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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 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1997

The Stability of Radiatively Cooling Jets. 2: Nonlinear Evolution

We use two-dimensional time-dependent hydrodynamical simulations to follow the growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability in cooling jets into the nonlinear regime. We focus primarily on asymmetric modes that give rise to transverse displacements of the jet beam. A variety of Mach numbers and two different cooling curves are studied. The growth rates of waves in the linear regime measured from the numerical simulations are in excellent agreement with the predictions of the linear stability analysis presented in the first paper in this series. In the nonlinear regime, the simulations show that asymmetric modes of the K-H instability can affect the structure and evolution of cooling jets in a number of ways. We find that jets in which the growth rate of the sinusoidal surface wave has a maximum at a so-called resonant frequency can be dominated by large-amplitude sinusoidal oscillations near this frequency. Eventually, growth of this wave can disrupt the jet. On the other hand, nonlinear body waves tend to produce low-amplitude wiggles in the shape of the jet but can result in strong shocks in the jet beam. In cooling jets, these shocks can produce dense knots and filaments of cooling gas within the jet. Ripples in the surface of the jet beam caused by both surface and body waves generate oblique shock "spurs" driven into the ambient gas. Our simulations show these shock "spurs" can accelerate ambient gas at large distances from the jet beam to low velocities, which represents a new mechanism by which low-velocity bipolar outflows may be driven by high-velocity jets. Rapid entrainment and acceleration of ambient gas may also occur if the jet is disrupted. For parameters typical of protostellar jets, the frequency at which K-H growth is a maximum (or highest frequency to which the entire jet can respond dynamically) will be associated with perturbations with a period of - 200 yr. Higher frequency (shorter period) perturbations excite waves associated with body modes that produce internal shocks and only small-amplitude wiggles within the jet. The fact that most observed systems show no evidence for large-amplitude sinusoidal oscillation leading to disruption is indicative that the perturbation frequencies are generally large, consistent with the suggestion that pro- tostellar jets arise from the inner regions (r less than 1 AU) of accretion disks.

Stone, James M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Dynamical roles of planetary waves on the winter anomaly in the middle and lower latitudes

The winter anomaly of radio wave absorption in the ionospheric D region (65 to 90 km), caused by a factor of about ten increase in electron density, has been considered to be due to a factor of about ten increase of the nitric oxide concentration and/or a few tens of degrees Kelvin temperature rise due to a strong temperature dependency of the conversion rate of molecular ions to cluster ions. In order to investigate the mechanism of the winter anomaly, the processes that brought about these changes are identified. It is well known that stratospheric warmings sometimes accompany the winter anomaly in middle latitudes. The present study concentrates on the winter anomaly which occurred simultaneously during a sudden warming of the 1967 to 1968 winter, from middle December 1967 to middle January 1968. Variations of geophysical and ionospheric parameters are shown.

Kawahira, K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Implications of preliminary Vega balloon results for the Venus atmosphere dynamics

The typical 1-2 m/sec vertical winds encountered by the Vega balloons probably result from thermal convection. The consistent 6.5-kelvin differential between the Vega 1 and Vega 2 temperatures is attributable to disturbances of synoptic or planetary scale. According to the Doppler tracking the winds were stronger than on earlier missions, perhaps because of solar thermal tides. The motions of Vega 2 may have been affected by waves from mountainous terrain.

Blamont, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Percentage Contributions from Atmospheric and Surface Features to Computed Brightness Temperatures

