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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
DOE OSTI2022

Generation of a Strong Parallel Electric Field and Embedded Electron Jet in the Exhaust of Moderate Guide Field Reconnection

Abstract Magnetospheric Multiscale observed an extended current layer concurrent with a strong parallel electric field. The current layer is embedded in the reconnection exhaust and is consistent with an extended magnetized jet expected in roughly symmetric moderate guide field reconnection. The strong parallel electric field observed at the jet balances a strong gradient in the parallel electron pressure caused by a transition between magnetized electrons with T e ‖ > T e ⊥ on one side of the jet and demagnetized, roughly isotropic electrons across the thin current layer. Simulation results show how this transition can occur and how the associated electron pressure gradients in Ohm's law balance the parallel electric field.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1973

Relations between ionospheric electric fields and energetic trapped and precipitating electrons.

Balloon-borne electric field and X ray detectors have been flown from Fort Churchill and from near the foot of the magnetic field line on which the ATS 5 satellite is located in order to obtain satellite and balloon measurements of trapped and precipitating particles and to compare them with balloon measurements of the ionospheric electric field. The approximately 80 hours of coordinated data show that nighttime precipitation events (1) are preceded by enhancements of the westward component of ionospheric electric field about 70% of the time, (2) cause the westward electric field strength to decrease about 70% of the time, (3) are unrelated to variations of the southward component of the ionospheric electric field. The westward electric field enhancement before many precipitation events occurs when the trapped electron flux is at or near the stable trapping limit.

Mozer, F. S.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Intense Electric Fields and Electron-Scale Substructure Within Magnetotail Flux Ropes as Revealed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission

Three flux ropes associated with near-Earth magnetotail reconnection are analyzed using Magnetospheric Multiscale observations. The flux ropes are Earthward propagating with sizes from ∼3 to 11 ion inertial lengths. Significantly different axial orientations are observed, suggesting spatiotemporal variability in the reconnection and/or flux rope dynamics. An electron-scale vortex, associated with one of the most intense electric fields (E) in the event, is observed within one of the flux ropes. This E is predominantly perpendicular to the magnetic field (B); the electron vortex is frozen-in with E × B drifting electrons carrying perpendicular current and causing a small-scale magnetic enhancement. The vortex is ∼16 electron gyroradii in size perpendicular to B and potentially elongated parallel to B. The need to decouple the frozen-in vortical motion from the surrounding plasma implies a parallel E at the structure's ends. The formation of frozen-in electron vortices within reconnection-generated flux ropes may have implications for particle acceleration.

Magnetospheric Multiscale↗
DOE OSTI2024

Electron mobility enhancement by electric field engineering of AlN/GaN/AlN quantum-well HEMTs on single-crystal AlN substrates

To enhance the electron mobility in quantum-well high-electron-mobility transistors (QW HEMTs), we investigate the transport properties in AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructures on Al-polar single-crystal AlN substrates. Theoretical modeling combined with experiment shows that interface roughness scattering due to high electric field in the quantum well limits mobility. Increasing the width of the quantum well to its relaxed form reduces the internal electric field and scattering, resulting in a binary QW HEMT with a high two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) density of 3.68×1013 cm–2, a mobility of 823 cm2/Vs, and a record-low room temperature (RT) sheet resistance of 206 Ω/□. Further reduction of the quantum well electric field yields a 2DEG density of 2.53×1013 cm–2 and RT mobility > 1000 cm2/V s. These findings will enable future developments in high-voltage and high-power microwave applications on the ultrawide bandgap AlN substrate platform.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Magnetic polaron formation in EuZn2P2

Colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) has been observed across many Eu2+-based materials; however, its origin is not completely understood. Here we investigate the antiferromagnetic insulator EuZn2⁢P2 through single crystal x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electrical transport, magnetization, dilatometry, and electron spin resonance measurements complemented by density functional theory calculations. Our electrical resistivity data reveal a large negative magnetoresistance, MR=[𝑅⁡(𝐻)−𝑅⁡(0)]/𝑅⁡(0), that reaches MR=−99.7% at 9 T near the antiferromagnetic ordering temperature 𝑇𝑁=23K. Dilatometry measurements show an accompanying field-induced lattice strain. Additionally, Eu2+ electron spin resonance reveals a strong ferromagnetic exchange interaction between Eu2+ and conduction electrons. Our experimental results in EuZn2⁢P2 are consistent with a magnetic polaron scenario and suggest magnetic polaron formation as a prevailing explanation of CMR in Eu2+-based compounds.

Cook, Matt [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000288777505)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Probing ferroelectric domain structures and their switching dynamics in SrBi2Ta2O9 by in-situ electric biasing in transmission electron microscopy

Abstract Lead-free SrBi 2 Ta 2 O 9 (SBT) has been a promising ferroelectric material for various applications such as electronics and data storage due to its outstanding ferroelectric properties including high fatigue endurance and low leakage current. However, the atomic-scale domain structure and switching dynamics of ferroelectric SBT remain elusive. This study reveals that spontaneous polarization arises from canted bismuth-cation displacements, forming 90° and Ising-type 180° domain walls. Interestingly, topological pairs of ferroelectric vortex and antivortex connect ferroelectric boundaries where three domain walls converge. In situ electrical biasing transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the dominance of 180° switching over 90°, where oxygen octahedral connectivity is protected by ferroelastic energy in the 90° domain wall. Consequently, all 180° domain walls and (anti)vortices are removed, leaving only 90° domain walls in the electrically poled states. Chemical deterioration along domain walls highlights vulnerability of SBT to ferroelectric fatigue. This study provides insight into crucial aspects for practical applications of SBT.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1990

Plasma heating, electric fields and plasma flow by electron beam ionospheric injection

The electric fields and the floating potentials of a Plasma Diagnostics Payload (PDP) located near a powerful electron beam injected from a large sounding rocket into the auroral zone ionosphere have been studied. As the PDP drifted away from the beam laterally, it surveyed a region of hot plasma extending nearly to 60 m radius. Large polarization electric fields transverse to B were imbedded in this hot plasma, which displayed large ELF wave variations and also an average pattern which has led to a model of the plasma flow about the negative line potential of the beam resembling a hydrodynamic vortex in a uniform flow field. Most of the present results are derived from the ECHO 6 sounding rocket mission.

