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Results for “SOLAR PLASMA”

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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Observations of the solar plasma using radio scattering and scintillation methods

Observations of the solar plasma using the interplanetary scintillation technique have been made at radial distances of 0.03 to 1.2 AU. The solar wind is found to be independent of ecliptic latitude and radial distance, except close to the sun where acceleration is observed. Plasma density irregularities on a scale near the proton gyro radius, which modulate the mean density by about 1 percent, are present throughout the observed range of radial distance.

Hewish, A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Magnetically confined plasma solar collector

The possibility of using a plasma medium for collecting solar energy in space is examined on the basis of a concept involving an orbiting magnetic bottle in which a solar-energy-absorbing plasma is confined. A basic system uses monatomic cesium as working fluid. Cesium evaporates from a source and flows into the useful volume of a magnetic bottle where it is photoionized by solar radiation. Ions and electrons lost through the loss cones are processed by a recovery system, which might be a combination of electromagnetic devices and heat engines. This study concentrates on the plasma production processes and size requirements, estimates of the magnetic field required to confine the plasma, and an estimate of the system parameters for a 10 GW solar collector using cesium.

Walters, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array. V - Temperature diagnostic response to the optically thin solar plasma

The compact soft X-ray/EUV/FUV multilayer coated telescopes developed for solar chromosphere, corona, and corona/solar-wind interface studies permit the use of conventional (Cassegrain, Herschelian, etc.) configurations. The multilayer coatings also allow a narrow-wavelength band to be selected for imaging. NASA's Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array is composed of 17 of these compact telescopes; attention is given to their ability to obtain temperature-diagnostic information concerning the solar plasma.

Deforest, Craig E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A new sounding rocket payload for solar plasma studies

A sounding rocket payload developed for studies of high-temperature plasmas associated with solar active regions and flares is described. The payload instruments will record both spectra and images in the UV, EUV, and soft X-ray regions of the spectrum. The instruments, including the Dual Range Spectrograph, the Flat Field Soft X-ray Spectrograph, the Normal Incidence Soft X-ray Imager, the UV Filtergraph, and the H-alpha Imaging system, are described. Attention is also given to the new structural system of the payload, based on a large optical table suspended within the payload cavity, which will support the optical elements in their correct positions and orientations and will maintain these alignments throughout the rocket launch environment.

Bruner, Marilyn E.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The N III and O IV intersystem multiplets as density indicators for solar plasmas

The usefulness of the relative intensities of lines within the N III intersystem multiplet near 1750 A as an electron density indicator for solar plasmas is discussed. Although the relative intensities of lines in the multiplet are density sensitive, the intensity ratios should at present be used with caution. Errors of the order of 20% in transition probabilities and excitation rate coefficients can lead to order of magnitude errors in density determinations. It is demonstrated that the intensity ratio of one of the N III intersystem lines and an allowed line from a different ion may also be used as a density indicator in the 10 to the 9th to 10 to the 11th per cu cm regime.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A solar plasma stream measured by DRVID and dual-frequency range and Doppler radio metric data

S- and X-band DRVID, S- and X-band dual-frequency range (SX(p)), and Doppler (SX(p)) measured a 15-fold increase in the line-of-sight electron content of the solar plasma above the normal plasma background. A general increase in the plasma electron content continued for nearly 50 hours: it started about 12:00 (GMT) on 12 March 1976 and continued to grow until 17:00 (GMT) on 14 March. For the next 55 hours, between 17:00 (GMT) on 14 March to 00:54 (GMT) on 17 March, the plasma level diminished as the background level was approached. Not only were the temporal changes and absolute level of the plasma content measured but the measurements were also used to ascertain the mean-plasma-concentration location: it was estimated to be 4.1 light minutes from earth.

Winn, F. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Interactions of surfaces with the solar plasma

The induced environment is the main source of contamination on a spacecraft. The contamination of surfaces by volatile condensable material (VCM) present on spacecraft is being studied by many investigators both in the laboratory and space. In addition to VCM, the space environment is also a contributing factor in the contamination of surfaces. The effects of the interaction of the solar plasma with surfaces is examined. Plasma particles impact at energies in the multi-kilovolt range and penetrate and become trapped in surfaces. Results show that protons can penetrate up to 600 monolayers into surfaces and reach saturation concentrations of 6%.

Mckeown, D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Radiating properties of solar plasmas

Using a series of 14 previously obtained empirical emission measure distributions and a number of spectral lines observed by the SMM and P78-1 instruments, the total power radiated by a hot plasma is compared to that radiated by individual spectrum lines. Results are presented for different choices of ionization balance and power loss functions. The results indicate that for some lines such as the C IV resonance doublet at 1548 A and 1550 A, the ratio of the line intensity to the total radiated power varied only over a factor of 2, suggesting that well-calibrated measurements of a single line intensity may provide a fairly good estimation of the total radiated power output from the solar plasma.

Bruner, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Pioneer Solar Plasma and Magnetic Field Measurements in Interplanetary Space During August 2-17, 1972

Solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements from Pioneers 9 and 10 during August 2-17, 1972, reveal complex and large-amplitude variations on a one-hour time scale and numerous discontinuities. During this time period an approximate radial alignment of the two spacecraft as seen from the Sun occurred with heliocentric distances of 0.8 AU for Pioneer 9 and 2.2 AU for Pioneer 10, both at 45 deg east of the Earth's solar longitude. The peak hourly average solar wind proton bulk velocity measured at Pioneer 9 was 990 km sec (exp -1) during hour 0 UT of August 5. The peak hourly average proton number density was 62 cm (exp -3) during hour 11 UT of August 3. The peak solar wind speeds are generally much reduced at Pioneer 10 compared with those observes at Pioneer 9. The peak 30 minute average magnetic field magnitude was 85 gamma during 1245 - 1315 UT of August 3. The Pioneer 9 data indicate passage of four fast forward interplanetary shocks, and one slow forward interplanetary shock.

Mihalov, J. D.↗