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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 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

A novel Ka-band coaxial transit-time oscillator with a four-gap buncher

A novel Ka-band coaxial transit-time oscillator (TTO) with a four-gap buncher is proposed and investigated. Simulation results show that an output power of 1.27 GW and a frequency of 26.18 GHz can be achieved with a diode voltage of 447 kV and a beam current of 7.4 kA. The corresponding power efficiency is 38.5%, and the guiding magnetic field is 0.6 T. Studies and analysis indicate that a buncher with four gaps can modulate the electron beam better than the three-gap buncher in such a Ka-band TTO. Moreover, power efficiency increases with the coupling coefficient between the buncher and the extractor. Further simulation demonstrates that power efficiency can reach higher than 30% with a guiding magnetic field of above 0.5 T. Besides, the power efficiency exceeds 30% in a relatively large range of diode voltage from 375 kV to 495 kV.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Theoretical Calculation and Simulation Studies of Balancing Forces and Axisymmetric Poloidal Halo Current in EAST

A new technology for developing fusion energy is to use hydrogen isotopes i.e., deuterium (D) and tritium (T) which is a combine effort for building up of International Thermonuclear Reactor (ITER) named as Tokamak, which will come into operation in 2020. Handsome amount of work has already been performed by many scientists contingent with plasma shape, halo current and plasma equilibrium properties by numerical techniques. Halo current calculation is the most important work in fusion reactors. In this paper, halo current and plasma cross-section energy have been calculated. The research covers calculation of plasma energy and determines the force on the vessel by magnetic field transformation method, which is the essential part of calculating halo current. Further, vertical displacement event (VDE) up/down halo current models have been calculated. These models give total magnetic field, asymmetric forces, conducting points and poloidal halo current.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Evolution of flux ropes in the magnetotail: A three-dimensional global hybrid simulation

Flux ropes in the Earth's magnetotail are widely believed to play a crucial role in energy transport during substorms and the generation of energetic particles. Previous kinetic simulations are limited to the local-scale regime, and thus cannot be used to study the structure associated with the geomagnetic field and the global-scale evolution of the flux ropes. Here, the evolution of flux ropes in the magnetotail under a steady southward interplanetary magnetic field are studied with a newly developed three-dimensional global hybrid simulation model for dynamics ranging from the ion Larmor radius to the global convection time scales. Magnetic reconnection with multiple X-lines is found to take place in the near-tail current sheet at geocentric solar magnetospheric distances x=−30R{sub E}∼−15R{sub E} around the equatorial plane (z=0). The magnetotail reconnection layer is turbulent, with a nonuniform structure and unsteady evolution, and exhibits properties of typical collisionless fast reconnection with the Hall effect. A number of small-scale flux ropes are generated through the multiple X-line reconnection. The diameter of the flux ropes is several R{sub E}, and the spatial scale of the flux ropes in the dawn-dusk direction is on the order of several R{sub E} and does not extend across the entire section of the magnetotail, contrary to previous models and MHD simulation results and showing the importance of the three-dimensional effects. The nonuniform and unsteady multiple X-line reconnection with particle kinetic effects leads to various kinds of flux rope evolution: The small-scale flux ropes propagate earthward or tailward after formation, and eventually merge into the near-Earth region or the mid-/distant-tail plasmoid, respectively. During the propagation, some of the flux ropes can be tilted in the geocentric solar magnetospheric (x,y) plane with respect to the y (dawn-dusk) axis. Coalescence between flux ropes is also observed. At the same time, the evolution of the flux ropes in the multiple X-line reconnection layer can also lead to the acceleration and heating of ions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Group velocity of extraordinary waves in superdense magnetized quantum plasma with spin-1/2 effects

Based on the one component plasma model, a new dispersion relation and group velocity of elliptically polarized extraordinary electromagnetic waves in a superdense quantum magnetoplasma are derived. The group velocity of the extraordinary wave is modified due to the quantum forces and magnetization effects within a certain range of wave numbers. It means that the quantum spin-1/2 effects can reduce the transport of energy in such quantum plasma systems. Our work should be of relevance for the dense astrophysical environments and the condensed matter physics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Magnetic field and quantum screening effects on the occurrence time advance in quantum magnetoplasmas