Winckler, J. R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Variability and origins of grain boundary electric potential detected by electron holography and atom-probe tomography

A number of grain boundary phenomena in ionic materials, in particular, anomalous (either depressed or enhanced) charge transport, have been attributed to space charge effects. Developing effective strategies to manipulate transport behaviour requires deep knowledge of the origins of the interfacial charge, as well as its variability within a polycrystalline sample with millions of unique grain boundaries. Electron holography is a powerful technique uniquely suited for studying the electric potential profile at individual grain boundaries, whereas atom-probe tomography provides access to the chemical identify of essentially every atom at individual grain boundaries. Using these two techniques, we show in this paper that the space charge potential at grain boundaries in lightly doped, high-purity ceria can vary by almost an order of magnitude. We further find that trace impurities (<25 ppm), rather than inherent thermodynamic factors, may be the ultimate source of grain boundary charge. These insights suggest chemical tunability of grain boundary transport properties. A number of grain boundary phenomena in ionic materials, such as anomalous charge transport, have been attributed to space charge effects. Space charge potential at grain boundaries in lightly doped, high-purity ceria is now shown to vary by almost an order of magnitude.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

A fully implicit, scalable, conservative nonlinear relativistic Fokker–Planck 0D-2P solver for runaway electrons

Upon application of a sufficiently strong electric field, electrons break away from thermal equilibrium and approach relativistic speeds. These highly energetic ‘runaway’ electrons (~ MeV) play a significant role in tokamak disruption physics, and therefore their accurate understanding is essential to develop reliable mitigation strategies. As such, we have developed a fully implicit solver for the 0D-2P (i.e., including two momenta coordinates) relativistic nonlinear Fokker–Planck equation (rFP). As in earlier implicit rFP studies (NORSE, CQL3D), electron–ion interactions are modeled using the Lorentz operator, and synchrotron damping using the Abraham–Lorentz–Dirac reaction term. However, our implementation improves on these earlier studies by (1) ensuring exact conservation properties for electron collisions, (2) strictly preserving positivity, and (3) being scalable algorithmically and in parallel. Key to our proposed approach is an efficient multigrid preconditioner for the linearized rFP equation, a multigrid elliptic solver for the Braams–Karney potentials, and a novel adaptive technique to determine the associated boundary values. We verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed scheme with numerical results ranging from small electric-field electrical conductivity measurements to the accurate reproduction of runaway tail dynamics when strong electric fields are applied.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Electron distribution functions in electric field environments

The amount of current carried by an electric discharge in its early stages of growth is strongly dependent on its geometrical shape. Discharges with a large number of branches, each funnelling current to a common stem, tend to carry more current than those with fewer branches. The fractal character of typical discharges was simulated using stochastic models based on solutions of the Laplace equation. Extension of these models requires the use of electron distribution functions to describe the behavior of electrons in the undisturbed medium ahead of the discharge. These electrons, interacting with the electric field, determine the propagation of branches in the discharge and the way in which further branching occurs. The first phase in the extension of the referenced models , the calculation of simple electron distribution functions in an air/electric field medium, is discussed. Two techniques are investigated: (1) the solution of the Boltzmann equation in homogeneous, steady state environments, and (2) the use of Monte Carlo simulations. Distribution functions calculated from both techniques are illustrated. Advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed.

Rudolph, Terence H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Experimental electronic structure of the electrically switchable antiferromagnet CuMnAs

Tetragonal CuMnAs is a room temperature antiferromagnet with an electrically reorientable Néel vector and a Dirac semimetal candidate. Direct measurements of the electronic structure of single-crystalline thin films of tetragonal CuMnAs using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) are reported, including Fermi surfaces (FS) and energy-wavevector dispersions. After correcting for a chemical potential shift of ≈ – 390 meV (hole doping), there is excellent agreement of FS, orbital character of bands, and Fermi velocities between the experiment and density functional theory calculations. In addition, 2×1 surface reconstructions are found in the low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and ARPES. This work underscores the need to control the chemical potential in tetragonal CuMnAs to enable the exploration and exploitation of the Dirac fermions with tunable masses, which are predicted to be above the chemical potential in the present samples.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1990

Effects of neutral gas releases on electron beam injection from electrically tethered spacecraft

The presence of high neutral densities at low altitudes and/or during thruster firings is known to modify the spacecraft potential during active electron beam injection. Two-dimensional (three velocity) particle simulations are used to investigate the ionization processes including the neutral density required, the modification of the spacecraft potential, beam profile and spatial distribution of the return current into the spacecraft. Three processes are identified: (1) beam-induced ionization, (2) vehicle-induced ionization, and (3) beam plasma discharge. Only in the first two cases does the beam propagate away with little distortion.

Winglee, R. M.↗