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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

A laboratory study of ion energization by EIC waves and subsequent upstreaming along diverging magnetic field lines

A laboratory study related to energetic upstreaming ions in the ionosphere-magnetosphere system is described. The experiment was carried out in a cesium Q machine plasma with a region of nonuniform magnetic field. Electrostatic ion cyclotron waves were excited by drawing an electron current to a small biased exciter electrode. In the presence of the instability, ions are heated in the direction perpendicular to B. Using a gridded retarding potential ion energy analyzer, the evolution of the ion velocity distribution was followed as the ions passed through the heating region and subsequently flowed out along the diverging B field lines. As expected, the heated ions transfer their energy from perpendicular to parallel motion as they move through the region of diverging B field. Both their parallel thermal energy and the parallel drift energy increase at the expense of the perpendicular energy.

Cartier, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Experimental tests of a toroidal electrostatic analyzer

A toroidal electrostatic analyzer of a design suitable for space plasma instrumentation has been constructed and tested. Experimental results are compared with second-order ion optical theory and are in good agreement. Verifying the ion optics of the toroid was simplified by use of a position-sensing microchannel-plate detector mounted on a positioning system with three translational degrees of freedom located at the toroid exit. The toroidal analyzer described here is the first optical element in a fully toroidal mass spectrograph intended for analysis of kilovolt magnetospheric plasmas.

Young, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Computer simulation of the Farley-Buneman instability and anomalous electron heating in the auroral ionosphere

The nonlinear saturation of the Farley-Buneman instability in a collisional plasma is studied by a 2 1/2 dimensional electrostatic particle simulation which includes inelastic and elastic collisions of electrons and elastic collision of ions with neutrals. In the simulation, a uniform convection electric field is applied externally so that the relative velocity between the electrons and ions is greater than the ion sound speed and destabilizes the instability. A nonlinear frequency shift from higher to lower frequencies and diffusion of the wave spectrum in two dimensional wave number space are found. It is found that the dominant mechanism for electron heating is due to an enhanced effective electron collision frequency and hence enhanced resistive heating as suggested by Primdahl (1986) and not due to the heating of electrons by the electric field of the waves parallel to the magnetic field. For the ionospheric conditions discussed by Schlegel and St.-Maurice (1981)an anomalous heating rate of about 4 x 10 to the 7th W/cu cm is found.

Machida, S.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Neutralizer Characterization of a NEXT Multi-Thruster Array With Electrostatic Probes

Neutralizers in a multi-thruster array configuration were characterized using conventional diagnostics such as peak-to-peak keeper oscillation amplitude as well as unconventional methods which featured the application of electrostatic probes. The response of the array local plasma environment to neutralizer flow rate changes were documented using Langmuir probes and retarding potential analyzers. Such characterization is necessary for system efficiency and stability optimization. Because the local plasma environment was measured in conjunction with the neutralizer characterization, particle fluxes at the array and thus array lifetime impacts associated with neutralizer operating mode could also be investigated. Neutralizer operating condition was documented for a number of multithruster array configurations ranging from three-engines, three-neutralizers to a single engine, one-neutralizer all as a function of neutralizer flow rate.

Foster, John E.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Shuttle Communications and Tracking, Avionics, and Electromagnetic Compatibility

By definition, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is the capability of components, sub-systems, and systems, to operate in their intended electromagnetic environment, within an established margin of safety, and at design levels of performance. Practice of the discipline itself incorporates knowledge of various aspects of applied physics, materials science, and engineering across the board, and includes control and mitigation of undesirable electromagnetic interaction between intentional and unintentional emitters and receivers of radio frequency energy, both within and external to the vehicle; identification and control of the hazards of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation to personnel, ordnance, and fuels and propellants; and vehicle and system protection from the direct and indirect effects of lightning and various other forms of electrostatic discharge (ESD) threats, such as triboelectrification and plasma charging. EMC is extremely complex and far-reaching, affecting in some degree every aspect of the vehicle s design and operation. The most successful efforts incorporate EMC design features and techniques throughout design and fabrication of the vehicle s structure and components, as well as appropriate operational considerations with regard to electromagnetic threats in the operational environment, from the beginning of the design effort to the end of the life cycle of the manufactured product. This approach yields the highest design performance with the lowest cost and schedule impact.

deSilva, K.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Azimuthal Spoke Propagation in Hall Effect Thrusters