The magnetic field and quantum screening effects on the occurrence scattering time advance for the electron-ion collision are investigated in quantum magnetoplasmas. The result shows that the occurrence scattering time advance decreases with an increase of the magnetic-field strength. It is also found that the occurrence time advance decreases with increasing projectile energy and increases with increasing scattering angle. In addition, the occurrence time advance decreases with an increase of the quantum effect, i.e., Fermi wavelength.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Electromagnetic fluctuations during guide field reconnection in a laboratory plasma

Electromagnetic fluctuations are studied during magnetic reconnection in a laboratory plasma for a range of guide magnetic fields from nearly zero up to normalized guide fields B g /B up = 1.2. The predominant fluctuations are identified as right-hand polarized whistler modes, which become increasingly organized and less intermittent, and obtain larger amplitude with the increasing guide field. Here, the fluctuation amplitude also increases with the reconnecting magnetic field, implying a relatively constant conversion of upstream magnetic energy to turbulent fluctuations of ≲1% across guide field strengths.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

A 50 kA Superconducting Transformer for the Upcoming High-Field High-Current Testing Station at the BNL

Brookhaven national laboratory is upgrading its existing user facility to support R&D for High Energy Physics (HEP) and Fusion Energy Sciences (FES). The goal of this upgrade is to host the testing of the superconducting cables, conductors, joints and insert coils under high magnetic field (10 T), with currents up to 50 kA (present limit 20 kA) and at temperatures varying from 4 K to 40 K. To provide a current up to 50 kA to the sample, a superconducting core-less transformer is under construction. The superconducting transformer would additionally reduce the heat loss at the current leads at high currents. The SC transformer consists of two coaxial coils. The primary coil is inside the secondary coil. The primary coil consists of 3048 turns of rectangular wires (1.91 mm x 1.27 mm), wound in 24 layers. The secondary coil consists of 13 turns of the secondary cable (18.35 mm x 5.96 mm), wound in one layer. The parameters of the transformer are chosen to satisfy the space restrictions while using the available conductor. Here this paper presents the design of the 50-kA transformer.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2011

Mapping the energy spectrum of the spin states of mixed-valent [Fe8]n- via pulsed field magnetization

The electronic structure of a family of octanuclear Fe{sup III}-complexes of the general formula [Fe{sub 8}({mu}{sub 4}-O)4({mu}-{sub r}-R-pz){sub 12}X{sub 4}] ([Fe{sub 8}]{sup 0}) and its redox-modified, mixed-valence [Fe{sub 8}]{sup n-} derivatives, where R = H, Me, Et, F, CI, Sr, I, etc. and X = F, CI, Sr, NCS, NCO, N{sub 3}, has recently been modeled by a an effective Hamiltonian consisting of two dominant exchange interactions [1]. The ground state properties (from S{sub tot} = 0 to 7) and magnetic energy level spacing of the Hamiltonian, and hence predicted magnetic properties, are widely tunable via choice of J's. The corresponding [Fe{sub 8}]{sup n-} anionic complexes with n = 1 - 4 are accessible electrochemically, allowing their in situ spectroelectrochemical characterization. The singly-reduced anions [Fe{sub 8}]{sup 1-} of the R = H, Cl and X = Cl species have also been prepared chemically via reduction with a stoichiometric amount of [BH{sub 4}]-, and characterized crystallographically; the structure of the Fe{sub 8}-cluster remains unaffected by the reduction, with most bond lengths differences within experimental error. Their Moessbauer spectroscopic analysis has pointed to the reduction taking place primarily within the Fe{sub 4}O{sub 4}-cubane, with charges delocalized over the four Fe{sub c} sites in the Moessbauer timescale. In contrast, the [Fe{sub 8}]{sup 1-} and [Fe{sub 8}]{sup 2-} species with R = Cl and X = NCS show a reduction at the outer, Fe{sub o}-sites, generating one or two localized Fe{sub o}-centers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

