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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 577 records · Page 32

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NASA NTRS1999

Particle Detectors and Data Analysis for Cusp Transient Features Campaign

On December 3, 1997, a rocket payload (36.152) was launched from N(sub y) Alesund into the dark cusp at 0906:00 U (1206:00 LT) during an interval of southward B(sub z) and positive B(sub y). Launch occurred during a time interval of northeastward moving auroral forms observed between 0845 and 0945 UT by ground-based meridian scanning photometers. Ground photometric measurements during the flight show that the payload passed over the poleward portion of the most intense 6300 A emissions of the dayside cusp/cleft region. Electrons of energy up to a few hundred eV were detected immediately upon instrument turn-on at an altitude of 205 km and throughout the flight until the payload reached an altitude of -197 km on the downleg. Electron spectra were either quasithermal with peak energies -100 eV or showed evidence of acceleration along the magnetic field line by potentials of 100-200 V. Precipitating ions were observed throughout much of the flight. Their spectra were broadly peaked in energy with the peak energy decreasing from -500 eV to -250 eV as the payload flew approximately westward over the dayside precipitation region. Structure (spatial or temporal intensity variation) was observed between T + 180 s and T + -400 s. At the rocket altitudes (<450 km) the ions were observed to be precipitating. During the flight, the DMSP F-13 satellite passed through the all-sky imager field-of-view just poleward of the brightest dayside emissions enabling the identification of plasma sheet and boundary layer regions along the orbit. We thus conclude that particle fluxes detected by the rocket flight were either cusp plasma or boundary layer/mantle plasma just poleward of the dayside cusp/cleft. A paper describing the fields and plasmas observed during the flight is now being prepared for publication.

Sharber, James R.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Double layer formation

An investigation is conducted of the plasma processes which occur during the formation of a double layer in response to an applied initial electric field, when triggered by a current in the plasma. The important feature of the formation process was the creation of an ion-rich plasma-density cavity. The positive space charge of the cavity was shielded by induction of a negative space charge on the low potential side of the cavity, giving rise to the formation of a fully developed double layer. The shielding was complete only when the electron current from the low potential side exceeded the electron thermal current. It was found that during the formation of double layers counterstreaming electrons are generated. Moreover, transient double layers with reverse polarity also occur during this phase. Thus, the recurring formation of double layers can give rise to flickering double layers.

Singh, N.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Generalized Toeplitz–Hankel matrices and their application to a layered electron gas

We extend the standard result for the eigenspectrum of the Toeplitz matrix C ij = e –κ|i–j| with 0 ≤ i,j ≤ N and κ ϵ C to a combination of a Toeplitz matrix and a Hankel matrix. We apply this result to find the plasma modes of a layered assembly of a 2-dimensional electron gas. We find a sum rule relating the geometric mean of the frequencies of the plasma modes to the determinant of this Toeplitz matrix, for which an analytical expression is obtained. Here, we apply the same technique to the generalized case when the layers are not evenly spaced, where the corresponding matrix is not a Toeplitz-Hankel combination. Despite this fact, it is possible to find properties of the eigenspectrum, and the eigenmodes are localized to a few layers instead of extending across the system.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

NASA NTRS1987

Pumping potential wells

Nonmonotonic plasma potential structures are a common feature of many double layers and sheaths. Steady state plasma potential wells separating regions having different plasma potentials are often found in laboratory experiments. In order to exist, all such structures must find a solution to a common problem. Ions created by charge exchange or ionization in the region of the potential well are electrostatically confined and tend to accumulate and fill up the potential well. The increase in positive charge should eliminate the well. Nevertheless, steady state structures are found in which the wells do not fill up. This means that it is important to take into account processes which pump ions from the well. As examples of ion pumping of plasma wells, potential dips in front of a positively biased electron collecting anode in a relatively cold, low density, multidipole plasma are considered. Pumping is provided by ion leaks from the edges of the potential dip or by oscillating the applied potential. In the former case the two-dimensional character of the problem is shown to be important.

