SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “ELECTROMAGNETISM”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1990

Feedback controlled electrostatic and electromagnetic sample positioners

Four different sample positioners are discussed. The four systems share a common operating principle in that the sample positioning is achieved by feedback controlled forces which can be electrostatic, dielectrophoretic, or electromagnetic. The first system is the electrostatic liquid drop positioner which operates at the near ambient position. The second system is the tetrahedral electrostatic positioner which is being developed for the high temperature materials processing in vacuum. The third system is essentially the the same tetrahedral system above except that the position control is achieved by dielectrophoretic forces in the pressurized gas environment. Finally, the feasibility of a feedback controlled electromagnetic positioner is discussed.

Rhim, Won-Kyu↗

NASA NTRS1990

Core mass at the helium flash from observations and a new bound on neutrino electromagnetic properties

Existing measurements of the bolometric magnitudes of the brightest red giants in 26 globular clusters are used to determine the brightness difference between the tip of the red giant branch (on average found to be 0.1 mag brighter than the brightest red giant) and RR Lyrae stars. The metallicity variation of the result agrees perfectly with theoretical predictions. In conjunction with previous determinations of the number ratio of horizontal-branch versus red giant stars, with statistical parallax determinations of RR Lyrae absolute luminosities, and with theoretical predictions based on the Sweigart and Gross evolutionary sequences, this result yields an allowed range for a hypothetical core mass variation relative to the standard results of (0.009 + or - 0.012) solar mass. If neutrinos had anomalous electromagnetic dipole moments, the increased energy loss near the helium flash would lead to an increased core mass. Constraints on neutrino electromagnetic properties are determined from the color-magnitude diagrams of the globular clusters.

Raffelt, Georg G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Electromagnetic ion/ion cyclotron instability at slow shocks

The linear and nonlinear properties of the obliquely propagating electromagnetic ion/ion cyclotron instability are investigated. The instability is driven by the relative, field-aligned streaming of two ion beams and can exist at a lower velocity threshold than the more commonly studied, parallel propagating electromagnetic ion beam instabilities. It is shown that the instability plays an important role in the formation of, dissipation at, and waves upstream of slow mode shocks. Possible application of this instability to ion beams in the plasma sheet boundary layer is also briefly discussed.

Winske, D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Measurements of electromagnetic bias in radar altimetry

As the accuracy of satellite altimetric measurements of sea level is limited in part by the influence of ocean waves on the altimeter signal reflected from the sea surface, the difference between the mean reflecting surface and mean sea level is the electromagnetic bias. In order to obtain a better understanding of this bias, it is measured directly utilizing a 14-GHz scatterometer on the Chesapeake Bay Light Tower. It is shown that electromagnetic bias in radar altimetry may be reduced to the level required by the TOPEX/Poseidon mission utilizing only altimetric data. The mean value of beta, its variability, and the sensitivity to wind are all significantly larger than earlier measurements utilizing a 39-GHz radar carried on a low-flying aircraft.

Melville, W. K.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Electromagnetic axisymmetric finite elements based on a gauged four-potential variational principle

Electromagnetic finite elements are derived based on a variational principle that uses the electromagnetic four-potential as a primary variable. The Lorentz gage normalization is incorporated as a constraint condition through a Lagrange multiplier field to construct elements suitable for downstream coupling with mechanical and thermal finite elements for the analysis of high-temperature superconductor devices with aerospace applications. The main advantages are: jump discontinuities on interfaces are naturally handled; no a priori approximations are invoked; and the number of degrees of freedom per node remains modest as the problem dimensionality increases. The new elements are tested on two magnetostatic axisymmetric problems. The results are in excellent agreement with analytical solutions and previous solutions for the 1D problem of a conducting infinite wire, in which case the multiplier field has no effect. For materials of widely different permeability, jump conditions are naturally accommodated by the present formulation.

Schuler, J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Further evaluation of the constrained least squares electromagnetic compensation method

Technologies exist for construction of antennas with adaptive surfaces that can compensate for many of the larger distortions caused by thermal and gravitational forces. However, as the frequency and size of reflectors increase, the subtle surface errors become significant and degrade the overall electromagnetic performance. Electromagnetic (EM) compensation through an adaptive feed array offers means for mitigation of surface distortion effects. Implementation of EM compensation is investigated with the measured surface errors of the NASA 15 meter hoop/column reflector antenna. Computer simulations are presented for: (1) a hybrid EM compensation technique, and (2) evaluating the performance of a given EM compensation method when implemented with discretized weights.

