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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 55 records · Page 3

Production of plasma with variable, radial electric fields

A device is described suitable for plasma wave experiments requiring relatively large, variable, radial electric fields perpendicular to a static magnetic field. By separately adjusting the potentials of two independent, coaxial discharge plasmas, the authors produced plasmas with a radial electric field E sub r less than approximately 5 V/cm.

Kustom, B.↗

On Whether Angular Momentum in Electric and Magnetic Fields Radiates to Infinity

The Feynman Disk experiment and a related thought experiment with a static magnetic field and capacitor are studied. The mechanical torque integrated over time (angular impulse) is related to the angular momentum in the electric/magnetic field. This is not called an electromagnetic field since quasi-static as well as electromagnetic effects are included. The angular momentum in the electric/magnetic field is examined to determine its static and radiative components. This comparison was then examined to see if it clarified the Abraham-Minkowski paradox.

Canning, Francis X.↗

Parallel pumping of magnons in inhomogeneous spin textures probed through NV spin relaxometry

We combine micromagnetic simulations and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect center spin relaxometry measurements to study magnon modes in inhomogeneous spin textures. A thin, micrometer-scale ferromagnetic disk is magnetized in a vortex state in which the magnetization curls around a central core. Micromagnetic simulations show that at zero applied field, the magnetization dynamics of the disk consist of a low frequency gyrotropic mode and higher frequency azimuthal magnon modes, all far detuned from the NV spin transition frequencies. An in-plane static magnetic field breaks the azimuthal symmetry of the vortex state, resulting in the magnon modes transforming in frequency and spatial profile as the field increases. Experimentally, we probe the dynamics of vortex magnetization as a function of applied in-plane static field and ac driving frequency by optically monitoring a nearby NV defect center spin. At certain values of the applied magnetic field, we observe enhanced spin relaxation when driving at twice the frequency of the NV ground state spin transition in optically detected magnetic resonance measurements. We attribute this effect to parallel pumping of a magnon mode in the disk producing magnons at half the excitation frequency. Micromagnetic simulations support this finding, showing spatial and spectral overlap of a confined magnon mode and an NV spin transition, with sufficient interaction strength to explain the observed signal.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Analysis of magnetic fields using variational principles and CELAS2 elements

Prospective techniques for analyzing magnetic fields using NASTRAN are reviewed. A variational principle utilizing a vector potential function is presented which has as its Euler equations, the required field equations and boundary conditions for static magnetic fields including current sources. The need for an addition to this variational principle of a constraint condition is discussed. Some results using the Lagrange multiplier method to apply the constraint and CELAS2 elements to simulate the matrices are given. Practical considerations of using large numbers of CELAS2 elements are discussed.

Frye, J. W.↗

Angular motion of a PAH molecule in interstellar environment

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules have recently been proposed as an important and hitherto undetected component of the Interstellar Medium (ISM). The theory was based on an explanation of the Unidentified IR Emission Bands by Leger et al. It has already led to a verified prediction on extended galactic and extragalactic emissions measured by IRAS, or by a recent balloon borne experiment. The physics that rules the motion of such molecules in the ISM was studied, taking into account their coupling with the ambient gas, the radiation field (absorption and emission) and the static magnetic field. This is important for many implications of the PAH theory such as the radio emission by these molecules or the expected polarization of their IR emission. A reflection nebulae is considered where the situation is rather well known. Every day life of a mean PAH molecule in such a region is as follows: every 3 hrs a UV photon is absorbed heating the molecule to a thousand degs; the temperature decay due to cooling by IR emission follows then within a few seconds. A collision with a molecule of gas occurs typically once a week, while an H atom is ejected or captured at the same rate. A typical cooling cycle after a heat impulse is given. The PAH molecules studied as representative of the family has typically 50 atoms, a radius of 4.5 A, is circular and has a molecular mass of M = 300; its permanent dipole moment is 3 Debye.

Rouan, D.↗

Development of a magnetic field monitoring system for the MAGIS-100 experiment

The MAGIS-100 collaboration is building a long-baseline atom interferometer designed to investigate dark matter, novel forces, gravitational waves, and quantum science. A major design challenge is external, time-varying magnetic fields, the effect of which can mimic gravitational waves or expected dark matter signals; static magnetic fields must also be tightly controlled to manage measurement resolution. Several tools are being applied to the problem, including mu-metal shielding, field biasing, and a suite of magnetometers. This report details the development of a magnetic field monitoring system to be built from commercially available parts and installed at seventeen locations, one for each of the modular sections making up the length of the MAGIS-100 apparatus.

