磁场重联的二维粒子模拟研究

利用二维全粒子模拟方法研究了无碰撞等离子体中的磁场重联过程，得到了不同区域的离子和电子速度分布．计算结果表明，电子和离子在扩散区中的不同动力学特性产生的Hall电流使磁场的y分量By呈现四极形分布．离子和电子的速度分布偏离了初态时的Maxwell分布，呈现非局域的多重分布．同时由于磁场重联而产生的电场使电子在X点附近得到加速和加热，因而在电子的能谱分布中形成-高能尾。     

磁重联区Alfven波及新生离子的加速

利用二维混合数值模拟研究了有速度驱动、低等离子体β值情况下的磁场重联过程，结果表明磁重联过程可以产生Alfven波，该Alfven波动对重新区中的新生离子作用，使得新生离子经历投掷角散射方程，具有球壳分布特征，部分新生离子得到加速，其获得的最大能量约为4（miVA0^2/2)，此加速过程所需的加速时间在100／Ωi量级，是一个极快的加速机制，加速粒子能谱为双幂律谱。     

日冕冲浪形成的磁流体动力学模拟

应用二维时变可压缩磁流体动力学模拟,数值研究了双极-单极磁场中电阻撕裂模不稳定性引起的磁场重联过程,用于模拟日冕冲浪的形成.结果表明,在包含有三区——双极场、电流片和单极场的磁静力平衡初态下,双极场和单极场中的磁力线将会直接重联,磁场演变成鞭状(whip)结构.由弯曲磁力线支撑的等离子体团向上运动到最高位置后,逐渐下落和弥散.等离子体团上升速度可达到0.10v_A(v_A为双极场中的Alfv'én速度).模拟结果证实日冕冲浪的形成可能与双极-单极场中的磁场重联密切相关.      

同轴微阴极电弧推力器的粒子网格法数值模拟

采用粒子网格方法对同轴微阴极电弧推力器μCAT工作过程进行了模拟研究, 并应用自相似方法对模型进行简化,获得了推力器羽流区的电子数密度分布、离子数密度分布、电势分布及离子轴向平均速度,通过改变磁感应强度和位形分析磁场对推力器内等离子体运动特性及推力器性能的影响。计算结果表明,电子被外加磁场捕获约束在磁力线附近,低速离子与高速电子形成的双极扩散电场加速离子喷出;在相同流量情况下,磁感应强度002T时,离子返流严重,磁感应强度005~030T时,磁感应强度变化对速度影响较小;磁场位形对离子运动和推力器性能有较大影响,磁力线与轴线夹角较小时离子速度下降明显,夹角较大时离子返流严重。     

太阳风中磁场重联离子扩散区的大尺度特征

利用ACE和WIND卫星2007年1月6日的联合探测, 在1AU附近发现了一个等离子体密度极低的Petschek-like重联喷流区. 该喷流区内部出现了非常明显的Hall双极磁场、等离子体密度下降区以及与Hall电流相符的低能段电子投掷角分布. 这些特征与重联离子扩散区的Hall效应非常吻合, 说明很可能在太阳风中观测到了一个离子扩散区. 分析表明, 与之相关的磁场重联为准稳态快速完全反向重联, 其扩散区以一对慢模波为边界, 空间尺度达到80个离子惯性长度, 表现出了大尺度重联的特征.      

磁场重联中的哨声波与Hall效应

数值研究Hall电流效应对于重联动力学特征及波动特性的影响.结果表明,具有强Hall效应的算例,重联出流区张角大,重联率高.对于不同Hall效应的算例,应用快速傅里叶变换(FFT),将平面外磁场By分量和(x,z)平面内的速度分量vx,vz位于给定点的时间序列转换为功率谱,并对电场E采用最小方差分析法,确定波的传播方向与偏振特性.研究发现,在强Hall效应的算例中,磁分界线附近存在具有典型特征的哨声波,Hall效应减弱,则波动信号减弱.上述结果表明,Hall电流效应对重联动力学特征具有重要影响,是产生哨声波和快速重联率的关键因素;此外,对于强Hall效应的算例,磁分界线附近哨声波幅度与平面内场向电流Jp间存在正相关关系,它从另一个侧面展示了哨声波与Hall效应间的重要联系.      

