| 1. |
- Markidis, Markidis, et al.
(författare)
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Signatures of secondary collisionless magnetic reconnection driven by kink instability of a flux rope
- 2014
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Ingår i: Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0741-3335 .- 1361-6587. ; 56:6, s. 064010-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The kinetic features of secondary magnetic reconnection in a single flux rope undergoing internal kink instability are studied by means of three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Several signatures of secondary magnetic reconnection are identified in the plane perpendicular to the flux rope: a quadrupolar electron and ion density structure and a bipolar Hall magnetic field develop in proximity of the reconnection region. The most intense electric fields form perpendicularly to the local magnetic field, and a reconnection electric field is identified in the plane perpendicular to the flux rope. An electron current develops along the reconnection line, in the opposite direction of the electron current supporting the flux rope magnetic field structure. Along the reconnection line, several bipolar structures of the electric field parallel to the magnetic field occur, making the magnetic reconnection region turbulent. The reported signatures of secondary magnetic reconnection can help to localize magnetic reconnection events in space, astrophysical and fusion plasmas.
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| 2. |
- Beck, A., et al.
(författare)
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Multi-level multi-domain algorithm implementation for two-dimensional multiscale particle in cell simulations
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Computational Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9991 .- 1090-2716. ; 271, s. 430-443
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are a number of modeling challenges posed by space weather simulations. Most of them arise from the multiscale and multiphysics aspects of the problem. The multiple scales dramatically increase the requirements, in terms of computational resources, because of the need of performing large scale simulations with the proper small-scales resolution. Lately, several suggestions have been made to overcome this difficulty by using various refinement methods which consist in splitting the domain into regions of different resolutions separated by well defined interfaces. The multiphysics issues are generally treated in a similar way: interfaces separate the regions where different equations are solved. This paper presents an innovative approach based on the coexistence of several levels of description, which differ by their resolutions or, potentially, by their physics. Instead of interacting through interfaces, these levels are entirely simulated and are interlocked over the complete extension of the overlap area. This scheme has been applied to a parallelized, two-dimensional, Implicit Moment Method Particle in Cell code in order to investigate its multiscale description capabilities. Simulations of magnetic reconnection and plasma expansion in vacuum are presented and possible implementation options for this scheme on very large systems are also discussed.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Cazzola, E., et al.
(författare)
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On the electron agyrotropy during rapid asymmetric magnetic island coalescence in presence of a guide field
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:15, s. 7840-7849
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present an analysis of the properties of the electron velocity distribution during island coalescence in asymmetric reconnection with and without guide field. In a previous study, three main domains were identified, in the case without guide field, as X, D, and M regions featuring different reconnection evolutions. These regions are also identified here in the case with guide field. We study the departure from isotropic and gyrotropic behavior by means of different robust detection algorithms proposed in the literature. While in the case without guide field these metrics show an overall agreement, when the guide field is present, a discrepancy in the agyrotropy within some relevant regions is observed, such as at the separatrices and inside magnetic islands. Moreover, in light of the new observations from the Multiscale MagnetoSpheric mission, an analysis of the electron velocity phase-space in these domains is presented.
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| 5. |
- Cazzola, E., et al.
(författare)
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On the electron dynamics during island coalescence in asymmetric magnetic reconnection
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 22:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present an analysis of the electron dynamics during rapid island merging in asymmetric magnetic reconnection. We consider a doubly periodic system with two asymmetric transitions. The upper layer is an asymmetric Harris sheet of finite width perturbed initially to promote a single reconnection site. The lower layer is a tangential discontinuity that promotes the formation of many X-points, separated by rapidly merging islands. Across both layers, the magnetic field and the density have a strong jump, but the pressure is held constant. Our analysis focuses on the consequences of electron energization during island coalescence. We focus first on the parallel and perpendicular components of the electron temperature to establish the presence of possible anisotropies and non-gyrotropies. Thanks to the direct comparison between the two different layers simulated, we can distinguish three main types of behavior characteristic of three different regions of interest. The first type represents the regions where traditional asymmetric reconnections take place without involving island merging. The second type of regions instead shows reconnection events between two merging islands. Finally, the third regions identify the regions between two diverging island and where typical signature of reconnection is not observed. Electrons in these latter regions additionally show a flat-top distribution resulting from the saturation of a two-stream instability generated by the two interacting electron beams from the two nearest reconnection points. Finally, the analysis of agyrotropy shows the presence of a distinct double structure laying all over the lower side facing the higher magnetic field region. This structure becomes quadrupolar in the proximity of the regions of the third type. The distinguishing features found for the three types of regions investigated provide clear indicators to the recently launched Magnetospheric Multiscale NASA mission for investigating magnetopause reconnection involving multiple islands.
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| 6. |
- Cazzola, E., et al.
(författare)
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On the ions acceleration via collisionless magnetic reconnection in laboratory plasmas
- 2016
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 23:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This work presents an analysis of the ion outflow from magnetic reconnection throughout fully kinetic simulations with typical laboratory plasma values. A symmetric initial configuration for the density and magnetic field is considered across the current sheet. After analyzing the behavior of a set of nine simulations with a reduced mass ratio and with a permuted value of three initial electron temperatures and magnetic field intensity, the best ion acceleration scenario is further studied with a realistic mass ratio in terms of the ion dynamics and energy budget. Interestingly, a series of shock wave structures are observed in the outflow, resembling the shock discontinuities found in recent magnetohydrodynamic simulations. An analysis of the ion outflow at several distances from the reconnection point is presented, in light of possible laboratory applications. The analysis suggests that magnetic reconnection could be used as a tool for plasma acceleration, with applications ranging from electric propulsion to production of ion thermal beams.
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| 7. |
- Deca, J., et al.
(författare)
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Electromagnetic Particle-in-Cell Simulations of the Solar Wind Interaction with Lunar Magnetic Anomalies
- 2014
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 112:15, s. 151102-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the first three-dimensional fully kinetic and electromagnetic simulations of the solar wind interaction with lunar crustal magnetic anomalies (LMAs). Using the implicit particle-in-cell code IPIC3D, we confirm that LMAs may indeed be strong enough to stand off the solar wind from directly impacting the lunar surface forming a mini-magnetosphere, as suggested by spacecraft observations and theory. In contrast to earlier magnetohydrodynamics and hybrid simulations, the fully kinetic nature of IPIC3D allows us to investigate the space charge effects and in particular the electron dynamics dominating the near-surface lunar plasma environment. We describe for the first time the interaction of a dipole model centered just below the lunar surface under plasma conditions such that only the electron population is magnetized. The fully kinetic treatment identifies electromagnetic modes that alter the magnetic field at scales determined by the electron physics. Driven by strong pressure anisotropies, the mini-magnetosphere is unstable over time, leading to only temporal shielding of the surface underneath. Future human exploration as well as lunar science in general therefore hinges on a better understanding of LMAs.
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| 8. |
- Deca, J., et al.