Arce, Edwin [Unlisted, US, CA]↗

Flow and Crystallization in Two-Layer Liquid Systems with and without a Magnetic Field

Flow, heat and mass transfer in a two-layer liquid system is investigated when the layers are subjected to a static magnetic field. The physical system consists of two immiscible liquids in a layer configuration with a free surface and an interfacial layer simulating two crystal growth configurations, namely, floating zone and horizontal zone melting. Mass transfer effects due to crystallization of one of the layers is also considered. The resulting flows are categorized into three types depending on: (a) the dominance of the free surface effect top layer, (b) a balance between the thermocapillary effect on the free surface and the interface effect between the two layers, or (c) the dominance of interfacial effects, in determining the system thermo-fluid characteristics. The use of an additional liquid layer atop the crystallizing layer leads to a reduction of the radial dopant inhomogeneity in comparison to the one-layer case. The effect an externally imposed magnetic field on dopant distribution in this two-layer configuration is rather ambiguous and depends on its direction and intensity resulting in the necessity of optimizing the applied magnetic field for a specific situation. In case of electrically non-conducting melts, the calculations show that some measure of flow control can be achieved by using an electrically conducting encapsulant layer of the desired thickness.

Feonychev, Alexander I.↗

Interaction of a neutral cloud moving through a magnetized plasma

Current collection by outgassing probes in motion relative to a magnetized plasma may be significantly affected by plasma processes that cause electron heating and cross field transport. Simulations of a neutral gas cloud moving across a static magnetic field are discussed. The authors treat a low-Beta plasma and use a 2-1/2 D electrostatic code linked with the authors' Plasma and Neutral Interaction Code (PANIC). This study emphasizes the understanding of the interface between the neutral gas cloud and the surrounding plasma where electrons are heated and can diffuse across field lines. When ionization or charge exchange collisions occur a sheath-like structure is formed at the surface of the neutral gas. In that region the crossfield component of the electric field causes the electron to E times B drift with a velocity of the order of the neutral gas velocity times the square root of the ion to electron mass ratio. In addition a diamagnetic drift of the electron occurs due to the number density and temperature inhomogeneity in the front. These drift currents excite the lower-hybrid waves with the wave k-vectors almost perpendicular to the neutral flow and magnetic field again resulting in electron heating. The thermal electron current is significantly enhanced due to this heating.

Goertz, C. K.↗

Broadband Ultra-Sensitive Adiabatic Magnetometer

We introduce a new ultra-sensitive adiabatic magnetometer that has a broad bandwidth and can operate in the presence of magnetic fields and gradients. It follows conceptually typical implementations of atomic magnetometers based on alkali-metal vapor cells and lasers for optical pumping and optical Faraday effect detection, while its unique feature is a measurement of an oscillating magnetic field along the probe beam direction at frequencies lower than the resonant frequency, proportional to a static magnetic field along the pump beam direction. The bandwidth of the adiabatic magnetometer scales as the strength of the field along the pump beam. From our theoretical studies it is expected that the adiabatic magnetometer can reach 1 fT sensitivity with a bandwidth of 10 kHz, which any type of atomic magnetometers cannot achieve. Among anticipated various applications of this adiabatic magnetometer are biomagnetic sensing, nuclear magnetic resonance detection, and alkali-metal density measurements. In conclusion, we experimentally conducted alkali-metal density measurements, as an example of applications.

adiabatic magnetometer↗

Laser Plasma Interaction in the MG Magnetic Field (Final Report)

