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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Harmonically structured ULF pulsations observed by the AMPTE CCE magnetic field experiment

Spectrograms of ULF waves in the 0 to 80 mHz frequency range have been prepared from magnetic field data obtained by the elliptically orbiting AMPTE/CCE satellite (with an apogee of approximately 8.8 earth radii). The most prominent feature of these spectrograms (which cover a full 15.6-h orbit) is the presence of harmonically structured, azimuthally polarized pulsations in the outer magnetosphere during daytime hours. The frequencies of these pulsations decrease with increasing radial distance from the earth, indicating that they represent independent resonances of local magnetic flux tubes. The latitudinal structure of these harmonic pulsations, observed as AMPTE/CCE traveled to + or - 16 deg magnetic latitude, is consistent with accepted field line resonance models.

Engebretson, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Properties of ultra low frequency upstream waves at Venus and Saturn: A comparison

The upstream regions of all planets, except Pluto, have been investigated, using in situ spacecraft measurements and a variety of analysis techniques. The detailed studies at Earth indicate that these waves are generated locally in the magnetically connected solar wind by the interaction with ions backstreaming from the shock. However, since the properties of the solar wind vary with heliocentric distance and since properties of planetary shocks depend on plasma beta, interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) spiral angle and Mach number, the amount of heating, acceleration efficiencies, etc. significantly change with heliocentric distance. In turn the waves seen at each planet propagate not in the same but different (physical) propagation modes. In this paper we compare the ULF wave observations at an outer and an inner planet. We use the results of the ratio, quantites easily derivable with sufficient accuracy at each planet. We use the full electromagnetic dispersion relation for comparison with theoretical predictions.

Orlowski, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

ULF waves at comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner - Comparison with simulations

A comparison is made between observations and numerical simulations of magnetic fluctuations near the proton and water group ion cyclotron frequencies as a function of distance from the comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner. The amplitude of waves due to different cyclotron resonant instabilities is monitored by examining the amplitude of waves near the gyrofrequency of the respective ions, measured in by the ICE spacecraft. The results are compared with a one-dimensional electromagnetic hybrid simulation of two-ion pickup based on the predictions of Gary et al. (1989). The observations are consistent with the prediction that amplitudes are dependent on the properties of the injected beams and the local injection rate.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Multisatellite and ground-based observations of transient ULF waves

Transient ULF pulsations associated with variations in solar wind plasma density observed by the IMP 8 satellite are presently studied in light of observations obtained during a fortuitous alignment of the AMPTE and Viking satellites with respect to the EISCAT Magnetometer Cross. It is found that the isolated 10-min oscillation in solar wind plasma density produced magnetic field compression oscillations within the magnetosphere at the same frequency, thereby enhancing resonant oscillations at approximately twice the frequency which were already present. Support is seen for the periodic solar wind density variation's exciting of a tailward-traveling large-scale magnetosphere wave train which excites local field line resonant oscillations.

Potemra, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Ion flux oscillations associated with a radially polarized transverse Pc 5 magnetic pulsation

The AMPTE CCE spacecraft observed a transverse Pc 5 magnetic pulsation (period of about 200 s) at 2155-2310 UT on November 20, 1985, at a radial distance of 5.7 - 7.0 earth radii, at a magnetic latitude of 1.2 - 19 deg, and near 1300 magnetic local time. The magnetic pulsation exhibits properties consistent with a standing Alfven wave with a second-harmonic standing structure along the ambient magnetic field. The amplitude and the phase of the flux pulsation are found to be a function of the particle detector look direction and the particle energy. The observed energy dependence of the shift is interpreted as the result of a drift-bounce resonance of the ions with the wave. From this interpretation it follows that the wave propagated westward with an azimuthal wave number of approximately 100. Thus the study demonstrates that particle data can be useful for determining the spatial structure of some types of ULF waves.

