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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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DOE OSTI2025

Auroral and Non‐Auroral H 3 + Ion Winds at Uranus With Keck‐NIRSPEC and IRTF‐iSHELL

Abstract To date, no investigation has documented ionospheric flows at Uranus. Previous investigations of Jupiter and Saturn have demonstrated that mapping ion winds can be used to understand ionospheric currents and how these connect to magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling. We present a study of Uranus's near infrared emissions (NIR) using data from the Keck II Telescope's Near InfraRed SPECtrograph (NIRSPEC) and the InfraRed Telescope Facility's iSHELL spectrograph. H 3 + emission lines were used to derive dawn‐to‐dusk intensity, ionospheric temperatures and ion densities to identify auroral emissions, with their Doppler shifts used to measure ion velocities. We confirm the presence of the southern NIR aurora in 2016, driven by elevated H 3 + column densities up to 6.0 × 10 16 m −2 . While no auroral emissions were detected in 2014, we find a 14%–20% super rotation across the planet's disk in 2014 and a 7%–18% super rotation in 2016.

Thomas, Emma M. [Department of Mathematics Physics↗
DOE OSTI2015

Measurement of a density profile of a hot-electron plasma in RT-1 with three-chord interferometry

The electron density profile of a plasma in a magnetospheric dipole field configuration was measured with a multi-chord interferometry including a relativistic correction. In order to improve the accuracy of density reconstruction, a 75 GHz interferometer was installed at a vertical chord of the Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) device in addition to previously installed ones at tangential and another vertical chords. The density profile was calculated by using the data of three-chord interferometry including relativistic effects for a plasma consisting of hot and cold electrons generated by electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECH). The results clearly showed the effects of density peaking and magnetic mirror trapping in a strongly inhomogeneous dipole magnetic field.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Statistical Study of Energy Dissipation in Magnetic Structures During Turbulent Reconnection in the Earth's Magnetotail

Magnetic reconnection is a ubiquitous plasma phenomenon that plays a critical role in particle heating and energization. During reconnection, the topology of magnetic field rearranges, depositing energy into the surrounding plasma through bulk flow, thermal heating, or non-thermal particle acceleration. While the pathways of this transformation from magnetic energy into kinetic have been studied extensively in recent years through theoretical or case-by-case observations, comprehensive statistical studies remain limited. In this paper, we present a statistical investigation using data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, and detail the particle energization mechanisms in magnetic structures found near reconnecting regions in turbulent Earth's magnetotail. We find that electrons with motion perpendicular to the magnetic field dominate $\vec{j}$ ⋅ $\vec{E}$ dissipation. In contrast to the conventional picture of unidirectional energy transfer to particles by laminar two-dimensional (2D) reconnection, we find that energy exchange within magnetic structures during turbulent reconnection tends to be bidirectional with only a small positive bias from electromagnetic fields to particles. Specific electron energization mechanisms are quantified, including those due to parallel electric field, Fermi energization from curvature drift, betatron heating from magnetic field inhomogeneity, and polarization drift.

Wang, Rachel [Princeton University, NJ (United Sta↗
DOE OSTI2010

ON THE TRANSITION FROM ACCRETION-POWERED TO ROTATION-POWERED MILLISECOND PULSARS

The heating associated with the deposition of {gamma}-rays in an accretion disk is proposed as a mechanism to facilitate the transformation of a low-mass X-ray binary to the radio millisecond pulsar (MSP) phase. The {gamma}-ray emission produced in the outer gap accelerator in the pulsar magnetosphere likely irradiates the surrounding disk, resulting in its heating and the possible escape of matter from the system. We apply the model to PSR J1023+0038, which has recently been discovered as a newly born rotation-powered MSP. The predicted {gamma}-ray luminosity {approx}6 x 10{sup 34} erg s{sup -1} can be sufficient to explain the disappearance of the truncated disk existing during the 8 month-2 yr period prior to the 2002 observations of J1023+0038 and the energy input required for the anomalously bright optical emission of its companion star.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Comment on "Mode Conversion of Waves In The Ion-Cyclotron Frequency Range in Magnetospheric Plasmas"

