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At least 199 records · Page 11

Particle acceleration by intense auroral VLF turbulence

Broadband turbulence in the lower-hybrid to plasma frequency range is found in a variety of forms in the suprauroral region, most notably as auroral hiss and VLF saucers. When the turbulence is intense, it is observed to be associated with ion conics (ions heated transverse to the geomagnetic field) and 'counter-streaming' electron fluxes (heated in both directions parallel to the field). A review is presented of the dispersion and propagation characteristics of whistler resonance-cone waves, which comprise the turbulence. Plasma simulation and mesoscale (Monte Carlo) simulation techniques are used to illustrate the interaction of the ambient plasma with the turbulence. These calculations demonstrate how this interaction results in transverse heating of the ions and parallel heating of the electrons of the plasma, leading to the formation of the observed heated and accelerated particle fluxes.

Retterer, John M.↗

Analysis of the dielectric properties of trunk wood in dominant conifer species from New England and Siberia

Data were collected for dominant conifer species. Dielectric properties of trunk wood were measured using a C-band dielectric probe. For certain specimens, electrical resistance was also measured using a shigometer. The water status of the trees studies was determined either by use of a Scholander pressure chamber on branch samples collected simultaneously with dielectric measurements or by fresh-weight/dry-weight assessment of wood core samples extracted and analyzed with the dielectric probe and shigometer. Diurnal delectric properties and xylem water column tension are inversely correlated such that real and imaginary dielectric values drop as tension increases. The dielectric properties were positively correlated with wood core moisture content while electrical resistance was poorly correlated with wood core moisture content in one species studied. Results support the view that dielectric properties are strongly correlated with moisture status in trunk wood, and possibly ion concentrations associated with decay processes in damaged specimens.

Ranson, K. J.↗

Generation of waves in the Venus mantle by the ion acoustic beam instability

The ion acoustic beam instability is suggested as a mechanism to produce wave turbulence observed in the Venus mantle at frequencies 100 Hz and 730 Hz. The plasma is assumed to consist of a stationary cold O(+) ion plasma and a flowing, shocked solar wind plasma. The O(+) ions appear as a beam relative to the flowing ionosheath plasma which provides the free energy to drive the instability. The plasma is driven unstable by inverse electron Landau damping of an ion acoustic wave associated with the cold ionospheric O(+) ions. The instability can directly generate the observed 100 Hz waves in the Venus mantle as well as the observed 730 Hz waves through the Doppler shift of the frequency caused by the satellite motion.

Huba, J. D.↗

Evidence for a Trapped Radical (OH) on Ariel, Oberon, and Titania from Hubble Space Telescope Ultraviolet Spectra

The moons Ariel, Titania, and Oberon have orbits lying within the magnetosphere of Uranus, exposing them to particle irradiation from trapped Ions. This Is similar to the situation experienced by the jovian moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, as well as the saturnian satellites Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea. Identification of SO2 on Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, and O3 on Ganymede, Rhea, and Dione has supported suggestions that chemical modifications occur on icy bodies due to ion bombardment associated with the particles entrained within the magnetospheric fields of Jupiter and Saturn. Similar to the Jovian and saturnian satellites mentioned above, water ice is a major component on the larger uranian satellites", thus one might anticipate chemical modification to he an important process in the uranian system. Laboratory studies or the interaction of ultraviolet (uv) and charged-particle radiation with water ice show that in addition to molecular species, a variety of radicals are also produced. We report here evidence for an uv absorption feature in the spectra of Ariel, Titania, and Oberon that we identify as due, in part, to OH; providing the first evidence of a radical produced and trapped on an icy moon within our solar system.

Roush, Ted L.↗

Observations of Plasma Waves near Mars and Their Implications for Atmospheric Loss

We use data from over 500 premapping orbits of Mars Global Surveyor magnetometer data to present statistical results on the characteristics of the plasma waves in the near Mars space. We find that plasma waves in the dayside Martian magnetosheath are primarily compressional waves (i.e. magnetosonic or mirror mode waves) and in the nightside magnetosheath and tail regions that the waves are primarily associated with ion gyromotion. Some of these waves are produced by gyrating oxygen ions and as such represent observations of the ongoing erosion of the Martian atmosphere by the solar wind.

