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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 OSTI2016

Nonlinear wave interactions in shallow water magnetohydrodynamics of astrophysical plasma

The rotating magnetohydrodynamic flows of a thin layer of astrophysical and space plasmas with a free surface in a vertical external magnetic field are considered in the shallow water approximation. The presence of a vertical external magnetic field changes significantly the dynamics of wave processes in an astrophysical plasma, in contrast to a neutral fluid and a plasma layer in an external toroidal magnetic field. There are three-wave nonlinear interactions in the case under consideration. Using the asymptotic method of multiscale expansions, we have derived nonlinear equations for the interaction of wave packets: three magneto- Poincare waves, three magnetostrophic waves, two magneto-Poincare and one magnetostrophic waves, and two magnetostrophic and one magneto-Poincare waves. The existence of decay instabilities and parametric amplification is predicted. We show that a magneto-Poincare wave decays into two magneto-Poincare waves, a magnetostrophic wave decays into two magnetostrophic waves, a magneto-Poincare wave decays into one magneto-Poincare and one magnetostrophic waves, and a magnetostrophic wave decays into one magnetostrophic and one magneto-Poincare waves. There are the following parametric amplification mechanisms: the parametric amplification of magneto-Poincare waves, the parametric amplification of magnetostrophic waves, the amplification of a magneto-Poincare wave in the field of a magnetostrophic wave, and the amplification of a magnetostrophic wave in the field of a magneto-Poincare wave. The instability growth rates and parametric amplification factors have been found for the corresponding processes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Wave interactions with continuous fractal layers

Many natural structures possess self-similar multiscales which can be characterized by power law spectra. Under appropriate conditions, knowledge of the strength of these scale sizes provides information on the physical processes which formed these objects. In this paper, we investigate wave interactions with continuous fractal layers which model geological and variegated structures. Since fractal characteristics of the layers are embedded in the scattered field, they can be retrieved under appropriate conditions. This inversion can be performed in either the frequency or the time domain as desired.

Kim, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Wave interaction theory and LFC

Attention is drawn to the influence of preexisting finite-amplitude instabilities on the growth of other disturbances; current design tools for LFC take no notice of this kind of interaction. When a rational accounting is accomplished for the evolution of incoming disturbances in finite-amplitude solutions of the equations of motion, future transition-prediction methods will need to take these wave interactions into account. Attention is given here to interactions in the presence of crossflow vortices and interactions involving Goertler vortices.

Hall, Philip↗
NASA NTRS1983

Stratospheric sudden coolings and the role of nonlinear wave interactions in preconditioning the circumpolar flow

The mechanisms responsible for the transition of the circumpolar flow from its normal midwinter state to the preconditioned state that should evolve before a wavenumber-2 major warming are investigated, through a combination of observational, numerical and theoretical studies. Observations of Eliassen-Palm flux cross sections indicate that while wave zonal mean flow interaction theory could account for the qualitative evolution of the circumpolar flow during the warming, substantial nonlinear wave interactions were active during the cooling period, and these interactions significantly influenced the evolution of the circumpolar flow. Numerical experiments employing a truncated, semispectral model indicate that this cooling phenomenon is realistically reproducible in an idealized integration in which wave-wave interactions are present. Two different mechanisms are proposed to account for these nonlinearities.

Palmer, T. N.↗
NASA NTRS1984

An Analysis of Wave Interactions in Swept-Wing Flows

Crossflow instabilities dominate disturbance growth in the leading-edge region of swept wings. Streamwise vortices in a boundary layer strongly influence the behavior of other disturbances. Amplification of crossflow vortices near the leading edge produces a residual spanwise nonuniformity in the mid-chord regions where Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) waves are strongly amplified. Should the T-S wave undergo double-exponential growth because of this effect, the usual transition prediction methods would fail. The crossflow/Tollmien-Schlichting wave interaction was modeled as a secondary instability. The effects of suction are included, and different stability criteria are examined. The results are applied to laminar flow control wings characteristic of energy-efficient aircraft designs.