Takahashi, K.↗
NASA NTRS1989

ULF waves at Comets Halley and Giacobini-Zinner - Comparison with theory

Because the Doppler shift occurring in ion-cyclotron resonance is equal and opposite to that associated with the flow of the solar wind plasma past the observer, one should be able to monitor the amplitude of waves due to the cyclotron resonant instability by examining the amplitude of waves near the gyrofrequency of the respective ions as measured in the spacecraft frame. This expectation has been checked by using one-dimensional electromagnetic hybrid simulations of two ion pickup. This simplifies the comparison of theoretical predictions of wave growth with the observations. Distant from both comets the wave amplitudes are very weak. As the comet is approached the wave amplitude grows. These observations agree qualitatively with the simulations which predict amplitudes that depend on the properties of the injected beams and the local injection rate.

Le, G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verifying Ray Tracing Amplitude Methods for Global Magnetospheric Modeling

Abstract Ray tracing is a commonly used method for modeling the propagation of electromagnetic waves in Earth's magnetosphere. To apply ray tracing results to global models of wave‐particle interaction such as energetic electron scattering, it is useful to map the discrete rays to a volume filling mesh. However, some methods have inherent losses of energy from the wave source, or do not account for the full range of wave properties within a sample volume. We have developed and tested a 3D magnetospheric ray tracing code “MESHRAY” which resolves these issues. MESHRAY uses the conservation of Poynting flux through ray triplets with finite volume to determine the local field amplitudes. Electromagnetic wave energy density from all ray data points is mapped to a mesh and verified against the wave source power for energy conservation varying time step length, number of rays, and total time steps. We find that the method is self‐consistent and numerically robust. We further investigate whether the neglect of phase information and superposition has a significant impact on the accuracy of mapping wave intensity to a mesh. We find excellent agreement between the analytic solution for waves emitted by a line source in a plane‐stratified medium and an equivalent ray tracing solution. When phase information is excluded, ray tracing reproduces an average amplitude spread over regions of coherent constructive and destructive interference. This may be an important consideration for interpolating ray tracing results of longer wavelength waves such as magnetosonic, electromagnetic ion cyclotron, or ULF waves.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1994

Coupling of ELF/ULF energy from lightning and MeV particles to the middle atmosphere, inosphere, and global circuit

In an attempt to explain numerous atmospheric electrical phenomena, the elements of the global electrical circuit are reexamined. In addition to being a 'quasi-static 'DC' generator' and source of radiated energy at VLF and higher, the thunderstorm is found to be a pulse generator, with most of the external energy contained in ELF and ULF pulse currents to the ionosphere (and Earth). The pulse energy is found to deposit largely in the middle atmosphere above the thunderstorm. The VLF and above components are well understood, as are the ULF components due to the conductivity gradient. However, a previously poorly understood ELF component on the millsecond timescale, or 'slow tail,' contains a large fraction of the electrical energy. This component couples strongly to the ionosphere and also launches a unipolar transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wavelet in the radial Earth-ionosphere transmission line. The increase in charge with distance associated with such wavelets, and their ensemble sum at a point, may explain some large mesospheric 'DC' fields but there are still difficulties explaining other than rare occurrences, except for antipodal reconvergence. These millisecond duration unipolar wavelets also coupled to the ionosphere and may trigger other lightning at a distance. A schema is elucidated by which the charge of MeV particles deposited in the middle atmosphere persists for much longer than the local relaxation time. This also gives rise to unipolar waves of global extent which may explain lower-latitude field perturbations associated with solar/geomagnetic events.

Hale, Leslie C.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Investigation of EM Emissions by the Electrodynamic Tether, Inclusive of an Observational Program (EMET)