Over the past few years, there has become an increasing interest in the use of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) and sub-millimeter-wave (submm-wave) radiometer observations to investigate the properties of ice particles in clouds. Passive radiometric channels respond to both the integrated particle mass throughout the volume and field of view, and to the amount, location, and size distribution of the frozen (and liquid) particles with the sensitivity varying for different frequencies and hydrometeor types. One methodology used since the 1960's to discern the relationship between the physical state observed and the brightness temperature (TB) is through the temperature weighting function profile. In this research, the temperature weighting function concept is exploited to analyze the sensitivity of various characteristics of the cloud profile, such as relative humidity, ice water path, liquid water path, and surface emissivity. In our numerical analysis, we compute the contribution (in Kelvin) from each of these cloud and surface characteristics, so that the sum of these various parts equals the computed TB. Furthermore, the percentage contribution from each of these characteristics is assessed. There is some intermingling/contamination of the contributions from various components due to the integrated nature of passive observations and the absorption and scattering between the vertical layers, but all in all the knowledge gained is useful. This investigation probes the sensitivity over several cloud classifications, such as cirrus, blizzards, light snow, anvil clouds, and heavy rain. The focus is on mm-wave and submm-wave frequencies, however discussions of the effects of cloud variations to frequencies as low as 10 GHz and up to 874 GHz will also be presented. The results show that nearly 60% of the TB value at 89 GHz comes from the earth's surface for even the heaviest blizzard snow rates. On the other hand, a significant percentage of the TB value comes from the snow in the cloud for 166, and 183 plus or minus 7 GHz for the heavy and medium snow rates. For submm-wave channels, there is no contribution from the surface because these channels cannot probe through clouds, nor normal water vapor amounts in clear air regions. This work is extremely valuable in physically-based retrieval algorithm development research.

Gail Skofronick-Jackson↗
DOE OSTI2021

High-fidelity kinetic modeling of instabilities and gyromotion physics in nonuniform low-beta plasmas

A fourth-order accurate continuum kinetic Vlasov solver and a systematic method for constructing customizable kinetic equilibria are demonstrated to be powerful tools for the study of nonuniform collisionless low-beta plasmas. The noise-free methodology is applied to investigate two gradient-driven instabilities in 4D (x,y,vx,vy) phase space: the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability and the lower hybrid drift instability. Nonuniform two-species configurations where ion gyroradii are comparable to gradient scale lengths are explored. The approach sheds light on the evolution of the pressure tensor in Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities and demonstrates that the associated stress tensor deviates significantly from the gyroviscous stress tensor. Even at high magnetization, first-order approximations to finite-gyromotion physics are shown to be inadequate for the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, as shear scales evolve to become on par with gyromotion scales. The methodology facilitates exploring transport and energy partitioning properties associated with lower hybrid drift instabilities in low-beta plasma configurations. Distribution function features are captured in detail, including the formation of local extrema in the vicinity of particle-wave resonances. Finally, the approach enables detailed targeted investigations and advances kinetic simulation capability for plasmas in which gyromotion plays an important role.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS2016

Physical Processes Controlling the Distribution of Relative Humidity in the Tropical Tropopause Layer over the Pacific

The distribution of relative humidity with respect to ice (RHI) in the Boreal wintertime Tropical Tropopause Layer (TTL - about 14-19 km) over the Pacific is examined with the extensive dataset of measurements from the NASA Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX). Multiple deployments of the Global Hawk during ATTREX provided hundreds of vertical profiles spanning the Pacific with accurate measurements of temperature, pressure, water vapor concentration, ozone concentration, and cloud properties. We also compare the measured RHI distributions with results from a transport and microphysical model driven by meteorological analysis fields. Notable features in the distribution of RHI versus temperature and longitude include (1) the common occurrence of RHI values near ice saturation over the western Pacific in the lower TTL (temperatures greater than 200 K) and in airmasses with low ozone concentrations indicating recent detrainment from deep convection; (2) low RHI values in the lower TTL over the eastern Pacific where deep convection is infrequent; (3) RHI values following a constant H2O mixing ratio in the upper TTL (temperatures below about 195 degrees Kelvin), particularly for samples with ozone mixing ratios greater than about 50-100 parts-per-billion-volume indicating mixtures of tropospheric and stratospheric air, and (4) RHI values typically near ice saturation in the coldest airmasses sampled (temperatures less than about 190 degrees Kelvin). We find that the typically saturated air in the lower TTL over the western Pacific is largely driven by the frequent occurrence of deep convection in this region. The nearly-constant water vapor mixing ratios in the upper TTL result from the combination of slow ascent (resulting in long residence times) and wave-driven temperature variability on a range of time scales (resulting in most air parcels having experienced low temperature and dehydration).

ozone↗
NASA NTRS2007

GRMHD/RMHD Simulations and Stability of Magnetized Spine-Sheath Relativistic Jets

