VIRTUAL

 Thursday, January 27th    2022

3:45 – 4:45 pm (MT)

WEBEX 

 Speaker:  Fernando Haas

Associate Professor

Physics Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)

“Foundations of Quantum Magnetohydrodynamics”

 

Abstract: 

The suitable density and temperature ranges where quantum effects are relevant for plasmas are reviewed. Typically such quantum plasmas are characterized by large densities and low temperatures, with a significant overlap of the wave packets of the charge carriers. In this case the wave nature of electrons, which have in general a much smaller mass than ions, becomes unavoidable deserving a quantum description. Examples arise in compact stars such as white dwarfs and neutron stars, in ultra-small electronic devices and in intense laser-solid density plasma interaction experiments. Starting from quantum kinetic theory, we discuss the foundations and the need of quantum hydrodynamic models for the nonlinear treatment of quantum plasmas. In this context the basic quantum magnetohydrodynamic model is derived. The role of spin-statistics and relativistic effects is discussed. A detailed comparison between the kinetic theory and hydrodynamic models of the exchange interaction is provided in the case of quantum ion-acoustic waves. The validity conditions of quantum hydrodynamics are analyzed. Finally we consider some recent developments in the area.

Bio:

Dr. Fernando Haas holds a BSc in Physics, a MSc degree in Physics and a Doctorate of Science degree, all of them from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS, Brazil). Presently is associate professor in the Physics Institute of UFRGS, since 2014. Prior to his appointment at UFRGS, he has held research posts at Umea University (Sweden, 2009), Ruhr University Bochum (RUB, Germany, 2007-2009), National Laboratory of Scientific Computation (Brazil, 2000-2003) and Henri Poincaré University (France, 1999). Previously has been associate professor in Federal University of Paraná (Brazil, 2011-2014) and UNISINOS (Brazil, 2003- 2010). Is an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at RUB (Germany) including besides a post-doctoral stay (2007- 2009) a past renewed research Invitation Programme fellowship in the group of Profs. Padma Kant Shukla and Bengt Eliasson and a forthcoming renewed research fellowship (2022) in the group of Profs. Reinhard Schlickeiser and Horst Fichtner. Have had an European Research Council (ERC) fellowship in the group of Profs. Mattias Marklund and Gert Brodin at Umea University (Sweden, 2009). Recently is sustaining research links with the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST Lisbon, Portugal) and COMSATS Pakistan, among others. He holds a Productivity Fellowship grant from the Brazilian funding agency CNPq (National Council of Scientific and Technological Development), level 1D. Have been granted the best lecture from a young scientist from the developing countries (International Workshop on Frontiers of Plasma Physics, Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Italy, 2006). Has been an invited plenary speaker (19th International Congress on Plasma Physics - ICPP 2018, Vancouver, Canada): Quantum Plasmas: Equation of State, Bohm Potential, Exchange Effects. Is among the 2 % most influential researchers in the world according to the recent 2020 Stanford University survey (S6-career-2019 Table in https://data.mendeley.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/2 ). Is the author of the book F. Haas, Quantum Plasmas: an Hydrodynamic Approach (Springer, Berlin, 2011) and more than 100 research papers in international recognized journals. Main fields: quantum plasmas, neutrino-plasma interactions, nonlinear waves in high-field plasmas, integrable dynamical systems, symmetry methods for differential equations, generalized Hamiltonian systems, Ermakov systems, Bose-Einstein condensates. Personal web page with the full record of prizes and publications: https://professor.ufrgs.br/fernando-haas/