Hershkowitz, N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Ion phase-space vortices and their relation to small amplitude double layers

The properties of ion phase-space vortices are reviewed with particular attention to their role in the formation of small amplitude double layers in current-carrying plasmas. In a one-dimensional analysis, many such double layers simply add up to produce a large voltage drop. A laboratory experiment is carried out in order to investigate the properties of ion phase-space vortices in three dimensions. Their lifetime is significantly reduced as compared with similar results from one-dimensional numerical simulations of the problem.

Pecseli, Hans L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Pumping potential wells

Nonmonotonic plasma potential structures are a common feature of many double layers and sheaths. Steady state plasma potential wells separating regions having different plasma potentials are often found in laboratory experiments. In order to exist, such structures all must find a solution to a common problem. Ions created by charge exchange or ionization in the region of the potential well are electrostatically confined and tend to accumulate and fill up the potential well. The increase in positive charge should eliminate the well. Nevertheless, steady state structures are found in which the wells do not fill up. This means that it is important to take into account processes which 'pump' ions from the well. As examples of ion pumping of plasma wells, potential dips in front of a positively biased electro collecting anode in a relatively cold, low density multidipole plasma is considered. Pumping is provided by ion leaks from the edges of the potential dip or by oscillating the applied potential. In the former case the two dimensional character of the problem is shown to be important.

Hershkowitz, N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Thermal barrier coating life prediction model

The objectives of this research were to determine the predominant modes of degradation of a plasma sprayed thermal barrier coating (TBC) system, and then to develop and verify life prediction models accounting for these degradation modes. The TBC system consists of a low pressure plasma sprayed (LPPS) bond coat layer of Ni-22Cr-10Al-O.3Y, an air plasma sprayed (APS) yttria partially stabilized zirconia (ZrO sub 2-8Y sub 2 O sub 3) top coat on a conventionally cast Rene 80 (Ni base) substrate. Thermal cycle testing of TBCs was employed to evaluate the effect of coating edges, bond coat oxidation, bond coat creep, top coat thickness, and bond coat thickness.

Pilsner, B.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Characterization of a DC Glow Discharge in a Tripped Hypersonic Boundary Layer

A direct current glow discharge plasma was generated on a canonical 2.75° half-angle wedge test article. Experiments were conducted in the Texas A&M University Actively Controlled Expansion tunnel at 𝑀 = 5.7 and 𝑅𝑒 = 6 × 10 6 /m. The effect of Reynolds number, polarity, and upstream perturbation were all independently studied via imaging, power measurements, and optical emission spectroscopy (OES). These measurements are the first to be conducted in a tripped hypersonic boundary layer and allow a deeper understanding of the electrohydrodynamics. The plasma, formally characterized as a normal glow discharge, had negligible Joule and cathode heating effects on the boundary layer. Analogously, the installation of trips upstream of the electrodes changed only the appearance of the plasma, creating periodic streaks corresponding to the wakes and vortices produced by each trip but not altering the power across the electrodes. The plasma power peaked at 47 W, which OES revealed was sufficient to generate NO in the positive column and negative glow.

Casey J. Broslawski↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Characterization of a DC Glow Discharge in a Tripped Hypersonic Boundary Layer

Casey Broslawski↗

DOE OSTI2021

Impurity screening behavior of the high-field side scrape-off layer in near-double-null configurations: prospect for mitigating plasma-material interactions on RF actuators and first-wall components

The impurity screening response of the high-field side (HFS) scrape-off layer (SOL) to localized nitrogen injection is investigated on Alcator C-Mod for magnetic equilibria spanning lower-single null, double-null and upper single null configurations under otherwise identical plasma conditions. L-mode, EDA H-mode and I-mode discharges are investigated. HFS impurity screening is found to depend on magnetic flux balance and the direction of B×?B relative to the most active divertor. Impurity ‘plume’ emission patterns indicate that both parallel and perpendicular (E×B) flows in the SOL contribute to the ‘flushing’ of impurities towards the active divertor, thereby affecting the overall impurity screening behavior. Despite the fact that the HFS scrape-off layer is extremely narrow in near-double-null configurations, this SOL is able to screen locally injected nitrogen at least as effectively as the low-field side (LFS) SOL – up to a factor of 10 more effective, depending on specific plasma conditions and whether the magnetic geometry produces parallel flows that work with or against E×B flows. For situations in which the E×B drift of the impurity ions opposes parallel flow toward the primary divertor, HFS impurity screening is found to be least effective. When E×B drifts assist parallel flow toward the primary divertor, HFS impurity screening is found to be very effective. These data support the idea of placing RF actuators and close-fitting wall components on the high-field side of the tokamak. With this configuration, near-double-null magnetic topologies may be used for active control of plasma parameters at the antenna/plasma interface for optimal RF coupling, mitigate the generation of local impurities from plasma-material interactions and, taking advantage of favorable plasma flows and good screening properties of the HFS SOL, further minimize the impact of wall-born impurity sources on the plasma core.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Open-air plasma-assisted deposition of organosilicon coating for corrosion protection of AZ91D Mg alloy