Strong magnetic fields change properties of plasma. Employment of the magnetic fields can improve conditions for inertial confinement fusion. Compression and heating of the magnetized plasma is a base of the MagLIF pulsed power approach to the controlled fusion. Study of expansion and heating of plasma in the external magnetic fields, development of plasma instabilities, parametric and other effects are important for basic physics and applications. The main goal of the research for the grant was experimental investigation of laser produced plasma in the well characterized and controlled MG magnetic fields. We developed a platform for investigation of high intensity laser-plasma interaction (LPI) in the MG fields using a university-scale pulsed power machine. A Zebra machine at UNR generated transverse magnetic fields of 3 MG on the surface of the rod load and longitudinal fields of 1.4 MG in the coil loads. The magnetic fields were characterized with two-color Faraday rotation diagnostics. The pulsed power machine provided almost static magnetic fields for LPI compared to the much faster laser driven magnetic fields. We found that eddy currents in the rising magnetic field generate plasma on the metal targets. Eddy currents did not impact Si and CH dielectric targets. A Leopard laser with intensity in the focus up to 10 19 W/cm 2 produced plasma in the MG magnetic fields. The modified reflected Faraday diagnostics was used to study laser driven B-field at the MTW laser at Laboratory for Laser Energetics, UR. We demonstrated a slow dependence of the magnetic field in the coil on the applied laser intensity. The magnetic field increased by a factor of 2 if laser intensity increased by a factor of 30. This scaling is important for comparison of experiments at different laser facilities. Expansion of the plasma in the 2-3 MG external B-field was studied. Laser-produced plasma in the azimuthal magnetic field took the unique form of a thin disc expanding radially with a velocity of 250 km/s and confined in the vertical direction. A HYDRA MHD program at the University of Rochester was applied for simulations of LPI in the magnetic field B >3 MG. Simulations for the plasma disc parameters and the expansion dynamics were in a good agreement with experiments. Generation of narrow dense plasma jets in the longitudinal magnetic field of 0.6-0.8 MG was studied. Narrow plasma jets reached a length of 3-4 mm with the electron plasma density of (0.2-1.2)x10 20 cm -3 . A jet tip propagated with the velocity of 160-200 km/s. MHD simulations showed a good agreement of the dynamics of the formation of plasma jets with experiments. These jets are relevant to astrophysical jets. Simulations of K-shell spectra of Si plasma was performed for LPI in the B-field. The laser prepulse generated plasma near the laser target. A PrismSPECT model with a MeV electron beam produced by the laser was used. The spectral modelling showed the increased plasma density by a factor by 2-3 in the magnetic field. This was in agreement with the observed dynamics of the plasma plume confined by the axial magnetic field. The two-plasmon decay was studied in the 2.5-3 MG transversal magnetic fields. Strong 2-3.5 nm spectral widening and a 2-4 nm shifts of “red” and “blue” 3/2ω 0 spectral components were observed. The large shift and widening exceed the expected temperature and magnetic shift. PIC simulations are performing to clarify physics of this effect. The experimental research program for the grant is completed. New plasma effects in the MG fields were studied at the university-scale pulsed power generator. Two graduate and two undergraduate UNR and UR students carried experiments at the Zebra generator, supported and developed plasma diagnostics, provided data processing, and performed MHD simulations of LPI in the strong magnetic field. Research results are published in 9 referred papers and presented in 12 conferences. Program manager: Kramer U. Akli; Collaborators: R. C. Mancini and H. Sawada, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR); R. Betti and A. V. Maximov, University of Rochester (UR).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ion cyclotron bands in VLF saucers

In the wideband VLF data obtained by the polar orbiting DE-1 satellite over the polar night ion trough region of the upper ionosphere, conspicuous frequency-band structures are found to occur both in absorption and emission, particularly associating with VLF saucers. The attenuation bands indicate that the ions of atomic hydrogen from the polar ionosphere are accelerated by the ac electric fields of VLF waves oscillating normal to the static magnetic field, analogous to a cyclotron accelerator. The observed frequencies of the cyclotron harmonics suggest that the acceleration is taking place in the layer below the satellite at a geocentric distance of less than about 1.5 earth radii. This example indicates the existence of upward propagating hiss at those altitudes inside the auroral zone. On the other hand, the frequency shifts of the emission bands are attributed to a combination of two different types of Doppler shift, one due to the orbital motion of the satellite and the other due to the upward motion of the medium at the emission source. This indicates the existence of an upward plasma flow at the source, with a velocity of the order of 20 km/s inside the saucer. The amount of this frequency shift decreases with increasing harmonic order, indicating a higher phase velocity for the electrostatic waves of higher harmonic order.

Maeda, Kaichi↗

Electron cyclotron harmonic wave acceleration

A nonlinear analysis of particle acceleration in a finite bandwidth, obliquely propagating electromagnetic cyclotron wave is presented. It has been suggested by Sprangle and Vlahos in 1983 that the narrow bandwidth cyclotron radiation emitted by the unstable electron distribution inside a flaring solar loop can accelerate electrons outside the loop by the interaction of a monochromatic wave propagating along the ambient magnetic field with the ambient electrons. It is shown here that electrons gyrating and streaming along a uniform, static magnetic field can be accelerated by interacting with the fundamental or second harmonic of a monochromatic, obliquely propagating cyclotron wave. It is also shown that the acceleration is virtually unchanged when a wave with finite bandwidth is considered. This acceleration mechanism can explain the observed high-energy electrons in type III bursts.

