Application of multivariate Maxwellian mixture model to plasma velocity distribution function

Physics – Plasma Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

11

Space Plasma Physics, Space Plasma Physics: Experimental And Mathematical Techniques, Space Plasma Physics: Kinetic And Mhd Theory, Space Plasma Physics: Shock Waves

Scientific paper

Recent space plasma observations have provided us with three-dimensional velocity distributions having multiple peaks. We propose a method for analyzing such velocity distributions via a multivariate Maxwellian mixture model where each component of the model represents each of the multiple peaks. The parameters of the model are determined through an iterative nonlinear optimization technique, specifically the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm. For the automatic judgment of the preferable number of components in the mixture model, we introduce a method of examining the number of extrema of a resulting mixture model. We show applications of our method to ion observations in the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) and in the central plasma sheet (CPS) of the Earth's magnetotail. From an analysis of the PSBL and CPS, low-energy ions that have properties similar to those of lobe ions were detected also in the PSBL and CPS. In the PSBL, middle-energy ion component which is flowing dawnward and directed the neutral sheet was extracted. We suggested that magnetic field fluctuations in the PSBL can be explained only when the two ion components were properly treated.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Application of multivariate Maxwellian mixture model to plasma velocity distribution function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Application of multivariate Maxwellian mixture model to plasma velocity distribution function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Application of multivariate Maxwellian mixture model to plasma velocity distribution function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1555096

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.