As a corrosion barrier layer, open-air plasma-assisted organosilicon coating was applied on AZ91D Mg alloy. Organosilicon-coated AZ91D samples, prepared from two different plasma coating processes, were used for corrosion evaluation based on multistep electrochemical and H 2 collection measurements in 3.5 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Some coated AZ91D samples were characterized with and without corrosion exposure in NaCl solution using electron microscopies and X-ray chemical analysis techniques. Further, the results indicate that the organosilicon coatings from open-air plasma processes are effective to delay the initiation of corrosion attack and also reduce the corrosion rate for AZ91D substrate. The corrosion attack was considered to develop after permeation of NaCl solution through the coating layer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1981

A sputtered zirconia primer for improved thermal shock resistance of plasma sprayed ceramic turbine seals

The development of plasma-sprayed yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic turbine blade tip seal components is discussed. The YSZ layers are quite thick (0.040 to 0.090 in.). The service potential of seal components with such thick ceramic layers is cyclic thermal shock limited. The most usual failure mode is ceramic layer delamination at or very near the interface between the plasma sprayed YSZ layer and the NiCrAlY bondcoat. Deposition of a thin RF sputtered YSZ primer to the bondcoat prior to deposition of the thick plasma sprayed YSZ layer was found to reduce laminar cracking in cyclic thermal shock testing. The cyclic thermal shock life of one ceramic seal design was increased by a factor of 5 to 6 when the sputtered YSZ primer was incorporated. A model based on thermal response of plasma sprayed YSZ particles impinging on the bondcoat surface with and without the sputtered YSZ primer provides a basis for understanding the function of the primer.

Bill, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Model of electron collecting plasma contactors

In laboratory experiments, plasma contactors are observed to collect ampere-level electron currents with low impedance. In order to extend the laboratory experience to the low-earth-orbit environment, a model of plasma contactors is being developed. Laboratory results are being used to support and validate the model development. The important physical processes observed in the laboratory are that the source plasma is separated from the background plasma by a double layer and that ionization of the expellant gas by the collected electrons creates the bulk of the ions that leave the source plasma. The model, which uses Poisson's equation with a physical charge density that includes the ion and electron components of both the source and the ambient plasmas, reproduces this phenomenon for typical experimental parameters. The calculations, in agreement with the laboratory results, show little convergence of the accelerated electrons. The angular momentum of the incoming electrons dramatically reduces the peak electron density. These electrons ionize enough gas to generate the source plasma. Calculations show that the increase in ionization rate with potential produces a steep rise in collected current with increasing potential as seen in the laboratory.

Davis, V. A.↗

DOE OSTI2023

A novel design of transitional layer structure between reduced activation ferritic martensitic steels and tungsten for plasma facing materials

Plasma-facing components (PFCs) are among the most critical gaps for fusion energy to establish technical and economic feasibility. Tungsten as a first wall/blanket material in PFCs requires to be integrating with reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) steels as a structural component. Currently, major drawbacks are the requirement of brazing, the formation of a brittle interface, and a large difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of tungsten and steel. Here, a novel transitional multilayer structure was designed and investigated to join tungsten and RAFM steels using three interlayers. The composition of each interlayer was selected based on computational thermodynamics and diffusion kinetics to ensure a body-centered cubic (bcc) single-phase structure and prevent the formation of a brittle intermetallic phase region in the temperature range of 600–1150 °C. Although the transitional layer structure was designed for additive manufacturing, spark plasma sintering (SPS) as proof of concept was used to bond the individual layers. Interfaces were investigated using scanning and transmission electron microscopy methods but no layered intermetallic phase was observed. Nanoindentation maps across the interface suggest major hardness differences at the interface between tungsten and the vanadium interlayer, as well as the interface between RAFM steel and the FeCrAl interlayer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1997

