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An open issue in turbulence theory is related to the determination of the exact evolution equation for the probability density associated to the relevant (stochastic) fluid fields. Such an equation in the usual approaches to turbulence reproduces, at most in an approximate sense, the correct fluid equations. In this paper we present a statistical model which applies to an incompressible, resistive and quasi-neutral magnetofluid. The approach is based on the formulation of an inverse kinetic theory (IKT) for the full set of MHD equations appropriate for an incompressible, viscous, quasi-neutral, isentropic, isothermal and resistive magnetofluid. Basic feature of the new approach is that it relies on first principles - including in particular the exact validity of the fluid equations - and thus permits the determination of the correct evolution equation for the probability density. Specific application of the theory here considered concerns the case of statistically homogeneous and stationary MHD turbulence.

Phase-space Lagrangian dynamics in ideal fluids (i.e, continua) is usually related to the so-called {\it ideal tracer particles}. The latter, which can in principle be permitted to have arbitrary initial velocities, are understood as particles of infinitesimal size which do not produce significant perturbations of the fluid and do not interact among themselves. An unsolved theoretical problem is the correct definition of their dynamics in ideal fluids. The issue is relevant in order to exhibit the connection between fluid dynamics and the classical dynamical system, underlying a prescribed fluid system, which uniquely generates its time-evolution. \ The goal of this paper is to show that the tracer-particle dynamics can be {\it exactly} established for an arbitrary incompressible fluid uniquely based on the construction of an inverse kinetic theory (IKT) (Tessarotto \textit{et al.}, 2000-2008). As an example, the case of an incompressible Newtonian thermofluid is here considered., submitted to Physica A

A two-dimensional incompressible magneto-hydrodynamic code is presented in order to solve the steady state or transient magnetized or neutral convection problems with the effect of heat transfer. The code utilizes a numerical matrix distribution scheme that runs on structured or unstructured triangular meshes and employs a dual time-stepping technique with multi-stage Runge-Kutta algorithm. The code can be used to simulate the natural convection with internal heat generation and absorption and nonlinear time-dependent evolution of heated and magnetized liquid metals exposed to external fields. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. University of Trieste; ICTP, Italy; Tubitak, TurkeyTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TBAG-U/166 (105T547)] Contract/grant sponsor: University of Trieste; Contract/grant sponsor: ICTP, Italy; Contract/grant sponsor: Tubitak, Turkey; contract/grant number: TBAG-U/166 (105T547)

A fundamental aspect of turbulence theory is related to the identification of realizable phase-space statistical descriptions able to reproduce in some suitable sense the stochastic fluid equations of a turbulent fluid. In particular, a major open issue is whether a purely Markovian statistical description of hydrodynamic turbulence actually can be achieved. Based on the formulation of a \textit{deterministic inverse kinetic theory} (IKT) for the 3D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, here we claim that such a \textit{Markovian statistical description actually exists}. The approach, which involves the introduction of the \textit{local velocity probability density} for the fluid (local pdf) - rather than the velocity-difference pdf adopted in customary approaches to homogeneous turbulence - relies exclusively on first principles. These include - in particular - the exact validity of the stochastic Navier-Stokes equations, the principle of entropy maximization and a constant H-theorem for the Shannon statistical entropy. As a result, the new approach affords an exact equivalence between Lagrangian and Eulerian formulations which permit local pdf's which are generally non-Maxwellian (i.e., non-Gaussian). The theory developed is quite general and applies in principle even to turbulence regimes which are non-stationary and non-uniform in a statistical sense., Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

A basic feature of fluid mechanics concerns the frictionless phase-space dynamics of particles in an incompressible fluid. The issue, besides its theoretical interest in turbulence theory, is important in many applications, such as the pollutant dynamics in the atmosphere, a problem relevant for civil protection monitoring of air quality. Actually, both the numerical simulation of the ABL (atmospheric boundary layer) portion of the atmosphere and that of pollutant dynamics may generally require the correct definition of the Lagrangian dynamics which characterizes arbitrary fluid elements of incompressible thermofluids. We claim that particularly important for applications would be to consider these trajectories as phase-space trajectories. This involves, however, the unfolding of a fundamental theoretical problem up to now substantially unsolved: {\it namely the determination of the exact frictionless dynamics of tracer particles in an incompressible fluid, treated either as a deterministic or a turbulent (i.e., stochastic) continuum.} In this paper we intend to formulate the necessary theoretical framework to construct such a type of description. This is based on a phase-space inverse kinetic theory (IKT) approach recently developed for incompressible fluids (Ellero \textit{et al.}, 2004-2008). {\it Our claim is that the conditional frictionless dynamics of a tracer particles - which corresponds to a prescribed velocity probability density and an arbitrary choice of the relevant fluid fields - can be exactly specified}., Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

