Dr. Jonathan Pratt, a researcher at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, has been exploring new ways to model the complex interactions between energetic particles and plasma turbulence. His work, published in the journal Physics of Plasmas, aims to improve our understanding of these interactions, which are crucial in various astrophysical phenomena and energy production processes.
Energetic particles, such as high-energy cosmic rays, solar energetic particles, and pick-up ions, interact with the plasma surrounding them. These interactions can stabilize or destabilize certain plasma waves, altering the character of the background turbulence. However, these processes are not fully understood or quantified, and current models struggle to simulate them accurately.
Current kinetic models, which follow a probability distribution function (PDF) for all particles in 7-dimensional space, require immense computational resources. They are still unable to simulate a realistic number of particles, reach the necessary scales for astrophysical problems, or use high-precision numerical methods. Multi-fluid and hybrid fluid/Fokker-Planck models, two alternatives to kinetic plasma models, are hampered by the physical modeling of the coupling.
Dr. Pratt has developed a new model that follows the PDF for all particles. This approach is more physically realistic than multi-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and more computationally efficient than kinetic models. The equations developed model both the background plasma and the energetic particles self-consistently. This PDF closure approach aims to evaluate the mean characteristics, including the density, with better statistical quality than particle-sampling procedures.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are significant. Understanding and modeling these interactions can improve fusion energy research, where plasma turbulence plays a crucial role. It can also enhance our knowledge of solar energetic particles, which can impact space weather and, consequently, satellite operations and power grids on Earth. Furthermore, this research can contribute to the development of more efficient and accurate models for various astrophysical phenomena, advancing our understanding of the universe and its energy processes.
In summary, Dr. Pratt’s research presents a promising new approach to modeling the interactions between energetic particles and plasma turbulence. This work has the potential to significantly impact the energy sector, particularly in fusion energy research and space weather prediction. The research was published in the journal Physics of Plasmas, providing a valuable contribution to the field of plasma physics and energy research.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.