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Philip J. Morrison

Publications and source records attributed to Philip J. Morrison.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2017

Rattleback: a model of how geometric singularity induces dynamic chirality

The rattleback is a boat-shaped top with an asymmetric preference in spin. Its dynamics can be described by nonlinearly coupled pitching, rolling, and spinning modes. The chirality, designed into the body as a skewed mass distribution, manifests itself in the quicker transition of $+$spin $\rightarrow$ pitch $\rightarrow$ $-$spin than that of $-$spin $\rightarrow$ roll $\rightarrow$ $+$spin. The curious guiding idea of this work is that we can formulate the dynamics as if a symmetric body were moving in a chiral space. By elucidating the duality of matter and space in the Hamiltonian formalism, we attribute asymmetry to space. The rattleback is shown to live in the space dictated by the Bianchi type ${\rm VI}_{h < -1}$ (belonging to class B) algebra; this particular algebra is used here for the first time in a mechanical example. The class B algebra has a singularity that separates the space (Poisson manifold) into mirror-asymmetric subspaces, breaking the time-reversal symmetry of nearby orbits.

math-ph↗
arXiv2017

GEMPIC: Geometric ElectroMagnetic Particle-In-Cell Methods

We present a novel framework for Finite Element Particle-in-Cell methods based on the discretization of the underlying Hamiltonian structure of the Vlasov-Maxwell system. We derive a semi-discrete Poisson bracket, which retains the defining properties of a bracket, anti-symmetry and the Jacobi identity, as well as conservation of its Casimir invariants, implying that the semi-discrete system is still a Hamiltonian system. In order to obtain a fully discrete Poisson integrator, the semi-discrete bracket is used in conjunction with Hamiltonian splitting methods for integration in time. Techniques from Finite Element Exterior Calculus ensure conservation of the divergence of the magnetic field and Gauss' law as well as stability of the field solver. The resulting methods are gauge invariant, feature exact charge conservation and show excellent long-time energy and momentum behaviour. Due to the generality of our framework, these conservation properties are guaranteed independently of a particular choice of the Finite Element basis, as long as the corresponding Finite Element spaces satisfy certain compatibility conditions.

math.NA↗
arXiv2017

Metriplectic formalism: friction and much more

The metriplectic formalism couples Poisson brackets of the Hamiltonian description with metric brackets for describing systems with both Hamiltonian and dissipative components. The construction builds in asymptotic convergence to a preselected equilibrium state. Phenomena such as friction, electric resistivity, thermal conductivity and collisions in kinetic theories are well represented in this framework. In this paper we present an application of the metriplectic formalism of interest for the theory of control: a suitable torque is applied to a free rigid body, which is expressed through a metriplectic extension of its "natural" Poisson algebra. On practical grounds, the effect is to drive the body to align its angular velocity to rotation about a stable principal axis of inertia, while conserving its kinetic energy in the process. On theoretical grounds, this example shows how the non-Hamiltonian part of a metriplectic system may include convergence to a limit cycle, the first example of a non-zero dimensional attractor in this formalism. The method suggests a way to extend metriplectic dynamics to systems with general attractors, e.g. chaotic ones, with the hope of representing bio-physical, geophysical and ecological models.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2017

Action Principles for Relativistic Extended Magnetohydrodynamics: A Unified Theory of Magnetofluid Models

Two types of Eulerian action principles for relativistic extended magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are formulated. With the first, the action is extremized under the constraints of density, entropy, and Lagrangian label conservation, which leads to a Clebsch representation for a generalized momentum and a generalized vector potential. The second action arises upon transformation to physical field variables, giving rise to a covariant bracket action principle, i.e., a variational principle in which constrained variations are generated by a degenerate Poisson bracket. Upon taking appropriate limits, the action principles lead to relativistic Hall MHD and well-known relativistic ideal MHD. For the first time, the Hamiltonian formulation of relativistic Hall MHD with electron thermal inertia (akin to [Comisso \textit{et al.}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 113}, 045001 (2014)] for the electron--positron plasma) is introduced. This thermal inertia effect allows for violation of the frozen-in magnetic flux condition in marked contrast to nonrelativistic Hall MHD that does satisfy the frozen-in condition. We also find violation of the frozen-in condition is accompanied by freezing-in of an alternative flux determined by a generalized vector potential. Finally, we derive a more general 3+1 Poisson bracket for nonrelativistic extended MHD, one that does not assume smallness of the electron ion mass ratio.

physics.plasm-ph↗
arXiv2017

On the structure and statistical theory of turbulence of extended magnetohydrodynamics

