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82 records · Page 5

3D-Stereoscopic Analysis of Solar Active Region Loops: I: SoHo/EIT Observations at Temperatures of 1.0-1.5 MK

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of solar active region NOAA 7986 observed on 1996 August 30 with the Extrem-ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SoHO) is analyzed. We develop a new method of Dynamic Stereoscopy to reconstruct the 3D geometry of dynamically changing loops, which allows us to determine the orientation of the loop plane with respect to the line-of-sight, a prerequisite to correct properly for projection effects in 3D loop models. With this method and the filter-ratio technique applied to EIT 171 A and 195 A images we determine the 3D coordinates (x(s), y(s), z(s)), the loop width) w(s), the electron density n(sub e)(s), and the electron temperature T(sub e)(s) as function of the loop length s for 30 loop segments. Fitting the loop densities with an exponential density model n(sub e)(h) we find that the so inferred scale height temperatures, T(sub e)(sup lambda) = 1.22 +/- 0.23 MK, match closely the EIT filter-ratio temperatures, T(sub e)(sup FIT) = 1.21 +/- 0.06 MK. We conclude that these rather large-scale loops (with heights of h approx. equals 50 - 200 Mm) that dominate EIT 171 A images are close to thermal equilibrium. Most of the loops show no significant thickness variation w(s), but many exhibit a trend of increasing temperature (dT/ds greater than 0) above the footpoint.

Aschwanden, Markus J.↗

The turbomachine blading design using S2-S1 approach

The boundary conditions corresponding to the design problem when the blades being simulated by the bound vorticity distribution are presented. The 3D flow is analyzed by the two steps S2 - S1 approach. In the first step, the number of blades is supposed to be infinite, the vortex distribution is transformed into an axisymmetric one, so that the flow field can be analyzed in a meridional plane. The thickness distribution of the blade producing the flow channel striction is taken into account by the modification of metric tensor in the continuity equation. Using the meridional stream function to define the flow field, the mass conservation is satisfied automatically. The governing equation is deduced from the relation between the azimuthal component of the vorticity and the meridional velocity. The value of the azimuthal component of the vorticity is provided by the hub to shroud equilibrium condition. This step leads to the determination of the axisymmetric stream sheets as well as the approximate camber surface of the blade. In the second step, the finite number of blades is taken into account, the inverse problem corresponding to the blade to blade flow confined in each stream sheet is analyzed. The momentum equation implies that the free vortex of the absolute velocity must be tangential to the stream sheet. The governing equation for the blade to blade flow stream function is deduced from this condition. At the beginning, the upper and the lower surfaces of the blades are created from the camber surface obtained from the first step with the assigned thickness distribution. The bound vorticity distribution and the penetrating flux conservation applied on the presumed blade surface constitute the boundary conditions of the inverse problem. The detection of this flux leads to the rectification of the geometry of the blades.

Luu, T. S.↗

Simplified curve fits for the thermodynamic properties of equilibrium air

New, improved curve fits for the thermodynamic properties of equilibrium air have been developed. The curve fits are for pressure, speed of sound, temperature, entropy, enthalpy, density, and internal energy. These curve fits can be readily incorporated into new or existing computational fluid dynamics codes if real gas effects are desired. The curve fits are constructed from Grabau-type transition functions to model the thermodynamic surfaces in a piecewise manner. The accuracies and continuity of these curve fits are substantially improved over those of previous curve fits. These improvements are due to the incorporation of a small number of additional terms in the approximating polynomials and careful choices of the transition functions. The ranges of validity of the new curve fits are temperatures up to 25 000 K and densities from 10 to the -7 to 10 to the 3d power amagats.

