MGS Observations of the Solar Wind Interaction with MARS
We will report on our investigation of the solar wind/Mars boundaries and on their dependence on the near surface magnetic anomalies.
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We will report on our investigation of the solar wind/Mars boundaries and on their dependence on the near surface magnetic anomalies.
A two-pole toothless PM machine employs Hall effect sensors to indicate the position of the machine's rotor relative to power windings in the machine's stator. The Hall effect sensors are located in the main magnetic air gap underneath the power windings. The main magnetic air gap is defined by an outer magnetic surface of the rotor and an inner surface of the stator's flux collector ring.
We report the discovery of nine previously unknown gamma-ray pulsars in a blind search of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The pulsars were found with a novel hierarchical search method originally developed for detecting continuous gravitational waves from rapidly rotating neutron stars. Designed to find isolated pulsars spinning at up to kHz frequencies, the new method is computationally efficient, and incorporates several advances, including a metric-based gridding of the search parameter space (frequency, frequency derivative and sky location) and the use of photon probability weights. The nine pulsars have spin frequencies between 3 and 12 Hz, and characteristic ages ranging from 17 kyr to 3 Myr. Two of them, PSRs Jl803-2149 and J2111+4606, are young and energetic Galactic-plane pulsars (spin-down power above 6 x 10(exp 35) ergs per second and ages below 100 kyr). The seven remaining pulsars, PSRs J0106+4855, J010622+3749, Jl620-4927, Jl746-3239, J2028+3332,J2030+4415, J2139+4716, are older and less energetic; two of them are located at higher Galactic latitudes (|b| greater than 10 degrees). PSR J0106+4855 has the largest characteristic age (3 Myr) and the smallest surface magnetic field (2x 10(exp 11)G) of all LAT blind-search pulsars. PSR J2139+4716 has the lowest spin-down power (3 x l0(exp 33) erg per second) among all non-recycled gamma-ray pulsars ever found. Despite extensive multi-frequency observations, only PSR J0106+4855 has detectable pulsations in the radio band. The other eight pulsars belong to the increasing population of radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsars.
The Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observed four outbursts of the accreting Xray binary transient source, GX 304−1 in 2010 and 2011. We present results of detailed 3-100 keV spectral analysis of 69 separate observations, and report a positive correlation between cyclotron line parameters, as well as other spectral parameters, with power-law flux. The cyclotron line energy, width and depth versus flux, and thus luminosity, correlations show a flattening of the relationships with increasing luminosity, which are well described by quasi-spherical or disc accretion that yield the surface magnetic field to be ∼5 × 1012 Gauss. Since HEXTE (High Energy X-ray Timing Experiment) cluster A was fixed aligned with the Proportional Counter Array field of view and cluster B was fixed viewing a background region 1. ◦ 5 off of the source direction during these observations near the end of the RXTE mission, the cluster A background was estimated from cluster B events using HEXTEBACKEST. This made possible the detection of the ∼55 keV cyclotron line and an accurate measurement of the continuum. Correlations of all spectral parameters with the primary 2-10 keV power-law flux reveal it to be the primary driver of the spectral shape. The accretion is found to be in the collisionless shock braking regime.
We show that the γ-ray pulsar observables, i.e., their total γ-ray luminosity, L(sub γ), spectral cutoff energy, ϵ (sub cut), stellar surface magnetic field, B(sub ⋆), and spin-down power ε, obey a relation of the form L(sub γ) = f (ϵ (sub cut), B(sub ⋆), ε ), which represents a 3D plane in their 4D logspace. Fitting the data of 88 pulsars of the second Fermi pulsar catalog, we show this relation to be L(sub γ) ∝ ϵ (sub cut)(sup 1.18±0.24 B(sub ⋆)(sup 0.17± 0.05) ε(sup 0.41±0.08), a pulsar fundamental plane (FP). We show that the observed FP is remarkably close to the theoretical relation L(sub γ) ∝ ϵ (sub cut)(sup 4/3) B(sub ⋆)(sup 1/6) ε(sup 5/12) obtained assuming that the pulsar γ-ray emission is due to curvature radiation by particles accelerated at the pulsar equatorial current sheet just outside the light cylinder. Interestingly, the FP seems incompatible with emission by synchrotron radiation. The corresponding scatter about the FP is ∼0.35 dex and can only partly be explained by the observational errors while the rest is probably due to the variation of the inclination and observer angles. We predict also that ϵ (sub cut) ∝ ε (sup 7/16) toward low ε for both young and millisecond pulsars implying that the observed death line of γ-ray pulsars is due to ϵ (sub cut) dropping below the Fermi band. Our results provide a comprehensive interpretation of the observations of γ-ray pulsars, setting requirements for successful theoretical modeling.
