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At least 343 records · Page 19

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NASA NTRS1981

Tearing at the dayside magnetopause

Initial observations of the dayside magnetopause thickness using magnetometers on board ISEE 1 (International Sun-Earth Explorer) and ISEE 2 indicate that this boundary may only be a few ion gyro-radii thick during periods of observed southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Such a thin current layer can destabilize the collisionless tearing mode, a probable first step in the reconnection sequence. The linear growth rate is calculated assuming typical magnetopause parameters and it is found that it is a sensitive function of IMF orientation, magnetopause thickness, and electron number density. It is also shown that the finite size of the dayside magnetopause necessitates the existence of a two-dimensional tearing mode wave vector spectrum, a consequence of the inability of a thermal electron to maintain Landau resonance with the wave for a growth period. Implications regarding reconnection are discussed.

Quest, K. B.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Non-thermal processes in large solar flares

The paper examines the significance of particle acceleration processes in large solar flares, and the importance of accelerated particles in the generation of other flare phenomena. Comprehensive observations of the August 1972 series of large flares were used to obtain quantitative estimates of the energetic particle populations, the electromagnetic emissions, and the mass ejections. The fluxes of energetic electrons and protons were derived from observed X-ray and gamma-ray emissions, respectively. The energy input into the solar atmosphere from the collisional losses of these energetic particles is computed as a function of overlying column density, under the assumption that particles are accelerated at a point high in the solar atmosphere and then precipitate down to denser layers. The flash phase radiation, soft X-ray flare plasma, and the interplanetary shock wave can be consistently and quantitatively explained as a result of the interaction of nonrelativistic electrons with the solar atmosphere.

Lin, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Medium scale gravity waves in the thermosphere observed by the AE-C satellite

It is pointed out that the measurements of the Atmosphere Explorer (AE) have made it possible to detect large- and medium-scale waves in neutrals and ions in the thermosphere. Gross et al. (1983, 1984) have reported on large-scale waves throughout a major portion of an orbit of AE-C with scale sizes from hundreds to thousands of kilometers. The present investigation is concerned with a more limited portion of the same orbit, taking into account a part in the Northern Hemisphere from about 10 deg to 54 deg latitude. The data consist of 1.0-s samples for ions and 1.5-s samples for neutrals. The data indicate fluctuations of oxygen, nitrogen, helium, and electron density, and temperature fluctuations. The structures formed by the fluctuations appear to be made up of waves having wavelengths in the range from 100 to over 400 km. The cross-correlation function demonstrates strong association between N2 and O with a peak value of 0.88 for waves of wavelengths on the order of 250-300 km.

Gross, S. H.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Plasma wave turbulence in the strong coupling region at comet Giacobini-Zinner

Within 100,000 km of comet Giacobini-Zinner's nucleus, strong plasma wave turbulence was detected by the ICE electric and magnetic field wave instruments. The spatial profiles of the wave amplitudes are compared with measurements of the heavy ion fluxes of cometary origin, the plasma electron density, and the magnetic field strength. The general similarity of the wave and heavy ion profiles suggest that the waves might be generated by free energy in the pick-up ion distribution function. However, the expected parallel streaming instability of electrostatic modes generates waves with frequencies that are too low to explain the observations. The observed low frequency magnetic turbulence is plausibly explained by the lower hybrid loss-cone instability of heavy ions.

Coroniti, F. V.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Complex Correlation Kohn-T Method of Calculating Total and Elastic Cross Sections: Electron-Hydrogen Elastic Scattering - Part 1

We report on the first part of a study of electron-hydrogen scattering, using a method which allows for the ab initio calculation of total and elastic cross sections at higher energies. In its general form the method uses complex 'radial' correlation functions, in a (Kohn) T-matrix formalism. The titled method, abbreviated Complex Correlation Kohn T (CCKT) method, is reviewed, in the context of electron-hydrogen scattering, including the derivation of the equation for the (complex) scattering function, and the extraction of the scattering information from the latter. The calculation reported here is restricted to S-waves in the elastic region, where the correlation functions can be taken, without loss of generality, to be real. Phase shifts are calculated using Hylleraas-type correlation functions with up to 95 terms. Results are rigorous lower bounds; they are in general agreement with those of Schwartz, but they are more accurate and outside his error bounds at a couple of energies,

Bhatia, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Radiation Belt Electron Dynamics Driven by Large-Amplitude Whistlers