Despite the abundant literature on the subject appeared in the last few years, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is probably the one for which a complete understanding is not yet available. As an example, an unsolved theoretical issue is related to the construction of a discrete kinetic theory which yields exactly the fluid equations, i.e., is non‐asymptotic (here denoted as LB inverse kinetic theory). The purpose of this paper aims at investigating discrete inverse kinetic theories (IKT) for incompressible fluids. We intend to show that the discrete IKT can be defined in such a way to satisfy, in particular, the requirement of completeness, i.e., all fluid fields are expressed as moments of the kinetic distribution function and all hydrodynamic equations can be identified with suitable moment equations of an appropriate inverse kinetic equation IKE.

An unsolved problem of classical mechanics and classical electrodynamics is the search of the exact relativistic equations of motion for a classical charged point-particle subject to the force produced by the action of its EM self-field. The problem is related to the conjecture that for a classical charged point-particle there should exist a relativistic equation of motion (RR equation) which results both non-perturbative, in the sense that it does not rely on a perturbative expansion on the electromagnetic field generated by the charged particle and non-asymptotic, i.e., it does not depend on any infinitesimal parameter. In this paper we intend to propose a novel solution to this well known problem, and in particular to point out that the RR equation is necessarily variational. The approach is based on two key elements: 1) the adoption of the relativistic hybrid synchronous Hamilton variational principle recently pointed out (Tessarotto et al, 2006). Its basic feature is that it can be expressed in principle in terms of arbitrary "hybrid" variables (i.e., generally non-Lagrangian and non-Hamiltonian variables); 2) the variational treatment of the EM self-field, taking into account the exact particle dynamics., Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

In this paper, extending the investigation developed in an earlier paper (Cremaschini et al., 2008), we pose the problem of the kinetic description of gravitational Hall-MHD equilibria which may arise in accretion disks (AD) plasmas close to compact objects. When intense EM and gravitational fields, generated by the central object, are present, a convenient approach can be achieved in the context of the Vlasov-Maxwell description. In this paper the investigation is focused primarily on the following two aspects: 1) the formulation of the kinetic treatment of G-Hall-MHD equilibria. Based on the identification of the relevant first integrals of motion, we show that an explicit representation can be given for the equilibrium kinetic distribution function. For each species this is represented as a superposition of suitable generalized Maxwellian distributions; 2) the determination of the constraints to be placed on the fluid fields for the existence of the kinetic equilibria. In particular, this permits a unique determination of the functional form of the species number densities and of the fluid partial pressures, in terms of suitably prescribed flux functions., Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

An interesting issue in fluid dynamics is represented by the possible existence of inverse kinetic theories (IKT) which are able to deliver, in a suitable sense, the complete set of fluid equations which are associated to a prescribed fluid. From the mathematical viewpoint this involves the formal description of a fluid by means of a classical dynamical system which advances in time the relevant fluid fields. The possibility of defining an IKT for the 3D incompressible Navier-Stokes equations (INSE), recently investigated (Ellero \textit{et al}, 2004-2007) raises the interesting question whether the theory can be applied also to thermofluids, in such a way to satisfy also the second principle of thermodynamics. The goal of this paper is to prove that such a generalization is actually possible, by means of a suitable \textit{extended phase-space formulation}. We consider, as a reference test, the case of non-isentropic incompressible thermofluids, whose dynamics is described by the Fourier and the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, the latter subject to the conditions of validity of the Boussinesq approximation., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