Recently, Kazakov and Fulop [1] studied mode conversion (MC) at the ion-ion hybrid (IIH) resonance in planetary magnetospheric plasmas by simplifying the dispersion relation of the fast wave (FW) modes to describe a cutoff-resonance (CR) pair near the IIH resonance, which can be reduced to a Budden problem. They suggested that when the IIH resonance frequency (ωS) approaches the crossover frequency (ωcr), and the parallel wavenumber (k∥) is close to the critical wavenumber k* ∥(ωS = ωcr), MC can be efficient for arbitrary heavy ion density ratios. In this Comment, we argue that (a) the FW dispersion relation cannot be simplified to the CR pair especially near ωcr because in many parameter regimes there is a cutoff-resonance-cutoff (CRC) triplet that completely changes the wave absorption; and (b) the maximum MC efficiency does not always occur near k∥ ≈ k*∥∥.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Spontaneous ion beam formation in the laboratory, space, and simulation

We present experimental evidence for the spontaneous formation of multiple double layers within a single divergent magnetic field structure. Downstream of the divergent magnetic field, multiple accelerated ion populations are observed. The similarity of the accelerated ion populations observed in these laboratory experiments to ion populations observed in the magnetosphere and in numerical simulations suggests that the observation of a complex ion velocity distribution alone is insufficient to distinguish between simple plasma expansion and magnetic reconnection. Further, the effective temperature of the aggregate ion population is significantly larger than the temperatures of the individual ion population components, suggesting that insufficiently resolved measurements could misidentify multiple beam creation as ion heating. Ions accelerated in randomly oriented electric fields that mimic heating would have an ion heating rate dependent on the ion charge and mass that is qualitatively consistent with recent experimental observations of ion heating during magnetic reconnection.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Three-dimensional, two-species magnetohydrodynamic studies of the early time behaviors of the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite G2 barium release

We present a three-dimensional, two-species (Ba{sup +} and H{sup +}) MHD model to study the early time behaviors of a barium release at about 1 R{sub E} like Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite G2, with emphasis placed on the three-dimensional evolution of the barium cloud and its effects on the ambient plasma environment. We find that the perturbations caused by the cloud are the combined results of the initial injection, the radial expansion, and the diamagnetic effect and propagate as fast MHD waves in the magnetosphere. In return, the transverse expansion and the cross-B motion of barium ions are constrained by the magnetic force, which lead to a field-aligned striation of ions and the decoupling of these ions from the neutrals. Our simulation shows the formation and collapse of the diamagnetic cavity in the barium cloud. The estimated time scale for the cavity evolution might be much shorter if photoionization time scale and field aligned expansion of barium ions are considered. In addition, our two species MHD simulation also finds the snowplow effect resulting from the momentum coupling between barium ions and background H{sup +}, which creates density hole and bumps in the background H{sup +} when barium ions expanding along the magnetic field lines.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Gamma-Ray Pulsar Studies With GLAST

Some pulsars have their maximum observable energy output in the gamma-ray band, offering the possibility of using these high-energy photons as probes of the particle acceleration and interaction processes in pulsar magnetospheres. After an extended hiatus between satellite missions, the recently-launched AGILE mission and the upcoming Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Large Area Telescope (LAT) will allow gamma-ray tests of the theoretical models developed based on past discoveries. With its greatly improved sensitivity, better angular resolution, and larger energy reach than older instruments, GLAST LAT should detect dozens to hundreds of new gamma-ray pulsars and measure luminosities, light curves, and phase-resolved spectra with unprecedented resolution. It will also have the potential to find radio-quiet pulsars like Geminga, using blind search techniques. Cooperation with radio and X-ray pulsar astronomers is an important aspect of the LAT team's planning for pulsar studies.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2012

Observation of magnetic fluctuations and rapid density decay of magnetospheric plasma in Ring Trap 1

