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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Error field measurement, correction and heat flux balancing on Wendelstein 7-X

The measurement and correction of error fields in Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) is critical to long pulse high beta operation, as small error fields may cause overloading of divertor plates in some configurations. Accordingly, as part of a broad collaborative effort, the detection and correction of error fields on the W7-X experiment has been performed using the trim coil system in conjunction with the flux surface mapping diagnostic and high resolution infrared camera. In the early commissioning phase of the experiment, the trim coils were used to open an n/m = 1/2 island chain in a specially designed magnetic configuration. The flux surfacing mapping diagnostic was then able to directly image the magnetic topology of the experiment, allowing the inference of a small similar to 4 cm intrinsic island chain. The suspected main sources of the error field, slight misalignment and deformations of the superconducting coils, are then confirmed through experimental modeling using the detailed measurements of the coil positions. Observations of the limiters temperatures in module 5 shows a clear dependence of the limiter heat flux pattern as the perturbing fields are rotated. Plasma experiments without applied correcting fields show a significant asymmetry in neutral pressure (centered in module 4) and light emission (visible, H-alpha, CII, and CIII). Such pressure asymmetry is associated with plasma-wall (limiter) interaction asymmetries between the modules. Application of trim coil fields with n = 1 waveform correct the imbalance. Confirmation of the error fields allows the assessment of magnetic fields which resonate with the n/m = 5/5 island chain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Particle‐In‐Cell Simulations of Starfish Prime

The Starfish Prime high altitude nuclear test created a transient diamagnetic cavity in the Earth's magnetic field above Johnston Island and launched an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that was detected around the globe. For this work, we use the ion‐kinetic particle‐in‐cell code Topanga to simulate diamagnetic cavity evolution and the E3 EMP signal for Starfish Prime out to over a minute of physical time. The simulation domain has a longitudinal and latitudinal extent of 60° X 60° and a vertical extent of 2,000 km from the surface of the Earth. We compare our simulated results to magnetometer measurements taken in space and on the ground, finding good agreement in both cases. The diamagnetic cavity in the simulation forms in about a second, while the associated debris flux tube takes approximately 30 s to decay. The debris flux tube undergoes significant motion during this timeframe, rising upward. The measured E3 EMP signal on the ground consists of several components, all of which are present in our simulations. We discuss the physical origin of these components in relation to E3a (blast) and E3b (heave).

Belyaev, Mikhail A. [Lawrence Livermore National L↗
NASA NTRS2011

Multiple Spacecraft Study of the Impact of Turbulence on Reconnection Rates

Magnetic turbulence and secondary island formation have reemerged as possible explanations for fast reconnection. Recent three-dimensional simulations reveal the formation of secondary islands that serve to shorten the current sheet and increase the accelerating electric field, while both simulations and observations witness electron holes whose collapse energizes electrons. However, few data studies have explicitly investigated the effect of turbulence and islands on the reconnection rate. We present a more comprehensive analysis of the effect of turbulence and islands on reconnection rates observed in space. Our approach takes advantage of multiple spacecraft to find the location of the spacecraft relative to the inflow and the outflow, to estimate the reconnection electric field, to indicate the presence and size of islands, and to determine wave vectors indicating turbulence. A superposed epoch analysis provides independent estimates of spatial scales and a reconnection electric field. We apply k-filtering and a new method adopted from seismological analyses to identify the wavevectors. From several case studies of reconnection events, we obtain preliminary estimates of the spectral scaling law, identify wave modes, and present a method for finding the reconnection electric field associated with the wave modes.

Wendel, Deirdre↗
DOE OSTI2022

Local imaging of diamagnetism in proximity-coupled niobium nanoisland arrays on gold thin films.

In this work, we study the effect of engineered disorder on the local magnetic response of proximity-coupled superconducting island arrays by comparing scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) susceptibility measurements to a model in which we treat the system as a network of one-dimensional (1D) superconductor-normal-metal-superconductor Josephson junctions, each with a Josephson coupling energy E-J determined by the junction length or distance between islands. We find that the disordered arrays exhibit a spatially inhomogeneous diamagnetic response which, for low local applied magnetic fields, is well described by this junction network model, and we discuss these results as they relate to inhomogeneous 2D superconductors. Our model of the static magnetic response of the arrays does not fully capture the onset of nonlinearity and dissipation with increasing applied field, as these effects are associated with vortex motion due to the dynamic nature of the scanning SQUID susceptometry measurement. This work demonstrates a model 2D superconducting system with engineered disorder, and it highlights the impact of dissipation on the local magnetic properties of 2D superconductors and Josephson junction arrays.

