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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Standing Alfven wave current system at Io - Voyager 1 observations

The enigmatic control of the occurrence frequency of Jupiter's decametric emissions by the satellite Io has been explained theoretically on the basis of its strong electrodynamic interaction with the corotating Jovian magnetosphere leading to field-aligned currents connecting Io with the Jovian ionosphere. Direct measurements of the perturbation magnetic fields due to this current system were obtained by the Goddard Space Flight Center magnetic field experiment on Voyager 1 on March 5, 1979, when it passed within 20,500 km south of Io. An interpretation in the framework of Alfven waves radiated by Io leads to current estimates of 2.8 x 10 to the 6th A. A mass density of 7400-13,600 proton mass units/cu cm is derived, which compares very favorably with independent observations of the torus composition characterized by 7-9 proton mass units per electron for a local electron density of 1050-1500/cu cm. The power dissipated in the current system may be important for heating the Io heavy ion torus, inner magnetosphere, Jovian ionosphere, and possibly the ionosphere or even the interior of Io.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Radial gradients of ion densities and temperatures observed by SWICS/Ulysses

Mean density and temperature gradients of solar wind protons and alpha-particles between 1 and 5.4 AU are established from SWICS/Ulysses observations. All parameters are classified in speed intervals. au order scheme giving us a natural extension of the Helios observations. which were usually classified according to speed of the wind. The radial gradients show a similar behaviour of both particle species, while the particles radially propagate and thereby cool off in the heliosphere. The slow solar wind is found, for protons as well as a particles. to expand adiabatically all the way out to 5.4 AU, while the fast wind evolves non-adiabatically and is heated by interplanetary sources. It, seems that the heating rate of the a-particles is larger than the heating rate of the protons. The ion temperature ratio and density ratio are determined. They do not indicate any radial dependence. The temperature ratio T(sub alpha)/T(sub p) is on average about 4. It has a maximum of 4.5 in the velocity interval where 400 km/s is less than v(sub p) is less than 500 km/s, while in slow wind with v(sub p) is less than 400 km/s it has a minimum value of 37. and for fast wind with v(sub p) is greater than 500 km/s it is 3.9. The density gradients shows compression effects resulting from fast wind overtaking the slow wind.

Liu, S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Weight optimization methods in space radiation shield design

An empirical relation between proton range and material density is used to examine relations between shield weight, geometry, and material composition for shielding against a space proton environment. The optimum material resulting in minimum shield weight usually lies at the extremes of either the lightest or heaviest materials. Aluminum, which has special prominence in the space program, appears universally suboptimal as a radiation shielding material. Assuming square-box geometry (rectangular prisms with two square faces), the optimum shape for the shielded objects is found to be a cube, although moderate deviations from a cube result in only a small weight penalty.

Wilson, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A two-fluid solar wind model with Alfven waves - Parameter study and application to observations

The effects of Alfven waves from the inner corona on the solar wind density profile, flow velocity and on the random motion of protons are studied. Different base densities, temperatures, and wave velocity amplitudes, as well as different flow geometries, are considered. The model calculations are compared to simultaneous observations of the electron density profile and the resonantly scattered Lyman alpha line. Present observations, out to 4 solar radii, can be used to place limits on the coronal base density and temperature, and put an upper limit on the wave amplitude. It is pointed out that future observations of the electron density and the Lyman alpha line, out to larger heliocentric distances, and of lines from heavier elements, should be used to place more stringent constraints on the amplitudes of MHD waves in the corona.

Esser, R.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Method and apparatus for imaging through 3-dimensional tracking of protons

A method and apparatus for creating density images of an object through the 3-dimensional tracking of protons that have passed through the object are provided. More specifically, the 3-dimensional tracking of the protons is accomplished by gathering and analyzing images of the ionization tracks of the protons in a closely packed stack of scintillating fibers.

Ryan, James M.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Minimum length Pb/SCIN detector for efficient cosmic ray identification

