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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Diffusive shock acceleration of energetic electrons and the method of generations

The diffusive shock acceleration of energetic electrons at a plane shock is studied by means of the method of generations developed by Petukhov et al. (1986), where the particles are binned according to the number of particle acceleration cycles. The method emphasizes the cyclic character of the shock acceleration process, and takes into account the particle energy increment per cycle, the energy loss per cycle, and the escape probability of particles downstream of the shock. In the limit of a small fractional momentum gain per cycle, the method reproduces the known steady-state semianalytic solution for constant diffusion coefficients on both sides of the shock. It is demonstrated that the method may also be applied to time-dependent shock-acceleration problems.

Webb, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Kinetic description of electron beams in the solar chromosphere

We formulate the relativistic Fokker-Plank equation for a beam of accelerated electrons interacting with a partially ionized plasma. In our derivation we conserved those terms contributing to velocity diffusion and found that this effect cannot be neglected a priori. We compute the terms accounting for elastic and inelastic collisions with neutral hydrogen and helium. Collisions with neutral hydrogen are found to be dominant throughout the chromosphere, except at the uppermost layers close to the transition region. As an application, we compute the loss of energy and momentum for a power-law beam impinging on the solar chromosphere, for a particular case in which the Fokker-Planck equation can be integrated analytically. We find that most of the beam energy is deposited in a relatively thin region of the chromosphere, a result which is largely insensitive to the theoretical method employed to compute the energy deposition rate.

Gomez, Daniel O.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Investigation of the High Latitude Magnetosphere and its Response to the Solar Wind

INSPIRE is a non-profit scientific, educational corporation whose objective is to bring the excitement of observing natural and manmade radio waves in the audio region to high school students. Stimulating students to learn and understand science and technology is the key to them fulfilling their potential in the best interests of our society. INSPIRE also is an innovative, unique opportunity for students to actively gather data that might be used in a basic research project. INSPIRE began with a test bed project, ACTIVE/HSGS, which involved 100 high schools, with a centerpiece of making observations of 10.5 kHz transmissions from the Soviet ACTIVE satellite. A large number of ground receiving sites was needed, both to enhance the probability of receiving the radio waves from ACTIVE, and to determine the propagation paths to the ground. The second major project was support to SEPAC (Space Experiments using Particle ACcelerators), a payload on the ATLAS I Spacelab mission, flown in March/April 1992. With its electron accelerator SEPAC performed many experiments in the ionosphere, including producing an artificial aurora and the electromagnetic waves produced by pulsing the electron beam. INSPIRE/SEPAC provided more than 1000 ground stations to receive the radio waves, and, at the same time, allowed high school students the opportunity to take data that would be used in a published basic research project. The third major project is to make observations of the effects of a pulsed electron beam and plasma generator on the MIR Space Station. On request, these instruments are operated over INSPIRE observers.

Taylor, William W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

The acceleration of heavy nuclei in solar flares

The overabundance of heavy nuclei in solar cosmic rays of energy approximately 5 Mev/nucleon is explained by taking into account the pre-flare ionization states of these nuclei in the region where they are accelerated. A model is proposed which considers two-step accelerations associated with the initial development of solar flares. The first step is closely related to the triggering process of flares, while the second one starts with the development of the explosive phase. Further ionization of medium and heavy nuclei occurs through their interaction with Kev electrons accelerated by the first-step acceleration. It is suggested that the role of these electrons is important in producing fully ionized atoms in the acceleration regions.

Sakurai, K.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The acceleration of heavy nuclei in solar flares

The overabundance of heavy nuclei in solar cosmic rays of energy below about 10 MeV/nucleon is explained by taking into account the pre-flare ionization states of these nuclei in the region where they are accelerated. A model is proposed which considers two-step accelerations associated with the initial development of solar flares. The first step is closely related to the triggering process of flares, while the second one starts with the development of the explosive phase. Further ionization of medium and heavy nuclei occurs through their interaction with keV electrons accelerated by the first-step acceleration. It is suggested that the role of these electrons is important in producing fully ionized atoms in the acceleration regions.

