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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Reduction of ablated surface expansion in pulsed-power-driven experiments using an aerosol dielectric coating

The quality of warm dense matter samples created by magnetic compression can be largely affected by material ablation. When the ablated material carries currents, local instabilities can grow, which can lead to nonuniformities in the final magnetic pressure. Extending the previous work by Peterson et al., Awe et al., and Hutchison et al., the experiments reported here demonstrate that the expansion of the ablated material can be significantly reduced by using a simple aerosol spray technique. Coating the current-carrying surfaces with a 30–60-μm layer of polyurethane reduced the expansion of the ablated material by a factor of 2 and eliminated material ejections from sharp corners. Here, this technique, tested at the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-Pinch Experiments pulsed power facility at the University of Michigan with currents up to 400 kA, could allow the production of homogeneous warm dense matter samples on pulsed-power drivers. Because of the simplicity of this method, this work brings forth an important contribution to pulsed-power-driven experiments designed to study nuclear fusion, material properties, and radiation science.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Reduction of ablated surface expansion in pulsed-power-driven experiments using an aerosol dielectric coating (Final Technical Report)

The quality of warm dense matter samples created by magnetic compression can be largely affected by material ablation. When the ablated material carries currents, local instabilities can grow, which can lead to nonuniformities in the final magnetic pressure. Extending the previous work by Peterson et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 135002 (2014)], Awe et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 065001 (2016)], and Hutchison et al. [Phys. Rev. E 97, 053208 (2018)], the experiments reported here demonstrate that the expansion of the ablated material can be significantly reduced by using a simple aerosol spray technique. Coating the current-carrying surfaces with a 30–60-μm layer of polyurethane reduced the expansion of the ablated material by a factor of 2 and eliminated material ejections from sharp corners. This technique, tested at the Michigan Accelerator for Inductive Z-Pinch Experiments pulsed power facility at the University of Michigan with currents up to 400 kA, could allow the production of homogeneous warm dense matter samples on pulsed-power drivers. Because of the simplicity of this method, this work brings forth an important contribution to pulsed-power-driven experiments designed to study nuclear fusion, material properties, and radiation science.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1981

The electromagnetic ion beam instability upstream of the earth's bow shock

The linear theory of the electromagnetic ion beam instability for arbitrary angles of propagation has been studied. The parameters considered in the theory are typical of the solar wind upstream of the earth's bow shock when a 'reflected' proton beam is present. Maximum growth occurs for propagation parallel to the ambient magnetic field B, but this instability also displays significant growth at wave-vectors oblique to B. Oblique, unstable modes seem to be the likely source of the compressive magnetic fluctuations recently observed in conjunction with the 'diffuse' ion population. An energetic ion beam does not directly give rise to linear growth of either ion acoustic or whistler mode instabilities.

Gary, S. P.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Magnetic dynamo activity in mechanically driven compressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Magnetic dynamo activity in a homogeneous, dissipative, polytropic, two-dimensional, turbulent magneto-fluid is simulated numerically. The magneto-fluid is simulated numerically. The magneto-fluid is, in a number of cases, mechanically forced so that energy input balances dissipation, thereby maintaining constant energy. In the presence of a mean magnetic field, a magneto-fluid whose initial turbulent magnetic energy is zero quickly arrives at a state of non-zero turbulent magnetic energy. If the mean magnetic field energy density is small, the turbulent magnetic field can achieve a local energy density more than four hundred times larger; if the mean magnetic field energy density is large, then equipartition between the turbulent magnetic and kinetic energy is achieved. Compared to the presence of a mean magnetic field, compressibility appears to have only a marginal effect in mediating the transfer of turbulent kinetic energy into magnetic energy.

Shebalin, John V.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Analysis of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields

Electron diode guns, which have strongly varying magnetic or electric fields in a cathode-anode gap, were investigated in order to generate laminar electron beams with high current density using magnetically immersed guns. By creating a strongly varying radial electric field in a cathode-anode gap of the electron gun, it was demonstrated that the optical properties of the gun can be significantly altered, which allows the generation of a laminar, high-current electron beam with relatively low magnetic field on the cathode. The relatively high magnetic compression of the electron beam achieved by this method is important for producing electron beams with high current density. A similar result can be obtained by inducing a strong variation of the magnetic field in a cathode-anode gap. It was observed that creating a dip in the axial magnetic field in the cathode-anode gap of an adiabatic electron gun has an optical effect similar to guns with strong variation of radial electric field. By analyzing the electron trajectories angles and presenting the results in a gun performance map different geometries of magnetically immersed electron guns with non-adiabatic fields are compared with each other and with a more traditional adiabatic electron gun. Some advantages and limitations of guns with non-adiabatic fields are outlined. In conclusion, the tests results of non-adiabatic electron gun with modified magnetic field are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1985

