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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 73 records · Page 4

On the origin of the tropical intraseasonal oscillation

This study provides an explanation for the origin of the tropical intraseasonal (40-50 day) oscillation (TIO) based on a simple generalization of Gill's linear analytic model for tropical large-scale heat-induced circulation. The solution contains a convective region that excites an eastward-moving Kelvin wave and a westward-moving Rossby wave. The entire system moves eastward as a response to the circulation it excites at a speed at which the latent heat energy in the tropics is best extracted. The TIO speed is a weighted mean of the speed of the Kelvin wave and that of the Rossby wave.

Chao, Winston C.↗

A generic multi-flex-body dynamics, controls simulation tool for space station

An order (n) multiflex body Space Station simulation tool is introduced. The flex multibody modeling is generic enough to model all phases of Space Station from build up through to Assembly Complete configuration and beyond. Multibody subsystems such as the Mobile Servicing System (MSS) undergoing a prescribed translation and rotation are also allowed. The software includes aerodynamic, gravity gradient, and magnetic field models. User defined controllers can be discrete or continuous. Extensive preprocessing of 'body by body' NASTRAN flex data is built in. A significant aspect, too, is the integrated controls design capability which includes model reduction and analytic linearization.

London, Ken W.↗

A nested grid, nonhydrostatic, elastic model using a terrain-following coordinate transformation - The radiative-nesting boundary conditions

This study presents a nested-grid nonhydrostatic and elastic model using a terrain-following coordinate transformation as well as a unique application of grid-nesting techniques to the time-splitting elastic model. A simulation of the 10-m-high Witch of Agnesi Mountain provides the control to test this new model. The results show that the model produces the same solution as that derived from a simple linear analytic model. It is demonstrated that the new nested-grid model improves model resolution without resorting to the costly method of placing a fine-resolution grid over the entire domain. Since the wave reflection from the boundaries of the fine-grid model is well controlled, the boundary of the nested fine-grid model can be located even at the wave-active region. The model can be used to simulate various weather systems in which scale interactions are important.

Chen, Chaing↗

Effects of Meteoroid Erosion in Planetary Rings

This grant supported continuing studies of the effects of ballistic transport on the evolution of Saturn's rings. Ballistic transport, as used in this context, refers to the net transport of mass and angular momentum caused by the exchange of meteoroid impact ejecta between neighboring ring regions (Ip 1983, 1984, Morfill et al. 1983, Lissauer 1984, Durisen 1984a,b). The characteristic time scale associated with this process is the gross erosion time t(sub g) the time it would take a ring region to be completed eroded if all impact ejecta were lost. This time scale is estimated to be about 10(exp 5) to 10(exp 6) years for a ring region with normal optical depth tau approximately 1. Earlier work by myself and collaborators developed the physical theory and simulation techniques to model this process (Durisen et al. 1989, Cuzzi and Durisen 1990). Detailed simulations, supported in part by this grant, have demonstrated that ballistic transport can produce observed structures in Saturn's rings, especially at and near the inner edges of the A and B Rings (Durisen et al. 1992, 1996). The structures of interest in the real rings are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Most of these structures were previously unexplained. The computational results plus analytic treatments place useful constraints on fundamental ring properties, including the indication of a relatively young ring age less than or equal 10(exp 8) years (see reviews by Nicholson and Dones 1991, Esposito 1993, Cuzzi 1995, and Porco 1995). This grant also supported development of the faster computational algorithms necessary to permit longer evolutions. Resulting simplications in the ballistic transport equations permitted an analytic linear stability analysis (Durisen 1995), which has provided considerable insight into ballistic transport processes and applications to Saturn's rings. All these accomplishments are described in more detail below.

Durisen, Richard H.↗

Latitudinal Dependence of the Radial IMF Component - Interplanetary Imprint

Ulysses measurements have confirmed that there is no significant gradient with respect to heliomagnetic latitude in the radial component, B(sub r,), of the interplanetary magnetic field. There are two processes responsible for this observation. In the corona, the plasma beta is much less than 1, except directly above streamers, so both longitudinal and latitudinal (meridional) gradients in field strength will relax, due to the transverse magnetic pressure gradient force, as the solar wind carries magnetic flux away from the Sun. This happens so quickly that the field is essentially uniform by 5 solar radius. Beyond 10 solar radius, beta is greater than 1 and it is possible for a meridional thermal pressure gradient to redistribute magnetic flux - an effect apparently absent in Ulysses and earlier ICE and Interplanetary Magnetic Physics (IMP) data. We discuss this second effect here, showing that its absence is mainly due to the perpendicular part of the anisotropic thermal pressure gradient in the interplanetary medium being too small to drive significant meridional transport between the Sun and approx. 4 AU. This is done using a linear analytic estimate of meridional transport. The first effect was discussed in an earlier paper.

