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At least 523 records · Page 29
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NASA NTRS1985

Large-scale computations in fluid mechanics; Proceedings of the Fifteenth Summer Seminar on Applied Mathematics, University of California, La Jolla, CA, June 27-July 8, 1983. Parts 1 & 2

Papers are presented on such topics as the use of semi-Lagrangian advective schemes in meteorological modeling; computation with high-resolution upwind schemes for hyperbolic equations; dynamics of flame propagation in a turbulent field; a modified finite element method for solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations; computational fusion magnetohydrodynamics; and a nonoscillatory shock capturing scheme using flux-limited dissipation. Consideration is also given to the use of spectral techniques in numerical weather prediction; numerical methods for the incorporation of mountains in atmospheric models; techniques for the numerical simulation of large-scale eddies in geophysical fluid dynamics; high-resolution TVD schemes using flux limiters; upwind-difference methods for aerodynamic problems governed by the Euler equations; and an MHD model of the earth's magnetosphere.

Engquist, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Magnetospheric interchange instability

It is shown that the conventional derivation of the MHD interchange instability criterion using an energy approach yields incorrect results. A special case involving straight, parallel flux tubes is considered in which the conventional energy argument should apply but disagrees with the result of an elementary dynamical argument. It is shown that the disagreement arises because the conventional derivation neglects the self-consistent changes in the magnetic field that result from the flux-tube interchange. When these self-consistent changes are included in the energy approach, a new interchange instability criterion is derived that agrees with the dynamical criterion. The new instability criterion is qualitatively different from the conventional one and suggests that the pressure gradient of energetic ions at Jupiter may not stabilize the Io torus against interchanges. The inner magnetospheres of earth, Jupiter, and Saturn may all be interchange unstable.

Cheng, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

ICE navigation support

The International Cometary Explorer (ICE) encounter with Comet Giacobini-Zinner took place 7 years after the spacecraft's original launch on 12 August 1978 as the International Sun Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3), part of a three-spacecraft project to study the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere. Transfer to an interplanetary trajectory was performed via a 119-km-altitute, gravity-assist, lunar swingby on December 1983. Navigation support during interplanetary cruise and comet encounter was provided by orbit determination utilizing radio metric data from the DSN 64-meter antennas in Goldstone, California and Madrid, Spain. Orbit solutions yielding predictions of 50-km geocentric delivery accuracy in the target aim plane were achieved during interplanetary cruise and at comet encounter using 6-to-12-week data arcs between periodic attitude-change maneuvers. One-sigma two-way range and range rate residuals were consistently 40 meters and 0.2 mm/s or better, respectively. Non-gravitational forces affected the comet's motion during late August and early September 1985 and caused a 2300-km shift in the orbit of the comet relative to the spacecraft. This necessitated a final ICE orbit trim maneuver 3 days prior to encounter. Near-real-time assessment of two-way 2-GHz (S-band) Doppler pseudo-residuals during the June and July 1985 trajectory change maneuvers aided in calibration of the spacecraft's thrusters in preparation for this final critical maneuver. Post-flight analysis indicates tail centerline passage was achieved within 10 seconds of the predicted time and geocentric position uncertainty at encounter was less than 40 km.

Efron, L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ion heating by waves with frequencies below the ion gyrofrequency

Ion heating by broadband and coherent waves with relatively small amplitude and frequencies below the ion gyrofrequency is examined. The theoretical results, verified by test particle calculations, show that such waves can heat ions to high energies, and in particular produce the ion conic distributions observed in the earth's magnetosphere. The model utilized differs from other approaches in that neither quasi-linear theory nor stochastic acceleration in a large amplitude wave are used to heat ions. This heating mechanism may be significant in other geophysical and astrophysical environments.

Temerin, M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Quantitative modeling of the 'convection surge' mechanism of ion acceleration

To explore the properties of the 'convection surge' mechanism postulated by Quinn and Southwood (1982), a quantitative computer model of the mechanism is constructed. The model incorporates the dipolarization of the field line shapes as well as the results of recent transient electric field measurements by the AST-6 satellite. The computer model numerically integrates the equations of motion of ensembles of ions populating a single flux tube that goes through the convection surge or 'dipolarization' transformation. The numerical results confirm that the mechanism easily generates the bounce-phase-bunched ion distributions in question, and show that the convection surge can generate dramatically field-aligned ion distributions. It is hypothesized that the convection surge mechanism is fundamentally associated with the processes responsible for transporting tail ion populations to the geosynchronous regions of the earth's magnetosphere.

