Publications

2010

• Météorologie de l'Espace en Afrique (II) le programme ISWI - International Space Weather Initiative
  
  • Amory-Mazaudier Christine
  • Kobea A.
  • Ouattara F.
  • Dinga B.
  • Doumbia V.
  • Hady A.
  • Hounginou E.
  • Kahindo B.
  • Madougou S.
  • Mahrous A.
  • Ndekatou T.
  • Uwamahoro J.
  • Zaourar N.
  • Bock Olivier
  • Cohen Y.
  • Damé Luc
  • Fleury Rolland
  • Lassudrie-Duchesne Patrick
  • Petitdidier Monique
  , 2010, pp.12 p..
• Shell Models and the possibility of application to fusion plasmas
  
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Garbet X.
  • Diamond P.H.
  • Vermare Laure
  • Casati A.
  • Falchetto G.
  , 2010 (oral).
• Modelling of chlorine inductive discharges
  
  • Chabert Pascal
  • Despiau-Pujo Emilie
  , 2010.
• Effect of low-frequency power on electron density and ion flux in dual-frequency capacitive radiofrequency discharges
  
  • Booth Jean-Paul
  • Curley G.
  • Chabert Pascal
  , 2010.
• Nonstationarity of two / three - dimensional supercritical perpendicular shocks: nonlinear whistler emission versus shock front self-reformation
  
  • Lembège Bertrand
  • Savoini Philippe
  • Hellinger P.
  • Travnicek P. M.
  , 2010.
• Measurements and Modeling of Turbulent Transport in the Tore Supra Tokamak
  
  • Garbet X.
  • Abiteboul J.
  • Benkadda S.
  • Bourdelle C.
  • Casati A.
  • Clairet F.
  • Dubuit N.
  • Falchetto G.
  • Fenzi C.
  • Futatani S.
  • Grandgirard V.
  • Guirlet R.
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Heuraux S.
  • Hoang G.T.
  • Honoré Cyrille
  • Sabot R.
  • Sarazin Y.
  • Ségui J.-L.
  • Smolyakov A.
  • Trier Elisée
  • Vermare Laure
  • Villegas D.
  , 2010, 1308, pp.75-84. This paper presents an overview of recent advances in modeling and measurements of turbulence in Tore Supra plasmas. Spatio‐temporal properties of turbulence are discussed in relation with transport models. An explanation is proposed for the k−3 decay of wave number spectra, which are observed by using both coherent laser scattering and Doppler reflectometry. Also the interplay between turbulence and flows has been investigated. It is shown that toroidal rotation results from a competition between neoclassical and turbulence flow generation. Finally a new method has been proposed to determine the transport coefficients of impurities. These coefficients are usually well above the neoclassical prediction. (10.1063/1.3526165)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.3526165
• Surface discharges: possible applications for plasma-assisted ignition and electric field measurements (AIAA 2010-1587)
  
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  • Allegraud Katia
  • Guaitella Olivier
  • Kosarev I.N.
  • Mintoussov E.I.
  • Pendleton S.J.
  • Popov N.A.
  • Sagulenko P.N.
  • Rousseau Antoine
  , 2010.
• Shell models and the possibility of application to fusion plasmas
  
  • Gürcan Özgür D.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Vermare Laure
  • Garbet X.
  • Diamond P.H.
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2010, 52, pp.045002. An extensive study of spectral shell models with possibilities for application to fusion plasmas is discussed. A set of shell models addressing various aspects of the characteristics of fusion plasmas have been derived. Difficulties associated with plasma medium, namely its intrinsic excitability, and importance of mescals have been discussed. The numerical implementation of shell models is discussed. It was observed that depending on the parameter regime, they may lead to steady state or display characteristics of predatorprey dynamics. (10.1088/0741-3335/52/4/045002)
  DOI : 10.1088/0741-3335/52/4/045002
• Les Plasmas Spatiaux au LPP
  
  • Rezeau Laurence
  Flash X - La revue scientifique de l'Ecole polytechnique, Ecole polytechnique, 2010, 12, pp.31-32. ISSN : 1775-0385
• Wave-Vector Dependence of Magnetic-Turbulence Spectra in the Solar Wind
  
  • Narita Y.
  • Glassmeier K.-H.
  • Sahraoui Fouad
  • Goldstein M. L.
  Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2010, 104 (17), pp.171101. Using four-point measurements of the Cluster spacecraft, the energy distribution was determined for magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind directly in the three-dimensional wave-vector domain in the range |k|≤1.5×10−3  rad/km. The energy distribution exhibits anisotropic features characterized by a prominently extended structure perpendicular to the mean field preferring the ecliptic north direction and also by a moderately extended structure parallel to the mean field. From the three-dimensional energy distribution wave vector anisotropy is estimated with respect to directions parallel and perpendicular to the mean magnetic field, and the result suggests the dominance of quasi-two-dimensional turbulence toward smaller spatial scales. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.171101)
  DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.171101
• Nonlinear dynamics of resonant interactions between wave packets and particle distributions with loss-cone-like structures
  
