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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

Charging of mesospheric particles - Implications for electron density and particle coagulation

The relationship between N(e) and mesospheric aerosols near the mesopause is studied. The full distribution of charges on mesospheric aerosols is calculated, including dust and ice particles with radii ranging from 1 to 400 nm. The N(e) and ion density N(i) are obtained and ionization height profiles are calculated. The effects of dust and ice particles on N(e) and N(i) are studied for a wide range of assumed conditions. The results indicate that aerosol concentrations associated with visible polar mesospheric clouds are unlikely to cause a severe N(e) depletion. The pronounced 'bite-out' of N(e) at about 87 km in the summertime may be caused by a large concentration of small ice particles in a narrow cold layer near the mesosphere. Net negative charge on mesospheric aerosols may severely inihibit coagulation, so that mesospheric dust would not grow significantly. A higher supersaturation with respect to water vapor would be needed for heterogeneous nucleation of ice crystals.

Jensen, Eric J.↗

Measurement and Modeling of Electromagnetic Scattering by Particles and Particle Groups

Small particles forming clouds of interstellar and circumstellar dust, regolith surfaces of many solar system bodies, and cometary atmospheres have a strong and often controlling effect on many ambient physical and chemical processes. Similarly, aerosol and cloud particles exert a strong influence on the regional and global climates of the Earth, other planets of the solar system, and exoplanets. Therefore, detailed and accurate knowledge of physical and chemical characteristics of such particles has the utmost scientific importance.

Interstellar matter↗

"Independent" and "Dependent" Scattering by Particles in a Multi-Particle Group

The terms "independent" and "dependent" scattering are ubiquitous in the phenomenological discipline of light scattering by particulate media. Yet there is a wide range of ad hoc definitions of these terms, many of which are vague and conceptually inconsequential. In this paper we perform a first-principles analysis of these terms based on the rigorous volume-integral-equation formulation of electromagnetic scattering. We argue that scattering by a multi-particle group can be called independent if certain optical observables for the entire group can be expressed in appropriate single-particle observables. Otherwise one deals with the dependent scattering regime. The prime (and perhaps the only) examples of independent scattering are scattering scenarios described by the first-order scattering approximation and the first-principles radiative transfer theory.

Particle scattering↗

Attenuation of Solar Energetic Particles By Wave-Particle Interaction With an Ion Thruster Plume

Solar energetic particles (SEP) are a significant concern for interplanetary human spaceflight. This work investigates wave-particle interactions caused by the incidence of a beam of energetic protons, representing a notional SEP event, onto a cloud of xenon ions, representing a notional ion thruster plume. The resulting electromagnetic ion/ion instability is developed to investigate the degree to which energetic protons can be scattered out of the initial beam.

space weather↗

Primary cosmic ray particles with z 35 (VVH particles)

Large areas of nuclear emulsions and plastic detectors were exposed to the primary cosmic radiation during high altitude balloon flights. From the analysis of 141 particle tracks recorded during a total exposure of 1.3 x 10 to the 7th power sq m ster.sec., a charge spectrum of the VVH particles has been derived.

Blanford, G. E., Jr.↗

Primary cosmic ray particles with Z greater than 35 /VVH particles/

Large areas of nuclear emulsions and plastic detectors were exposed to the primary cosmic radiation during high-altitude balloon flights. From an analysis of 141 particle tracks recorded during a total exposure of 13,000,000 sq m-ster-sec, a charge spectrum of the VVH particles has been derived.

Blanford, G. E., Jr.↗

Influence of particle drag coefficient on particle motion in high-speed flow with typical laser velocimeter applications

The effect of using different particle drag coefficient C sub D equations for computing the velocity of seeded particles in high-speed gas flows was investigated. The C sub D equations investigated included the Stokes equation, a second incompressible equation valid for higher relative Reynolds numbers, and six equations that account for the effects of compressibility together with the effects of relative Reynolds numbers greater than one. The flows investigated were center-line nozzle flows, normal shocks, and oblique shocks for free-stream Mach numbers of 1.6 to 6 and stagnation pressures of 1 and 3.4 atmospheres. The net result was empirical C sub D equation based on the latest sphere C sub D data for the low relative Mach number and Reynolds number conditions that are encountered in supersonic flows.

Walsh, M. J.↗

EXOS-B/Siple station VLF wave-particle interaction experiments. I - General description and wave-particle correlations

The EXOS-B/Siple Station joint experiment on the triggering of VLF emissions by man-made signals causing some form of wave-particle interactions in the magnetosphere is presented, and results concerning wave-particle correlations are reported. In situ measurements of both energetic electron flux and VLF waves were made near the meridian connecting Siple Station, Antarctica with Roberval, Quebec, Canada in campaigns during July through September, 1979 and December 1979 through January 1980 at times of VLF transmission from Siple. Strong observed signals were found to be well correlated with a pancake pitch angle distribution of 0.3 to 6.9-keV electrons, and to exhibit a positive linear growth rate. Artificially stimulated emissions were observed to be accompanied by large electron fluxes in all energy channels in the equatorial interaction region, although the measured pitch angle distribution was not highly anisotropic. Results may be interpreted by the amplification of Siple signals by the cyclotron instability due to high pitch angle anisotropy (pancake distribution) and the triggering of emissions in the presence of high electron fluxes with some anisotropy and a sufficiently strong signal.

Kimura, I.↗