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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 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Relativistic blast waves in two dimensions. I - The adiabatic case

Approximate solutions are presented for the dynamical evolution of strong adiabatic relativistic blast waves which result from a point explosion in an ambient gas in which the density varies both with distance from the explosion center and with polar angle in axisymmetry. Solutions are analytical or quasi-analytical for the extreme relativistic case and numerical for the arbitrarily relativistic case. Some general properties of nonplanar relativistic shocks are also discussed, including the incoherence of spherical ultrarelativistic blast-wave fronts on angular scales greater than the reciprocal of the shock Lorentz factor, as well as the conditions for producing blast-wave acceleration.

Shapiro, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Experimental study of the dynamics of a spherical flame

Preliminary results of an experimental study conducted to investigate the dynamic behavior of flames in explosive gases are presented. The medium was an equimolar acetylene-oxygen mixture maintained initially at a pressure of 110 torr. and room temperature in an experimental vessel 9 cm in internal diameter. Ignition was performed by means of a neodymium laser beam focused on a 0.3 mm diameter steel wire. Experimental observations were performed by the use of a stroboscopic laser-schlieren system yielding a set of photographic records of wave phenomena at a frequency of 200,000 per second. The records reveal the existence of a number of shocks which by a thorough analysis of the blast wave generated by the ignition process, are shown to be due entirely to the flame generated flow field. The capability of a flame to form blast waves in an expanding spherical geometry is thus established, providing an experimental demonstration of the significance the dynamic effects of combustion can achieve.

Oppenheim, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The influence of polarization on millimeter wave propagation through rain

The influence of polarization on millimeter wave propagation is investigated from both an experimental and a theoretical viewpoint. First, previous theoretical and experimental work relating to the attenuation and depolarization of millimeter waves by rainfall is discussed. Considerable detail is included in the literature review. Next, a theoretical model is developed to predict the cross polarization level during rainfall from the path average rain rate and the scattered field from a single raindrop. Finally, data from the VPI and SU depolarization experiment are presented as verification of the new model, and a comparison is made with other theories and experiments. Aspects of the new model are: (1) spherical rather than plane waves are assumed, (2) the average drop diameter is used rather than a drop size distribution, and (3) it is simple enough so that the effect which changing one or more parameters has on the crosspolarization level is easily seen.

Wiley, P. H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Strong effect of liquid Fe–S on elastic wave velocity of olivine aggregate: Implication for the low velocity anomaly at the base of the lunar mantle

The origin of the seismic low velocity zone (LVZ) observed at the base of the lunar mantle is important for understanding the nature of the lunar mantle. Liquid Fe–S is considered as a possible candidate of the cause of the LVZ. However, effect of liquid Fe–S on elastic wave velocity of mantle rock has been considered to be minor, according to theoretical estimation based on the high dihedral angle of liquid Fe–S in olivine aggregate observed in previous microstructural analysis of polished sample cross sections. Here, in this work, we carry out direct measurements of elastic wave velocities of liquid Fe–S-bearing olivine aggregate and report strong reduction of the elastic wave velocities in the presence of liquid Fe–S. The effects of liquid Fe–S in olivine aggregates are much more pronounced than the theoretical estimation. Three-dimensional X-ray microtomography analysis reveals that the geometry of liquid Fe–S strongly depends on the size, with larger liquid Fe–S blobs having low aspect ratios, which may predominantly affect elastic wave velocity. Since smaller spherical Fe–S blobs are much more abundant than the larger elongated blobs, conventional dihedral angle analyses based on scanning electron microscope images tend to statistically over-sample smaller blobs and under-sample larger blobs. Our results suggest that the LVZ at the base of the lunar mantle can be explained by the presence of 4.3–5.0 vol.% liquid Fe–S. The LVZ may be a hidden reservoir of highly siderophile elements (HSEs), which may explain the low abundance of HSEs in the lunar mantle compared to the Earth.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1999

Signatures of Nonlinear Waves in Coronal Plumes and Holes

In recent Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer/Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (UVCS/SOHO) White Light Channel (WLC) observations we found quasi-periodic variations in the polarized brightness (pB) in the polar coronal holes at heliocentric distances of 1.9-2.45 solar radii. The motivation for the observation is the 2.5D Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model of solar wind acceleration by nonlinear waves, that predicts compressive fluctuations in coronal holes. To help identify the waves observed with the UVCS/WLC we model the propagation and dissipation of slow magnetosonic waves in polar plumes using 1D MHD code in spherical geometry, We find that the slow waves nonlinearly steepen in the gravitationally stratified plumes. The nonlinear steepening of the waves leads to enhanced dissipation due to compressive viscosity at the wave-fronts.