(författare)
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Spacecraft charging analysis with the implicit particle-in-cell code iPic3D
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 20:10, s. 102902-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the first results on the analysis of spacecraft charging with the implicit particle-in-cell code iPic3D, designed for running on massively parallel supercomputers. The numerical algorithm is presented, highlighting the implementation of the electrostatic solver and the immersed boundary algorithm; the latter which creates the possibility to handle complex spacecraft geometries. As a first step in the verification process, a comparison is made between the floating potential obtained with iPic3D and with Orbital Motion Limited theory for a spherical particle in a uniform stationary plasma. Second, the numerical model is verified for a CubeSat benchmark by comparing simulation results with those of PTetra for space environment conditions with increasing levels of complexity. In particular, we consider spacecraft charging from plasma particle collection, photoelectron and secondary electron emission. The influence of a background magnetic field on the floating potential profile near the spacecraft is also considered. Although the numerical approaches in iPic3D and PTetra are rather different, good agreement is found between the two models, raising the level of confidence in both codes to predict and evaluate the complex plasma environment around spacecraft.
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| 9. |
- Divin, A., et al.
(författare)
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A new model for the electron pressure nongyrotropy in the outer electron diffusion region
- 2016
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION. - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 43:20, s. 10565-10573
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a new model to describe the electron pressure nongyrotropy inside the electron diffusion region (EDR) in an antiparallel magnetic reconnection scenario. A combination of particle-in-cell simulations and analytical estimates is used to identify such a component of the electron pressure tensor in the rotated coordinates, which is nearly invariant along the outflow direction between the X line and the electron remagnetization points in the outer EDR. It is shown that the EDR two-scale structure (inner and outer parts) is formed due to superposition of the nongyrotropic meandering electron population and gyrotropic electron population with large anisotropy parallel to the magnetic field upstream of the EDR. Inside the inner EDR the influence of the pressure anisotropy can largely be ignored. In the outer EDR, a thin electron layer with electron flow speed exceeding the E x B drift velocity is supported by large-momentum flux produced by the electron pressure anisotropy upstream of the EDR. We find that this fast electron exhaust flow with |V(e)xB|>|E| is in fact a constituent part of the EDR, a finding which will steer the interpretation of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) data.
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| 10. |
- Divin, A., et al.
(författare)
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Evolution of the lower hybrid drift instability at reconnection jet front
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 120:4, s. 2675-2690
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate current-driven modes developing at jet fronts during collisionless reconnection. Initial evolution of the reconnection is simulated using conventional 2-D setup starting from the Harris equilibrium. Three-dimensional PIC calculations are implemented at later stages, when fronts are fully formed. Intense currents and enhanced wave activity are generated at the fronts because of the interaction of the fast flow plasma and denser ambient current sheet plasma. The study reveals that the lower hybrid drift instability develops quickly in the 3-D simulation. The instability produces strong localized perpendicular electric fields, which are several times larger than the convective electric field at the front, in agreement with Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms observations. The instability generates waves, which escape the front edge and propagate into the undisturbed plasma ahead of the front. The parallel electron pressure is substantially larger in the 3-D simulation compared to that of the 2-D. In a time similar to Omega(-1)(ci), the instability forms a layer, which contains a mixture of the jet plasma and current sheet plasma. The results confirm that the lower hybrid drift instability is important for the front evolution and electron energization.
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| 11. |
- Divin, A., et al.
(författare)
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Inner and outer electron diffusion region of antiparallel collisionless reconnection : Density dependence
- 2019
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AMER INST PHYSICS. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 26:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We study inflow density dependence of substructures within electron diffusion region (EDR) of collisionless symmetric magnetic reconnection. We perform a set of 2.5D particle-in-cell simulations which start from a Harris current layer with a uniform background density n(b). A scan of n(b) ranging from 0:02 n(0) to 2 n(0) of the peak current layer density (n(0)) is studied keeping other plasma parameters the same. Various quantities measuring reconnection rate, EDR spatial scales, and characteristic velocities are introduced. We analyze EDR properties during quasisteady stage when the EDR length measures saturate. Consistent with past kinetic simulations, electrons are heated parallel to the B field in the inflow region. The presence of the strong parallel anisotropy acts twofold: (1) electron pressure anisotropy drift gets important at the EDR upstream edge in addition to the E x B drift speed and (2) the pressure anisotropy term -del.P-(e)/(ne) modifies the force balance there. We find that the width of the EDR demagnetization region and EDR current are proportional to the electron inertial length similar to d(e) and similar to d(e)n(b)(0.22), respectively. Magnetic reconnection is fast with a rate of similar to 0.1 but depends weakly on density as similar to n(b)(-1/8). Such reconnection rate proxies as EDR geometrical aspect or the inflow-to-outflow electron velocity ratio are shown to have different density trends, making electric field the only reliable measure of the reconnection rate. Published under license by AIP Publishing.
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| 12. |
- Divin, A., et al.
(författare)
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Numerical simulations of separatrix instabilities in collisionless magnetic reconnection
- 2012
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 19:4, s. 042110-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Electron scale dynamics of magnetic reconnection separatrix jets is studied in this paper. Instabilities developing in directions both parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field are investigated. Implicit particle-in-cell simulations with realistic electron-to-ion mass ratio are complemented by a set of small scale high resolution runs having the separatrix force balance as the initial condition. A special numerical procedure is developed to introduce the force balance into the small scale runs. Simulations show the development of streaming instabilities and consequent formation of electron holes in the parallel direction. A new electron jet instability develops in the perpendicular direction. The instability is closely related to the electron MHD Kelvin-Helmholtz mode and is destabilized by a flow, perpendicular to magnetic field at the separatrix. Tearing instability of the separatrix electron jet is modulated strongly by the electron MHD Kelvin-Helmholtz mode.
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| 13. |
- Divin, Andrey, et al.
(författare)
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Three-scale structure of diffusion region in the presence of cold ions
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 121:12, s. 12,001-12,013
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Kinetic simulations and spacecraft observations typically display the two-scale structure of collisionless diffusion region (DR), with electron and ion demagnetization scales governing the spatial extent of the DR. Recent in situ observations of the nightside magnetosphere, as well as investigation of magnetic reconnection events at the Earth's magnetopause, discovered the presence of a population of cold (tens of eV) ions of ionospheric origin. We present two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection in multicomponent plasma with ions consisting of hot and cold populations. We show that a new cold ion diffusion region scale is introduced in between that of hot ions and electrons. Demagnetization scale of cold ion population is several times (∼4–8) larger than the initial cold ion gyroradius. Cold ions are accelerated and thermalized during magnetic reconnection and form ion beams moving with velocities close to the Alfvén velocity.
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| 14. |
- Ergun, R. E., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetospheric Multiscale Satellites Observations of Parallel Electric Fields Associated with Magnetic Reconnection
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 116:23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report observations from the Magnetospheric Multiscale satellites of parallel electric fields (E-vertical bar vertical bar) associated with magnetic reconnection in the subsolar region of the Earth's magnetopause. E-vertical bar vertical bar events near the electron diffusion region have amplitudes on the order of 100 mV/m, which are significantly larger than those predicted for an antiparallel reconnection electric field. This Letter addresses specific types of E-vertical bar vertical bar events, which appear as large-amplitude, near unipolar spikes that are associated with tangled, reconnected magnetic fields. These E-vertical bar vertical bar events are primarily in or near a current layer near the separatrix and are interpreted to be double layers that may be responsible for secondary reconnection in tangled magnetic fields or flux ropes. These results are telling of the three-dimensional nature of magnetopause reconnection and indicate that magnetopause reconnection may be often patchy and/or drive turbulence along the separatrix that results in flux ropes and/or tangled magnetic fields.
