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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Radio-frequency wave interactions with a plasma sheath in oblique-angle magnetic fields using a sheath impedance model

Here, the physics of interactions between waves in plasmas and sheaths for background magnetic fields which make oblique angles with the sheath surfaces is studied with the use of the self-consistent finite element code rfSOL incorporating the recently developed sheath impedance model. The calculation based on this model employs the generalized sheath boundary condition (sheath BC), which surpasses the previously used capacitive sheath BC in reliability by taking into account the contributions of the ion and electron currents in the sheath as well as the displacement current. A series of numerical simulations is carried out in two-dimensional slab geometry with a flat or curved sheath surface as part of the boundary. It is shown that the sheath–plasma wave appears when the equilibrium magnetic field line angle with respect to the sheath surface is small, the absolute value of the radio-frequency (RF) sheath voltage is large, and the plasma density is slightly higher than the lower hybrid resonance density (LHR density), all of which bring the sheath property closer to being capacitive. It is also shown that the sharp variation of the magnetic field line angle along the sheath surface can sensitively affect the maximum absolute value of the RF sheath voltage at a plasma density slightly lower than the LHR density.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1978

VLF wave-wave interaction experiments in the magnetosphere

VLF wave-wave interaction experiments were carried out by injecting various forms of VLF pulses into the magnetosphere from a 21.2 km dipole antenna at Siple, Antarctica. The injected signals propagate along a geomagnetic field line and often interact strongly with energetic electrons trapped in the radiation belts near the equator. Signals may be amplified and trigger emissions. These signals may then interact with one another through these energetic electrons. This report is divided into three parts. In the first part, simulations of VLF pulses propagating in the magnetosphere are carried out. In the second part, it is found for the first time that a 10 ms gap in a triggering wave can induce emission, which may then interact with the post-gap signals. In the third part, sideband triggering is reported for the first time.

Chang, D. C. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Shock wave interaction with an abrupt area change

The wave patterns that occur when a shock wave interacts with an abrupt area changed are analyzed in terms of the incident shock wave Mach number and area-jump ratio. The solutions predicted by a semi-similar models are in good agreement with those obtained numerically from the quasi-one-dimensional time-dependent Euler equations. The entropy production for the wave system is defined and the principle of minimum entropy production is used to resolve a nonuniqueness problem of the self-similar model.

Salas, Manuel D.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A comparison between theory and experiments on non-linear three-wave interactions in plasmas

Quantitative comparisons between theory and experiments on non-linear three-wave interactions in a nearly homogeneous plasma are presented in this paper. First, the theoretical spatial behaviour of signal and idler waves excited by a large amplitude pump wave is predicted, with damping of all waves included. These results are then specialized to allow detailed quantitative comparisons to be made with available experimental data on parametrically excited ion-acoustic waves. Where good agreement is obtained, the comparison indicates further measurements required to verify more completely the basic theory of three-wave interactions in plasmas. Where wide disagreement is obtained, the comparison indicates possible directions in which the theory might be improved.

Peng, Y.-K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Non-linear wave interaction in a plasma column

Non-linear three-wave interaction is analysed for propagation along a cylindrical plasma column surrounded by an infinite dielectric, in the absence of a static magnetic field. An averaged-Lagrangian method is used, and the results are specialized to parametric interaction and mode conversion, assuming an undepleted pump wave. The theory for these two types of interactions is extended to include imperfect synchronism, and the effects of loss. Computations are presented indicating that parametric growth rates of the order of a fraction of a decibel per centimeter should be obtainable for plausible laboratory plasma column parameters.

Larsen, J.-M.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Middle Atmosphere Dynamics with Gravity Wave Interactions in the Numerical Spectral Model: Tides and Planetary Waves

As Lindzen (1981) had shown, small-scale gravity waves (GW) produce the observed reversals of the zonal-mean circulation and temperature variations in the upper mesosphere. The waves also play a major role in modulating and amplifying the diurnal tides (DT) (e.g., Waltersheid, 1981; Fritts and Vincent, 1987; Fritts, 1995a). We summarize here the modeling studies with the mechanistic numerical spectral model (NSM) with Doppler spread parameterization for GW (Hines, 1997a, b), which describes in the middle atmosphere: (a) migrating and non-migrating DT, (b) planetary waves (PW), and (c) global-scale inertio gravity waves. Numerical experiments are discussed that illuminate the influence of GW filtering and nonlinear interactions between DT, PW, and zonal mean variations. Keywords: Theoretical modeling, Middle atmosphere dynamics, Gravity wave interactions, Migrating and non-migrating tides, Planetary waves, Global-scale inertio gravity waves.