Srinivasan, S.↗

Atomic Data and Spectral Line Intensities for Ni XI

Electron impact collision strengths, energy levels, oscillator strengths and spontaneous radiative decay rates are calculated for Ni XI. We include in the calculations the 10 lowest configurations, corresponding to 164 fine structure levels: 3s(sup 2)3p(sup 6), 3s(sup 2)3p(sup 5)3d, 3s(sup 2)3p(sup 4)3d(sup 2), 3s3p(sup 6)3d, 3s(sup 2)3p(sup 5)4l and 3s3p6 4l with l =.s, p, d. Collision strengths are calculated at five incident energies for all transitions: 7.1, 16.8, 30.2, 48.7 and 74.1 Ry above the threshold of each transition. An additional energy, very close to the transition threshold, has been added, whose value is between 0.06 Ry and 0.25 Ry depending on the lower level. Calculations have been carried out using the Flexible Atomic Code and the distorted wave approximation. Excitation rate coefficients are calculated as a function of electron temperature by assuming a Maxwellian electron velocity distribution. Using the excitation rate coefficients and the radiative transition rates of the present work, combined with Close Coupling collision excitation rate coefficient available in the literature for the lowest 17 levels, statistical equilibrium equations for level populations are solved at electron densities covering the 10(exp 8)-10(exp 14) cu cm range and at an electron temperature of logT(sub c)(K)=6.1, corresponding to the maximum abundance of Ni XI. Spectral line intensities are calculated, and their diagnostic relevance is discussed. This dataset will be made available in the next version of the CHIANTI database.

Bhatia, A. K.↗

Analysis of Inter-Moss Loops in the Solar Region with IRIS and SDO AIA: Automatic Event Detection and Characterization

The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), launched in the summer of 2013, is designed specifically to observe and investigate the transition region and adjacent layers of the solar atmosphere, obtaining images in high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution. Our particular work is focused on the evolution of inter-moss loops, which have been detected in the lower corona by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the High-Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi- C), but are known to have foot points below the transition region. With the high-resolution capabilities of IRIS and its Si IV pass band, which measures activity in the upper chromosphere, we can study these magnetic loops in detail and compare their characteristic length and time scales to those obtained from several AIA image sets, particularly the 171, 193, and 211 pass bands. By comparing the results between these four data sets, one can potentially establish a measure of the ionization equilibrium for the location in question. To explore this idea, we found a large, sit-and-stare observation within the IRIS database that fit our specifications. This data set contained a number of well-defined inter-moss loops (by visual inspection) with a cadence less than or equal to that of AIA (approximately 12 seconds). This particular data set was recorded on October 23, 2013 at 07:09:30, lasting for 3219 seconds with a field of view of 120.6 by 128.1 arcseconds, centered on -53.9 by 59.1 arcseconds from disk center. For ease of comparison, the AIA data has been interpolated to match the IRIS cadence and resolution. In the main portion of the poster, we demonstrate the detection of events, the information collected, and the immediate results to the right, showing the progress of an event with green as the start, blue as the peak, and red as the end. Below here, we demonstrate how pixels are combined to form groups. The 3D results are shown to the right.

event detection↗

Analysis of Inter-Moss Loops in the Solar Region with IRIS and SDO AIA: Automatic Event Detection and Characterization

The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), launched in the summer of 2013, is designed specifically to observe and investigate the transition region and adjacent layers of the solar atmosphere, obtaining images in high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution. Our particular work is focused on the evolution of inter-moss loops, which have been detected in the lower corona by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the High-Resolution Coronal Imager (Hi- C), but are known to have foot points below the transition region. With the high-resolution capabilities of IRIS and its Si IV pass band, which measures activity in the upper chromosphere, we can study these magnetic loops in detail and compare their characteristic length and time scales to those obtained from several AIA image sets, particularly the 171, 193, and 211 pass bands. By comparing the results between these four data sets, one can potentially establish a measure of the ionization equilibrium for the location in question. To explore this idea, we found a large, sit-and-stare observation within the IRIS database that fit our specifications. This data set contained a number of well-defined inter-moss loops (by visual inspection) with a cadence less than or equal to that of AIA (approximately 12 seconds). This particular data set was recorded on October 23, 2013 at 07:09:30, lasting for 3219 seconds with a field of view of 120.6 by 128.1 arcseconds, centered on -53.9 by 59.1 arcseconds from disk center. For ease of comparison, the AIA data has been interpolated to match the IRIS cadence and resolution. In the main portion of the poster, we demonstrate the detection of events, the information collected, and the immediate results to the right, showing the progress of an event with green as the start, blue as the peak, and red as the end. Below here, we demonstrate how pixels are combined to form groups. The 3D results are shown to the right