Reed, H. L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fast Particle-Wave Interactions and Alfvén Eigenmodes in JET Tokamak Plasmas

This document serves as the closeout report of DOE Grant Award No. DE-FG02-99ER54563 with project period 1 April 2015 through 31 March 2020. The project comprised the international collaboration between MIT and EU scientists on the JET facility to improve our understanding of the physics of energetic particle-wave interactions by measuring the damping rates of stable Alfvén Eigenmodes (AEs) and unstable energetic particle driven modes. More specifically, this project involved the continued participation of MIT, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the Swiss Plasma Center, and theorists from various European laboratories and from UC Irvine. Past contributions from the University of São Paulo are gratefully acknowledged. The Alfvén Eigenmode Active Diagnostic (AEAD) on JET discharges was successfully upgraded in this period and has extracted physically useful information, in primarily deuterium plasma discharges. It is expected that such experiments would be continued during the DT campaign in CY 2021 to assess the damping rates of similar modes in the presence of alpha particles, a product of fusing burning plasma. Only JET would carry out such experiments in the near term in the world. It is important to note that this collaboration was continued under DOE Grant Award No. DE-SC0014264 from 1 April 2020 through the present. In this grant period, the AEAD was upgraded with a set of individual amplifiers for each of a set of six antennas in two toroidally opposite locations. These new amplifiers allowed targeted selection of the antennas’ toroidal spectrum for AEs of interest with toroidal mode number | n | ≤ 20. The resonant detection and measurement of the damping rates of AEs was obtained from magnetic probes that could be compared with theory and simulations. This is a key topic of investigation for ITER and all other next-step fusion experiments, where such modes will interact with energetic particles produced by fusion reactions (alpha particles), Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) and Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH). The majority of the observations during this period were of Toroidal Alfvén Eigenmodes (TAEs) as these are most commonly observed on JET; a number of measurements were made during dedicated TAE experiments. However, a new set of lower frequency band filters were procured with the goal of studying Geodesic Acoustic Modes (GAMs), Beta (Acoustic) AEs (BAE/BAAEs), and Reverse Shear AEs (RSAEs), also predicted by theory. Commissioning and optimizations were successfully completed in this period, and the diagnostic has been in operation during the more recent JET campaigns. Initial results have been obtained in dedicated TAE experiments and successfully compared to drift-kinetic theory. A wide range of theoretical studies have been undertaken in support of the upcoming JET campaigns experiments. To supplement the ongoing use of ideal MHD codes, such as MISHKA during the studies of TAEs, gyrokinetic simulations of low frequency AEs were performed in collaboration with UC Irvine. The Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC) was used to determine the structure, frequencies and stability of AEs in JET plasmas. Thus, a solid scientific foundation has been laid for future DT campaigns in JET in the 2021 operation period when the damping rates of relevant modes in the presence of alpha particles could be assessed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

On hydromagnetic wave interactions in collisionless, high- β plasmas

We describe the interaction of parallel-propagating Alfvén waves with ion-acoustic waves and other Alfvén waves, in magnetized, high- β collisionless plasmas. This is accomplished through a combination of analytical theory and numerical fluid simulations of the Chew–Goldberger–Low (CGL) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations closed by Landau-fluid heat fluxes. An asymptotic ordering is employed to simplify the CGL-MHD equations and derive solutions for the deformation of an Alfvén wave that results from its interaction with the pressure anisotropy generated either by an ion-acoustic wave or another, larger-amplitude Alfvén wave. The difference in time scales of acoustic and Alfvénic fluctuations at high- β means that interactions that are local in wavenumber space yield little modification to either mode within the time it takes the acoustic wave to Landau damp away. Instead, order-unity changes in the amplitude of Alfvénic fluctuations can result after interacting with frequency-matched acoustic waves. Additionally, we show that the propagation speed of an Alfvén-wave packet in an otherwise homogeneous background is a function of its self-generated pressure anisotropy. This allows for the eventual interaction of separate co-propagating Alfvén-wave packets of differing amplitudes. The results of the CGL-MHD simulations agree well with these predictions, suggesting that theoretical models relying on the interaction of these modes should be reconsidered in certain astrophysical environments. Applications of these results to weak Alfvénic turbulence and to the interaction between the compressive and Alfvénic cascades in strong, collisionless turbulence are also discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1998

Studies of Shock Wave Interactions with Homogeneous and Isotropic Turbulence

A nearly homogeneous nearly isotropic compressible turbulent flow interacting with a normal shock wave has been studied experimentally in a large shock tube facility. Spatial resolution of the order of 8 Kolmogorov viscous length scales was achieved in the measurements of turbulence. A variety of turbulence generating grids provide a wide range of turbulence scales. Integral length scales were found to substantially decrease through the interaction with the shock wave in all investigated cases with flow Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 and shock Mach numbers from 1.2 to 1.6. The outcome of the interaction depends strongly on the state of compressibility of the incoming turbulence. The length scales in the lateral direction are amplified at small Mach numbers and attenuated at large Mach numbers. Even at large Mach numbers amplification of lateral length scales has been observed in the case of fine grids. In addition to the interaction with the shock the present work has documented substantial compressibility effects in the incoming homogeneous and isotropic turbulent flow. The decay of Mach number fluctuations was found to follow a power law similar to that describing the decay of incompressible isotropic turbulence. It was found that the decay coefficient and the decay exponent decrease with increasing Mach number while the virtual origin increases with increasing Mach number. A mechanism possibly responsible for these effects appears to be the inherently low growth rate of compressible shear layers emanating from the cylindrical rods of the grid.

