Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “PLASMA FILAMENT”

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.

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

At least 343 records · Page 19
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Bifurcation-driven vertical plasma displacement

This paper considers vertical plasma motion resulting from plasma current decay during the disruption event. The presented filament-based model describes the motion in the ideal wall limit as an adiabatically slow evolution of the plasma equilibrium. Here, the equilibrium exhibits a pitchfork bifurcation when the decaying plasma current passes a critical value determined by the external magnetic field. This bifurcation affects the disruption-induced mechanical loads on the first wall.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Excitation of optically trapped single particles using femtosecond pulses

Excitation from optically trapped particles is examined through laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy following interactions with mJ-level fs pulses. Optical emissions from sub-ng ablation of precisely positioned cupric oxide microparticles are used as a method to spatially resolve laser–particle interactions resulting in excitation. External focusing lenses are often used to change the dynamics of nonlinear self-focusing of fs pulses to form laser filaments or, alternatively, to form very intense air plasmas. Given the significant implications external focusing has on laser propagation and plasma conditions, single-particle emissions are studied with focusing lenses ranging from 50 to 300 mm. It is shown that, while single particles are less excited at longer focal lengths due to limited energy transfer through laser–particle interactions, the cooler plasma results in a lower thermal background to reveal resolved single-shot emission peaks. Furthermore, by developing an understanding in the fundamental interaction that occurs between single particles and fs pulses and filaments, practical improvements can be made for atmospheric remote sensing of low-concentration aerosols.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2026

The role of thermal conduction on the size scaling of laser direct-drive implosions

Ablation pressure is a key parameter controlling laser drive performance in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions. In this work, we develop a theoretical framework to clarify the role of thermal conduction in determining how ablation pressure scales with laser intensity, wavelength, and target size. We focus on a steady-state, spherically expanding plasma produced when an over-dense pellet is irradiated by a high-intensity laser. Scaling laws for ablation pressure and the mass ablation rate are derived with respect to laser intensity, wavelength, and target size. As a result, the theoretical predictions are found to be in good agreement with one-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations in spherical geometry.

Ablation↗
DOE OSTI2018

Generation of X-ray radiation from a plasma in a microchannel of a copper target located in the air under the action of soft-focused femtosecond laser pulses with an intensity of 100 TW cm{sup −2}

We have studied the dependence of X-ray radiation yield in the range of more than 3 keV from a microchannel in a copper target on the laser pulse number at a (0.7 – 4.0) × 10{sup 14} W cm{sup −2} intensities of femtosecond laser radiation. A technique for estimating the intensity of laser radiation acting on the target using the slope of the X-ray bremsstrahlung spectrum is proposed. A possibility of using this technique for estimating the intensity in a femtosecond laser filament is considered. (interaction of laser radiation with matter. laser plasma)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Nonlinear interaction of proton whistler with kinetic Alfvén wave to study solar wind turbulence

This paper presents the nonlinear interaction between small but finite amplitude kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) and proton whistler wave using two-fluid model in intermediate beta plasma, applicable to solar wind. The nonlinearity is introduced by modification in the background density. This change in density is attributed to the nonlinear ponderomotive force due to KAW. The solutions of the model equations, governing the nonlinear interaction (and its effect on the formation of localized structures), have been obtained using semi-analytical method in solar wind at 1AU. It is concluded that the KAW properties significantly affect the threshold field required for the filament formation and their critical size (for proton whistler). The magnetic and electric field power spectra have been obtained and their relevance with the recent observations of solar wind turbulence by Cluster spacecraft has been pointed out.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Sheath transitions in a cylindrical filament discharge: Axisymmetric 1D3V PIC-MCC simulations

We present the first nonplanar hot cathode discharge simulations that capture the role of the trapped-ions plasma, elucidating new phenomena unobservable in planar geometric discharges. A discharge struck between a single emitting wire filament cathode and a bounding anode is simulated in cylindrical geometry using an axisymmetric (radial) particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo collisions code. Operating the discharge near its ionization energy threshold can lead to the formation of a two plasma mode (TPM). One plasma forms in the conventional upstream region through electron impact ionization of background neutrals. A second plasma, whose global effect on the discharge was not previously well understood, forms downstream through the trapping of cold ions in the potential well of the filament’s virtual cathode, a process enabled by ion-neutral charge exchange collisions. Three space charge regions intersperse the electrode gap—an emissive sheath between the cathode filament and trapped-ions plasma, a double layer between the two plasmas, and a classical sheath between the upstream plasma and the outer anode. Simulations exhibit mode transitions and quenching instabilities that transform the discharge between the TPM and other single-plasma sheath modes that include classical (temperature-limited), space charge limited, and inverse (anode glow) modes. The transitions are explained via “aid-and-compete” dynamics wherein the growth of one plasma enhances growth in the other while concurrently exhibiting expansion dynamics antagonistic to each other. The system exhibits strong hysteresis memory during the mode transitions. Improved understanding and control of these sheath mode transitions are expected to benefit plasma applications with hot cathodes.