IRIS↗

Exploring the Inner Edge of the Habitable Zone with Fully Coupled Oceans

The role of rotation in planetary atmospheres plays an important role in regulating atmospheric and oceanic heat flow, cloud formation and precipitation. Using the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) three dimension General Circulation Model (3D-GCM) we demonstrate how varying rotation rate and increasing the incident solar flux on a planet are related to each other and may allow the inner edge of the habitable zone to be much closer than many previous habitable zone studies have indicated. This is shown in particular for fully coupled ocean runs -- some of the first that have been utilized in this context. Results with a 100m mixed layer depth and our fully coupled ocean runs are compared with those of Yang et al. 2014, which demonstrates consistency across models. However, there are clear differences for rotations rates of 1-16x present earth day lengths between the mixed layer and fully couple ocean models, which points to the necessity of using fully coupled oceans whenever possible. The latter was recently demonstrated quite clearly by Hu & Yang 2014 in their aquaworld study with a fully coupled ocean when compared with similar mixed layer ocean studies and by Cullum et al. 2014. Atmospheric constituent amounts were also varied alongside adjustments to cloud parameterizations (results not shown here). While the latter have an effect on what a planet's global mean temperature is once the oceans reach equilibrium they do not qualitatively change the overall relationship between the globally averaged surface temperature and incident solar flux for rotation rates ranging from 1 to 256 times the present Earth day length. At the same time this study demonstrates that given the lack of knowledge about the atmospheric constituents and clouds on exoplanets there is still a large uncertainty as to where a planet will sit in a given star's habitable zone.

solar flux↗

On Computationally Efficient Radiative Transfer Calculations for Three-Dimensional Entry Problems

The current work presents an efficient simulation framework for rigorously modeling radiative fields emanating from non-equilibrium planetary entry flows in complex three-dimensional domains. Key to this endeavor is adoption of finite-volume discretization in lieu of brute-force ray tracing. This change in conjunction with mesh sweeping and Lebedev-type quadrature for angular integration allows spatial-angular resolution of radiative transfer to be performed in a computationally tractable manner. Additionally, a new methodology has been established to build standalone reduced-order spectral databases for non-equilibrium radiative properties that can be applied to a broad range of hypersonic planetary entry problems with minimal loss in accuracy. The efficacy of the new framework has been demonstrated on the atomic nitrogen radiative system. The resulting reduced-order model requires three orders-of-magnitude fewer spectral evaluations and results in a 95% decrease in memory footprint. A comparative study for representative forebody and afterbody lines-of-sight from Stardust, FIRE II, and meteor entries into the Earth atmosphere indicates that both total intensity variation and detailed spectra can be retrieved with as few as 625 reduced-order groups (contrasting with the 100,000 frequencies in the original full set model). Similarly, three-dimensional predictions of radiative heating experienced by the Orion forebody are in excellent agreement with legacy radiation solvers while requiring only a sliver (roughly 0.5%) of computing wall time.

3D radiation↗

On Computationally Efficient Radiative Transfer Calculations for Three-dimensional Entry Problems

The current work presents an efficient simulation framework for rigorously modeling radiative fields emanating from non-equilibrium planetary entry flows in complex three-dimensional domains. Key to this endeavor is adoption of finite-volume discretization in lieu of brute-force ray tracing. This change in conjunction with mesh sweeping and Lebedev-type quadrature for angular integration allows spatial-angular resolution of radiative transfer to be performed in a computationally tractable manner. Additionally, a new methodology has been established to build standalone reduced-order spectral databases for non-equilibrium radiative properties that can be applied to a broad range of hypersonic planetary entry problems with minimal loss in accuracy. The efficacy of the new framework has been demonstrated on the atomic nitrogen radiative system. The resulting reduced-order model requires three orders-of-magnitude fewer spectral evaluations and results in a 95% decrease in memory footprint. A comparative study for representative forebody and afterbody lines-of-sight from Stardust, FIRE II, and meteor entries into the Earth atmosphere indicates that both total intensity variation and detailed spectra can be retrieved with as few as 625 reduced-order groups (contrasting with the 100,000 frequencies in the original full set model). Similarly, three-dimensional predictions of radiative heating experienced by the Orion forebody are in excellent agreement with legacy radiation solvers while requiring only a sliver (roughly 0.5%) of computing wall time.