We report the discovery of PSR J2251−3711, a radio pulsar with a spin period of 12.1 s, the second longest currently known. Its timing parameters imply a characteristic age of 15 Myr, a surface magnetic field of 1.3 × 10^(13) G, and a spin-down luminosity of 2.9 × 10^(29) erg/s. Its dispersion measure of 12.12(1) pc/cu. cm leads to distance estimates of 0.5 and 1.3 kpc according to the NE2001 and YMW16 Galactic free electron density models, respectively. Some of its single pulses show an uninterrupted 180-deg sweep of the phase-resolved polarization position angle, with an S-shape reminiscent of the rotating vector model prediction. However, the fact that this sweep occurs at different phases from one pulse to another is remarkable and without straightforward explanation. Although PSR J2251−3711 lies in the region of the P − P˙ parameter space occupied by the X-ray isolated neutron stars (XINS), there is no evidence for an X-ray counterpart in our Swift XRT observation; this places a 99 per cent-confidence upper bound on its unabsorbed bolometric thermal luminosity of 1.1 × 10^(31) (d/1 kpc)^2 erg/s for an assumed temperature of 85 eV, where d is the distance to the pulsar. Further observations are needed to determine whether it is a rotation-powered pulsar with a true age of at least several Myr, or a much younger object such as an XINS or a recently cooled magnetar. Extreme specimens like PSR J2251−3711 help bridge populations in the so-called neutron star zoo in an attempt to understand their origins and evolution.
Magnetars are neutron stars characterized by strong surface magnetic fields generally exceeding the quantum critical value of 44.1 TG. High-energy photons propagating in their magnetospheres can be attenuated by QED processes like photon splitting and magnetic pair creation. In this paper, we compute the opacities due to photon splitting and pair creation by photons emitted anywhere in the magnetosphere of a magnetar. Axisymmetric, twisted dipole field configurations embedded in the Schwarzschild metric are treated. The paper computes the maximum energies for photon transparency that permit propagation to infinity in curved spacetime. Special emphasis is given to cases where photons are generated along magnetic field loops and/or in polar regions; these cases directly relate to resonant inverse Compton scattering models for the hard X-ray emission from magnetars and Comptonized soft gamma-ray emission from giant flares. We find that increases in magnetospheric twists raise or lower photon opacities, depending on both the emission locale and the competition between field-line straightening and field strength enhancement. Consequently, given the implicit spectral transparency of hard X-ray bursts and persistent "tail" emission of magnetars, photon splitting considerations constrain their emission region locales and the twist angle of the magnetosphere; these constraints can be probed by future soft gamma-ray telescopes such as COSI and AMEGO. The inclusion of twists generally increases the opaque volume of pair creation by photons above its threshold, except when photons are emitted in polar regions and approximately parallel to the field.
The variability of irradiance is primarily influenced by surface magnetism, such as sunspots, faculae, and network structures. Each of these features contributes differently to the overall variability. However, the impact of small magnetic elements, which are commonly observed in high resolution images of the solar photosphere but remain unresolved in full-disk images used for irradiance modeling, is still a topic of debate. Understanding the influence of these small magnetic elements to the overall brightness, particularly in quiet regions, is fundamental to understanding irradiance fluctuations over decadal and longer temporal scales. We investigate the brightness of small-size magnetic elements using very high spatial resolution spectro-polarimetric observations acquired at different spectral ranges with the National Science Foundations Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) and with HINODE/SOT. Our results are compared to 3D MHD Small Solar Dynamo simulations obtained with the MURaM code.