Our TSS-1/R investigation, which we shall refer to as EMET in this report, was an integral part of the effort by the TSS-1/R Investigators' Working Group (IWG) to come to an understanding of the complex interaction between the tethered satellite system and the ionosphere. All of the space-borne experiments were designed to collect data relevant to the local interaction. Only the ground- based experiments, EMET and its Italian counterpart Observations on the Earth's Surface of Electromagnetic Emissions (OESEE), held out any hope of characterizing the long range effects of the interaction. This was to be done by detecting electromagnetic waves generated by the system in the ionosphere, assuming the signal reached the Earth's surface with sufficient amplitude. As the type of plasma waves excited to carry charge away from the charge-exchange regions of the system at each end of the tether is one of the theoretical points about which there is greatest disagreement, a definitive identification of tether-generated waves could mark significant progress in the so-called current closure problem of electrodynamic tethers. Dr. Mario Grossi of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) initiated the investigation, and his experience in the field of ULF-ELF waves and their detection was invaluable throughout its course. Rice University had the responsibility of setting up the EMET ULF-VLF ground stations under a subcontract from SAO. Principal Investigator (PI) for the Rice effort was Prof. William E. Gordon, who was primary observer at the Arecibo Observatory during TSS-LR. Dr. Steve Noble handled major day-to-day operations, training, and planning for the ground-based measurements. Dr. James McCoy of NASA JSC, a member of the Mona/Arecibo team, was pilot for the numerous flights ferrying personnel and equipment between Puerto Rico and Mona Island. Final responsibility for the measurements rested with SAO, and the activities of field personnel and SAO investigators were closely co-ordinated during the mission. Dr. Enrico Lorenzini of SAO served as the eyes, ears, and brain of EMET in the Science Operations Area and PI table during the mission, whenever the PI was absent during the round-the-clock mission operations. The Rice University final report to SAO, which is included as an Appendix, contains details of the remote sites, means of communication, sensors, etc., as well as the affiliations of personnel involved in the data-gathering effort.

Estes, Robert D.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Wave by Low-Altitude Space Technology 5 Satellites

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST-5) constellation mission. ST-5 is a three-microsatellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km dawn-dusk and Sun-synchronous polar orbit with 105.6deg inclination angle. Because of the Earth's rotation and the dipole tilt effect, the spacecraft's dawn-dusk orbit track can reach as low as subauroral latitudes during the course of a day. Whenever the spacecraft traverse the dayside closed field line region at subauroral latitudes, they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc2-3 frequency range. These Pc2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations in the order of 5-10 min. As the maximum separations of the ST-5 spacecraft are in the order of 10 min, the three ST-5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. The coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that these unique Pc2-3 waves seen by ST-5 are in fact the Doppler-shifted Pc4-5 waves as a result of rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. The observations with the unique spacecraft dawn-dusk orbits at proper altitudes and magnetic latitudes reveal the azimuthal characteristics of field line resonances.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The quasiperpendicular environment of large magnetic pulses in Earth's quasiparallel foreshock - ISEE 1 and 2 observations

ULF waves in Earth's foreshock cause the instantaneous angle theta-B(n) between the upstream magnetic field and the shock normal to deviate from its average value. Close to the quasi-parallel (Q-parallel) shock, the transverse components of the waves become so large that the orientation of the field to the normal becomes quasi-perpendicular (Q-perpendicular) during applicable phases of each wave cycle. Large upstream pulses of B were observed completely enclosed in excursions of Theta-B(n) into the Q-perpendicular range. A recent numerical simulation included Theta-B(n) among the parameters examined in Q-parallel runs, and described a similar coincidence as intrinsic to a stage in development of the reformation process of such shocks. Thus, the natural environment of the Q-perpendicular section of Earth's bow shock seems to include an identifiable class of enlarged magnetic pulses for which local Q-perpendicular geometry is a necessary association.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Waves by Low-altitude ST5 Satellites

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST5) constellation mission. ST5 is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 lan, dawn-dusk, and sun synchronous polar orbit with 105.6 inclination angle. Even though the spacecraft are in a high-inclination orbit, the combined effects of the Earth's rotation and dipole tilt allow the spacecraft's dawn-dusk orbit track to reach subauroral latitudes on the day side. Whenever the spacecraft traverse across the dayside closed field line region at sub auroral latitudes they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc 2-3 frequency range. These Pc 2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations of the order of 5-10 minutes. As the maximum separations of the ST5 spacecraft are around 10 minutes, the three ST5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. Coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc 2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc 4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that this unique Pc 2-3 waves seen by ST5 are in fact high azimuthal wave number Pc 4-5 waves Doppler-shifted to higher frequencies by the rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. These unique low altitude observations, where the spacecraft motion is mainly azimuthal at subauroral latitudes, reveal the azimuthal wave-number characteristics of the field-aligned resonance signals.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Waves by Low-Latitude Space Technology 5 Satellites