ELECTRON HEATING IN A RELATIVISTIC, WEIBEL-UNSTABLE PLASMA

The dynamics of two initially unmagnetized relativistic counter-streaming homogeneous ion–electron plasma beams are simulated in two dimensions (2D) using the particle-in-cell (PIC) method. It is shown that current filaments, which form due to the Weibel instability, develop a large-scale longitudinal electric field in the direction opposite to the current carried by the filaments as predicted by theory. This field, which is partially inductive and partially electrostatic, is identified as the main source of net electron acceleration, greatly exceeding that due to magnetic field decay at later stages. The transverse electric field, although larger than the longitudinal field, is shown to play a smaller role in heating electrons, contrary to previous claims. It is found that in one dimension, the electrons become strongly magnetized and are not accelerated beyond their initial kinetic energy. Rather, the heating of the electrons is enhanced by the bending and break up of the filaments, which releases electrons that would otherwise be trapped within a single filament and slow the development of the Weibel instability (i.e., the magnetic field growth) via induction as per Lenz’s law. In 2D simulations, electrons are heated to about one quarter of the initial kinetic energy of ions. The magnetic energy at maximum is about 4%, decaying to less than 1% by the end of the simulation. The ions are found to gradually decelerate until the end of the simulation, by which time they retain a residual anisotropy of less than 10%.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Exact analysis of particle dynamics in combined field of finite duration laser pulse and static axial magnetic field

Dynamics of a charged particle is studied in the field of a relativistically intense linearly polarized finite duration laser pulse in the presence of a static axial magnetic field. For a finite duration laser pulse whose temporal shape is defined by Gaussian profile, exact analytical expressions are derived for the particle trajectory, momentum, and energy as function of laser phase. From the solutions, it is shown that, unlike for the monochromatic plane wave case, resonant phase locking time between the particle and laser pulse is finite. The net energy transferred to the particle does not increase monotonically but tends to saturate. It is further shown that appropriate tuning of cyclotron frequency of the particle with the characteristic frequency in the pulse spectrum can lead to the generation of accelerated particles with variable energies in MeV-TeV range.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Dynamics of charged particle motion in the vicinity of three dimensional magnetic null points: Energization and chaos

Using a full orbit test particle approach, we analyse the motion of a single proton in the vicinity of magnetic null point configurations which are solutions to the kinematic, steady state, resistive magnetohydrodynamics equations. We consider two magnetic configurations, namely, the sheared and torsional spine reconnection regimes [E. R. Priest and D. I. Pontin, Phys. Plasmas 16, 122101 (2009); P. Wyper and R. Jain, Phys. Plasmas 17, 092902 (2010)]; each produce an associated electric field and thus the possibility of accelerating charged particles to high energy levels, i.e., > MeV, as observed in solar flares [R. P. Lin, Space Sci. Rev. 124, 233 (2006)]. The particle's energy gain is strongly dependent on the location of injection and is characterised by the angle of approach β, with optimum angle of approach β{sub opt} as the value of β which produces the maximum energy gain. We examine the topological features of each regime and analyse the effect on the energy gain of the proton. We also calculate the complete Lyapunov spectrum for the considered dynamical systems in order to correctly quantify the chaotic nature of the particle orbits. We find that the sheared model is a good candidate for the acceleration of particles, and for increased shear, we expect a larger population to be accelerated to higher energy levels. In the strong electric field regime (E{sub 0}=1500 V/m), the torsional model produces chaotic particle orbits quantified by the calculation of multiple positive Lyapunov exponents in the spectrum, whereas the sheared model produces chaotic orbits only in the neighbourhood of the null point.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

A low-frequency variational model for energetic particle effects in the pressure-coupling scheme

Energetic particle effects in magnetic confinement fusion devices are commonly studied by hybrid kinetic-fluid simulation codes whose underlying continuum evolution equations often lack the correct energy balance. While two different kinetic-fluid coupling options are available (current coupling and pressure coupling), this paper applies the Euler–Poincaré variational approach to formulate a new conservative hybrid model in the pressure-coupling scheme. In our case the kinetics of the energetic particles are described by guiding center theory. The interplay between the Lagrangian fluid paths and phase space particle trajectories reflects an intricate variational structure which can be approached by letting the four-dimensional guiding center trajectories evolve in the full six-dimensional phase space. Then, the redundant perpendicular velocity is integrated out to recover a four-dimensional description. A second equivalent variational approach is also reported, which involves the use of phase space Lagrangians. Not only do these variational structures confer on the new model a correct energy balance, but also they produce a cross-helicity invariant which is lost in the other pressure-coupling schemes reported in the literature.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ponderomotive barriers in rotating mirror devices using static fields