AMPTE/CCE magnetic field studies of the September 4, 1984 storm

The AMPTE/CCE (active magnetospheric particle tracer explorer/charge composition explorer) magnetic-field observations acquired during the September 4, 1984 geomagnetic storm are described. The observations are used to determine magnetospheric regions and boundaries and are also used as the primary index of the development, evolution, and distribution of the ring current. The results of an analysis of the observations are presented. It is shown that a magnetic compression observed inside the magnetosphere by CCE and outside by ISEE-2 is interpreted as a sudden impulse. From an estimation of magnetopause normals at each crossing, it is concluded that the magnetic variations that occur are due to a contraction and expansion of the entire magnetosphere. Local magnetic-field depressions are observed during two inbound dusk passes, confirming that the ring current never developed in the dawn sector.

Potemra, T. A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Counterstreaming solar wind halo electron events on open field lines?

Counterstreaming solar wind halo electron events have been identified as a common 1 AU signature of coronal mass ejection events, and have generally been interpreted as indicative of closed magnetic field topologies, i.e., magnetic loops or flux ropes rooted at both ends in the Sun, or detached plasmoids. In this paper we examine the possibility that these events may instead occur preferentially on open field lines, and that counterstreaming results from reflection or injection behind interplanetary shocks or from mirroring from regions of compressed magnetic field farther out in the heliosphere. We conclude that neither of these suggested sources of counterstreaming electron beams is viable and that the best interpretation of observed counterstreaming electron events in the solar wind remains that of passage of closed field structures.

Gosling, J. T.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evidence of electron microbunching in laser-driven modulated downramp injection and prospects for beam-driven implementation

Plasma accelerators can generate high-energy, high-brightness electron beams over centimeter-scale distances, offering novel pathways to compact x-ray free-electron lasers. Generating beams pre-bunched at the desired radiation wavelength would significantly enhance longitudinal coherence and reduce saturation length. Plasma density-modulated downramp injection offers an in-situ way to generate such beams with nanometer-scale bunching. Here we report the first experimental evidence of this mechanism in a laser-driven wakefield accelerator, showing that modulated density downramps generate modulated electron energy spectra absent in unmodulated cases. Particle-in-cell simulations reproduce these observations and reveal bunching factors of 0.05 at 0.4 μm, with a compression factor of approximately 7. Building on this demonstration, we propose a beam-driven implementation for FACET-II to generate multi-GeV beams pre-bunched at hundreds of nanometers wavelength, with sub-micrometer emittance, kiloampere peak current, and sub-percent slice energy spread. Two-stage magnetic compression enables tunable bunching from optical to extreme ultraviolet wavelengths while achieving peak currents exceeding 100 kA. Coherent transition radiation calculations confirm diagnostic feasibility. This approach offers a promising path towards compact, high-energy pre-bunched electron sources for advanced photon science applications.

electron microbunching↗
NASA NTRS1982

Plasma injection events at synchronous orbit related to positive Dst

AST 6 spacecraft synchronous orbit measurements are compared with space and ground data in a study of plasma effects related to SI and SC magnetic perturbations. It is found that synchronous orbit plasma injections related to the sudden phenomena are similar to those associated with substorms, although the former occur at all local times. The synchronous orbit plasma injections are interpreted as the co-location of particle boundaries on an inward propagating front and the compression magnetic pulse associated with SI and SC events is seen as responsible for the co-location of the boundaries and their inward propagation. The positive Dst magnetic pulse plays a role similar to that of the magnetic tail reconfiguration pulse associated with substorms, and evidence is shown that positive Dst enhances magnetospheric convection independently of interplanetary magnetic field direction

Arnoldy, R. L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Directly driven magnetized fast-ignition targets with steep density gradients for inertial fusion energy

