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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 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1987

The plasma environment during particle beam injection into space plasmas. I - Electron beams. II - Charge-neutral beams

A realistic electrostatic simulation model is used to investigate the plasma environment in the near vicinity of a spacecraft during the injection of electon beams from the spacecraft. The model is described, and the cases of injection into vacuum and into a low-density plasma are addressed. The relationship of the two-dimensional results to the purely field-aligned one-dimensional simulations is discussed. The dependence of the results on the ambient plasma density is investigated. Then, the properties of a charge-neutral beam and the plasma response are examined for the case where the beam has nonzero velocity components parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field. The parameters used in the simulation are described, and the properties of the beam injection into the vacuum and in the case where a plasma is present are given.

Pritchett, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Electron observations and ion flows from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter plasma analyzer experiment

Additional plasma measurements in the vicinity of Venus are presented. It is shown that (1) there are three distinct plasma electron populations - solar wind electrons, ionosheath electrons, and nightside ionosphere electrons; (2) the plasma ion flow pattern in the ionosheath is consistent with deflected flow around a blunt obstacle; (3) the plasma ion flow velocities near the downstream wake may, at times, be consistent with the deflection of plasma into the tail, closing the solar wind cavity downstream from Venus at a relatively close distance (within 5 Venus radii) to the planet; (4) there is a separation between the inner boundary of the downstream ionosheath and the upper boundary of the nightside ionosphere; and (5) during the first 4.5 months in orbit the measured solar wind plasma speed continued to vary, showing a number of high-speed, but generally nonrecurrent, streams.

Intriligator, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Electron density depletions in the nightside auroral zone

Dynamics Explorer 1 measurements are used to investigate regions of low electron density in the nightside auroral zone. Sharply defined regions of low electron density are found in auroral zone crossings from the predusk hours until the early morning hours at all radial distances up to at least 4.6 earth radii. Densities in the auroral cavity are shown to fall to values below 0.3/cu cm. Within the auroral cavity, electron-density-profile variations of a factor of 2 or more on spatial scales of tens of kilometers are found, and the electron plasma frequency to electron cyclotron frequency ratios are 0.02-0.4. The results suggest associations between the density depletions in the nightside auroral zone and auroral acceleration processes.

Persoon, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Mestastable State Population in Laser Induced Plasmas

Laser induced plasma has been used as a source of neutrals and ions in the study of astrophysical plasmas. The purity of state of this source is essential in the determination of collision parameters such as the charge transfer rate coefficients between ions and neutrals. We will show that the temperature of the laser induced plasma is a rapidly decreasing function of time. The temperature is initially high but cools off rapidly through collisions with the expanding plasma electrons as the plasma recombines and streams into the vacuum. This rapid expansion of the plasma, similar to a supersonic jet, drastically lowers the internal energy of the neutrals and ions.

Kwong, V. H. S.↗
NASA NTRS2010

The Interaction of the Solar Wind with Solar Probe Plus - 3D Hybrid Simulation. Report 2: The Study for the Distance 9.5Rs

Our paper is a 2.5D and 3D numerical plasma models of the interaction of the solar wind (SW) with the Solar Probe Plus spacecraft (SPPSC). These results should be interpreted as a basic plasma model for which the derived SW interaction with spacecraft (SC) could have consequences for both plasma wave and electron plasma measurements on board SC in the inner heliosphere. We observe an excitation of the low frequency Alfven and whistler type wave directed by the magnetic field with an amplitude of the electromagnetic field oscillation about of (0.015-0.06) V/m. The compression waves and the jumps in an electric field with an amplitude of about 1.5 V/m and (12-18) V/m were also observed. The observed strong electromagnetic perturbations may be a crucial point in the electromagnetic measurements, which were planned in future Solar Probe Plus mission.

Lipatov, Alexander S.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Short Wavelength Electromagnetic Perturbations Excited Near the Solar Probe Plus Spacecraft in the Inner Heliosphere: 2.5D Hybrid Modeling

A 2.5D numerical plasma model of the interaction of the solar wind (SW) with the Solar Probe Plus spacecraft (SPPSC) is presented. These results should be interpreted as a basic plasma model derived from the SW-interaction with the spacecraft (SC), which could have consequences for both plasma wave and electron plasma measurements on board the SC in the inner heliosphere. Compression waves and electric field jumps with amplitudes of about 1.5 V/m and (12-18) V/m were also observed. A strong polarization electric field was also observed in the wing of the plasma wake. However, 2.5D hybrid modeling did not show excitation of whistler/Alfven waves in the upstream connected with the bidirectional current closure that was observed in short-time 3D modeling SPPSC and near a tether in the ionosphere. The observed strong electromagnetic perturbations may be a crucial point in the electromagnetic measurements planned for the future Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission. The results of modeling electromagnetic field perturbations in the SW due to shot noise in absence of SPPSC are also discussed.