雷暴电场对LHAASO探测面宇宙线次级粒子能量的影响

采用Monte Carlo方法，通过模拟研究了不同强度雷暴电场对LHAASO探测面宇宙线次级电子能量的影响.在电场作用下，电子的能量分布发生了变化.在低能段总电子数目增加明显，而在高能段电场的影响不明显.当电场强度为1700V·cm-1（大于逃逸电场）时，能量<120MeV的电子被加速，能量<60MeV的总电子数目呈指数增长（增幅高达约2252%），雷暴电场对次级粒子的加速机制与相对论电子逃逸雪崩机制（RREA）相符.当电场强度为1000V·cm-1（小于逃逸电场）时，能量<70MeV的电子被加速，其数目明显增加，但是增幅（约86%）远小于逃逸电场时的幅度.对电场强度小于逃逸电场时的雷暴电场加速宇宙线次级粒子的物理机制进行了讨论.研究结果可为理解LHAASO实验数据特点以及研究雷暴期间宇宙线强度的变化等提供参考.      

雷暴电场对宇宙线次级粒子中电子的影响

雷暴期间宇宙线次级粒子强度变化与大气电场的关联研究,对分析大气电场加速宇宙线次级带电粒子的机制具有重要意义.采用Monte Carlo方法,模拟研究了雷暴电场对宇宙线次级粒子中电子强度的影响.结果显示,在强度为1000V·cm~(-1)的雷暴电场中,高海拔处电子数目呈指数增长,在大气深度约300g·cm~(-2)处达到极大值,与以往研究提出的相对论电子逃逸雪崩机制相符.模拟结果表明,在地面宇宙线观测实验中,要想得到明显的观测效应,雷暴电场距离探测面的高度应600 m,电场厚度应达到约2000 m.模拟结果为分析雷暴电场与地面宇宙线次级粒子中电子强度的关联性提供了重要参考,为进一步模拟研究雷暴期间高山地面宇宙线强度的变化提供了重要信息.     

高速太阳风中α粒子分布的形成

以多级波粒相互作用模型和1维电磁混合模拟方法研究了高速太阳风中α粒子分布的形成机制．认为α粒子从其产生区到1AU,经历4个特征区域：在冕洞下方的小尺度磁重联区,α粒子产生并得到加速：在约十几个太阳半径日冕区,α粒子形成球壳分布函数：在几十个太阳半径处,在Alfven波和温度各向异性不稳定性的作用下,α粒子分布函数演化为漂移Maxwell分布：当α粒子进入0．3－1AU时,Alfven波的作用使α粒子速度超过太阳风速度约1个局域Alfven速度．     

关于磁尾高能粒子脉冲的一些特性

利用行星际监察卫星IMP-J取得的高能粒子探测数据(质子能档P4:230keV>E>160keV)与极光电激流指数AE作相关分析,在地心太阳磁层坐标下,按照Fairfield关于中性片对地心太阳磁层"赤道面"的偏离模式,把磁尾分成三个区域:中性片区域、低纬区域和高纬区域。结果表明:(1)高能粒子脉冲的平均强度在中性片区域最强,低纬次之,高纬最弱,表明高能粒子脉冲源区在中性片区域;(2)中性片附近,粒子脉冲和AE指数相关最好,达0.59,低纬次之,高纬几乎无相关,表明粒子脉冲与亚暴事件有关,它是磁尾中性片附近磁力线重联产生的感应电场加速的结果;(3)粒子加速区局限于中性片附近的薄层内,与国外结果完全一致。      

Theoretical model of steady-state magnetic reconnection in collisionless incompressible plasma based on the Grad–Shafranov equation solution

The problem of steady-state magnetic reconnection in an infinite current layer in collisionless, incompressible, nonresistive plasma, except of the electron diffusion region, is examined analytically using the electron Hall magnetohydrodynamics approach. It is found that this approach allows reducing the problem to the magnetic field potential finding, while last one has to satisfy the Grad–Shafranov equation. The obtained solution demonstrates all essential Hall reconnection features, namely proton acceleration up to Alfvén velocities, the forming of Hall current systems and the magnetic field structure expected. It turns out that the necessary condition of steady-state reconnection to exist is an electric field potential jump across the electron diffusion region and the separatrices. Besides, the powerful mechanism of electron acceleration in X-line direction is required. It must accelerate electrons up to the electron Alfvén velocity inside the diffusion region and on the separatrixes. This is a necessary condition for steady-state reconnection as well.     