Acceleration of radiation belt electrons driven by oblique large-amplitude whistler waves is studied. We show analytically and numerically that this is a stochastic process; the intensity of which depends on the wave power modified by Bessel functions. The type of this dependence is determined by the character of the nonlinear interaction due to coupling between action and phase. The results show that physically significant quantities have a relatively weak dependence on the wave power.

whistlers↗

NASA NTRS1980

Electron-impact excitation of Li II in the distorted-wave approximation

The 1(1)S yields 2(3)P electron-impact-excitation cross section for Li II is calculated in the distorted-wave approximation. Two forms of the distorted-wave method are examined; in the first form both the initial and final wave functions are distorted, while in the second form only the initial wave function is distorted. In both forms a partial-wave expansion of the scattered amplitude is made, and exchange is incorporated in a consistent manner. The effects of including more than one configuration in the target-state wave function are also examined. For incident energies greater than 90 eV, distorted-wave calculations agree moderately well with recent experimental and theoretical results.

Pindzola, M. S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Statistical acceleration of electrons by lower-hybrid turbulence

The statistical acceleration of electrons along an ambient magnetic field by large-amplitude lower-hybrid turbulence is discussed. Perturbations driven by a crossfield current and propagating nearly perpendicular to the applied magnetic field are considered. It is assumed that the instability saturates rapidly and that the fluctuating electric field is predominantly electrostatic. If the turbulence is characterized by a spectrum of small parallel wavenumbers, such that the parallel phase velocity of the waves is greater than the electron thermal velocity, then the turbulence can only accelerate electrons moving with large velocities along the magnetic field. The quasi-linear diffusion equation is solved using a Green's function technique, assuming a power law spectral energy density. The time evolution of an initial Maxwellian distribution is given and the time rate of change of the mean electron energy is calculated for various cases.

Wu, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The propagation of solar flare particles in a coronal loop

A time-dependent diffusion equation with velocity-dependent diffusion and energy-loss coefficients was solved for the case where energetic solar particles are injected into a coronal loop and then diffuse out the ends of the loop into the lower corona/chromosphere. The solution yields for the case of relativistic electrons, precipitation rates and populations which are necessary for calculating thick and thin target X-ray emission. It follows that the thick target emission is necessarily delayed with respect to the particle acceleration on injection by more than the mere travel time of the particle over the loop length. In addition the time-dependent electron population at the top of the loop is calculated. This is useful in estimating the resulting micron-wave emission. The results show relative timing differences in the different emission processes which are functions of particle species, energy and the point of injection of the particles into the loop. Equivalent quantities are calculated for non-relativistic protons.

Ryan, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Atomic data for a five-configuration model of Fe XIV

Collision strengths calculated in the distorted wave approximation are presented for electron excitation of Fe XIV at incident energies of 10, 20 and 30 Rydbergs. Configurations 3s(2)3p, 3s3p(2), 3s(2)3d, 3p(3), and 3s3p3d are included, comprising 40 levels, and wave function mixing coefficients are tabulated. Radiative transition rates are given for the same model using the Superstructure program.

Bhatia, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Pitch-angle diffusion of radiation belt electrons within the plasmasphere.

Study of the formation of the quiet-time electron slot, which divides the radiation belt electrons into an inner and an outer zone. The pitch-angle diffusion of radiation belt electrons resulting from resonant interactions with the observed plasmaspheric whistler-mode wave band is quantitatively investigated. The effects of wave propagation obliquely to the geomagnetic field direction with the resulting diffusion at all cyclotron-harmonic resonances and the Landau resonance are evaluated along with the effects of interactions occuring at all geomagnetic latitudes. The results obtained account for the long-term stability of the inner radiation zone, the location of its outer edge as a function of electron energy, and the removal of electrons to levels near zero throughout the slot. Computed pitch-angle distributions and precipitation decay rates are in good agreement with slot-region observations.

Lyons, L. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Waves observed upstream of interplanetary shocks

The properties of the waves that are present upstream of interplanetary, collisionless, quasi-parallel shocks are described. Two types of such waves have been detected, a higher frequency whistler mode wave and a lower frequency fast mode MHD wave. Both are typically circular or elliptically polarized right-hand waves which propagate along the ambient magnetic field with a 15 deg angle cone. The high frequency waves have sufficient group velocities to outrun the shock, and may be generated by cyclotron resonance with 100 eV to 1 keV shock electrons. The lower frequency waves must be generated locally by particles upstream of the shock, probably by 1-10 keV ions flowing away from the shock. Distinct changes in the spectra of upstream waves as a function of distance from the shock have been noted.