There is a need to understand the intrinsic limit of radiofrequency (RF) surface impedance that determines the performance of superconducting RF cavities in particle accelerators. Here we present a field-dependent derivation of Mattis-Bardeen theory of the RF surface impedance of BCS superconductors based on the shifted density of states resulting from coherently moving Cooper pairs. Our theoretical prediction of the effective BCS RF surface resistance (Rs) of niobium as a function of peak surface magnetic field amplitude agrees well with recently reported record low loss resonant cavity measurements from JLab and FNAL with carefully, yet differently, prepared niobium material. The surprising reduction in resistance with increasing field is explained to be an intrinsic effect.
Recent progress with the reduction of rf surface resistance (R s ) of niobium SRF cavities via the use of high temperature surface doping by nitrogen has opened a new regime for energy efficient accelerator applications. For particular doping conditions one observes dramatic decreases in R s with increasing surface magnetic fields. The observed variations as a function of temperature may be analyzed in the context of recent theoretical treatments in hopes of gaining insight into the underlying beneficial mechanism of the nitrogen treatment. Systematic data sets of Q 0 vs. E acc vs. temperature acquired during the high Q 0 R&D work of the past year will be compared with theoretical model predictions..
Geometric integrators yield high-fidelity numerical results by retaining conservation laws in the time advance. A particularly powerful class of geometric integrators is symplectic integrators, which are widely used in orbital mechanics and accelerator physics. An important application presently lacking symplectic integrators is the guiding center motion of magnetized particles represented by non-canonical coordinates. Because guiding center trajectories are foundational to many simulations of magnetically confined plasmas, geometric guiding center algorithms have high potential for impact. The motivation is compounded by the need to simulate long-pulse fusion devices, including ITER, and opportunities in high performance computing, including the use of petascale resources and beyond. This dissertation uses a systematic procedure for constructing geometric integrators - known as variational integration - to deliver new algorithms for guiding center trajectories and other plasma-relevant dynamical systems. These variational integrators are non-trivial because the Lagrangians of interest are degenerate - the Euler-Lagrange equations are first-order differential equations and the Legendre transform is not invertible. The first contribution of this dissertation is that variational integrators for degenerate Lagrangian systems are typically multistep methods. Multistep methods admit parasitic mode instabilities that can ruin the numerical results. These instabilities motivate the second major contribution: degenerate variational integrators. By replicating the degeneracy of the continuous system, degenerate variational integrators avoid parasitic mode instabilities. The new methods are therefore robust geometric integrators for degenerate Lagrangian systems. These developments in variational integration theory culminate in one-step degenerate variational integrators for non-canonical magnetic field line flow and guiding center dynamics. The guiding center integrator assumes coordinates such that one component of the magnetic field is zero; it is shown how to construct such coordinates for nested magnetic surface configurations. Additionally, collisional drag effects are incorporated in the variational guiding center algorithm for the first time, allowing simulation of energetic particle thermalization. Advantages relative to existing canonical-symplectic and non-geometric algorithms are numerically demonstrated. All algorithms have been implemented as part of a modern, parallel, ODE-solving library, suitable for use in high-performance simulations.
Significant theoretical interest has stimulated efforts to grow and characterize thin multi-layer superconductor/insulator/superconductor structures for their potential capability of supporting otherwise inaccessible surface magnetic fields in SRF cavities. The technological challenges include realization of high quality superconductors with sharp, clean, transition to high quality dielectric materials and back to superconductor, with careful thickness control of each layer. Choosing NbTiN as the first candidate material, we have developed the tools and techniques that produce such SIS film structures and have begun their characterization. Using DC magnetron sputtering and HiPIMS, NbTiN and AlN can be deposited with nominal superconducting and dielectric parameters. Hc1 enhancement is observed for NbTiN layers with a Tc of 16.9 K for a thickness less than 150 nm. The optimization of the thickness of each type of layer to reach optimum SRF performance is underway. This talk describes this work and the rf performance characteristics observed to date.
