Turbulence, plasma instabilities, transport and magnetogenesis in galaxy clusters
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Oxford Physics
Abstract
The clusters of galaxies are the largest structured objects in the Universe. Most of the luminous matter contained in clusters is in the form of ionised gas, or plasma (called the intracluster medium, or ICM). This plasma is believed to be in a turbulent state, i.e., it is moving in a disordered fashion. It is also permeated by tangled magnetic fields, which impart a certain elasticity to the plasma motions and also alter the motion of individual particles. All large scale processes in clusters - such as, for example, the propagation of waves and shocks, formation and movement of 'bubbles' blown by the active galaxies in cluster cores etc. - occur in this turbulent magnetised medium and are profoundly affected by it. This proposal is for an investigation of the fundamental physical properties of the ICM: what kind of turbulent motions and electromagnetic fluctuations exist in it? how is the energy of ICM motions dissipated into heat? how is heat trnasported across clusters? what is the origin and structure of magnetic fields in clusters? All these questions must be faced in order for us to be able to make sense of the rapidly increasing amount of observational evidence (obtained with radiotelescopes and with X-ray satellite observatories) and also to develop correct numerical models of clusters. More broadly, the problem of turbulence, which is at the centre of this research, is an exciting and formidable intellectual challenge, sometimes referred to as the last great unsolvedx problem of classical physics. Intertwined with the problem of magnetogenesis (the origin of cosmic magnetism), it continues to inspire both theoretical physicists and astronomers.
Organisations
Publications
Rincon F
(2015)
Non-linear mirror instability
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Tatsuno T
(2009)
Nonlinear Phase Mixing and Phase-Space Cascade of Entropy in Gyrokinetic Plasma Turbulence
in Physical Review Letters
Loureiro NF
(2013)
Plasmoid and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in Sweet-Parker current sheets.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Samtaney R.
(2012)
Plasmoid dynamics in 3D resistive MHD simulations of magnetic reconnection
in EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts
Komarov S
(2016)
Polarization of thermal bremsstrahlung emission due to electron pressure anisotropy
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wicks R
(2010)
Power and spectral index anisotropy of the entire inertial range of turbulence in the fast solar wind
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Churazov E
(2013)
Powering of cool filaments in cluster cores by buoyant bubbles - I. Qualitative model
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Melville S
(2016)
Pressure-anisotropy-driven microturbulence and magnetic-field evolution in shearing, collisionless plasma
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Waelkens A
(2009)
Probing magnetic turbulence by synchrotron polarimetry: statistics and structure of magnetic fields from Stokes correlators
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Zocco A
(2011)
Reduced fluid-kinetic equations for low-frequency dynamics, magnetic reconnection, and electron heating in low-beta plasmas
in Physics of Plasmas
Description | The publication list reflects the key findings. |
Exploitation Route | Some theories and methods that were developed carry over to bordering disciplines and areas of activity, most importantly magnetic fusion research. |
Sectors | Energy |