A study was made of the performance of a minimal length cosmic ray shower detector that would be light enough for space flight and would provide efficient identification of positions and protons. Cosmic ray positions are mainly produced in the decay chain of: Pion yields Muon yields Positron and they provide a measure of the matter density traversed by primary protons. Present positron flux measurements are consistent with the Leaky Box and Halo models for sources of cosmic rays. Abundant protons in the space environment are a significant source of background that would wash out the positron signal. Protons and positrons produced very distictive showers of particles when they enter matter; many studies have been published on their behavior on large calorimeter detectors. The challenge is to determine the minimal material necessary (minimal calorimeter depth) for positive particles identification. The primary instrument for the investigation is the Monte Carlo code GEANT, a library of programs from CERN that can be used to model experimental geometry, detector responses and particle interaction processes. The use of the Monte Carlo approach is crucial since statistical fluctuations in shower shape are significant. Studies conducted during the 1988 summer program showed that straightforward approaches to the problem achieved 85 to 90 percent correct identification, but left a residue of 10 to 15 percent misidentified particles. This percentage improved to a few percent when multiple shower-cut criteria were applied to the data. This summer, the same study was extended to employ several physical and statistical methods of identifying response of the calorimeter and the efficiency of the optimal shower cuts to off-normal incidence particle was determined.

Snyder, H. David↗
NASA NTRS1972

Observations of the solar plasma using radio scattering and scintillation methods

Observations of the solar plasma using the interplanetary scintillation technique have been made at radial distances of 0.03 to 1.2 AU. The solar wind is found to be independent of ecliptic latitude and radial distance, except close to the sun where acceleration is observed. Plasma density irregularities on a scale near the proton gyro radius, which modulate the mean density by about 1 percent, are present throughout the observed range of radial distance.

Hewish, A.↗
NASA NTRS2016

A Proton-Cyclotron Wave Storm Generated by Unstable Proton Distribution Functions in the Solar Wind

We use audification of 0.092 seconds cadence magnetometer data from the Wind spacecraft to identify waves with amplitudes greater than 0.1 nanoteslas near the ion gyrofrequency (approximately 0.1 hertz) with duration longer than 1 hour during 2008. We present one of the most common types of event for a case study and find it to be a proton-cyclotron wave storm, coinciding with highly radial magnetic field and a suprathermal proton beam close in density to the core distribution itself. Using linear Vlasov analysis, we conclude that the long-duration, large-amplitude waves are generated by the instability of the proton distribution function. The origin of the beam is unknown, but the radial field period is found in the trailing edge of a fast solar wind stream and resembles other events thought to be caused by magnetic field footpoint motion or interchange reconnection between coronal holes and closed field lines in the corona.

instabilities - plasmas↗
NASA NTRS1991

Energetic particles at Uranus

The energetic particle measurements by the low-energy charged-particle and cosmic-ray instruments on the Voyager 2 spacecraft in the magnetosphere of Uranus are reviewed. Upstream events were observed outside the Uranian bow shock, probably produced by ion escape from the magnetosphere. Evidence of earthlike substorm activity was discovered within the Uranian magnetosphere. A proton injection event was observed within the orbit of Umbriel and proton events were observed in the magnetotail plasma-sheet boundary layer that are diagnostic of earthlike substorms. The magnetospheric composition is totally dominated by protons, with only a trace abundance of H(2+) and no evidence for He or heavy ions; the Uranian atmophere is argued to be the principal plasma source. Phase-space densities of medium energy protons show inward radial diffusion and are quantitatively similar to those observed at the earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. These findings and plasma wave data suggest the existence of structures analogous to the earth's plasmasphere and plasmapause.

Cheng, Andrew F.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Densities and abundances of hot cometary ions in the coma of P/Halley

The densities of the hot component in the ion population observed in the P/Halley coma by the ion mass spectrometer aboard the Giotto spacecraft has been recomputed, and the results are reported. Except for protons and H2(+), all densities are found to be at least an order of magnitude higher than predicted by the physicochemical model of Schmidt et al. (1988). These densities require ionization mechanisms in addition to, or stronger than, plasma compression. The change in the density of solar wind ions across a magnetic discontinuity located 135,000 km from the comet is barely distinguishable in the density profiles of hot cometary ions. This result is consistent with the interpretation that the magnetic pileup boundary detected by Giotto is due to a discontinuity in the solar wind.

Neugebauer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Proton and helium cyclotron anisotropy instability thresholds in the magnetosheath

Both the protons and the helium ions of the terrestrial magnetosheath typically display T (sub perpendicular) greater than T (sub parallel), where perpendicular to and parallel to denote directions perpendicular and parallel to the background magnetic field. Observations of the highly compressed magnetosheath show an inverse correlation between these ion temperature anisotropies and the parallel proton beta. Computer simulations have demonstrated that these correlations are due to wave-particle scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron anisotropy instabilities. These correlations correspond to linear theory thresholds of the proton cyclotron and the helium cyclotron instabilities. This paper uses linear Vlasov theory and the assumption of a constant maximum growth rate to obtain closed-form expressions for these thresholds as a function of the relative helium density and the parallel proton beta in a parameter model of the magnetosheath.