Suess, S. T.↗

Cellular Spacing Selection During the Directional Solidification of Binary Alloys. A Numerical Approach

The evolution of cellular solid/liquid interfaces from an initially unstable planar front was studied by means of a two-dimensional computer simulation. The developed numerical model makes use of an interface tracking procedure and has the capability to describe the dynamics of the interface morphology based on local changes of the thermodynamic conditions. The fundamental physics of this formulation was validated against experimental microgravity results and the predictions of the analytical linear stability theory. The performed simulations revealed that in certain conditions, based on a competitive growth mechanism, an interface could become unstable to random perturbations of infinitesimal amplitude even at wavelengths smaller than the neutral wavelength, lambda(sub c), predicted by the linear stability theory. Furthermore, two main stages of spacing selection have been identified. In the first stage, at low perturbations amplitude, the selection mechanism is driven by the maximum growth rate of instabilities while in the second stage the selection is influenced by nonlinear phenomena caused by the interactions between the neighboring cells. Comparison of these predictions with other existing theories of pattern formation and experimental results will be discussed.

Catalina, Adrian V.↗

The Transfer Function Model as a Tool to Study and Describe Space Weather Phenomena

The Transfer Function Model (TFM) is a semi-analytical, linear model that is designed especially to describe thermospheric perturbations associated with magnetic storms and substorm. activity. It is a multi-constituent model (N2, O, He H, Ar) that accounts for wind induced diffusion, which significantly affects not only the composition and mass density but also the temperature and wind fields. Because the TFM adopts a semianalytic approach in which the geometry and temporal dependencies of the driving sources are removed through the use of height-integrated Green's functions, it provides physical insight into the essential properties of processes being considered, which are uncluttered by the accidental complexities that arise from particular source geometrie and time dependences. Extending from the ground to 700 km, the TFM eliminates spurious effects due to arbitrarily chosen boundary conditions. A database of transfer functions, computed only once, can be used to synthesize a wide range of spatial and temporal sources dependencies. The response synthesis can be performed quickly in real-time using only limited computing capabilities. These features make the TFM unique among global dynamical models. Given these desirable properties, a version of the TFM has been developed for personal computers (PC) using advanced platform-independent 3D visualization capabilities. We demonstrate the model capabilities with simulations for different auroral sources, including the response of ducted gravity waves modes that propagate around the globe. The thermospheric response is found to depend strongly on the spatial and temporal frequency spectra of the storm. Such varied behavior is difficult to describe in statistical empirical models. To improve the capability of space weather prediction, the TFM thus could be grafted naturally onto existing statistical models using data assimilation.

Porter, Hayden S.↗

Reconfigurable Microwave Phase Delay Element for Frequency Reference and Phase-Shifter Applications

A technique was developed to provide a reconfigurable high-precision micro - wave electrical phase delay for resonators and phase shifters. The invention employs multiple branches of transmission lines with open-ended or ground-ended terminations as configurable bits or digits. This technique minimizes the errors due to limited precision of switching devices. In addition, the proposed linear analytical approach significantly produces a much simpler design than that of other prior inventions at the time of this reporting. Microwave components such as filters, phase delay elements, or resonators require a method that can accurately adjust their frequency responses. Most tuning techniques offer very wide frequency tuning range; however, it is often difficult and expensive to tune their response in a very narrow operating frequency, especially when the tuning element reaches its minimum discrete step due to fabrication tolerances. The problem becomes worse as the operating frequency is in mm-wave frequency range (>26 GHz). The electrical tuning sensitivity of a microwave line is dependent on the position of the tuning element with respect to the reference termination. By placing this tuning element away from this reference with the main transmission line connecting the two elements together the sensitivity of the tuning element can change significantly. This concept can be used in the system that requires multiple tuning sensitivities. In this case, multiple tuning branches are superimposed in the main transmission line. The proposed invention allows the transmission-line electrical length to be accurately programmed using switching elements that have limited accuracy. The invention consists of multiple branches of transmission lines connected to discrete switching devices with open-ended terminations. They are used as discrete tuning elements. These elements are connected to the main microwave transmission line and are separated by a well-defined electrical degree spacing. Each branch is programmed to have different electrical degree sensitivity, such as a combination of discrete steps in each branch, which results in a reflective line with a unique effective phase response. To reduce the number of switching devices, it is desirable to program the devices in binary configuration where each branch represents one bit in the base-2 number system. This invention allows the transmission line electrical length to be tuned precisely with customizable sensitivity based on the known sensitivity of the base tuning circuit. The tuning resolution is dependent on the distance among tuning branches.