Spokes are azimuthally propagating perturbations in the plasma discharge of Hall Effect Thrusters (HETs) that travel in the E x B direction and have been observed in many different systems. The propagation of azimuthal spokes are investigated in a 6 kW HET known as the H6 using ultra-fast imaging and azimuthally spaced probes. A spoke surface is a 2-D plot of azimuthal light intensity evolution over time calculated from 87,500 frames/s videos. The spoke velocity has been determined using three methods with similar results: manual fitting of diagonal lines on the spoke surface, linear cross-correlation between azimuthal locations and an approximated dispersion relation. The spoke velocity for three discharge voltages (300, 400 and 450 V) and three anode mass flow rates (14.7, 19.5 and 25.2 mg/s) yielded spoke velocities between 1500 and 2200 m/s across a range of normalized magnetic field settings. The spoke velocity was inversely dependent on magnetic field strength for low B-field settings and asymptoted at B-field higher values. The velocities and frequencies are compared to standard drifts and plasma waves such as E x B drift, electrostatic ion cyclotron, magnetosonic and various drift waves. The empirically approximated dispersion relation yielded a characteristic velocity that matched the ion acoustic speed for 5 eV electrons that exist in the near-anode and near-field plume regions of the discharge channel based on internal measurements. Thruster performance has been linked to operating mode where thrust-to-power is maximized when azimuthal spokes are present so investigating the underlying mechanism of spokes will benefit thruster operation.

Cylindrical Hall Thruster (CHT)↗
NASA NTRS1986

Interaction of upgoing auroral H(+) and O(+) beams

Data from the S3-3 and DE 1 satellites are analyzed to study the interaction between H(+) and O(+) ions in upgoing auroral beams. Every data set analyzed showed some evidence of an interaction. The measured plasma was found to be unstable to a low-frequency electrostatic wave that propagates at an oblique angle to vector-B(0). A second wave, which can propagate parallel to vector-B(0), is weakly damped in the plasma studied in most detail. It is likely that the upgoing ion beams generate this parallel wave at lower altitudes. The resulting wave-particle interactions qualitatively can explain most of the features observed in ion distribution functions.

Kaufmann, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Gyrokinetic simulations of momentum flux parasitic to free-energy transfer

Ion Landau damping interacts with a portion of the E × B drift to cause a nondiffusive outward flux of co-current toroidal angular momentum. Quantitative evaluation of this momentum flux requires nonlinear simulations to determine f L , the fraction of fluctuation free energy that passes through ion Landau damping, in fully developed turbulence. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations with the GKW code confirm the presence of the systematic symmetry-breaking momentum flux. For simulations with adiabatic electrons, f L scales inversely with the ion temperature gradient, because only the ion curvature drift can transfer free energy to the electrostatic potential. Although kinetic electrons should, in principle, relax this restriction, the ion Landau damping measured in collisionless kinetic-electron simulations remained at low levels comparable with ion-curvature-drift transfer, except when magnetic shear $\hat{s}$ was strong. A set of simulations scanning the electron pitch-angle scattering rate showed only a weak variation of f L with the electron collisionality. Still, collisional-electron simulations with electron temperature greater than ion temperature unambiguously showed electron-curvature-drift transfer supporting ion Landau damping, leading to a corresponding enhancement of the symmetry-breaking momentum flux.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Anticathode effect on multimodal azimuthal oscillations in electron beam generated E×B plasma

Electron beam (e-beam) generated plasmas with applied crossed electric and magnetic (⁠E x B⁠) fields are promising for low-damage (gentle) material processing. However, these plasmas can be subject to the formation of plasma non-uniformities propagating in the ⁠E x B direction. These rotating plasma structures (or “spokes”) enhance the transport of charged species across the magnetic field, which can harm the gentle processing capability of the plasma. In this work, we investigate the role of electrostatically active boundaries on the spoke formation by incorporating a variable bias conducting boundary (known as an anticathode) placed on the axially opposite side of the cathode. Our findings indicate azimuthal mode suppression occurs when the anticathode is electron collecting. Furthermore, we show selective azimuthal mode suppression by biasing the anticathode to an intermediate potential between the cathode and anode potentials. In conclusion, these findings suggest a link between the axial electron confinement in the e-beam generated plasma and azimuthally propagating plasma structure formation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1972

Three-dimensional plasma diffusion in a very strong magnetic field.