Electrical hysteresis↗
DOE OSTI2014

Origin of graphitic filaments on improving the electron field emission properties of negative bias-enhanced grown ultrananocrystalline diamond films in CH{sub 4}/Ar plasma

Microstructural evolution of bias-enhanced grown (BEG) ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films has been investigated using microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition in gas mixtures of CH{sub 4} and Ar under different negative bias voltages ranging from −50 to −200 V. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the morphology, growth rate, and chemical bonding of the synthesized films. Transmission electron microscopic investigation reveals that the application of bias voltage induced the formation of the nanographitic filaments in the grain boundaries of the films, in addition to the reduction of the size of diamond grains to ultra-nanosized granular structured grains. For BEG-UNCD films under −200 V, the electron field emission (EFE) process can be turned on at a field as small as 4.08 V/μm, attaining a EFE current density as large as 3.19 mA/cm{sup 2} at an applied field of 8.64 V/μm. But the films grown without bias (0 V) have mostly amorphous carbon phases in the grain boundaries, possessing poorer EFE than those of the films grown using bias. Consequently, the induction of nanographitic filaments in grain boundaries of UNCD films grown in CH{sub 4}/Ar plasma due to large applied bias voltage of −200 V is the prime factor, which possibly forms interconnected paths for facilitating the transport of electrons that markedly enhance the EFE properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE NATURE OF FILAMENTARY COLD GAS IN THE CORE OF THE VIRGO CLUSTER

We present a multi-wavelength study of the emission-line nebulae located {approx}38'' (3 kpc in projection) southeast of the nucleus of M87, the central dominant galaxy of the Virgo Cluster. We report the detection of far-infrared (FIR) [C II] line emission at 158 {mu}m from the nebulae using observations made with the Herschel Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS). The infrared line emission is extended and co-spatial with optical H{alpha}+ [N II], far-ultraviolet C IV lines, and soft X-ray emission. The filamentary nebulae evidently contain multi-phase material spanning a temperature range of at least five orders of magnitude, from {approx}100 K to {approx}10{sup 7} K. This material has most likely been uplifted by the active galactic nucleus from the center of M87. The thermal pressure of the 10{sup 4} K phase appears to be significantly lower than that of the surrounding hot intracluster medium (ICM), indicating the presence of additional turbulent and magnetic pressure in the filaments. If the turbulence in the filaments is subsonic then the magnetic field strength required to balance the pressure of the surrounding ICM is B {approx} 30-70 {mu}G. The spectral properties of the soft X-ray emission from the filaments indicate that it is due to thermal plasma with kT {approx} 0.5-1 keV, which is cooling by mixing with the cold gas and/or radiatively. Charge exchange can be ruled out as a significant source of soft X-rays. Both cooling and mixing scenarios predict gas with a range of temperatures. This is at first glance inconsistent with the apparent lack of X-ray emitting gas with kT < 0.5 keV. However, we show that the missing very soft X-ray emission could be absorbed by the cold gas in the filaments with an integrated hydrogen column density of N{sub H} {approx} 1.6 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 21} cm{sup -2}, providing a natural explanation for the apparent temperature floor to the X-ray emission at kT {approx} 0.5 keV. The FIR through ultraviolet line emission is most likely primarily powered by the ICM particles penetrating the cold gas following a shearing induced mixing process. An additional source of energy may, in principle, be provided by X-ray photoionization from cooling X-ray emitting plasma. The relatively small line ratio of [O I]/[C II] <7.2 indicates a large optical depth in the FIR lines. The large optical depth in the FIR lines and the intrinsic absorption inferred from the X-ray and optical data imply significant reservoirs of cold atomic and molecular gas distributed in filaments with small volume filling fraction, but large area covering factor.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

CHALLENGING SOME CONTEMPORARY VIEWS OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS. II. THE CASE FOR ABSENT FILAMENTS

When a coronal mass ejection (CME) appears in a coronagraph it often exhibits three parts. This “classic” three-part configuration consists of a bright leading edge, a dark circular- or teardrop-shaped cavity, and a bright core within the cavity. It is generally accepted that these are manifestations of coronal plasma pileup, the driving magnetic flux rope, and the associated eruptive filament, respectively. The latter has become accepted by the community since coronagraph CMEs have been commonly associated with eruptive filaments for over 40 years. In this second part of our series challenging views on CMEs, we present the case that the inner core of the three-part coronagraph CME may not be, and in the most common cases is not, a filament. We present our case in the form of four exhibits showing that most of the CMEs in a broad survey are not associated with an eruptive filament at the Sun, and that the cores of those CMEs that are filament-associated do not geometrically resemble or consist of material from the associated filament. We conclude with a discussion on the possible causes of the bright CME core and what happens to the filament material postlaunch. We discuss how the CME core could arise spontaneously from the eruption of a flux rope from the Sun, or could be the result of a mathematical caustic produced by the geometric projection of a twisted flux rope.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Observation of stationary filaments with resonant magnetic perturbations in NSTX