Ofman, Leon↗
NASA NTRS2001

Jets in Gamma-Ray Bursts

In the afterglows of several gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), rapid temporal decay, which is inconsistent with spherical (isotropic) blast-wave models, is observed. In particular, GRB 980519 had the most rapidly fading of the well-documented GRB afterglows, with t(sup -2.05 +/- 0.04) in optical as well as in X-rays. We show that such temporal decay is more consistent with the evolution of a jet after it slows down and spreads laterally, for which t(sup -P) decay is expected (where p is the index of the electron energy distribution). Such a beaming model would relax the energy requirements on some of the more extreme GRBs by a factor of several hundred. It is likely that a large fraction of the weak- (or no-) afterglow observations are also due to the common occurrence of beaming in GRBs and that their jets have already transitioned. to the spreading phase before the first afterglow observations were made. With this interpretation, a universal value of p approx. = 2.4 is consistent with all data.

Sari, R.↗
NASA NTRS2006

The Variance of Solar Wind Magnetic Fluctuations: Solutions and Further Puzzles

We study the dependence of the variance directions of the magnetic field in the solar wind as a function of scale, radial distance, and Alfvenicity. The study resolves the question of why different studies have arrived at widely differing values for the maximum to minimum power (approximately equal to 3:1 up to approximately equal to 20:1). This is due to the decreasing anisotropy with increasing time interval chosen for the variance, and is a direct result of the "spherical polarization" of the waves which follows from the near constancy of |B|. The reason for the magnitude preserving evolution is still unresolved. Moreover, while the long-known tendency for the minimum variance to lie along the mean field also follows from this view (as shown by Barnes many years ago), there is no theory for why the minimum variance follows the field direction as the Parker angle changes. We show that this turning is quite generally true in Alfvenic regions over a wide range of heliocentric distances. The fact that nonAlfvenic regions, while still showing strong power anisotropies, tend to have a much broader range of angles between the minimum variance and the mean field makes it unlikely that the cause of the variance turning is to be found in a turbulence mechanism. There are no obvious alternative mechanisms, leaving us with another intriguing puzzle.

Roberts, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Acoustic wave propagation in an axisymmetric swirling jet.

An analysis has been developed to study the acoustic wave propagation in an axisymmetric swirling subsonic jet flow. The governing convected wave equation derived in the spherical coordinates includes mean shears, shear gradients and pressure gradients. The directivity patterns for various spinning and non-spinning modes due to the influence of the mean jet swirl were obtained by numerically integrating the governing wave equation. The mean flow field used in the computation was that obtained semiempirically for subsonic swirling turbulent jet and is completely specified once the degree of swirl is known. The dependence of sound directivity on jet Mach number, swirl ratio and frequency are discussed.

Yu, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Numerical Study of Wave Propagation in a Non-Uniform Flow

The propagation of acoustic waves originating from cylindrical and spherical pulses, in a non-uniform mean flow, and in the presence of a reflecting wall is investigated by Hardin and Pope approach using compact approximation of spatial derivatives. The 2-D and 3-D stagnation flows and a flow around a cylinder are taken as prototypes of real world flows with strong gradients of mean pressure and velocity. The intensity and directivity of acoustic wave patterns appear to be quite different from the benchmark solutions obtained in a static environment for the same geometry. The physical reasons for amplification and weakening of sound are discussed in terms of dynamics of wave profile and redistribution of acoustic energy and its potential and kinetic components. For an acoustic wave in the flow around a cylinder, the observed mean acoustic pressure is approximately doubled (upstream pulse position) and halved (downstream pulse position) in comparison with the sound propagation in static ambient conditions.

Povitsky, Alex↗
DOE OSTI2022

Design of a finline antenna for current drive in TST-2

A novel “finline” antenna was designed to excite lower-hybrid waves (LHWs) for plasma current drive at 2.45 GHz in the TST-2 spherical tokamak. A periodic fin array acts as a transmission line for electromagnetic surface waves. Cold tests confirmed propagation of the electromagnetic surface wave on the fin array which was dominantly Transverse Magnetic (TM). Unlike the conventional waveguide array “grill” antenna, the finline antenna requires only two ports to feed all the elements, and calculations show that there is little reflection regardless of the plasma conditions in front of the antenna. Characteristics of the microwave transmission on the fin array were investigated using a three-dimensional full-wave simulation and the fin geometry was tuned to achieve the desired refractive index. Coupling to LHWs under typical TST-2 scrape-off layer conditions was confirmed by the simulation. Finally, to demonstrate LHW excitation, the finline antenna was energized in the presence of a plasma generated by another 200 MHz LH antenna. The x-ray radiation showed strong enhancement during the finline antenna pulse which indicated successful generation of fast electrons by LHWs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

Coherent electromagnetic waves in the presence of a half space of randomly distributed scatterers

The present investigation of coherent field propagation notes, upon solving the Foldy-Twersky integral equation for a half-space of small spherical scatterers illuminated by a plane wave at oblique incidence, that the coherent field for a horizontally-polarized incident wave exhibits reflectivity and transmissivity consistent with the Fresnel formula for an equivalent continuous effective medium. In the case of a vertically polarized incident wave, both the vertical and longitudinal waves obtained for the coherent field have reflectivities and transmissivities that do not agree with the Fresnel formula.

