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NASA NTRS1986

Definition and empirical structure of the range of stellar chromospheres-coronae across the H-R diagram: Cool stars

Major advances in our understanding of non-radiative heating and other activity in stars cooler than T sub eff = 10,000K has occured in the last few years. This observational evidence is reviewed and the trends that are now becoming apparent are discussed. The evidence for non-radiatively heated outer atmospheric layers (chromospheres, transition regions, and coronae) in dwarf stars cooler than spectral type A7, in F and G giants, pre-main sequence stars, and close bindary systems is unambiguous, as is the evidence for chromospheres in the K and M giants and supergiants. The existence of non-radiative heating in the outer layers of the A stars remains undetermined despite repeated searches at all wavelengths. Two important trends in the data are the decrease in plasma emission measure with age on the main sequence and decreasing rotational velocity. Variability and atmospheric inhomogeneity are commonly seen, and there is considerable evidence that magnetic fields define the geometry and control the energy balance in the outer atmospheric layers. In addition, the microwave observations imply that non-thermal electrons are confined in coronal magnetic flux tubes in at least the cool dwarfs and RS CVn systems. The chromospheres in the K and M giants and supergiants are geometrically extended, as are the coronae in the RS CVn systems and probably also in other stars.

Linsky, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The Venus magnetotail

The magnetic structure of the Venus magnetotail has been measured using 9 seasons of Pioneer Venus measurements in the distant wake region. The magnetotail region is about 4 Venus radii wide and about 3.2 Venus radii high at 12 Venus radii behind the planet. The tail contains about 2.3 Megawebers of flux, much of which closes across the tail. The J x B force associated with this cross tail component accelerates the tail plasma down the tail causing an ion loss rate of about 10 to the 26th ions per second. The Venus tail does respond to solar activity and contains significantly less magnetic flux at solar minimum.

Russell, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS2014

ALMA Observations of α Centauri First Detection of Main-Sequence Stars at 3 mm Wavelength

The precise mechanisms that provide the non-radiative energy for heating the chromosphere and the corona of the Sun and those of other stars constitute an active field of research. By studying stellar chromospheres one aims at identifying the relevant physical processes. Defining the permittable extent of the parameter space can also serve as a template for the Sun-as-a-star. This feedback will probably also help identify stars that potentially host planetary systems that are reminiscent of our own. Earlier observations with Herschel and APEX have revealed the temperature minimum of Alpha Cen, but these were unable to spatially resolve the binary into individual components. With the data reported in this Letter, we aim at remedying this shortcoming. Furthermore, these earlier data were limited to the wavelength region between 100 and 870 um. In the present context, we intend to extend the spectral mapping (SED) to longer wavelengths, where the contrast between stellar photospheric and chromospheric emission becomes increasingly evident. The Atacama Large Millimeter submillimeter Array (ALMA) is particularly suited to point sources, such as unresolved stars. ALMA provides the means to achieve our objectives with both its high sensitivity of the collecting area for the detection of weak signals and the high spatial resolving power of its adaptable interferometer for imaging close multiple stars. This is the first detection of main-sequence stars at a wavelength of 3 mm. Furthermore, the individual components of the binary Alpha CenAB are clearly detected and spatially well resolved at all ALMA wavelengths. The high signal-to-noise ratios of these data permit accurate determination of their relative flux ratios, i.e., S(sub y(sup B)) / S(sub y(sup A))> = 0.54 +/- 0.04 at 440 μm, = 0.46 +/- 0.01 at 870 μm, and = 0.47 +/- 0.006 at 3.1 mm, respectively.. The previously obtained flux ratio of 0.44+/-0.18, which was based on measurements in the optical and at 70 μm, is consistent with the present ALMA results, albeit with a large error bar. The observed 3.1 mm emission greatly exceeds what is predicted from the stellar photospheres, and undoubtedly arises predominantly as free-free emission in the ionized chromospheric plasmas of both stars. Given the distinct difference in their cyclic activity, the similarity of their submm SEDs appears surprising.

