Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Multiscale dynamics of astrophysical plasmas: pressure-anisotropy-driven instabilities and large-scale dynamical processes

Objective

The primary purpose of the proposed project is a deeper understanding of instabilities in plasmas and their influence on transport phenomena and large-scale dynamical processes. The studies will be focused on nonlinear regime of development of the firehose and mirror instabilities triggered by pressure anisotropy spontaneously generated in stellar-wind environments by large-scale expansion/compression effects and plasma turbulence. Recent studies of microphysics of the instabilities have provided systematic knowledge on saturation effects in nonlinear regime and related wave-particle interactions. This opens a possibility of investigation of a feedback between the microphysics and large-scale dynamics. The project is anticipated to provide answers to the questions: what is the effective collisionality of a pressure-anisotropic plasma that is unstable or marginally stable to the firehose and mirror instabilities and how does it change the effective pressure tensor (viscous stress) used in fluid description of plasmas?

Results of the project are expected to be important for general plasma physics as related to the problem of multiscale phenomena in plasmas and coupling between microphysics and macrophysical processes. In particular, the results can help in better understanding of the dynamics of galaxy cluster plasmas, dynamical processes in stellar winds and planetary magnetospheres.

The studies will be done by numerical simulations using state-of-the-art kinetic and fluid models of plasma dynamics. A numerical setup will be developed analogous to experimental setups used for classical viscosity measurements in fluids. This virtual setup will be used to measure stresses caused by development of instabilities in plasmas. A related problem of thermalization of microinstabilities into kinetic waves cascade will be also investigated. The entire modeling framework will be validated by comparison of simulation results with spacecraft measurements in turbulent solar wind.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 195 454,80
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 195 454,80
My booklet 0 0