CALIFANO , Francesco

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Boundary layers in space and astrophysical plasmas are the location of complex dynamics where different mechanisms coexist and compete eventually leading to plasma mixing. In this work, we present fully kinetic Particle-In-Cell simulations of different boundary layers characterized by the following main ingredients: a velocity shear, a density...

Magnetic reconnexion and Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) instability are usually recognized as the two main mixing processes along magnetopauses. However, a recent work [Dargent et al., 2019] showed that in Mercury"s conditions, another instability can grow faster than the KH instability along the magnetopause. This instability seems to rely on gradients...

Mutual impedance experiments are in situ space plasma diagnostic techniques for the determination of characteristic plasma parameters, such as the plasma density and the electron temperature. These electric experiments rely on the coupling between two emitting and two receiving antennas embedded in the plasma to be diagnosed.Different versions...

Context. Mercury presents a highly dynamic, small magnetosphere in which magnetic reconnection plays a fundamental role.Aim. We aim to model the global characteristics of magnetic reconnection in the Hermean environment. In particular, we focus on waves observed during the third BepiColombo flyby.Method. In this work, we used two fully kinetic...

Context. Density inhomogeneities are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical plasmas, particularly at contact boundaries between different media. They often correspond to regions that exhibit strong dynamics across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Indeed, density inhomogeneities are a source of free energy that can drive various...

Density inhomogeneities are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical plasmas, in particular at contact boundaries between different media. They often correspond to regions that exhibits strong dynamics on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Indeed, density inhomogeneities are a source of free energy that can drive various plasma...

We present the results of two numerical simulations of the interaction between the solar wind and a planetary Earth-like magnetosphere. We use the hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) code Menura, which allows for injecting a turbulent solar wind [1]. The two numerical simulations we present only differ one from the other on the nature of the solar...

Velocity shear driven vortices associated to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) have been detected by in-situ observations at the Earth, Saturn and Mercury magnetospheres' boundary due to the interaction with the solar wind. KHI in magnetized plasmas have been widely studied numerically in the framework of a fluid and hybrid descriptions,...

Mercury is the only telluric planet of the solar system, other than Earth, with an intrinsic magnetic field. Thus, the Hermean surface is shielded from the impinging solar wind via the presence of an "Earth-like" magnetosphere. However, this cavity is twenty times smaller than its alike at the Earth. The relatively small extension of the...

Mutual impedance experiments are active electric instruments that provide in situ diagnostic in space plasmas, such as the plasma density and electron temperature. The instrumental technique is based on the coupling between electric antennas embedded in the plasma, and characterizes the local properties of the plasma dielectric. Different...

Rocky objects in the Solar System (such as planets, asteroids, moons, and comets) undergo a complex interaction with the ow of magnetized, supersonic plasma emitted from the Sun called solar wind. We address the interaction of such a ow with the planet Mercury, considered here as the archetype of a weakly magnetized, airless, telluric body...

Mercury is the archetype of a weakly magnetized, airless, telluric body immersed in the solar wind. Due to the lack of any substantial atmosphere, the solar wind directly precipitates on Mercury's surface. Using a 3D fully-kinetic self-consistent plasma model, we show for the first time that solarwind electron precipitation drives (i) efficient...

Hybrid-Vlasov–Maxwell simulations of magnetized plasma turbulence including non-linear electron-inertia effects in a generalized Ohm's law are presented. When fluctuation energy is injected on scales sufficiently close to ion-kinetic scales, the ions efficiently become de-magnetized and electron-scale current sheets largely dominate the...

Context. The planet Mercury possesses a small but highly dynamic magnetosphere in which the role and dynamics of electrons are still largely unknown. Aims. We aim to model the global dynamics of solar-wind electrons impinging on Mercury's magnetosphere. Particular relevance is given to local acceleration processes and the global circulation...

Linear Magnetic Holes (LMHs) are magnetic field depressions generated in the solar wind upstream of planetary and cometary shock. Some of those structures are reminiscent of mirror modes, thus possibly linked to the mirror mode instability driven by a temperature anisotropy in a large plasma beta environment. LMHs have also been found...

Mercury is the only telluric planet of the solar system, other than Earth, with an intrinsic magnetic field. Thus, the Hermean surface is shielded from the impinging so- lar wind via an "Earth-like" magnetosphere. This magnetic cavity is however twenty times smaller than its counterpart at the Earth and Mercury occupies a large portion of this...

Mercury is the only telluric planet of the solar system, other than Earth, with an intrinsic magnetic field. Thus, the Hermean surface is shielded from the impinging solar wind via an "Earth-like" magnetosphere. This magnetic cavity is however twenty times smaller than its counterpart at the Earth and Mercury occupies a large portion of this...