Plasma Physics
This paper contains the foundation for a new Particle-In-Cell model for gas discharges, based on Ito diffusion and Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC). In the new model the electrons are described with a microscopic drift-diffusion model rather than…
High-power magnetically shielded Hall thrusters have recently emerged to meet the needs of the next-generation space missions. Even though a few such thrusters are currently undergoing their late-stage development campaigns, many unanswered…
3D kinetic-scale turbulence is studied numerically in the regime where electrons are strongly magnetized (the ratio of plasma species pressure to magnetic pressure is $\beta_e=0.1$ for electrons and $\beta_i=1$ for ions). Such a regime is…
Context. Spacecraft measurements have shown Kinetic Alfv\'en Waves propagating in the terrestrial magnetosphere at lower wavenormal angles than predicted by linear Vlasov theory of electron-proton plasmas. To explain these observations, it…
We present a novel method for solving the linearized Vlasov--Poisson equation, based on analyticity properties of the equilibrium and initial condition through Cauchy-type integrals, that produces algebraic expressions for the distribution…
The non-local heat transport of hot electrons during high-intensity lasers interaction with plasmas can preheat the fuel and limit the heat flow in inertial confinement fusion. It increases the entropy of the fuel and decreases the final…
The effect of triangularity on tokamak boundary plasma turbulence is investigated by using global, flux-driven, three-dimensional, two-fluid simulations. The simulations show that negative triangularity stabilizes boundary plasma…
Dynamos wherein magnetic field is produced from velocity fluctuations are fundamental to our understanding of several astrophysical and/or laboratory phenomena. Though fluid helicity is known to play a key role in the onset of dynamo…
Tokamak edge (scrape-off layer) plasmas can exhibit non-local transport in the direction parallel to the magnetic field due to steep temperature gradients. This effect along with its consequences has been explored at equilibrium for a range…
The resonant external field-assisted Breit-Wheeler process (Oleinik resonances) for strong electromagnetic fields with intensities less than the critical Schwinger field has been theoretically studied. The resonant kinematics has been…
Cylindrical vector (CV) beams, whose polarizations are cylindrically symmetric, have recently been widely applied in high energy density physics such as electron acceleration and intense spatiotemporal optical vortices generation.…
While the underlying physics of the ICF approach to nuclear fusion is well understood and a technological implementation of the indirect drive variant of the ICF paradigm has recently been given at NIF commercially viable ICF concepts for…
Warm dense matter (WDM) is now routinely created and probed in laboratories around the world, providing unprecedented insights into conditions achieved in stellar atmospheres, planetary interiors, and inertial confinement fusion…
The ESTHER shock tube is a new state-of-the-art facility at Instituto Superior T\'ecnico designed to support future ESA planetary exploration missions. Its driver is a high-pressure combustion chamber using a mixture of He:H2:O2 ignited by…
Efforts are underway to magnetically confine electron--positron pair plasmas to study their unique behavior, which is characterized by significant changes in plasma time and length scales, supported waves, and unstable modes. However, use…
We study the energy efficiency of species production by streamer discharges with a single voltage pulse in atmospheric dry air, using a 2D axisymmetric fluid model. Sixty different positive streamers are simulated by varying the electrode…
Nonlinear simulations of Alfv\'en modes (AM) driven by energetic particles (EP) in the presence of turbulence are performed with the gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code ORB5. The AMs carry a heat flux, and consequently they nonlinearly modify…
Neutral particles in the plasma edge of fusion devices based on magnetic confinement are described by a transient kinetic equation incorporating ionization, recombination, and charge-exchange collisions. In charge-exchange dominated…
Nonlinear wave-wave coupling constitutes an important route for the turbulence spectrum evolution in both space and laboratory plasmas. For example, in a reactor relevant fusion plasma, a rich spectrum of symmetry breaking shear Alfv\'en…
Using electron drift wave (eDW) as a paradigm model, we have investigated analytically direct wave-wave interactions between a test DW and ambient toroidal Alfv\'en eigenmodes (TAE) in toroidal plasmas, and their effects on the stability of…