The application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) induces striated heat fluxes on the divertor plate in tokamaks. These striated heat fluxes were previously considered strike point splitting by the intersection between the divertor and predicted magnetic lobe structures. Recently, the existence of stationary 3D filaments has been observed for the first time in National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) plasmas with toroidal mode number n = 3 RMPs. Magnetic field line tracing of these filaments from the midplane to the divertor is consistent with the quantity and the radial and toroidal location of striated heat fluxes observed on the divertor. This study suggests that divertor striated heat flux patterns are linked to these stationary filaments rather than to strike point splitting or magnetic lobe structures for NSTX. This finding will help guide future efforts to understand the heat flux striations in NSTX with RMPs in order to control and reduce the divertor peak heat flux.

RMPs↗
NASA NTRS1985

Simultaneous excitation of large-scale geomagnetic field fluctuations and plasma density irregularities by powerful radio waves

The physical mechanism of thermal filamentation instability of radio waves whose frequencies can be as low as in the VLF band and as high as in the SHF band are investigated. This instability can excite large-scale magnetic and plasma density fluctuations simultaneously in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Relevant experiments are reviewed in terms of this instability and other mechanisms.

Lee, M. C.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Relativistically transparent magnetic filaments: scaling laws, initial results and prospects for strong-field QED studies

Abstract Relativistic transparency enables volumetric laser interaction with overdense plasmas and direct laser acceleration of electrons to relativistic velocities. The dense electron current generates a magnetic filament with field strength of the order of the laser amplitude (>10 5 T). The magnetic filament traps the electrons radially, enabling efficient acceleration and conversion of laser energy into MeV photons by electron oscillations in the filament. The use of microstructured targets stabilizes the hosing instabilities associated with relativistically transparent interactions, resulting in robust and repeatable production of this phenomenon. Analytical scaling laws are derived to describe the radiated photon spectrum and energy from the magnetic filament phenomenon in terms of the laser intensity, focal radius, pulse duration, and the plasma density. These scaling laws are compared to 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, demonstrating agreement over two regimes of focal radius. Preliminary experiments to study this phenomenon at moderate intensity ( a 0 ∼ 30) were performed on the Texas Petawatt Laser. Experimental signatures of the magnetic filament phenomenon are observed in the electron and photon spectra recorded in a subset of these experiments that is consistent with the experimental design, analytical scaling and 3D PIC simulations. Implications for future experimental campaigns are discussed.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Influence of Penning effect on the plasma features in a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet

Non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is a cold plasma source that promises various innovative applications. The influence of Penning effect on the formation, propagation, and other physical properties of the plasma bullets in APPJ remains a debatable topic. By using a 10 cm wide active electrode and a frequency of applied voltage down to 0.5 Hz, the Penning effect caused by preceding discharges can be excluded. It was found that the Penning effect originating in a preceding discharge helps build a conductive channel in the gas flow and provide seed electrons, thus the discharge can be maintained at a low voltage which in turn leads to a smaller propagation speed for the plasma bullet. Photographs from an intensified charge coupled device reveal that the annular structure of the plasma plume for He is irrelevant to the Penning ionization process arising from preceding discharges. By adding NH{sub 3} into Ar to introduce Penning effect, the originally filamentous discharge of Ar can display a rather extensive plasma plume in ambient as He. These results are helpful for the understanding of the behaviors of non-equilibrium APPJs generated under distinct conditions and for the design of plasma jet features, especially the spatial distribution and propagation speed, which are essential for application.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2010

Blowout Jets: Hinode X-Ray Jets that Don't Fit the Standard Model

Nearly half of all H-alpha macrospicules in polar coronal holes appear to be miniature filament eruptions. This suggests that there is a large class of X-ray jets in which the jet-base magnetic arcade undergoes a blowout eruption as in a CME, instead of remaining static as in most solar X-ray jets, the standard jets that fit the model advocated by Shibata. Along with a cartoon depicting the standard model, we present a cartoon depicting the signatures expected of blowout jets in coronal X-ray images. From Hinode/XRT movies and STEREO/EUVI snapshots in polar coronal holes, we present examples of (1) X-ray jets that fit the standard model, and (2) X-ray jets that do not fit the standard model but do have features appropriate for blowout jets. These features are (1) a flare arcade inside the jet-base arcade in addition to the small flare arcade (bright point) outside that standard jets have, (2) a filament of cool (T is approximately 80,000K) plasma that erupts from the core of the jetbase arcade, and (3) an extra jet strand that should not be made by the reconnection for standard jets but could be made by reconnection between the ambient unipolar open field and the opposite-polarity leg of the filament-carrying flux-rope core field of the erupting jet-base arcade. We therefore infer that these non-standard jets are blowout jets, jets made by miniature versions of the sheared-core-arcade eruptions that make CMEs