A new general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD ) code "RAISHIN" used to simulate jet generation by rotating and non-rotating black holes with a geometrically thin Keplarian accretion disk finds that the jet develops a spine-sheath structure in the rotating black hole case. Spine-sheath structure and strong magnetic fields significantly modify the Kelvin-Helmholtz (KH) velocity shear driven instability. The RAISHIN code has been used in its relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (RMHD) configuration to study the effects of strong magnetic fields and weakly relativistic sheath motion, cl2, on the KH instability associated with a relativistic, Y = 2.5, jet spine-sheath interaction. In the simulations sound speeds up to ? c/3 and Alfven wave speeds up to ? 0.56 c are considered. Numerical simulation results are compared to theoretical predictions from a new normal mode analysis of the RMHD equations. Increased stability of a weakly magnetized system resulting from c/2 sheath speeds and stabilization of a strongly magnetized system resulting from d 2 sheath speeds is found.

Hardee, Philip↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sensitivity of pore collapse heating to the melting temperature and shear viscosity of HMX

A multiscale modeling strategy is used to quantify factors governing the temperature rise in hot spots formed by pore collapse from supported and unsupported shock waves in the high explosive HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine). Two physical aspects are examined in detail, namely the melting temperature and liquid shear viscosity. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of phase coexistence are used to predict the pressure-dependent melting temperature up to 5 GPa. Equilibrium simulations and the Green–Kubo formalism are used to obtain the temperature- and pressure-dependent liquid shear viscosity. Starting from a simplified continuum-based grain-scale model of HMX, in this study we systematically increase the complexity of treatments for the solid–liquid phase transition and liquid shear viscosity in simulations of pore collapse. Using a realistic pressure-dependent melting temperature completely suppresses melting for supported shocks, which is otherwise predicted when treating it as a constant determined at atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, melt pools form around collapsed pores when the pressure (and melting temperature) are reduced during the release stage of unsupported shocks. Capturing the pressure dependence of the shear viscosity increases the peak temperature of melt pools by hundreds of Kelvin through viscous work. The complicated interplay of the solid-phase plastic work, solid–liquid phase transition, and liquid-phase viscous work identified here motivate taking a systematic approach to building increasingly complex grain-scale models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Semi-Implicit Computation of Fast Modes in a Scheme Integrating Slow Modes by a Leapfrog Method Based on a Selective Implicit Time Filter

Abstract A scheme for integration of atmospheric equations containing terms with differing time scales is developed. The method employs a filtered leapfrog scheme utilizing a fourth-order implicit time filter with one function evaluation per time step to compute slow-propagating phenomena such as advection and rotation. The terms involving fast-propagating modes are handled implicitly with an unconditionally stable method that permits application of larger time steps and faster computations compared to fully explicit treatment. Implementation using explicit and recurrent formulation is provided. Stability analysis demonstrates that the method is conditionally stable for any combination of frequencies involved in the slow and fast terms as they approach the origin. The implicit filter used in the method damps the computational modes without noticeably sacrificing the accuracy of the physical mode. TheO[(Δt 4 )] accuracy for amplitude errors achieved by the implicitly filtered leapfrog is preserved in applications where terms responsible for fast propagation are integrated with a semi-implicit method. Detailed formulation of the method for soundproof nonhydrostatic anelastic equations is provided. Procedures for implementation in global spectral shallow-water models are also given. Examples comparing numerical and analytical solutions for linear gravity waves demonstrate the accuracy of the scheme. The performance is also shown in more practical nonlinear applications, where numerical solutions accomplished by the method are evaluated against those computed from a scheme where the slow terms are handled by the third-order Runge–Kutta scheme. It demonstrates that the method is able to accurately resolve fine-scale dynamics of Kelvin–Helmholtz shear instabilities, the evolution of density current, and nonlinear drifts of twin tropical cyclones.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗
NASA NTRS1985

Midlatitude tropical interactions during winter

Pre-FGGE and FGGE/MONEX data are used to identify short term midlatitude tropical and longitudinal interactions during the winter monsoon. These interactions occur as cold surges, which develop over the East Asian continent and penetrate deep into the tropics with fast gravity wave speed. The observed interactions that occur after a surge include cyclogenesis and enhanced convection in the equatorial region, feedback from equatorial convection to midlatitude circulation systems, tropical east-west (Walker) circulations, and cross-equatorial influence. These interactions are also studied theoretically by analytical solutions of linearized shallow water equations. Response to transient forcing (monsoon surges) are mainly in Rossby and Kelvin modes. When the forcing time scale is short, significant gravity modes are also excited. The responses closely resemble observed winter monsoon flow. Responses to stationary forcing show that deep (barotropic) motions propagate energy away into high latitudes and that shallow (baroclinic) motions are trapped around the equator. It is shown that the barotropic teleconnection-type response to tropical sources found in previous numerical studies was due to the specified vertical wind shear and surface friction.