Smith, William T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Electromagnetic finite elements based on a four-potential variational principle

Electromagnetic finite elements based on a variational principle that uses the electromagnetic four-potential as a primary variable are derived. This choice is used to construct elements suitable for downstream coupling with mechanical and thermal finite elements for the analysis of electromagnetic/mechanical systems that involve superconductors. The main advantages of the four-potential as a basis for finite element formulation are that the number of degrees of freedom per node remains modest as the problem dimensionally increases, that jump discontinuities on interfaces are naturally accommodated, and that statics as well as dynamics may be treated without any a priori approximations. The new elements are tested on an axisymmetric problem under steady state forcing conditions. The results are in excellent agreement with analytical solutions.

Schuler, James J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Analysis of superconducting electromagnetic finite elements based on a magnetic vector potential variational principle

Electromagnetic finite elements are extended based on a variational principle that uses the electromagnetic four potential as primary variable. The variational principle is extended to include the ability to predict a nonlinear current distribution within a conductor. The extension of this theory is first done on a normal conductor and tested on two different problems. In both problems, the geometry remains the same, but the material properties are different. The geometry is that of a 1-D infinite wire. The first problem is merely a linear control case used to validate the new theory. The second problem is made up of linear conductors with varying conductivities. Both problems perform well and predict current densities that are accurate to within a few ten thousandths of a percent of the exact values. The fourth potential is then removed, leaving only the magnetic vector potential, and the variational principle is further extended to predict magnetic potentials, magnetic fields, the number of charge carriers, and the current densities within a superconductor. The new element produces good results for the mean magnetic field, the vector potential, and the number of superconducting charge carriers despite a relatively high system condition number. The element did not perform well in predicting the current density. Numerical problems inherent to this formulation are explored and possible remedies to produce better current predicting finite elements are presented.

Schuler, James J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Modeling 3-D objects with planar surfaces for prediction of electromagnetic scattering

Electromagnetic scattering analysis of objects at resonance is difficult because low frequency techniques are slow and computer intensive, and high frequency techniques may not be reliable. A new technique for predicting the electromagnetic backscatter from electrically conducting objects at resonance is studied. This technique is based on modeling three dimensional objects as a combination of flat plates where some of the plates are blocking the scattering from others. A cube is analyzed as a simple example. The preliminary results compare well with the Geometrical Theory of Diffraction and with measured data.

Koch, M. B.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Electromagnetic processes in nucleus-nucleus collisions relating to space radiation research

Most of the papers within this report deal with electromagnetic processes in nucleus-nucleus collisions which are of concern in the space radiation program. In particular, the removal of one and two nucleons via both electromagnetic and strong interaction processes has been extensively investigated. The theory of relativistic Coulomb fission has also been developed. Several papers on quark models also appear. Finally, note that the theoretical methods developed in this work have been directly applied to the task of radiation protection of astronauts. This has been done by parameterizing the theoretical formalism in such a fashion that it can be used in cosmic ray transport codes.

Norbury, John W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Inhibition of electron thermal conduction by electromagnetic instabilities

Heat flux inhibition by electromagnetic instabilities in a hot magnetized plasma is investigated. Low-frequency electromagnetic waves become unstable due to anisotropy of the electron distribution function. The chaotic magnetic field thus generated scatters the electrons with a specific effective mean free path. Saturation of the instability due to wave-wave interaction, nonlinear scattering, wave propagation, and collisional damping is considered. The effective mean free path is found self-consistently, using a simple model to estimate saturation level and scattering, and is shown to decrease with the temperature gradient length. The results, limited to the assumptions of the model, are applied to astrophysical systems. For some interstellar clouds the instability is found to be important. Collisional damping stabilizes the plasma, and the heat conduction can be dominated by superthermal electrons.

