Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “electrostatic dissipative”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3

Fast plasma heating by anomalous and inertial resistivity effects in the solar atmosphere

A simple model is presented to describe fast plasma heating by anomalous and inertial resistivity effects. It is noted that a small fraction of the plasma contains strong currents that run parallel to the magnetic field and are driven by an exponentiating electric field. The anomalous character of the current dissipation derives from the excitation of electrostatic ion-cyclotron and/or ion-acoustic waves. The possible role of resistivity deriving from geometrical effects ('inertial resistivity') is also considered. Using a marginal stability analysis, equations for the average electron and ion temperatures are derived and numerically solved. No loss mechanisms are taken into account. The evolution of the plasma is described as a path in the drift velocity diagram, where the drift velocity is plotted as a function of the electron to ion temperature ratio.

Duijveman, A.↗

Fast plasma heating by anomalous and inertial resistivity effects

Fast plasma heating by anomalous and inertial resistivity effects is described. A small fraction of the plasma contains strong currents that run parallel to the magnetic field and are driven by an exponentiating electric field. The anomalous character of the current dissipation is caused by the excitation of electrostatic ion cyclotron and/or ion acoustic waves. The role of resistivity due to geometrical effects is considered. Through the use of a marginal stability analysis, equations for the average electron and ion temperatures are derived and numerically solved. The evolution of the plasma is described as a path in the drift velocity diagram, in which the drift velocity is plotted as a function of the electron to ion temperature ratio.

Duijveman, A.↗

Wave-particle transport from density drift instabilities - A comparison of local and nonlocal theories

Second-order Vlasov theory is used to compute the dissipation rates of plasma irregularities with a variety of shapes. A derivation of the nonlocal dispersion equation using linearized Vlasov theory is presented. Expressions for the normalized amplitudes of the first-order plasma density and electrostatic potential fluctuations are derived. Expressions are given for the saturation amplitudes of the electrostatic eigenmodes. The wave-particle transport and irregularity dissipation rate are computed by using formulas whose derivation is presented. Computational results for specific density variations are shown, and conclusions on the validity of the local theory as opposed to the nonlocal theory are given.

Bernhardt, P. A.↗

Investigation of the interaction between competing types of nondiffusive transport in drift wave turbulence

Radial transport in turbulence dominated tokamak plasmas has been observed to deviate from classical diffusion in certain regimes relevant for magnetic confinement fusion. These situations at least include near-marginal turbulence, where radial transport becomes superdiffusive and mediated by elongated radial structures (or avalanches) and transport across radially sheared poloidal flows, where radial subdiffusion often ensues. In this paper, the interaction between very different physical ingredients responsible for these two types of nondiffusive dynamics (namely, turbulent profile relaxation close to a local threshold and the interaction with radially sheared zonal flows) is studied in detail in the context of a simple two-dimensional electrostatic plasma fluid turbulence model based on the dissipative trapped electron mode. It is shown that, depending on the relative relevance of each of these ingredients, which can be tuned in various ways, a variety of non-diffusive radial transport behaviors can be found in the system. The results also illustrate the fact that the classical diffusion paradigm is often insufficient to describe turbulent transport in systems with self-generated flows and turbulent profile relaxations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Coherent anomalous resistivity in the region of electrostatic shocks

Anomalous resistivity in a phase-coherent electrostatic ion cyclotron wave in the region of the auroral electrostatic shocks observed by the S3-3 satellite is considered. It is shown that current-driven shocks and anomalous resistivity will be most important above 5,000 km, where the electron drift velocity is maximized and parallel electric fields are possible. A model for the parallel field based on the dissipation of an Alfven wave pulse by current-driven electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence is presented. In the model, coherent electrostatic ion cyclotron waves lead to anomalous resistivity by electron trapping, producing parallel electric fields greater than 1 mV/m, and may set up the parallel populations necessary to support oblique electrostatic shocks.

Lysak, R. L.↗

A description of electron heating with an electrostatic potential jump in a parallel, collisionless, fire hose shock

The electron heating required if protons scatter elastically in a parallel, collisionless shock is calculated. Near-elastic proton scattering off large amplitude background magnetic field fluctuations might be expected if the waves responsible for the shock dissipation are generated by the fire hose instability. The effects of an electrostatic potential jump in the shock layer are included by assuming that the energy lost by protons in traversing the potential jump is converted into electron thermal pressure. It is found that the electron temperature increase is a strong function of the potential jump. Comparison is made to the parallel shock plasma simulation of Quest (1987).

