arXiv subjects

S. Poedts

Publications and source records attributed to S. Poedts.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Beaming electromagnetic (or heat-flux) instabilities from the interplay with the electron temperature anisotropies

In space plasmas kinetic instabilities are driven by the beaming (drifting) components and/or the temperature anisotropy of charged particles. The heat-flux instabilities are known in the literature as electromagnetic modes destabilized by the electron beams (or strahls) aligned to the interplanetary magnetic field. A new kinetic approach is proposed here in order to provide a realistic characterization of heat-flux instabilities under the influence of electrons with temperature anisotropy. Numerical analysis is based on the kinetic Vlasov-Maxwell theory for two electron counter-streaming (core and beam) populations with temperature anisotropies, and stationary, isotropic protons. The main properties of electromagnetic heat-flux instabilities are found to be markedly changed by the temperature anisotropy of electron beam $A_b = T_\perp / T_\parallel \ne 1$, leading to stimulation of either the whistler branch if $A_b > 1$, or the firehose branch for $A_b<1$. For a high temperature anisotropy whistlers switch from heat-flux to a standard regime, when their instability is inhibited by the beam.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2018

Clarifying the solar wind heat-flux instabilities

In the solar wind electron velocity distributions reveal two counter-moving populations which may induce electromagnetic (EM) beaming instabilities known as heat flux instabilities. Depending on plasma parameters two distinct branches of whistler and firehose instabilities can be excited. These instabilities are invoked in many scenarios, but their interplay is still poorly understood. An exact numerical analysis is performed to resolve the linear Vlasov-Maxwell dispersion and characterize these two instabilities, e.g., growth rates, wave frequencies and thresholds, enabling to identify their dominance for conditions typically experienced in space plasmas. Of particular interest are the effects of suprathermal Kappa-distributed electrons which are ubiquitous in these environments. The dominance of whistler or firehose instability is highly conditioned by the beam-core relative velocity, core plasma beta and the abundance of suprathermal electrons. Derived in terms of relative drift velocity the instability thresholds show an inverse correlation with the core plasma beta for the whistler modes, and a direct correlation with the core plasma beta for the firehose instability. Suprathermal electrons reduce the effective (beaming) anisotropy inhibiting the firehose modes while the whistler instability is stimulated.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

Interferometric Observations of the Quiet Sun at 20 and 25 MHz in May 2014

Results of solar observations at 20 and 25 MHz by the UTR-2 (\textit{Ukrainian T-shaped Radio telescope of the second modification}) radio telescope in the interferometric session from 27 May to 2 June 2014 are presented. In such a case the different baselines 225, 450, and 675 m between sections of East--West and North--South arms of the radio telescope UTR-2 were used. On 29 May 2014, strong sporadic radio emission consisting of Type III, a Type II and a Type IV bursts was observed. On other days there was no solar radio activity in the decameter range. We discuss the results of observations of such the quiet Sun. Fluxes and sizes of the Sun in East--West and North--South directions were measured. The average fluxes were 1050--1100 Jy and 1480--1570 Jy at 20 and 25 MHz, respectively. Angular sizes of the quiet Sun in equatorial and polar directions were 55' and 49' at 20 MHz and 50' and 42' at 25 MHz. Brightness temperatures of radio emission were Tb = 5.1 10^5 K and Tb = 5.7 10^5 K at 20 and 25 MHz, respectively.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

On the evolution of pre-flare patterns of a 3-dimensional model of AR 11429

We apply a novel pre-flare tracking of sunspot groups towards improving the estimation of flare onset time by focusing on the evolution of the 3D magnetic field construction of AR 11429. The 3D magnetic structure is based on potential field extrapolation encompassing a vertical range from the photosphere through the chromosphere and transition region into the low corona. The basis of our proxy measure of activity prediction is the so-called weighted horizontal gradient of magnetic field (WG_M) defined between spots of opposite polarities close to the polarity inversion line of an active region. The temporal variation of the distance of the barycenter of the opposite polarities is also found to possess potentially important diagnostic information about the flare onset time estimation as function of height similar to its counterpart introduced initially in an application at the photosphere only in Korsos et al. (2015). We apply the photospheric pre-flare behavioural patterns of sunspot groups to the evolution of their associated 3D-constructed AR 11429 as function of height. We found that at a certain height in the lower solar atmosphere the onset time may be estimated much earlier than at the photosphere or at any other heights. Therefore, we present a tool and recipe that may potentially identify the optimum height for flare prognostic in the solar atmosphere allowing to improve our flare prediction capability and capacity.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