Boundary Layer Formation in the Magnetotail: Geotail Observations and Comparisons with a Global MHD Simulation

We present Geotail plasma and field observations from the middle magnetotail near X(sub GSE) = -46 R(sub E) for the time period 1400 to 1800 UT on December 14, 1994. During that period, the Wind satellite monitored the solar wind plasma and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) upstream of the bow shock. The IMF was northward and the plasma parameters near average. Geotail observed slow tailward flows and a northward field. The plasma and field parameters indicate that Geotail is either in the plasma sheet or in a boundary layer. We used the Wind solar wind plasma and IMF data as input for a global simulation of that time interval. Comparison of the simulation results with the observational data show very good overall agreement of the magnitudes of the plasma and field parameters. In particular, the simulation reproduces the slow tailward flows and northward field found at Geotail. Small scale temporal, variations are less well reproduced. The simulation shows the formation of a broad boundary layer (which we call tail flank boundary layer, TFBL) that consists of closed flux which is formed by magnetic magnetic reconnection of IMF and lobe field lines. The simulation results indicate that Geotail is located very close to the TFBL and may have entered the TFBL proper. We show that the TFBL plays an important role in energy transport from the solar wind into the magnetosphere during northward IMF conditions.

Raeder, J.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Slow Shock Formation Upstream of Reconnecting Current Sheets

The formation, development, and impact of slow shocks in the upstream regions of reconnecting current layers are explored. Slow shocks have been documented in the upstream regions of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of magnetic reconnection as well as in similar simulations with the kglobal kinetic macroscale simulation model. They are therefore a candidate mechanism for preheating the plasma that is injected into the current layers that facilitate magnetic energy release in solar flares. Of particular interest is their potential role in producing the hot thermal component of electrons in flares. During multi-island reconnection, the formation and merging of flux ropes in the reconnecting current layer drives plasma flows and pressure disturbances in the upstream region. These pressure disturbances steepen into slow shocks that propagate along the reconnecting component of the magnetic field and satisfy the expected Rankine–Hugoniot jump conditions. Plasma heating arises from both compression across the shock and the parallel electric field that develops to maintain charge neutrality in a kinetic system. Shocks are weaker at lower plasma β, where shock steepening is slow. While these upstream slow shocks are intrinsic to the dynamics of multi-island reconnection, their contribution to electron heating remains relatively minor compared with that from Fermi reflection and the parallel electric fields that bound the reconnection outflow.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1996

Formation of the Electric Double Layer and its Effects on Moving Bodies in a Space Plasma Environment

In this paper we solve the self-consistent Vlasov and Poisson equations by a numerical method to determine the local distribution function of the ion and the electron, within a thin layer near the moving body, respectively. Using these ion and electron distributions, the number density for the ions and electrons are determined, such that, the electric potential is obtained within this thin layer (i.e., measured by Debye length). Numerical results are presented for temporal evolution of the electron and ion density and its corresponding electric potential within the layer which shows the formation of electric double layer and its structures. From these numerical results, we are able to determine the maximum conditions of the electric potential, it may create satellite anomaly.

Yang, Qianli↗

NASA NTRS1981

Fully plasma-sprayed compliant backed ceramic turbine seal

A seal with a high temperature abradable lining material which encircles the tips of turbine blades in turbomachinery was designed. The seal is directed to maintaining the minimum operating clearances between the blade tips and the lining of a high pressure turbine. A low temperature easily decomposable material in powder form is blended with a high temperature oxidation resistant metal powder. The two materials are simultaneously deposited on a substrate formed by the turbine casing. Alternately, the polymer powder may be added to the metal powder during plasma spraying. A ceramic layer is then deposited directly onto the metal-polymer composite. The polymer additive mixed with the metal is then completely volatilized to provide a porous layer between the ceramic layer and the substrate. Thermal stresses are reduced by the porous structure which gives a cushion effect. No brazing is required by using only plasma spraying for depositing both the powders of the metal and polymer material as well as the ceramic powder.

Bill, R. C.↗