Hsieh, Wen-Ting↗

Kinetic fluid moments closure for a magnetized plasma with collisions

A novel method aimed at a kinetic moments closure for a magnetized plasma with collisions is proposed. The velocity distribution function for each species is expanded in 8 Gaussian Radial Basis Functions (GRBFs) which are essentially shifted Maxwellians at eight representative 3D-velocity points of drift. The vector of 8 fluid moments (for particle density, 3 particle fluxes, total energy density, and 3 energy fluxes) has an 8x8 analytic linear matrix relation to the vector of 8 GRBF density weighs in 3D-real space. The 8 fluid moments with sources for each species are advanced in time while the 8 GRBF weighs are determined from the 8x8 inverse matrix. The two closure moments (for the stress tensor and the energy weighted stress tensor) are linearly determined from the GRBF weighs. Most importantly the velocity moments of the nonlinear Coulomb Fokker-Planck collision operator [Rosenbluth et al, Phys. Rev 107, 1957] are evaluated from the GRBF weights. Generalization from 8 to 12, 16, 20 .., in an energy weighted moment hierarchy is straightforward. The electric field follows from a generalized vorticity (quasi-neutral charge conservation) equation. A strong drift ordering approximation can be applied to eliminate any spuriously unstable high frequency cyclotron motions. A novel weak drift ordering two-time step scheme avoids the vorticity equation by following ion cyclotron motion in time to get the electric field with ion gyroaveraging. Inclusion of low-beta magnetic perturbations is straightforward.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Solar Temperature Variations Computed from SORCE SIM Irradiances Observed During 2003-2020

NASA’s Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SIM) instrument produced about 17 years of daily average Spectral Solar Irradiance ( SSI ) data for wavelengths 240 nm – 2416 nm. We choose a day of minimal solar activity, 2008-08-24, during the 2008 − 2009 minimum between cycles 23 and 24, and compute the brightness temperature (𝑇 o ) from that day’s solar spectral irradiance (𝑆𝑆𝐼 o ). We consider small variations of T and SSI about these reference values, and derive linear and quadratic analytic approximations by Taylor expansion about the reference day values. To determine approximation accuracy, we compare to exact brightness temperatures T computed from the Planck spectrum, by solving analytically for T , or equivalent root-finding in Wolfram Mathematica. We find that the linear analytic approximation overestimates, while the quadratic underestimates the exact result. This motivates search for statistical “fit” models “in between” the two analytic models, with minimum root-mean-square-error RMSE. We make this search using open-source statistical R software, determine coefficients for linear and quadratic fit models, and compare statistical with analytic RMSE’s. When only linear analytic and fit models are compared, the fit model is superior at ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared wavelengths. This again holds true when comparing only quadratic models. Quadratic is superior to linear for both analytic and statistical models, and statistical fits give smallest RMSE’s. Lastly, we use linear analytic and fit models to find an interpolating function in wavelength, useful in case the SIM results need adjustment to another choices of wavelengths, to compare or extend to any other instrument.

SORCE↗

Exact analytical solution of the linear structure growth rate in {Lambda}CDM cosmology and its cosmological applications

We derive the exact analytical solution of the linear structure growth rate in {Lambda}CDM cosmology with flat or curved geometry, under the Newtonian gauge. Unlike the well known solution under the Newtonian limit [D. J. Heath, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 179, 351 (1977)], our solution takes all general relativistic corrections into account and is hence valid at both the sub- and superhorizon scales. With this exact solution, we evaluate cosmological impacts induced by these relativistic corrections. (1) General relativistic corrections alter the density growth from z=100 to z=0 by 10% at k=0.01 h/Mpc and the impact becomes stronger toward larger scales. We caution the readers that the overdensity is not gauge invariant and the above statement is restrained to the Newtonian gauge. (2) Relativistic corrections introduce a k{sup -2} scale dependence in the density fluctuation. It mimics a primordial non-Gaussianity of the local type with f{sub NL}{sup local{approx}}1. This systematical error may become non-negligible for future all sky deep galaxy surveys. (3) Cosmological simulations with box size greater than 1 Gpc are also affected by these relativistic corrections. We provide a postprocessing recipe to correct for these effects. (4) These relativistic corrections affect the redshift distortion. However, at redshifts and scales relevant to redshift distortion measurements, such effect is negligible.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Analytic potential in a linear radio-frequency quadrupole trap with cylindrical electrodes

An analytical expression is derived for a radio-frequency ion trap of novel configuration consisting of a four-sectored hollow cylinder enclosed between two end caps. The cylindrical geometry of the sectored trap provides shielding against the buildup of charge and also makes it possible to calculate the potential within the trap by solving Laplace's equation for given boundary conditions. Equations are presented for calculating the time-averaged potential generated by the RF fields, the end-cap potential, and the potential arising from the application of a dc bias on two of the four electrode sectors. It is shown that, near the ends of this trap, the effective potential arising from the RF fields acts to propel ions out of the trap and that the addition of a dc bias on two neighboring sectors generates an inhomogeneous field in the trap which produces a force on the ions along the trap's long axis in a direction dependent on the sign of the bias.

Melbourne, R. K.↗

Improved analytic modeling of the linear Rayleigh–Taylor instability with plasma transport

The Rayleigh–Taylor (R–T) instability with transport effects has long been studied analytically in the neutral fluid regime. How this picture may differ in plasmas has been given less consideration, however. Leveraging previous numerical simulations with plasma viscosity and diffusion of R–T at a binary plasma interface, we show how plasma transport and kinetic effects alter the linear R–T dispersion relation. Our insight informs a much improved analytical dispersion relation, which better matches the simulation data than previously established models. Additionally, we demonstrate the importance of employing asymptotically correct viscosity coefficients in fluid codes for accurately capturing plasma R–T growth.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