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Results for “Adiabatic invariance”

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 73 records · Page 4
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NASA NTRS1979

Further observational support for the lossy radial diffusion model of the inner Jovian magnetosphere

A mathematical model describing radial diffusion, with violation of the third adiabatic invariant and with local losses, is applied to the Pioneer 10 and 11 observations of omnidirectional integral intensities of electrons with energy exceeding 21 MeV. Local losses outside L = 3 are much stronger than synchrotron losses but weaker than the losses one would expect for strong pitch angle diffusion. If radial diffusion is driven by ionospheric winds, as was suggested by Brice and McDonough (1973), it is found that the theoretical solution which best fits the data requires that the radial diffusion coefficient equals 3 x 10 to the -9th L-cubed/s and the lifetime against local losses is approximately a few million seconds.

Goertz, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Magnetopause characteristics inferred from three-dimensional energetic particle distributions

Three-dimensional distributions for 24- to 44.5 KeV protons (ions) are presented from the ISEE 1 medium-energy particles instrument during a magnetopause traversal at about 0145:00 hours UT on November 20, 1977. The use of these data and simple particle orbit geometry makes it possible to infer magnetopause boundary location, orientation, and velocity. The results are consistent with both overall boundary motions toward and away from the earth at velocities of 10-20 km/s and the presence of a surface wave on the boundary. For the case analyzed, the boundary appears stable and well defined, being capable of supporting trapped type distributions (conservation of the first and second adiabatic invariants) within a fraction of a gyroradius from the magnetosheath field where no trapping is observed.

Williams, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Precipitation fluxes of energetic electrons at Jupiter - An estimated upper limit

Divine's (1976) model for the observed energetic electron fluxes in the inner Jovian magnetosphere is used to calculate space densities, and the combined source and loss term is evaluated for steady-state radial diffusion conserving the first and second adiabatic invariants. Upper-limit estimates for the ionospheric precipitation fluxes at various values of L and over various electron energy ranges are derived by assuming that contributions to the source term are negligible and that particle precipitation due to pitch-angle diffusion in the loss cone is the main contributor to the loss term. The energy deposition rates corresponding to these precipitated particles are estimated, along with the bremsstrahlung X-ray emissions that should result. It is found that the X-ray emissions should be 5 to 6 orders of magnitude below the reported upper observational limit.

Thomsen, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A source for the geomagnetic storm main phase ring current

The paper considers a proposed source for the geomagnetic storm main phase ring current. It is shown that the flux increases of trapped ions and electrons observed by Explorer 45 at L below 4 during two large geomagnetic storms can be explained by inward radial displacement of the preexisting trapped particle distribution. The proposed source requires only the acceleration of the previously entrapped particle population by inward displacement under conservation of the first two adiabatic invariants. It is suggested that a significant difference between large geomagnetic storms and typical substorm activity may be the inward convection occurring over a large longitude range during storms, but only over a small longitude range during typical substorms.

Lyons, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Phase space variations of near equatorially mirroring ring current ions

Observations of near equatorially mirroring ring current ions before and after a magnetic storm are presented in the form of phase space densities with respect to the first adiabatic invariant. Particle densities were obtained from the medium energy particles instrument covering the energy range 24-2081 keV on ISEE 1 at L values between 3 and 8 earth radii and ratios of the magnetic field at the satellite position to the magnetic field at the magnetic equator less than 1.2. Analysis of the phase space densities through the magnetosphere reveals a well-defined high magnetic moment peak in the prestorm near-equatorial ring current ion phase space density distribution, with the magnetic storm resulting from an enhancement of phase space densities at magnetic moment values below the peak and phase space densities remaining constant above the peak. Results are found to be in good agreement with those obtained by Explorer 45 six years previously, indicating that the observed phase space density variations are characteristic of energetic ion behavior during magnetic storms.

Williams, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A comparison of characteristic times for satellite absorption of energetic protons trapped in the Jovian and Saturnian magnetic fields

The characteristic times for the absorption of energetic particles trapped in the Jupiter and Saturn magnetospheres by the respective planetary satellites are compared on the basis of Pioneer 10 and 11 data. Characteristic radiation lifetimes with respect to satellite absorption were calculated on the basis of a model of the radial diffusion of particles by the violation of the third adiabatic invariant in the presence of perfectly absorbing satellites, taking into account the tilt and offset of the planetary magnetic dipole moment vectors with respect to the spin axis and the finite gyroradii and bounce periods of the trapped particles. For energetic particles of dipole moments from 1 to 10,000 MeV/G, it is found that the Saturnian times average at least an order of magnitude less than the Jovian times, and the Jovian times increase with increasing trapped particle magnetic mirror latitude. If it is assumed that the rates of radial diffusion are comparable in the two magnetospheres, the results indicate that the Saturnian satellites are more efficient absorbers of inwardly diffusing ions than are the Jovian satellites, due to the near rotational symmetry of the Saturnian magnetic field.

