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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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Overview - Electric fields

The electric fields session is designed to review progress in observation, theory, and modeling of magnetospheric electric fields, and to expose important new results. The present report comments on the state and prospects of electric field research, with particular emphasis on relevance to quantitative modeling of the magnetospheric processes. Attention is given to underlying theories and models. Modeling philosophy is discussed relative to explanatory models and representative models. Modeling of magnetospheric electric fields, while in its infancy, is developing rapidly on many fronts employing a variety of approaches. The general topic of magnetospheric electric fields is becoming of prime importance in understanding space plasmas.

Cauffman, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Global Aspects of the Earth's Magnetopause

Measurable characteristics of the magnetopause are discussed. The Earth's magnetopause is a thin magnetic discontinuity separating the shocked, magnetized plasma of the solar wind from a more tenuous plasma contained by the geomagnetic field. This external magnetosheath plasma flows around the magnetosphere with characteristics that are in approximate agreement with gas dynamic theory. The interplanetary magnetic field carried by this plasma becomes draped over the magnetosphere and its orientation relative to the local geomagnetic field determines the local magnetopause current. Solar wind pressure and interplanetary field direction control the geocentric distance to the magnetopause with high pressures and southware fields moving the equatorial magnetopause to a more earthward location. Evidence suggests that the magnetopause is Kelvin-Helmholtz unstable and surface waves are propagating toward the magnetotail.

Fairfield, D. H.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Remote sensing of two-dimensional magnetopause structures

The study presents a technique for analyzing remote measurements made by a single spacecraft of 2D disturbances in the ambient magnetosheath or magnetospheric magnetic field caused, for example, by flux transfer events or pressure pulses. The methodology is based on a recent linear theory for isentropic field-aligned MHD flow over gently sloping 2D obstacles. The technique uses only magnetic field measurements and can provide information about the orientation and actual cross-sectional shape of the event, as well as information about the spacecraft trajectory relative to the bulge. Analysis of two sample events, one recorded by the AMPTE/IRM spacecraft in the magnetosheath and the other by AMPTE/CCE in the magnetosphere, indicates that the bulges on the magnetopause surface causing the magnetic field and flow perturbations for these events did not have the semicircular cross section suggested in previous work; instead they had a more elongated shape, the dimension tangential to the magnetopause being substantially larger than that normal to it.

Walthour, D. W.↗
NASA NTRS2012

Magnetic and Electric Field Polarizations of Oblique Magnetospheric Chorus Waves

A theory was developed to explain the properties of the chorus magnetic and electric field components in the case of an arbitrary propagation angle. The new theory shows that a whistler wave has circularly polarized magnetic fields for oblique propagation. This theoretical result is verified by GEOTAIL observations. The wave electric field polarization plane is not orthogonal to the wave vector, and in general is highly elliptically polarized. A special case of the whistler wave called the Gendrin mode is also discussed. This will help to construct a detailed and realistic picture of wave interaction with magnetosphere electrons. It is the purpose of this innovation to study the magnetic and electric polarization properties of chorus at all frequencies, and at all angles of propagation. Even though general expressions for electromagnetic wave polarization in anisotropic plasma are derived in many textbooks, to the knowledge of the innovators, a detailed analysis for oblique whistler wave mode is lacking. Knowledge of the polarization properties is critical for theoretical calculations of resonant wave-particle interactions.

Verkhoglyadova, Olga↗
NASA NTRS1984

Magnetospheric currents; Chapman Conference, Irvington, VA, April 5-8, 1983, Selected Papers

A description is presented of theory and models, taking into account magnetospheric dynamo processes, magnetospheric topology of fields and currents, a new theory of sources of Birkeland currents, dielectric and permeability effects in collisionless plasmas, field-aligned current sheets as tangential and rotational discontinuities, electrodynamics of convection in the inner magnetosphere, coupling of Birkeland current rings, region one Birkeland currents connecting to sunward convecting flux tubes, and corrected geomagnetic coordinates for epoch 1980. Other topics explored are related to early history, an introduction to magnetospheric currents, surface observations, near-space observations, distant space observations, ionospheric effects, plasma instabilities, and current systems in other magnetospheres. Attention is given to the dynamics of field-aligned current sources at earth and Jupiter, fundamentals of current description, polar cap current systems, electric fields and currents associated with active aurora, and the role of currents in plasma redistribution.