  • Krafft C.
  • Volokitin A.
  • Zaslavsky A.
  Physical Review E, American Physical Society (APS), 2010, 82, pp.066402. The paper studies the nonlinear mechanisms at work in magnetized plasmas when wave packets interact resonantly with particle distributions presenting loss-cone-like structures. Lower hybrid waves are considered in view of the great importance, in space and laboratory plasmas, of waves with frequencies below the electron cyclotron frequency. Owing to a three-dimensional Hamiltonian model and a numerical symplectic code, the authors study the nonlinear stage of the loss-cone instability for various particle distributions and wave spectra involving symmetric and asymmetric features. In particular, the wave-particle interaction process of dynamical resonance merging, which results from an instability of the trapped particles' motion and leads to complex stochastic phenomena, is discussed. Whereas interactions at normal cyclotron resonances are mostly considered, the role of the Landau and the anomalous cyclotron resonances is also studied to explain thoroughly the nonlinear wave-particle dynamics as well as the competition between loss-cone, fan, and beam instabilities. The relaxed particle distributions and the saturated wave spectra are analyzed. The time necessary for filling the loss-cone structures is determined as a function of the characteristics of the particle distributions. Whereas most of the previous works analyzed the asymptotic stage of the system's evolution in the frame of the well-known quasilinear theory, the paper considers the case when the energy carried by the wave packet is sufficiently large so that the description of the physical processes at work cannot be limited to the frame of weak turbulence theories. (10.1103/PhysRevE.82.066402)
  DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevE.82.066402
• Plasmas froids
  
  • Booth Jean-Paul
  • Chabert Pascal
  Flash X - La revue scientifique de l'Ecole polytechnique, Ecole polytechnique, 2010, 12, pp.3-5. ISSN : 1775-0385
• Modelling of an afterglow plasma in air produced by a pulsed discharge
  
  • Pintassilgo C.D.
  • Guerra V.
  • Guaitella Olivier
  • Rousseau Antoine
  Plasma Sources Science and Technology, IOP Publishing, 2010, 19, pp.055001. A kinetic model is developed to study the afterglow plasma of a pulsed discharge in air. This model includes a detailed analysis of the temporal evolution of heavy species during the pulse, followed by their relaxation in the afterglow. The predicted results are compared with two experimental sets performed in the time afterglow of a pulsed discharge in N220%O2 at a pressure p = 133 Pa involving the measurements of (i) N2(B) and N2(C) fluorescences for a discharge current I = 40 mA and a pulse duration τ = 200 µs and 10 ms, together with (ii) the absolute concentration of NO(X) for I = 40 and 80 mA with τ varying from 1 to 4 ms. The results of the model agree reasonably well with the measurements of N2(B) and N2(C) decays. It is shown that under these experimental conditions, N2(B) is always populated mainly via the process N2(A) N2(X, 5 ≤ v ≤ 14) → N2(B) N2(X, v = 0), while the relaxation of N2(C) is dominated by the pooling reaction N2(A) N2(A) → N2(C) N2(X, v = 0). An almost constant concentration of NO(X) is experimentally observed until the remote afterglow, but the present model is only capable of predicting the same order of magnitude for afterglow times t 0.05 s. Several hypotheses are discussed and advanced in order to explain this discrepancy. (10.1088/0963-0252/19/5/055001)
  DOI : 10.1088/0963-0252/19/5/055001
• Quantum Cascade Laser Absorption Spectroscopy - a New Method to Study Molecular Plasma Components
  
  • Röpcke J.
  • Glitsch S.
  • Davies P.B.
  • Hempel F.
  • Lang N.
  • Rousseau Antoine
  • Wege S.
  • Welzel S.
  Journal of Physics: Conference Series, IOP Science, 2010, 227, pp.012005. The recent development of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) offers an attractive new option for the monitoring and control of industrial plasma processes and for trace-gas analysis as well as for highly time-resolved studies on the kinetics of plasma processes. The contribution reviews selected examples of the application of QCLs for infrared absorption studies in basic research and for plasma monitoring and control in industry. (10.1088/1742-6596/227/1/012005)
  DOI : 10.1088/1742-6596/227/1/012005
• Nonlinear fan instability of electromagnetic waves
  