The Ring Trap 1 device, a magnetospheric configuration generated by a levitated dipole field magnet, has created high-{beta} (local {beta} {approx} 70%) plasma by using electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECH). When a large population of energetic electrons is generated at low neutral gas pressure operation, high frequency magnetic fluctuations are observed. When the fluctuations are strongly excited, rapid loss of plasma was simultaneously observed especially in a quiet decay phase after the ECH microwave power is turned off. Although the plasma is confined in a strongly inhomogeneous dipole field configuration, the frequency spectra of the fluctuations have sharp frequency peaks, implying spatially localized sources of the fluctuations. The fluctuations are stabilized by decreasing the hot electron component below approximately 40%, realizing stable high-{beta} confinement.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Ion acoustic solitons in a plasma with two-temperature kappa-distributed electrons

Existence domains and characteristics of ion acoustic solitons are studied in a two-temperature electron plasma with both electron components being kappa-distributed, as found in Saturn's magnetosphere. As is the case for double-Boltzmann electrons, solitons of both polarities can exist over restricted ranges of fractional hot electron density ratio for this plasma model. Low {kappa} values, which indicate increased suprathermal particles in the tail of the distribution, yield a smaller domain in the parameter space of hot density fraction and normalized soliton velocity (f, M), over which both soliton polarities are supported for a given plasma composition (the coexistence region). For some density ratios that support coexistence, solitons occur even at the lowest (critical) Mach number (i.e., at the acoustic speed), as found recently for a number of other plasma models. Like Maxwellians, low-{kappa} distributions also support positive potential double layers over a narrow range of low fractional cool electron density (<10%).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Larmor electric field observed at the Earth's magnetopause by Polar satellite

We present, for the first time, observational evidence of a kinetic electric field near the X-line associated with asymmetric reconnection at the Earth's dayside magnetopause using Polar observations. On March 29, 2003, Polar satellite detected an asymmetric collisionless reconnection event. This event shows a unipolar Hall electric field signature and a simple deviation from the guide field during the magnetopause crossing, with the absence of an ion plasma jet outflow indicating that the magnetopause crossing was near the X-line. As expected from particle-in-cell simulations by Malakit et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 135001 (2013)), an earthward pointing normal electric field appears in the magnetospheric side of the ion diffusion region. The electric field satisfies two necessary conditions for the existence of the finite ion Larmor radius effect: (1) the ion Larmor radius (r{sub g2}) is larger than the distance between the stagnation point and the edge of the ion diffusion region in the strong magnetic field side (δ{sub S2}) and (2) the spatial extent of the kinetic electric field (δ{sub EL}) is of the order of the ion Larmor radius. Furthermore, it is shown that the peak value of the Larmor electric field is comparable to the predicted value. The observation of the Larmor electric field can be valuable in other analyses to show that the crossing occurred near the X-line.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

HYPERACCRETING DISKS AROUND MAGNETARS FOR GAMMA-RAY BURSTS: EFFECTS OF STRONG MAGNETIC FIELDS

Hyperaccreting neutron stars or magnetar disks cooled via neutrino emission can be candidates of gamma-ray burst (GRB) central engines. The strong field {>=}10{sup 15}-10{sup 16} G of a magnetar can play a significant role in affecting the disk properties and even lead to the funnel accretion process. In this paper, we investigate the effects of strong fields on the disks around magnetars, and discuss implications of such accreting magnetar systems for GRBs and GRB-like events. We discuss quantum effects of the strong fields on the disk thermodynamics and microphysics due to modifications of the electron distribution and energy in the strong field environment, and use the magnetohydrodynamical conservation equations to describe the behavior of the disk flow coupled with a large-scale field, which is generated by the star-disk interaction. If the disk field is open, the disk properties mainly depend on the ratio between |B {sub {phi}/}B{sub z}| and {Omega}/{Omega}{sub K} with B {sub {phi}} and B{sub z} being the azimuthal and vertical components of the disk field, and {Omega} and {Omega} {sub K} being the accretion flow angular velocity and Keplerian velocity, respectively. On the other hand, the disk properties also depend on the magnetar spin period if the disk field is closed. In general, stronger fields give higher disk densities, pressures, temperatures, and neutrino luminosity. Moreover, strong fields will change the electron fraction and degeneracy state significantly. A magnetized disk is always viscously stable outside the Alfven radius, but will be thermally unstable near the Alfven radius where the magnetic field plays a more important role in transferring the angular momentum and heating the disk than the viscous stress. The funnel accretion process will be important only for an extremely strong field, which creates a magnetosphere inside the Alfven radius and truncates the plane disk. Because of higher temperature and more concentrated neutrino emission of a ring-like belt region on the magnetar surface covered by funnel accretion, the neutrino annihilation rate from the accreting magnetar can be much higher than that from an accreting neutron star without fields. Furthermore, the neutrino annihilation mechanism, which releases the gravitational energy of the surrounding disk, and the magnetically driven pulsar wind, which extracts the stellar rotational energy from the magnetar surface, can work together to generate and feed an ultrarelativistic jet along the stellar magnetic poles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