The thermal equilibrium coefficient of spatial diffusion transverse to a strong uniform dc magnetic field is calculated for a fully ionized plasma. The particles are assumed to move transverse to the field only as a consequence of the E x B drift, but to move freely parallel to it. The particles interact only electrostatically. The calculation is done at large, but fixed and finite, plasma volume. It is shown that, as magnetic field density approaches infinity, the leading term of the coefficient of transverse spatial diffusion falls off in a prescribed manner, but contains a multiplicative factor which goes to zero as the plasma volume becomes infinite. The method of calculation fails for unbounded plasmas.

Montgomery, D.↗
DOE OSTI2025

The gyrokinetic field invariant and electromagnetic temperature-gradient instabilities in ‘good-curvature’ plasmas

Curvature-driven instabilities are ubiquitous in magnetised fusion plasmas. By analysing the conservation laws of the gyrokinetic system of equations, we demonstrate that the well-known spatial localisation of these instabilities to regions of ‘bad magnetic curvature’ can be explained using the conservation law for a sign-indefinite quadratic quantity that we call the gyrokinetic field invariant. Its evolution equation allows us to define the local effective magnetic curvature whose sign demarcates the regions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ curvature, which, under some additional simplifying assumptions, can be shown to correspond to the inboard (high-field) and outboard (low-field) sides of a tokamak plasma, respectively. We find that, given some reasonable assumptions, electrostatic curvature-driven modes are always localised to the regions of bad magnetic curvature, regardless of the specific character of the instability. More importantly, we also deduce that any mode that is unstable in the region of good magnetic curvature must be electromagnetic in nature. As a concrete example, we present the magnetic-drift mode, a novel good-curvature electromagnetic instability, and compare its properties with the well-known electron-temperature-gradient instability. Finally, we discuss the relevance of the magnetic drift mode for high-β fusion plasmas, and in particular its relationship with microtearing modes.

fusion plasma↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electron-field instability: Excitation of electron plasma waves by an electric field

Electric fields are commonplace in plasmas and affect transport by driving currents and, in some cases, instabilities. The necessary condition for instability in collisionless plasmas is commonly understood to be described by the Penrose criterion, which quantifies a sufficient relative drift between different populations of particles that must be present for wave amplification via inverse Landau damping. For example, electric fields generate drifts between electrons and ions that can excite the ion-acoustic instability. Here, we use particle-in-cell simulations and linear stability analysis to show that the electric field can drive a fundamentally different type of kinetic instability, named the electron-field instability. This instability excites electron plasma waves with wavelengths ≳30λ De , has a growth rate that is proportional to the electric field strength, and does not require a relative drift between electrons and ions. The Penrose criterion does not apply when accounting for the electric field. Furthermore, the large value of the observed frequency, near the electron plasma frequency, further distinguishes it from the standard ion-acoustic instability, which oscillates near the ion plasma frequency. The ubiquity of macroscopic electric fields in quasineutral plasmas suggests that this instability is possible in a host of systems, including low-temperature and space plasmas. In fact, damping from neutral collisions in such systems is often not enough to completely damp the instability, adding to the robustness of the instability across plasma conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2011

Solar Wind Access to Lunar Polar Craters: Feedback Between Surface Charging and Plasma Expansion

Determining the plasma environment within permanently shadowed lunar craters is critical to understanding local processes such as surface charging, electrostatic dust transport, volatile sequestration, and space weathering. In order to investigate the nature of this plasma environment, the first two-dimensional kinetic simulations of solar wind expansion into a lunar crater with a self-consistent plasma-surface interaction have been undertaken. The present results reveal how the plasma expansion into a crater couples with the electrically-charged lunar surface to produce a quasi-steady wake structure. In particular, there is a negative feedback between surface charging and ambipolar wake potential that allows an equilibrium to be achieved, with secondary electron emission strongly moderating the process. A range of secondary electron yields is explored, and two distinct limits are highlighted in which either surface charging or ambipoiar expansion is responsible for determining the overall wake structure.