It is well-known that in fluid dynamics an alternative to customary direct solution methods (based on the discretization of the fluid fields) is provided by so-called \emph{particle simulation methods}. Particle simulation methods rely typically on appropriate \emph{kinetic models} for the fluid equations which permit the evaluation of the fluid fields in terms of suitable expectation values (or \emph{momenta}) of the kinetic distribution function $f(\mathbf{r,v},t),$ being respectively $\mathbf{r}$ and\textbf{\}$\mathbf{v}$ the position an velocity of a test particle with probability density $f(\mathbf{r,v},t)$. These kinetic models can be continuous or discrete in phase space, yielding respectively \emph{continuous} or \emph{discrete kinetic models} for the fluids. However, also particle simulation methods may be biased by an undesirable computational complexity. In particular, a fundamental issue is to estimate the algorithmic complexity of numerical simulations based on traditional LBM's (Lattice-Boltzmann methods; for review see Succi, 2001 \cite{Succi}). These methods, based on a discrete kinetic approach, represent currently an interesting alternative to direct solution methods. Here we intend to prove that for incompressible fluids fluids LBM's may present a high complexity. The goal of the investigation is to present a detailed account of the origin of the various complexity sources appearing in customary LBM's. The result is relevant to establish possible strategies for improving the numerical efficiency of existing numerical methods., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

The search of the correct equation of motion for a classical charged particle under the action of its electromagnetic (EM) self-field, the so-called \textit{radiation-reaction equation of motion}, remains elusive to date. In this paper we intend to point out why this is so. The discussion is based on the direct construction of the EM self-potentials produced by a charged spherical particle under the action of an external EM force. In particular we intend to analyze basic features of the LAD (Lorentz-Abraham-Dirac) and the LL (Landau-Lifschitz) equations. Both are shown to lead to incorrect or incomplete results., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto,Japan, July 2008)

Despite the progress achieved by kinetic theory, its rigorous theoretical foundations still remain unsolved to date. This concerns in particular the search of possible exact kinetic equations and, specifically, the conjecture proposed by Grad (Grad, 1972) and developed in a seminal work by Lanford (Lanford, 1974) that kinetic equations - such as the Boltzmann equation for a gas of classical hard spheres - might result exact in an appropriate asymptotic limit, usually denoted as Boltzmann-Grad limit. The Lanford conjecture has actually had a profound influence on the scientific community, giving rise to a whole line of original research in kinetic theory and mathematical physics. Nevertheless, several aspects of the theory remain to be addressed and clarified. In fact, its validity has been proven for the Boltzmann equation only at most in a weak sense, i.e., if the Boltzmann-Grad limit is defined according to the weak * convergence. While it is doubtful whether the result applies for arbitrary times and for general situations (and in particular more generally for classical systems of particles interacting via binary forces), it remains completely unsolved the issue whether the conjecture might be valid also in a stronger sense (\textit{strong Lanford conjecture}). This paper will point out a physical model providing a counter-example to the strong Lanford conjecture, representing a straightforward generalization of the classical model based on a gas of hard-smooth spheres. In particular we claim that that the one-particle limit function, defined in the sense of the strong Boltzmann-Grad limit, does not generally satisfy the BBGKY (or Boltzmann) hierarchy. The result is important for the theoretical foundations of kinetic theory., Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

The gyrokinetic description of particle dynamics faces a basic difficulty when a special type of canonical variables is sought, i.e., the so-called \textit{gyrokinetic canonical variables}. These are defined in such a way that two of them are respectively identified with the gyrophase-angle, describing the fast particle gyration motion around magnetic field lines, and its canonically conjugate momentum. In this paper we intend to discuss the conditions of existence for these variables., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

A basic prerequisite for the investigation of relativistic astrophysical magnetoplasmas, occurring typically in the vicinity of massive stellar objects (black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, etc.), is the accurate description of single-particle covariant dynamics, based on gyrokinetic theory (Beklemishev et al.,1999-2005). Provided radiation-reaction effects are negligible, this is usually based on the assumption that both the space-time metric and the EM fields (in particular the magnetic field) are suitably prescribed and are considered independent of single-particle dynamics, while allowing for the possible presence of gravitational/EM perturbations driven by plasma collective interactions which may naturally arise in such systems. The purpose of this work is the formulation of a generalized gyrokinetic theory based on the synchronous variational principle recently pointed out (Tessarotto et al., 2007) which permits to satisfy exactly the physical realizability condition for the four-velocity. The theory here developed includes the treatment of nonlinear perturbations (gravitational and/or EM) characterized locally, i.e., in the rest frame of a test particle, by short wavelength and high frequency. Basic feature of the approach is to ensure the validity of the theory both for large and vanishing parallel electric field. It is shown that the correct treatment of EM perturbations occurring in the presence of an intense background magnetic field generally implies the appearance of appropriate four-velocity corrections, which are essential for the description of single-particle gyrokinetic dynamics., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