Mayr, Hans G.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Force-free Wave Interaction in Magnetar Magnetospheres: Computational Modeling in Axisymmetry

Abstract Crustal quakes of highly magnetized neutron stars can disrupt their magnetospheres, triggering energetic phenomena like X-ray and fast radio bursts. Understanding plasma wave dynamics in these extreme environments is vital for predicting energy transport across scales to the radiation length. This study models relativistic plasma wave interaction in magnetar magnetospheres with force-free electrodynamics simulations. For propagation along curved magnetic field lines, we observe the continuous conversion of Alfvén waves to fast magnetosonic (FMS) waves. The conversion efficiency can be up to three times higher when counter-propagating Alfvén waves interact in the equatorial region. Alfvén waves generate FMS waves of twice their frequency during their first crossing of the magnetosphere. After the initial transient burst of FMS waves, Alfvén waves convert to FMS waves periodically, generating variations on timescales of the magnetospheric Alfvén wave crossing time. This decaying FMS wave tail carries a significant portion (half) of the total energy emitted. Plastic damping of “bouncing” Alfvén waves by the magnetar crust has minimal impact on the FMS efficiency. We discuss the implications of the identified wave phenomena for magnetar observations. Outgoing FMS waves can develop electric zones, potential sources of coherent radiation. Long wavelength FMS waves could generate FRBs through reconnection beyond the light cylinder.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS1992

A weakly nonlinear theory based explanation for wave interactions in rotating channel flow

A weakly nonlinear wave-interaction theory is used to explain the decay of linearly unstable oblique waves in rotating channel flow at low Reynolds number. At the low Reynolds number studied, the waves tend to stabilize each other and therefore when no waves are preferentially excited, the linearly most unstable mode reaches a nonlinear amplitude first and causes the stabilization of all competing modes.

Singer, Bart A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Nonlinear wave interaction in a plasma column

Two particular cases of nonlinear wave interaction in a plasma column were investigated. The frequencies of the waves were on the order of magnitude of the electron plasma frequency, and ion motion was neglected. The nonlinear coupling of slow waves on a plasma column was studied by means of cold plasma theory, and the case of a plasma column surrounded by an infinite dielectric in the absence of a magnetic field was also examined. Nonlinear scattering from a plasma column in an electromagnetic field having it's magnetic field parallel to the axis of the column was investigated. Some experimental results on mode conversion in the presence of loss are presented along with some observations of nonlinear scattering, The effect of the earth's magnetic field and of discharge symmetry on the radiation pattern are discussed.

Larsen, J.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Phase Coupling in Langmuir Wave Packets: Evidence for Four Wave Interactions in Solar Type III Radio Bursts

The four wave interaction process, known as the oscillating two stream instability (OTSI) is considered as one of the mechanisms responsible for stabilizing the electron beams associated with solar type III radio bursts. It has been reported that (1) an intense localized Langmuir wave packet associated with a type III burst contains the spectral characteristics of the OTSI: (a) a resonant peak at the local electron plasma frequency, f(sub pe), (b) a Stokes peak at a frequency slightly lower than f(sub pe), (c) anti-Stokes peak at a frequency slightly higher than f(sub pe), and (d) a low frequency enhancement below a few hundred Hz, (2) the frequencies and wave numbers of these spectral components satisfy the resonance conditions of the OTSI, and (3) the peak intensity of the wave packet is well above the thresholds for the OTSI as well as spatial collapse of envelope solitons. Here, for the first time, applying the trispectral analysis on this wave packet, we show that the tricoherence, which measures the degree of coherent four-wave coupling amongst the observed spectral components exhibits a peak. This provides an additional evidence for the OTSI and related spatial collapse of Langmuir envelope solitons in type III burst sources.

Thejappa, G.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A finite-difference solution for unsteady wave interactions with an application to the expansion tube

An analytical study of the unsteady wave interaction of a shock wave overtaking a previously initiated shock tube flow has been conducted for a real gas by solving a finite-difference representation of the one-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. This analysis has been used to determine the effect on the available test time of opening the secondary diaphragm in the expansion-tube operating cycle prior to the arrival of the incident shock wave. Special emphasis is placed on determining expansion-tube test-time limitations resulting from a nonuniform entropy distribution occurring during the early test-gas flow due to the varying Mach number of the incident shock wave as it traverses the expansion fan caused by the preopening process. Time distributions of velocity, temperature, pressure, and entropy at various distances from the diaphragm are presented as a function of the time required to open the diaphragm.

Weilmuenster, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Numerical Simulation of Low-Density Shock-Wave Interactions

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations of low-density shock-wave interactions for an incident shock impinging on a cylinder have been performed. Flow-field density gradient and surface pressure and heating define the type of interference pattern and corresponding perturbations. The maximum pressure and heat transfer level and location for various interaction types (i.e., shock-wave incidence with respect to the cylinder) are presented. A time-accurate solution of the Type IV interference is employed to demonstrate the establishment and the steadiness of the low-density flow interaction.

Glass, Christopher E.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Wave-wave interactions due to scattering by electrons.

The kinetic wave equation which describes the nonlinear wave-particle interaction in a plasma is considered, and a method which uses the picture of quantized plasmons interacting with particles for the description of nonlinear wave-particle interactions is briefly described. In this method an assumption is made of the Markoffian character of the equation. It is shown that the Markoffian assumption can be justified at least for the case when the plasma is close to a stable stationary state. The diagram method developed by Nishikawa (1966) is used to derive an explicit expression for the kinetic equation. The application of the result to the case of interaction between an electron-wave and an ion-wave is discussed.

Nishikawa, K.↗