Particularly for aneutronic fusion schemes, it is advantageous to manipulate the fuel species differently from one another and to expel ash promptly. The ponderomotive effect can be used to selectively manipulate particles. It is commonly a result of particle–wave interactions and has a complex dependence on the particle charge and mass, enabling species selectivity. If the plasma is rotating, e.g., due to E x B motion, the ponderomotive effect can be generated using static (i.e., time-independent) perturbations to the electric and magnetic fields, which can be significantly cheaper to produce than time-dependent waves. We propose that this feature can be particularly useful in rotating mirror machines where mirror confinement can be enhanced by rotation, both through centrifugal confinement and additionally through a ponderomotive interaction with a static azimuthal perturbation. We identify specific static perturbations that generate a ponderomotive barrier and other perturbations that can generate either a repulsive barrier or an attractive ponderomotive well, which can be used to attract particles of a certain species while repelling another. We identify the regimes in which the ponderomotive potential can enhance net plasma confinement and the regime in which plasma confinement is not enhanced. The viability of each of these effects is found to be dependent on the specifics of the rotation profile and the resultant dispersion relation in the rotating plasma.

Aneutronic fusion↗
DOE OSTI2015

Implementing and diagnosing magnetic flux compression on the Z pulsed power accelerator

We report on the progress made to date for a Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project aimed at diagnosing magnetic flux compression on the Z pulsed-power accelerator (0-20 MA in 100 ns). Each experiment consisted of an initially solid Be or Al liner (cylindrical tube), which was imploded using the Z accelerator's drive current (0-20 MA in 100 ns). The imploding liner compresses a 10-T axial seed field, B z ( 0 ) , supplied by an independently driven Helmholtz coil pair. Assuming perfect flux conservation, the axial field amplification should be well described by B z ( t ) = B z ( 0 ) x [ R ( 0 ) / R ( t )] 2 , where R is the liner's inner surface radius. With perfect flux conservation, B z ( t ) and dB z / dt values exceeding 10 4 T and 10 12 T/s, respectively, are expected. These large values, the diminishing liner volume, and the harsh environment on Z, make it particularly challenging to measure these fields. We report on our latest efforts to do so using three primary techniques: (1) micro B-dot probes to measure the fringe fields associated with flux compression, (2) streaked visible Zeeman absorption spectroscopy, and (3) fiber-based Faraday rotation. We also mention two new techniques that make use of the neutron diagnostics suite on Z. These techniques were not developed under this LDRD, but they could influence how we prioritize our efforts to diagnose magnetic flux compression on Z in the future. The first technique is based on the yield ratio of secondary DT to primary DD reactions. The second technique makes use of the secondary DT neutron time-of-flight energy spectra. Both of these techniques have been used successfully to infer the degree of magnetization at stagnation in fully integrated Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) experiments on Z [P. F. Schmit et al. , Phys. Rev. Lett. 113 , 155004 (2014); P. F. Knapp et al. , Phys. Plasmas, 22 , 056312 (2015)]. Finally, we present some recent developments for designing and fabricating novel micro B-dot probes to measure B z ( t ) inside of an imploding liner. In one approach, the micro B-dot loops were fabricated on a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB was then soldered to off-the-shelf 0.020- inch-diameter semi-rigid coaxial cables, which were terminated with standard SMA connectors. These probes were recently tested using the COBRA pulsed power generator (0-1 MA in 100 ns) at Cornell University. In another approach, we are planning to use new multi-material 3D printing capabilities to fabricate novel micro B-dot packages. In the near future, we plan to 3D print these probes and then test them on the COBRA generator. With successful operation demonstrated at 1-MA, we will then make plans to use these probes on a 20-MA Z experiment.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2013

Experimental Studies of Particle Acceleration and Heating During Magnetic Reconnection