Extending the statistical approach proposed in a parallel paper \cite% {Tessarotto2008-aa}, purpose of this work is to propose a stochastic inverse kinetic theory for small-scale hydrodynamic turbulence based on the introduction of a suitable \textit{local phase-space probability density function} (pdf). In particular, we pose the problem of the construction of Fokker-Planck kinetic models of hydrodynamic turbulence. The approach here adopted is based on the so-called IKT approach (inverse kinetic theory), developed by Ellero et al. (2004-2008) which permits an exact phase-space description of incompressible fluids based on the adoption of a local pdf. We intend to show that for prescribed models of stochasticity the present approach permits to determine uniquely the time evolution of the stochastic fluid fields. The stochastic-averaged local pdf is shown to obey a kinetic equation which, although generally non-Markovian, locally in velocity-space can be approximated by means of a suitable Fokker-planck kinetic equation. As a side result, the same pdf is proven to have generally a non-Gaussian behavior., Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

A striking feature of standard quantum mechanics is its analogy with classical fluid dynamics. In particular it is well known the Schr\"{o}dinger equation can be viewed as describing a classical compressible and non-viscous fluid, described by two (quantum) fluid fields ${\rho ,% \mathbf{V}} $, to be identified with the quantum probability density and velocity field. This feature has suggested the construction of a phase-space hidden-variable description based on a suitable inverse kinetic theory (IKT; Tessarotto et al., 2007). The discovery of this approach has potentially important consequences since it permits to identify the classical dynamical system which advances in time the quantum fluid fields. This type of approach, however requires the identification of additional fluid fields. These can be generally identified with suitable directional fluid temperatures $T_{QM,i}$ (for $i=1,2,3$), to be related to the expectation values of momentum fluctuations appearing in the Heisenberg inequalities. Nevertheless the definition given previously for them (Tessarotto et al., 2007) is non-unique. In this paper we intend to propose a criterion, based on the validity of a constant H-theorem, which provides an unique definition for the quantum temperatures., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)

Fundamental aspects of inverse-kinetic theories for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations [M. Tessarotto, M. Ellero, RGD24, Italy, July 10–16, 2004, AIP Conf. Proc. 762 (2005) 108; M. Ellero, M. Tessarotto, Physica A 355 (2005) 233] include the possibility of defining uniquely the kinetic equation underlying such models and, furthermore, the construction of a kinetic theory implying also the energy equation. The latter condition is consistent with the requirement that fluid fields result classical solutions of the fluid equations. These issues appear of potential relevance both from the mathematical viewpoint and for the physical interpretation of the theory. Purpose of this work is to prove that under suitable prescriptions the inverse-kinetic theory can be determined to satisfy such requirements.

A remarkable feature of standard quantum mechanics is its analogy with classical fluid dynamics. This has motivated in the past efforts to formulate phase-space techniques based on various statistical models of quantum hydrodynamic equations. In this work an inverse kinetic theory for the Schr\"odinger equation has been constructed in order to formally describe the standard quantum dynamics by means of a classical dynamical system (to be denoted as phase-space Schr\"odinger dynamical system). It is shown that the inverse kinetic theory can be (non)uniquely determined under suitable mathematical prescriptions. In particular, when the quantum linear momentum is identified with a suitable linear kinetic momentum, it follows that the fluctuations of the position vector and the kinetic linear momentum satisfy identically the Heisenberg theorem.

Detailed properties of the electrostatic Shukla–Nambu–Salimullah potential in an inhomogeneous magnetoplasma in the presence of ion streaming due to diamagnetic drift as in a laboratory discharge plasma have been examined analytically. The potential becomes a sensitive function of the external static magnetic field, the scalelength of inhomogeneity, and the diamagnetic ion streaming velocity. For a decreasing ion density gradient, there is a limit of existence of this static modified shielding potential.