Moore, Ronald L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Radial drift of plasma blobs in a toroidal magnetic field with fully kinetic and reduced fluid models

Abstract In curved magnetic geometries, field-aligned regions of enhanced plasma pressure and density, termed ‘blobs,’ move as coherent filaments across the magnetic field lines. Coherent blobs account for a significant fraction of transport at the edges of magnetic fusion experiments and arise in naturally-occurring space plasmas. This work examines the dynamics of blobs with a fully kinetic electromagnetic particle-in-cell code and with a drift-reduced fluid code. In low-beta regimes with moderate blob speeds, good agreement is found in the maximum blob velocity between the two simulation schemes and simple analytical estimates. The fully kinetic code demonstrates that blob speeds saturate near the initial sound speed, which is a regime outside the validity of the reduced fluid model.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Radial drift of plasma blobs in a toroidal magnetic field with fully kinetic and reduced fluid models

In curved magnetic geometries, field-aligned regions of enhanced plasma pressure and density, termed ‘blobs,’ move as coherent filaments across the magnetic field lines. Coherent blobs account for a significant fraction of transport at the edges of magnetic fusion experiments and arise in naturally-occurring space plasmas. This work examines the dynamics of blobs with a fully kinetic electromagnetic particle-in-cell code and with a drift-reduced fluid code. In low-beta regimes with moderate blob speeds, good agreement is found in the maximum blob velocity between the two simulation schemes and simple analytical estimates. The fully kinetic code demonstrates that blob speeds saturate near the initial sound speed, which is a regime outside the validity of the reduced fluid model.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Broadening of divertor heat flux profile with increasing number of ELM filaments in NSTX

Edge localized modes (ELMs) represent a challenge to future fusion devices, owing to cyclical high peak heat fluxes on divertor plasma facing surfaces. One ameliorating factor has been that the heat flux characteristic profile width has been observed to broaden with the size of the ELM, as compared with the inter-ELM heat flux profile. In contrast, the heat flux profile has been observed to narrow during ELMs under certain conditions in NSTX. In this paper, we show that the ELM heat flux profile width increases with the number of filamentary striations observed, i.e. profile narrowing is observed with zero or very few striations. Because NSTX often lies on the long wavelength current-driven mode side of ideal MHD instabilities, few filamentary structures can be expected under many conditions. Additionally, ITER is projected to lie on the current driven low-n stability boundary, and therefore detailed projections of the unstable modes expected in ITER and the heat flux driven in ensuing filamentary structures is needed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1994

Auroral plasma transport processes in the presence of kV potential structures

We have simulated plasma transport processes in the presence of a quasi-two-dimensional current filament, that generated kV potential structure in the auroral region. The simulation consists of a set of one-dimensional flux tube simulations with different imposed time-dependent, field-aligned currents. The model uses the 16 moment system of equations and simultaneously solves coupled continuity and momentum equations and equations describing the transport along the magnetic field lines of parallel and perpendicular thermal energy and heat flows for each species. The lower end of the simulation is at an altitude of 800 km, in the collisional topside ionosphere, while the upper end is at 10 R(sub E) in the magnetosphere. The plasma consists of hot electrons and protons of magnetospheric origin and low-energy electrons, protons, and oxygen ions of ionospheric origin. The dynamical interaction of the individual current filaments with ionospheric and magnetospheric plasma generates a potential structure in the horizontal direction and kilovolt field-aligned potential drops along the field lines. The side-by-side display exhibits the evolution of the implied potential structure in the horizontial direction. In the presence of this potential structure and parallel electric field ionospheric plasma density is depleted and velocity is reduced, while density enhancement and increased velocity is observed in magnetospheric plasma. The ionospheric and magnetospheric electron temperatures increase below 2 R(sub E) due to magnetic mirror force on converging geomagnetic field lines. The primary cross-field motion produced by the horizontal E field (E x B drift) is perpendicular to both of the significant spatial directions and is thus ignorable in this geometry. The effects of other cross-field drift processes are discussed. The simulation thus provides insight into the dynamical evolution of two-dimensional potential structures driven by an imposed finite width, field-aligned current profile.

Ganguli, Supriya B.↗