Bishop-Van Horn, Logan↗
DOE OSTI2015

Superconducting molybdenum-rhenium electrodes for single-molecule transport studies

We demonstrate that electronic transport through single molecules or molecular ensembles, commonly based on gold (Au) electrodes, can be extended to superconducting electrodes by combining gold with molybdenum-rhenium (MoRe). This combination induces proximity-effect superconductivity in the gold to temperatures of at least 4.6 K and magnetic fields of 6 T, improving on previously reported aluminum based superconducting nanojunctions. As a proof of concept, we show three-terminal superconductive transport measurements through an individual Fe{sub 4} single-molecule magnet.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Controlled neoclassical tearing mode (NTM) healing by fueling pellets and its impact on electron cyclotron current drive requirements for complete NTM stabilization

Controlled partial stabilization of core m/n – 2/1 Neoclassical Tearing Modes (NTMs) by fueling deuterium pellets is reported in DIII-D and KSTAR H-mode plasmas (m=n are the poloidal/toroidal mode numbers). Analyses of DIII-D data exploring possible physics origins show that an explanation is offered by NTM-turbulence multi-scale interaction, triggered by a sudden increase of local gradients near q–2 caused by the pellet. Pellet injection from the high-field side allows deep fueling which reaches the island region. In turn, low-k turbulent density fluctuations (ñ) increase by 30% in the island region. This ñ can drive transport across the island separatrices, reducing the pressure at spot at the O-point and diminishing the NTM drive. The Mirnov probe array detects the reduction of the 2/1 magnetic amplitude by up to 20%. Causality between elevated gradients outside of the island, turbulence spreading into the island and reduced NTM drive is qualitatively supported by non-linear gyrokinetic turbulence simulations. These demonstrate increased penetration of ion-scale ñ from the background plasma to the O-point region when the background gradient is increased. This interaction has potentially far reaching consequences as it can can lead to a reduction of the required electron cyclotron current density (j ECCD ) for NTM suppression by 70%, as predicted by the modified Rutherford equation. Furthermore, this beneicial effect of fueling pellets can be important as j ECCD is the anticipated active NTM control technique for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), but its efficiency will be lowered by third harmonic absorption in Pre-Fusion Power Operation-1 (PFPO-1) at half magnetic field.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Particle transport due to energetic-particle-driven geodesic acoustic modes

The transport of particles in the presence of energetic geodesic acoustic modes (EGAMs) is analysed by means of full-f global gyro-kinetic simulations, using the multi-species version of the code and a test particle tracking post-treatment, which solves the equations of motion of passive gyro-centres embedded in the self-consistent EGAM potential obtained from the simulations. It is found that EGAMs induce the transport of particles, which eventually results in counter-passing particle losses modulated at the EGAM frequency. A detailed analysis of the trajectories of the test gyro-centres is performed and evidence of the interaction between the EGAM island and the region of magnetically trapped particles (trapping cone) is provided. In particular, we report for the first time on the complex interaction between the stochastic separatrix of the EGAM island and the X-point of the trapping cone, creating a channel for the transport of particles from the $v_{||} < 0$ to the $v_{||} > 0$ regions. Therefore, for the cases analysed in this work, the co-injection of energetic particles might lead to a significant reduction of EGAM-induced losses. This result opens up new perspectives for further studies of the selection of energetic particle injection in order to minimize the losses due to EGAMs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Poor confinement in stellarators at high energy

High-energy particle resonances can modify particle distributions and even cause significant particle loss. Resonances can be present in any toroidal confinement device and can easily be found numerically. Many stellarators have weak magnetic shear so that large islands and large chaotic regions can be produced by resonant perturbations with small amplitudes. Additionally, while the choice of the field line helicity profile in the plasma can limit the presence of resonances at low particle energy, the resonance location is energy-dependent, and they can move into the plasma at higher energy. If resonances match the toroidal variation of the equilibrium, they can produce wide islands in the phase space of orbits even in the absence of perturbations due to instabilities. These islands increase in size with particle energy and can seriously affect the confinement of high-energy ions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantum Computing with Majorana Kramers Pairs