The charge reduction effect, produced by the nonlinear Debye screening of high-Z charges occuring in strongly-coupled plasmas, is investigated. An analytic asymptotic expression is obtained for the charge reduction factor which determines the Debye-Hueckel potential generated by a charged test particle. Its relevant parametric dependencies are analyzed and shown to predict a strong charge reduction effect in strongly-coupled plasmas., 4 figures

The classical Debye-H\"{u}ckel screening effect of the electrostatic field generated by isolated charged particles immersed in a plasma is reviewed. The validity of the underlying mathematical model, and particularly of the weak-field approximation, are analyzed. It is shown that the presence of the plasma sheath around test particles and the resulting effect of charge screening are essential for the description of plasmas which are strongly coupled., Comment: 3 figures

A fundamental aspect of CFD for incompressible fluids and magnetofluids is the algorithmic complexity which characterizes both conventional direct simulation methods and kinetic approaches based on microscopic or phenomenological models based on asymptotic kinetic theories. A possible solution to this problem, can be provided by so‐called inverse kinetic theories suitably constructed in such a way to avoid the computational complexity of previous numerical approaches, in particular due to the Poisson equation for the fluid pressure, which typically (for example, for so‐called fractional step due to Kim and Moin), involves an algorithmic complexity of order N2, being N the grid number characterizing the numerical solution. This may explain why, in massive parallel DNS simulations of turbulent flows, the maximum grid number remains substantially limited. Goal of the present Note is propose a solution to this problem, pointing out a new inverse kinetic theory which does not require the solution of Poisson eq...

An inverse kinetic theory applying specifically to incompressible Newtonian fluids which permits us to avoid the N 2 algorithmic complexity of the Poisson equation for the fluid pressure is presented. The theory is based on the construction of a suitable kinetic equation in phase space, which permits us to determine exactly the fluid equations by means of the velocity moments of the kinetic distribution function. It is found that the fluid pressure can also be determined as a moment of the distribution function without solving the Poisson equation, as is usually required in direct solution methods for the incompressible fluid equations. Finally, the dynamical system, underlying the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations and advancing in time the fluid fields, has been also identified and proven to produce an unique set of fluid equations.

The well-known gyrokinetic problem regards the perturbative expansion related to the dynamics of a charged particle subject to fast gyration motion due to the presence of a strong magnetic field. Although a variety of approaches have been formulated in the past to this well known problem, surprisingly a purely canonical approach based on Lie transform methods is still missing. This paper aims to fill in this gap and provide at the same time new insight in Lie-transform approaches., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. Contributed to the Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Rarefied Gas Dynamics, July 10-16, 2004 Porto Giardino Monopoli (Bari), Italy

A famous aspect of discrete dynamical systems defined by area-preserving maps is the physical interpretation of stochastic transitions occurring locally which manifest themselves through the destruction of invariant KAM curves and the local or global onset of chaos. Despite numerous previous investigations (see in particular Chirikov, Greene, Percival, Escande and Doveil and MacKay) based on different approaches, several aspects of the phenomenon still escape a complete understanding and a rigorous description. In particular Greene's approach is based on several conjectures, one of which is that the stochastic transition leading to the destruction of the last KAM curve in the standard map is due the linear destabilization of the elliptic points belonging to a peculiar family of invariants sets {I(m,n)} (rational iterates) having rational winding numbers and associated to the last KAM curve. Purpose of this work is to analyze the nonlinear phenomena leading to the stochastic transition in the standard map and their effect on the destabilization of the invariant sets associated to the KAM curves, leading, ultimately, to the destruction of the KAM curves themselves., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. Contributed to the Proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Rarefied Gas Dynamics, July 10-16, 2004 Porto Giardino Monopoli (Bari), Italy

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An important aspect of computational fluid dynamics is related to the determination of the fluid pressure in isothermal incompressible fluids. In particular this concerns the construction of an exact evolution equation for the fluid pressure which replaces the Poisson equation and yields an algorithm which is a Poisson solver, i.e., it permits to time-advance exactly the same fluid pressure \textit{without solving the Poisson equation}% . In fact, the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations represent a mixture of hyperbolic and elliptic pde's, which are extremely hard to study both analytically and numerically. In this paper we intend to show that an exact solution to this problem can be achieved adopting the approach based on inverse kinetic theory (IKT) recently developed for incompressible fluids by Ellero and Tessarotto (2004-2007). In particular we intend to prove that the evolution of the fluid fields can be achieved by means of a suitable dynamical system, to be identified with the so-called Navier-Stokes (N-S) dynamical system. As a consequence it is found that the fluid pressure obeys a well-defined evolution equation. The result appears relevant for the construction of Lagrangian approaches to fluid dynamics., Comment: Contributed paper at RGD26 (Kyoto, Japan, July 2008)