Why space physics needs to go beyond the MHD box

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory has been used in space physics for more than forty years, yet many important questions about space plasmas remain unanswered. We still do not understand how the solar wind is accelerated, how mass, momentum and energy are transported into the magnetosphere and what mechanisms initiate substorms. Questions have been raised from the beginning of the space era whether MHD theory can describe correctly space plasmas that are collisionless and rarely in thermal equilibrium. Ideal MHD fluids do not induce electromotive force, hence they lose the capability to interact electromagnetically. No currents and magnetic fields are generated, rendering ideal MHD theory not very useful for space plasmas. Observations from the plasma sheet are used as examples to show how collisionless plasmas behave. Interpreting these observations using MHD and ideal MHD concepts can lead to misleading conclusions. Notably, the bursty bulk flows (BBF) with large mean velocities left(〈 v 〉≥400 km s right) that have been interpreted previously as E×B flows are shown to involve much more complicated physics. The sources of these nonvanishing 〈 v 〉 events, while still not known, are intimately related to mechanisms that create large phase space gradients that include beams and acceleration of ions to MeV energies. The distributions of these nonvanishing 〈 v 〉 events are associated with large amplitude variations of the magnetic field at frequencies up to and exceeding the local Larmor frequency where MHD theory is not valid. Understanding collisionless plasma dynamics such as substorms in the plasma sheet requires the self-consistency that only kinetic theory can provide. Kinetic modeling is still undergoing continual development with many studies limited to one and two dimensions, but there is urgent need to improve these models as more and more data show kinetic physics is fundamentally important. Only then will we be able to make progress and obtain a correct picture of how collisionless plasmas work in space.     

Coupling of macroscopic and small scale phenomena

Collisionless microscopic phenomena such as anomalous resistivity, particle acceleration and heat conduction have been successfully treated by particle simulations. Such simulations are usually restricted to volume elements and time scales that are small compared to global scales or even the space and time steps in macroscopic codes. Despite the recent code advances and increases in computing power, it remains necessary to determine the effect of macroscopic dynamics on small scale phenomena and vice versa. The sensitivity of microscopic simulation results to macroscopic boundary conditions is demonstrated. Macroscopic codes, on the other hand, are examined for their dependence on microscopic details. The consequences for the design and analysis of simulation experiments in space physics are discussed. Combining macroscopic and microscopic aspects in a single simulation, despite the usual disparity of scales, will remain a challenging problem.     

Slow Solar Wind: Observations and Modeling

While it is certain that the fast solar wind originates from coronal holes, where and how the slow solar wind (SSW) is formed remains an outstanding question in solar physics even in the post-SOHO era. The quest for the SSW origin forms a major objective for the planned future missions such as the Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus. Nonetheless, results from spacecraft data, combined with theoretical modeling, have helped to investigate many aspects of the SSW. Fundamental physical properties of the coronal plasma have been derived from spectroscopic and imaging remote-sensing data and in situ data, and these results have provided crucial insights for a deeper understanding of the origin and acceleration of the SSW. Advanced models of the SSW in coronal streamers and other structures have been developed using 3D MHD and multi-fluid equations.However, the following questions remain open: What are the source regions and their contributions to the SSW? What is the role of the magnetic topology in the corona for the origin, acceleration and energy deposition of the SSW? What are the possible acceleration and heating mechanisms for the SSW? The aim of this review is to present insights on the SSW origin and formation gathered from the discussions at the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) by the Team entitled “Slow solar wind sources and acceleration mechanisms in the corona” held in Bern (Switzerland) in March 2014 and 2015.     

Numerical Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Modeling of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

The Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is arguably the most important discovery of solar eruptive phenomena in the 20th century. It is now also recognized that CMEs have great impact on the Earth's environment by inducing geomagnetic storms. Thus, development of simulation models to understand the physical mechanisms of CME initiation and propagation has become a challenge in the solar MHD community. In this paper we shall summarize chronologically the development of the theoretical analyses, and the successes and failures of the numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during the past two decades. The chronological development of numerical simulation models and the evolution of the numerical methods to treat this class of problems are presented. The most appropriate way to model CMEs is to have (i) a realistic pre-event coronal atmosphere, and (ii) realistic driving mechanisms. Details of the progress and assessment of the theoretical and modeling efforts for the understanding of the physics of the CME initiation and propagation will be presented, and the numerical methods to construct these simulation models will be discussed.     

