Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter
This is a tutorial and selective review explaining the fundamental concepts and some currently open questions concerning the plasma phenomenon of the electron hole. The widespread occurrence of electron holes in numerical simulations, space-craft observations, and laboratory experiments is illustrat...
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | en_US |
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American Institute of Physics (AIP)
2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118441 |
| _version_ | 1811095326590763008 |
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| author | Hutchinson, Ian Horner |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering Hutchinson, Ian Horner |
| author_sort | Hutchinson, Ian Horner |
| collection | MIT |
| description | This is a tutorial and selective review explaining the fundamental concepts and some currently open questions concerning the plasma phenomenon of the electron hole. The widespread occurrence of electron holes in numerical simulations, space-craft observations, and laboratory experiments is illustrated. The elementary underlying theory is developed of a one-dimensional electron hole as a localized potential maximum, self-consistently sustained by a deficit of trapped electron phase-space density. The spatial extent of a hole is typically a few Debye lengths; what determines the minimum and maximum possible lengths is explained, addressing the key aspects of the as yet unsettled dispute between the integral and differential approaches to hole structure. In multiple dimensions, holes tend to form less readily; they generally require a magnetic field and distribution-function anisotropy. The mechanisms by which they break up are explained, noting that this transverse instability is not fully understood. Examples are given of plasma circumstances where holes play an important role, and of recent progress on understanding their holistic kinematics and self-acceleration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:15:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/118441 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | en_US |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T16:15:18Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | American Institute of Physics (AIP) |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1184412022-09-29T19:10:20Z Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter Hutchinson, Ian Horner Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering hutchinson ian Hutchinson, Ian Horner This is a tutorial and selective review explaining the fundamental concepts and some currently open questions concerning the plasma phenomenon of the electron hole. The widespread occurrence of electron holes in numerical simulations, space-craft observations, and laboratory experiments is illustrated. The elementary underlying theory is developed of a one-dimensional electron hole as a localized potential maximum, self-consistently sustained by a deficit of trapped electron phase-space density. The spatial extent of a hole is typically a few Debye lengths; what determines the minimum and maximum possible lengths is explained, addressing the key aspects of the as yet unsettled dispute between the integral and differential approaches to hole structure. In multiple dimensions, holes tend to form less readily; they generally require a magnetic field and distribution-function anisotropy. The mechanisms by which they break up are explained, noting that this transverse instability is not fully understood. Examples are given of plasma circumstances where holes play an important role, and of recent progress on understanding their holistic kinematics and self-acceleration. United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NNX16AG82G) 2018-10-11T18:17:58Z 2018-10-11T18:17:58Z 2016-12 2016-11 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 1070-664X 1089-7674 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118441 Hutchinson, I. H. “Electron Holes in Phase Space: What They Are and Why They Matter.” Physics of Plasmas, vol. 24, no. 5, May 2017, p. 055601. en_US https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4976854 Physics of Plasmas Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf American Institute of Physics (AIP) Prof. Hutchinson via Chris Sherratt |
| spellingShingle | Hutchinson, Ian Horner Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter |
| title | Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter |
| title_full | Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter |
| title_fullStr | Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter |
| title_short | Electron holes in phase space: What they are and why they matter |
| title_sort | electron holes in phase space what they are and why they matter |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/118441 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hutchinsonianhorner electronholesinphasespacewhattheyareandwhytheymatter |