Engineering topics

Lin, Jun

Publications and source records attributed to Lin, Jun.

4 records

NASA NTRS2007

"Bursty" Reconnection Following Solar Eruptions: MHD Simulations and Comparison with Observations

Posteruptive arcades are frequently seen in the aftermath of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The formation of these loops at successively higher altitudes, coupled with the classic "two-ribbon" flare seen in H-alpha, are interpreted as reconnection of the coronal magnetic field that has been dragged outward by the CME. White-light observations of "rays," which have been interpreted as being coincident with the current sheet at the reconnection site underneath the erupting CME, also provide evidence for its occurrence. "Blobs" occasionally seen within these rays suggest an even richer level of structure. In this report, we present numerical simulations that reproduce both the observed rays and the formation and evolution of the blobs. We compare their properties with SOHO/LASCO observations of similar structures, and relate their formation to standard theories of reconnection,

Riley, Pete↗

NASA NTRS2004

Status of the Ablative Laser Propulsion Studies

We present a short review of our laser-propulsion research as well as some of the current results of the Ablative Laser Propulsion (ALP) studies currently underway at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. It has been shown that direct surface ablation of a solid material produces high specific impulse (Isp) at relatively high energy conversion efficiency (20 - 40%). We detail measurements of specific impulse, thrust and coupling coefficients for elemental target materials both with single and with double pulse laser shots. We also present measurements taken using three independent methods for determination of Isp. The three methods produce consistent values from ion time-of-flight technique, impulse measurements and imaging of the expansion front of plasma plume. We present a demonstration of our ALP lightcraft, a small free-flying micro-vehicle that is propelled by ablation. For ALP lightcraft we use a subscale thin shell of nickel replicated over a diamond turned mandrel that produces a highly polished self-focusing, truncated at the focus parabolic mirror. The mass of the lightcraft is 54 mg and it is driven by 100-ps wide, 35-mJ laser pulses at 532 nm wavelength. This is an ongoing research. We also present the latest work on laserdriven micro-thrusters and detail some the near term goals of our program.

Herren, Kenneth A.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Two-Pulsed Technique for Ablative Laser Propulsion: Force Measurement in Vacuum

This is a continuation of studies using a two-pulsed technique for Ablative Laser Propulsion (ALP) extended to force measurements in vacuum. Aluminum samples were ablated using pairs of laser pulses, each of 100 ps width, 532 nm wavelength and 5 mJ energy. The pulses were temporally separated in the 0 - 0.67 ns range. The force imparted on Al targets was measured in situ by means of a piezoelectric force gauge. The preliminary results confirm the previously reported oscillatory behavior of ion velocity and number density observed by means of a time-of-flight energy analyzer. The uncertainties of presented measurements and future directions for the study are discussed.

Herren, Kenneth A.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Dynamical and Physical Properties of a Post-Coronal Mass Ejection Current Sheet

In the eruptive process of the Kopp-Pneuman type, the closed magnetic field is stretched by the eruption so much that it is usually believed to be " open " to infinity. Formation of the current sheet in such a configuration makes it possible for the energy in the coronal magnetic field to quickly convert into thermal and kinetic energies and cause significant observational consequences, such as growing postflare/CME loop system in the corona, separating bright flare ribbons in the chromosphere, and fast ejections of the plasma and the magnetic flux. An eruption on 2002 January 8 provides us a good opportunity to look into these observational signatures of and place constraints on the theories of eruptions. The event started with the expansion of a magnetic arcade over an active region, developed into a coronal mass ejection (CME), and left some thin streamer-like structures with successively growing loop systems beneath them. The plasma outflow and the highly ionized states of the plasma inside these streamer-like structures, as well as the growing loops beneath them, lead us to conclude that these structures are associated with a magnetic reconnection site, namely, the current sheet, of this eruptive process. We combine the data from the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer, Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment, EUV Imaging Telescope, and Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, as well is from the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory Mark IV K-coronameter, to investigate the morphological and dynamical properties of this event, as well as the physical properties of the current sheet. The velocity and acceleration of the CME reached up to 1800 km/s and 1 km/sq s, respectively. The acceleration is found to occur mainly at the lower corona (<2.76 Solar Radius). The post-CME loop systems showed behaviors of both postflare loops (upward motion with decreasing speed) and soft X-ray giant arches (upward motion with constant speed, or acceleration) according to the definition of Svestka. In the current sheet, the presence of highly ionized ions, such as Fe(+17) and Ca(+13), suggests temperature as high as (3-4) x 10(exp 6) K, and the plasma outflows have speeds ranging from 300 to 650 km/s. Absolute elemental abundances in the current sheet show a strong first ionization potential effect and have values similar to those found in the active region streamers. The magnetic field strength in the vicinity of the current sheet is found to be of the order of 1 G.

Ko, Yuan-Kuen↗