Here, we propose a universal gate set acting on a qubit formed by the degenerate ground states of a Coulomb-blockaded time-reversal invariant topological superconductor island with spatially separated Majorana Kramers pairs: the “Majorana Kramers qubit.” All gate operations are implemented by coupling the Majorana Kramers pairs to conventional superconducting leads. Interestingly, in such an all-superconducting device, the energy gap of the leads provides another layer of protection from quasiparticle poisoning independent of the island charging energy. Moreover, the absence of strong magnetic fields—which typically reduce the superconducting gap size of the island—suggests a unique robustness of our qubit to quasiparticle poisoning due to thermal excitations. Consequently, the Majorana Kramers qubit should benefit from prolonged coherence times and may provide an alternative route to a Majorana-based quantum computer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2018

Superconductivity on Interfaces of Nonsuperconducting Granules La{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} and La{sub 1.56}Sr{sub 0.44}CuO{sub 4}

Composite materials fabricated by annealing of nonsuperconducting ceramics La{sub 2}CuO{sub 4} and La{sub 1.56}Sr{sub 0.44}CuO{sub 4} at 910 °C during various time are investigated. Areas of superconducting La{sub 1.85}Sr{sub 0.15}CuO{sub 4} phase arises at boundaries of contacting nonsuperconducting granules. The volume fraction of the superconducting phase increases with increasing annealing time. A model describing the magnetic and transport properties of the samples at low magnetic fields is constructed. The magnetotransport characteristics of obtained samples at low magnetic fields (∼ 100 Oe) are defined by weak links network formed by superconducting areas. At high fields, behavior of the system is defined by a magnetization of the disconnected superconducting islands. The average size of the superconducting areas has been estimated from an extended critical state model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Molecular beam epitaxy of the magnetic Kagome metal FeSn on LaAlO 3 (111)

Materials with Kagome layers are expected to give rise to rich physics arising from band structures with topological properties, spin liquid behavior, and the formation of Skyrmions. Until now, most work on Kagome materials has been performed on bulk samples due to difficulties in thin film synthesis. Here, by using molecular beam epitaxy, layered Kagome-structured FeSn films are synthesized on the (111) oriented LaAlO3 substrate. Both in situ and ex situ characterizations indicate that these films are highly crystalline and c-axis oriented, with atomically smooth surfaces. The films grow as disconnected islands, with lateral dimensions on the micron meter scale. By patterning Pt electrodes using a focused electron beam, the longitudinal and transverse resistance of single islands have been measured in magnetic fields. Our work opens a pathway for exploring mesoscale transport properties in thin films of Kagome materials and related devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1999

An Assessment of Magnetic Conditions for Strong Coronal Heating in Solar Active Regions by Comparing Observed Loops with Computed Potential Field Lines

We report further results on the magnetic origins of coronal heating found from registering coronal images with photospheric vector magnetograms. For two complementary active regions, we use computed potential field lines to examine the global non-potentiality of bright extended coronal loops and the three-dimensional structure of the magnetic field at their feet, and assess the role of these magnetic conditions in the strong coronal heating in these loops. The two active regions are complementary, in that one is globally potential and the other is globally nonpotential, while each is predominantly bipolar, and each has an island of included polarity in its trailing polarity domain. We find the following: (1) The brightest main-arch loops of the globally potential active region are brighter than the brightest main- arch loops of the globally strongly nonpotential active region. (2) In each active region, only a few of the mainarch magnetic loops are strongly heated, and these are all rooted near the island. (3) The end of each main-arch bright loop apparently bifurcates above the island, so that it embraces the island and the magnetic null above the island. (4) At any one time, there are other main-arch magnetic loops that embrace the island in the same manner as do the bright loops but that are not selected for strong coronal heating. (5) There is continual microflaring in sheared core fields around the island, but the main-arch bright loops show little response to these microflares. From these observational and modeling results we draw the following conclusions: (1) The heating of the main-arch bright loops arises mainly from conditions at the island end of these loops and not from their global non-potentiality. (2) There is, at most, only a loose coupling between the coronal heating in the bright loops of the main arch and the coronal heating in the sheared core fields at their feet, although in both the heating is driven by conditions/events in and around the island. (3) The main-arch bright loops are likely to be heated via reconnection driven at the magnetic null over the island. The details of how and where (along the null line) the reconnection is driven determine which of the split-end loops are selected for strong heating. (4) The null does not appear to be directly involved in the heating of the sheared core fields or in the heating of an extended loop rooted in the island. Rather, these all appear to be heated by microflares in the sheared core field.

