Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Understanding stars: How tornado-shaped flow in a dynamo strengthens the magnetic field

A new simulation based on the von-Kármán-Sodium (VKS) dynamo experiment investigates the effects of fluid resistivity and turbulence on the collimation of the magnetic field. Researchers found that using magnetized ferromagnetic materials increases the magnetic field collimation, while conducting materials weaken it. This study contrib...

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Plasmas·DateMay 23, 2017

Scientists perform first-principles simulation of transition of plasma edge to H-mode

Physicists at PPPL have simulated the spontaneous transition of turbulence at the plasma edge to H-mode using a first-principles-based model. The simulation reveals that both turbulence-generated and non-turbulent sheared flows contribute to the bifurcation, providing the physics-basis for successful tokamak operation.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 18, 2017

Simulations of DIII-D experiments shed light on mysterious plasma flows

Researchers at PPPL and General Atomics simulated a self-organized flow of superhot plasma that fuels fusion reactions. The findings show that sufficient heating can drive instabilities leading to plasma rotation, which may be used to improve fusion device performance. High-energy beams traditionally injected into the plasma are replac...

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 5, 2017

Reading between the lines of highly turbulent plasmas

Researchers develop an iterative simulation model that accurately predicts changes to line shape in strong plasma turbulence, providing a system for assessing plasma turbulence. The study finds that the width of hydrogen lines increases in presence of strong turbulence, with oscillating waves at plasma frequency.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateMar 29, 2017

How plankton cope with turbulence

Researchers discovered how plankton cope with turbulent layers in the ocean. Plankton cells change their shape from asymmetric to egg-shaped structures, allowing them to swim downwards and avoid damage. This adaptation provides an evolutionary advantage for the population, as only half of the cells are affected by turbulence.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateMar 15, 2017

Next-generation optics offer the widest real-time views of vast regions of the sun

A new optical device has provided the most precisely detailed, real-time pictures to date of solar activity occurring across vast stretches of the star's surface. The system corrects images distorted by atmospheric turbulence, allowing researchers to analyze magnetic events and forces that propel the star's magnetic fields.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics·DateJan 10, 2017

New insights into how black carbon aerosols impact the atmospheric boundary layer

Researchers used unmanned aircraft to measure turbulent kinetic energy, aerosol particle concentration, and temperature fluctuations near the Earth's surface. The study found that black carbon aerosols suppress turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer, exacerbating human health impacts and extreme weather events.

SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 4, 2016

Intense deep-ocean turbulence in equatorial Pacific could help drive global circulation

Researchers discovered intense deep-ocean turbulence in the equatorial Pacific that plays a crucial role in driving global ocean circulation. The study, published online in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that this mixing can be simulated using computer models to improve future climate forecasts.

SourceStanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 22, 2016

Zooplankton: Not-so-passive motion in turbulence

Researchers found that zooplankton copepods display energetic behavior in turbulent flows, amplifying the flow's intermittent properties. Their self-induced motion adds to fluctuations in speed, affecting feeding efficiency and ecological modeling.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateNov 11, 2015

The long and short of plasma turbulence

Researchers have used a supercomputer to simulate plasma turbulence, finding that long and short wavelength turbulence coexist and interact strongly, increasing heat losses tenfold above standard models. This discovery may inform fusion reactor design and bring us closer to practical fusion energy.

The physics of clouds

Researchers use a cylindrical rotating system to study turbulent convection, disproving the idea that transitions from one state of turbulence to another are smooth. Their findings suggest that symmetry changes must be sharp, contradicting Lev Landau's theory.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 11, 2015