Potemra, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Computation of hypersonic flow fields

The present discussion of the theory, solution methods, and development status of chemically reactive flow CFD codes pertaining to the flow field around a hypersonic vehicle encompasses the formulation of multicomponent viscous equations, grid-generation techniques, and finite-difference algorithms. The Navier-Stokes equations presented focus on such particularities of high speed vehicles as their aerodynamic configuration, lee and wake flow, bow shock, and chemistry and low density effects. Issues for which further development is desirable encompass boundary treatments, grid quality, shock capturing, and the decoupling of chemistry from flow variables.

Li, Chien-Peng↗
NASA NTRS1961

Concerning Certain Collisionless Plasma-Shock Wave Models

A shock-wave model proposed by both Kahn and Parker for the collision of two interstellar gas clouds or of the solar wind with the ionized gas around the earth is re-evaluated in the light of recent developments in plasma stability theory. It is shown that the instability which was supposed to arrest the counter-streaming of the ions and to transfer much of their kinetic energy to the electrons does not occur in many important examples. Specifically, it is absent if the initial ion thermal energy exceeds 4.2 x 10 (sup -4) times their translational energy. While other plausible shock structures are known which yield supra-thermal electrons, they depend on magnetic fields, leaving no satisfactory theory in the limit of zero magnetic field.

Noerdlinger, Peter D.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Magnetic fields and activity of the sun and stars - An overview

Recent work on the observation and theory of solar and stellar magnetic field activity and its relation to stellar activity is reviewed, emphasizing those aspects relevant to the problem of activity of red dwarf stars. New observational facts relevant to understanding the root cause of stellar surface activity are summarized and theoretical questions concerning the underlying physical basis for the observed correlations between stellar activity, rotation, and magnetic fields are addressed. These include dyanamo theory and the rotation-activity connection as well as flux tube dynamics and plasma heating.

Rosner, R.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Origins of life: a comparison of theories and application to Mars

The field of study that deals with the origins of life does not have a consensus for a theory of life's origin. An analysis of the range of theories offered shows that they share some common features that may be reliable predictors when considering the possible origins of life on another planet. The fundamental datum dealing with the origins of life is that life appeared early in the history of the Earth, probably before 3.5 Ga and possibly before 3.8 Ga. What might be called the standard theory (the Oparin-Haldane theory) posits the production of organic molecules on the early Earth followed by chemical reactions that produced increased organic complexity leading eventually to organic life capable of reproduction, mutation, and selection using organic material as nutrients. A distinct class of other theories (panspermia theories) suggests that life was carried to Earth from elsewhere--these theories receive some support from recent work on planetary impact processes. Other alternatives to the standard model suggest that life arose as an inorganic (clay) form and/or that the initial energy source was not organic material but chemical energy or sunlight. We find that the entire range of current theories suggests that liquid water is the quintessential environmental criterion for both the origin and sustenance of life. It is therefore of interest that during the time that life appeared on Earth we have evidence for liquid water present on the surface of Mars.

Review, Academic↗
NASA NTRS1986

Radar scene generation for tactical decision aids

The Mueller matrix and polarization covariance matrix for polarimetric radar systems was studied. The clutter was modeled by a layer of random permittivity, described by a three-dimensional correlation function, with variance, and horizontal and vertical correlation lengths. This model was applied, using the wave theory with Born approximations carried to the second order, to find the backscattering elements of the polarimetric matrices. Theoretical predictions are matched with experimental data for vegetation fields. The strong fluctuation theory was used to derive the backscattering cross sections. A two-layer anisotropic random medium model was developed for the active and passive microwave remote sensing of ice fields. A three-layer random medium model was adopted to study the volume scattering effects for the active and passive microwave remote sensing of snow-covered ice fields.