Lipatov, Alexander S.↗
NASA NTRS2014

High Current Hollow Cathode Plasma Plume Measurements

Plasma plume measurements are reported for a hollow cathode assembly (HCA) operated at discharge currents of 50, 70, and 100 A at xenon flow rates between 19 - 46 standard cubic centimeter per minute. The HCA was centrally mounted in the NASA-300MS Hall Thruster and was operated in the "spot" and "plume" modes with additional data taken with an applied magnetic field. Langmuir probes, retarding potential analyzers, and optical emission spectroscopy were employed to measure plasma properties near the orifice of the HCA and to assess the charge state of the near-field plasma. Electron temperatures (2-6 electron volt) and plasma potentials are consistent with probe-measured values in previous investigations. Operation with an applied-field yields higher discharge voltages, increased Xe III production, and increased signals from the 833.5 nm C I line. While operating in plume mode and with an applied field, ion energy distribution measurements yield ions with energies significantly exceeding the applied discharge voltage. These findings are correlated with high-frequency oscillations associated with each mode.

High frequency analysis↗
NASA NTRS2020

Calibration and Performance of Juno Radio Science Data

Juno Radio Science measures the frequency of X- and Ka-band radio links between the Juno spacecraft and the Earth-based observing stations of NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) in order to determine the gravitational field of Jupiter. The received frequency contains information on the gravitational field and is also perturbed by the propagation environment, including Earth troposphere and ionosphere, electrons in the solar plasma, electrons in the Io Plasma Torus around Jupiter, and instrumental effects on both the spacecraft and the ground electronics. Each of these effects must be calibrated out of the data to ensure an accurate estimation of the Jupiter gravitational field. This work discusses the data processing, calibration, and performance of the frequency measurements. The precision of the frequency measurements average 1.1 mHz (1σ standard deviation at 60 second integration time), or 5.3 microns/sec in units of velocity. The remaining noise sources are primarily from residual troposphere and charged particles. Further improvement could be made in future radio science experiments with the addition of a cross-link and stiffer ground antennas.

Buccino, Dustin R↗
NASA NTRS2021

Calibration and Performance of Juno Radio Science Data

Juno Radio Science measures the frequency of X- and Ka-band radio links between the Juno spacecraft and the Earth-based observing stations of NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN) in order to determine the gravitational field of Jupiter. The received frequency contains information on the gravitational field and is also perturbed by the propagation environment, including Earth troposphere and ionosphere, electrons in the solar plasma, electrons in the Io Plasma Torus around Jupiter, and instrumental effects on both the spacecraft and the ground electronics. Each of these effects must be calibrated out of the data to ensure an accurate estimation of the Jupiter gravitational field. This work discusses the data processing, calibration, and performance of the frequency measurements. The precision of the frequency measurements average 1.1 mHz (1σ standard deviation at 60 second integration time), or 5.3 microns/sec in units of velocity. The remaining noise sources are primarily from residual troposphere and charged particles. Further improvement could be made in future radio science experiments with the addition of a cross-link and stiffer ground antennas.

Oudrhiri, Kamal↗
NASA NTRS1972

The effect of an isotopic non-equilibrium plasma on electron temperature measurements

Electron temperatures determined by electrostatic probe, diffuse resonance, and radar backscatter techniques in an isotropic two temperature plasma are presented. Plasma models corresponding to the addition of a minor component of energetic electrons, and models corresponding to a process that cools a fraction of the ionospheric electrons are considered. The diffuse resonance temperature is found to lie between the probe and radar backscatter temperatures. The isotropic models corresponding to the addition of energetic electrons cannot support the reported discrepancies between radio wave and probe electron temperature measurements. Temperature differences similar to the observed differences can be produced by models with a fraction of the electrons at a temperature cooler than that of the main component of electrons.