Herschel↗

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↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Decoding the energy inputs that drive the upper atmosphere with NASA’s Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC)

NASA’s Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission will study the effect of space weather phenomena on Earth’s upper atmosphere ion and neutral gases and, in turn, their impact on human assets. GDC will provide multi-point observations to determine how the Earth’s upper atmosphere is driven to dynamic changes and extremes by the solar wind. Magnetospheric energy input, both kinetic and electromagnetic, will be captured by the Comprehensive Auroral Precipitation Experiment (CAPE), the Thermal Plasma Sensor (TPS), and the Near Earth Magnetometer Instrument in a Small Integrated System (NEMISIS). CAPE captures the complete kinetic energy inputs with observations of the precipitating and upgoing electrons and precipitating ions. TPS captures part of the electromagnetic energy inputs with observations of the thermal plasma velocity that map E-field inputs, and NEMISIS captures the other part of the electromagnetic energy input with measurements of magnetic field variations due to field aligned currents. We use similar observations from the Defense Meteorological Space Platform (DMSP) satellites to demonstrate the balance between the different energy inputs (electron and ion Joule heating and Poynting flux) during the different phases of storms. We explore the local time and spatial structure and the impact they have on atmospheric density and winds with simulations of the Global Ionosphere and Thermosphere Model (GITM) and demonstrate how GDC will enable us to reconstruct those energy inputs locally and regionally

Eftyhia Zesta↗

NASA NTRS1972

Measurement of mass, momentum and energy distributions in a quasi-steady MPD discharge.

Piezoelectric impact pressure measurements in the exhaust flow of a quasi-steady MPD accelerator are used to compute the profile of momentum flux 25.4 cm downstream of a 2.8 MW discharge. The integral of this profile is in good agreement with the sum of calculated electromagnetic and measured electrothermal thrust components. Velocity vector profiles obtained by a time-of-flight technique reveal a radial variation of velocity ranging from 31,000 m/sec on the centerline to 11,000 m/sec at a radius of 20 cm. When combined with the momentum flux profiles, these velocities yield information on the distribution of mass and energy in the plasma exhaust.

Clark, K. E.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The influence of stray magnetic fields on ion beam neutralization

An experimental investigation is described of a comparison between the ion beam neutralization characteristics of a local neutralizer (within approximately 5 cm of the beam edge) and those associated with a distant one (approximately 1 meter away from the thruster). The influence of magnetic fields in the vicinity of the neutralizer cathode orifice which are either parallel or normal to the neutralizer axis is assessed. The plasma property profiles which reflect the influence of the magnetic fields are measured. The results suggest that magnetic fields at the region of a neutralizer cathode orifice influence its ability to couple to the ion beam. They reveal that there is a potential jump from the neutralizer cathode orifice to the plasma which exists close to the orifice. This potential drop is found to increase as the axial component of magnetic flux density increases. A magnetic field perpendicular to the neutralizer axis induces a potential rise a few centimeters downstream from the neutralizer cathode.

Feng, Y.-C.↗

NASA NTRS1989

The Uranian magnetopause - Lessons from earth

Magnetic field measurements by Voyager 2 reveal differences between the Uranian magnetopause and the typical terrestrial magnetopause. In particular there are pulsations in the magnetic field at Uranus which may represent partial crossings of the magnetopause, the entry into magnetic flux ropes or the passage through mirror mode waves. Examination of terrestrial data, especially those obtained under conditions of very high plasma beta, suggests that the last possibility is the more likely. The magnetopause crossing itself is also different than those typically observed at 1 AU. It contains a magnetic field rotation of over 270 deg. While this is rare at 1 AU, an example has been found at earth where the field rotation is also greater than 270 deg. In some aspects these crossings resemble slow shocks. This also occurred at a time of high plasma beta. Thus it is concluded that plasma beta is very important in determining the structure of the magnetopause.

Russell, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Three-Dimensional MHD Modeling of The Solar Corona and Solar Wind: Comparison with The Wang-Sheeley Model

We present simulation results from a tilted-dipole steady-state MHD model of the solar corona and solar wind and compare the output from our model with the Wang-Sheeley model which relates the divergence rate of magnetic flux tubes near the Sun (inferred from solar magnetograms) to the solar wind speed observed near Earth and at Ulysses. The boundary conditions in our model specified at the coronal base and our simulation region extends out to 10 AU. We assumed that a flux of Alfven waves with amplitude of 35 km per second emanates from the Sun and provides additional heating and acceleration for the coronal outflow in the open field regions. The waves are treated in the WKB approximation. The incorporation of wave acceleration allows us to reproduce the fast wind measurements obtained by Ulysses, while preserving reasonable agreement with plasma densities typically found at the coronal base. We find that our simulation results agree well with Wang and Sheeley's empirical model.

