SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “electrostatic noise”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

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

At least 37 records · Page 2

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1987

The emissions of broadband electrostatic noise in the near vicinity of the Shuttle Orbiter

Measurements of the Space Shuttle environment from the STS-3 and Spacelab 2 missions indicate the presence of oblique ion streams and broadband electrostatic noise. A two-dimensional theoretical model is applied to study a possible causal relationship between the ion streams and the broadband noise, especially in terms of the ion acoustic wave and ion-ion wave modes. This model predicts the generation of waves with frequencies ranging from the ion cyclotron frequency up to values greater than the ion plasma frequency, with the maximum growth rate occurring in the 10-kHz range. These results are consistent with the observational data from the STS-3 mission. The model also shows that these two wave modes can coexist only when the wave vectors of the two wave modes are nearly perpendicular. The parametric dependence of the wave instabilities on the plasma parameters and the inclination of the wave propagation vector is also studied.

Hwang, K. S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Wave propagation effects of broadband electrostatic noise in the magnetotail

An analysis of the wave and particle data from ISEE 1 for 1978 yielded several examples of crossings between the lobe and the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL) which exhibited the signatures predicted by the theoretical analysis of the generation of broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) by ion beam instabilities. These signatures are a gradual rise in the upper frequency of BEN as the spacecraft approaches the plasma boundary layer, and a very rapid rise in the upper frequency near the crossing into the PSBL from the lobe. Several examples of crossings are presented that exhibit both signatures, as well as a case of crossings in which the gradual frequency rise signature is absent but the rapid rise is present. This case exhibits a BEN in the range expected for the low-frequency ion-ion two-stream and the high-frequency Buneman instability.

Grabbe, Crockett↗

NASA NTRS1987

An analysis of the shocklike electrostatic noise observed during AMPTE solar wind ion releases

Electrostatic waves produced by the interaction of the ion cloud with the solar wind are analyzed in order to explain the shocklike noise detected by the Ion Release Module instruments during the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers solar wind ion releases. The results indicate that the shocklike noise can be generated by two instabilities, an ion-electron instability that occurs for waves propagating parallel to the solar wind velocity and an ion-ion instability that occurs for waves propagating at a large angle to the solar wind direction. Both instabilities give high growth rates for both the lithium and barium releases. The calculated results agree with the observed ones in all main features. In the earlier stage of the ion cloud expansion, both instabilities are likely to occur, while in the later stage the ion-ion instability is more likely to occur.

Ma, T. Z.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Broadband electrostatic noise and field-aligned currents in Jupiter's middle magnetosphere

Voyager 1 plasma wave observations have revealed the presence of an impulsive electrostatic emission localized to the Jovian middle magnetosphere that appears on the edges of the plasma sheet. This plasma mode has the same spectral and morphological characteristics of an emission that has been extensively studied in the earth's magnetosphere and has been associated with the presence of field-aligned currents. The results of a detailed study of the properties of this Jovian emission are presented by using comparisons with terrestrial observations as a basis for mode identification. The occurrence regions of the waves are compared with the measured magnetic field configuration to establish a correspondence with the plasma sheet. It is argued that this is a quasi-permanent global system of field-aligned currents linking the ionosphere of Jupiter to the middle magnetosphere, which powers energetic plasma heating processes occurring there. On the basis of knowledge of the consequences of field-aligned currents in the terrestrial magnetosphere, a scenario for acceleration/precipitation of inverted V electrons, concomitant aurorae, and energetic (approximately 10 keV) proton deposition into the middle magnetosphere resulting from field-aligned potential drops associated with this current system is suggested.