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST-5) constellation mission. ST-5 is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, and sun synchronous polar orbit with 105.6deg inclination angle. Due to the Earth s rotation and the dipole tilt effect, the spacecraft s dawn-dusk orbit track can reach as low as subauroral latitudes during the course of a day. Whenever the spacecraft traverse across the dayside closed field line region at subauroral latitudes, they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc 2-3 frequency range. These Pc 2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations in the order of 5-10 minutes. As the maximum separations of the ST-5 spacecraft are in the order of 10 minutes, the three ST-5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. The coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc 2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc 4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that this unique Pc 2-3 waves seen by ST-5 are in fact the Doppler-shifted Pc 4-5 waves as a result of rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. The observations with the unique spacecraft dawn-disk orbits at proper altitudes and magnetic latitudes reveal the azimuthal characteristics of field-aligned resonances.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Waves by Low-Latitude Space Technology Five Mission

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST-5) constellation mission. ST-5 is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, and sun synchronous polar orbit with 105.6deg inclination angle. Due to the Earth s rotation and the dipole tilt effect, the spacecraft s dawn-dusk orbit track can reach as low as subauroral latitudes during the course of a day. Whenever the spacecraft traverse across the dayside closed field line region at subauroral latitudes, they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc 2-3 frequency range. These Pc 2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations in the order of 5-10 minutes. As the maximum separations of the ST-5 spacecraft are in the order of 10 minutes, the three ST-5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. The coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc 2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc 4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that these unique Pc 2-3 waves seen by ST-5 are in fact the Doppler-shifted Pc 4-5 waves as a result of rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. The observations with the unique spacecraft dawn-disk orbits at proper altitudes and magnetic latitudes reveal the azimuthal characteristics of field-aligned resonances.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Waves by Low-Latitude Space Technology 5 Mission

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST-5) constellation mission. ST-5 is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, and sun synchronous polar orbit with 105.6 inclination angle. Due to the Earth's rotation and the dipole tilt effect, the spacecraft's dawn-dusk orbit track can reach as low as sub auroral latitudes during the course of a day. Whenever the spacecraft traverse across the dayside closed field line region at sub auroral latitudes, they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc 2-3 frequency range. These Pc 2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations in the order of 5-10 minutes. As the maximum separations of the ST-5 spacecraft are in the order of 10 minutes, the three ST -5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. The coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc 2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc 4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that these unique Pc 2-3 waves seen by ST-5 are in fact the Doppler-shifted Pc 4-5 waves as a result of rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. The observations with the unique spacecraft dawn-disk orbits at proper altitudes and magnetic latitudes reveal the azimuthal characteristics of field-aligned resonances.

Le, Guan↗
NASA NTRS2010

Observations of a Unique Type of ULF Waves by Low-Latitude Space Technology 5 Mission

We report a unique type of ULF waves observed by low-altitude Space Technology 5 (ST-5) constellation mission. ST-5 is a three micro-satellite constellation deployed into a 300 x 4500 km, dawn-dusk, and sun synchronous polar orbit with 105.6 degree inclination angle. Due to the Earth's rotation and the dipole tilt effect, the spacecraft's dawn-dusk orbit track can reach as low as subauroral latitudes during the course of a day. Whenever the spacecraft traverse across the dayside closed field line region at sub auroral latitudes, they frequently observe strong transverse oscillations at 30-200 mHz, or in the Pc 2-3 frequency range. These Pc 2-3 waves appear as wave packets with durations in the order of 5-10 minutes. As the maximum separations of the ST-5 spacecraft are in the order of 10 minutes, the three ST-5 satellites often observe very similar wave packets, implying these wave oscillations occur in a localized region. The coordinated ground-based magnetic observations at the spacecraft footprints, however, do not see waves in the Pc 2-3 band; instead, the waves appear to be the common Pc 4-5 waves associated with field line resonances. We suggest that these unique Pc 2-3 waves seen by ST-5 are in fact the Doppler-shifted Pc 4-5 waves as a result of rapid traverse of the spacecraft across the resonant field lines azimuthally at low altitudes. The observations with the unique spacecraft dawn-disk orbits at proper altitudes and magnetic latitudes reveal the azimuthal characteristics of field-aligned resonances.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Dawn- Dusk Auroral Oval Oscillations Associated with High- Speed Solar Wind

