Search

We discuss a family of Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for current sheet equilibria that are intermediate cases between the Harris sheet and the force-free (or modified) Harris sheet. These equilibrium distribution functions have potential applications to space and astrophysical plasmas. The existence of these distribution function had been briefly discussed in by Harrison and Neukirch 2009, but here it is shown that their approach runs into problems in the limit where the guide field goes to zero. The nature of this problem will be discussed and an alternative approach will be suggested that avoids the problem. This is achieved by considering a slight variation of the magnetic field profile, which allows a smooth transition between the Harris and force-free Harris sheet cases., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Journal of Plasma Physics

Kinetic-scale current sheets observed in the solar wind are frequently approximately force-free despite the fact that their plasma $\beta$ is of the order of one. In-situ measurements have recently shown that plasma density and temperature often vary across the current sheets, while the plasma pressure is approximately uniform. In many cases these density and temperature variations are asymmetric with respect to the center of the current sheet. To model these observations theoretically we develop in this paper equilibria of kinetic-scale force-free current sheets that have plasma density and temperature gradients. The models can also be useful for analysis of stability and dissipation of the current sheets in the solar wind., Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria are described by the self-consistent solutions of the time-independent Maxwell equations for the real-space dynamics of electromagnetic fields, and the Vlasov equation for the phase-space dynamics of particle distributions in a collisionless plasma. These two systems (macroscopic and microscopic) are coupled via the source terms in Maxwell's equations, which are sums of velocity-space 'moment' integrals of the particle distribution function. This paper considers 'the inverse problem for collisionless equilibria' (IPCE), viz. "given information regarding the real-space/macroscopic configuration of a specific collisionless plasma equilibrium, what self-consistent equilibrium distributions exist?" We develop the constants of motion approach to IPCE using the assumptions of a 'modified Maxwellian' distribution function, and a strictly neutral and spatially one-dimensional plasma. In such circumstances, IPCE formally reduces to the inversion of Weierstrass transformations (Bilodeau, 1962), such as those transformations that feature in the initial value problem for the heat/diffusion equation. We discuss the various mathematical conditions that a candidate solution of IPCE must satisfy. One method that can be used to invert the Weierstrass transform is expansions in Hermite polynomials. Building on the results of Allanson et al. (2016), we establish under what circumstances a solution obtained by these means converges, and allows velocity moments of all orders. Ever since the seminal work by Bernstein et al. (1957), on 'stationary' electrostatic plasma waves, the necessary quality of non-negativity has been noted as a feature that any candidate solution of IPCE will not $\textit{a priori}$ satisfy. We also discuss this problem in the context of for our formalism, for magnetised plasmas., Comment: Invited paper (2017 IMA Lighthill-Thwaites Prize finalist). Submitted to The IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics. 24 pages

The NASA Magnetospheric Multiscale mission has made in situ diffusion region and kinetic-scale resolution measurements of asymmetric magnetic reconnection for the first time, in the Earth's magnetopause. The principal theoretical tool currently used to model collisionless asymmetric reconnection is particle-in-cell simulations. Many particle-in-cell simulations of asymmetric collisionless reconnection start from an asymmetric Harris-type magnetic field but with distribution functions that are not exact equilibrium solutions of the Vlasov equation. We present new and exact equilibrium solutions of the Vlasov-Maxwell system that are self-consistent with one-dimensional asymmetric current sheets, with an asymmetric Harris-type magnetic field profile, plus a constant nonzero guide field. The distribution functions can be represented as a combination of four shifted Maxwellian distribution functions. This equilibrium describes a magnetic field configuration with more freedom than the previously known exact solution and has different bulk flow properties., Comment: Final Author version. The Open Access Geophysical Review Letters article is at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL074168/full

We present a class of one-dimensional, strictly neutral, Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium distribution functions for force-free current sheets, with magnetic fields defined in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions, extending the results of Abraham-Shrauner (Phys. Plasmas 20, 102117, 2013) to allow for non-uniform density and temperature profiles. To achieve this, we use an approach previously applied to the force-free Harris sheet by Kolotkov et al. (Phys. Plasmas 22, 112902, 2015). In one limit of the parameters, we recover the model of Kolotkov et al., while another limit gives a linear force-free field. We discuss conditions on the parameters such that the distribution functions are always positive, and give expressions for the pressure, density, temperature and bulk-flow velocities of the equilibrium, discussing differences from previous models. We also present some illustrative plots of the distribution function in velocity space., Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures

We calculate exact one-dimensional collisionless plasma equilibria for a continuum of flux tube models, for which the total magnetic field is made up of the `force-free' Gold-Hoyle magnetic flux tube embedded in a uniform and anti-parallel background magnetic field. For a sufficiently weak background magnetic field, the axial component of the total magnetic field reverses at some finite radius. The presence of the background magnetic field means that the total system is not exactly force-free, but by reducing its magnitude the departure from force-free can be made as small as desired. The distribution function for each species is a function of the three constants of motion; namely the Hamiltonian and the canonical momenta in the axial and azimuthal directions. Poisson's Equation and Amp\`{e}re's Law are solved exactly, and the solution allows either electrically neutral or non-neutral configurations, depending on the values of the bulk ion and electron flows. These equilibria have possible applications in various solar, space and astrophysical contexts, as well as in the laboratory.

We consider the theory and application of a solution method for the inverse problem in collisionless equilibria, namely that of calculating a Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium for a given macroscopic (fluid) equilibrium. Using Jeans' Theorem, the equilibrium distribution functions are expressed as functions of the constants of motion, in the form of a Maxwellian multiplied by an unknown function of the canonical momenta. In this case it is possible to reduce the inverse problem to inverting Weierstrass transforms, which we achieve by using expansions over Hermite polynomials. A sufficient condition on the pressure tensor is found which guarantees the convergence and the boundedness of the candidate solution, when satisfied. This condition is obtained by elementary means, and it is clear how to put it into practice. We also argue that for a given pressure tensor for which our method applies, there always exists a positive distribution function solution for a sufficiently magnetised plasma. Illustrative examples of the use of this method with both force-free and non-force-free macroscopic equilibria are presented, including the full verification of a recently derived distribution function for the force-free Harris Sheet (Allanson $\textit{et al., Phys. Plasmas}$, vol. 22 (10), 2015, 102116). In the effort to model equilibria with lower values of the plasma beta, solutions for the same macroscopic equilibrium in a new gauge are calculated, with numerical results presented for $\beta_{pl}=0.05$., Comment: Published version is Open Access in Journal of Plasma Physics, 82, 03 (2016). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1508.07925

We present a first discussion and analysis of the physical properties of a new exact collisionless equilibrium for a one-dimensional nonlinear force-free magnetic field, namely the Force-Free Harris Sheet. The solution allows any value of the plasma beta, and crucially below unity, which previous nonlinear force-free collisionless equilibria could not. The distribution function involves infinite series of Hermite Polynomials in the canonical momenta, of which the important mathematical properties of convergence and non-negativity have recently been proven. Plots of the distribution function are presented for the plasma beta modestly below unity, and we compare the shape of the distribution function in two of the velocity directions to a Maxwellian distribution., Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures (2 colour)

We present the solution to an inverse problem arising in the context of finding a distribution function for a specific collisionless plasma equilibrium. The inverse problem involves the solution of two integral equations, each having the form of a Weierstrass transform. We prove that inverting the Weierstrass transform using Hermite polynomials leads to convergent infinite series. We also comment on the non-negativity of the distribution function, with more detail on this in Allanson $\textit{et al., Journal of Plasma Physics}$, vol. 82 (03), 2016. Whilst applied to a specific magnetic field, the inversion techniques used in this paper (as well as the derived convergence criteria and discussion of non-negativity) are of a general nature, and are applicable to other smooth pressure functions., Comment: See Allanson et al., Journal of Plasma Physics, vol. 82 (03), 2016 for a more comprehensive treatment of the inverse problem discussed herein, in a general setting

The angular momentum density and flux of light in a dispersive, rotationally symmetric medium are derived from Noether's theorem. Optical angular momentum in a dispersive medium has no simple relation to optical linear momentum, even if the medium is homogeneous. A circularly polarized monochromatic beam in a homogeneous, dispersive medium carries a spin angular momentum of $\pm\hbar$ per energy $\hbar\omega$, as in vacuum. This result demonstrates the non-trivial interplay of dispersive contributions to optical angular momentum and energy., Comment: 4 pages