  • Krafft C.
  • Volokitin A.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2010, 17, pp.102303. This paper studies the linear and nonlinear stages of the fan instability, considering electromagnetic waves of the whistler frequency range interacting resonantly with energetic electron fluxes in magnetized plasmas. The main attention is paid to determine the wave-particle interaction processes that can lead to the excitation of intense electromagnetic waves by nonequilibrium particle distributions involving suprathermal tails, and to explain under what conditions and through what mechanisms they can occur, develop, and saturate. This paper presents and discusses two main processes: (i) the linear fan instability and (ii) the nonlinear process of dynamical resonance merging, which can significantly amplify the energy carried by linearly destabilized waves after they saturate due to particle trapping. This study consists of (i) determining analytically and numerically, for parameters typical of space and laboratory plasmas, the linear growth rates of whistlers excited by suprathermal particle fluxes through the fan instability, as well as the corresponding thresholds and the physical conditions at which the instability can appear, (ii) building a theoretical self-consistent 3D model and a related numerical code for describing the nonlinear evolution of the wave-particle system, and (iii) performing numerical simulations to reveal and characterize the nonlinear amplification process at work, its conditions of development, and its consequences, notably in terms of electromagnetic wave radiation. The simulations show that when the waves have reached sufficient energy levels owing to the linear fan instability, they saturate by trapping particles and due to the complex dynamics of these particles in the electromagnetic fields, the resonant velocities' domains of the waves overlap and merge, meanwhile a strong increase of the wave energy occurs. (10.1063/1.3479829)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.3479829
• Planar Wire-Array Z-Pinch Implosion Dynamics and X-Ray Scaling at Multiple-MA Drive Currents for a Compact Multisource Hohlraum Configuration
  
  • Jones B.
  • Ampleford D. J.
  • Vesey R. A.
  • Cuneo Michael E.
  • Coverdale C. A.
  • Waisman E. M.
  • Jones M. C.
  • Fowler W. E.
  • Stygar W. A.
  • Serrano J. D.
  • Vigil M. P.
  • Esaulov A. A.
  • Kantsyrev Viktor L.
  • Safronova Alla S.
  • Williamson Kenneth M.
  • Chuvatin Alexandre S.
  • Rudakov Leonid I.
  Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2010, 104 (12), pp.125001. An indirect drive configuration is proposed wherein multiple compact Z-pinch x-ray sources surround a secondary hohlraum. Planar compact wire arrays allow reduced primary hohlraum surface area compared to cylindrical loads. Implosions of planar arrays are studied at up to 15 TW x-ray power on Saturn with radiated yields exceeding the calculated kinetic energy, suggesting other heating paths. X-ray power and yield scaling studied from 16 MA motivates viewfactor modeling of four 6-MA planar arrays producing 90 eV radiation temperature in a secondary hohlraum. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.125001)
  DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.125001
• Plasma assisted ignition and combustion
  
  • Starikovskaia Svetlana
  • Starikovskii A.Yu.
  , 2010, pp.71-93.
• Plasmas Naturels : Le Programme National Soleil - Terre
  
  • Fontaine Dominique
  Flash X - La revue scientifique de l'Ecole polytechnique, Ecole polytechnique, 2010, 12, pp.27-31. ISSN : 1775-0385
• Bepi-Colombo : Mercury Exploration
  
  • Chanteur Gérard
  Flash X - La revue scientifique de l'Ecole polytechnique, Ecole polytechnique, 2010, 12, pp.32-33. ISSN : 1775-0385
• Bilan et Perspective 2006 - 2009, Programme National Soleil Terre
  
  • Fontaine Dominique
  • Vilmer N.
  , 2010.
• The Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI) onboard the BepiColombo/MMO: First measurement of electric fields, electromagnetic waves, and radio waves around Mercury
  
  • Kasaba Y.
  • Bougeret J.-L.
  • Blomberg L. G.
  • Kojima H.
  • Yagitani S.
  • Moncuquet M.
  • Trotignon Jean-Gabriel
  • Chanteur Gérard
  • Kumamoto A.
  • Kasahara Y.
  • Lichtenberger J.
  • Omura Y.
  • Ishisaka K.
  • Matsumoto H.
  Planetary and Space Science, Elsevier, 2010, 58 (1-2), pp.238-278. The BepiColombo Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) spacecraft includes the plasma and radio wave observation system called Plasma Wave Investigation (PWI). Since the receivers for electric field, plasma waves, and radio waves are not installed in any of the preceding spacecraft to Mercury, the PWI will provide the first opportunity for conducting in-situ and remote-sensing observations of electric fields, plasma waves, and radio waves in the Hermean magnetosphere and exosphere. These observations are valuable in studying structure, dynamics, and energy exchange processes in the unique magnetosphere of Mercury. They are characterized by the key words of the non-MHD environment and the peculiar interaction between the relatively large planet without ionosphere and the solar wind with high dynamic pressure. The PWI consists of three sets of receivers (EWO, SORBET, and AM²P), connected to two sets of electric field sensors (MEFISTO and WPT) and two kinds of magnetic field sensors (LF-SC and DB-SC). The PWI will observe both waveforms and frequency spectra in the frequency range from DC to 10 MHz for the electric field and from 0.3 Hz to 640 kHz for the magnetic field. From 2008, we will start the development of the engineering model, which is conceptually consistent with the flight model design. The present paper discusses the significance and objectives of plasma/radio wave observations in the Hermean magnetosphere, and describes the PWI sensors, receivers and their performance as well as the onboard data processing. (10.1016/j.pss.2008.07.017)
  DOI : 10.1016/j.pss.2008.07.017
• Théorie des Plasmas
  