The development of advanced targets capable of achieving ignition with improved energy gain at lower driver energies is one of four key technical challenges to be solved in order to realize economical inertial fusion energy. We report the minimum energy necessary for a small hemispherical mass of fast-ignited high-density deuterium–tritium fuel to explosively ignite a significantly larger hemispherical mass of assembled cold fuel with much lower mass density, both with and without a flux-compressed magnetic field connecting the two regions. With the magnetic field, the burn rate improves, and lower energy states become more effective. The imploded fuel reservoir available in the lower-density, larger-mass region of the steep density gradient determines whether the fusion yield is several hundred MJ or up to a few GJ. We report a case wherein the cold reservoir ignited and produced high gain with the assistance of only ~700 kJ of hotspot yield, an amount that has already been demonstrated as feasible in laboratory experiments using indirect-drive targets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1992

The dynamic cusp

Results of a study of satellite and ground-based data acquired near the dayside cusp during a period when the IMF was inferred to have a strong northward component are presented. The presence of Pc 1 bursts, Pc 4-5 pulsations, and a tailward traveling twin vortex pattern of ionospheric convection suggests that the magnetosphere may have been temporarily compressed. Magnetic field data acquired at a synchronous altitude from GOES 5 and on the ground from Huanacayo support this suggestion. Plasma with ion dispersion characteristics associated with a cusp during southward IMF was detected by Viking over a 3.5-deg range of latitude. The presence of standing Alfven waves and ring current ions suggests that this 'cusplike' plasma was observed on closed geomagnetic field lines. It is suggested that the magnetosphere, during a northward IMF, is temporarily compressed by a solar wind pressure enhancement that produces the Pc 1 bursts, Pc 4-5 pulsations, and ionospheric vortices.

Potemra, T. A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Verification and validation of linear gyrokinetic and kinetic-MHD simulations for internal kink instability in DIII-D tokamak

Here, verification and linear validation of the internal kink instability in tokamak have been performed for both gyrokinetic (GTC) and kinetic-MHD codes (GAM-solver, M3D-C1-K, NOVA, XTOR-K). Using realistic magnetic geometry and plasma profiles from the same equilibrium reconstruction of the DIII-D shot #141216, these codes exhibit excellent agreement for the growth rate and mode structure of the internal kink mode when all kinetic effects are suppressed. The simulated radial mode structures, obtained from linear simulations, are in reasonable agreement with the normalised electron cyclotron emission measurement after adjusting, within the experimental uncertainty, the safety factor q = 1 flux-surface location in the equilibrium reconstruction. Compressible magnetic perturbations strongly destabilize the kink, while poloidal variations of the equilibrium current density reduce the growth rate of the kink. Furthermore, kinetic effects of thermal ions are found to decrease the kink growth rate in kinetic-MHD simulations, but increase the kink growth rate in gyrokinetic simulations, due to the additional drive of the ion temperature gradient and parallel electric field. Kinetic thermal electrons are found to have negligible effects on the internal kink instability.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1987

Studies of the interplanetary magnetic field: IMP's to Voyager

During the last two decades, spacecraft projects and individual experiments for which Frank McDonald was a leader have contributed very significantly to the current understanding of the structure of interplanetary space and the correlation between solar and interplanetary disturbances. Studies on the IMP, HELIOS, and Pioneer spin-stabilized spacecraft and the larger attitude-stabilized Voyager spacecraft have provided data sets from which the modern view of the heliosphere has evolved. That concept in which the inner solar system is shown to be dominated by individual streams associated with specific source regions on the Sun is illustrated. As these high-speed streams overtake the preexisting solar plasma, they coalesce and modify the characteristics so that at larger heliocentric distances, these disturbances appear as radially propagating concentric shells of compressed magnetic fields and enhanced fluctuations

Ness, Norman F.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Physical mechanism causing rapid changes in ultrarelativistic electron pitch angle distributions right after a shock arrival: Evaluation of an electron dropout event: Drift Shell Splitting on the Dayside

Three mechanisms have been proposed to explain relativistic electron flux depletions (dropouts) in the Earth's outer radiation belt during storm times: adiabatic expansion of electron drift shells due to a decrease in magnetic field strength, magnetopause shadowing and subsequent outward radial diffusion, and precipitation into the atmosphere (driven by EMIC wave scattering). Which mechanism predominates in causing electron dropouts commonly observed in the outer radiation belt is still debatable. In the present study, we evaluate the physical mechanism that may be primarily responsible for causing the sudden change in relativistic electron pitch angle distributions during a dropout event observed by Van Allen Probes during the main phase of the 27 February 2014 storm. During this event, the phase space density of ultrarelativistic (>1MeV) electrons was depleted by more than 1 order of magnitude over the entire radial extent of the outer radiation belt (3 < L* < 5) in less than 6 h after the passage of an interplanetary shock. We model the electron pitch angle distribution under a compressed magnetic field topology based on actual solar wind conditions. Although these ultrarelativistic electrons exhibit highly anisotropic (peaked in 90°), energy-dependent pitch angle distributions, which appear to be associated with the typical EMIC wave scattering, comparison of the modeled electron distribution to electron measurements indicates that drift shell splitting is responsible for this rapid change in electron pitch angle distributions. This further indicates that magnetopause loss is the predominant cause of the electron dropout right after the shock arrival.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1987