Gary, S. Peter↗
NASA NTRS1978

The location of the particle acceleration region in the 1 September 1971 solar cosmic ray event

A numerical model of interplanetary propagation is used to reconstruct the shape of particle spectra near the sun shortly after release, from the proton and electron fluxes observed at 1 AU after the solar cosmic-ray event of September 1, 1971. A calculation of the spectral changes that would be produced by collisional energy losses is employed to estimate the amount of matter through which the particles passed, the height at which they were accelerated, and, for the proton, the temperature of the plasma. A temperature of about 2.4 million K in the proton acceleration region is obtained, along with a column density of material traversed equal to about 140 micrograms/sq cm for the protons and a column density of less than 4 micrograms/sq cm for the electrons. These results are shown to imply proton acceleration near the base of the corona and electron acceleration at a height greater than about 1 solar radius.

Mcguire, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Computer simulations of two-pickup-ion instabilities in a cometary environment

This paper presents a one-dimensional electromagnetic hybrid computer simulation of distant cometary environments, in which protons and oxygen ions are injected continuously at the same time. It is demonstrated that, when, instead of a single component, both protons and oxygen ions are injected, the faster growing shorter-wavelength proton-proton right-hand resonant instability dominates the early time physics, leading to linear temporal growth of the fluctuating magnetic field energy density and pitch angle scattering of the protons (but causing no significant response by the nonresonant oxygen ions). At later times, as the injected oxygen ions accumulate sufficient density, the oxygen-proton right-hand resonant instability emerges, exhibiting exponential temporal growth to a relatively large peak amplitude, phase bunching, and magnetically trapping the oxygen ions. At times after peak amplitude, the oxygen-proton fluctuations stochastically accelerate some of the injected protons.

Gary, S. Peter↗
NASA NTRS1983

The interplanetary shock event of November 11/12 1978, a comprehensive test of acceleration theory

A comprehensive study of the November 11/12, 1978 shock event based on energetic particle, solar wind, magnetic field and wave data from the ISEE-3, -1 and -2 spacecraft has been undertaken both from the energetic and the collisionless shock point of view. The energy density of 10-50 keV protons accelerated by the shock is found to be equivalent to the upstream magnetic field energy density. The observations are in quantitative agreement with Lee's (1983) self consistent theory for the excitation of hydromagnetic waves and the acceleration of ions upstream of interplanetary shocks.

Wenzel, K. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Plasma and energetic particle structure upstream of a quasi-parallel interplanetary shock

ISEE 1, 2 and 3 data from 1978 on interplanetary magnetic fields, shock waves and particle energetics are examined to characterize a quasi-parallel shock. The intense shock studied exhibited a 640 km/sec velocity. The data covered 1-147 keV protons and electrons and ions with energies exceeding 30 keV in regions both upstream and downstream of the shock, and also the magnitudes of ion-acoustic and MHD waves. The energetic particles and MHD waves began being detected 5 hr before the shock. Intense halo electron fluxes appeared ahead of the shock. A closed magnetic field structure was produced with a front end 700 earth radii from the shock. The energetic protons were cut off from the interior of the magnetic bubble, which contained a markedly increased density of 2-6 keV protons as well as the shock itself.

Kennel, C. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The interplanetary shock event of November 11/12 1978 - A comprehensive test of acceleration theory

A comprehensive study of the November 11, 12, 1978 shock event based on energetic particle, solar wind, magnetic field and wave data from the ISEE-3, -1 and -2 spacecraft has been undertaken both from the energetic and the collisionless shock point of view. The energy density of 10-50 keV protons accelerated by the shock is found to be equivalent to the upstream magnetic field energy density. The observations are in quantitative agreement with Lee's (1983) self consistent theory for the excitation of hydromagnetic waves and the acceleration of ions upstream of interplanetary shocks.

Wenzel, K.-P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Interaction of ring current ions with the magnetopause

An analysis of phase space density observations of 30-130 keV ring current protons made during a magnetopause crossing of ISEE 1 indicates that the phase space densities of 30-65 keV protons within the magnetosphere are higher for particles streaming parallel to the field than antiparallel to the field. In the magnetosheath, phase space densities parallel to the field are higher than the densities of both outward- and inward-flowing particles parallel to the field within the magnetosphere. The observations are discussed in the terms of reflected and transmitted ring current protons' acceleration in the magneteopause current layer.

Scholer, M.↗