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| 15. |
- Eriksson, S., et al.
(författare)
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On Multiple Reconnection X-Lines and Tripolar Perturbations of Strong Guide Magnetic Fields
- 2015
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 805:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report new multi-spacecraft Cluster observations of tripolar guide magnetic field perturbations at a solar wind reconnection exhaust in the presence of a guide field B-M. which is almost four times as strong as the reversing field B-L. The novel tripolar field consists of two narrow regions of depressed B-M, with an observed 7%-14% Delta B-M magnitude relative to the external field, which are found adjacent to a wide region of enhanced BM within the exhaust. A stronger reversing field is associated with each B-M depression. A kinetic reconnection simulation for realistic solar wind conditions and the observed strong guide field reveals that tripolar magnetic fields preferentially form across current sheets in the presence of multiple X-lines as magnetic islands approach one another and merge into fewer and larger islands. The simulated Delta B-M/Delta X-N over the normal width Delta X-N between a B-M minimum and the edge of the external region agree with the normalized values observed by Cluster. We propose that a tripolar guide field perturbation may be used to identify candidate regions containing multiple X-lines and interacting magnetic islands at individual solar wind current sheets with a strong guide field.
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| 16. |
- Fu, H. S., et al.
(författare)
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How to find magnetic nulls and reconstruct field topology with MMS data?
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2000 Florida Ave NW Washington, DC 20009, USA : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 120:5, s. 3758-3782
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study, we apply a new method-the first-order Taylor expansion (FOTE)-to find magnetic nulls and reconstruct magnetic field topology, in order to use it with the data from the forthcoming MMS mission. We compare this method with the previously used Poincare index (PI), and find that they are generally consistent, except that the PI method can only find a null inside the spacecraft (SC) tetrahedron, while the FOTE method can find a null both inside and outside the tetrahedron and also deduce its drift velocity. In addition, the FOTE method can (1) avoid limitations of the PI method such as data resolution, instrument uncertainty (Bz offset), and SC separation; (2) identify 3-D null types (A, B, As, and Bs) and determine whether these types can degenerate into 2-D (X and O); (3) reconstruct the magnetic field topology. We quantitatively test the accuracy of FOTE in positioning magnetic nulls and reconstructing field topology by using the data from 3-D kinetic simulations. The influences of SC separation (0.05 similar to 1 d(i)) and null-SC distance (0 similar to 1 d(i)) on the accuracy are both considered. We find that (1) for an isolated null, the method is accurate when the SC separation is smaller than 1 d(i), and the null-SC distance is smaller than 0.25 similar to 0.5 d(i); (2) for a null pair, the accuracy is same as in the isolated-null situation, except at the separator line, where the field is nonlinear. We define a parameter xi vertical bar(lambda(1) +lambda(2) +lambda(3))vertical bar/vertical bar lambda vertical bar(max) in terms of the eigenvalues (lambda(i)) of the null to quantify the quality of our method-the smaller this parameter the better the results. Comparing to the previously used parameter (eta vertical bar del center dot B vertical bar/vertical bar del x B vertical bar), xi is more relevant for null identification. Using the new method, we reconstruct the magnetic field topology around a radial-type null and a spiral-type null, and find that the topologies are well consistent with those predicted in theory. We therefore suggest using this method to find magnetic nulls and reconstruct field topology with four-point measurements, particularly from Cluster and the forthcoming MMS mission. For the MMS mission, this null-finding algorithm can be used to trigger its burst-mode measurements.
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| 17. |
- Goldman, M. V., et al.
(författare)
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Cerenkov Emission of Quasiparallel Whistlers by Fast Electron Phase-Space Holes during Magnetic Reconnection
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 112:14, s. 145002-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Kinetic simulations of magnetotail reconnection have revealed electromagnetic whistlers originating near the exhaust boundary and propagating into the inflow region. The whistler production mechanism is not a linear instability, but rather is Cerenkov emission of almost parallel whistlers from localized moving clumps of charge (finite-size quasiparticles) associated with nonlinear coherent electron phase space holes. Whistlers are strongly excited by holes without ever growing exponentially. In the simulation the whistlers are emitted in the source region from holes that accelerate down the magnetic separatrix towards the x line. The phase velocity of the whistlers upsilon(phi) in the source region is everywhere well matched to the hole velocity upsilon(H) as required by the Cerenkov condition. The simulation shows emission is most efficient near the theoretical maximum upsilon(phi) = half the electron Alfven speed, consistent with the new theoretical prediction that faster holes radiate more efficiently. While transferring energy to whistlers the holes lose coherence and dissipate over a few local ion inertial lengths. The whistlers, however, propagate to the x line and out over many 10's of ion inertial lengths into the inflow region of reconnection. As the whistlers pass near the x line they modulate the rate at which magnetic field lines reconnect.
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| 18. |
- Henri, P., et al.
(författare)
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Nonlinear evolution of the magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz instability : From fluid to kinetic modeling
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 20:10, s. 102118-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The nonlinear evolution of collisionless plasmas is typically a multi-scale process, where the energy is injected at large, fluid scales and dissipated at small, kinetic scales. Accurately modelling the global evolution requires to take into account the main micro-scale physical processes of interest. This is why comparison of different plasma models is today an imperative task aiming at understanding cross-scale processes in plasmas. We report here the first comparative study of the evolution of a magnetized shear flow, through a variety of different plasma models by using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), Hall-MHD, two-fluid, hybrid kinetic, and full kinetic codes. Kinetic relaxation effects are discussed to emphasize the need for kinetic equilibriums to study the dynamics of collisionless plasmas in non trivial configurations. Discrepancies between models are studied both in the linear and in the nonlinear regime of the magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, to highlight the effects of small scale processes on the nonlinear evolution of collisionless plasmas. We illustrate how the evolution of a magnetized shear flow depends on the relative orientation of the fluid vorticity with respect to the magnetic field direction during the linear evolution when kinetic effects are taken into account. Even if we found that small scale processes differ between the different models, we show that the feedback from small, kinetic scales to large, fluid scales is negligible in the nonlinear regime. This study shows that the kinetic modeling validates the use of a fluid approach at large scales, which encourages the development and use of fluid codes to study the nonlinear evolution of magnetized fluid flows, even in the collisionless regime.
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| 19. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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A Multi Level Multi Domain Method for Particle In Cell plasma simulations
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Computational Physics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9991 .- 1090-2716. ; 238, s. 115-140
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A novel adaptive technique for electromagnetic Particle In Cell (PIC) plasma simulations is presented here. Two main issues are identified as regards the development of the algorithm. First, the choice of the size of the particle shape function in progressively refined grids, with the decision to avoid both time-dependent shape functions and cumbersome particle-to-grid interpolation techniques, and, second, the necessity to comply with the strict stability constraints of the explicit PIC algorithm. The adaptive implementation presented responds to these demands with the introduction of a Multi Level Multi Domain (MLMD) system, where a cloud of self-similar domains is fully simulated with both fields and particles, and the use of an Implicit Moment PIC method as baseline algorithm for the adaptive evolution. Information is exchanged between the levels with the projection of the field information from the refined to the coarser levels and the interpolation of the boundary conditions for the refined levels from the coarser level fields. Particles are bound to their level of origin and are prevented from transitioning to coarser levels, but are repopulated at the refined grid boundaries with a splitting technique. The presented algorithm is tested against a series of simulation challenges.