Instability constraints for the electron temperature anisotropy in the slow solar wind. Thermal core vs. suprathermal halo

This letter presents the results of an advanced parametrization of the solar wind electron temperature anisotropy and the instabilities resulting from the interplay of the (bi-)Maxwellian core and (bi-)Kappa halo populations in the slow solar wind. A large set of observational data (from the Ulysses, Helios and Cluster missions) is used to parametrize these components and establish their correlations. The instabilities are significantly stimulated in the presence of suprathermals, and the instability thresholds shape the limits of the temperature anisotropy for both the core and halo populations re-stating the incontestable role that the selfgenerated instabilities can play in constraining the electron anisotropy. These results confirm a particular implication of the suprathermal electrons which are less dense but hotter than thermal electrons.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

Dual Maxwellian-Kappa modelling of the solar wind electrons: new clues on the temperature of Kappa populations

Context. Recent studies on Kappa distribution functions invoked in space plasma applications have emphasized two alternative approaches which may assume the temperature parameter either dependent or independent of the power-index $κ$. Each of them can obtain justification in different scenarios involving Kappa-distributed plasmas, but direct evidences supporting any of these two alternatives with measurements from laboratory or natural plasmas are not available yet. Aims. This paper aims to provide more facts on this intriguing issue from direct fitting measurements of suprathermal electron populations present in the solar wind, as well as from their destabilizing effects predicted by these two alternating approaches. Methods. Two fitting models are contrasted, namely, the global Kappa and the dual Maxwellian-Kappa models, which are currently invoked in theory and observations. The destabilizing effects of suprathermal electrons are characterized on the basis of a kinetic approach which accounts for the microscopic details of the velocity distribution. Results. In order to be relevant, the model is chosen to accurately reproduce the observed distributions and this is achieved by a dual Maxwellian-Kappa distribution function. A statistical survey indicates a $κ$-dependent temperature of the suprathermal (halo) electrons for any heliocentric distance. Only for this approach the instabilities driven by the temperature anisotropy are found to be systematically stimulated by the abundance of suprathermal populations, i.e., lowering the values of $κ$-index.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Quasi-oscillatory dynamics observed in ascending phase of the flare on March 6, 2012

Context. The dynamics of the flaring loops in active region (AR) 11429 are studied. The observed dynamics consist of several evolution stages of the flaring loop system during both the ascending and descending phases of the registered M-class flare. The dynamical properties can also be classified by different types of magnetic reconnection, related plasma ejection and aperiodic flows, quasi-periodic oscillatory motions, and rapid temperature and density changes, among others. The focus of the present paper is on a specific time interval during the ascending (pre-flare) phase. Aims. The goal is to understand the quasi-periodic behavior in both space and time of the magnetic loop structures during the considered time interval. Methods.We have studied the characteristic location, motion, and periodicity properties of the flaring loops by examining space-time diagrams and intensity variation analysis along the coronal magnetic loops using AIA intensity and HMI magnetogram images (from the Solar Dynamics Observatory(SDO)). Results. We detected bright plasma blobs along the coronal loop during the ascending phase of the solar flare, the intensity variations of which clearly show quasi-periodic behavior. We also determined the periods of these oscillations. Conclusions. Two different interpretations are presented for the observed dynamics. Firstly, the oscillations are interpreted as the manifestation of non-fundamental harmonics of longitudinal standing acoustic oscillations driven by the thermodynamically nonequilibrium background (with time variable density and temperature). The second possible interpretation we provide is that the observed bright blobs could be a signature of a strongly twisted coronal loop that is kink unstable.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

Shaping the solar wind temperature anisotropy by the interplay of electron and proton instabilities

A variety of nonthermal characteristics like kinetic, e.g., temperature, anisotropies and suprathermal populations (enhancing the high energy tails of the velocity distributions) are revealed by the in-situ observations in the solar wind indicating quasistationary states of plasma particles out of thermal equilibrium. Large deviations from isotropy generate kinetic instabilities and growing fluctuating fields which should be more efficient than collisions in limiting the anisotropy (below the instability threshold) and explain the anisotropy limits reported by the observations. The present paper aims to decode the principal instabilities driven by the temperature anisotropy of electrons and protons in the solar wind, and contrast the instability thresholds with the bounds observed at 1~AU for the temperature anisotropy. The instabilities are characterized using linear kinetic theory to identify the appropriate (fastest) instability in the relaxation of temperature anisotropies $A_{e,p} = T_{e,p,\perp}/ T_{e,p,\parallel} \ne 1$. The analysis focuses on the electromagnetic instabilities driven by the anisotropic protons ($A_p \lessgtr 1$) and invokes for the first time a dynamical model to capture the interplay with the anisotropic electrons by correlating the effects of these two species of plasma particles, dominant in the solar wind.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

