn↗

arXiv2012

Euler-Poincaré approaches to nematodynamics

Nematodynamics is the orientation dynamics of flowless liquid-crystals. We show how Euler-Poincaré reduction produces a unifying framework for various theories, including Ericksen-Leslie, Luhiller-Rey, and Eringen's micropolar theory. In particular, we show that these theories are all compatible with each other and some of them allow for more general configurations involving a non vanishing discination density. All results are also extended to flowing liquid crystals.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2011

Geometric dynamics on the automorphism group of principal bundles: geodesic flows, dual pairs and chromomorphism groups

We formulate Euler-Poincaré equations on the Lie group Aut(P) of automorphisms of a principal bundle P. The corresponding flows are referred to as EPAut flows. We mainly focus on geodesic flows associated to Lagrangians of Kaluza-Klein type. In the special case of a trivial bundle P, we identify geodesics on certain infinite-dimensional semidirect-product Lie groups that emerge naturally from the construction. This approach leads naturally to a dual pair structure containing δ-like momentum map solutions that extend previous results on geodesic flows on the diffeomorphism group (EPDiff). In the second part, we consider incompressible flows on the Lie group of volume-preserving automorphisms of a principal bundle. In this context, the dual pair construction requires the definition of chromomorphism groups, i.e. suitable Lie group extensions generalizing the quantomorphism group.

math.SG↗

arXiv2011

Hybrid models for complex fluids with multipolar interactions

Multipolar order in complex fluids is described by statistical correlations. This paper presents a novel dynamical approach, which accounts for microscopic effects on the order parameter space. Indeed, the order parameter field is replaced by a statistical distribution function that is carried by the fluid flow. Inspired by Doi's model of colloidal suspensions, the present theory is derived from a hybrid moment closure for Yang-Mills Vlasov plasmas. This hybrid formulation is constructed under the assumption that inertial effects dominate over dissipative phenomena, so that the total energy is conserved. After presenting the basic geometric properties of the theory, the effect of Yang-Mills fields is considered and a direct application is presented to magnetized fluids with quadrupolar order (spin nematic phases). Hybrid models are also formulated for complex fluids with symmetry breaking. For the special case of liquid crystals, the moment method can be applied to the hybrid formulation to study to the dynamics of cubatic phases.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2011

Euler-Poincaré formulation of hybrid plasma models

Three different hybrid Vlasov-fluid systems are derived by applying reduction by symmetry to Hamilton's variational principle. In particular, the discussion focuses on the Euler-Poincaré formulation of three major hybrid MHD models, which are compared in the same framework. These are the current-coupling scheme and two different variants of the pressure-coupling scheme. The Kelvin-Noether theorem is presented explicitly for each scheme, together with the Poincaré invariants for its hot particle trajectories. Extensions of Ertel's relation for the potential vorticity and for its gradient are also found in each case, as well as new expressions of cross helicity invariants.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2011

Vlasov moment flows and geodesics on the Jacobi group

By using the moment algebra of the Vlasov kinetic equation, we characterize the integrable Bloch-Iserles system on symmetric matrices (arXiv:math-ph/0512093) as a geodesic flow on the Jacobi group. We analyze the corresponding Lie-Poisson structure by presenting a momentum map, which both untangles the bracket structure and produces particle-type solutions that are inherited from the Vlasov-like interpretation. Moreover, we show how the Vlasov moments associated to Bloch-Iserles dynamics correspond to particular subgroup inclusions into a group central extension (first discovered in arXiv:math/0410100), which in turn underlies Vlasov kinetic theory. In the most general case of Bloch-Iserles dynamics, a generalization of the Jacobi group also emerges naturally.

nlin.SI↗

arXiv2010

The helicity and vorticity of liquid crystal flows

We present explicit expressions of the helicity conservation in nematic liquid crystal flows, for both the Ericksen-Leslie and Landau-de Gennes theories. This is done by using a minimal coupling argument that leads to an Euler-like equation for a modified vorticity involving both velocity and structure fields (e.g. director and alignment tensor). This equation for the modified vorticity shares many relevant properties with ideal fluid dynamics and it allows for vortex filament configurations as well as point vortices in 2D. We extend all these results to particles of arbitrary shape by considering systems with fully broken rotational symmetry.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2010