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| 20. |
- Innocenti, M.E., et al.
(författare)
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Evidence of magnetic field switch-off in collisionless magnetic reconnection
- 2015
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 2041-8205 .- 2041-8213. ; 810:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The long-term evolution of large domain particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection is investigated following observations that show two possible outcomes for collisionless reconnection: toward a Petschek-like configuration or toward multiple X points. In the present simulation, a mixed scenario develops. At earlier time, plasmoids are emitted, disrupting the formation of Petschek-like structures. Later, an almost stationary monster plasmoid forms, preventing the emission of other plasmoids. A situation reminiscent of Petschek’s switch-off then ensues. Switch-off is obtained through a slow shock/rotational discontinuity compound structure. Two external slow shocks (SS) located at the separatrices reduce the in-plane tangential component of the magnetic field, but not to zero. Two transitions reminiscent of rotational discontinuities (RD) in the internal part of the exhaust then perform the final switch-off. Both the SS and the RD are characterized through analysis of their Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions. A moderate guide field is used to suppress the development of the firehose instability in the exhaust.
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| 21. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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Grid coupling mechanism in the semi-implicit adaptive Multi-Level Multi-Domain method
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Physics, Conference Series. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 1742-6588 .- 1742-6596. ; 719:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Level Multi-Domain (MLMD) method is a semi-implicit adaptive method for Particle-In-Cell plasma simulations. It has been demonstrated in the past in simulations of Maxwellian plasmas, electrostatic and electromagnetic instabilities, plasma expansion in vacuum, magnetic reconnection [1, 2, 3]. In multiple occasions, it has been commented on the coupling between the coarse and the refined grid solutions. The coupling mechanism itself, however, has never been explored in depth. Here, we investigate the theoretical bases of grid coupling in the MLMD system. We obtain an evolution law for the electric field solution in the overlap area of the MLMD system which highlights a dependance on the densities and currents from both the coarse and the refined grid, rather than from the coarse grid alone: grid coupling is obtained via densities and currents.
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| 22. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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Introduction of temporal sub-stepping in the Multi-Level Multi-Domain semi-implicit Particle-In-Cell code Parsek2D-MLMD
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Computer Physics Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 0010-4655 .- 1879-2944. ; 189, s. 47-59
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, the introduction of temporal sub-stepping in Multi-Level Multi-Domain (MLMD) simulations of plasmas is discussed. The MLMD method addresses the multi-scale nature of space plasmas by simulating a problem at different levels of resolution. A large-domain "coarse grid" is simulated with low resolution to capture large-scale, slow processes. Smaller scale, local processes are obtained through a "refined grid" which uses higher resolution. Very high jumps in the resolution used at the different levels can be achieved thanks to the Implicit Moment Method and appropriate grid interlocking operations. Up to now, the same time step was used at all the levels. Now, with temporal sub-stepping, the different levels can also benefit from the use of different temporal resolutions. This saves further resources with respect to "traditional" simulations done using the same spatial and temporal stepping on the entire domain. It also prevents the levels from working at the limits of the stability condition of the Implicit Moment Method. The temporal sub-stepping is tested with simulations of magnetic reconnection in space. It is shown that, thanks to the reduced costs of MLMD simulations with respect to single-level simulations, it becomes possible to verify with realistic mass ratios scaling laws previously verified only for reduced mass ratios. Performance considerations are also provided.
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| 23. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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Momentum conservation in Multi-Level Multi-Domain (MLMD) simulations
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Computational Physics. - : Academic Press. - 0021-9991 .- 1090-2716. ; 312, s. 14-18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Momentum conservation and self-forces reduction are challenges for all Particle-In-Cell (PIC) codes using spatial discretization schemes which do not fulfill the requirement of translational invariance of the grid Green's function. We comment here on the topic applied to the recently developed Multi-Level Multi-Domain (MLMD) method. The MLMD is a semi-implicit method for PIC plasma simulations. The multi-scale nature of plasma processes is addressed by using grids with different spatial resolutions in different parts of the domain.
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| 24. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
-
Progress towards physics-based space weather forecasting with exascale computing
- 2017
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Ingår i: Advances in Engineering Software. - : Elsevier. - 0965-9978 .- 1873-5339. ; 111, s. 3-17
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Space weather is a rapidly growing field of science which studies processes occurring in the area of space between the Sun and the Earth. The development of space weather forecasting capabilities is a task of great societal relevance: space weather effects may damage a number of technological assets, among which power and communication lines, transformers, pipelines and the telecommunication infrastructure. Exascale computing is a fundamental ingredient for space weather forecasting tools based on physical, rather than statistical, models. We describe here our recent progresses towards a physics-based space weather forecasting tool with exascale computing. We select the semi-implicit, Particle In Cell, Implicit Moment Method implemented in the parallel, object-oriented, C++ iPic3D code as a promising starting point. We analyze the structure and the performances of the current version of the iPic3D code. We describe three algorithmic developments, the fully implicit method, the Multi-Level Multi-Domain method, and the fluid-kinetic method, which can help addressing the multiple spatial and temporal scales present in space weather simulations. We then examine, in a co-design approach, which requirements - vectorization, extreme parallelism and reduced communication - an application has to satisfy to fully exploit architectures such as GPUs and Xeon Phi's. We address how to modify the iPic3D code to better satisfy these requirements. We then describe how to port the iPic3D code to the DEEP architecture currently under construction. The FP7 project DEEP (www.deep-project.eu) aims at building an exascale-ready machine composed of a cluster of Xeon nodes and of a collection of Xeon Phi coprocessors, used as boosters. The aim of the DEEP project is to enable exascale performance for codes, such as iPic3D, composed of parts which exhibit different potential for extreme scalability. Finally, we provide examples of simulations of space weather processes done with the current version of the iPic3D code.
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| 25. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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Study of electric and magnetic field fluctuations from lower hybrid drift instability waves in the terrestrial magnetotail with the fully kinetic, semi-implicit, adaptive multi level multi domain method
- 2016
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 23:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The newly developed fully kinetic, semi-implicit, adaptive multi-level multi-domain (MLMD) method is used to simulate, at realistic mass ratio, the development of the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI) in the terrestrial magnetotail over a large wavenumber range and at a low computational cost. The power spectra of the perpendicular electric field and of the fluctuations of the parallel magnetic field are studied at wavenumbers and times that allow to appreciate the onset of the electrostatic and electromagnetic LHDI branches and of the kink instability. The coupling between electric and magnetic field fluctuations observed by Norgren et al. ["Lower hybrid drift waves: Space observations," Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 055001 (2012)] for high wavenumber LHDI waves in the terrestrial magnetotail is verified. In the MLMD simulations presented, a domain ("coarse grid") is simulated with low resolution. A small fraction of the entire domain is then simulated with higher resolution also ("refined grid") to capture smaller scale, higher frequency processes. Initially, the MLMD method is validated for LHDI simulations. MLMD simulations with different levels of grid refinement are validated against the standard semi-implicit particle in cell simulations of domains corresponding to both the coarse and the refined grid. Precious information regarding the applicability of the MLMD method to turbulence simulations is derived. The power spectra of MLMD simulations done with different levels of refinements are then compared. They consistently show a break in the magnetic field spectra at k(perpendicular to)d(i) similar to 30, with d(i) the ion skin depth and k(perpendicular to) the perpendicular wavenumber. The break is observed at early simulated times, Omega(ci)t < 6, with Omega(ci) the ion cyclotron frequency. It is due to the initial decoupling of electric and magnetic field fluctuations at intermediate and low wavenumbers, before the development of the electromagnetic LHDI branch. Evidence of coupling between electric and magnetic field fluctuations in the wave-number range where the fast and slow LHDI branches develop is then provided for a cluster magnetotail crossing.