The inviscid incompressible limit of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability for plasmas

The Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability (KHI) is an interface instability that develops between two fluids or plasmas flowing with a common shear layer. KHI occurs in astrophysical jets, solar atmosphere, solar flows, cometary tails, planetary magnetospheres. Two applications of interest, encompassing both space and fusion applications, drive this study: KHI formation at the outer flanks of the Earth’s magnetosphere and KHI growth from non-uniform laser heating in magnetized direct-drive implosion experiments. Here, we study 2D KHI with or without a magnetic field parallel to the flow. We use both the GAMERA code, which solves the compressible Euler equations, and the STRATOSPEC code, which solves the Navier-Stokes equations under the Boussinesq approximation, coupled with the magnetic field dynamics. GAMERA is a global three-dimensional MHD code with high-order reconstruction in arbitrary nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinates, which is developed for a large range of astrophysical applications. STRATOSPEC is a three-dimensional pseudo-spectral code with an accuracy of infinite order (no numerical diffusion). Magnetized KHI is a canonical case for benchmarking hydrocode simulations with extended MHD options. An objective is to assess whether or not, and under which conditions, the incompressibility hypothesis allows to describe a dynamic compressible system. For comparing both codes, we reach the inviscid incompressible regime, by decreasing the Mach number in GAMERA, and viscosity and diffusion in STRATOSPEC. Here, we specifically investigate both single-mode and multi-mode initial perturbations, either with or without magnetic field parallel to the flow. The method relies on comparisons of the density fields, 1D profiles of physical quantities averaged along the flow direction, and scale-by-scale spectral densities. We also address the triggering, formation and damping of filamentary structures under varying Mach number or Atwood number, with or without a parallel magnetic field. Comparisons show very satisfactory results between the two codes. The vortices dynamics is well reproduced, along with the breaking or damping of small-scale structures. We end with the extraction of growth rates of magnetized KHI from the compressible regime to the incompressible limit in the linear regime assessing the effects of compressibility under increasing magnetic field. The observed differences between the two codes are explained either from diffusion or non-Boussinesq effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Kinetic theory of electrostatic 'bounce' modes in two-dimensional current sheets

The role of trapped particles in the destabilization of two-dimensional (2D) current sheets is investigated for applications to theories of magnetospheric substorms. Considering a 2D 'Lembege and Pellat' equilibrium, the linearized gyrokinetic Vlasov-Maxwell equations are solved for electrostatic perturbations with periods close to the typical electron bounce period ({tau}{sub be}). The particle bounce motion is approximated to its first Fourier component ({omega}{sub b}=2{pi}/{tau}{sub b}) which allows the explicit time integration of Vlasov equation and the calculation of the nonlocal particle response. The dispersion equation of the electrostatic bounce modes is derived from the quasineutrality condition. It is shown that the bounce modes exist in a narrow domain of electron-to-ion temperature ratio (T{sub e}/T{sub i} varying from 0.2 to 1.4), with large growth rates ({delta}{approx}0.2{omega}), leading to current sheet destabilization over time scales of 1-2 min.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Kinetic model of electric potentials in localized collisionless plasma structures under steady quasi-gyrotropic conditions