Barbosa, D. D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Electrostatic noise bands associated with the electron gyrofrequency and plasma frequency in the outer magnetosphere

Naturally occurring noise bands near the electron plasma frequency are frequently detected by the University of Iowa plasma wave experiment on the Imp 6 satellite in the region from just inside the plasmapause to radial distances of about 10 earth radii in the outer magnetosphere. The electric field strength of these noise bands is usually small with typical broad band electric field strengths of about 2 microvolts per m. A magnetic field has been detected only in a few unusually intense cases, and in these cases the magnetic field energy density is several orders of magnitude smaller than the electric field energy density. The bands are observed at all magnetic latitudes covered by the Imp 6 orbit and appear to be a permanent feature of the outer magnetosphere. They are found at all local times and occur least frequently in the quadrant from 18 to 24 hours. The bands appear to consist of two distinct spectral types called diffuse and narrow band. In both types the center frequency of the noise band is bounded by consecutive harmonics of the electron gyrofrequency, and these noise bands occur most often between harmonics that are near the local electron plasma frequency.

Shaw, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1980

The low-frequency continuum as observed in the solar wind from ISEE 3 - Thermal electrostatic noise

The low frequency continuum (LFC) noise between 30 and 200 kHz has been investigated from the ISEE 3 spacecraft in the solar wind by means of a radio astronomy experiment more sensitive than previously available. It is demonstrated that the LFC radiation observed in the solar wind is in the form of longitudinal plasma waves rather than transverse electromagnetic waves. The observed spectral characteristics are found to be a function of antenna length. In addition, both the absence of antenna spin modulation and the fact that these plasma waves do not propagate to large distances imply a local origin for the LFC.

Hoang, S.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Interpretation of electrostatic noise observed by Voyager 1 in Titan's wake

During the Voyager 1 spacecraft flyby of Titan on November 12, 1980, an intense broadband low frequency electric field noise was observed in the inbound wake. This so-called sheath noise is believed to be generated by an ion beam-plasma interaction between the ions in the corotational Saturnian magnetospheric plasma and nearly stationary plasma created by the ionization of Titan's atmosphere. The analysis is based on the information from Voyager 1 and reasonable assumptions. The results agree quite well with the observation. The analysis shows that the instability only occurs where the density of the corotational ions is comparable to the density of ions originating from Titan's atmosphere. The growth rate is high enough to generate the observed noise, and the calculated and observed frequency ranges are in good agreement.

Ma, T. Z.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Electrostatic Noise in the Plasma Environment Around the Shuttle

The Langmuir probe flown as part of the Solar Array Module Plasma Interactions Experiment (SAMPIE) package aboard the space shuttle flight STS-62 was used to determine plasma potential fluctuations in the vicinity of the shuttle. The broadband noise was observed at frequencies 250 - 20,000 Hz. Measurements were performed in ram conditions; thus, it seems reasonable to believe that the influence of spacecraft operations on plasma parameters was absolutely negligible. The average spectrum of fluctuations is in agreement with theoretical predictions. The influence on the observed spectra of arcing generated by high negative bias voltages applied to solar cell samples is briefly discussed.

Vayner, Boris V.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Field-aligned currents, convection electric fields, and ULF-ELF waves in the cusp

Nearly simultaneous observations from the Triad and Hawkeye satellites over the Southern Hemisphere, at low altitudes near the noon meridian and close to the usual polar cusp latitudes, show that in and near the polar cusp there exist several relationships between field-aligned currents (FACs), convection electric fields, ULF-ELF magnetic noise, broadband electrostatic noise and interplanetary magnetic fields. The most important findings are (1) the FACs directed into the ionosphere in the noon-to-dusk local time sector and directed away from the ionosphere in the noon-to-dawn local time sector and identified as region-1 permanent FACs (Iijima and Potemra, 1976a) and are located equatorward of the regions of antisunward (westward) convection; (2) the observations are consistent with a two-cell convection pattern symmetric in one case (throat positioned at noon) and asymmetric in another (throat located in a sector on the forenoon side in juxtaposition to the region of strong convection on the afternoon side); and (3) fine-structure FACs are responsible for the generation of ULF-ELF noise in the polar cusp.