Chang, C. P.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Large anomalous Nernst effect and nodal plane in an iron-based kagome ferromagnet

Anomalous Nernst effect (ANE), converting a heat flow to transverse electric voltage, originates from the Berry phase of electronic wave function near the Fermi energy E F . Thus, the ANE provides a sensitive probe to detect a topological state that produces large Berry curvature. In addition, a magnet that exhibits a large ANE using low-cost and safe elements will be useful to develop a novel energy harvesting technology. Here, we report our observation of a high ANE exceeding 3 microvolts per kelvin above room temperature in the kagome ferromagnet Fe 3 Sn with the Curie temperature of 760 kelvin. Our theoretical analysis clarifies that a “nodal plane” produces a flat hexagonal frame with strongly enhanced Berry curvature, resulting in the large ANE. Our discovery of the large ANE in Fe 3 Sn opens the path for the previously unexplored functionality of flat degenerate electronic states and for developing flexible film thermopile and heat current sensors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1988

Nonlinear evolution of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in the high-latitude ionosphere

The first numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of the electrostatic Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability with ionospheric Perderson conductivity coupling are presented. It is found that the K-H instability develops in a distinctly different manner in the nonlinear regime with Pedersen coupling than without it. Pedersen coupling effects, in conjunction with a neutral wind and density gradient, are shown to result in an increased time scale for K-H instability wave growth, to inhibit K-H vortex formation, to lead to nonlinear structures which can be described as 'breaking waves', and to generate, in the nonlinear regime, small-scale turbulence by means of secondary instabilities growing on primary waves. The spatial power spectra of the electrostatic potential and density fluctuations are computed, and differences with and without Pedersen effects are reported.

Keskinen, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Measurements of complex permittivity of microwave substrates in the 20 to 300 K temperature range from 26.5 to 40.0 GHz

A knowledge of the dielectric properties of microwave substrates at low temperatures is useful in the design of superconducting microwave circuits. Results are reported for a study of the complex permittivity of sapphire (Al2O3), magnesium oxide (MgO), silicon oxide (SiO2), lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3), and zirconium oxide (ZrO2), in the 20 to 300 Kelvin temperature range, at frequencies from 26.5 to 40.0 GHz. The values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex permittivity were obtained from the scattering parameters, which were measured using a HP-8510 automatic network analyzer. For these measurements, the samples were mounted on the cold head of a helium gas closed cycle refrigerator, in a specially designed vacuum chamber. An arrangement of wave guides, with mica windows, was used to connect the cooling system to the network analyzer. A decrease in the value of the real part of the complex permittivity of these substrates, with decreasing temperature, was observed. For MgO and Al2O3, the decrease from room temperature to 20 K was of 7 and 15 percent, respectively. For LaAlO3, it decreased by 14 percent, for ZrO2 by 15 percent, and for SiO2 by 2 percent, in the above mentioned temperature range.

Miranda, Felix A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Measurements of complex permittivity of microwave substrates in the 20 to 300 K temperature range from 26.5 to 40.0 GHz

A knowledge of the dielectric properties of microwve substrates at low temperatures is useful in the design of superconducting microwave circuits. Results are reported for a study of the complex permittivity of sapphire (Al2O3), magnesium oxide (MgO), silicon oxide (SiO2), lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3), and zirconium oxide (ZrO2), in the 20 to 300 Kelvin temperature range, at frequencies from 26.5 to 40.0 GHz. The values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex permittivity were obtained from the scattering parameters, which were measured using an HP-8510 automatic network analyzer. For these measurements, the samples were mounted on the cold head of a helium gas closed cycle refrigerator, in a specially designated vacuum chamber. An arrangement of wave guides, with mica windows, was used to connect the cooling system to the network analyzer. A decrease in the value of the real part of the complex permittivity of these substrates, with decreasing temperature, was observed. For MgO and Al2O3, the decrease from room temperature to 20 K was of 7 and 15 percent, respectively. For LaAlO3, it decreased by 14 percent, for ZrO2 by 15 percent, and for SiO2 by 2 percent, in the above mentioned temperature range.

