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Abstract The large-scale dynamics of most conventional space and astrophysical plasmas are predominantly governed by Alfvén modes, which are low-frequency magnetohydrodynamic modes existing in magnetized media. At scales smaller than the ion gyroscale or frequencies exceeding the ion cyclotron frequency, the Alfvén modes transform into kinetic-Alfvén or whistler modes that significantly contribute to plasma dynamics. However, this scenario reverses in nonneutral pair plasmas, such as those found in the magnetospheres of pulsars and magnetars, around rotating black holes, and in their relativistic jets, as well as in certain laboratory plasmas. In these systems, the large-scale dynamics are governed by hybrid whistler–Alfvén modes, which transform into pure Alfvén modes at smaller scales. We derive the nonlinear equations that describe the dynamics of whistler–Alfvén modes in ultrarelativistic nonneutral magnetically dominated pair plasma and discuss the spectrum of turbulence governed by these equations. 

Abstract The guiding center formalism is employed to analyze the motion of a charged relativistic particle in an inhomogeneous magnetic field subject to magnetic mirroring and energy loss due to cooling. The governing equation for the evolution of the magnetic moment is derived. An example representing a neutron star's (pulsar or magnetar) magnetosphere is presented to illustrate typical particle orbits. Notably, radiative losses are most pronounced near a trapped particle’s turning point. Depending on the initial particle’s pitch angle, energy loss can become catastrophic, resulting in the rapid migration of the particle into the loss cone and subsequent precipitation onto a neutron star. Conversely, particles with larger pitch angles remain temporarily trapped and form a gradually decaying “cooled-loss-cone” or “funnel” distribution, characterized by the maximum momentum space particle density being located at the edge of the loss cone. The size of the loss cone is energy dependent and scales asα_c ∝ γ^3/10. Synchrotron losses are strongest in a well-localized region of the magnetosphere, a few hundred to a thousand stellar radii under typical pulsar and magnetar conditions. This region is a plausible site for synchrotron radiation originating in the outer magnetosphere, and could also be responsible for nonpolar coherent pulsar emission, as well as weak fast radio bursts. 

ABSTRACT We present hydrodynamic simulations of a flavour-mixed two-component dark matter (2cDM) model that utilize IllustrisTNG baryonic physics. The model parameters are explored for two sets of power laws of the velocity-dependent cross-sections, favoured on the basis of previous studies. The model is shown to suppress the formation of structures at scales $$k\gtrsim 10^2\ h\text{ Mpc}^{-1}$$ up to 40 per cent compared to cold dark matter at redshifts $$z\sim 5{-}2$$. We compare our results to structure enhancement and suppression due to cosmological and astrophysical parameters presented in the literature and find that 2cDM effects remain relevant at galactic and subgalactic scales. The results indicate the robustness of the role of non-gravitational dark matter interactions in structure formation and the absence of putative degeneracies introduced by baryonic feedback at high z. The predictions made can be further tested with future Ly $$\alpha$$ forest observations. 

Abstract Dark matter particles were suggested to have an electric charge smaller than the elementary charge unite. The behavior of such a medium is similar to a collisionless plasma. In this paper, we set new stringent constraints on the charge and mass of the millicharged dark matter particle based on observational data on the Bullet X-ray Cluster. 

Abstract We introduce the DaRk mattEr and Astrophysics with Machine learning and Simulations (DREAMS) project, an innovative approach to understanding the astrophysical implications of alternative dark matter (DM) models and their effects on galaxy formation and evolution. The DREAMS project will ultimately comprise thousands of cosmological hydrodynamic simulations that simultaneously vary over DM physics, astrophysics, and cosmology in modeling a range of systems—from galaxy clusters to ultra-faint satellites. Such extensive simulation suites can provide adequate training sets for machine-learning-based analyses. This paper introduces two new cosmological hydrodynamical suites of warm dark matter (WDM), each comprising 1024 simulations generated using thearepocode. One suite consists of uniform-box simulations covering a ${\left(25h^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc}\right)}^3$ volume, while the other consists of Milky Way zoom-ins with sufficient resolution to capture the properties of classical satellites. For each simulation, the WDM particle mass is varied along with the initial density field and several parameters controlling the strength of baryonic feedback within the IllustrisTNG model. We provide two examples, separately utilizing emulators and convolutional neural networks, to demonstrate how such simulation suites can be used to disentangle the effects of DM and baryonic physics on galactic properties. The DREAMS project can be extended further to include different DM models, galaxy formation physics, and astrophysical targets. In this way, it will provide an unparalleled opportunity to characterize uncertainties on predictions for small-scale observables, leading to robust predictions for testing the particle physics nature of DM on these scales. 

Understanding plasma self-magnetization is one of the fundamental challenges in both laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. Self-magnetization can modify plasma transport properties, altering the dynamical evolution of plasmas. Multiple high-energy-density (HED) experiments have observed the formation of ion-scale magnetic filaments of megagauss strength, though their origin remains debated. Here, we conduct 2D collisional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations with a laser ray-tracing module for a fully self-consistent simulation of the plasma ablation, expansion, and magnetization. The simulations use a planar geometry, effectively suppressing the Biermann magnetic fields, to focus on anisotropy-driven instabilities. The laser intensity is varied between 1013 and 1014 W=cm2, which is relevant to HED and inertial fusion experiments where collisions must be considered. We find that, above a critical intensity, the plasma rapidly self- magnetizes via an expansion-driven Weibel process, producing a plasma beta of 100 (β¼ 8πkBneTe=B2) and Hall parameter ωceτe > 1 within the first few hundred picoseconds. The magnetic field is sufficiently strong to modify plasma heat transport, and simulations with an artificially suppressed magnetic field show noticeably different temperature profiles. 

A theory of the spectral ‘zebra’ pattern of the Crab pulsar’s high-frequency interpulse (HFIP) radio emission is developed. The observed emission bands are interference maxima caused by multiple ray propagation through the pulsar magnetosphere. The high-contrast interference pattern is the combined effect of gravitational lensing and plasma de-lensing of light rays. The model enables space-resolved tomography of the pulsar magnetosphere, yielding a radial plasma density profile of$$n_{e}\propto r^{-3}$$, which agrees with theoretical insights. We predict the zebra pattern trend to change at a higher frequency when the ray separation becomes smaller than the pulsar size. This frequency is predicted to be in the range between 42 and 650 GHz, which is within the reach of existing facilities like ALMA and SMA. These observations hold significant importance and would contribute to our understanding of the magnetosphere. Furthermore, they offer the potential to investigate gravity in the strong field regime near the star’s surface. 

Superstrongly magnetized plasmas play a crucial role in extreme environments of magnetars and laboratory laser experiments, demanding a comprehensive understanding of how quantum electrodynamic (QED) effects influence plasma behavior. Earlier analytical and semi-analytical calculations have shown that QED effects can significantly modify the plasma polarization mode behavior around magnetars. In this work, we present the first electromagnetic field solver that is valid in the range from B→0 to beyond the Schwinger limit. QED vacuum polarization in superstrong magnetic fields is modeled with nonlinear Maxwell equations. We show that electromagnetic waves in simulations follow the analytical solutions well and reproduce the birefringence effects of electromagnetic wave modes between the O and X polarizations of perpendicular electromagnetic waves and those between L and R polarizations of parallel waves. This new framework can be applied to kinetic as well as other types of computer simulations. The solver's key advantage lies in its versatility, allowing it to be used in gyro-motion, gyro-center, and gyro-kinetic simulations, which do not resolve the cyclotron motion, or in plasma studies with ground-level Landau quantization.