Numerical simulation of magnetohydrodynamic shock propagation in the corona

Recent developments in the field of numerical simulation models for the study of shock wave propagation in the corona are presented. These models are based on gasdynamic (GD) and ideal (that is, dissipationless, except at shocks) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theories. The characteristics and physical interpretations of the results derived from these models are discussed in some detail.The most significant physical results obtained to date are provided by the two-dimensional non-planar, time-dependent, MHD numerical simulation model. In this model, the non-linear interaction among the three essential MHD waves, i.e., fast-, slow-, and Alfvén waves are demonstrated. Finally, the physical relevance of these numerical simulation models in relation to observed solar activity is presented.An invited paper presented at STIP Workshop on Shock Waves in the Solar Corona and Interplanetary Space, 15–19 June, 1980, Smolenice, Czechoslovakia.     

Towards a new paradigm: from a quasi-steady description to a dynamical description of the magnetosphere

A great deal of the research done on the dynamical process of the solar wind- magnetosphere interaction is based on large-scale, quasi-steady theoretical models, such as the classical reconnection model. However, it can be argued that the theoretical and observational foundations of these commonly believed paradigms are not always strong, and support for these models is sometimes weak, controversial or inconsistent. This paper discusses the need for a transition from an oversimplified quasi-steady paradigm towards a more realistic one including the dynamics of MHD waves and wave packets. The effects of localized wave packets may be most important in active plasma regions, where ideal MHD breaks down and localized, time-dependent processes become dominant. New insights into the theories of field-aligned current generation, auroral particle acceleration and the concept of reconnection may be found by including MHD wave propagation and wave packet dynamics.     

MHD processes in the outer heliosphere

Conclusion Much has been learned about the structure and dynamics of the outer heliosphere during the last decade as a result observations from the Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft. The large scale of the observations forces one to consider the heliosphere from a new perspective, to think of new dynamical processes, and to introduce new concepts. The early studies of isolated gas dynamic flows must be replaced by MHD dynamics of interacting flows and flow systems. The simple deterministic models that have been dominant in early studies of the solar wind are now seen to have limited applicability, and statistical approaches are being developed. New concepts that have been introduced, such as inverse cascades, filtering, entrainment, etc., must be further explored and clarified, to make them more precise and quantitative. MHD turbulence is probably very important in solar wind dynamics, but the subject is poorly developed from a theoretical point of view. The statistical analysis of solar wind parameters has scarcely begun, but it is clearly necessary for an understanding of complex, large-scale flows. The multitude of possible interactions among shocks and flows of various types needs to be explored systematically with observations, models and analytical theory. Voyagers 1 and 2 and Pioneers 10 and 11 are continuing to move through the outer heliosphere and gather data. The lengthy data reduction procedures require even more care in dealing with the low field strengths, densities and temperatures at large heliocentric distances, and the analysis of the complex flows and fields in the outer heliosphere becomes increasingly difficult. Thus one can expect continued growth of our knowledge of the heliosphere, but comprehensive understanding of the data will take some time. If this review stimulates the specialists in solar wind physics to think critically about the results presented and to remedy the deficiencies of current knowledge of the heliosphere, then it will have served its purpose. It is also hoped that this review will serve to encourage specialists in other fields to bring their talents to bear on heliospheric problems and to transfer results of heliospheric physics to their fields.     

Fundamentals of plasma simulation

With the increasing size and speed of modern supercomputers, the incredibly complex nonlinear properties of plasmas in the laboratory and in space are being successfully explored in increasing depth. Of particular importance have been numerical simulation techniques involving finite size particles on a discrete mesh. After discussing the importance of this means of understanding a variety of nonlinear plasma phenomena, we describe the basic elements of particle-in-cell simulation and their limitations and advantages. The differencing techniques, stability and accuracy issues, data management and optimization issues are discussed by a simple example of a particle-in-cell code. Recent advances in simulation methods allowing large space and time scales to be treated with minimal sacrifice in physics are reviewed. Various examples of nonlinear processes successfully studied by plasma simulation are given.     

