We present a study of magnetic field fluctuations, in a slow solar wind stream, close to ion scales, where an increase of the level of magnetic compressibility is observed. Here, the nature of these compressive fluctuations is found to be characterized by coherent structures. Although previous studies have shown that current sheets can be considered as the principal cause of intermittency at ion scales, here we show for the first time that, in the case of the slow solar wind, a large variety of coherent structures contributes to intermittency at proton scales, and current sheets are not the most common. Specifically, we find compressive (δb ≫ δb ⊥ ), linearly polarized structures in the form of magnetic holes, solitons and shock waves. Examples of Alfvénic structures (δb ⊥ > δb ) are identified as current sheets and vortex-like structures. Some of these vortices have δb ⊥ ≫ δb , as in the case of Alfvén vortices, but the majority of them are characterized by δb ⊥ δb . Thanks to multipoint measurements by Cluster spacecraft, for about 100 structures, we could determine the normal, the propagation velocity and the spatial scale along this normal. Independently of the nature of the structures, the normal is always perpendicular to the local magnetic field, meaning that k ⊥ ≫ k . The spatial scales of the studied structures are found to be between 2 and 8 times the proton gyroradius. Most of them are simply convected by the wind, but 25% propagate in the plasma frame. Possible interpretations of the observed structures and the connection with plasma heating are discussed.

A new pseudo-three-dimensional electron hole in a magnetized plasma is possible when the low-frequency ion dynamics is taken into account. The newly found nonlinear Bernstein-Greene-Kruskal stationary solution, whose parallel phase velocity ranges between almost zero and the electron thermal speed, has the form of a cylinder that is tilted relative to the magnetic field. These structures are interpreted as three-dimensional electron holes coupled with hydrodynamic vortices, and provide a possible theoretical explanation for the POLAR and FAST satellite observations of coherent structures characterized by bipolar spikes of the parallel electric field and large perpendicular ion kinetic energies.

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A theoretical investigation of the quantum transverse beam motion for a cold relativistic charged particle beam travelling in a cold, collisionless, strongly magnetized plasma is carried out. This is done by taking into account both the individual quantum nature of the beam particles (singleparticle uncertainty relations and spin) and the self consistent interaction generated by the plasma wake field excitation. By adopting a fluid model of a strongly magnetized plasma, the analysis is carried out in the overdense regime (dilute beams) and in the long beam limit. It is shown that the quantum description of the collective transverse beam dynamics is provided by a pair of coupled nonlinear governing equations. It comprises a Poisson-like equation for the plasma wake potential (driven by the beam density) and a 2D spinorial Schr€odinger equation for the wave function, whose squared modulus is proportional to the beam density, that is obtained in the Hartree’s mean field approximation, after disregarding the exchange interactions. The analysis of this pair of equations, which in general exhibits a strong nonlocal character, is carried out analytically as well as numerically in both the linear and the nonlinear regimes, showing the existence of the quantum beam vortices in the form of Laguerre-Gauss modes and ring envelope solitons, respectively. In particular, when the relation between the plasma wake field response and the beam probability density is strictly local, the pair of the governing equations is reduced to the 2D Gross-Pitaevskii equation that allows one to establish the conditions for the self focusing and collapse. These conditions include the quantum nature of the beam particles. Finally, when the relation between the plasma wake field response and the beam probability density is moderately nonlocal, the above pair of equations permits to follow the spatio-temporal evolution of a quantum ring envelope soliton. Such a structure exhibits small or violent breathing, but it remains very stable for long time. VC 2012 American Institute of Physics

A new three-dimensional model for the warm-ion turbulence at the tokamak edge plasma and in the scrape-off layer is proposed, and used to study the dynamics of plasma blobs in the scrape-off layer. The model is based on the nonlinear interchange mode, coupled with the nonlinear resistive drift mode, in the presence of the magnetic curvature drive, the density inhomogeneity, the electron dynamics along the open magnetic field lines, and the electron-ion and electron-neutral collisions. Within the present model, the effect of the sheath resistivity decreases with the distance from the wall, resulting in the bending and the break up of the plasma blob structure. Numerical solutions exhibit the coupling of interchange modes with nonlinear drift modes, causing the collapse of the blob in the lateral direction, followed by a clockwise rotation and radial propagation. The symmetry breaking, caused both by the parallel resistivity and the finite ion temperature, introduces a poloidal component in the plasma blob propagation, while the overall stability properties and the speed are not affected qualitatively

We analyze electron holes that are spikes of the electrostatic field (up to 500 mV/m) observed by Van Allen Probes in the outer radiation belt. The unexpected feature is the magnetic field depression of about several tens of picotesla within many of the spikes. The earlier observations showed amplification or negligible perturbations of the magnetic field within the electron holes. We suggest that the observed magnetic field depression is due to the diamagnetic current of hot and highly anisotropic population of electrons trapped within the electron holes. The required trapped population should have a density up to 65% of the background plasma density, a temperature up to several keV, and a temperature anisotropy T⊥/T∥∼2. We argue that the observed electron holes could be generated due to injections of highly anisotropic plasma sheet electrons into the outer radiation belt. These electron holes may present a source of the seed population due to transport of trapped electrons to higher latitudes and can be potentially used for distant probing of plasma properties in their source region.

Although very rare, anatomical abnormalities of common peroneal nerve in regard to piriform muscle are still possible.

Besides genetic factors, it is known that some trace elements, as Selenium, Copper, and Zinc are essential for thyroid gland fuction and thyroid hormone metabolism. Moreover, there were some metals effect that suggested patterns associated with overt thyroid disease. Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), chronic autoimune inflamation of thyroid gland with cosequtive hipothyroidism, is common disease in Serbia, and we thought it is worthwile to explore potential effects of essential and toxic metals and metalloides on thyroid function and ability to restore euthyroid status of them. This cross-sectional, case-control, study investigated the status of essential elements (Selenium,Copper,and Zinc) and toxic metals and metalloides (Al, Cr, Mn, Co, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Be, Pb and Ni) from the blood of 22 female, patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and overt hypothyroidism, and compared it with those of 55 female healthy persons. We tried to establish the presence of any correlation between previous mentioned elements and thyroid function in hypothyroid patients and healthy participants. The results of our study suggested that the blood concentration of essential trace elements, especially the ratio of Copper, and Selenium may influence directly thyroid function in patients with HT and overt hypothyroidism.Thus, our findings may have implication to life-long substitution therapy in terms of l-thyroxine dose reduction. Furthermore, for the first time, our study shown potential toxic effect of Cadmium on thyroid function in HT patients, which may implicate the dose of l-thyroxine substitution.