Mauk, B. H.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The dynamic behavior of plasmas observed near geosynchronous orbit

The behavior of plasmas observed by the ATS-6, ATS-5, and SCATHA spacecraft in the vicinity of synchronous orbit in the earth's magnetosphere is investigated. Two predominant features noted are the sudden appearance of injections, and the presence of marked magnetic field-aligned structure. Injections are geosynchronous manifestations of the global acceleration process producing the aurora. Field-aligned fluxes can be as much as two order of magnitude larger than perpendicular fluxes, and ions and electrons often display different field-aligned structure which changes with energy, suggesting field-aligned acceleration processes. Other observed phenomena include particle and field wave activity, and various kinds of plasma heating. Spacecraft charging events illustrate the effects of the hot magnetospheric plasma on material objects.

Mcilwain, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Field line draping about fast coronal mass ejecta - A source of strong out-of-the-ecliptic interplanetary magnetic fields

Fast coronal mass ejecta interact strongly with the ambient interplanetary plasma and magnetic field into which they propagate. A shock forms in front of an ejection, and the slower moving ambient plasma ahead is accelerated and deflected from its path. It is argued that such flow accelerations and deflections of the ambient plasma must produce a draping of the ambient interplanetary magnetic field about the ejected material similar to that which occurs in the magnetosheath surrounding the earth's magnetosphere. The draping pattern should depend upon the overall size and shape of the ejection, its speed relative to the ambient plasma ahead, the orientation of the ambient magnetic field, and the position where the shocked plasma is sampled. At some locations upstream from an ejection draping leads to an enhancement of the out-of-the-ecliptic field component B(Z) at the expense of the ecliptic components. It is suggested that draping plays an important role in producing intervals of strong and prolonged negative B(Z) in the ecliptic plane at 1 AU, and thus may be an important factor in stimulating geomagnetic activity.

Gosling, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Monte Carlo modeling of ionospheric oxygen acceleration by cyclotron resonance with broad-band electromagnetic turbulence

It is demonstrated that cyclotron resonance with observed electric field fluctuations is responsible for production of the oxygen-ion conics that are observed by the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite in the central plasma-sheet region of the earth's magnetosphere. The ion-velocity distribution is described by a quasi-linear diffusion equation which is solved by the Monte Carlo technique. The acceleration produced by the observed wave spectrum agrees well with the ion observations, in both form and magnitude. This is believed to represent the first successful comparison of an observed conic with any theoretical model.

Retterer, John M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Solar-terrestrial research in the space station era

Because of the immense size of the solar-terrestrial system and its tightly-coupled physical nature, its study requires a carefully planned and coordinated approach using a variety of observational techniques. Of fundamental importance is the simultaneous measurement of the varying Sun, the solar wind, and the Earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere. These multiple measurements require a multi-spacecraft approach with both remote sensing of the Sun and atmosphere and in-situ measurements of the solar wind and magnetosphere. The decade of the 1990s will bring an opportunity to carry out the simultaneous set of measurements using a combination of instruments on missions such as the International Solar Terrestrial Physics Program, the GOES satellites, and the Space Station. For the first time it will be possible to determine solar variability and to sample the response of the solar wind and geospace portion of the environment in a thorough way. The potential opportunities for solar-terrestrial studies during the coming era of the Space Station are disclosed.

Chappell, Charles R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

MHD aspects of magnetotail dynamics

The equations of ideal MHD represent the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy; thus, MHD must, in some broad sense, provide a correct description of large-scale structure of the earth's magnetosphere. However, steady-state, ideal MHD (the simplest description) allows only a static interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. Hence an MHD theory of magnetospheric dynamics must involve unsteady flow turbulence, such as might be generated by Kelvin-Helmholtz turbulence at the magnetopause, and dissipative transport, such as reconnection, which violates ideal MHD. This brief review summarizes recent theoretical efforts to explore and extend the early MHD magnetospheric models of Axford and Petschek. Analytic calculations show that steady convection in the magnetotail is nearly impossible. Global magnetospheric simulations exhibit substorm reconnection phenomena for southward IMF and predict a novel convection pattern for northward IMF. Reconnection simulations show plasmoid formation and field-aligned current flows in the tail. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability can provide a strong anomalous viscosity which can drive the viscous convection system.

Coroniti, F. V.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The space particle environment

The energetic charged particle environment in the Earth's magnetosphere was studied. An overview is provided of trapped particle morphology, the geometry of the trapping regions, the radiation environmental models, the current status of these models, and future modelling requirements.

Vampola, Alfred L.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Current models of the intensely ionizing particle environment in space

The Cosmic Ray Effects on MicroElectronics (CREME) model that is currently in use to estimate single event effect rates in spacecraft is described. The CREME model provides a description of the radiation environment in interplanetary space near the orbit of the earth that contains no major deficiencies. The accuracy of the galactic cosmic ray model is limited by the uncertainties in solar modulation. The model for solar energetic particles could be improved by making use of all the data that has been collected on solar energetic particle events. There remain major uncertainties about the environment within the earth's magnetosphere, because of the uncertainties over the charge states of the heavy ions in the anomalous component and solar flares, and because of trapped heavy ions. The present CREME model is valid only at 1 AU, but it could be extended to other parts of the heliosphere. There is considerable data on the radiation environment from 0.2 to 35 AU in the ecliptic plane. This data could be used to extend the CREME model.