Recent progress regarding the noncanonical Hamiltonian formulation of extended magnetohydrodynamics (XMHD), a model with Hall drift and electron inertia, is summarized. The advantages of the Hamiltonian approach are invoked to study some general properties of XMHD turbulence, and to compare them against their ideal MHD counterparts. For instance, the helicity flux transfer rates for XMHD are computed, and Liouville's theorem for this model is also verified. The latter is used, in conjunction with the absolute equilibrium states, to arrive at the spectra for the invariants, and to determine the direction of the cascades, e.g., generalizations of the well-known ideal MHD inverse cascade of magnetic helicity. After a similar analysis is conducted for XMHD by inspecting second order structure functions and absolute equilibrium states, a couple of interesting results emerge. When cross helicity is taken to be ignorable, the inverse cascade of injected magnetic helicity also occurs in the Hall MHD range - this is shown to be consistent with previous results in the literature. In contrast, in the inertial MHD range, viz. at scales smaller than the electron skin depth, all spectral quantities are expected to undergo direct cascading. The consequences and relevance of our results in space and astrophysical plasmas are also briefly discussed.

physics.plasm-ph↗
arXiv2016

Beatification: Flattening the Poisson Bracket for Two-Dimensional Fluid and Plasma Theories

A perturbative method called beatification is presented for a class of two-dimensional fluid and plasma theories. The Hamiltonian systems considered, namely the Euler, Vlasov-Poisson, Hasegawa-Mima, and modified Hasegawa-Mima equations, are naturally described in terms of noncanonical variables. The beatification procedure amounts to finding the correct transformation that removes the explicit variable dependence from a noncanonical Poisson bracket and replaces it with a fixed dependence on a chosen state in phase space. As such, beatification is a major step toward casting the Hamiltonian system in its canonical form, thus enabling or facilitating the use of analytical and numerical techniques that require or favor a representation in terms of canonical, or beatified, Hamiltonian variables.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2016

Explicit high-order noncanonical symplectic algorithms for ideal two-fluid systems

An explicit high-order noncanonical symplectic algorithm for ideal two-fluid systems is developed. The fluid is discretized as particles in the Lagrangian description, while the electromagnetic fields and internal energy are treated as discrete differential form fields on a fixed mesh. With the assistance of Whitney interpolating forms, this scheme preserves the gauge symmetry of the electromagnetic field, and the pressure field is naturally derived from the discrete internal energy. The whole system is solved using the Hamiltonian splitting method discovered by He et al., which was been successfully adopted in constructing symplectic particle-in-cell schemes. Because of its structure preserving and explicit nature, this algorithm is especially suitable for large-scale simulations for physics problems that are multi-scale and require long-term fidelity and accuracy. The algorithm is verified via two tests: studies of the dispersion relation of waves in a two-fluid plasma system and the oscillating two-stream instability.

physics.plasm-ph↗
arXiv2016

Concomitant Hamiltonian and topological structures of extended magnetohydrodynamics

The paper describes the unique geometric properties of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), and demonstrates how such features are inherited by extended MHD, viz. models that incorporate two-fluid effects (the Hall term and electron inertia). The generalized helicities, and other geometric expressions for these models are presented in a topological context, emphasizing their universal facets. Some of the results presented include: the generalized Kelvin circulation theorems; the existence of two Lie-dragged 2-forms; and two concomitant helicities that can be studied via the Jones polynomial, which is widely utilized in Chern-Simons theory. The ensuing commonality is traced to the existence of an underlying Hamiltonian structure for all the extended MHD models, exemplified by the presence of a unique noncanonical Poisson bracket, and its associated energy.

physics.plasm-ph↗
arXiv2016

Epi-two-dimensional flow and generalized enstrophy

The conservation of the enstrophy ($L^2$ norm of the vorticity $ω$) plays an essential role in the physics and mathematics of two-dimensional (2D) Euler fluids. Generalizing to compressible ideal (inviscid and barotropic) fluids, the generalized enstrophy $\int_{Σ(t)} f(ω/ρ)ρ\, d^2 x$, ($f$ an arbitrary smooth function, $ρ$ the density, and $Σ(t)$ an arbitrary 2D domain co-moving with the fluid) is a constant of motion, and plays the same role. On the other hand, for the three-dimensional (3D) ideal fluid, the helicity $\int_{M} {V}\cdotω\,d^3x$, ($V$ the flow velocity, $ω=\nabla\times V$, and ${M}$ the three-dimensional domain containing the fluid) is conserved. Evidently, the helicity degenerates in a 2D system, and the (generalized) enstrophy emerges as a compensating constant. This transition of the constants of motion is a reflection of an essential difference between 2D and 3D systems, because the conservation of the (generalized) enstrophy imposes stronger constraints, than the helicity, on the flow. In this paper, we make a deeper inquiry into the helicity-enstrophy interplay: the ideal fluid mechanics is cast into a Hamiltonian form in the phase space of Clebsch parameters, generalizing 2D to a wider category of epi-2D flows (2D embedded in 3D has zero helicity, while the converse is not true -- our epi-2D category encompasses a wider class of zero-helicity flows); how helicity degenerates and is substituted by a new constant is delineated; and how a further generalized enstrophy is introduced as a constant of motion applying to epi-2D flow is described.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2016

Stability Boundaries and Sufficient Stability Conditions for Stably Stratified, Monotonic Shear Flows