Alfvén wave heating

This review discusses Alfvén wave heating in non-uniform plasmas as a possible means for explaining the heating of the solar corona. It focusses on recent analytical results that enable us to understand the basic physics of Alfvén wave heating and help us with the interpretation of results of numerical simulations. First we consider the singular wave solutions that are found in linear ideal MHD at the resonant magnetic surface where the frequency of the wave equals the local Alfvén frequency. Next, we use linear resistive MHD for describing the waves in the dissipative region and explain how dissipation modifies the singular solutions found in linear ideal MHD.     

Progress, Challenges, and Perspectives of the 3D MHD Numerical Modeling of Oscillations in the Solar Corona

Recent high temporal and spatial resolution satellite observations of the solar corona provide ample evidence of oscillations in coronal structures. The observed waves and oscillations can be used as a diagnostic tool of the poorly known coronal parameters, such as magnetic field, density, and temperature. The emerging field of coronal seismology relies on the interpretation of the various coronal oscillations in terms of theoretically known wave modes, and the comparison of observed and theoretical wave mode properties for the determination of the coronal parameters. However, due to complexity of coronal structures the various modes are coupled, and the application of linear theory of idealized structures to coronal loops and active regions limits the usefulness of such methods. Improved coronal seismology can be achieved by the development of full 3D MHD dynamical model of relevant coronal structures and the oscillation phenomena. In addition to improved accuracy compared to linear analysis, 3D MHD models allow the diagnostic method to include nonlinearity, compressibility, and dissipation. The current progress made with 3D MHD models of waves in the corona is reviewed, and the challenges facing further development of this method are discussed in the perspective of future improvement that will be driven by new high resolution and high cadence satellite data, such as received from Hinode and STEREO, and expected from SDO.     

Resonant MHD Waves in the Solar Atmosphere

The linear theory of MHD resonant waves in inhomogeneous plasmas is reviewed. The review starts from discussing the properties of driven resonant MHD waves. The dissipative solutions in Alfvén and slow dissipative layers are presented. The important concept of connection formulae is introduced. Next, we proceed on to non-stationary resonant MHD waves. The relation between quasi-modes of ideal MHD and eigenmodes of dissipative MHD are discussed. The solution describing the wave motion in non-stationary dissipative layers is given. It is shown that the connection formulae remain valid for non-stationary resonant MHD waves. The initial-value problem for resonant MHD waves is considered. The application of theory of resonant MHD waves to solar physics is discussed.     

Design and application of solar sailing: A review on key technologies

Solar sail technology has been proposed and developed for space explorations with advantages of low launch cost, no-propellant consumption, and continuous thrust, which has great potentials in earth polar detection, interstellar explorations and etc. The development of solar sail has made significant progress in structural design, manufacturing, materials, orbit transfer, and stability control in the past few decades, which makes meaningful contributions to astronomy, physics, and aerospace science. Technological breakthroughs of Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) propulsion and interstellar transfer have been achieved in current solar sail missions. However, there are still many challenges and problems need to be solved. This paper attempts to summarize the research schemes and potential applications of solar sailing in space missions from the viewpoint of key technologies, so as to provide an overall perspective for researchers in this field. Analyses of the key technologies of solar sailing system design are provided. Finally, challenges and prospective development of solar sailing are discussed.     

JF-16膨胀管流场分析及升级改造

膨胀管（风洞）是少数几种具备超高速流动模拟能力的地面试验设备之一,针对中国科学院力学研究所高温气体动力学国家重点实验室的爆轰驱动膨胀管JF-16,通过高焓流动数值模拟方法辅助诊断JF-16的流场特性可以发现,高温真实气体效应可以显著增加激波对气体的压缩能力并影响强激波结构,加速段内试验气流静温及化学成分较真实飞行条件有所偏离。为此对JF-16进行升级改造,通过在加速段末端加装锥形喷管,利用喷管的定常膨胀过程进一步调整试验气流的静温,进而提高试验气流品质,同时可以扩大试验区尺度。数值模拟结果表明8°锥角为最优选择,此时试验区尺度可扩大至140 mm。     