Reduction theory for symmetry breaking with applications to nematic systems

We formulate Euler-Poincaré and Lagrange-Poincaré equations for systems with broken symmetry. We specialize the general theory to present explicit equations of motion for nematic systems, ranging from single nematic molecules to biaxial liquid crystals. The geometric construction applies to order parameter spaces consisting of either unsigned unit vectors (directors) or symmetric matrices (alignment tensors). On the Hamiltonian side, we provide the corresponding Poisson brackets in both Lie-Poisson and Hamilton-Poincaré formulations. The explicit form of the helicity invariant for uniaxial nematics is also presented, together with a whole class of invariant quantities (Casimirs) for two dimensional incompressible flows.

nlin.CD↗

arXiv2010

Hamiltonian approach to hybrid plasma models

The Hamiltonian structures of several hybrid kinetic-fluid models are identified explicitly, upon considering collisionless Vlasov dynamics for the hot particles interacting with a bulk fluid. After presenting different pressure-coupling schemes for an ordinary fluid interacting with a hot gas, the paper extends the treatment to account for a fluid plasma interacting with an energetic ion species. Both current-coupling and pressure-coupling MHD schemes are treated extensively. In particular, pressure-coupling schemes are shown to require a transport-like term in the Vlasov kinetic equation, in order for the Hamiltonian structure to be preserved. The last part of the paper is devoted to studying the more general case of an energetic ion species interacting with a neutralizing electron background (hybrid Hall-MHD). Circulation laws and Casimir functionals are presented explicitly in each case.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2010

Double bracket dissipation in kinetic theory for particles with anisotropic interactions

We derive equations of motion for the dynamics of anisotropic particles directly from the dissipative Vlasov kinetic equations, with the dissipation given by the double bracket approach (Double Bracket Vlasov, or DBV). The moments of the DBV equation lead to a nonlocal form of Darcy's law for the mass density. Next, kinetic equations for particles with anisotropic interaction are considered and also cast into the DBV form. The moment dynamics for these double bracket kinetic equations is expressed as Lie-Darcy continuum equations for densities of mass and orientation. We also show how to obtain a Smoluchowski model from a cold plasma-like moment closure of DBV. Thus, the double bracket kinetic framework serves as a unifying method for deriving different types of dynamics, from density--orientation to Smoluchowski equations. Extensions for more general physical systems are also discussed.

nlin.AO↗

arXiv2009

The geodesic Vlasov equation and its integrable moment closures

Various integrable geodesic flows on Lie groups are shown to arise by taking moments of a geodesic Vlasov equation on the group of canonical transformations. This was already known for both the one- and two-component Camassa-Holm systems. The present paper extends our earlier work to recover another integrable system of ODE's that was recently introduced by Bloch and Iserles. Solutions of the Bloch-Iserles system are found to arise from the Klimontovich solution of the geodesic Vlasov equation. These solutions are shown to form one of the legs of a dual pair of momentum maps. The Lie-Poisson structures for the dynamics of truncated moment hierarchies are also presented in this context.

nlin.SI↗

arXiv2008

Geodesic flows on semidirect-product Lie groups: geometry of singular measure-valued solutions

The EPDiff equation (or dispersionless Camassa-Holm equation in 1D) is a well known example of geodesic motion on the Diff group of smooth invertible maps (diffeomorphisms). Its recent two-component extension governs geodesic motion on the semidirect product ${\rm Diff}\circledS{\cal F}$, where $\mathcal{F}$ denotes the space of scalar functions. This paper generalizes the second construction to consider geodesic motion on ${\rm Diff} \circledS\mathfrak{g}$, where $\mathfrak{g}$ denotes the space of scalar functions that take values on a certain Lie algebra (for example, $\mathfrak{g}=\mathcal{F}\otimes\mathfrak{so}(3)$). Measure-valued delta-like solutions are shown to be momentum maps possessing a dual pair structure, thereby extending previous results for the EPDiff equation. The collective Hamiltonians are shown to fit into the Kaluza-Klein theory of particles in a Yang-Mills field and these formulations are shown to apply also at the continuum PDE level. In the continuum description, the Kaluza-Klein approach produces the Kelvin circulation theorem.

nlin.SI↗