Zimmerman, M. I.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Studies on equatorial shock formation during plasmaspheric refilling

During the grant period starting August 1, 1992, our major effort has been on examining the presence of equatorially trapped hot plasma on plasmaspheric refilling. We performed one-dimensional PIC simulations of cold plasmas expanding into a hot plasma, consisting of hot anisotropic ions and warm isotropic electrons, trapped in a region of minimum magnetic field. Simulations showed that the electric potential barrier built up by the anisotropy of the hot ion population facilitates in the formation of electrostatic shocks when the cold ion beams begin to come into contact with the hot plasma. The shock formation occurs even when the cold ion beams are highly supersonic with respect to the ion-acoustic speed. This finding is interesting because equatorial shock formation during the early stage of plasmaspheric refilling has been debated over about two decades. In the past ion-ion instability has been invoked as the main mechanism for the coupling between the cold ion beams approaching the equator from the conjugate ionspheres. This coupling occurs when the beams are sufficiently slow; the beam velocity being less than three times the ion-acoustic speed. In the presence of hot plasma, the beams slow down by the potential barrier. The slowing down and the reflection process lead to the formation of the electrostatic shock even for highly supersonic ion beams. The mixing of hot and cold plasma was also studied.

Singh, Nagendra↗
DOE OSTI2024

On the force exerted on a non-spherical asymmetric dust grain from homogeneous, stationary, isotropic, non-magnetized plasma

Whereas the conventional wisdom suggests that the force between non-magnetized homogeneous, stationary, isotropic plasma, and the dust grain is only possible for the case of relative plasma–grain velocity, it is shown that stationary non-spherical asymmetric dust grain immersed in stationary, non-magnetized, isotropic plasma can experience a force caused by the grain–plasma interactions. The component of the force due to scattering of plasma particles in the limit of infinite Debye length is considered analytically. Both the particle scattering and absorption force components are modeled numerically in the limits of infinite and finite Debye length using a newly developed 2D3V Aspherical Particle-in-Cell code. The code simulates interactions of dust grain of selected non-spherical asymmetric shape with plasmas using dust shape conforming coordinates. Here, the simulations confirm the existence of the force on non-spherical asymmetric grain in stationary non-magnetized plasma and show that the plasma screening effects can lead to reversal of the force direction.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1983

Plasma waves in the Jovian magnetosphere

Any waves which are influenced by the presence of a plasma are called plasma waves. In general, plasma waves can be classified as either electromagnetic, which have both electric and magnetic fields, or electrostatic, which have no magnetic field. The recent Voyager encounters provide the basis for the first comprehensive investigation of plasma waves in the magnetosphere of Jupiter. The most striking feature of the Jovian plasma-wave observations is the very close similarity to the plasma-wave phenomena observed in the earth's magnetosphere. In a description of the plasma-wave results obtained with the aid of Voyager, the observed phenomena are discussed in several broad categories. Attention is given to the upstream waves and the bow shock, the trapped continuum radiation, upper hybrid and electron cyclotron waves, whistler-mode waves, and broadband electrostatic noise.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Thermal Control Coating Charging Tests for the Europa Clipper Mission

Thermal control coatings are an essential part of spacecraft systems. Typically, these coatings are directly exposed to the space environment, which means they must be designed and applied in a manner that can withstand exposure to radiation, ultra-violet light, thermal cycles, etc. In the case of the Europa Clipper mission, the thermal control coatings must also have relatively low resistivity in order to minimize electrostatic charging (and discharging) due to the abundant low-energy plasma populations in the Jovian environment. This paper will present the results of a test campaign led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to find thermal control coating solutions that minimized the occurrence of electrostatic discharges – even at cryogenic temperature conditions. The customized laboratory test system at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will be described, along with the test requirements and conditions. Finally, a summary of the coatings with the best electrostatic characteristics will be provided.

Thermal Control Coatings↗
DOE OSTI2023

Critical role of isopotential surfaces for magnetostatic ponderomotive forces

By producing localized wave regions at the ends of an open-field-line magnetic confinement system, ponderomotive walls can be used to differentially confine different species in the plasma. Furthermore, if the plasma is rotating, this wall can be magnetostatic in the laboratory frame, resulting in simpler engineering and better power flow. However, recent work on such magnetostatic walls has shown qualitatively different potentials than those found in the earlier, nonrotating theory. Here, using a simple slab model of a ponderomotive wall, we resolve this discrepancy. We show that the form of the ponderomotive potential in the comoving plasma frame depends on the assumption made about the electrostatic potential in the laboratory frame. If the laboratory-frame potential is unperturbed by the magnetic oscillation, one finds a parallel-polarized wave in the comoving frame, while if each field line remains equipotential throughout the perturbation region, one finds a perpendicularly polarized wave. As a result, this in turn dramatically changes the averaged ponderomotive force experienced by a charged particle along the field line, not only its scaling, but also its direction.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