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At least 37 records · Page 2

Attenuation of Solar Energetic Particles By Wave-Particle Interaction With an Ion Thruster Plume

Solar energetic particles (SEP) are a significant concern for interplanetary human spaceflight. This work investigates wave-particle interactions caused by the incidence of a beam of energetic protons, representing a notional SEP event, onto a cloud of xenon ions, representing a notional ion thruster plume. The resulting electromagnetic ion/ion instability is developed to investigate the degree to which energetic protons can be scattered out of the initial beam.

space weather

Gas-Particle Interaction Model Development in Plume Surface Interaction Erosion and Cratering

As part of the Game Changing Development (GCD) Program, funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), the development of simulation capability for the prediction of extra-terrestrial Plume Surface Interaction (PSI) environments has been undertaken by the Fluid Dynamics Branch at NASA/MSFC. The GCD PSI Project, planned to be completed over a four year period, contains a Predictive Simulation Capability (PSC) Element focused on creating simulation capability for the reliable and accurate prediction of PSI in Martian (~650 Pa) and Lunar (vacuum) ambient environments. In addition to the PSC Element, the GCD Program also contains a companion Ground Testing Element for development of focused datasets for validation of predictive capability as well as a Flight-focused Instrumentation Element. This paper describes the activities and accomplishments of the past year in the gas-particle interaction modeling portion of the GCD PSI project. The objectives of this task are to investigate and construct models of particle drag and gas-particle cloud interactions leading to what is known as particle turbulent kinetic energy (PTKE). While drag on a lone particle suspended in a flow gas of gas is well-known, the drag and drag-induced dynamics of a cloud of particles in a gas flow are not. The PSC element of the PSI project requires models of gas-particle cloud interactions to implement in the Gas Granular Flow Solver (GGFS) in order to arrive at a predictive simulation capability for PSI-induced soil erosion, cratering and ejecta transport. Experiments of dilute mixtures of soil particles in supersonic gas flow are being conducted at Johns Hopkins University in order to provide a dataset describing gas-particle cloud interactions. Augmented by a separate funding source are efforts to perform small-scale particle-resolved direct numerical simulations (PR-DNS) and larger scale Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations. Together, these experiments and simulations are being used to devise models of particle cloud drag and particle cloud drag-induced dynamics. The final product of these efforts will be particle drag models suitable for implementation into the GGFS application and a PTKE model suitable for the same purpose.

Jeff West

Accurately Characterizing the Importance of Wave-Particle Interactions in Radiation Belt Dynamics: The Pitfalls of Statistical Wave Representations

Wave-particle interactions play a crucial role in energetic particle dynamics in the Earths radiation belts. However, the relative importance of different wave modes in these dynamics is poorly understood. Typically, this is assessed during geomagnetic storms using statistically averaged empirical wave models as a function of geomagnetic activity in advanced radiation belt simulations. However, statistical averages poorly characterize extreme events such as geomagnetic storms in that storm-time ultralow frequency wave power is typically larger than that derived over a solar cycle and Kp is a poor proxy for storm-time wave power.

Murphy, Kyle R.

Wave-particle interactions for relativistic electrons in a recirculation acceleration model

Evidence is presented for the presence of a multistep process, leading to relativistic electron populations, in the magnetospheres of earth and Jupiter. After an initial injection of a spectrally soft electron component in the outer magnetosphere, inward radial diffusion acts to accelerate the electrons perpendicular to the local magnetic field; strong wave-particle interactions deep in the magnetosphere is of primary significance in the pitch-angle scattering of electrons, thereby lowering their mirror points. An additional model element of critical significance, again involving wave-particle interactions, is energy-preserving outward transport near the mirror points where the field strength is large and trans-L distances are small.

Baker, D. N.

Nuclear gamma-rays from energetic particle interactions

Gamma-ray line emission due to nuclear deexcitation following energetic particle interactions with abundant constituents of cosmic matter is studied. Reactions induced by energetic protons and alpha particles in ambient nuclei (He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, and Fe) are considered, along with inverse reactions in which energetic nuclei interact with ambient H and He. Line-production cross sections are evaluated by analyzing a large body of laboratory nuclear data. Both prompt gamma rays, produced by direct excitation of nuclear levels and by spallation reactions that leave the secondary nucleus in an excited state, and delayed emission from long-lived radioactive nuclei also produced in the energetic particle reactions are investigated. A line list is provided, and the shapes of the gamma-ray lines are determined. Gamma-ray line production in the interstellar medium is evaluated in detail.

Ramaty, R.