Benson, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The role of plasma wave turbulence in the formation of shock waves in collisionless plasmas

A data set containing measurements for approximately 100 shock crossings was compiled, and plasma wave profiles were plotted in conjunction with magnetic field data. Three emissions analyzed include upstream electron plasma oscillations, ion acoustic noise, and low frequency electromagnetic noise. The data demonstrate that the observed waves are consistent with generation by the kinetic cross-field streaming instability. Reanalysis of shock overshoots prompted by the presence of plasma feet upstream of nominally subcritical shocks leads to the conclusion that no firm evidence exists for a sharp subcritical supercritical transition. Electron plasma oscillations persist up to the ramps of subcritical shocks and begin decaying at the front edge of the feet of supercritical shocks. Their intensity is anticorrelated with the amplitude of the foot ion acoustic noise. Wave measurements support the predicted predominance of lower hybrid-like modes over ion acoustic noise in the production of resistive (plasma) heating. Evidence for variable shock normal angles is seen upstream from nominally quasiparallel shocks. The first cases of very strong electron heating observed at the terrestrial bow shock were discovered.

Mellott, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Electrostatic emissions between electron gyroharmonics in the outer magnetosphere

Electrostatic emissions are often observed by spacecraft in the outer magnetosphere at frequencies between low electron gyroharmonics. The emissions include the well-known odd half-harmonic emissions as well as weaker emissions which occur near the electron plasma frequency. A scheme is constructed for classifying the emissions, and it is shown that a theoretical model which has been previously used to explain '3/2' emissions can be extended to the other classes of emissions. All of the emissions therefore appear to be generated by the same basic mechanism: an unstable electron plasma distribution consisting of cold electrons (below 100 eV) and hot loss cone electrons (about 1 keV). Each emission class is associated with a particular range of model parameters; the wide-band electric field data can thus be used to infer the density and temperature of the cold plasma component. The model predicts that gyroharmonic emissions near the plasma frequency require large cold plasma densities.

Hubbard, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Effect of an isotropic nonequilibrium plasma on electron temperature measurements.

The electron temperatures that would be determined (using the conventional single-temperature analysis) by the electrostatic probe, the diffuse resonance, and the radar backscatter techniques in an isotropic two-temperature plasma are presented. Plasma models corresponding to the addition of a minor component of energetic electrons and models corresponding to a process that cools a fraction of the ionospheric electrons are considered. The diffuse resonance temperature is found to lie between the probe and radar backscatter temperatures. The isotropic models corresponding to the addition of energetic electrons cannot support the reported discrepancies between radio wave and probe electron temperature measurements. Temperature differences similar to the observed differences can be produced by models with a fraction of the electrons at a temperature cooler than that of the main component of electrons. These models, however, are difficult to explain in terms of present understanding of the ionospheric plasma.

Benson, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Status of thermoelectronic laser energy conversion, TELEC

A concept known as a thermo-electronic laser energy converter (TELEC), was studied as a method of converting a 10.6 micron CO2 laser beam into electric power. The calculated characteristics of a TELEC seem to be well matched to the requirements of a spacecraft laser energy conversion system. The TELEC is a high power density plasma device which absorbs an intense laser beam by inverse bremsstrahlung with the plasma electrons. In the TELEC process, electromagnetic radiation is absorbed directly in the plasma electrons producing a high electron temperature. The energetic electrons diffuse out of the plasma striking two electrodes which are in contact with the plasma at the boundaries. These two electrodes have different areas: the larger one is designated as the collector, the smaller one is designated as the emitter. The smaller electrode functions as an electron emitter provide continuity of the current. Waste heat is rejected from the collector electrode. An experiment was carried out with a high power laser using a cesium vapor TELEC cell with 30 cm active length. Laser supported plasma were produced in the TELEC device during a number of laser runs over a period of several days. Electric power from the TELEC was observed with currents in the range of several amperes and output potentials of less than 1 volt.

Britt, E. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Plasma waves associated with energetic particles streaming into the solar wind from the earth's bow shock

Plasma wave and plasma data from ISEE 1 and 2 are examined. In the upstream solar wind, three dominant types of plasma waves are observed which are associated with energetic particle streams coming from the bow shock: ion acoustic waves, electron plasma oscillations, and whistler mode waves. The ion acoustic waves occur simultaneously with either ion beams or a dispersed ion population in the energy range from 0.5 to greater than 45 keV. The electron plasma oscillations are long-wavelength, nearly monochromatic electrostatic waves which are closely correlated with the flux of low-energy electrons, especially in the 0.2-1.5 keV range. Electromagnetic waves with frequencies below 200 Hz are observed when either ion beams or dispersed ion distributions are present; for these waves the refractive index determined from the wave B to E ratio is consistent with whistler mode radiation.

Anderson, R. R.↗