Espley, J. R.↗

Solar Wind Induced Waves in the Skies of Mars: Ionospheric Compression, Energization, and Escape Resulting from the Impact of Ultralow Frequency Magnetosonic Waves Generated Upstream of the Martian Bow Shock

Using data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars Atmosphere and Voltatile EvolutioN and the European Space Agency Mars Express spacecraft, we show that transient phenomena in the foreshock and solar wind can directly inject energy into the ionosphere of Mars. We demonstrate that the impact of compressive ultralow frequency waves in the solar wind on the induced magnetospheres drive compressional, linearly polarized, magnetosonic ultralow frequency waves in the ionosphere, and a localized electromagnetic "ringing" at the local proton gyro frequency. The pulsations heat and energize Ionospheric plasmas. A preliminary survey of events shows that no special upstream conditions are required in the interplanetary magnetic field or solar wind. Elevated ion densities and temperatures in the solar wind near to Mars are consistent with the presence of an additional population of Martian ions, leading to ion-ion instabilities, associated wave-particle interactions, and heating of the solar wind. The phenomenon was found to be seasonal, occurring when Mars is near perihelion. Finally, we present simultaneous multipoint observations of the phenomenon, with the Mars Express observing the waves upstream, and Mars Atmosphere and Voltatile EvolutioN observing the response in the ionosphere. When these new observations are combined with decades of previous studies, they collectively provide strong evidence for a previously undemonstrated atmospheric loss process at unmagnetized planets: ionospheric escape driven by the direct impact of transient phenomena from the foreshock and solar wind.

Collinson, Glyn↗

Interfacial Structure and Capacitance of Li-doped Ionic Liquid Electrolytes from Molecular Simulations

Ionic liquids have been proposed as candidate electrolytes for high-energy density, rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid energy storage devices. Though Li-salt is often present in these systems, its influence on interfacial properties is largely uncharacterized. We, thereby, present an extensive computational analysis, supported by experimental comparisons, of the properties of a representative set of these electrolytesat an ideal carbon interface as a function of Li-salt doping and voltage. We have performed polarizable molecular (MD) dynamics simulations, using the APPLEP force field, to evaluate electric double layer (EDL) capacitance and distribution of Li+ in the EDL. Differential capacitance exhibits the characteristic camel profile and is insensitive to Li-doping. Li+ localizes in the second molecular layer of the EDL, which is a result of confinement from free energy barriers associated with ion layering. Joint MDelectronic structure computations show the electrochemical window of the electrolytes to be a weak function of Li-doping. Estimates of supercapacitor specific energy are made using the computed window and capacitance. The magnitude and trends in specific energy are in good agreement with experiment.

batteries↗

Thermodynamic and Kinetic Barriers Limiting Solid-State Reactions Resolved through In Situ Synchrotron Studies of Lithium Halide Salts

Although halide salts such as LiCl and LiBr are routinely used as a source of Li ions during ion exchange reactions, a detailed understanding of the processes controlling the rates of these reactions is presently lacking. Recently, it has been discovered that the rate limiting barriers for ion exchange are commonly associated with these salts rather than the ceramic target of ion exchange, making it important to quantitatively understand of salt processes. Here it is demonstrated that in situ synchrotron studies of ion exchange reactions can be used to precisely quantify the thermodynamic activation energies associated with these solid state reactions in a manner that can be directly compared with predictions from density functional theory (DFT). While the temperature dependence of the LiCl reaction rate is found to be set by a barrier associated with ion hopping, it was discovered that for LiBr it is also affected by the defect formation energy – an energy found to be substantially lower than predicted by DFT. Furthermore, it is shown that when reaction rates for different relative amounts of reactants are varied, it is possible to identify the rate-limiting reagent and to elucidate an overall scaling relationship that controls the concentration-dependence of the reaction rate. Also, it is demonstrated that global fits across doped and undoped salts can be used to probe both intrinsic and extrinsic vacancy concentrations. This improved understanding of ion exchange mechanisms can be used to accelerate ion exchange reaction rates by orders of magnitude. In conclusion, the techniques demonstrated here can be broadly applied to probe the kinetics and thermodynamics of solid state reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On the Ion Precipitation due to Field Line Curvature (FLC) and EMIC Wave Scattering and Their Subsequent Impact on Ionospheric Electrodynamics

