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VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:UW-Madison-Physics-Events
BEGIN:VEVENT
SEQUENCE:1
UID:UW-Physics-Event-5386
DTSTART:20200224T180500Z
DTEND:20200224T185500Z
DTSTAMP:20260314T231626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200213T193254Z
LOCATION:2241 Chamberlin Hall
SUMMARY:Frontiers in Linear and Nonlinear Plasma Physics\, Plasma Phys
 ics (Physics/ECE/NE 922) Seminar\, Jeff Parker\, Lawrence Livermore Na
 tional Laboratory
DESCRIPTION:This talk will highlight two areas of progress involving l
 inear and nonlinear plasma physics.  In the first half I will discuss 
 zonal flows\, a pervasive phenomenon in the universe and a prominent e
 xample of nonlinear self-organization and pattern formation.  The coex
 istence of zonal flow and turbulence remains incompletely understood\,
  as coherent zonal structures spontaneously break the oft-assumed symm
 etries of homogeneity and isotropy and profoundly alter the character 
 of turbulent flow.  Moreover\, intense practical interest in zonal flo
 ws has arisen because they are believed to regulate the deleterious tu
 rbulence that degrades confinement in magnetic fusion devices.  A rece
 nt statistical approach has led to breakthroughs in the theoretical un
 derstanding of zonal flow\, with a systematic framework offering an an
 alytically tractable\, self-consistent model that captures many featur
 es of zonal flow behavior.  Plasma physics also offers insight into zo
 nal flow in gas giants\, as considerations from MHD may explain recent
  measurements of the zonal-flow termination depth of 3\,000 km in Jupi
 ter. <br>
\n<br>
\nIn the second half\, I will discuss how even linear
  physics can surprise us with new and rich phenomena.  Topological pha
 ses of matter were recognized by the 2016 Nobel Prize and are now a la
 rge subject in condensed matter physics and photonics.  I will present
  the first applications of these ideas to plasma physics with two exam
 ples: (1) A topological gaseous plasmon polariton at the surface betwe
 en a magnetized plasma and vacuum\, and (2) the Reversed-Shear Alfvén
  Eigenmode\, well known in tokamaks.  The new field of topological pla
 sma waves represents a multifaceted research frontier with fundamental
  questions to be addressed by theory\, simulation\, and experiment.
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=5386
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