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| 26. |
- Innocenti, M. E., et al.
(författare)
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Switch-off slow shock/rotational discontinuity structures in collisionless magnetic reconnection : What to look for in satellite observations
- 2017
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 44:8, s. 3447-3455
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Innocenti et al. (2015) we have observed and characterized for the first time Petschek-like switch-off slow shock/rotational discontinuity (SO-SS/RD) compound structures in a 2-D fully kinetic simulation of collisionless magnetic reconnection. Observing these structures in the solar wind or in the magnetotail would corroborate the possibility that Petschek exhausts develop in collisionless media as a result of single X point collisionless reconnection. Here we highlight their signatures in simulations with the aim of easing their identification in observations. The most notable signatures include a four-peaked ion current profile in the out-of-plane direction, associated ion distribution functions, increased electron and ion anisotropy downstream the SS, and increased electron agyrotropy downstream the RDs.
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| 27. |
- Korovinskiy, D. B., et al.
(författare)
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MHD modeling of the double-gradient (kink) magnetic instability
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202 .- 2169-9380. ; 118:3, s. 1146-1158
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The paper presents the detailed numerical investigation of the "double-gradient mode," which is believed to be responsible for the magnetotail flapping oscillations-the fast vertical (normal to the layer) oscillations of the Earth's magnetotail plasma sheet with a quasiperiod similar to 100-200 s. The instability is studied using the magnetotail near-equilibrium configuration. For the first time, linear three-dimensional numerical analysis is complemented with full 3-D MHD simulations. It is known that the "double-gradient mode" has unstable solutions in the region of the tailward growth of the magnetic field component, normal to the current sheet. The unstable kink branch of the mode is the focus of our study. Linear MHD code results agree with the theory, and the growth rate is found to be close to the peak value, provided by the analytical estimates. Full 3-D simulations are initialized with the numerically relaxed magnetotail equilibrium, similar to the linear code initial condition. The calculations show that current layer with tailward gradient of the normal component of the magnetic field is unstable to wavelengths longer than the curvature radius of the field line. The segment of the current sheet with the earthward gradient of the normal component makes some stabilizing effect (the same effect is registered in the linearized MHD simulations) due to the minimum of the total pressure localized in the center of the sheet. The overall growth rate is close to the theoretical double-gradient estimate averaged over the computational domain.
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| 28. |
- Korovinskiy, D. B., et al.
(författare)
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The double-gradient magnetic instability : Stabilizing effect of the guide field
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of the dawn-dusk magnetic field component in stabilizing of the magnetotail flapping oscillations is investigated in the double-gradient model framework (Erkaev et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 235003 (2007)), extended for the magnetotail-like configurations with non-zero guide field By. Contribution of the guide field is examined both analytically and by means of linearized 2-dimensional (2D) and non-linear 3-dimensional (3D) MHD modeling. All three approaches demonstrate the same properties of the instability: stabilization of current sheet oscillations for short wavelength modes, appearing of the typical (fastest growing) wavelength lambda(peak) of the order of the current sheet width, decrease of the peak growth rate with increasing B-y value, and total decay of the mode for B-y similar to 0: 5 in the lobe magnetic field units. Analytical solution and 2D numerical simulations claim also the shift of lambda(peak) toward the longer wavelengths with increasing guide field. This result is barely visible in 3D simulations. It may be accounted for the specific background magnetic configuration, the pattern of tail-like equilibrium provided by approximated solution of the conventional Grad-Shafranov equation. The configuration demonstrates drastically changing radius of curvature of magnetic field lines, R-c. This, in turn, favors the "double-gradient" mode (lambda > R-c) in one part of the sheet and classical "ballooning" instability (lambda < R-c) in another part, which may result in generation of a "combined" unstable mode. (C) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC.
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| 29. |
- Korovinskiy, D., et al.
(författare)
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MHD Modeling of the Kink "Double-gradient" Branch of the Ballooning Instability in the Magnetotail
- 2014
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Ingår i: NUMERICAL MODELING OF SPACE PLASMA FLOWS. - : ASTRONOMICAL SOC PACIFIC. - 9781583818602 ; , s. 149-154
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a numerical investigation of the double-gradient mode, which is believed to be responsible for the magnetotail flapping oscillations the fast vertical oscillations of the Earth's magnetotail plasma sheet (quasiperiod similar to 100 - 200 s). It is known that this mode has an unstable solution in the region of the tailward-growing normal magnetic field component. The kink branch of the mode is the focus of our study. The instability is studied using the magnetotail near-equilibrium configuration, fixed by the approximate solution of the Grad-Shafranov equation. The linear three-dimensional numerical analysis is complemented with full 3-D MUD simulations. The results of our linearized MHD code agree with the theory, and the growth rate is found to be close to the peak value provided by an analytical estimate. Also, the eigenfunctions, calculated analytically, are very similar to the perturbations obtained numerically. The full 3D MHD simulations are initialized with the numerically relaxed magnetotail equilibrium, similar to the linear code initial condition. The calculations show that the double-gradient mode is excited in a region of small radii of the magnetic field lines curvature, which is in accordance with the analytical predictions. In contrast to the linearized MHD simulations, non-local interactions are involved; hence, the overall growth rate turns out to be close to the theoretical estimate averaged over the computational domain.
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| 30. |
- Kumar, P., et al.
(författare)
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High performance solvers for implicit particle in cell simulation
- 2013
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Ingår i: 2013 International Conference on Computational Science. - : Elsevier. ; , s. 2251-2258
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A three-dimensional implicit particle-in-cell (iPIC3D) method implemented by S. Markidis et. al. in ["Multiscale simulations of plasma with iPIC3D", Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 80(2010), 1509-1519] allows time steps at magnetohydrodynamics time scale. The code requires the solution of two linear systems: A Poisson system related to divergence cleaning, and a system related to a second order formulation of Maxwell equation. In iPIC3D, the former is the most costly. To reduce the cost of solving the Poisson system, a parallel matrix assembly and partitioning method are implemented, and conjugate gradient and algebraic multigrid (AMG) solvers from the Hypre library are called. The scalability of AMG as a solver is studied for 1D and 3D partitionings and compared to that of CG.
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| 31. |
- Lapenta, G., et al.