Industrial application of SRF technology would favor the use of cryocoolers to conductively cool SRF cavities for particle accelerators, operating at or above 4.3 K. In order to achieve a lower surface resistance than Nb at 4.3 K, a superconductor with higher critical temperature should be used, whereas a metal with higher thermal conductivity than Nb should be used to conduct the heat to the cryocoolers. A standard 1.5 GHz bulk Nb single-cell cavity has been coated with a ~2 µm thick layer of Nb3Sn on the inner surface and with a 5 mm thick Cu layer on the outer surface for conduction cooled applications. The cavity performance has been measured at 4.3 K and 2.0 K in liquid He. The cavity reached a peak surface magnetic field of ~40 mT with a quality factor of 6×109 and 3.5×109 at 4.3 K, before and after applying the thick Cu layer, respectively.
Nanocomposite of magnetite/graphene oxide (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}/GO) has been synthesized by co-precipitation method. The phase formation of the magnetite nanoparticles (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} NPs) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Effect of Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} NPs on the Raman spectra and on the surface potential of GO has been analyzed. Due to incorporation of NPs, change in the characteristic Raman peaks and also on the surface potential of GO is observed. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) study has been carried out for surface morphology. Magnetic property measurement was carried out by using physical property measurement system (PPMS) at two different temperatures (30 K and 300 K).
Friction minimization between magnetic media (tape, cards, drums, etc.) and magnetic transducer (heads, etc.) is a key requirement in recording systems. Results are presented for an investigation intended to eliminate previously encountered shortcomings of friction-reducing treatments by a deposition of an inert liquid film on a fully manufactured (cured) magnetic medium. The film contains no particles, represents a compound characterized by good lubricating and thermal properties, is inert with respect to the normal formulation constituents, and has low surface tension and vapor pressure characteristics. The deposited film need only be molecularly thin to impart adequate lubricating properties to the tape. The discussion covers the characteristics of the surface lubricant, method of application, and surface coated magnetic media test results. Greater than 5 million passes of the 3M 900 tape on a loop tester are achieved with no apparent effect on the tape and with head wear decreased by as much as a factor of ten
A surface plasma wave propagating over the rippled metallic surface produces static magnetic field via nonlinear coupling of electron velocity with density ripple. The generated magnetic field shows a resonant enhancement at particular values of ripple number. Magnetic field strength is also sensitive to plasma density and decreases at lower plasma densities. The generated magnetic field over a rippled metallic field is larger by an order of magnitude as compared to a planar metallic surface.
Vertical magnetic induction effect on nucleate boiling of mercury on horizontal heating surface
Stellarators are generically small current and low plasma beta devices. Often the construction of vacuum magnetic fields with good magnetic surfaces is the starting point for an equilibrium calculation. Although in cases with some continuous spatial symmetry, flux functions can always be found for vacuum magnetic fields, an analogous function does not, in general, exist in three dimensions. This work examines several simple equilibria and vacuum magnetic field problems with the intent of demonstrating the possibilities and limitations in the construction of such states. Starting with a simple vacuum magnetic field with closed field lines in a topological torus (toroidal shell with a flat metric), we obtain a self-consistent formal perturbation series using the amplitude of the non-symmetric vacuum fields as a small parameter. We show that systems possessing stellarator symmetry allow the construction order by order. We further indicate the significance of stellarator symmetry in the amplitude expansion of the full ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) problem as well. We then investigate the conditions that guarantee neighbouring flux surfaces given the data on one surface, by expanding in the distance from that surface. We show that it is much more difficult to find low shear vacuum fields with surfaces than force-free fields or ideal MHD equilibrium. Finally, we demonstrate the existence of a class of vacuum magnetic fields, analogous to ‘snakes’ observed in tokamaks, which can be expanded to all orders.