Sakurai, K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Reversible electron heating vs. wave-particle interactions in quasi-perpendicular shocks

The energy necessary to explain the electron heating in quasi-perpendicular collisionless shocks can be derived either from the electron acceleration in the d.c. cross shock electric potential, or by the interactions between the electrons and the waves existing in the shock. A Monte Carlo simulation has been performed to study the electron distribution function evolution through the shock structure, with and without particle diffusion on waves. This simulation has allowed us to clarify the relative importance of the two possible energy sources; in particular it has been shown that the electron parallel temperature is determined by the d.c. electromagnetic field and not by any wave-particle-induced heating. Wave particle interactions are effective in smoothing out the large gradients in phase space produced by the 'reversible' motion of the electrons, thus producing a 'cooling' of the electrons.

Veltri, P.↗
NASA NTRS2005

DETERMINATION OF LOW-ENERGY CUTOFFS AND TOTAL ENERGY OF NONTHERMAL ELECTRONS IN A SOLAR FLARE ON 2002 APRIL 15

The determination of the low-energy cutoff to the spectrum of accelerated electrons is decisive for the estimation of the total nonthermal energy in solar flares. Because thermal bremsstrahlung dominates the low-energy part of flare X-ray spectra, this cutoff energy is difficult to determine with spectral fitting alone. We have used anew method that combines spatial, spectral, and temporal analysis to determine the cutoff energy for the M1.2 flare observed with RHESSI on 2002 April 15. A low-energy cutoff of 24 +/- 2 keV is required to ensure that the assumed thermal emissions always dominate over nonthermal emissions at low energies (<20 keV) and that the spectral fitting results are consistent with the RHESSI light curves and images. With this cutoff energy, we obtain a total nonthermal energy in electrons of (1.6 +/- 1) x 10(exp 30) ergs that is comparable to the peak energy in the thermal plasma, estimated from RHESSI observations to be (6 +/- 0.6) x 10(exp 29) ergs assuming a filling factor of 1.

Sui, Linhui↗
NASA NTRS1982

Second-stage acceleration in a limb-occulted flare

From radio observations it is known that two distinct groups of phenomena occur in large solar flares. The phenomena are related to an impulsive phase of approximately 100 s duration in the early stage of a flare and a following second phase lasting for tens of minutes. A study is presented of the limb-occulted flare event of July 22, 1972, giving particular attention to the second stage particle acceleration. The study takes into account hard X-ray, energetic particle, and radio observations. The conducted analysis shows that second stage acceleration is physically distinct from the impulsive phase, and is characterized by continuous and widespread electron acceleration to high energies, most likely by the type II burst shock wave.

Hudson, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Energetic solar electrons in the interplanetary medium

Results are given of ISEE-3 measurements of energetic solar electrons extending down to 2 keV energy. Such measurements have provided a new perspective on energetic solar electrons in the interplanetary medium. Impulsive solar electron events are observed, on the average, several times a day near solar maximum, with about 40 percent detected only below about 15 keV. The electron energy spectra have a nearly power-law shape extending smoothly down to 2 keV, indicating that the origin of these events is high in the corona. In large solar flares which accelerate electrons and ions to relativistic energies, the electron spectrum appears to be modified by a second acceleration which results in a double power-law shape above about 10 keV with a break near 100 keV and flattening from about 10-100 keV. Solar type-III radio bursts are produced by the escaping 2-100 keV electrons through a beam-plasma instability.

Lin, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Relativistic electrons in space.

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge concerning relativistic electrons, above 0.3 MeV, in interplanetary space, as measured by detectors on board satellites operating beyond the influence of the magnetosphere. The electrons have a galactic component, which at the lower energies is subject both to solar modulation and to spasmodic 'quiet time' increases and a direct solar component correlated with flare activity. The recent measurements have established the form of the differential energy spectrum of solar flare electrons. Electrons have been detected from flares behind the visible solar disk. Relativistic electrons do not appear to leave the sun at the time of the flash phase of the flare, although there are several signatures of electron acceleration at this time. The delay is interpreted as taking place during the transport of the electrons through the lower corona.