Long-period oscillations of active region patterns: least-squares mapping on second-order curves

Active regions (ARs) are the main sources of variety in solar dynamic events. Automated detection and identification tools need to be developed for solar features for a deeper understanding of the solar cycle. Of particular interest here are the dynamical properties of the ARs, regardless of their internal structure and sunspot distribution. We studied the oscillatory dynamics of two ARs: NOAA 11327 and NOAA 11726 using two different methods of pattern recognition. We developed a novel method of automated AR border detection and compared it to an existing method for the proof-of-concept. The first method uses least-squares fitting on the smallest ellipse enclosing the AR, while the second method applies regression on the convex hull.} After processing the data, we found that the axes and the inclination angle of the ellipse and the convex hull oscillate in time. These oscillations are interpreted as the second harmonic of the standing long-period kink oscillations (with the node at the apex) of the magnetic flux tube connecting the two main sunspots of the ARs. In both ARs we have estimated the distribution of the phase speed magnitude along the magnetic tubes (along the two main spots) by interpreting the obtained oscillation of the inclination angle as the standing second harmonic kink mode. After comparing the obtained results for fast and slow kink modes, we conclude that both of these modes are good candidates to explain the observed oscillations of the AR inclination angles, as in the high plasma $β$ regime the phase speeds of these modes are comparable and on the order of the Alfvén speed. Based on the properties of the observed oscillations, we detected the appropriate depth of the sunspot patterns, which coincides with estimations made by helioseismic methods. The latter analysis can be used as a basis for developing a magneto-seismological tool for ARs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

Effects of suprathermal electrons on the proton temperature anisotropy in space plasmas: Electromagnetic ion-cyclotron instability

In collision-poor plasmas from space, e.g., the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres, the kinetic anisotropy of the plasma particles is expected to be regulated by the kinetic instabilities. Driven by an excess of ion (proton) temperature perpendicular to the magnetic field $(~T_\perp >T_\parallel)$, the electromagnetic ion-cyclotron (EMIC) instability is fast enough to constrain the proton anisotropy, but the observations do not conform to the instability thresholds predicted by the standard theory for bi-Maxwellian models of the plasma particles. This paper presents an extended investigation of the EMIC instability in the presence of suprathermal electrons which are ubiquitous in these environments. The analysis is based on the kinetic (Vlasov-Maxwell) theory assuming that both species, protons and electrons, may be anisotropic, and the EMIC unstable solutions are derived numerically providing an accurate description for conditions typically encountered in space plasmas. The effects of suprathermal populations are triggered by the electron anisotropy and the temperature contrast between electrons and protons. For certain conditions the anisotropy thresholds exceed the limits of the proton anisotropy measured in the solar wind considerably restraining the unstable regimes of the EMIC modes.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2016

Firehose constraints for the solar wind suprathermal electrons

The indefinite increase of temperature predicted by the solar wind expansion in the direction parallel to the interplanetary magnetic field is already notorious for not being confirmed by the observations. In hot and dilute plasmas from space particle-particle collisions are not efficient in constraining large deviations from isotropy, but the resulting firehose instability provides in this case plausible limitations for the temperature anisotropy of the thermal (core) populations of both the electron and proton species. The present paper takes into discussion the suprathermal (halo) electrons, which are ubiquitous in the solar wind. Less dense but hotter than the core, suprathermals may be highly anisotropic and susceptible to the firehose instability. The main features of the instability are here derived from a first-order theory for conditions specific to the suprathermal electrons in the solar wind and terrestrial magnetospheres. Unveiled here, new regimes of the electron firehose instability may be exclusively controlled by the suprathermals. The instability is found to be systematically stimulated by the suprathermal electrons, with thresholds that approach the limits of the temperature anisotropy reported by the observations. These results represent new and valuable evidences for the implication of the firehose instability in the relaxation of the temperature anisotropy in space plasmas.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

The Electron Temperature and Anisotropy in the Solar Wind. I. Comparison of the Core and Halo Populations