Particle simulation study of substrom triggering with a southward IMF

This paper reports the spatial and temporal development of bursty bulk flows (BBFs) created by reconnection as well as current disruptions (CDs) in the near-Earth tail using our 3-D global electromagnetic (EM) particle simulation with a southward turning interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the context of the substorm onset. Recently, observations show that BBFs are often accompanied by current disruptions for triggering substorms. We have examined the dynamics of BBFs and CDs in order to understand the timing and triggering mechanism of substorms. As the solar wind with the southward IMF advances over the Earth, the near-Earth tail thins and the sheet current intensifies. Before the peak of the current density becomes maximum, reconnection takes place, which ejects particles from the reconnection region. Because of earthward flows the peak of the current density moves toward Earth. The characteristics of the earthward flows depend on the ions and electrons. Electrons flow back into the inflow region (the center of reconnection region), which provides current closure. Therefore the structure of electron flows near the reconnection region is rather complicated. In contrast, the ion earthward flows are generated far from the reconnection region. These earthward flows pile up near the Earth. The ions mainly drift toward the duskside. The electrons are diverted toward the dawnside. Due to the pile-up, dawnward current is generated near Earth. This dawnward current dissipates rapidly with the sheet current because of the opposite current direction, which coincides with the dipolarization in the near-Earth tail. At this time the wedge current may be created in our simulation model. This simulation study shows the sequence of the substorm dynamics in the near-Earth tail, which is similar to the features obtained by multisatellite observations. Identification of the timing and mechanism of triggering substorm onset requires further studies in conjunction with observations.     

Acceleration of charged particles by fluctuating and steady electric fields in a X-type magnetic field

Release of stored magnetic energy via particle acceleration is a characteristic feature of astrophysical plasmas. Magnetic reconnection is one of the mechanisms for releasing energy from magnetized plasmas. Collisionless magnetic reconnection could provide both the energy release mechanism and the particle accelerator in space plasmas. Here we studied particle acceleration when fluctuating (in-time) electric fields are superposed on an static X-type magnetic field in collisionless hot solar plasma. This system is chosen to mimic the reconnective dissipation of a linear MHD disturbance. Our results are compared to particle acceleration from constant electric field superposed on an X-type magnetic field. The constant electric field configuration represents the effects of steady state magnetic reconnection. Time evolution of ion and electron distributions are obtained by numerically integrating particle trajectories. The frequencies of the electric field represent a turbulent range of waves. Depending on the frequency and amplitude of the electric field, electrons and ions are accelerated to different degrees and have energy distributions of bimodal form consisting of a lower energy part and a high energy tail. For frequencies (ω in dimensioless units) in the range 0.5 ? ω ? 1.0 a substantial fraction (20%–30%) of the proton distribution is accelerated to gamma-ray producing energies. For frequencies in the range 1 ? ω ? 100.0 the bulk of the electron distribution is accelerated to hard X-ray producing energies. The acceleration mechanism is important for solar flares and solar noise storms but it could be applicable to all collisionless astrophysical plasmas.     

Analytical MHD model of three-dimensional time-dependent reconnection in a compressible plasma

We describe and analyse a model of three-dimensional time-varying reconnection in which the effect of surface waves is neglected. Reconnection is assumed to be caused by a localized decrease of the plasma conductivity inside the diffusion region. The localized dissipation gives rise to an electric field E^*, which determines the reconnection rate. As a result, the current sheet decays into a system of large-amplitude MHD waves, which propagate along the current sheet and thereby induce perturbations in the surrounding medium. Our model is applied to the case of reconnection at the magnetopause, in particular to the signatures referred to as FTEs (flux transfer events).     