Both field line curvature (FLC) and electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave scattering are believed to be associated with energetic ion precipitation, but their relative contributions to ionospheric ion precipitation and subsequent effects are still unclear. Here, in this study, by using a kinetic ring current model, we investigate their impact on the ionosphere from two aspects: the global distribution of ion precipitation and resulting ionospheric conductance. Our results show that the intensity and coverage of ion precipitation due to EMIC waves are larger than that due to FLC scattering, while the latter mostly contributes to ion precipitation in outer regions (L > 4–5). We then estimate the conductance with empirical models using the simulated ion precipitation energy flux. When the EMIC wave associated proton precipitation is included, the conductance is significantly enhanced in the dusk-to-midnight sector and has a wide magnetic latitude (MLAT) range from around 52° to 62°, considerably altering the electric potential in the dusk sector, which further influences particle dynamics in the magnetosphere. On the contrary, the proton precipitation caused by FLC scattering only occurs at higher latitudes above MLAT = 60° and the corresponding conductance is slightly enhanced at midnight, with negligible influence on the convective electric potential. Although electron precipitation-associated conductance is predominant globally, the results show that proton precipitation can also play an important role in ionospheric electrodynamics, especially when EMIC wave-associated precipitating proton energy flux exceeds that of electrons in the dusk sector, a region where many subauroral coupling processes occur.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Mass spectra of heavy ions near comet Halley

The heavy-ion analyzer, RPA2-PICCA, aboard the Giotto spacecraft, detected the first cometary ions at a distance of about 1.05 million km from the nucleus of comet Halley. In the inner coma the major ions identified are associated with the H2O, CO and CO2 groups. Ions of larger atomic mass unit are also present, corresponding possibly to various hydrocarbons, heavy metals of the iron-group or to sulphur compounds.

Korth, A.↗

Ion Beam Propulsion Study

The Ion Beam Propulsion Study was a joint high-level study between the Applied Physics Laboratory operated by NASA and ASRC Aerospace at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and Berkeley Scientific, Berkeley, California. The results were promising and suggested that work should continue if future funding becomes available. The application of ion thrusters for spacecraft propulsion is limited to quite modest ion sources with similarly modest ion beam parameters because of the mass penalty associated with the ion source and its power supply system. Also, the ion source technology has not been able to provide very high-power ion beams. Small ion beam propulsion systems were used with considerable success. Ion propulsion systems brought into practice use an onboard ion source to form an energetic ion beam, typically Xe+ ions, as the propellant. Such systems were used for steering and correction of telecommunication satellites and as the main thruster for the Deep Space 1 demonstration mission. In recent years, "giant" ion sources were developed for the controlled-fusion research effort worldwide, with beam parameters many orders of magnitude greater than the tiny ones of conventional space thruster application. The advent of such huge ion beam sources and the need for advanced propulsion systems for exploration of the solar system suggest a fresh look at ion beam propulsion, now with the giant fusion sources in mind.

Source record↗

The small-scale structure of electrostatic shocks

It is noted that small-scale regions of large electric fields have been observed above the auroral zone by the S3-3 satellite. The data from five such electrostatic shocks are examined in great detail. The three higher altitude shocks (all above 5,700 km) are found to be associated with upward-going ion beams, indicating that the potential associated with the shock closed below the satellite to give rise to the parallel electric field required for the acceleration of the ion beam. In all these cases, electrostatic ion cyclotron waves are found to be adjacent to the shock and to extend throughout the upward-going ion beam region. The lack of noticeable Doppler shift in the electrostatic ion cyclotron waves in association with large convective drift velocities is seen as indicating that the wavelength of the electrostatic ion cyclotron wave can be several kilometers and that the potential difference within the wave can be on the order of 100 V.