(författare)
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On the origin of the crescent-shaped distributions observed by MMS at the magnetopause
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 122:2, s. 2024-2039
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- MMS observations recently confirmed that crescent-shaped electron velocity distributions in the plane perpendicular to the magnetic field occur in the electron diffusion region near reconnection sites at Earth's magnetopause. In this paper, we reexamine the origin of the crescent-shaped distributions in the light of our new finding that ions and electrons are drifting in opposite directions when displayed in magnetopause boundary-normal coordinates. Therefore, E x B drifts cannot cause the crescent shapes. We performed a high-resolution multiscale simulation capturing subelectron skin-depth scales. The results suggest that the crescent-shaped distributions are caused by meandering orbits without necessarily requiring any additional processes found at the magnetopause such as the highly asymmetric magnetopause ambipolar electric field. We use an adiabatic Hamiltonian model of particle motion to confirm that conservation of canonical momentum in the presence of magnetic field gradients causes the formation of crescent shapes without invoking asymmetries or the presence of an E x B drift. An important consequence of this finding is that we expect crescent-shaped distributions also to be observed in the magnetotail, a prediction that MMS will soon be able to test.
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| 32. |
- Lapenta, G., et al.
(författare)
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Where should MMS look for electron diffusion regions?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics, Conference Series. - : Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP). - 1742-6588 .- 1742-6596. ; 719:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A great possible achievement for the MMS mission would be crossing electron diffusion regions (EDR). EDR are regions in proximity of reconnection sites where electrons decouple from field lines, breaking the frozen in condition. Decades of research on reconnection have produced a widely shared map of where EDRs are. We expect reconnection to take place around a so called x-point formed by the intersection of the separatrices dividing inflowing from outflowing plasma. The EDR forms around this x-point as a small electron scale box nested inside a larger ion diffusion region. But this point of view is based on a 2D mentality. We have recently proposed that once the problem is considered in full 3D, secondary reconnection events can form [Lapenta et al., Nature Physics, 11, 690, 2015] in the outflow regions even far downstream from the primary reconnection site. We revisit here this new idea confirming that even using additional indicators of reconnection and even considering longer periods and wider distances the conclusion remains true: secondary reconnection sites form downstream of a reconnection outflow causing a sort of chain reaction of cascading reconnection sites. If we are right, MMS will have an interesting journey even when not crossing necessarily the primary site. The chances are greatly increased that even if missing a primary site during an orbit, MMS could stumble instead on one of these secondary sites.
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| 33. |
- Marchand, R., et al.
(författare)
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Cross-comparison of spacecraft-environment interaction model predictions applied to Solar Probe Plus near perihelion
- 2014
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 21:6, s. 062901-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Five spacecraft-plasma models are used to simulate the interaction of a simplified geometry Solar Probe Plus (SPP) satellite with the space environment under representative solar wind conditions near perihelion. By considering similarities and differences between results obtained with different numerical approaches under well defined conditions, the consistency and validity of our models can be assessed. The impact on model predictions of physical effects of importance in the SPP mission is also considered by comparing results obtained with and without these effects. Simulation results are presented and compared with increasing levels of complexity in the physics of interaction between solar environment and the SPP spacecraft. The comparisons focus particularly on spacecraft floating potentials, contributions to the currents collected and emitted by the spacecraft, and on the potential and density spatial profiles near the satellite. The physical effects considered include spacecraft charging, photoelectron and secondary electron emission, and the presence of a background magnetic field. Model predictions obtained with our different computational approaches are found to be in agreement within 2% when the same physical processes are taken into account and treated similarly. The comparisons thus indicate that, with the correct description of important physical effects, our simulation models should have the required skill to predict details of satellite-plasma interaction physics under relevant conditions, with a good level of confidence. Our models concur in predicting a negative floating potential V-fl similar to -10V for SPP at perihelion. They also predict a "saturated emission regime" whereby most emitted photo-and secondary electron will be reflected by a potential barrier near the surface, back to the spacecraft where they will be recollected.
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| 34. |
- Markidis, Stefano, et al.
(författare)
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Collisionless magnetic reconnection in a plasmoid chain
- 2012
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Ingår i: Nonlinear processes in geophysics. - : Copernicus GmbH. - 1023-5809 .- 1607-7946. ; 19:1, s. 145-153
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The kinetic features of plasmoid chain formation and evolution are investigated by two dimensional Particlein-Cell simulations. Magnetic reconnection is initiated in multiple X points by the tearing instability. Plasmoids form and grow in size by continuously coalescing. Each chain plasmoid exhibits a strong out-of plane core magnetic field and an out-of-plane electron current that drives the coalescing process. The disappearance of the X points in the coalescence process are due to anti-reconnection, a magnetic reconnection where the plasma inflow and outflow are reversed with respect to the original reconnection flow pattern. Anti-reconnection is characterized by the Hall magnetic field quadrupole signature. Two new kinetic features, not reported by previous studies of plasmoid chain evolution, are here revealed. First, intense electric fields develop in-plane normally to the separatrices and drive the ion dynamics in the plasmoids. Second, several bipolar electric field structures are localized in proximity of the plasmoid chain. The analysis of the electron distribution function and phase space reveals the presence of counter-streaming electron beams, unstable to the two stream instability, and phase space electron holes along the reconnection separatrices.
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| 35. |
- Markidis, Stefano, et al.
(författare)
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Kinetic simulations of plasmoid chain dynamics
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 20:8, s. 082105-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamics of a plasmoid chain is studied with three dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. The evolution of the system with and without a uniform guide field, whose strength is 1/3 the asymptotic magnetic field, is investigated. The plasmoid chain forms by spontaneous magnetic reconnection: the tearing instability rapidly disrupts the initial current sheet generating several small-scale plasmoids that rapidly grow in size coalescing and kinking. The plasmoid kink is mainly driven by the coalescence process. It is found that the presence of guide field strongly influences the evolution of the plasmoid chain. Without a guide field, a main reconnection site dominates and smaller reconnection regions are included in larger ones, leading to an hierarchical structure of the plasmoid-dominated current sheet. On the contrary in presence of a guide field, plasmoids have approximately the same size and the hierarchical structure does not emerge, a strong core magnetic field develops in the center of the plasmoid in the direction of the existing guide field, and bump-on-tail instability, leading to the formation of electron holes, is detected in proximity of the plasmoids.
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| 36. |
- Markidis, Stefano, et al.
(författare)
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PolyPIC : The polymorphic-particle-in-cell method for fluid-kinetic coupling
- 2018
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Physics. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-424X. ; 6:OCT
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Particle-in-Cell (PIC) methods are widely used computational tools for fluid and kinetic plasma modeling. While both the fluid and kinetic PIC approaches have been successfully used to target either kinetic or fluid simulations, little was done to combine fluid and kinetic particles under the same PIC framework. This work addresses this issue by proposing a new PIC method, PolyPIC, that uses polymorphic computational particles. In this numerical scheme, particles can be either kinetic or fluid, and fluid particles can become kinetic when necessary, e.g., particles undergoing a strong acceleration. We design and implement the PolyPIC method, and test it against the Landau damping of Langmuir and ion acoustic waves, two stream instability and sheath formation. We unify the fluid and kinetic PIC methods under one common framework comprising both fluid and kinetic particles, providing a tool for adaptive fluid-kinetic coupling in plasma simulations.