平板边界层中展向波包型扰动引起的转捩

过去在平板边界层转捩及湍流的研究中,主要考虑的扰动在展向是均匀分布的,这样有利于研究,但在实际问题中扰动形式是多样的,边界层可能是三维的,扰动在展向是不均匀的。对于以往研究的扰动来说,三维平板边界层中的展向非均匀扰动是比较复杂的扰动形式,更接近自然转捩,因此研究这种扰动引起的转捩和湍流具有重要的实际意义。基于此,针对平板边界层,控制方程为无量纲化的Navier-Stokes扰动方程,时间上采用三阶精度的差分格式,空间上展向采用伪谱方法,流向和法向采用高阶精度差分格式,应用数值模拟的方法研究了小幅值和有限幅值展向波包两种情况。通过数值模拟和线性稳定性理论分析小幅值波包的演化,得到了小幅值波包的演化符合线性稳定性理论(LST);分析了有限幅值的展向波包型扰动引起的转捩和湍流,描述了物理空间和谱空间中波包型扰动的演化特征;同时针对不同展向位置进行分析,结果表明不同展向位置的转捩位置不同,但转捩过程和特征是类似的。     

MHD Waves and Heating in Coronal Holes

Coronal holes have been identified as source regions of the fast solar wind, and MHD wave activity has been detected in coronal holes by remote sensing, and in situ in fast solar wind streams. I review some of the most suggestive wave observations, and discuss the theoretical aspects of MHD wave heating and solar wind acceleration in coronal holes. I review the results of single fluid 2.5D MHD, as well as multi-fluid 2.5D MHD models of waves in coronal holes, the heating, and the acceleration of the solar wind be these waves.     

Low frequency turbulence and energy dissipation in the Solar Wind

The possibility to perform in-situ measurements of velocity, magnetic field, density and temperature fluctuations in the Solar Wind has greatly improved our knoweledge of MHD turbulence not only from the point of view of space physics but also from the more general point of view of plasma physics.These fluctuations on the one hand extend over a wide range of frequencies (about 5 decades), a fact which seems to be the signature of turbulent non-linear energy cascade, on the other hand display, mainly in the trailing edge of high speed streams, a number of striking features: (i) a high degree of correlation between magnetic and velocity field fluctuations, (ii) a very low level of fluctuations in mass density and magnetic field intensity, (iii) a considerable anisotropy revealed by minimum variance analysis of the magnetic field correlation tensor. More recently it has been stressed that MHD turbulence in the Solar Wind displays a clear intermittent character.The picture which emerges from the most recent analytical theories and numerical simulations is presented. In particular the observations which give us informations about the dissipation mechanism, which remains yet largely unknown, are discussed.     

Basic Physical Mechanism of Fast Reconnection Evolution in Space Plasmas

Large dissipative events, such as solar flares and geomagnetic substorms, may result from sudden onset of fast (explosive) magnetic reconnection. Hence, it is a long-standing problem to find the physical mechanism that makes magnetic reconnection explosive; in particular, how can the fast magnetic reconnection explosively evolve in space plasmas? In this respect, we have proposed the spontaneous fast reconnection model as a nonlinear instability that grows by the positive feedback between plasma microphysics (anomalous resistivity) and macrophysics (global reconnection flow). On the basis of MHD simulations, we demonstrate for a variety of physical situations that the fast reconnection mechanism involving slow shocks in fact evolves explosively as a nonlinear instability and is sustained quasi-steadily on the nonlinear saturation phase. Also, distinct plasma processes, such as large-scale plasmoid propagation, magnetic loop development and loop-top heating, and asymmetric fast reconnection evolution, directly result from the spontaneous fast reconnection model. Obviously, MHD simulations are very useful in understanding the basic physics of explosive fast reconnection evolution in space plasmas. However, they cannot treat the details of microphysics near an X neutral point, which should be precisely studied in the coming 21st century.     