Energy conversion from magnetic energy to particle energy during magnetic reconnection is studied in the collisionless plasma of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX). The plasma is in the two-fluid regime, where the ion motion is decoupled from that of the electron within the so-called ion diffusion region. For ion heating and acceleration, the role of the in-plane (Hall) electric field is emphasized. The in-plane potential responsible for the Hall electric field is established by electrons that are accelerated near the small electron diffusion region. The in-plane electrostatic potential profile shows a well structure along the direction normal to the reconnection current sheet that becomes deeper and wider downstream as its boundary expands along the separatrices where the in-plane electric field is strongest. Since the Hall electric field is 3--4 times larger than the reconnection electric field, unmagnetized ions obtain energy mostly from the in-plane electric field, especially near the separatrices. The Hall electric field ballistically accelerates ions near the separatrices toward the outflow direction. After ions are accelerated, they are heated as they travel into the high pressure downstream region. This downstream ion heating cannot be explained by classical, unmagnetized transport theory, which suggests that the magnetic field should be important due to an effect called re-magnetization. Electrons are also significantly heated during reconnection. The electron temperature sharply increases across the separatrices and peaks just outside of the electron diffusion region. Unlike ions, electrons acquire energy mostly from the reconnection electric field and the energy gain is localized near the X-point. However, the electron bulk flow energy increase remains negligible. These observations support the assertion that efficient electron heating mechanisms exist around the electron diffusion region and that the generated heat is quickly transported along the magnetic field due to the high parallel thermal conductivity of electrons. Classical Ohmic dissipation based on the perpendicular Spitzer resistivity is too small to compensate the heat flux, indicating the presence of anomalous electron heating. Finally, a total energy inventory is calculated based on analysis of the Poynting, enthalpy, flow energy, and heat flux in the measured diffusion layer. More than half of the incoming magnetic energy is converted to particle energy during collisionless reconnection. Unlike in the Sweet-Parker model, the outgoing Poynting flux is not negligible, which is due to considerable Hall fields, i.e., the quadrupole out-of-plane magnetic field and the in-plane electric field. The total ion energy gain during reconnection is larger than that of electrons, since the energy gain occurs over a broader region. The total ion thermal energy gain is larger than the increase of the ion flow energy. Finally, the electron thermal energy gain is comparable to the ion thermal energy gain, while the electron flow energy remains insignificant.

electron heating↗
DOE OSTI2014

Sheath-induced distortions in particle distributions near enhanced polar outflow probe particle sensors

We discuss sheath and kinetic effects on ion and electron distribution functions at the aperture of enhanced Polar Outflow Probe particle sensors. For this purpose, the interaction between the CASSIOPE spacecraft and space environment is simulated fully kinetically using the electrostatic Particle In Cell code PTetra. The simulations account for the geometry of the main features of the spacecraft body, the booms, and the sensors. In addition to the background plasma, the model also accounts for Earth magnetic field. The plasma parameters assumed in the simulations are obtained from the latest version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model and the value of magnetic field is obtained from the International Geophysical Reference Field model. Our analysis shows significant distortions in the ion distribution function in the plane of the sensor aperture, as well as in the direction along the boom holding the sensor. We argue that significant distortions and asymmetries should also occur at the aperture of the suprathermal electron imager when suprathermal electrons are detected, with energies of 5 eV or more.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Foundations of Modern Magnetic Reconnection Research

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process operating in laboratory, space, and astrophysical plasmas. We understand today that it is the mechanism behind the often explosive release of the stored magnetic energy, and that it directly or indirectly powers as diverse a set of phenomena as solar eruptions, stellar flares, geomagnetic storms, the aurora, and even disruption events in fusion machines. It is also the mechanism powering the majority of the deleterious space effects collectively referred to as “space weather.” Owing to its importance, reconnection has been a research focus for many years, culminating in the research based on NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale mission. A major component of foundational research involved studies of the stability and disruption of current sheets by collisionless tearing, which still plays a major role in the dynamical evolution of the interfaces between magnetic fields of different directions. This presentation will illuminate these beginnings, with special focus on the seminal work of Academician A. A. Galeev, and also provide a summary of the present state of knowledge. It will conclude with an outlook toward future reconnection research targets.

Plasma↗
DOE OSTI2021

Using millimeter-sized carbon-deuterium foils for high-precision deuterium-tritium neutron spectrum measurements in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion at the OMEGA laser facility

Millimeter-sized CD foils fielded close (order mm) to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions have been proposed as a game-changer for improving energy resolution and allowing time-resolution in neutron spectrum measurements using the magnetic recoil technique. This paper presents results from initial experiments testing this concept for direct drive ICF at the OMEGA laser facility. While the foils are shown to produce reasonable signals, inferred spectral broadening is seen to be high (~5 keV) and signal levels low (by ~20%) compared to expectation. Before this type of foil is used for precision experiments, the foil mount must be improved, oxygen uptake in the foils better characterized, and impact of uncontrolled foil motion prior to detection investigated.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