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| 37. |
- Markidis, Stefano, et al.
(författare)
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Three dimensional density cavities in guide field collisionless magnetic reconnection
- 2012
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 19:3, s. 032119-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless magnetic reconnection with a guide field reveal for the first time the three dimensional features of the low density regions along the magnetic reconnection separatrices, the so-called cavities. It is found that structures with further lower density develop within the cavities. Because their appearance is similar to the rib shape, these formations are here called low density ribs. Their location remains approximately fixed in time and their density progressively decreases, as electron currents along the cavities evacuate them. They develop along the magnetic field lines and are supported by a strong perpendicular electric field that oscillates in space. In addition, bipolar parallel electric field structures form as isolated spheres between the cavities and the outflow plasma, along the direction of the low density ribs and of magnetic field lines.
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| 38. |
- Olshevsky, V., et al.
(författare)
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Energetics of Kinetic Reconnection in a Three-Dimensional Null-Point Cluster
- 2013
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 111:4, s. 045002-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We perform three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of magnetic reconnection with multiple magnetic null points. Magnetic field energy conversion into kinetic energy is about five times higher than in traditional Harris sheet configuration. More than 85% of initial magnetic field energy is transferred to particle energy during 25 reversed ion cyclofrequencies. Magnetic reconnection in the cluster of null points evolves in three phases. During the first phase, ion beams are excited, then give part of their energy back to the magnetic field in the second phase. In the third phase, magnetic reconnection occurs in many small patches around the current channels formed along the stripes of a low magnetic field. Magnetic reconnection in null points essentially presents three-dimensional features, with no two-dimensional symmetries or current sheets.
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| 39. |
- Peng, Bo, et al.
(författare)
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The formation of a magnetosphere with implicit Particle-in-Cell simulations
- 2015
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Ingår i: Procedia Computer Science. - : Elsevier. - 1877-0509. ; , s. 1178-1187, s. 1178-1187
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We demonstrate the improvements to an implicit Particle-in-Cell code, iPic3D, on the example of dipolar magnetic field immersed in the flow of the plasma and show the formation of a magnetosphere. We address the problem of modelling multi-scale phenomena during the formation of a magnetosphere by implementing an adaptive sub-cycling technique to resolve the motion of particles located close to the magnetic dipole centre, where the magnetic field intensity is maximum. In addition, we implemented new open boundary conditions to model the inflow and outflow of plasma. We present the results of a global three-dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulation and discuss the performance improvements from the adaptive sub-cycling technique.
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| 40. |
- Peng, I. Bo, et al.
(författare)
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Kinetic structures of quasi-perpendicular shocks in global particle-in-cell simulations
- 2015
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Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : American Institute of Physics (AIP). - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 22:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We carried out global Particle-in-Cell simulations of the interaction between the solar wind and a magnetosphere to study the kinetic collisionless physics in super-critical quasi-perpendicular shocks. After an initial simulation transient, a collisionless bow shock forms as a result of the interaction of the solar wind and a planet magnetic dipole. The shock ramp has a thickness of approximately one ion skin depth and is followed by a trailing wave train in the shock downstream. At the downstream edge of the bow shock, whistler waves propagate along the magnetic field lines and the presence of electron cyclotron waves has been identified. A small part of the solar wind ion population is specularly reflected by the shock while a larger part is deflected and heated by the shock. Solar wind ions and electrons are heated in the perpendicular directions. Ions are accelerated in the perpendicular direction in the trailing wave train region. This work is an initial effort to study the electron and ion kinetic effects developed near the bow shock in a realistic magnetic field configuration.
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| 41. |
- Pierre, H., et al.
(författare)
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Fluid and kinetic modelling of the magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz instability
- 2020
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Ingår i: ETC 2013 - 14th European Turbulence Conference. - : Zakon Group LLC.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The nonlinear evolution of collisionless plasma flows is a multi-scale process where the energy is injected at large, fluid scales and dissipated at small, kinetic scales. Accurately modelling the global evolution of collisionless plasmas requires to take into account the main micro-scale physical processes of interest, in particular the kinetic effects. We concentrate here on the nonlinear evolution of the magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in collisionless plasmas. First, we will summarize recent works concerning fluid and kinetic modelling of the magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. Comparisons of different plasma models is today an imperative task aiming at understanding cross-scale processes in collisionless plasma turbulence. We then report new results of two dimensional fully kinetic (both electrons and ions are treated kinetically) simulations of the magnetized Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. We make use of the implicit Particle-In-Cell (PIC) code iPIC3D in 2D-3V configuration. In this work, we focus on the analysis of the effects of kinetic physics and compare results obtained with the full kinetic model to those obtained in the context of MHD and hybrid simulations. We discuss the space physics implications of the nonlinear saturation of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, in the context of the interactions between the solar wind and the Earth magnetosphere.
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| 42. |
- Restante, A. L., et al.
(författare)
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Geometrical investigation of the kinetic evolution of the magnetic field in a periodic flux rope
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Physics of Plasmas. - : AIP Publishing. - 1070-664X .- 1089-7674. ; 20:8, s. 082501-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Flux ropes are bundles of magnetic field wrapped around an axis. Many laboratory, space, and astrophysics processes can be represented using this idealized concept. Here, a massively parallel 3D kinetic simulation of a periodic flux rope undergoing the kink instability is studied. The focus is on the topology of the magnetic field and its geometric structures. The analysis considers various techniques such as Poincare maps and the quasi-separatrix layer (QSL). These are used to highlight regions with expansion or compression and changes in the connectivity of magnetic field lines and consequently to outline regions where heating and current may be generated due to magnetic reconnection. The present study is, to our knowledge, the first QSL analysis of a fully kinetic 3D particle in cell simulation and focuses the existing QSL method of analysis to periodic systems.
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| 43. |
- Retinò, A., et al.
(författare)
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Particle energization in space plasmas : towards a multi-point, multi-scale plasma observatory
- 2021
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Ingår i: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Nature. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This White Paper outlines the importance of addressing the fundamental science theme “How are charged particles energized in space plasmas” through a future ESA mission. The White Paper presents five compelling science questions related to particle energization by shocks, reconnection, waves and turbulence, jets and their combinations. Answering these questions requires resolving scale coupling, nonlinearity, and nonstationarity, which cannot be done with existing multi-point observations. In situ measurements from a multi-point, multi-scale L-class Plasma Observatory consisting of at least seven spacecraft covering fluid, ion, and electron scales are needed. The Plasma Observatory will enable a paradigm shift in our comprehension of particle energization and space plasma physics in general, with a very important impact on solar and astrophysical plasmas. It will be the next logical step following Cluster, THEMIS, and MMS for the very large and active European space plasmas community. Being one of the cornerstone missions of the future ESA Voyage 2050 science programme, it would further strengthen the European scientific and technical leadership in this important field.
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| 44. |
- Vapirev, A. E., et al.