Transverse deflection and dissipation of small plasma beams and clouds in magnetized media

Propagation of a quasi-neutral plasma beam or cloud across a magnetic field is considered for the case where the transverse dimension of the beam or cloud is sufficiently small compared to ion gyroradii. This situation commonly arises for active experiments in near-earth space. Two mechanisms are presented for transverse deflection of a beam or cloud in the -v0 x B0 direction where v0 is the velocity relative to the ambient medium. In the first, asymmetric escape of ions from an electrically polarized beam or cloud causes transverse deflection by means of a rocket effect. The transverse deflection distance is estimated to be a few times the initial transverse dimension of the beam or cloud. Dissipation occurs within a few times the thermal ion transverse crossing time. In the second mechanism, asymmetric charging results from localized accumulation of incident ions from the ambient medium. This excess positive charge distorts electric equipotentials and drives electron Hall currents that maintain an asymmetric compressed magnetic field region. The asymmetry of the magnetic stress contributes to transverse deflection with the same sign as the rocket effect. The asymmetric magnetic field also focuses incident ions to yield the localized charge accumulation. These ideas are qualitatively consistent with observations of the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers artificial comet releases.

Cheng, Andrew F.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Super-strong magnetic field-dominated ion beam dynamics in focusing plasma devices

High energy density physics is the field of physics dedicated to the study of matter and plasmas in extreme conditions of temperature, densities and pressures. It encompasses multiple disciplines such as material science, planetary science, laboratory and astrophysical plasma science. For the latter, high energy density states can be accompanied by extreme radiation environments and super-strong magnetic fields. The creation of high energy density states in the laboratory consists in concentrating/depositing large amounts of energy in a reduced mass, typically solid material sample or dense plasma, over a time shorter than the typical timescales of heat conduction and hydrodynamic expansion. Laser-generated, high current–density ion beams constitute an important tool for the creation of high energy density states in the laboratory. Focusing plasma devices, such as cone-targets are necessary in order to focus and direct these intense beams towards the heating sample or dense plasma, while protecting the proton generation foil from the harsh environments typical of an integrated high-power laser experiment. A full understanding of the ion beam dynamics in focusing devices is therefore necessary in order to properly design and interpret the numerous experiments in the field. In this work, we report a detailed investigation of large-scale, kilojoule-class laser-generated ion beam dynamics in focusing devices and we demonstrate that high-brilliance ion beams compress magnetic fields to amplitudes exceeding tens of kilo-Tesla, which in turn play a dominant role in the focusing process, resulting either in a worsening or enhancement of focusing capabilities depending on the target geometry.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

High-Mach number, laser-driven magnetized collisionless shocks

Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical systems, and the class of supercritical shocks is of particular importance due to their role in accelerating particles to high energies. While these shocks have been traditionally studied by spacecraft and remote sensing observations, laboratory experiments can provide reproducible and multi-dimensional datasets that provide complementary understanding of the underlying microphysics. We present experiments undertaken on the OMEGA and OMEGA EP laser facilities that show the formation and evolution of high-Mach number collisionless shocks created through the interaction of a laser-driven magnetic piston and magnetized ambient plasma. Through time-resolved, 2-D imaging we observe large density and magnetic compressions that propagate at super-Alfvenic speeds and that occur over ion kinetic length scales. Electron density and temperature of the initial ambient plasma are characterized using optical Thomson scattering. Measurements of the piston laser-plasma are modeled with 2-D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, which are used to initialize 2-D particle-in-cell simulations of the interaction between the piston and ambient plasmas. The numerical results show the formation of collisionless shocks, including the separate dynamics of the carbon and hydrogen ions that constitute the ambient plasma and their effect on the shock structure. Furthermore, the simulations also show the shock separating from the piston, which we observe in the data at late experimental times.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