Usmanov, A. V.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Accelerators for critical experiments involving single-particle upset in solid-state microcircuits

Charged-particle interactions in microelectronic circuit chips (integrated circuits) present a particularly insidious problem for solid-state electronic systems due to the generation of soft errors or single-particle event upset (SEU) by either cosmic rays or other radiation sources. Particle accelerators are used to provide both light and heavy ions in order to assess the propensity of integrated circuit chips for SEU. Critical aspects of this assessment involve the ability to analytically model SEU for the prediction of error rates in known radiation environments. In order to accurately model SEU, the measurement and prediction of energy deposition in the form of an electron-hole plasma generated along an ion track is of paramount importance. This requires the use of accelerators which allow for ease in both energy control (change of energy) and change of ion species. This and other aspects of ion-beam control and diagnostics (e.g., uniformity and flux) are of critical concern for the experimental verification of theoretical SEU models.

Zoutendyk, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A Jupiter Data Analysis Program (JDAP) research grant on wave accessibility and attributes

For more than thirty years the intense decametric radio emissions from Jupiter (DAM) and the corresponding auroral kilometric radiation from the Earth (AKR) have remained major radio science mysteries. Part of the problem, aside from their inherent complexity, has been the difficulty of measuring their source location and emission properties from limited observations. Progress has been made on this problem by locating the source directly, i.e., by analysis of the faraday rotation observed with Voyager as the wave path crossed the Io plasma torus, and indirectly by comparing the peak frequencies of the decametric emission with that at the foot of the Io flux tube. Progress was also made on the general question of how the emissions originate by finding properties of both the AKR and DAM which would imply emission by natural radio lasing.

Calvert, Wynne↗

NASA NTRS1994

ASCA observations of the coronal X-ray emission of Algol

We report a 1.7 day ASCA X-ray observation of the 2.87 day binary Algol (Beta Per), centered on the secondary eclipse. Spectra accumulated for different intensity states show a prominent He-like iron K line at 6.7 keV. A two-temperature variable abundance plasma model applied to the spectra yielded temperatures of approximately 8 and approximately 30 MK. The modeled coronal abundances of Fe, O, Mg, Si, S, Ar, and Ca were a factor of 2-3 below the solar photospheric value, and N less than 0.1. These model abundance anomalies are similar to those found from the ASCA spectra of other late-type stars and may indicate either true deviations from solar abundances or problems with the assumptions and atomic physics of the plasma models. The X-ray light curve shows a factor of 2 increase in flux over 13 hr beginning in the middle of the secondary eclipse, with a shallow eclipse centered on phase 0.45. The orbital light curve is similar to that observed by ROSAT 1 year earlier. The rise in flux is caused by an increase in the emission measure of the higher temperature component. The intensity variation is not associated with any major change in the abundances or temperature of the two components.

Antunes, A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

The Plasma Environment at Mercury

Mercury is the least explored terrestrial planet, and the one subjected to the highest flux of solar radiation in the heliosphere. Its highly dynamic, miniature magnetosphere contains ions from the exosphere and solar wind, and at times may allow solar wind ions to directly impact the planet's surface. Together these features create a plasma environment that shares many features with, but is nonetheless very different from, that of Earth. The first in situ measurements of plasma ions in the Mercury space environment were made only recently, by the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (FIPS) during the MESSENGER spacecraft's three flybys of the planet in 2008-2009 as the probe was en route to insertion into orbit about Mercury earlier this year. Here. we present analysis of flyby and early orbital mission data with novel techniques that address the particular challenges inherent in these measurements. First. spacecraft structures and sensor orientation limit the FIPS field of view and allow only partial sampling of velocity distribution functions. We use a software model of FIPS sampling in velocity space to explore these effects and recover bulk parameters under certain assumptions. Second, the low densities found in the Mercury magnetosphere result in a relatively low signal-to-noise ratio for many ions. To address this issue, we apply a kernel density spread function to guide removal of background counts according to a background-signature probability map. We then assign individual counts to particular ion species with a time-of-flight forward model, taking into account energy losses in the carbon foil and other physical behavior of ions within the instrument. Using these methods, we have derived bulk plasma properties and heavy ion composition and evaluated them in the context of the Mercury magnetosphere.

Raines, James M.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Relation of solar wind fluctuations to differential flow between protons and alphas

An analysis is made of the difference between the alpha particle and proton flow velocities in the solar wind as observed by the OGO 5 satellite. The alpha and proton velocities from each of 962 spectral scans are compared with the variance of 32 solar wind flux measurements made during the scans. The average velocity difference is plotted for each of 10 logarithmic variance intervals and is seen to decrease and approach zero when the variance is high. It is shown that such an anticorrelation may be due to the fact the wave/particle interactions provide the drag force between two streams of different velocity in a collisionless plasma.