Hood, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Anomalous resistivity on auroral field lines

Consideration is given to a possible explanation for the one-dimensional anomalous resistivity and breakdown of runaway acceleration observed in the auroral zones. It is shown that under conditions existing along auroral field lines, where the cyclotron frequency is greater than the plasma frequency and density fluctuations exceed 0.25, trapping of a major portion of the electron distribution function by large-amplitude ion cyclotron waves can inhibit the free acceleration of runaways and act to violate the conservation of the first adiabatic invariant for electrons above a certain threshold velocity. Particle simulations combining the effects of finite ion cavities and pitch angle scattering at the anomalous Doppler resonance are then presented which demonstrate the formation of a runaway distribution upon the application of a constant dc field and the effects of the instability at the anomalous Doppler resonance in preventing it. The necessity for further large-scale macrophysics simulations to gain a fuller understanding of the total system dynamics is pointed out.

Rowland, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Galactic mass loss - A mild evolutionary correction to the angular size test

Galactic mass loss due to gas production by an evolving stellar population and removal due to supernovae or some other energy source can alter the size of a galaxy over a long time through the adiabatic invariants of the orbits. Numerical and analytic results show that if the mass profile changes homologously, the scale size of the galaxy does also. Under conventional assumptions about galaxy age and initial mass function, this bloating is smaller than the differences between open and flat cosmologies at z = 0.5. If, however, some elliptical galaxies maintain star formation until recent epochs and then lose a (correspondingly) larger fraction of their mass, the effect may be important. It may also be important in decreasing the size of cD galaxies as a result of gas accretion.

Richstone, D. O.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The magnetosphere of Saturn

Information about the magnetosphere of Saturn is provided: the magnetic dipole moment is axisymmetric, the bow shock stand-off distance is about 22 R sub S. The satellites Titan, Dione, and Tethys are probably the primary sources of magnetospheric plasma. Outside of approx. 4 R sub S, energetic particles are energized by diffusing inward while conserving their first and second adiabatic invariants. Particles are lost by satellite sweep-out, absorption byt the E ring and probably also by plasma interactions. The inner magnetosphere is characterized.

Schardt, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Radial evolution of ion distribution functions

A survey of solar wind ion velocity distributions and derived parameters (temperature, ion differential speed, heat flux, adiabatic invariants) is presented with emphasis on the heliocentric distance range between 0.3 and 1 AU traversed by the Helios solar probe. The radial evolution of nonthermal features are discussed which are observed to be most pronounced at perihelion. Within the framework of quasilinear plasma theory, wave particle interactions that may shape the ion distributions are considered. Some results of a self consistent model calculation are presented accounting for ion acceleration and heating by resonant momentum and energy exchange with ion cyclotron and magnetosonic waves propagating away from the Sun along the interplanetary magnetic field. Another tentative explanation for the occurrence of large perpendicular proton temperatures is offered in terms of heating by Landau damping of lower hybrid waves.

Marsch, E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Trapped particle absorption by the Ring of Jupiter

The interaction of trapped radiation with the ring of Jupiter is investigated. Because it is an identical problem, the rings of Saturn and Uranus are also examined. Data from the Pioneer II encounter, deductions for some of the properties of the rings of Jupiter and Saturn. Over a dozen Jupiter magnetic field models are available in a program that integrates the adiabatic invariants to compute B and L. This program is to label our UCSD Pioneer II encounter data with the most satisfactory of these models. The expected effects of absorbing material on the trapped radiation are studied to obtain the loss rate as a function of ring properties. Analysis of the particle diffusion problem rounds out the theoretical end of the ring absorption problem. Other projects include identification of decay products for energetic particle albedo off the rings and moons of Saturn and a search for flux transfer events at the Jovian magnetopause.

Fillius, W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Voyager observations of Saturnian ion and electron phase space densities

Voyager 1 and 2 low-energy charged particle (LECP) observations of 30-keV to 2-MeV electron and ion energy spectra and angular distributions have been used to calculate phase space densities at constant first and second adiabatic invariants in the Saturnian magnetosphere. The results are generally consistent with inward radial diffusion from an external source. The data obtained also indicate a source of ions located within the orbital distance of Enceladus capable of producing 10- to 40-MeV/Gauss ions as well as a source of electrons at about 3.5 Saturn radii which produces particles at 100 to 200 MeV/Gauss. Higher magnetic moment (200-400 MeV/Gauss) ions extend from the sunward boundary between a plasma mantle and the region of durable trapping at the Saturn radius; the behavior of the phase space density suggests inward diffusion of these particles from a source at the boundary. The identification of sources of low (10 to 200 MeV/Gauss) magnetic moment particles deep in the Saturnian magnetosphere is a new result of this work. Several analyses of the observed phase space densities in terms of time-independent radial diffusion are presented.