(författare)
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Formation of a transient front structure near reconnection point in 3-D PIC simulations
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0148-0227 .- 2156-2202 .- 2169-9380. ; 118:4, s. 1435-1449
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Massively parallel numerical simulations of magnetic reconnection are presented in this study. Electromagnetic full-particle implicit code iPIC3D is used to study the dynamics and 3-D evolution of reconnection outflows. Such features as Hall magnetic field, inflow and outflow, and diffusion region formation are very similar to 2-D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. In addition, it is well known that instabilities develop in the current flow direction or oblique directions. These modes could provide for anomalous resistivity and diffusive drag and can serve as additional proxies for magnetic reconnection. In our work, the unstable evolution of reconnection transient front structures is studied. Reconnection configuration in the absence of guide field is considered, and it is initialized with a localized perturbation aligned in the cross-tail direction. Our study suggests that the instabilities lead to the development of finger-like density structures on ion-electron hybrid scales. These structures are characterized by a rapid increase of the magnetic field, normal to the current sheet (Bz). A small decrease in the magnetic field component parallel to the reconnection X line and the component perpendicular to the current sheet is observed in the region ahead of the front. The instabilities form due to fact that the density gradient inside the front region is opposite to the direction of the acceleration Lorentz force. Such density structures may possibly further develop into larger-scale earthward flux transfer events during magnetotail reconnection. In addition, oscillations mainly in the magnetic and electric fields and the electron density are observed shortly before the arrival of the main front structure which is consistent with recent THEMIS observations. Key PointsThree dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of reconnection in the magnetotailEvolution of dipolarization front at reconnection and associated plasma flowDevelopment of instabilities in the plasma population
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| 45. |
- Vapirev, A., et al.
(författare)
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Initial results on computational performance of Intel many integrated core, sandy bridge, and graphical processing unit architectures : implementation of a 1D c++/OpenMP electrostatic particle-in-cell code
- 2015
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Ingår i: Concurrency and Computation. - : Wiley. - 1532-0626 .- 1532-0634. ; 27:3, s. 581-593
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present initial comparison performance results for Intel many integrated core (MIC), Sandy Bridge (SB), and graphical processing unit (GPU). A 1D explicit electrostatic particle-in-cell code is used to simulate a two-stream instability in plasma. We compare the computation times for various number of cores/threads and compiler options. The parallelization is implemented via OpenMP with a maximum thread number of 128. Parallelization and vectorization on the GPU is achieved with modifying the code syntax for compatibility with CUDA. We assess the speedup due to various auto-vectorization and optimization level compiler options. Our results show that the MIC is several times slower than SB for a single thread, and it becomes faster than SB when the number of cores increases with vectorization switched on. The compute times for the GPU are consistently about six to seven times faster than the ones for MIC. Compared with SB, the GPU is about two times faster for a single thread and about an order of magnitude faster for 128 threads. The net speedup, however, for MIC and GPU are almost the same. An initial attempt to offload parts of the code to the MIC coprocessor shows that there is an optimal number of threads where the speedup reaches a maximum.
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| 46. |
- Zhou, M., et al.
(författare)
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Coalescence of Macroscopic Flux Ropes at the Subsolar Magnetopause : Magnetospheric Multiscale Observations
- 2017
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Ingår i: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 119:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report unambiguous in situ observation of the coalescence of macroscopic flux ropes by the magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) mission. Two coalescing flux ropes with sizes of similar to 1 R-E were identified at the subsolar magnetopause by the occurrence of an asymmetric quadrupolar signature in the normal component of the magnetic field measured by the MMS spacecraft. An electron diffusion region (EDR) with a width of four local electron inertial lengths was embedded within the merging current sheet. The EDR was characterized by an intense parallel electric field, significant energy dissipation, and suprathermal electrons. Although the electrons were organized by a large guide field, the small observed electron pressure nongyrotropy may be sufficient to support a significant fraction of the parallel electric field within the EDR. Since the flux ropes are observed in the exhaust region, we suggest that secondary EDRs are formed further downstream of the primary reconnection line between the magnetosheath and magnetospheric fields.
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| 47. |
- Zhou, M., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetospheric Multiscale Observations of an Ion Diffusion Region With Large Guide Field at the Magnetopause : Current System, Electron Heating, and Plasma Waves
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 2169-9380 .- 2169-9402. ; 123:3, s. 1834-1852
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations of a reconnecting current sheet in the presence of a weak density asymmetry with large guide field at the dayside magnetopause. An ion diffusion region (IDR) was detected associated with this current sheet. Parallel current dominated over the perpendicular current in the IDR, as found in previous studies of component reconnection. Electrons were preferentially heated parallel to the magnetic field within the IDR. The heating was manifested as a flattop distribution below 400eV. Two types of electromagnetic electron whistler waves were observed within the regions where electrons were heated. One type of whistler wave was associated with nonlinear structures in E-|| with amplitudes up to 20mV/m. The other type was not associated with any structures in E-||. Poynting fluxes of these two types of whistler waves were directed away from the X-line. We suggest that the nonlinear evolution of the oblique whistler waves gave rise to the solitary structures in E-||. There was a perpendicular super-Alfvenic outflow jet that was carried by magnetized electrons. Intense electrostatic lower hybrid drift waves were localized in the current sheet center and were probably driven by the super-Alfvenic electron jet, the velocity of which was approximately equal to the diamagnetic drift of demagnetized ions. Our observations suggest that the guide field significantly modified the structures (Hall electromagnetic fields and current system) and wave properties in the IDR.
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| 48. |
- Zhou, M., et al.
(författare)
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Observations of an Electron Diffusion Region in Symmetric Reconnection with Weak Guide Field
- 2019
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 870:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft encountered an electron diffusion region (EDR) in a symmetric reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail. The EDR contained a guide field of about 2 nT, which was 13% of the magnetic field in the inflow region, and its thickness was about 2 local electron inertial lengths. Intense energy dissipation, a super-Alfvenic electron jet, electron nongyrotropy, and crescent-shaped electron velocity distributions were observed in association with this EDR. These features are similar to those of the EDRs in asymmetric reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. Electrons gained about 50% of their energy from the immediate upstream to the EDR. Crescent electron distributions were seen at the boundary of the EDR, while highly curved magnetic field lines inside the EDR may have gyrotropized the electrons. The EDR was characterized by a parallel current that was carried by antiparallel drifting electrons that were probably accelerated by a parallel electric field along the guide field. These results reveal the essential electron physics of the EDR and provide a significant example of an EDR in symmetric reconnection with a weak guide field.
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| 49. |
- Zhou, M., et al.
(författare)
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Observations of Secondary Magnetic Reconnection in the Turbulent Reconnection Outflow
- 2021
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Ingår i: Geophysical Research Letters. - : American Geophysical Union (AGU). - 0094-8276 .- 1944-8007. ; 48:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Magnetic reconnection and turbulence are the two most important energy dissipation processes in plasma. These two processes intertwine with each other and play important roles in their respective dynamic evolution. Here, we present the first evidence that secondary reconnections occur in the turbulent outflow driven by a primary reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail. We have identified 14 secondary reconnections in a large number of current filaments in the turbulent outflow, which persisted for about one and half an hour. Most of these secondary reconnections were electron-only reconnection that has recently been discovered in the magnetosheath. These secondary reconnections entangled the magnetic field lines and dissipated the magnetic energy in the outflow region far away from the primary X line.
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