Estimating the temperature of the solar wind particles and their anisotropies is particularly important for understanding the origin of these deviations from thermal equilibrium as well as their effects. In the absence of energetic events the velocity distribution of electrons reveal a dual structure with a thermal (Maxwellian) core and a suprathermal (Kappa) halo. This paper presents a detailed observational analysis of these two components, providing estimations of their temperatures and temperature anisotropies and decoding any potential interdependence that their properties may indicate. The data set used in this study includes more than 120$\,$000 the events detected by three missions in the ecliptic within an extended range of heliocentric distances from 0.3 to over 4~AU. The anti-correlation found for the core and halo temperatures is consistent with the radial evolution of the Kappa model, clarifying an apparent contradiction in previous observational analysis and providing valuable clues about the temperature of the Kappa-distributed populations. However, these two components manifest a clear tendency to deviate from isotropy in the same direction, that seems to confirm the existence of mechanisms with similar effects on both components, e.g., the solar wind expansion, or the particle heating by the fluctuations. On the other hand, the existence of plasma states with anti-correlated anisotropies of the core and halo populations suggests a dynamic interplay of these components, mediated, most probably, by the anisotropy-driven instabilities.

physics.space-ph↗

arXiv2015

Overstability of acoustic waves in strongly magnetized anisotropic MHD shear flows

We present a linear stability analysis of the perturbation modes in anisotropic MHD flows with velocity shear and strong magnetic field. Collisionless or weakly collisional plasma is described within the 16-momentum MHD fluid closure model, that takes into account not only the effect of pressure anisotropy, but also the effect of anisotropic heat fluxes. In this model the low frequency acoustic wave is revealed into a standard acoustic mode and higher frequency fast thermo-acoustic and lower frequency slow thermo-acoustic waves. It is shown that thermo-acoustic waves become unstable and grow exponentially when the heat flux parameter exceeds some critical value. It seems that velocity shear makes thermo-acoustic waves overstable even at subcritical heat flux parameters. Thus, when the effect of heat fluxes is not profound acoustic waves will grow due to the velocity shear, while at supercritical heat fluxes the flow reveals compressible thermal instability. Anisotropic thermal instability should be also important in astrophysical environments, where it will limit the maximal value of magnetic field that a low density ionized anisotropic flow can sustain.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Fine and superfine structure of Decameter-Hectometer type II burst on 2011 June 7

The characteristics of the type II bursts with herringbone structure observed both by ground based radio telescopes (UTR-2, URAN-2) and spaceborn spectrometers (STEREO A-B) are discussed. The burst was recorded on 7 June, 2011 in the frequency band 3--33~MHz. It was characterized by extremely rich fine structure. The statistical analysis of more than 300 herringbone sub-bursts constituting the burst was performed separately for the positively (reverse) and negatively (forward) drifting sub-bursts. The sense and the degree of circular polarization of the herringbone sub-bursts were measured in the respectively wide frequency band (16--32~MHz). A second order fine frequency structure of the herringbone sub-bursts was firstly observed and processed. Using STEREO COR1 (A,B) and SOHO LASCO C2 images the direction and radial speed of the CME responsible for the studied type II burst were determined. The possible location of the type II burst source on the flank of the shock was found.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Dynamics of a solar prominence tornado observed by SDO/AIA on 2012 November 7-8

We study the detailed dynamics of a solar prominence tornado using time series of 171, 304, 193 and 211 Å spectral lines obtained by Solar Dynamics Observatory/ Atmospheric Imaging Assembly during 2012 November 7-8. The tornado first appeared at 08:00 UT, November 07, near the surface, gradually rose upwards with the mean speed of $\sim$ 1.5 km s$^{-1}$ and persisted over 30 hr. Time-distance plots show two patterns of quasi-periodic transverse displacements of the tornado axis with periods of 40 and 50 minute at different phases of the tornado evolution. The first pattern occurred during the rising phase and can be explained by the upward motion of the twisted tornado. The second pattern occurred during the later stage of evolution when the tornado already stopped rising and could be caused either by MHD kink waves in the tornado or by the rotation of two tornado threads around a common axis. The later hypothesis is supported by the fact that the tornado sometimes showed a double structure during the quasi-periodic phase. 211 and 193 Å spectral lines show a coronal cavity above the prominence/tornado, which started expansion at $\sim$ 13:00 UT and continuously rose above the solar limb. The tornado finally became unstable and erupted together with the corresponding prominence as coronal mass ejection (CME) at 15:00 UT, November 08. The final stage of the evolution of the cavity and the tornado-related prominence resembles the magnetic breakout model. On the other hand, the kink instability may destabilize the twisted tornado, and consequently prominence tornadoes can be used as precursors for CMEs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Dissipation of parallel and oblique Alfvén-cyclotron waves: implications for minor ion heating in the solar wind