Levinson, Amir↗

NASA NTRS1991

A tailored approach to electromagnetic compatibility requirements in space applications

An approach is outlined which defines the requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) between NASA and military technologies with attention given to electromagnetic interference (EMI) requirements. In order to minimize the cost and weight impact of the changes needed for compatibility the plan emphasizes the incorporation of off-the-shelf technology with current nonstandard methods. NASA designs are structured to meet EMI requirements rather than processing waivers against military-type specifications. The NASA-wide EMI requirements can be documented in three sections: requirements, test methods, and tailoring guidelines. It is shown that a NASA-wide EMC specification would decrease the costs of achieving compatibility by increasing efficiency and optimizing the relationship between EMC design and performance and cost.

Javor, Ken↗

NASA NTRS1992

Transition operators in electromagnetic-wave diffraction theory - General theory

A formal theory is developed for the scattering of time-harmonic electromagnetic waves from impenetrable immobile obstacles with given linear, homogeneous, and generally nonlocal boundary conditions of Leontovich (impedance) type for the wave of the obstacle's surface. The theory is modeled on the complete Green's function and the transition (T) operator in time-independent formal scattering theory of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. An expression for the differential scattering cross section for plane electromagnetic waves is derived in terms of certain matrix elements of the T operator for the obstacle.

Hahne, G. E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

An improved computational technique for calculating electromagnetic forces and power absorptions generated in spherical and deformed body in levitation melting devices

An improved computational technique for calculating the electromagnetic force field, the power absorption and the deformation of an electromagnetically levitated metal sample is described. The technique is based on the volume integral method, but represents a substantial refinement; the coordinate transformation employed allows the efficient treatment of a broad class of rotationally symmetrical bodies. Computed results are presented to represent the behavior of levitation melted metal samples in a multi-coil, multi-frequency levitation unit to be used in microgravity experiments. The theoretical predictions are compared with both analytical solutions and with the results of previous computational efforts for the spherical samples and the agreement has been very good. The treatment of problems involving deformed surfaces and actually predicting the deformed shape of the specimens breaks new ground and should be the major usefulness of the proposed method.

Zong, Jin-Ho↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical modeling of fluid and electromagnetic phenomena in an arcjet

An explicit numerical technique is used to solve the axisymmetric reduced electromagnetic field equation. The effect of an electrical arc on a viscous, axisymmetric flow is approximated using an implicit thin layer Navier-Stokes solver with additional electromagnetic source terms in conjunction with the explicit finite difference code.

Flowe, Anita C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Open-loop characteristics of magnetic suspension systems using electromagnets mounted in a planar array

The open-loop characteristics of a Large-Gap Magnetic Suspension System (LGMSS) were studied and numerical results are presented. The LGMSS considered provides five-degree-of-freedom control. The suspended element is a cylinder that contains a core composed of permanent magnet material. The magnetic actuators are air core electromagnets mounted in a planar array. Configurations utilizing five, six, seven, and eight electromagnets were investigated and all configurations were found to be controllable from coil currents and observable from suspended element positions. Results indicate that increasing the number of coils has an insignificant effect on mode shapes and frequencies.

Groom, Nelson J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Study of plasma environments for the integrated Space Station electromagnetic analysis system

The final report includes an analysis of various plasma effects on the electromagnetic environment of the Space Station Freedom. Effects of arcing are presented. Concerns of control of arcing by a plasma contactor are highlighted. Generation of waves by contaminant ions are studied and amplitude levels of the waves are estimated. Generation of electromagnetic waves by currents in the structure of the space station, driven by motional EMF, is analyzed and the radiation level is estimated.

Singh, Nagendra↗

NASA NTRS1993

Six degrees of freedom vibration isolation using electromagnetic suspension

Experimental data are presented for modeling an electromagnet. Control laws are considered with and without flux feedback and with position and orientation information of the suspended body. Base motion and sensor noise are the principal disturbances. Proper selection of the geometrical operating point minimizes the passive coupling above the bandwidth of the control and filtering can attenuate the high frequency content of sensor noise. Six electromagnets are arranged in a configuration which optimizes the load support and provides control over all six degrees of freedom of the suspended body. The design is based on experimental data generated with a specially designed test facility. Application for suspension of a gravity wave antenna is discussed.

Lee, Sang-Il↗