  • Firpo Marie-Christine
  Flash X - La revue scientifique de l'Ecole polytechnique, Ecole polytechnique, 2010, 12, pp.26-27. ISSN : 1775-0385
• Three-dimensional structure of electron density fluctuations in the Hall thruster plasma: ExB mode
  
  • Tsikata Sedina
  • Honoré Cyrille
  • Lemoine N.
  • Grésillon D.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2010, 17, pp.112110. Collective scattering measurements have been conducted on the plasma of a Hall thruster, in which the electron density fluctuations are fully characterized by the dynamic form factor. The dynamic form factor amplitude distribution has been measured depending on the k-vector spatial and frequency components at different locations. Fluctuations are seen as propagating waves. The largest amplitude mode propagates nearly along the cross-field direction but at a phase velocity that is much smaller than the E×B drift velocity. Refined directional analysis of this largest amplitude mode shows a thin angular emission diagram with a mean direction that is not strictly along the E×B direction but at small angles near it. The deviation is oriented toward the anode in the (E,E×B) plane and toward the exterior of the thruster channel in the (B,E×B) plane. The density fluctuation rate is on the order of 1%. These experimentally determined directional fluctuation characteristics are discussed with regard to the linear kinetic theory model and particle-in-cell simulation results. (10.1063/1.3499350)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.3499350
• Particle transport in low core turbulence Tore-Supra plasmas
  
  • Guirlet R.
  • Sirinelli A.
  • Parisot T.
  • Sabot R.
  • Artaud J.F.
  • Bourdelle C.
  • Garbet X.
  • Hennequin Pascale
  • Hoang G.T.
  • Imbeaux Frédéric
  • Segui J.-L.
  • Mazon D.
  • Villegas D.
  Nuclear Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2010, 50, pp.095009. Electron and impurity transport has been studied in sawtoothing plasmas in the Tore-Supra tokamak. High time and space resolution measurements of the electron density reveal the existence of a flat profile region encompassing the q = 1 surface, on which is superimposed a density peak building up between sawtooth relaxations. For the first time in this regime, we have determined the underlying transport of both nickel and electrons independently of the effect of sawteeth in the central part of the plasma. Electron transport is consistent with the neoclassical expectations only in the close vicinity of the magnetic axis. Further out, it exceeds the neoclassical values as calculated with the NCLASS code, although the turbulence level is very low in the whole central region region. In contrast, nickel transport is in good agreement with the neoclassical calculations in the same region. The neoclassical effect on trapped particles of a persisting mode due to incomplete reconnection of the magnetic surfaces is consistent with these observations. (10.1088/0029-5515/50/9/095009)
  DOI : 10.1088/0029-5515/50/9/095009
• Ion dynamics during compression of Mercury's magnetosphere
  
  • Delcourt Dominique C.
  • Moore T. E.
  • Fok M.-C. H.
  Annales Geophysicae, European Geosciences Union, 2010, 28, pp.1467-1474. Because of the small planetary magnetic field as well as proximity to the Sun that leads to enhanced solar wind pressure as compared to Earth, the magnetosphere of Mercury is very dynamical and at times subjected to prominent compression. We investigate the dynamics of magnetospheric ions during such compression events. Using three-dimensional single-particle simulations, we show that the electric field induced by the time varying magnetic field can lead to significant ion energization, up to several hundreds of eVs or a few keVs. This energization occurs in a nonadiabatic manner, being characterized by large enhancements of the ion magnetic moment and bunching in gyration phase. It is obtained when the ion cyclotron period is comparable to the field variation time scale. This condition for nonadiabatic heating is realized in distinct regions of space for ions with different mass-to-charge ratios. During compression of Mercury's magnetosphere, heavy ions originating from the planetary exosphere may be subjected to such an abrupt energization, leading to loading of the magnetospheric lobes with energetic material. (10.5194/angeo-28-1467-2010)
  DOI : 10.5194/angeo-28-1467-2010