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Center for Nonlinear Studies |
The stability of pick-up ions (PUIs) in the outer heliosheath is key to theories explaining the origins of the so-called IBEX ribbon, which may indicate the direction of the local interstellar magnetic field, and the bright radio-frequency radiation seen by the Voyager spacecraft. Explanations of the IBEX ribbon of enhanced energetic neutral atom flux require the stability of ring-like PUI distributions for roughly 2 years; otherwise characteristic EM fluctuations are expected, possibly in the frequency range seen by Voyager. Previous efforts have focused on the linear stability of idealized distributions or employed inherently noisy particle-in-cell methods allowing simulation of only a few days. Employing the Spectral Plasma Solver (SPS) Vlasov code, we will study longer-term stability and instability saturation. I will present preliminary results and comparisons with those obtained by particle-in-cell methods. This talk is a part of the student seminar series. Multiple ten minute talks starting at 2:00pm
Host: Gian Luca Delzanno