Miranda, Felix A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The nature of AFGL 2591 and its associated molecular outflow: Infrared and millimeter-wave observations

The results of infrared photometry from 2 to 160 microns of AFGL and CO(12) observations of its associated molecular cloud and high velocity molecular outflow are presented and discussed. The observed solar luminosity is 6.7 x 10(4) at a distance of 2 kpc. The spectrum of AFGL 2591 is interpreted in the context of a model in which a single embedded object is the dominant source of the infrared luminosity. This object is determined to be surrounded by a compact, optically thick dust shell with a temperature in excess of several hundred degrees kelvin. The extinction to this source is estimated to be between 26 and 50 visual magnitudes. The absolute position of the infrared sources at 10 microns was determined to an accuracy of + or in. This indicates for the first time that the IR source and H2O source are not coincident. The CO(12) observations show the high-velocity molecular flow near AFGL 2591 to be extended, bipolar and roughly centered on the infrared emission. The observations suggest that the red-shifted flow component extends beyond the boundary of the ambient cloud within which AFGL 2591 is embedded. The CO(12) observations also show that AFGL 2591 is embedded in a molecular cloud with an LSR velocity of -5 km/s.

Lada, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The nature of AFGL 2591 and its associated molecular outflow Infrared and millimeter-wave observations

The results of infrared photometry from 2 to 160 microns of AFGL and CO(12) observations of its associated molecular cloud and high velocity molecular outflow are presented and discussed. The observed solar luminosity is 6.7 x 10(4) at a distance of 2 kpc. The spectrum of AFGL 2591 is interpreted in the context of a model in which a single embedded object is the dominant source of the infrared luminosity. This object is determined to be surrounded by a compact, optically thick dust shell with a temperature in excess of several hundred degrees kelvin. The extinction to this source is estimated to be between 26 and 50 visual magnitudes. The absolute position of the infrared sources at 10 microns was determined to an accuracy of + or - 1 in. This indicates for the first time that the IR source and H2O source are not coincident. The CO(12) observations show the high-velocity molecular flow near AFGL 2591 to be extended, bipolar and roughly centered on the infrared emission. The observations suggest that the red-shifted flow component extends beyond the boundary of the ambient cloud within which AFGL 2591 is embedded. The CO(12) observations also show that AFGL 2591 is embedded in a molecular cloud with an LSR velocity of -5 km/s.

Lada, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Determination of billows and other turbulent structures, part 4.1A

Billows are regular, wave-like arrays of cross-flow vortices that develop in stratified oceanic or atmospheric flows with large shear. Atmospheric billows can become manifest through condensation. Billows are frequently seen in their characteristic cloud forms in the lower atmosphere. Under suitable viewing conditions, billows can also be seen in noctilucent clouds that form near the polar mesosphere during the summer months. Other turbulent structures -- related to billows -- are the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) and cat's eye structures that occur in fully developed turbulent shear flows. Shear flows may contain perturbations at many different horizontal wavelengths and vertical scales. Realistic theoretical models have been constructed to study the stability and growth of these perturbations. The extent to which billows and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability have been observed in the atmosphere with the use of radars is outlined. Most of these observations are confined to the troposphere. Suggestions are made for improved radar experiments that are required to detect these structures at higher altitudes.

Rastogi, P. K.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Observations of Convective and Dynamical Instabilities in Tropopause Folds and their Contribution to Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange

With aircraft-mounted in-situ and remote sensing instruments for dynamical, thermal. and chemical measurements, we studied two cases of tropopause folding. In both folds we found Kelvin-Helmholtz billows with horizontal wavelength of about 900 m and thickness of about 120 m. In one case the instability was effectively mixing the bottomside of the fold, leading to the transfer of stratospheric air into the troposphere. Also we discovered in both cases small-scale secondary ozone maxima shortly after the aircraft ascended past the topside of the fold that corresponded to regions of convective instability. We interpreted this phenomenon as convectively breaking gravity waves. Therefore, we posit that convectively breaking gravity waves acting on tropopause folds must be added to the list of important irreversible mixing mechanisms leading to stratosphere-troposphere exchange.

Cho, John Y. N.↗