Saflekos, N. A.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Average electric wave spectra across the plasma sheet and their relation to ion bulk speed

Using 4 months of tail data obtained by the ELF/MF spectrum analyzer of the wave experiment and the three-dimensional plasma instrument on board the AMPTE/IRM satellite, a statistical survey on the electric wave spectral density in the earth's plasma sheet has been conducted. More than 50,000 10-s-averaged electric wave spectra were analyzed with respect to differences between their values in the inner and outer central plasma sheet and the plasma sheet boundary layer as well as their dependence on radial distance and ion bulk speed. High-speed flows are dominated by broadband electrostatic noise with highest spectral densities in the plasma sheet boundary, where broadband electrostatic noise also exists during periods of low-speed flows. The broadband electrostatic noise has a typical spectral index of about -2. During low-speed flows the spectra in the central plasma sheet show distinct emissions at the electron cyclotron odd half-harmonic and upper hybrid frequency. Wave intensities during episodes of fast perpendicular flows are higher than those associated with fast parallel flows.

Baumjohann, W.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Effects of chemical releases by the STS-3 Orbiter on the ionosphere

The Plasma Diagnostics Package, flown aboard STS-3 as part of the first Shuttle payload (OSS-1), recorded the effects of various chemical releases from the Orbiter. Changes in the plasma environment was observed during flash evaporator system releases, water dumps and maneuvering thruster operations. During flash evaporator operations, broadband Orbiter-generated electrostatic noise was enhanced and plasma density irregularities were observed to increase by 3 to 30 times with a spectrum which rose steeply and peaked below 6 Hz. In the case of water dumps, background electrostatic noise was enhanced at frequencies below about 3 kHz and suppressed at frequencies above 2 kHz. Thruster activity also stimulated electrostatic noise with a spectrum which peaked at approximately 0.5 kHz. In addition, ions with energies up to 1 keV were seen during some thruster events.

Pickett, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Effects of chemical releases by the STS 3 orbiter on the ionosphere

Pickett, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Auroral plasma waves

A review is given of auroral plasma wave phenomena, starting with the earliest ground-based observations and ending with the most recent satellite observations. Two types of waves are considered, electromagnetic and electrostatic. Electromagnetic waves include auroral kilometric radiation, auroral hiss, ELF noise bands, and low-frequency electric and magnetic noise. Electrostatic waves include upper hybrid resonance emissions, electron cyclotron waves, lower hybrid waves, ion cyclotron waves and broadband electrostatic noise. In each case, a brief overview is given describing the observations, the origin of the instability, and the role of the waves in the physics of the auroral acceleration region.

Gurnett, Donald A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Macroscopic electric charge separation during hypervelocity impacts: Potential implications for planetary paleomagnetism

The production of transient magnetic fields by hypervelocity meteoroid impact has been proposed to possibly explain the presence of paleomagnetic fields in certain lunar samples as well as across broader areas of the lunar surface. In an effort to understand the lunar magnetic record, continued experiments at the NASA Ames Vertical Gun Range allow characterizing magnetic fields produced by the 5 km/s impacts of 0.32-0.64 cm projectiles over a broad range of impact angles and projectile/target compositions. From such studies, another phenomenon has emerged, macroscopic electric charge separation, that may have importance for the magnetic state of solid-body surfaces. This phenomenon was observed during explosive cratering experiments, but the magnetic consequences of macroscopic electric charge separation (as opposed to plasma production) during explosion and impact cratering have not, to our knowledge, been explored before now. It is straightforward to show that magnetic field production due to this process may scale as a weakly increasing function of impactor kinetic energy, although more work is needed to precisely assess the scaling dependence. The original intent of our experiments was to assess the character of purely electrostatic signals for comparison with inferred electrostatic noise signals acquired by shielded magnetic sensors buried within particulate dolomite targets. The results demonstrated that electrostatic noise does affect the magnetic sensors but only at relatively short distances (less than 4 cm) from the impact point (our magnetic studies are generally performed at distances greater than approximately 5.5 cm). However, to assess models for magnetic field generation during impact, measurements are needed of the magnetic field as close to the impact point as possible; hence, work with an improved magnetic sensor design is in progress. In this paper, we focus on electric charge separation during hypervelocity impacts as a potential transient magnetic field production mechanism in its own right.

