Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions. A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation.
Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconn ....Plasma Astrophysics under Extreme Conditions. A new branch of theoretical physics, quantum plasmadynamics (QPD), will be applied to plasmas under extreme conditions of magnetic field and density, to plasma-neutrino effects and nonlinear radiation.
Magnetic energy dissipation in solar flares will be attributed to a large number of coupled, local, transient, anomalously resistive regions excited by current filamentation. The model will include nonlocal energy release at Alfvenic fronts, 3D reconnection at magnetic nulls, and bulk energization of electrons.
`Coherence? in sources of coherent emission will be quantified and a model for its interpretation for highly intermittent wave growth will be formulated.Read moreRead less
Physics of Self-Organization: From Space Plasmas to Brain Dynamics. Nature displays intricate, self-organized structures and behaviors that often emerge from simple underlying rules. This project will explore and unify fundamental regimes of self-organization, and apply them to explain phenomena in space, plasma, and wave physics, including making key inputs to the international STEREO space mission. In a core initiative, sophisticated tools from these fields will be transfered and adapted to a ....Physics of Self-Organization: From Space Plasmas to Brain Dynamics. Nature displays intricate, self-organized structures and behaviors that often emerge from simple underlying rules. This project will explore and unify fundamental regimes of self-organization, and apply them to explain phenomena in space, plasma, and wave physics, including making key inputs to the international STEREO space mission. In a core initiative, sophisticated tools from these fields will be transfered and adapted to analyze self-organized brain dynamics, leading to the first self-consistent "working brain" model. The results of this innovation will be used to develop new imaging technologies, to probe brain function via the new windows they open, and to exploit them commercially.Read moreRead less
Quantum plasmas. Quantum effects become important under extreme conditions, and a newly developing field of "quantum plasmas" is motivated by two different extremes for ionized systems. One is in very small electronic devises, where electrons carrying the currents become wave-like with a wavelength comparable with the size of the device. The other is in the extremely intense optical light spots now available by focusing high-power lasers. In this project we propose to take a leading role in the ....Quantum plasmas. Quantum effects become important under extreme conditions, and a newly developing field of "quantum plasmas" is motivated by two different extremes for ionized systems. One is in very small electronic devises, where electrons carrying the currents become wave-like with a wavelength comparable with the size of the device. The other is in the extremely intense optical light spots now available by focusing high-power lasers. In this project we propose to take a leading role in the development of this emerging field by applying a recently completed general theory to it. Read moreRead less
Dynamics of Bursty Waves in Space and Astrophysics. Waves in space plasmas typically occur in bursts with widely variable fields and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for unexpectedly long times. These features cannot be accounted for with standard plasma theory but are explained naturally by stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space. We propose to make SGT fully quantitative, by studying the dynamical evolution to SGT in gene ....Dynamics of Bursty Waves in Space and Astrophysics. Waves in space plasmas typically occur in bursts with widely variable fields and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for unexpectedly long times. These features cannot be accounted for with standard plasma theory but are explained naturally by stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space. We propose to make SGT fully quantitative, by studying the dynamical evolution to SGT in general and in known SGT systems, and to develop and observationally test theories based on SGT and associated wave/radiation processes for major, long-unexplained radio phenomena in space and in astrophysics.
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Field Statistics of Space and Astrophysical Phenomena. Waves and radiation typically occur in bursts and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for unexpectedly long distances in space and astrophysical sources. These features cannot be accounted for with older plasma theory but are explained naturally with stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space and for pulsars. We propose to make SGT into a quantitative dynamic theory tested on ....Field Statistics of Space and Astrophysical Phenomena. Waves and radiation typically occur in bursts and persist, with their driving particle distributions, for unexpectedly long distances in space and astrophysical sources. These features cannot be accounted for with older plasma theory but are explained naturally with stochastic growth theory (SGT). Recent observations show SGT to be widely applicable in space and for pulsars. We propose to make SGT into a quantitative dynamic theory tested on known SGT systems, to discover and interpret field statistics of natural radio emissions, and to develop and test observationally theories based on SGT and associated wave/radiation processes for key space and astrophysical phenomena.Read moreRead less
Predicting Space Weather Using Solar Radio Bursts. Australia's scientific standing and expertise will be enhanced in the fields of space weather, space physics, plasma physics, and complex systems by the new prediction methods and scientific discoveries expected. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionospheric Prediction Service reports to customers in defence (better communications) and satellite operations (improved survivability), industry (reduced infrastructure damage), and els ....Predicting Space Weather Using Solar Radio Bursts. Australia's scientific standing and expertise will be enhanced in the fields of space weather, space physics, plasma physics, and complex systems by the new prediction methods and scientific discoveries expected. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionospheric Prediction Service reports to customers in defence (better communications) and satellite operations (improved survivability), industry (reduced infrastructure damage), and elsewhere. Australia's research base will be strengthened by high-level training of Research Associates and students, while its scientific infrastructure and role in international space efforts will be enhanced.Read moreRead less
Solar radio bursts, the origin and properties of the sun's corona and solar wind, and space weather. This project uses solar radio bursts to answer fundamental scientific questions about the Sun, predict space weather events at Earth, and motivate theories for the bursts and shocks. It will discover the corona's origin and where the solar wind is accelerated, understand how shocks reform and accelerate particles, and develop quantitative theories for radio bursts. These discoveries and associate ....Solar radio bursts, the origin and properties of the sun's corona and solar wind, and space weather. This project uses solar radio bursts to answer fundamental scientific questions about the Sun, predict space weather events at Earth, and motivate theories for the bursts and shocks. It will discover the corona's origin and where the solar wind is accelerated, understand how shocks reform and accelerate particles, and develop quantitative theories for radio bursts. These discoveries and associated high-level training of staff and students will increase Australia's international scientific standing, expertise, infrastructure, and human capital. It involves international collaborations on NASA's $600M STEREO mission and the MWA radio telescope, among others, and supports the new Decadal Plan for Australian Space Science.Read moreRead less
Wave Localization and Burstiness in Type III Solar Radio Bursts. The project will raise Australia's scientific standing and expertise in space and plasma physics, space weather, and complex systems due to new discoveries, theories, publications, and invited talks. It supports Australia's involvement in NASA's $600M STEREO mission and other space efforts, and greatly leverages Australia's small numbers and budget on the world stage. The project will enhance Australia's human capital due to high-l ....Wave Localization and Burstiness in Type III Solar Radio Bursts. The project will raise Australia's scientific standing and expertise in space and plasma physics, space weather, and complex systems due to new discoveries, theories, publications, and invited talks. It supports Australia's involvement in NASA's $600M STEREO mission and other space efforts, and greatly leverages Australia's small numbers and budget on the world stage. The project will enhance Australia's human capital due to high-level training and increased expertise of new staff, students, and CIs. The new data and methods will develop, better exploit, and make more competitive Australia's scientific infrastructure. Last, the exciting discoveries expected will attract the international media and increase science's appeal to the public.Read moreRead less