Kong, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Thermocapillary Bubble Migration: Thermal Boundary Layers for Large Marangoni Numbers

The migration of an isolated gas bubble in an immiscible liquid possessing a temperature gradient is analyzed in the absence of gravity. The driving force for the bubble motion is the shear stress at the interface which is a consequence of the temperature dependence of the surface tension. The analysis is performed under conditions for which the Marangoni number is large, i.e. energy is transferred predominantly by convection. Velocity fields in the limit of both small and large Reynolds numbers are used. The thermal problem is treated by standard boundary layer theory. The outer temperature field is obtained in the vicinity of the bubble. A similarity solution is obtained for the inner temperature field. For both small and large Reynolds numbers, the asymptotic values of the scaled migration velocity of the bubble in the limit of large Marangoni numbers are calculated. The results show that the migration velocity has the same scaling for both low and large Reynolds numbers, but with a different coefficient. Higher order thermal boundary layers are analyzed for the large Reynolds number flow field and the higher order corrections to the migration velocity are obtained. Results are also presented for the momentum boundary layer and the thermal wake behind the bubble, for large Reynolds number conditions.

Balasubramaniam, R.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Microwave absorption by a lossy dielectric sphere in a rectangular cavity

A new theory of absorption of microwave power by a lossy dielectric sphere in a resonant rectangular chamber is developed here. In this treatment, resonant modes of the cavity are resolved into traveling plane-wave fields, and Mie's theory of scattering and absorption of a plane electromagnetic wave by a sphere is utilized. The fields in the cavity containing the sphere are found by superposition of results for the individual scattering problem for each traveling plane wave. Absorbed power is then calculated by evaluating the time-averaged Poynting vector and integrating over the surface of the sphere. Applications of microwave power absorption are discussed, with particular emphasis on processing of materials. Numerical studies based on the newly derived formulas are presented. The results exhibit the manner in which microwave absorption is influenced by a number of different experimentally controllable parameters. The examples considered were chosen with a view toward designing experiments and apparatus for containerless processing of materials in the microgravity environment of space.

Jackson, H. W.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Mercury's magnetic field - A thermoelectric dynamo?

Permanent magnetism and conventional dynamo theory are possible but problematic explanations for the magnitude of the Mercurian magnetic field. A new model is proposed in which thermoelectric currents driven by temperature differences at a bumpy core-mantle boundary are responsible for the (unobserved) toroidal field, and the helicity of convective motions in a thin outer core (thickness of about 100 km) induces the observed poloidal field from the toroidal field. The observed field of about 3 x 10 to the -7th T can be reproduced provided the electrical conductivity of Mercury's semiconducting mantle approaches 1000/ohm per m. This model may be testable by future missions to Mercury because it predicts a more complicated field geometry than conventional dynamo theories. However, it is argued that polar wander may cause the core-mantle topography to migrate so that some aspects of the rotational symmetry may be reflected in the observed field.

Stevenson, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Acoustic pressures emanating from a turbomachine stage

A knowledge of the acoustic energy emission of each blade row of a turbomachine is useful for estimating the overall noise level of the machine and for determining its discrete frequency noise content. Because of the close spacing between the rotor and stator of a compressor stage, the strong aerodynamic interactions between them have to be included in obtaining the resultant flow field. A three dimensional theory for determining the discrete frequency noise content of an axial compressor consisting of a rotor and a stator each with a finite number of blades are outlined. The lifting surface theory and the linearized equation of an ideal, nonsteady compressible fluid motion are used for thin blades of arbitrary cross section. The combined pressure field at a point of the fluid is constructed by linear addition of the rotor and stator solutions together with an interference factor obtained by matching them for net zero vorticity behind the stage.

Ramachandra, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Convective turbulence with rotation and magnetic fields

A method for calculating mean square velocity fluctuations, mean square temperature fluctuations, and convective flux for a turbulent rotating fluid with externally applied magnetic field is presented. A new spectral model of large scale turbulence is used which requires, as the sole ingredient, the growth rate of the instability generating the turbulence. Results are presented for the convective flux with rotation and magnetic field for a range of parameters of astrophysical interest. This new formula presented here can be viewed as an extension of the mixing length theory to include magnetic fields and rotation.

Canuto, V. M.↗