Ellison, Donald C.↗

Effect of Electrostatic Interaction in the Formation of Dust-Acoustic Shock Wave with Fluctuating Dust Charge

A theoretical investigation on the effect of electrostatic interaction on dust acoustic wave (DAW) has been carried out in weakly nonlinear limit in strongly coupled regime with fluctuating dust charge. The generalized hydrodynamic set of equations is employed in the hydrodynamic limit. The dust−dust electrostatic interaction couples with dust charge fluctuation, as well as the viscosity of the medium, and provides the dissipative effect, which leads to the formation of shock wave in such a system. The novel feature of the present work is that, in the presence of charge fluctuation, the effective electrostatic temperature starts affecting the behavior and also enhancing the formation of monotonic shock wave. In this investigation, the dissipative effect arising due to charge fluctuation is dominant in comparison to the viscosity of the medium in the presence of electrostatic temperature.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Ion acceleration by laser hole-boring into plasmas

By experiment and simulations, we study the interaction of an intense CO{sub 2} laser pulse with slightly overcritical plasmas of fully ionized helium gas. Transverse optical probing is used to show a recession of the front plasma surface with an initial velocity >10{sup 6} m/s driven by hole-boring by the laser pulse and the resulting radiation pressure driven electrostatic shocks. The collisionless shock propagates through the plasma, dissipates into an ion-acoustic solitary wave, and eventually becomes collisional as it slows further. These observations are supported by PIC simulations which prove the conclusion that monoenergetic protons observed in our earlier reported experiment with a hydrogen jet result from ion trapping and reflection from a shock wave driven through the plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Antistatic sprays

Antistatic sprays from several different manufacturers are examined. The sprays are examined for contamination potential (i.e., outgassing and nonvolatile residue), corrosiveness on an aluminum mirror surface, and electrostatic effectiveness. In addition, the chemical composition of the antistatic sprays is determined by infrared spectrophotometry, mass spectrometry, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The results show that 12 of the 17 antistatic sprays examined have a low contamination potential. Of these sprays, 7 are also noncorrosive to an aluminum surface. And of these, only 2 demonstrate good electrostatic properties with respect to reducing voltage accumulation; these sprays did not show a fast voltage dissipation rate however. The results indicate that antistatic sprays can be used on a limited basis where contamination potential, corrosiveness, and electrostatic effectiveness is not critical. Each application is different and proper evaluation of the situation is necessary. Information on some of the properties of some antistatic sprays is presented in this document to aid in the evaluation process.

Ming, James E.↗

Comment on 'Direct observation of the intermittency of intense vorticity filaments in turbulence'

In their discussion of the behavior of vorticity and dissipation in turbulent flow, Douady et al. (1991) proposed an electrostatic analogy for the pressure based on the divergence of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. It is argued here that their proposed interpretation of the pressure source for incompressible flow is unnecessarily narrow and should be extended to compressible and noise-producing flow on the basis of existing theory.

Horne, W. C.↗

Multi-spacecraft observations of collisionless shocks

The ability to make simultaneous, multipoint measurements of field and plasma properties has substantially increased knowledge of the structure and physics of collisionless shocks in space. In addition to allowing the determination of the large-scale macroscopic structure of such shocks as well as reliable estimates of shock normal direction, multipoint measurements have made it possible to measure shock thicknesses and speeds under a variety of upstream conditions. This ability has enabled a number of quantitative analyses of shock structure, including the confirmation of the dispersive whistler-mode character at low Mach numbers, the assessment of the relative importance of magnetic and electrostatic forces within the shock, and a detailed examination of possible dissipation mechanisms.

Thomsen, M. F.↗

Two dimensional nonplanar evolution of electrostatic shock waves in pair-ion plasmas

Electrostatic waves in a two dimensional nonplanar geometry are studied in an unmagnetized, dissipative pair-ion plasma in the presence of weak transverse perturbations. The dissipation in the system is taken into account by incorporating the kinematic viscosity of both positive and negative ions in plasmas. The nonplanar Kadomtsev-Petviashvili-Burgers (KPB) as well as the Burgers Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (Burgers KP) equations are derived using the small amplitude expansion method and the range of applicability of both the equations are discussed. The system under consideration is observed to admit compressive rarefactive shocks. The present study may have relevance to understand the formation of two dimensional nonplanar electrostatic shocks in laboratory plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Producing entangled photon pairs and quantum squeezed states in plasmas