Armstrong, T. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A reexamination of rotational and tangential discontinuities in the solar wind

An analysis is made of interplanetary tangential and rotational solar wind discontinuities (TD and RD) and comparisons are made between the features of RDs and TDs. An ISEE 3 field and positive ion data set from 1978 includes high time resolution magnetometer data and is used for the comparisons, as are data from a positive ion analyzer. The field magnitude of RDs remains constant as the field rotates, while that of a TD passes through a local minimum. First and second adiabatic invariants for protons and He abundances are usually also conserved for RDs but not for TDs. The velocity change for an RD across a discontinuity is smaller than that predicted by MHD theory. Finally, plasma conditions at a discontinuity more closely resemble RDs than TDs.

Neugebauer, M.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Currents in the earth's magnetotail

Currents in the earth's magnetotail are detected with the plasma instrumentation on board the ISEE-1 spacecraft. Field-aligned currents directed into and out of the ionosphere are found in the boundary layer of the plasma sheet. Typical current densities are in the range of 5 x 10-9 to 5 x 10-8 A/m2. These currents are associated with the Region 1 current system that is observed previously at low altitudes. An intense current sheet is shown to exist at a discontinuity in convection electric fields during a period of great magnetic activity. Electron acceleration, similar to that for electron inverted-V precipitation regions at low altitudes, occurs in this current sheet. Examination of the plasma velocity distributions at a neutral-sheet crossing reveals that the neutral sheet current is carried by electrons and protons. The relative directions for the bulk flows of the proton and electron plasmas indicate that the first adiabatic invariant is not conserved for the protons, and quite possibly for the electrons also. These letter findings are in substantial agreement with a neutral sheet model for acceleration of charged particles in the presence of a weak electric field.

Frank, L. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Near equality of ion phase space densities at earth, Jupiter, and Saturn

Energetic-ion phase-space density profiles are strikingly similar in the inner magnetospheres of earth, Jupiter, and Saturn for ions of first adiabatic invariant near 100 MeV/G and small mirror latitudes. Losses occur inside L approximately equal to 7 for Jupiter and Saturn and inside L approximately equal to 5 at earth. At these L values there exist steep plasma-density gradients at all three planets, associated with the Io plasma torus at Jupiter, the Rhea-Dione-Tethys torus at Saturn, and the plasmasphere at earth. Measurements of ion flux-tube contents at Jupiter and Saturn by the low-energy charged-particle experiment show that these are similar (for O ions at L = 5-9) to those at earth (for protons at L = 2-6). Furthermore, the thermal-ion flux-tube contents from Voyager plasma-science data at Jupiter and Saturn are also very nearly equal, and again similar to those at earth, differing by less than a factor of 3 at the respective L values. The near equality of energetic and thermal ion flux-tube contents at earth, Jupiter, and Saturn suggests the possibility of strong physical analogies in the interaction between plasma and energetic particles at the plasma tori/plasma sheets of Jupiter and Saturn and the plasmasphere of earth.

Cheng, A. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Acoustic-radiation stress in solids. I - Theory

The general case of acoustic-radiation stress associated with quasi-compressional and quasi-shear waves propagating in infinite and semiinfinite lossless solids of arbitrary crystalline symmetry is studied. The Boussinesq radiation stress is defined and found to depend directly on an acoustic nonlinearity parameter which characterizes the radiation-induced static strain, a stress-generalized nonlinearity parameter which characterizes the stress nonlinearity, and the energy density of the propagating wave. Application of the Boltzmann-Ehrenfest principle of adiabatic invariance to a self-constrained system described by the nonlinear equations of motion allows the acoustic-radiation-induced static strain to be identified with a self-constrained variation in the time-averaged product of the internal energy density and displacement gradient. The time-averaged product is scaled by the acoustic nonlinearity parameter and represents the first-order nonlinearity in the virial theorem. Finally, the relationship between the Boussinesq and the Cauchy radiation stress is obtained in a closed three-dimensional form.

Cantrell, J. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Scale-invariant density perturbations, anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background, and large-scale peculiar velocity field

The large-scale peculiar velocity field and the large- and intermediate-angular scale anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background are studied in inflationary cosmological models of critical density and containing primordial scale-invariant adiabatic density perturbations. Comparison with recent observations by de Vaucouleurs and Peters Provides tentative support for a cold dark matter scenario in which the dark matter is not appreciably less clustered than the luminous galaxy distribution.

Vittorio, N.↗