We perform 2.5D hybrid simulations with massless fluid electrons and kinetic particle-in-cell ions to study the temporal evolution of ion temperatures, temperature anisotropies and velocity distribution functions in relation to the dissipation and turbulent evolution of a broad-band spectrum of parallel and obliquely propagating Alfvén-cyclotron waves. The purpose of this paper is to study the relative role of parallel versus oblique Alfvén-cyclotron waves in the observed heating and acceleration of minor ions in the fast solar wind. We consider collisionless homogeneous multi-species plasma, consisting of isothermal electrons, isotropic protons and a minor component of drifting $α$ particles in a finite-$β$ fast stream near the Earth. The kinetic ions are modeled by initially isotropic Maxwellian velocity distribution functions, which develop non-thermal features and temperature anisotropies when a broad-band spectrum of low-frequency non-resonant, $ω\leq 0.34 Ω_p$, Alfvén-cyclotron waves is imposed at the beginning of the simulations. The initial plasma parameter values, such as ion density, temperatures and relative drift speeds, are supplied by fast solar wind observations made by the \textit{Wind} spacecraft at 1AU. The imposed broad-band wave spectra is left-hand polarized and resembles \textit{Wind} measurements of Alfvénic turbulence in the solar wind. The imposed magnetic field fluctuations for all cases are within the inertial range of the solar wind turbulence and have a Kraichnan-type spectral slope $α=-3/2$. We vary the propagation angle from $θ= 0^\circ$ to $θ=30^\circ$ and $θ=60^\circ$, and find that the minor ion heating is most efficient for the highly-oblique waves propagating at $60^\circ$, whereas the protons exhibit perpendicular cooling at all propagation angles.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Electrostatic ion perturbations in kinematically complex shear flows

The scope of the present paper is to determine how ion electrostatic wave perturbations in plasma flows are influenced by the presence of a kinematically complex velocity shear. For this purpose we consider a model based on the following set of physical equations: the equation of motion, the continuity equation and the Poisson equation for the electric potential governing the evolution of the system. After linearizing the equations, we solve them numerically. We find out that for a variety of specific values of parameters the system may exhibit quite interesting dynamic behaviour. In particular, we demonstrate that the system exhibits two different kinds of shear flow instabilities: (a)~when the wave vectors evolve exponentially, the ion sound modes become unstable as well; while, (b)~on the other hand, one can find areas in a parametric space where, when the wave vectors vary periodically, the physical system is subject to a strongly pronounced parametric instability. We also show the possibility of the generation of beat wave phenomena, characterized by a noteworthy quasi-periodic temporal behaviour. In the conclusion, we discuss the possible areas of applications and further directions of generalization of the presented work.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

Formation and evolution of coronal rain observed by SDO/AIA on February 22, 2012

The formation and dynamics of coronal rain are currently not fully understood. Coronal rain is the fall of cool and dense blobs formed by thermal instability in the solar corona towards the solar surface with acceleration smaller than gravitational free fall. We aim to study the observational evidence of the formation of coronal rain and to trace the detailed dynamics of individual blobs. We used time series of the 171 Å\, and 304 Å\, spectral lines obtained by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) above active region AR 11420 on February 22, 2012. Observations show that a coronal loop disappeared in the 171 Å channel and appeared in the 304 Å line$\text{}\text{}$ more than one hour later, which indicates a rapid cooling of the coronal loop from 1 MK to 0.05 MK. An energy estimation shows that the radiation is higher than the heat input, which indicates so-called catastrophic cooling. The cooling was accompanied by the formation of coronal rain in the form of falling cold plasma. We studied two different sequences of falling blobs. The first sequence includes three different blobs. The mean velocities of the blobs were estimated to be 50 km s$^{-1}$, 60 km s$^{-1}$ and 40 km s$^{-1}$. A polynomial fit shows the different values of the acceleration for different blobs, which are lower than free-fall in the solar corona. The first and second blob move along the same path, but with and without acceleration, respectively. We performed simple numerical simulations for two consecutive blobs, which show that the second blob moves in a medium that is modified by the passage of the first blob. Therefore, the second blob has a relatively high speed and no acceleration, as is shown by observations. The second sequence includes two different blobs with mean velocities of 100 km s$^{-1}$ and 90 km s$^{-1}$, respectively.

astro-ph.SR↗