Temerin, M.↗

Kinetic simulations comparing quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular piston-driven collisionless shock dynamics in magnetized laboratory plasmas

Magnetized collisionless shocks are common in astrophysical systems, and scaled versions can be created in laboratory experiments by utilizing laser-driven piston plasmas to create these shocks in a magnetized background plasma. A key parameter for these experiments is the angle θB between the shock propagation direction and the background magnetic field. We performed quasi-1D piston-driven shock simulations to explore shock formation, evolution, and key observables relevant to laboratory experiments for a range of shock angles between θB=90° to θB=30°. Our results show that the spatial and temporal scales of shock formation for all angles considered are similar when expressed in terms of the perpendicular component of the magnetic field. In a steady state, ion and electron temperatures become more isotropic, and the electron-to-ion temperature ratio is higher for smaller θB. At θB=30°, ion heating parallel to the magnetic field becomes dominant, associated with more ions being reflected at one discontinuity and subsequently trapped by the next discontinuity due to shock reformation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Observations of ion cyclotron waves within the plasmasphere by Hawkeye 1

A survey of the plasma wave data from the Hawkeye 1 spacecraft has been performed in search of ion cyclotron waves associated with the scattering and loss of ring current ions within and near the plasmapause. During an 18-month period, encompassing about 270 orbits, a total of five events have been found with clearly detectable electric and magnetic fields at frequencies below the proton gyrofrequency. Comparisons of the electric and magnetic field amplitudes for these events provide strong evidence that these waves are ion cyclotron waves. All five events occurred during recovery phases of magnetic storms inside or very close to the plasmapause boundary. The results of this survey confirm and are consistent with the earlier identification of ion cyclotron waves by the Explorer 45 satellites. The Hawkeye 1 observations show that ion cyclotron waves of substantial amplitude occur at magnetic latitudes well away (about 28 deg) from the magnetic equator.

Kintner, P. M.↗

Kinetic instability associated with spherical shell distribution of cometary pickup ions

The stability of ion shell distribution is an interesting and important issue in view of the fact that it is stable under perturbations propagating parallel to the ambient magnetic field, despite large amount of free energy it contains. It was found, however, that if the shell distribution of ions has a sufficient amount of drift speed with respect to the solar wind hydromagnetic waves, it can become unstable. The obliquely propagating hydromagnetic instability associated with the ion shell distribution was recently discovered. This letter presents the unified stability analysis of the ion shell distribution, under what condition the drift-induced instability of the type first discussed by Gary and Sinha (1989), and the oblique hydromagnetic instability discussed by Wu and Yoon (1990) are excited, and how the two types of instabilities are related.

Yoon, Peter H.↗

Gyrating and intermediate ion distributions upstream from the earth's bow shock

Study of ISEE 2 fast plasma data reveals that many suprathermal ion events that in previous studies would have been identified as intermediate ion events are actually gyrating ion events. Of 190 apparently intermediate ion events selected on the basis of their signature in energy-time spectrograms, half are actually found to be gyrating ion events. Using a model bow shock, the shock geometries and spacecraft locations for the observed gyrating and intermediate ion events are compared and found to be quite similar. Both gyrating and intermediate ion events are found to be associated with upstream MHD-like wave activity. Most gyrating ion events are associated with large-amplitude, monochromatic, weakly compressive waves, whereas many intermediate ion events are associated with smaller-amplitude, nonmonochromatic, weakly compressive waves. Some intermediate ion events are found to have no associated waves. Detailed study of the gyrating ion distributions reveals that the distributions are typically gyrotropic within about 4 earth radii of the bow shock, whereas at larger distances (up to about 10 earth radii) upstream from the shock the distributions are frequently 'gyrophase bunched'. In light of these observational characteristics, it is concluded that gyrating ion distributions are most likely generated both through coherent wave disruption of field-aligned beams and through reflection of solar wind ions off the shock.

Fuselier, S. A.↗

Application of Ion Sieve Sorbent Prepared from Mineral Stream Associated with Critical Minerals in Direct Lithium Extraction

In this presentation, the speaker discusses the research that has been carried out at NETL regarding direct lithium extraction. The three main discussing points are as follows: developing high-capacity lithium-ion sieve sorbent using mineral streams associated with critical minerals; demonstrating the sorbent ability to recover lithium from oil/gas produced waters and geothermal brines; and assessing the feasibility of large-scale implementation through technoeconomic analysis.

Cheng, Chin-Min [NETL Site Support Contractor, Nat↗