Gary, G. A.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Efficient optimization method for finding minimum energy paths of magnetic transitions

Here, efficient algorithms for the calculation of minimum energy paths of magnetic transitions are implemented within the geodesic nudged elastic band (GNEB) approach. While an objective function is not available for GNEB and a traditional line search can, therefore, not be performed, the use of limited memory Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (LBFGS) and conjugate gradient algorithms in conjunction with orthogonal spin optimization (OSO) approach is shown to greatly outperform the previously used velocity projection and dissipative Landau–Lifschitz dynamics optimization methods. The implementation makes use of energy weighted springs for the distribution of the discretization points along the path and this is found to improve performance significantly. The various methods are applied to several test problems using a Heisenberg-type Hamiltonian, extended in some cases to include Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya and exchange interactions beyond nearest neighbours. Minimum energy paths are found for magnetization reversals in a nano-island, collapse of skyrmions in two-dimensional layers and annihilation of a chiral bobber near the surface of a three-dimensional magnet. The LBFGS-OSO method is found to outperform the dynamics based approaches by up to a factor of 8 in some cases.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

The influence of diameter on the magnetic saturation in Fe 84 Cu 16 /MgO [0 0 1] multilayered islands

The saturation field of circular islands, consisting of Fe 84 Cu 16 [/MgO] 9 Fe 84 Cu 16 multilayers, increases with decreasing diameter of the islands. When the diameter of the islands is below 450 nm the field induced changes are dominated by a coherent rotation of the moment of the Fe 84 Cu 16 layers. For diameters of 2 μm and larger, a signature of domain nucleation and evolution is observed. Here, the changes in the saturation field with diameter of the islands are ascribed to the interplay between interlayer exchange coupling, stray field coupling at the edges and the crystalline anisotropy of the Fe 84 Cu 16 layers.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1981

Investigation from Japanese MAGSAT Team. Part A. Crustal structure near Japan and in Antarctic station. Part B. Electric currents and hydromagnetic waves in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere

Preliminary results of MAGSAT data analysis are described. Regional anomaly maps (deviations from the MGST model field) for X,Y,Z, and F in the area of 115 to 155 deg E and 20 to 60 deg N were obtained. A similar map for the geomagnetic total force anomaly in the vicinity of Japan showed that the observed anomaly can be explained by the difference in crustal magnetization between the Japan Sea and the Japan Island, which reflects a difference of 25 km in the thickness of the magnetized layer. The MAGSAT record of a sudden commencement of a magnetic storm above the South Atlantic Ocean showed a reverse impulse particularly in the D-component. Results relating to toroidal currents in the ionosphere, transverse and parallel perturbations over the polar regions, the relationship between field aligned currents and precipitating electrons, and the calculation of the subsatellite electric field are also discussed.

Fukushima, N.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Achieving stationary high performance plasmas at Wendelstein 7-X

This work reports on recent results on the search for high performance plasma scenarios at the magnetically confined stellarator fusion device Wendelstein 7-X. In four new designed scenarios, the development from transient toward stationary plasmas of improved performance has been realized. In particular, a high performance duration of up to 5 s, an energy confinement time of 0.3 s, a diamagnetic energy of 1.1 MJ, a central ion temperature of 2.2 keV, and a fusion triple product of 3.4 x 10 19 m -3 ∙ keV ∙ s have been achieved, and previously observed limitations of the machine have been overcome, regarding both the performance and its duration. The two main experimental techniques for stationary high performance are neutral beam injection core fueling on the one hand and the use of a magnetic field configuration with internal islands on the other hand. Two of the developed scenarios are expected to be extendable straightforward toward a duration of several tens of seconds, making use of the long pulse operation capabilities of W7-X.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1986

ISEE-1 and 2 observations of magnetic flux ropes in the magnetotail - FTE's in the plasma sheet?

Magnetic field observations on ISEE-1 and 2 in and near the neutral sheet about 20 Re down the near-earth magnetotail reveal the occurrence of structures resembling magnetic flux ropes. Both electric field and fast plasma data show that these structures convect across the spacecraft at speeds of 200 - 600 km/s, and that they have scale sizes of roughly 3 5 Re. The rope axis orientation is across the tail, approximately in the -Y GSM direction. Their magnetic structure is strikingly similar to magnetic flux ropes observed in the Venus ionosphere, and to flux transfer events observed at the dayside magnetopause. The total field-aligned current within these ropes may approach a million amps. These structures may arise because of patchy reconnection within the plasma sheet, or may be tearing islands formed when the plasma sheet magnetic field has a cross-tail component. Plasma sheet flux ropes are not a common feature at ISEE orbital altitudes; this suggests that near-earth neutral line formation within ISEE apogee (22 Re) may be equally rare.

Elphic, R. C.↗