Gas-Particle Interactions in a Microgravity Flow Cell

We are developing a microgravity flow cell in which to study the interaction of a flowing gas with relatively massive particles that collide with each other and with the moving boundaries of the cell. The absence of gravity makes possible the independent control of the relative motion of the boundaries and the flow of the gas. The cell will permit gas-particle interactions to be studied over the entire range of flow conditions over which the mixture is not turbulent. Within this range, we shall characterize the viscous dissipation of the energy of the particle fluctuations, measure the influence of particle-phase viscosity on the pressure drop along the cell, and observe the development of localized inhomogeneities that are likely to be associated with the onset of clusters. These measurements and observations should contribute to an understanding of the essential physics of pneumatic transport.

Louge, Michel

Magnetospheric dynamics and wave-particle interactions

It has been demonstrated that two general classes of wave-particle interactions are of great importance for magnetospheric dynamics. Electromagnetic and electrostatic plasma instabilities give rise to relatively narrow-banded spontaneous emissions (e.g., ELF hiss, chorus, three-halves noise, ion cyclotron and ion-plasma-frequency turbulence) that can scatter trapped particles into the loss cone, leading to modified pitch-angle distributions, stable trapping limits, diffuse aurora, proton precipitation events, etc. The current-driven plasma instabilities give rise to impulsive ion acoustic or Buneman mode turbulence that provides very effective energy transfer (via the anomalous conductivity mechanism) at the bow shock and in regions where strong field-aligned currents are observed. We review these interactions and identify significant open questions that must be investigated during the IMS.

Scarf, F. L.

Wave-particle interaction phenomena associated with shocks in the solar wind

Microscopic wave-particle interaction phenomena must generally affect the evolution of a traveling interplanetary discontinuity such as a collisionless shock, and solar wind plasma instabilities should also be associated with interplanetary acceleration, diffusion, and dissipation. Recent local measurements from diagnostics on widely separated spacecraft illustrate some examples of these interaction phenomena, and two bounding cases are considered in detail here. It is shown that the interplanetary shock of September 14, 1974 (detected on IMP-7, 8, Hawkeye-1, and Pioneer 11) was associated with intense local electrostatic noise and ion acceleration, while the shock of January 6, 1975 (detected on IMP-7 and Helios-1) had no detectable electrostatic turbulence.

Scarf, F. L.

Magnetospheric plasma - Sources, wave-particle interactions and acceleration mechanisms.

Some of the basic problems associated with magnetospheric physics are reviewed. The sources of magnetospheric plasma, with auroral particles included as a subset, are discussed. The possible ways in which the solar wind plasma can gain access to the magnetosphere are outlined. Some important consequences of wave-particle interactions are examined. Finally, the basic mechanisms which energize or accelerate particles by reconnection and convection are explained.

Speiser, T. W.

Particle interactions with obliquely propagating magnetosonic waves

Four cases of nonlinear obliquely propagating magnetosonic (MS) waves are considered using a test particle approach for particles interaction with (1) monochromatic waves propagating both sunward and antisunward, (2) monochromatic waves propagating unidirectionally toward the Sun, (3) a broad band spectrum, propagating both sunward and antisunward, and (4) a broadband spectrum, propagating sunward only. As the solar wind decelerates rapidly inside the bow shock, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) increases. Calculations have been performed taking into account such a spatially dependent IMF (based on observations). We find that significant particle acceleration is achieved for both the monochromatic wave and the 'turbulent' MS waves, for oblique propagation (angles between the interplanetary magnetic field and the propagation vector larger than 30 deg). This is due to the fact that at oblique angles resonance width increases. We have compared the relative acceleration of particles for the four cases. Pitch angle scattering and acceleration of particles are found to be much larger in the case of sunward and antisunward propagating waves than those for the sunward waves only. This is due to larger relative phase velocities in the two cases. Also, acceleration of particles is less in the case of a uniform magnetic field than that in the case of spatially increasing magnetic field. The particles get more pitch angle scattered and accelerated in the latter case.

Srivastava, Krishna M.

Wave-particle interactions induced by SEPAC on Spacelab 1 Wave observations

Space experiments with particle accelerators (SEPAC) flew on Spacelab 1 in November and December 1983. SEPAC included an accelerator which emitted electrons into the ionospheric plasma with energies up to 5 keV and currents up to 300 mA. The SEPAC equipment also included an energetic plasma generator, a neutral gas generator, and an extensive array of diagnostics. The diagnostics included plasma wave detectors, and energetic electron analyzer, a photometer, a high sensitivity television camera, a Langmuir probe and a pressure gage. Twenty-eight experiments were performed during the mission to investigate beam-plasma interactions, electron beam dynamics, plasma beam propagation, and vehicle charging. The wave-particle interactions were monitored by the plasma wave instrumentation, by the energetic electron detector and by the optical detectors. All show evidence of wave-particle interactions, which are described in this paper.

Taylor, W. W. L.