Neugebauer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Multiple loop activations and continuous energy release in the solar flare of June 15, 1973

The spatial and temporal evolution of the high-temperature plasma in the solar flare of June 15, 1973, is studied using XUV spectroheliograms and X-ray filtergrams obtained from Skylab. The analysis focuses on the changing forms and brightness of Fe XXIII 263-A and Fe XXIV 255-A images. Temperatures and emission measures computed for different times during the flare are compared with those derived from Solrad-9 flux data, the electron temperature in the bright compact core of the Fe XXIV image is determined, and a coronal origin is suggested for this bright core. The observational evidence shows that the overall flare event involved a number of different preexisting loops and arches which were activated in succession. The activation and heating are found to have persisted well past the end of the burst phase, implying that the energy release did not end when the impulsive phase was over. The overall development of the flare is summarized on the basis of the observed order of appearance of the loops.

Widing, K. G.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Radio scintillations observed during atmospheric occultations of Voyager: Internal gravity waves at Titan and magnetic field orientations at Jupiter and Saturn

The refractive index of planetary atmospheres at microwave frequencies is discussed. Physical models proposed for the refractive irregularities in the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere serve to characterize the atmospheric scattering structures, and are used subsequently to compute theoretical scintillation spectra for comparison with the Voyager occultation measurements. A technique for systematically analyzing and interpreting the signal fluctuations observed during planetary occultations is presented and applied to process the dual-wavelength data from the Voyager radio occultations by Jupiter, Saturn, and Titan. Results concerning the plasma irregularities in the upper ionospheres of Jupiter and Saturn are reported. The measured orientation of the irregularities is used to infer the magnetic field direction at several locations in the ionospheres of these two planets; the occultation measurements conflict with the predictions of Jovian magnetic field models, but generally confirm current models of Saturn's field. Wave parameters, including the vertical fluxes of energy and momentum, are estimated, and the source of the internal gravity waves discovered in Titan's upper atmosphere is considered.

Hinson, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The eastward deflection of fast coronal mass ejecta in interplanetary space

Previous work has shown that a bidirectional solar wind electron heat flux is one of the more prominent signatures of a coronal mass ejection event in the solar wind at 1 AU. Using ISEE 3 solar wind electron measurements obtained during 1978 and 1979, this signature was used to identify the fast coronal mass ejecta driving 19 interplanetary shocks. In 17 of the 19 shock events an eastward deflection of the ejection plasma (apparent arrival from west of the sun) was observed. The average eastward deflection for all of the events was about 3 deg, corresponding to a typical transverse velocity of 25 km/s. Usually an oppositely directed (i.e., westward) flow deflection of comparable magnitude was observed within the compressed ambient plasma ahead of the ejecta. The sense of these deflections - first westward within the compressed ambient plasma and then eastward within the ejecta - is the same as is observed near the leading edges of quasi-stationary, corotating high speed streams.

Gosling, J. T.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Laboratory Astrophysics Using a Spare XRS Microcalorimeter

The XRS instrument on Astro-E is a fully self-contained microcalorimeter x-ray instrument capable of acquiring optimally filtering, and characterizing events for 32 independent pixels. With the launch of the Astro-E spacecraft, a full flight spare detector system has been integrated into a laboratory cryostat for use on the electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The detector system contains a microcalorimeter array with 32 instrumented pixels heat sunk to 60 mK using an adiabatic demagnetization refrio,erator. The instrument has a composite resolution of 8eV at 1 keV and 12eV at 6 keV with a minimum of 95% quantum efficiency. This will allow high spectral resolution, broadband observations of collisionally excited plasmas which are produced in the EBIT experiment. Unique to our instrument are exceptionally well characterized 1000 Angstrom thick aluminum on polyimide infrared blocking filters. The detailed transmission function including the edc,e fine structure of these filters has been measured in our laboratory using an erect field grating spectrometer. This will allow the instrument to perform the first broadband absolute flux measurements with the EBIT instrument. The instrument performance as well as the results of preliminary measurements will be discussed. Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. D.o.E. by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract W-7405-ENG-48 and was supported by the NASA High Energy Astrophysics Supporting Research and Technology Program.

Audley, M. Damian↗