Linear stability of inviscid, parallel, and stably stratified shear flow is studied under the assumption of smooth strictly monotonic profiles of shear flow and density, so that the local Richardson number is positive everywhere. The marginally unstable modes are systematically found by solving a one-parameter family of regular Sturm-Liouville problems, which can determine the stability boundaries more efficiently than solving the Taylor-Goldstein equation directly. By arguing for the non-existence of a marginally unstable mode, we derive new sufficient conditions for stability, which generalize the Rayleigh-Fjørtoft criterion for unstratified shear flows.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2016

A method for Hamiltonian truncation: A four-wave example

A method for extracting finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems from a class of 2+1 Hamiltonian mean field theories is presented. These theories possess noncanonical Poisson brackets, which normally resist Hamiltonian truncation, but a process of beatification by coordinate transformation near a reference state is described in order to perturbatively overcome this difficulty. Two examples of four-wave truncation of Euler's equation for scalar vortex dynamics are given and compared: one a direct non-Hamiltonian truncation of the equations of motion, the other obtained by beatifying the Poisson bracket and then truncating.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2016

Internal wave pressure, velocity, and energy flux from density perturbations

Determination of energy transport is crucial for understanding the energy budget and fluid circulation in density varying fluids such as the ocean and the atmosphere. However, it is rarely possible to determine the energy flux field $\mathbf{J} = p \mathbf{u}$, which requires simultaneous measurements of the pressure and velocity perturbation fields, $p$ and $\mathbf{u}$. We present a method for obtaining the instantaneous $\mathbf{J}(x,z,t)$ from density perturbations alone: a Green's function-based calculation yields $p$, and $\mathbf{u}$ is obtained by integrating the continuity equation and the incompressibility condition. We validate our method with results from Navier-Stokes simulations: the Green's function method is applied to the density perturbation field from the simulations, and the result for $\mathbf{J}$ is found to agree typically to within $1\%$ with $\mathbf{J}$ computed directly using $p$ and $ \mathbf{u}$ from the Navier-Stokes simulation. We also apply the Green's function method to density perturbation data from laboratory schlieren measurements of internal waves in a stratified fluid, and the result for $\mathbf{J}$ agrees to within $6\%$ with results from Navier-Stokes simulations. Our method for determining the instantaneous velocity, pressure, and energy flux fields applies to any system described by a linear approximation of the density perturbation field, e.g., to small amplitude lee waves and propagating vertical modes. The method can be applied using our Matlab graphical user interface EnergyFlux.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2015

Explosive magnetic reconnection caused by an X-shaped current-vortex layer in a collisionless plasma

A mechanism for explosive magnetic reconnection is investigated by analyzing the nonlinear evolution of a collisionless tearing mode in a two-fluid model that includes the effects of electron inertia and temperature. These effects cooperatively enable a fast reconnection by forming an X-shaped current-vortex layer centered at the reconnection point. A high-resolution simulation of this model for an unprecedentedly small electron skin depth $d_e$ and ion-sound gyroradius $ρ_s$, satisfying $d_e=ρ_s$, shows an explosive tendency for nonlinear growth of the tearing mode, where it is newly found that the explosive widening of the X-shaped layer occurs locally around the reconnection point with the length of the X shape being shorter than the domain length and the wavelength of the linear tearing mode. The reason for the onset of this locally enhanced reconnection is explained theoretically by developing a novel nonlinear and nonequilibrium inner solution that models the local X-shaped layer, and then matching it to an outer solution that is approximated by a linear tearing eigenmode with a shorter wavelength than the domain length. This theoretical model proves that the local reconnection can release the magnetic energy more efficiently than the global one and the estimated scaling of the explosive growth rate agrees well with the simulation results.

physics.plasm-ph↗
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↗
arXiv2014

Variational Necessary and Sufficient Stability Conditions for Inviscid Shear Flow

A necessary and sufficient condition for linear stability of inviscid parallel shear flow is formulated by developing a novel variational principle, where the velocity profile is assumed to be monotonic and analytic. It is shown that unstable eigenvalues of Rayleigh's equation (which is a non-selfadjoint eigenvalue problem) can be associated with positive eigenvalues of a certain selfadjoint operator. The stability is therefore determined by maximizing a quadratic form, which is theoretically and numerically more tractable than directly solving Rayleigh's equation. This variational stability criterion is based on the understandings of Krein signature for continuous spectrum and is applicable to other stability problems of infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems.

physics.flu-dyn↗
arXiv2013

Discontinuous Galerkin Methods for the Vlasov-Maxwell Equations

Discontinuous Galerkin methods are developed for solving the Vlasov-Maxwell system, methods that are designed to be systematically as accurate as one wants with provable conservation of mass and possibly total energy. Such properties in general are hard to achieve within other numerical method frameworks for simulating the Vlasov-Maxwell system. The proposed scheme employs discontinuous Galerkin discretizations for both the Vlasov and the Maxwell equations, resulting in a consistent description of the distribution function and electromagnetic fields. It is proven, up to some boundary effects, that charge is conserved and the total energy can be preserved with suitable choices of the numerical flux for the Maxwell equations and the underlying approximation spaces. Error estimates are established for several flux choices. The scheme is tested on the streaming Weibel instability: the order of accuracy and conservation properties of the proposed method are verified.

math.NA↗