We report evidence of global-scale auroral oval oscillations in the millihertz range, using global auroral images acquired from the Ultraviolet Imager on board the decommissioned Polar satellite and concurrent solar wind measurements. On the basis of two events (15 January 1999 and 6 January 2000) studied, it is found that (1) quasi-periodic auroral oval oscillations (approximately 3 megahertz) can occur when solar wind speeds are high at northward or southward interplanetary magnetic field turning, (2) the oscillation amplitudes range from a few to more than 10 degrees in latitudes, (3) the oscillation frequency is the same for each event irrespective of local time and without any azimuthal phase shift (i.e., propagation), (4) the auroral oscillations occur in phase within both the dawn and dusk sectors but 180 degrees out of phase between the dawn and dusk sectors, and (5) no micropulsations on the ground match the auroral oscillation periods. While solar wind conditions favor the growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz (K-H) instability on the magnetopause as often suggested, the observed wave characteristics are not consistent with predictions for K-H waves. The in-phase and out-of-phase features found in the dawn-dusk auroral oval oscillations suggest that wiggling motions of the magnetotail associated with fast solar winds might be the direct cause of the global-scale millihertz auroral oval oscillations. Plain Language Summary: We utilize global auroral image data to infer the motion of the magnetosphere and show, for the first time, the entire magnetospheric tail can move east-west in harmony like a windsock flapping in wind. The characteristic period of the flapping motion may be a major source of global long-period ULF (Ultra Low Frequency) waves, adding an extra source of the global mode ULF waves.

Liou, Kan↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Key Observations and Discoveries from the Vector Electric Field Investigation on the C/NOFS Satellite

Launched in 2008 and operating for 7.5 years, the Air Force Communication /Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite included the Vector Electric Field Investigation (VEFI) designed and built at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. VEFI successfully met its objectives: 1) investigate the role of ambient electric fields in initiating nighttime density depletions and turbulence; 2) determine the quasi-DC electric fields associated with abrupt density depletions, and 3) quantify the spectrum of the irregularities associated with density depletions, providing many key observations and discoveries including: -- Global (low latitude) vector DC electric fields at 16 s/sec revealing variations with local time, longitude, and season between extremely low and moderate solar activity-- Reversed zonal E x B drifts below the F-region ledge at sunset and simultaneous observations of large scale Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities as seeds of spread-F -- Large expanses of quasi-coherent kilometer-scale vector wave observations (electric field and density) below 450 km and their discovery as a source of scintillations using the C/NOFS GPS -- Reversed zonal DC electric fields and simultaneous observations of afternoon counter electrojet-- Enhanced zonal DC electric fields at sunrise and full vector plasma flow continuity at the terminator-- Vector electric field and density irregularities extending to meter-scales within equatorial plasma depletions -- Intense electric field structure within the equatorial ionosphere at night in the absence of density depletions -- First observations of the westward equatorial electrojet in post-midnight ionosphere and possible association with downward meridional drifts-- Spaceborne Dst observations and implications for ring current asymmetries-- Vector electric and magnetic field Poynting flux within depletions and TIDs-- Measurements of ionospheric reflectance and Alfvenic waves associated with TIDs-- Observations of Alfven resonators -- ULF magnetic field structure within the nightime equatorial ionosphere-- Discovery of Schumman resonances in space and implications of ELF radiowave propagation-- Vector observations of 50-60 Hz powerline radiation without harmonics-- Ion cyclotron resonance absorption lines associated with ELF hiss and the identification of ambient ions-- Parallel electric fields associated with lower hybrid waves driven by thunderstorm lightning-related sferics-- Discovery of Z-mode radiation in the equatorial ionosphere including its associated with density depletions-- Optical lightning detector waveforms and electric field sferics observed up to altitudes of 800 km

Robert F Pfaff↗