Tsurutani, B. T.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Comparison of measured and theoretical inverse bremsstrahlung and photoionization absorption of infrared radiation in a H-He plasma.

The absorption coefficients of 1.15- and 3.39-micrometer radiation for a homogeneous H-He plasma have been measured in a temperature and electron density range where the major absorption mechanisms are electron-ion inverse bremsstrahlung and neutral-atom photoionization. Measurements were made behind both the incident and reflected shock waves in a driven tube by recording the laser intensity transmitted along the tube diameter as a function of time. The measured values compare well with those obtained from theoretical calculations for a gas in thermodynamic equilibrium.

Billman, K. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Electron distribution functions associated with electrostatic emissions in the dayside magnetosphere

The analysis deals with electron distribution functions constructed from ISEE-1 dayside observations of low-energy magnetospheric electrons at low latitudes. The discussion covers some examples corresponding to three distinct types of odd half harmonic electrostatic emissions, observed in the plasma wave experiment on ISEE-1, which occur between the electron cyclotron frequency and the upper hybrid frequency.

Sentman, D. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Quasi-projection-operator calculation of inelastic resonances in He/-/ and Li

Feshbach resonances of electrons incident of He and Li(+) are calculated below the 3(S-3) target threshold by means of the inelastic quasi-projection-operator technique of Temkin and Bhatia (1972). A configuration-interaction-type wave function is employed with up to 46 configurations. The calculations reveal, with reasonable accuracy, all presently observed Feshbach resonances. The method does not reveal shape resonances, but, for isoelectronic systems with greater nuclear charge, it is argued that shape resonance should become less important. This is already apparent in the case of Li, for which the known resonances are calculated and higher resonances, for which there are as yet no experimental data, are predicted.

Wakid, S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Radiation from long pulse train electron beams in space plasmas

A previous study of electromagnetic radiation from a finite train of electron pulses is extended to an infinite train of such pulses. The electrons are assumed to follow an idealized helical path through a space plasma in such a manner as to retain their respective position within the beam. This leads to radiation by coherent spontaneous emission. The waves of interest in this region are the whistler slow (compressional) and fast (torsional) Alfven waves. Although a general theory is developed, analysis is then restricted to two approximations, the short and long electron beam. Formulas for the radiation per unit solid angle from the short beam are presented as a function of both propagation and ray angles, electron beam pulse width and separation and beam current, voltage, and pitch angle. Similar formulas for the total power radiated from the long beam are derived as a function of frequency, propagation angle, and ray angle. Predictions of the power radiated are presented for representative examples as determined by the long beam theory.

Harker, K. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Stability of the polar wind

The classical polar wind is an ambipolar outflow of thermal plasma from the terrestrial ionosphere at high latitudes. At altitudes above about 3000 km, the H(+) flow becomes supersonic and collisionless, and the H(+) velocity distribution becomes non-Maxwellian. The non-Maxwellian features include a temperature anisotropy, with the parallel H(+) temperature greater than the perpendicular temperature, and an asymmetry, with an elongated tail in the upward direction. These distortions from a Maxwellian increase as the H(+) gas escapes in the diverging geomagnetic field, and at 10 earth radii, the parallel-to-perpendicular temperature ratio is about 50 and the elongated tail is sufficiently long to move the drift velocity point off the peak of the distribution function. The stability of these highly non-Maxwellian H(+) velocity distributions was studied with regard to the excitation of electrostatic waves, and the plasma was found to be remarkably stable for a wide range of electron temperatures. This indicates that the various macroscopic formulations of the classical polar wind are valid. The stability of a perpendicularly heated polar wind was also studied, assuming bulk perpendicular heating of H(+) in the cusp, followed by the subsequent convection of the heated plasma into the polar cap. Two regions of instability were found.

Barakat, A. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

A FMCW Radar Ranging Device for the Teleoperator Maneuvering System

A frequency-modulated continuous wave radar system is under development in the Communications Systems Branch of the Information and Electronic Systems Laboratory at Marshall Space Flight Center. The radar unit is being designed for use on the teleoperator maneuvering system. Its function is to provide millimeter-level accuracy in range and range rate measurements out to a range of thirty meters. This will facilitate soft docking with accuracy. This report is an updating of previous developments reported on this system. An innovation in the system is the utilization of a standard reference signal generated by shunting a portion of the radar energy into a shorted coaxial delay line. The regular radar target return signal is constantly compared with the reference signal to provide internal error compensation. Within a five meter range, a limit imposed by present laboratory dimensions, the radar system exhibits reliable accuracy with range error less than 0.2%.

Mcdonald, M. W.↗