3D radiation↗

TEM Analyses of Itokawa Regolith Grains and Lunar Soil Grains to Directly Determine Space Weathering Rates on Airless Bodies

Samples returned from the moon and Asteroid Itokawa by NASA's Apollo Missions and JAXA's Hayabusa Mission, respectively, provide a unique record of their interaction with the space environment. Space weathering effects result from micrometeorite impact activity and interactions with the solar wind. While the effects of solar wind interactions, ion implantation and solar flare particle track accumulation, have been studied extensively, the rate at which these effects accumulate in samples on airless bodies has not been conclusively determined. Results of numerical modeling and experimental simulations do not converge with observations from natural samples. We measured track densities and rim thicknesses of three olivine grains from Itokawa and multiple olivine and anorthite grains from lunar soils of varying exposure ages. Samples were prepared for analysis using a Leica EM UC6 ultramicrotome and an FEI Quanta 3D dual beam focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM). Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analyses were performed on the JEOL 2500SE 200kV field emission STEM. The solar wind damaged rims on lunar anorthite grains are amorphous, lack inclusions, and are compositionally similar to the host grain. The rim width increases as a smooth function of exposure age until it levels off at approximately 180 nm after approximately 20 My (Fig. 1). While solar wind ion damage can only accumulate while the grain is in a direct line of sight to the Sun, solar flare particles can penetrate to mm-depths. To assess whether the track density accurately predicts surface exposure, we measured the rim width and track density in olivine and anorthite from the surface of rock 64455, which was never buried and has a surface exposure age of 2 My based on isotopic measurements. The rim width from 64455 (60-70nm) plots within error of the well-defined trend for solar wind amorphized rims in Fig. 1. Measured solar flare track densities are accurately reflecting the surface exposure of the grains. Track densities correlate with the amorphous rim thicknesses. While the space-weathered rims of anorthite grains are amorphous, the space-weathered rims on both Itokawa and lunar olivine grains show solar wind damaged rims that are not amorphous. Instead, the rims are nanocrystalline with high dislocation densities and sparse inclusions of nanophase Fe metal. The rim thicknesses on the olivine grains also correlate with track density. The Itokawa olivine grains have track densities that indicate surface exposures of approximately 10(exp 5) years. Longer exposures (up to approximately 10(exp 7) years) do not amorphize the rims, as evidenced by lunar soil olivines with high track densities (approximately 10(exp 11) cm(exp -2)). From the combined data, shown in Fig. 1, it is clear that olivine is damaged (but not amorphized) more rapidly by the solar wind compared to anorthite. The olivine damaged rim forms quickly (in approximately 10(exp 6) y) and saturates at approximately 120nm with longer exposure time. The anorthite damaged rims form more slowly, amorphize, and grow thicker than the olivine rims. This is in agreement with numerical modeling data which predicts that solar wind damaged rims on anorthite will be thicker than olivine. However, the models predict that both olivine and anorthite rims will amorphize and reach equilibrium widths in less than 10(exp 3) y, in contrast to what is observed for natural samples. Laboratory irradiation experiments, which show rapid formation of fully amorphous and blistered surfaces from simulated solar wind exposures are also in contrast to observations of natural samples. These results suggest that there is a flux dependence on the type and extent of irradiation damage that develops in olivine. This flux dependence suggests that great caution be used in extrapolating between high-flux laboratory experiments and the natural case, as demonstrated by. We constrain the space weathering rate through analysis of returned samples. Provided that the track densities and the solar wind damaged rim widths exhibited by the Itokawa grains are typical of the fine-grained regions of Itokawa, then the space weathering rate is on the order of 10(exp 5) y. Space weathering effects in lunar soils saturate within a few My of exposure while those in Itokawa regolith grains formed in approximately 10(exp 5) y. Olivine and anorthite respond differently to solar wind irradiation. The space weathering effects in olivine are particularly difficult to reconcile with laboratory irradiation studies and numerical models. Additional measurements, experiments, and modeling are required to resolve the discrepancies among the observations and calculations involving solar wind amorphization of different minerals on airless bodies.

Berger, Eve L.↗