Karam, M. A.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Scoping study of detecting high harmonic fast waves in NSTX-U hot core plasma directly using beam emission spectroscopy

In this paper, we used radio frequency (RF) full wave simulation to explore the feasibility of generating a density beat oscillation formed by high harmonic fast waves (HHFWs) in the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) and of measuring it numerically with 2D beam emission spectroscopy (BES). This oscillation is of interest as it can be used to determine the injected RF fields. We began by computing HHFW fields in NSTX-U under a variety of experimental conditions and antenna configurations with Petra-M, a 3D RF wavefield solver. These fields were then used to evaluate the amplitude of δne,beat/ne0 in the volume of measurement, which we predict to be between 5 × 10−10 and 10−9, although it is highly dependent on plasma parameters. Trends in magnetic field, core temperature, core density, and antenna phasing are presented, and the parameters most suitable to this measurement are identified. Finally, we developed a synthetic BES diagnostic to compare the experimental BES signal against.

Rutherford, Grant (ORCID:0000000163620037)↗
NASA NTRS1986

Optical elements formed by compressed gases: Analysis and potential applications

Spherical, cylindrical, and conical shock waves are optically analogous to gas lenses. The geometrical optics of these shock configurations are analyzed as they pertain to flow visualization instruments, particularly the rainbow schlieren apparatus and single-pass interferometers. It is proposed that a lens or mirror formed by gas compressed between plastic sheets has potential as a fluid visualization test object; as the objective mirror in a very large space-based telescope, communication antenna, or energy collector; as the objective mirror in inexpensive commercial telescopes; and as a component in fluid visualization apparatuses.

Howes, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Calculating Electromagnetic Fields Of A Loop Antenna

Approximate field values computed rapidly. MODEL computer program developed to calculate electromagnetic field values of large loop antenna at all distances to observation point. Antenna assumed to be in x-y plane with center at origin of coordinate system. Calculates field values in both rectangular and spherical components. Also solves for wave impedance. Written in MicroSoft FORTRAN 77.

Schieffer, Mitchell B.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Time dependent boundary conditions for hyperbolic systems

Nonreflecting boundary conditions are defined for multidimensional fluid dynamics problems where waves enter and leave the interior of a domain modeled by hyperbolic equations. Separate equations are defined for each type of incoming and outgoing wave. Temporally varying problems are considered in terms of a nonreflecting boundary condition which permit the amplitude of incoming waves to remain constant over time. Conservative expressions are presented that include dissipative terms. Applications of the computational techniques are illustrated with sample results for a traveling shock wave, a shock tube, a spherical explosion and expansion problems on one- and two-dimensions.

Thompson, Kevin W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

A fully nonlinear, mixed spectral and finite difference model for thermally driven, rotating flows

Finite difference in time and the meridional plane, in conjunction with a spectral technique in the azimuthal direction, are used to approximate the Navier-Stokes equations in a model that can simulate a variety of thermally driven rotating flows in cylindrical and spherical geometries. Axisymmetric flow, linearized waves relative to a fixed or changing axisymmetric flow, nonlinear waves without wave-wave interaction, and fully nonlinear 3D flow, can in this way be calculated. A reexamination is conducted of the steady baroclinic wave case previously treated by Williams (1971) and Quon (1976).

Miller, Timothy L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Interpretation of Extinction in Gaussian-Beam Scattering

The extinction efficiency for the interaction of a plane wave with a large nonabsorbing spherical particle is approximately 2.0. When a Gaussian beam of half-width w(sub 0) is incident upon a spherical particle of radius a with w(sub 0)/a less than 1, the extinction efficiency attains unexpectedly high or low values, contrary to intuitive expectations. The reason for this is associated with the so-called compensating term in the scattered field, which cancels the field of the Gaussian beam behind the particle, thereby producing the particle's shadow. I introduce a decomposition of the total exterior field into incoming and outgoing portions that are free of compensating terms. It is then shown that a suitably defined interaction efficiency has the intuitively expected asymptotic values of 2.0 for w(sub 0)/a much greater than 1 and 1.0 for w(sub 0)/a much less than 1.

Lock, James A.↗