Simnett, G. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

High-Flux Atomic-Oxygen Source

Beams of pure ground-state oxygen atoms produced. Accelerated electrons strike beam of O2 gas in dissociative-attachment region, producing O- ions. O- ions accelerated to desired final energy and pass through photodetachment region to form 0(3P) atoms. These pass between electric field plates to remove O- and e and strike target. Designed specifically to study degradation of materials and spacecraft glow phenomena in low Earth orbits, used to study gas-phase collision phenomena involving energetic oxygen atoms.

Chutjian, A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Short-lived solar burst spectral component at f approximately 100 GHz

A new kind of burst emission component was discovered, exhibiting fast and distinct pulses (approx. 60 ms durations), with spectral peak emission at f approx. 100 GHz, and onset time coincident to hard X-rays to within approx. 128 ms. These features pose serious constraints for the interpretation using current models. One suggestion assumes the f approx. 100 GHz pulses emission by synchrotron mechanism of electrons accelerated to ultrarelativistic energies. The hard X-rays originate from inverse Compton scattering of the electrons on the synchrotron photons. Several crucial observational tests are needed for the understanding of the phenomenon, requiring high sensitivity and high time resolution (approx. 1 ms) simultaneous to high spatial resolution (0.1 arcsec) at f approx. 110 GHz and hard X-rays.

Kaufmann, P.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Radio and Hard X-Ray Images of High-Energy Electrons in an X-Class Solar Flare

We present the first comparison between radio images of high-energy electrons accelerated by a solar flare and images of hard X-rays produced by the same electrons at photon energies above 100 keV. The images indicate that the high-energy X-rays originate at the footpoints of the loops dominating the radio emission. The radio and hard X-ray light curves match each other well and are quantitatively consistent with an origin in a single population of nonthermal electrons with a power-law index of around 4.5-5. The high-frequency radio spectral index suggests a flatter energy spectrum, but this is ruled out by the X-ray spectrum up to 8 MeV.

White, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Radiation from Shock-Accelerated Particles

Plasma instabilities excited in collisionless shocks are responsible for particle acceleration, generation of magnetic fields , and associated radiation. We have investigated the particle acceleration and shock structure associated with an unmagnetized relativistic jet propagating into an unmagnetized plasma. Cold jet electrons are thermalized and slowed while the ambient electrons are swept up to create a partially developed hydrodynamic-like shock structure. The shock structure depends on the composition of the jet and ambient plasma (electron-positron or electron-ions). Strong electromagnetic fields are generated in the reverse , jet shock and provide an emission site. These magnetic fields contribute to the electron's transverse deflection behind the shock. We have calculated, self-consistently, the radiation from electrons accelerated in the turbulent magnetic fields. We found that the synthetic spectra depend on the Lorentz factor of the jet, its thermal temperature and strength of the generated magnetic fields. The detailed properties of the radiation are important for understanding the complex time evolution and/or spectral structure in gamma-ray bursts, relativistic jet shocks, and supernova remnants

Nishikawa, Ken-ichi↗
NASA NTRS1985

Examination of nonadiabatic effects during an electron beam experiment in the ionosphere

Prompt and delayed echo fluxes and superacceleration of electrons were observed during the sounding rocket flight Several Coordinated Experiments using an electron accelerator. Magnetospheric electric fields parallel to the magnetic field were investigated. The degree of nonadiabatic behavior of the injected electron beam and the return flux was examined. It is shown that the region of strong beam-plasma interaction is limited to 300 km in length along the magnetic field but that backscatter or energetic electrons could occur from much larger distances. By appraising the difference in transit times of 1.9 and 3.9 keV electrons it is established that a continuous backscatter model operating out to several thousand kilometres is not consistent with the observations.

Wilhelm, K.↗