The effect of wave-particle interactions on the polar wind: Preliminary results

A Monte Carlo simulation was developed in order to study the effects of wave-particle interactions (WPI) on the plasma outflow in the polar wind. The simulation also considered the other mechanisms included in the `classical' polar wind studies such as gravity, the polarization electrostatic field, and the divergence of geomagnetic field lines. Although the plasma consisted of electrons, H(+) and O(+) ions, we emphasized the behavior of H(+) in this preliminary study. The ion distribution function, as well as the profiles of its moments (density, drift velocity, temperatures, etc.) were found for different levels of WPI, that is, for different values of normalized diffusion rates in the velocity space (normalized D(sub perpendicular) H(+)). We found that as the WPI strength increases: (1) the ion drift velocity increases and its density decreases; (2) the perpendicular temperature T(sub perpendicular) (H(+)) increases; (3) the parallel temperature T(sub parallel) (H(+)) first decreases and then increases due to the balance between the parallel adiabatic cooling and the transfer of the energy from the perpendicular to the parallel direction; and (4) the temperature anisotropy ((T(sub parallel) (H(+))/T(sub perpendicular) (H(+)) is reduced and even reversed in some cases. For strong WPI (normalized D(sub perpendicular) (H(+) much greater than 1), the ion distribution function shows weak conic features at high altitudes.

Barakat, A. R.

Particle Interaction Physics Model Formulation for Plume-Surface Interaction Erosion and Cratering

As part of the Game Changing Development (GCD) Program, funded by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), the development of simulation capability for the prediction of extra-terrestrial Plume Surface Interaction (PSI) environments has been undertaken by the Fluid Dynamics Branch at NASA/MSFC. The Predictive Simulation Capability (PSC) Element is focused on creating simulation capability for the reliable and accurate prediction of PSI in Martian (~650 Pa) and Lunar (vacuum) ambient environments. In addition to the predictive simulation capability, the GCD Program also contains a companion Ground Testing Element for development of focused datasets for validation of predictive capability as well as a Flight-focused Instrumentation Element. This paper will present the status of implementing and maturing particle-particle interaction constituent physics models essential in simulating the landing surface granular material flow under PSI effects. This gas-particle multi-phase interaction modeling of plume impingement flow on the extra-terrestrial soil material is performed with the Gas-Granular Flow Solver (GGFS) addressed in a companion paper. The response of regolith particle flow induced by lander PSI requires accurate representation of the regolith granular material fluidic behavior and gas-granular interactions. The lunar regolith, as the extreme example, is poorly sorted with broad particle size distributions and large fines content. It has significant cohesion, due to interlocking particle shapes for the very jagged particles. The combination of particle shape and size distribution has been identified as major drivers in the complex particle flow response and resulting crater shape characteristics of extraterrestrial granular material. Constituent models for spherical particles can be formulated directly from particle kinetics theory. Complex particle shapes can be modeled by gluing together elemental spherical shapes into composite particles, requiring a Discrete Element Model (DEM) particle kinetics modeling approach to extract data and formulate constituent models. Mixture constituent models for poly-disperse mixtures (i.e, containing distribution of particle sizes) have recently been developed. The required non-spherical particle mixture granular material response closure models are then obtained through small-scale unit physics DEM simulations for the range of particle shapes, mixtures and packing densities. The granular material response closure models are then implemented in the Eulerian granular flow formulation. This DEM-based constituent model extraction process and formulation of poly-disperse particle mixtures has been successfully developed by small business and academic partners in the development of the Gas-Granular Flow Solver (GGFS) simulation program simulation framework. The currently implemented capabilities have reached the capability level of modeling bi-disperse, non-spherical particle mixtures is being continuously extended towards computational modeling of full range irregular particle mixtures. Under the GCD project, this technology is being further developed, transferred to NASA analysts, and matured towards application readiness. The predictive simulation capability team under the GCD project has acquired the modeling tools and processes of the DEM based constituent model formulation from the GGFS development team and is developing the capability to replicate the existing process. This is the first important step towards the ability of the NASA team to independently perform such model development in a production setting. Further efforts are underway to migrate the DEM based model simulation process performed with the academic based tools to more capable Open Source, highly parallelized simulation tools for efficient operation on NASA HPC assets. Evaluation of the currently implemented (such as mono-disperse and bi-disperse spherical and irregular shape particle constituent model applications) and continuously evolving full-range particle physics models in the GGFS tool is performed by the NASA team to advance application readiness of the simulations. Application testing for complex PSI erosions and cratering scenarios such as the Apollo LM is performed for axi-symmetric and full 3D simulations to aid the tool developers in achieving practical application readiness for NASA projects. Important validation and application testing will further be performed against experimental data generated under the GCD PSI project experimental component.

Peter A Liever