All articles tagged with #alfven waves
Scientists have finally observed small-scale torsional Alfvén waves across the Sun's corona, providing crucial evidence for understanding how the corona reaches millions of degrees Celsius and how solar winds are generated, which can improve space weather forecasting.
New observations from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope suggest that Alfvén waves, magnetic waves traveling through the sun's corona, carry significant energy that may explain the long-standing mystery of why the sun's outer atmosphere is much hotter than its surface, potentially accounting for at least half of the heating required.
Researchers at UCLA and other institutions observed image rotation in plasma using Alfvén waves, demonstrating a form of light dragging in a natural medium, which could have implications for astrophysics and plasma technology.
Astrophysicists from UCLA, in collaboration with other universities, have found evidence that Alfvén waves in space plasmas accelerate ion beams, leading to the creation of small-scale acoustic waves that generate heat in the magnetosphere. Using data from NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, the researchers confirmed theories about heat generation in the magnetosphere by showing that magnetic pressure variations in Alfvén waves are synchronized with ion density fluctuations and electric fields. Their findings, supported by simulations, provide new insights into energy transfer processes in space.
Researchers have discovered a method to mitigate damaging runaway electrons in tokamak fusion devices by harnessing Alfvén waves. This breakthrough could have significant implications for the advancement of fusion energy, including the ongoing ITER project in France. The circular process of using Alfvén waves to disrupt the formation of avalanches of runaway electrons was observed in experiments and supported by theoretical models. The findings could lead to the development of tokamak designs that naturally mitigate runaway electron damage, addressing a major challenge in fusion energy research.
Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have discovered a promising approach to mitigate the damaging effects of runaway electrons in tokamak fusion devices by harnessing a unique type of plasma wave called Alfven waves. These waves have the ability to loosen the confinement of high-energy particles within the reactors, allowing some particles to escape and reducing the efficiency of the devices. The new findings by Chang Liu and a team of researchers have revealed a surprising twist in the tale of Alfven waves in the context of runaway electrons.
Researchers have made a breakthrough discovery in mitigating damaging runaway electrons in tokamak fusion devices by harnessing Alfvén waves. These waves, which have historically reduced the efficiency of tokamak reactors, were found to diffuse high-energy electrons before they could cause damage. The circular process involves runaways creating instabilities that generate Alfvén waves, preventing avalanches from forming. The findings provide a link between these waves and the generation of runaway electrons, potentially leading to the development of tokamak designs that naturally mitigate runaway electron damage. This discovery could accelerate the arrival of controlled fusion energy on Earth and have implications for the advancement of the ITER project.