Magnetic flux ropes are structures that are common in the corona of the sun and presumably all stars. They can be thought of as the building blocks of solar structures. They have been observed in Earth's magnetotail and near Mars and Venus. When multiple flux ropes are present magnetic field line reconnection, which converts magnetic energy to other forms, can occur when they collide. The structure of multiple magnetic ropes, the interactions between multiple ropes, and their topological properties such as helicity and writhing have been studied theoretically and in laboratory experiments. Here, we report on spiky potential and magnetic fields associated with the ropes. We show that the potential structures are chaotic for a range of their temporal half-widths and the probability density function (PDF) of their widths resembles the statistical distribution of crumpled paper. The spatial structure of the magnetic spikes is revealed using a correlation counting method. Computer simulation suggests that the potential structures are the nonlinear end result of an instability involving relative drift between ions and electrons.

Strong turbulent waves (nn ∼0.5, f ∼5-40 kHz) are observed in the upgraded Large Plasma Device W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J. Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991) on density gradients produced by an annular obstacle. Energetic lithium ions (E fast / T i 300, fast / s ∼ 10) orbit through the turbulent region. Scans with a collimated analyzer and with probes give detailed profiles of the fast ion spatial distribution and of the fluctuating wave fields. The characteristics of the fluctuations are modified by changing the plasma species from helium to neon and by modifying the bias on the obstacle. Different spatial structure sizes (L s) and correlation lengths (Lcorr) of the wave potential fields alter the fast ion transport. The effects of electrostatic fluctuations are reduced due to gyro-averaging, which explains the difference in the fast-ion transport. A transition from super-diffusive to sub-diffusive transport is observed when the fast ion interacts with the waves for most of a wave period, which agrees with theoretical predictions. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.

While the aurora has attracted attention for millennia, important questions remain unanswered. Foremost is how auroral electrons are accelerated before colliding with the ionosphere and producing auroral light. Powerful Alfvén waves are often found traveling Earthward above auroras with sufficient energy to generate auroras, but there has been no direct measurement of the processes by which Alfvén waves transfer their energy to auroral electrons. Here, we show laboratory measurements of the resonant transfer of energy from Alfvén waves to electrons under conditions relevant to the auroral zone. Experiments are performed by launching Alfvén waves and simultaneously recording the electron velocity distribution. Numerical simulations and analytical theory support that the measured energy transfer process produces accelerated electrons capable of reaching auroral energies. The experiments, theory, and simulations demonstrate a clear causal relationship between Alfvén waves and accelerated electrons that directly cause auroras.

In order to study the interaction of ions of intermediate energies with plasma fluctuations, two plasma immersible lithium ion sources, based on solid-state thermionic emitters (Li aluminosilicate) were developed. Compared to discharge based ion sources, they are compact, have zero gas load, small energy dispersion, and can be operated at any angle with respect to an ambient magnetic field of up to 4.0 kG. Beam energies range from 400 eV to 2.0 keV with typical beam current densities in the 1 mAcm(2) range. Because of the low ion mass, beam velocities of 100-300 kms are in the range of Alfven speeds in typical helium plasmas in the large plasma device.

To study the fast-ion transport in a well controlled background plasma, a 3-cm diameter rf ion gun launches a pulsed, ~300 eV ribbon shaped argon ion beam parallel to or at 15°to the magnetic field in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J. Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)] at UCLA. The parallel energy of the beam is measured by a two-grid energy analyzer at two axial locations (z=0.32 m and z=6.4 m) from the ion gun in LAPD. The calculated ion beam slowing-down time is consistent to within 10% with the prediction of classical Coulomb collision theory using the LAPD plasma parameters measured by a Langmuir probe. To measure cross-field transport, the beam is launched at 15°to the magnetic field. The beam then is focused periodically by the magnetic field to avoid geometrical spreading. The radial beam profile measurements are performed at different axial locations where the ion beam is periodically focused. The measured cross-field transport is in agreement to within 15% with the analytical classical collision theory and the solution to the Fokker-Planck kinetic equation. Collisions with neutrals have a negligible effect on the beam transport measurement but do attenuate the beam current. © 2005 American Institute of Physics.

A magnetized plasma cylinder (12 cm in diameter) is induced by an annular shape obstacle at the Large Plasma Device [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, J. Bamber, D. Leneman, and J. Maggs, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)]. Sheared azimuthal flow is driven at the edge of the plasma cylinder through edge biasing. Strong fluctuations of density and potential ( n / n ~ e / kT e ~ 0. 5) are observed at the plasma edge, accompanied by a large density gradient (L n = ∇ ln n - 1 ~ 2 cm) and shearing rate ( ~ 300 kHz). Edge turbulence and cross-field transport are modified by changing the bias voltage (V bias) on the obstacle and the axial magnetic field (B z) strength. In cases with low V bias and large B z, improved plasma confinement is observed, along with steeper edge density gradients. The radially sheared flow induced by E B drift dramatically changes the cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations, which causes the wave-induced particle flux to reverse its direction across the shear layer. In cases with higher bias voltage or smaller B z, large radial transport and rapid depletion of the central plasma density are observed. Two-dimensional cross-correlation measurement shows that a mode with azimuthal mode number m = 1 and large radial correlation length dominates the outward transport in these cases. Linear analysis based on a two-fluid Braginskii model suggests that the fluctuations are driven by both density gradient (drift wave like) and flow shear (Kelvin-Helmholtz like) at the plasma edge. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

The Doppler-shifted cyclotron resonance between fast ions and shear Alfv́n waves (SAWs) has been experimentally investigated with a test-particle fast-ion (Li+) beam launched in the helium plasma of the Large Plasma Device [Gekelman, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)]. Left- or right-hand circularly polarized SAWs are launched by an antenna with four current channels. A collimated fast-ion energy analyzer characterizes the resonance by measuring the nonclassical spreading of the averaged beam signal. Left-hand circularly polarized SAWs resonate with the fast ions but right-hand circularly polarized SAWs do not. The measured fast-ion profiles are compared with simulations by a Monte Carlo Lorentz code that uses the measured wave field data. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

The transport of thermal plasma and fast ions in electrostatic microturbulence is studied. Strong density and potential fluctuations (δn/n ∼ δ/kTe ∼ 0.5, f ∼ 5-50 kHz) are observed in the large plasma device (LAPD) [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)] in density gradient regions produced by obstacles with slab or cylindrical geometry. Wave characteristics and the associated plasma transport are modified by driving sheared E × B drift through biasing the obstacle and by modification of the axial magnetic fields (Bz) and the plasma species. Cross-field plasma transport is suppressed with small bias and large Bz and is enhanced with large bias and small Bz. The transition in thermal plasma confinement is well explained by the cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations. Large gyroradius lithium fast ion beam (ρfast/ρs ∼ 10) orbits through the turbulent region. Scans with a collimated analyzer give detailed profiles of the fast ion spatial-temporal distribution. Fast-ion transport decreases rapidly with increasing fast-ion energy and gyroradius. Background waves with different scale lengths also alter the fast ion transport. Experimental results agree well with gyro-averaging theory. When the fast ion interacts with the wave for most of a wave period, a transition from super-diffusive to sub-diffusive transport is observed, as predicted by diffusion theory. Besides turbulent-wave-induced fast-ion transport, the static radial electric field (Er) from biasing the obstacle leads to drift of the fast-ion beam centroid. The drift and broadening of the beam due to static Er are evaluated both analytically and numerically. Simulation results indicate that the Er induced transport is predominately convective. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.