利用Cluster卫星磁尾单事例研究具有复杂核心磁场结构的磁通量绳

2002年8月28日09:50UT-10:50UT,Cluster卫星在地球磁尾观测到一次导向场磁场重联事件.卫星观测到磁场重联扩散区附近清晰的霍尔（Hall）四极型磁结构.由于导向场的存在,该四极型结构被扭曲变形.在该磁场重联事件中,卫星观测到多个磁通量绳,大部分磁通量绳的核心场极性与导向场极性一致.但是,其中一例磁通量绳的核心场结构极性较复杂.该例磁通量绳中心区域核心场强度出现峰值,核心场极性和导向场极性一致;中心以外区域的核心场极性和导向场极性相反.这种复杂核心场结构以前未见报道.通过最小方向导数法,发现该磁通量绳的轴向是弯曲的.C1和C3卫星穿越了磁通量绳弯曲部分,探测到核心场极性变化;C2和C4卫星位于C1和C3卫星的北侧,仅穿越了磁通量绳弯曲处的一部分,故核心场具有单极性.      

MMS星座对磁层顶磁通量绳内离子惯性尺度结构的观测

利用MMS观测数据,对磁层顶通量绳内离子惯性尺度（d_i）的结构进行分析研究.结果发现,许多不同尺度（约1d_i至数十d_i）的通量绳内都存在具有d_i尺度的电流 j _m,其方向在磁层顶局地坐标系的-M方向,即与磁层顶查普曼-费拉罗电流同向,由电子在+M方向的运动（ v _em）携带.这些电流结构具有以下特征:磁鞘与磁层成分混合,磁场为开放形态;离子去磁化,电子与磁场冻结;N方向（即垂直于磁层顶电流片方向）的电场 E _n显著增大,幅度达到约20mV·m-1,并伴有明显的尖峰状起伏,该增强和尖峰状起伏的电场对应于霍尔电场.分析表明,电流、电子与离子运动的偏离以及霍尔电场之间遵从广义欧姆定律,三者密切关联.进一步对磁层顶磁重联的探测数据进行分析发现,在很多重联区内也存在与通量绳内相似的结构,其尺度约为d_i量级,其中霍尔电场 E _N、电流 j _M和电子速度 v _eM均与通量绳内对应物理量的方向相同且幅度相近.基于上述观测事实,采用经典FTE通量绳模型,对通量绳内电流、电子运动和霍尔电场的起源进行了初步探讨,认为其来源于磁层顶无碰撞磁重联区内的相应结构,并且后者在离子尺度通量绳的形成过程中起到重要作用.      

Statistical study of electrostatic solitary waves associated with reconnection: Geotail observations

The role of waves in the dynamics of the magnetotail has long been a topic of interest in magnetospheric physics. The characteristics of Electrostatic Solitary Waves (ESWs) associated with reconnection have been studied statistically in the magnetotail by surveying the large amounts data obtained from Waveform Capture (WFC) which is an important component of Plasma Wave Instrument (PWI) on the Geotail spacecraft. About 150 reconnection events with WFC data available are selected, and approximately 10 thousands of ESW waveforms are picked up by hands for statistical study. The ESWs are observed near diffusion region and near the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL). Two kinds of waveforms of ESWs are observed: bi-polar and tri-polar pulses. It is found that the pulse width of the ESWs is in the order of 1–5 ms and the peak-to-peak amplitude is in the order of 0.1–5 mV/m. The amplitudes of ESWs are larger in the near-earth tail region than that in deep tail region. ESWs have been observed with or without guide magnetic field 〈By〉. The characteristics of ESWs in different reconnection region and under different strength of guild magnetic field, their possible generation mechanism will be discussed.     

Electron acceleration and parallel electric fields due to kinetic Alfvén waves in plasma with similar thermal and Alfvén speeds

We investigate electron acceleration due to shear Alfvén waves in a collissionless plasma for plasma parameters typical of 4–5R_E radial distance from the Earth along auroral field lines. Recent observational work has motivated this study, which explores the plasma regime where the thermal velocity of the electrons is similar to the Alfvén speed of the plasma, encouraging Landau resonance for electrons in the wave fields. We use a self-consistent kinetic simulation model to follow the evolution of the electrons as they interact with a short-duration wave pulse, which allows us to determine the parallel electric field of the shear Alfvén wave due to both electron inertia and electron pressure effects. The simulation demonstrates that electrons can be accelerated to keV energies in a modest amplitude sub-second period wave. We compare the parallel electric field obtained from the simulation with those provided by fluid approximations.