Localized plasma structures, such as thin current sheets, generally are associated with localized magnetic and electric fields. In space plasmas localized electric fields not only play an important role for particle dynamics and acceleration but may also have significant consequences on larger scales, e.g., through magnetic reconnection. Also, it has been suggested that localized electric fields generated in the magnetosphere are directly connected with quasi-steady auroral arcs. In this context, we present a two-dimensional model based on Vlasov theory that provides the electric potential for a large class of given magnetic field profiles. The model uses an expansion for small deviation from gyrotropy and besides quasineutrality it assumes that electrons and ions have the same number of particles with their generalized gyrocenter on any given magnetic field line. Specializing to one dimension, a detailed discussion concentrates on the electric potential shapes (such as 'U' or 'S' shapes) associated with magnetic dips, bumps, and steps. Then, it is investigated how the model responds to quasi-steady evolution of the plasma. Finally, the model proves useful in the interpretation of the electric potentials taken from two existing particle simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Axion constraints from quiescent soft gamma-ray emission from magnetars

We report axion-like-particles (ALPs) emitted from the core of a magnetar can convert to photons in its magnetosphere. The resulting photon flux is sensitive to the product of (i) the ALP-nucleon coupling G an which controls the production cross section in the core and (ii) the ALP-photon coupling g aγγ which controls the conversion in the magnetosphere. We study such emissions in the soft-gamma-ray range (300 keV to 1 MeV), where the ALP spectrum peaks and astrophysical backgrounds from resonant Compton up scattering are expected to be suppressed. Using published quiescent soft-gamma-ray flux upper limits in five magnetars obtained with CGRO COMPTEL and INTEGRAL SPI/IBIS/ISGRI, we put limits on the product of the ALP-nucleon and ALP-photon couplings. We also provide a detailed study of the dependence of our results on the magnetar core temperature. We further show projections of our result for future Fermi-GBM observations. Our results motivate a program of studying quiescent soft-gamma-ray emission from magnetars with the Fermi-GBM.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Whistler wave generation by electron temperature anisotropy during magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause

Two magnetopause reconnection events of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission with whistler wave activity are presented. The whistler mode around half of the electron cyclotron frequency is excited near the magnetospheric separatrix. In both events, there are positive correlations between the whistler wave and the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI) activities, suggesting a possible role of LHDI in the whistler wave generation. A sudden change in the electron pitch angle distribution (PAD) function of energetic electrons is observed right after intense LHDI activity. This change in the PAD leads to temperature anisotropy in energetic electrons which is responsible for the whistler wave excitation. The measured dispersion relation demonstrates that the whistler wave propagates toward the X line nearly parallel to the magnetic field line. Furthermore, a linear analysis with the measured distribution function verifies that the whistler mode is excited by the temperature anisotropy in energetic electrons.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Magnetic Energy Dissipation and γ-Ray Emission in Energetic Pulsars

Abstract Some of the most energetic pulsars exhibit rotation-modulated γ -ray emission in the 0.1–100 GeV band. The luminosity of this emission is typically 0.1%–10% of the pulsar spin-down power ( γ -ray efficiency), implying that a significant fraction of the available electromagnetic energy is dissipated in the magnetosphere and reradiated as high-energy photons. To investigate this phenomenon we model a pulsar magnetosphere using 3D particle-in-cell simulations with strong synchrotron cooling. We particularly focus on the dynamics of the equatorial current sheet where magnetic reconnection and energy dissipation take place. Our simulations demonstrate that a fraction of the spin-down power dissipated in the magnetospheric current sheet is controlled by the rate of magnetic reconnection at microphysical plasma scales and only depends on the pulsar inclination angle. We demonstrate that the maximum energy and the distribution function of accelerated pairs is controlled by the available magnetic energy per particle near the current sheet, the magnetization parameter. The shape and the extent of the plasma distribution is imprinted in the observed synchrotron emission, in particular, in the peak and the cutoff of the observed spectrum. We study how the strength of synchrotron cooling affects the observed variety of spectral shapes. Our conclusions naturally explain why pulsars with higher spin-down power have wider spectral shapes and, as a result, lower γ -ray efficiency.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