Plasma is capable of mediating the conversion of two pump photons into two different photons through a relativistic four-wave mixing nonlinearity. Spontaneously created photon pairs are emitted at symmetric angles with respect to the colinear pump direction, and the emission rate is largest if they have identical frequency. Thus, two orthogonally polarized pumps can produce polarization-entangled photon pairs through a millimeter-long homogeneous plasma. Here, the noise from Raman scattering can be avoided if the pump detuning differs from twice the plasma frequency. However, pump detuning exactly equal to twice the plasma frequency can significantly enhance the interaction rate, which allows for the production of strong two-mode squeezed states. Remarkably, the amplified noise from Raman scattering are correlated and hence can be suppressed in one of the output quadratures, thereby maintaining the squeezing magnitude.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Collision-dependent power law scalings in two dimensional gyrokinetic turbulence

Nonlinear gyrokinetics provides a suitable framework to describe short-wavelength turbulence in magnetized laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. In the electrostatic limit, this system is known to exhibit a free energy cascade towards small scales in (perpendicular) real and/or velocity space. The dissipation of free energy is always due to collisions (no matter how weak the collisionality), but may be spread out across a wide range of scales. Here, we focus on freely decaying two dimensional electrostatic turbulence on sub-ion-gyroradius scales. An existing scaling theory for the turbulent cascade in the weakly collisional limit is generalized to the moderately collisional regime. In this context, non-universal power law scalings due to multiscale dissipation are predicted, and this prediction is confirmed by means of direct numerical simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Electrostatic Discharges from Conductive Thermal Coatings

Selecting the correct thermal control coating for a spacecraft can be a significant challenge. From the start, the process includes balancing conflicting needs. Thermal control paints must have the ability to either absorb or emit heat as desired and this property cannot change beyond a set point over the life of the mission. When the mission involves operating in a heavy charging environment, the control coating must be static dissipative enough to bleed away absorbed energetic electrons to minimize induced electric fields and the risk of electrostatic discharges. Finding the right balance of thermal performance and electrical performance can be difficult for spacecraft designers. In an effort to aid in spacecraft design, a number of white and black thermal control coatings were tested at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory using a two-part test campaign. These tests involved an initial screening test to determine the bulk resistivity of the material using a traditional parallel plate test, but placed in a vacuum chamber immersed in a bath of liquid nitrogen to obtain data over a range of temperatures. The most promising materials were then exposed to a stream of energetic electrons and monitored for the production of electrostatic discharges. Results from these tests indicated that only a few of the common thermal control coatings have a resistivity below 109 ohm-cm as suggested in NASA-HDBK-4002A. Of those that meet this criterion, most will still produce electrostatic discharges when exposed to electrons with energies from 20keV to 60keV while held at cryogenic temperatures. Additional testing is required to characterize additional coatings to create a database that designers may use when selecting an appropriate coating for their application.

Chinn, James↗

Entanglement of excitons by acoustic guiding

A system is described that exhibits the functionality of a beam-splitter, typically an optical device that splits a beam of light in two. In this case, the beams are acoustic pulses and can lead to the creation of a Wannier-Mott exciton: a bound state of an electron and an electron hole whose attraction to each other is maintained by the electrostatic Coulomb force. This exciton beam-splitter is lossy (i.e., involves the dissipation of electrical or electromagnetic energy). Half of the time the exciton is radiated away. Nevertheless, if the exciton is not lost, the exciton is now in a superposition of two states that can be well separated in position. Four such beam-splitters can be used to make an exciton interferometer that uses the interference patterns from the interacting acoustic pulses to extract information.

Yurke, Bernard↗

Electrostatic Model Applied to ISS Charged Water Droplet Experiment

The electrostatic force can be used to create novel relative motion between charged bodies if it can be isolated from the stronger gravitational and dissipative forces. Recently, Coulomb orbital motion was demonstrated on the International Space Station by releasing charged water droplets in the vicinity of a charged knitting needle. In this investigation, the Multi-Sphere Method, an electrostatic model developed to study active spacecraft position control by Coulomb charging, is used to simulate the complex orbital motion of the droplets. When atmospheric drag is introduced, the simulated motion closely mimics that seen in the video footage of the experiment. The electrostatic force's inverse dependency on separation distance near the center of the needle lends itself to analytic predictions of the radial motion.

Stevenson, Daan↗