Mesoscale Kinetic Simulations of Proton Anistropies in the Outer Magnetosphere
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Engineering topics
Publications and source records attributed to Wang, J..
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Described is a Particle-in-Cell with Monte Carlo Collision code developed to perform detailed three-dimensional ion thruster simulations. To capture the full kinetic behavior of ion thruster plumes, both the electrons and ions are treated as test particles. Simulation results are given of the NSTAR ion thruster under ground test and in space conditions. Numerical results are compared.
Full three-dimensional numerical models based on partical-in-cell with Monte Carlo collisions (PIC-MCC) simulations are developed to study ion thruster plasma interactions. 3-D simulation results for the NSTAR ion thruster plasma environment are presented.
From introduction: Many space experiments and applications involve plasma beam emissions. For instance, electron and ion beam experiments have been conducted to study beam-plasma interactions, neutralization processes, spacecraft charging and discharge, etc. This paper is concerned with the physics of ion beam emissions from spacecraft to aq low density space plasma. The emphasis is on space charge effects.
Standard theories have shown that when the current density in a one-dimensional electron or ion beam exceeds a critical value, a potential hump will show up. This hump will behave as a virtual electrode to the beam particles. Measurements have demonstrated the existence of virtual cathodes and anodes. Results are presented of particle-in-cell simulations of ion beam emissions in space.
Although the existence of the critical ionization velocity (CIV) is known from laboratory experiments, no agreement has been reached as to whether CIV exists in the natural space environment. In this paper we move towards more realistic models of CIV and present the first fully three-dimensional, electromagnetic particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) simulations of typical space-based CIV experiments. In our model, the released neutral gas is taken to be a spherical cloud traveling across a magnetized ambient plasma. Simulations are performed for neutral clouds with various sizes and densities. The effects of the cloud parameters on ionization yield, wave energy growth, electron heating, momentum coupling, and the three-dimensional structure of the newly ionized plasma are discussed. The simulations suggest that the quantitative characteristics of momentum transfers among the ion beam, neutral cloud, and plasma waves is the key indicator of whether CIV can occur in space. The missing factors in space-based CIV experiments may be the conditions necessary for a continuous enhancement of the beam ion momentum. For a typical shaped charge release experiment, favorable CIV conditions may exist only in a very narrow, intermediate spatial region some distance from the release point due to the effects of the cloud density and size. When CIV does occur, the newly ionized plasma from the cloud forms a very complex structure due to the combined forces from the geomagnetic field, the motion induced emf, and the polarization. Hence the detection of CIV also critically depends on the sensor location.
Ion thrusters are valued as a high-specific impulse class of space propulsion system.
Ion thrusters are valued as a high-specific impulse class of space propulsion system.
Ultrasensitive accelerometers (on the order of 10-8 g) are needed by NASA for the measurement of orbital drag, and for seismic measurements on other planets. Silicon micromachined devices are attractive because they are light weight and smaller than conventional accelerometers. A method is presented here for fabricating a bulk micromachined accelerometer which incorporates a tunneling tip.
Computer particle simulation has become a standard research tool in space plasma physics research.
A three-dimensional electromagnetic PIC code has been developed on the 512 node Intel Touchstone Delta MIMD parallel computer. This code is based on the General Concurrent PIC algorithm which uses a domain decomposition to divide the computation among the processors. The 3D simulation domain can be partitioned into 1-, 2-, or 3-dimensional subdomains. Particles must be exchanged between processors as they move among the subdomains.
A three dimensional electromagnetic PIC code has been developed on the 512 node Intel Touchstone Delta MIMD parallel computer.
Although the existence of the critical ionization velocity (CIV) is known from laboratory experiments, no agreement has been reached as to weather CIV exists in the natural space environment.
Proper interpretation of critical velocity ionization experiments depends upon understanding the expected results from in-situ or remote sensors. In particular, the 1991 shuttle based CIV experiment had diagnostics.
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This paper describes computer particle simulation in plasma physics research; also discussed are the results of plasma wave radiation by a moving current source in a magnetized plasma.