Adams, James H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The alpha-effect generated by standing Alfven waves

The mean electromotive force generated by nonlinear standing Alfven waves propagating along the mean magnetic field is investigated. It is shown that the alpha-effect can exist owing to the interaction between oppositely propagating two waves, provided that the initial fields have nonzero helicity. The result is discussed in the context of field-aligned currents and periodic particle flux variations in the earth's magnetosphere.

Namikawa, Tomikazu↗
NASA NTRS1988

Observations of intense ULF pulsation activity near the geomagnetic equator during quiet times

This paper analyzes observations, made by particle and field instruments on the AMPTE CCE satellite, of intense ULF pulsations in the earth's magnetosphere near the geomagnetic equator. These pulsations were observed during magnetically quiet periods in regions characterized by intense fluxes of warm strongly trapped light ions, predominantly H(+), and often with streaming low-energy plasma. The strong latitudinal localization of these pulsations is interpreted to be due to equatorial mass loading or to partial reflection of Alfven wave energy by latitudinal gradients in plasma density. Possible sources of wave energy for these events are discussed.

Engebretson, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Natural radio lasing at Jupiter

Like the comparable AKR radio emissions from earth's magnetosphere, the well-known decametric radio S-bursts from Jupiter, observed in France and Australia at frequencies from 10 to 26 MHz, have been found to exhibit equally spaced discrete spectral components which can be attributed to the adjacent longitudinal oscillation modes of natural radio lasers. Implying sizes of only a few kilometers for the individual radio lasers producing the S-bursts, the frequency spacing of these modes was roughly constant with frequency and about 30 to 50 kHz. Their corresponding temporal spacings, however, varied inversely proportional to the observing frequency, suggesting that the radio lasers producing the S-bursts were expanding uniformly at a rate of about 4 km/s. Presumably caused by the projected motion of Io with respect to the planet, this expansion of the S-burst radio lasers would account for the downward frequency drifts of the S-bursts without the energetic electron bunches which have heretofore always been assumed necessary to account for such behavior.

Calvert, W.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Laboratory behavior of a plasma plume injected into the magnetized plasma flow

Plasma plumes are injected into the tail of the simulated earth's magnetosphere produced by an interaction between the simulated solar wind and a magnetic dipole. The behavior of laboratory artificial plasma plumes injected into the magnetized plasma flow is discussed in conjunction with the AMPTE artificial comet experiments (Minami et al., 1986) and other active chemical release experiments in space.

Minami, Shigeyuki↗
NASA NTRS1989

Solar cosmic ray effects in the lower ionosphere

The polar cap absorption (PCA) events are the most remarkable geophysical phenomena in the high latitude ionosphere. Their effects are extended on the whole polar region in both hemispheres. The PCA events are caused by the intense fluxes of the solar cosmic rays (SCR) which are generated by the solar proton flares. Entering into the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere the SCR fluxes create excessive anomal ionization at the ionospheric heights of 50 to 100 km which exceeds usual undisturbed level of ionization in several orders of magnitude. The PCA events can be considered as catastrophic in relation to the polar ionosphere because all radio systems using ionospheric radio channels ceased to operate during these events. On the other hand the abnormally high level of ionization in the ionospheric D region during the PCA events create excellent opportunities to conduct fruitful aeronomical research for the lower ionosphere. Obvious scientific and practical importance of the PCA events leads to publishing of special PCA catalogues. The ionospheric effects caused by the SCR fluxes were profoundly described in the classical paper (Bailey, 1964). Nevertheless several aspects of this problem were not studied properly. An attempt is made to clarify these questions.

Shirochkov, A. V.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The effects of dipole tilt on magnetotail structure and dynamics

A three-dimensional time-dependent global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of the interaction between the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere has been used to study the effects of dipole tilt on the structure and dynamics of the magnetotail. The location of the tail neutral sheet shifts in the north-south direction following changes in the dipole tilt. When the northern edge of the geomagnetic dipole is tilted toward the sun (positive tilt), it is above the geocentric solar magnetosphere (GSM) equator, while for negative tilt, it is below. The neutral sheet forms an arc across the tail in the y-z plane for nonzero tilt. For positive tilt, the neutral sheet rises above the GSM equatorial plane near the noon-midnight meridian and returns to the equator near the magnetopause. The position and shape of the neutral sheet result from the requirement that the earthward magnetic flux equals the tailward flux and can be well explained by a simple analytical model.

Walker, Raymond J.↗