Karimabadi, H.↗

[Probing Planck-scale Physics with a Ne-21/He-3 Zeeman Maser]

The Ne-21/He-3 Zeeman maser is a recently developed device which employs co-located ensembles of Ne-21 and He-3 atoms to provide sensitive differential measurements of the noble gas nuclear Zeeman splittings as a function of time, thereby greatly attenuating common-mode systematic effects such as uniform magnetic field variations. The Ne-21 maser will serve as a precision magnetometer to stabilize the system's static magnetic field, while the He-3 maser is used as a sensitive probe for violations of CPT and Lorentz symmetry by searching for small variations in the 3He maser frequency as the spatial orientation of the apparatus changes due to the rotation of the Earth (or placement on a rotating table). In the context of a general extension of the Standard Model of particle physics, the Ne-21/He-3 maser will provide the most sensitive search to date for CPT and Lorentz violation of the neutron: better than 10(exp -32) GeV, an improvement of more than an order of magnitude over past experiments. This exceptional precision will offer a rare opportunity to probe physics at the Planck scale. A future space-based Ne-21/He-3 maser or related device could provide even greater sensitivity to violations of CPT and Lorentz symmetry, and hence to Planck-scale physics, because of isolation from dominant systematic effects associated with ground-based operation, and because of access to different positions in space-time.

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Improved design provides faster response time in photomultiplier

Dynamic Crossed-Field Electron Multiplying /DCFEM/ light demodulator avoids the normal response time limitations inherent in static field devices by using time varying crossed electric and static magnetic fields. This eliminates the transit time spread that affects electrons as they proceed along the secondary emission stages of the tube.

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Effects of Traveling Magnetic Field on Dynamics of Solidification

The Lorentz body force induced in electrically conducting fluids can be utilized for a number of materials processing technologies. An application of strong static magnetic fields can be beneficial for damping convection present during solidification. On the other hand, alternating magnetic fields can be used to reduce as well as to enhance convection. However, only special types of time dependent magnetic fields can induce a non-zero time averaged Lorentz force needed for convection control. One example is the rotating magnetic field. This field configuration induces a swirling flow in circular containers. Another example of a magnetic field configuration is the traveling magnetic field (TMF). It utilizes axisymmetric magnetostatic waves. This type of field induces an axial recirculating flow that can be advantageous for controlling axial mass transport, such as during solidification in long cylindrical tubes. Incidentally, this is the common geometry for crystal growth research. The Lorentz force induced by TMF can potentially counter-balance the buoyancy force, diminishing natural convection, or even setting up the flow in reverse direction. Crystal growth process in presence of TMF can be then significantly modified. Such properties as the growth rate, interface shape and macro segregation can be affected and optimized. Melt homogenization is the other potential application of TMF. It is a necessary step prior to solidification. TMF can be attractive for this purpose, as it induces a basic flow along the axis of the ampoule. TMF can be a practical alloy mixing method especially suited for solidification research in space. In the theoretical part of this work, calculations of the induced Lorentz force in the whole frequency range have been completed. The basic flow characteristics for the finite cylinder geometry are completed and first results on stability analysis for higher Reynolds numbers are obtained. A theoretical model for TMF mixing is also developed. In the experimental part, measurements of flow induced by TMF in a column of mercury (Hg) are presented. Also, an alloy mixing of Bi-Sn of the eutectic composition is demonstrated. A traveling magnetic field of 4mT at 3kHz applied for 120 minutes is found to be sufficient to homogenize an alloy enclosed in a 1cm diameter and 12 cm long tube.

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External production and control of electrojet irregularities.

Analytical investigation of parametric coupling of a large-amplitude 'pump' wave to a natural plasma mode of the ionospheric E layer. It is shown that the E layer plasma mode can be either stabilized or destabilized by the parametric process. Two necessary conditions for parametric interaction are (1) near frequency matching (i.e., the pump wave frequency should be near the local upper hybrid frequency) and (2) a finite electric field component of the pump wave perpendicular to the background static magnetic field. An investigation of the propagation characteristics of the pump wave in the magnetic equatorial region indicates that an obliquely propagating O mode in the magnetic meridian plane meets the two necessary conditions in an optimal manner. From typical values of ionospheric parameters it is estimated that the required incident energy flux of the pump wave for parametric stabilization or destabilization of the E layer plasma mode (near its natural marginal stability) is much less than 1 mW/sq m. Thus parametric coupling experiments for the ionospheric E layer are technically feasible.

Lee, K.↗