Crawford, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Interpretation of STS-3/plasma diagnostics package results in terms of large space structure plasma interactions

The Plasma Diagnostics Package, which was flown aboard STS-3 recorded various chemical releases from the Orbiter. Changes in the plasma environment were observed to occur during Flash Evaporator System (FES) releases, water dumps and maneuvering thruster operations. During flash evaporator operations, broadband Orbiter-generated electro-static noise is enhanced and plasma density irregularity (delta n/N) is observed to increase by as much as 4 times and is strongly peaked below 6 Hz. In the case of water dumps, background electrostatic noise is enhanced or suppressed depending on frequency and Delta N/N is also seen to increase by as much as 4 times. Various changes in the plasma environment are effected by primary and vernier thruster operations. In addition, thruster activity stimulates electrostatic noise with a spectrum which is most intense at frequencies below 10 kHz.

Kurth, W. S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Cold plasma heating in the plasma sheet boundary layer - Theory and simulations

Satellite observations in recent years have confirmed that the plasma sheet boundary layer is a permanent feature of the earth's magnetotail located between the lobe and central plasma sheet during both quiet and active magnetic periods. Distinct features of the boundary layer include field aligned ion beams and intense electrostatic emissions known as broadband electrostatic noise. Since the plasma sheet boundary layer is a spatial feature of the magnetotail, within it will occur thermal mixing of the resident warm boundary layer plasma with inflowing (convecting) cold ionospheric plasma. A theoretical study involving linear theory and nonlinear numerical particle simulations is presented which examines ion beam instabilities in the presence of a thermally mixed hot and cold background plasma. It is found that the free energy in the ion beams can heat the cool ionospheric plasma to ambient plasma sheet boundary layer temperatures via broadband electrostatic noise. These results, along with recent observational reports that ionospheric outflow can account for measured plasma sheet densities, suggest that the ionospheric role in plasma sheet dynamics and content may be as large as the solar wind.

Schriver, David↗

NASA NTRS1987

Generation of broadband noise in the magnetotail

The generation of electrostatic noise in the geomagnetic tail by ion beams is evaluated, assuming a stationary plasma-sheet electron distribution and streaming-ion distributions. Both warm ion streams, as observed within the plasma-sheet boundary layer, and cold ion streams, as expected from upward flowing ionospheric ions, are considered. Warm ion streams by themselves are found to be stable, whereas a cold ion stream by itself is unstable to the beam acoustic mode. However, wave growth is increased if both cold and warm streams are simultaneously present. These results suggest that the interaction between the warm and cold ion streams is responsible for the peak in electrostatic-wave intensities observed within the plasma-sheet boundary layer. For cold and warm ions streaming in the same direction, wave-growth peaks are found for wave normal angles theta = 0 deg and wave frequencies about 0.1 times the electron plasma frequency. However, for antiparallel streaming cold and warm ions, wave growth peaks near theta = 90 deg and wave frequencies are an order of magnitude smaller.

Dusenbery, P. B.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Plasma waves and instabilities

An account is given of the waves and instabilities occurring at collisionless shocks, with attention to the mechanisms responsible for the generation of these waves. The transition region of the shock usually involves an abrupt broadband burst of electrostatic noise that extends from below the lower hybrid resonance to near the electron plasma frequency, and by a broadband burst of whistler mode EM noise below the electron cyclotron frequency. Electrostatic lower hybrid waves are also noted. Upstream of the shock, electron plasma oscillations, ion acoustic waves, and intense ULF MHD waves are often observed. The region downstream of the shock is usually very chaotic; electrostatic waves often extend long distances into the downstream region, together with whistler mode emissions.

Gurnett, Donald A.↗