Impulsive Coupling Between the Atmosphere and Ionosphere/Magnetosphere

This review covers various aspects of the impulsive coupling in the ULF frequency range between atmospheric discharge processes and upper ionosphere. Characteristic feature of the upper ionosphere is the occurrence of the ionospheric Alfven resonator (IAR) and MHD waveguide, which can trap the electromagnetic wave energy in the range from fractions of Hz to few Hz. Induction magnetometer observations at mid-latitude stations are considered as an example of a transient ULF response to the regional and global lightning activity. For many events, besides the main impulse produced by a lightning discharge, a secondary impulse delayed about 1 sec was observed. These secondary echo-impulses are probably caused by the partial reflection of wave energy of the initial lightning pulse from the upper IAR boundary in the topside ionosphere. The multi-band spectral resonant structure (SRS) can be formed owing to the occurrence of paired pulses in analyzed time series. The statistical superposed epoch method indeed has revealed a dominance of two-pulse structure in the magnetic field background during the periods of the SRS occurrence. The numerical modeling shows that during the lightning discharge a coupled wave system comprising IAR and MHD waveguide is excited. In the lightning proximity (about few hundred km) the amplitudes of radial component is 1–2 orders less than those of the azimuthal component, and only the lowest IAR harmonics are revealed in the radial magnetic component. At distances ～10³?km the spectral power densities of both components are comparable, and the SRS is more pronounced. The problems and further prospects of the study of the impulsive magnetosphere–ionosphere–atmosphere coupling via transient processes during thunderstorms are discussed.     

On the computation of instabilities and symmetry-breaking in fluid mechanics

A review on the implementation of modern computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for simulating low- and high-speed flows featuring turbulent mixing, instabilities and symmetry-breaking is presented. Results are reviewed for several complex flows including turbulent mixing associated with Richtmyer–Meshkov and Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities, incompressible flows in suddenly expanded geometries, shock-induced instabilities, free-shear instabilities and complex vortex dynamics. Many of the results presented in this review have been obtained by large eddy simulation (LES), monotone integrated LES (MILES) in particular. The computational challenges associated with complex flow physics and nonlinear behaviour of the numerics are discussed.     

燃烧多相流的介尺度动理学建模研究进展

基于求解Navier-Stokes方程组的传统计算流体力学已经在诸多领域取得了巨大的成功,但在航空、航天、微流控等领域也遇到了新的瓶颈与挑战。其原因分为2个方面：①物理建模层面的问题;②离散格式带来的数值精度和稳定性问题。微尺度燃烧等一系列燃烧新概念的研究表明,特征更加丰富但以前知之甚少的热力学非平衡行为蕴含着大量待开发的物理功能。物理模型合理和具备相应功能是数值仿真研究的前提;物理建模层面的问题无法通过数值精度的提高来解决。本文从物理建模与复杂物理场分析角度,介绍了非平衡燃烧系统离散玻尔兹曼建模方法（DBM）的研究进展。DBM是非平衡统计物理学粗粒化建模理论在流体力学领域的具体应用之一,是相空间描述方法在离散玻尔兹曼方程形式下的进一步发展。它选取一个视角,研究系统的一组动理学性质,因而要求描述这组性质的动理学矩在模型简化中保值;以该组动理学矩的独立分量为基,构建相空间,使用该相空间和其子空间来描述系统的非平衡行为特征;研究视角和建模精度随着研究推进而调整。借助DBM可以研究反应过程中不同自由度内能之间的不平衡和相互转换等Navier-Stokes模型无法模拟的动理学过程。在内爆和外爆过程中,几何汇聚与发散效应等效于一个"外场力",在球心处系统始终处于热力学平衡态;在冯·纽曼压强峰处,系统不是偏离平衡最远,而是在平衡态附近;在冯·纽曼峰后反应区以外,Chapmann-Jouguet理论值、Zeldovich-Neumann-Doering （ZND）理论值和DBM结果相互验证;在反应区内DBM结果与ZND结果一致;在冯·纽曼压强峰前的压缩阶段,DBM模拟结果在物理上更合理。在冲击压缩过程中,相对于其他自由度,压缩波所在自由度上的内能先增加,因而这一自由度上的内能总是朝着正向偏离其平衡态值,而横向自由度上的内能总是朝着逆向偏离其平衡态值。在二流体模型视角下,反应物和产物朝着相反的方向偏离热力学平衡态。