Briassulis, G.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Difference-Frequency Generation of THz Radiation via Parametric Three-Wave Interaction in CdTe and ZnTe Crystals

Difference-frequency generation of terahertz (THz) radiation in a collinear single-crystal scheme with distributed feedback implemented by means of parametric interaction of counterpropagating optical waves in a periodically inhomogeneous medium exhibiting quadratic nonlinearity is investigated. Using ZnTe and CdTe crystals optically pumped at λ = 0.77 and 1.06 μm, respectively, as an example, the possibility of obtaining parametric generation of THz radiation with an optical-to-THz conversion efficiency exceeding 10{sup –3} (with an extremely narrow line of oscillation of less than 4 GHz for ZnTe and less than 9 GHz for CdTe at 1 THz) is demonstrated in the undepleted-pump-intensity approximation. The obtained results can be used for construction of narrow-band lasers in the THz frequency range with an output power (in the quasicw regime of oscillation) of about 10{sup 5} W/cm{sup 2}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1989

Numerical simulation of Goertler/Tollmien-Schlichting wave-interaction

The problem of nonlinear development of Goertler vortices and interaction with Tollmien-Schlichting (TS) waves is considered within the framework of incompressible Navier-Stokes equations which are solved by a Fourier-Chebyshev spectral method. It is shown that two-dimensional waves can be excited in the flow modulated by Goertler vortices. Due to nonlinear effects, this interaction further leads to the development of oblique waves with spanwise wavelength equal to the Goertler vortex wavelength. Interaction is also considered of oblique waves with spanwise wavelength twice that of Goertler vortices.

Malik, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS2011

3D Modeling of Ultrasonic Wave Interaction with Disbonds and Weak Bonds

Ultrasonic techniques, such as the use of guided waves, can be ideal for finding damage in the plate and pipe-like structures used in aerospace applications. However, the interaction of waves with real flaw types and geometries can lead to experimental signals that are difficult to interpret. 3-dimensional (3D) elastic wave simulations can be a powerful tool in understanding the complicated wave scattering involved in flaw detection and for optimizing experimental techniques. We have developed and implemented parallel 3D elastodynamic finite integration technique (3D EFIT) code to investigate Lamb wave scattering from realistic flaws. This paper discusses simulation results for an aluminum-aluminum diffusion disbond and an aluminum-epoxy disbond and compares results from the disbond case to the common artificial flaw type of a flat-bottom hole. The paper also discusses the potential for extending the 3D EFIT equations to incorporate physics-based weak bond models for simulating wave scattering from weak adhesive bonds.

Leckey, C.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Resonance three-wave interactions and strange attractor

We report it is shown that the incorporation of linear sink/source terms in the three-wave resonance interaction model results in the time dependence of the wave amplitudes, which could exhibit the properties of a strange attractor. This finding demonstrates that the transition to turbulent dynamics of the waves could be related not only to the coupling of wave triads but also to the establishing of the strange attractor-like dynamics within individual wave triads.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Magnetosonic waves interactions in a spin-1/2 degenerate quantum plasma

We investigate the magnetosonic waves and their interactions in a spin-1/2 degenerate quantum plasma. With the help of the extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo perturbation method, we derive two Korteweg-de Vries-Burgers equations to describe the magnetosonic waves. The parameter region where exists magnetosonic waves and the phase diagram of the compressive and rarefactive solitary waves with different plasma parameters are shown. We further explore the effects of quantum diffraction, quantum statistics, and electron spin magnetization on the head-on collisions of magnetosonic solitary waves. We obtain the collision-induced phase shifts (trajectory changes) analytically. Both for the compressive and rarefactive solitary waves, it is found that the collisions only lead to negative phase shifts. Our present study should be useful to understand the collective phenomena related to the magnetosonic wave collisions in degenerate plasmas like those in the outer shell of massive white dwarfs as well as to the potential applications of plasmas.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Wavenumber shift due to nonlinear plasma and wave interaction

Wavenumber shift of the ion Bernstein wave has been observed in the particle-in-cell simulations when the input power of the injected wave is sufficiently large. It is demonstrated that the increase of the total kinetic energy of ions, including both the thermal energy related to the random thermal motion and the oscillation energy due to the coherent motion with the wave, gives rise to such change of the wavenumber. However, the velocity distribution function of the ions can approximately be fitted as a Maxwellian distribution function, and thus, the linear dispersion relation still holds, provided that the initial ion temperature is replaced by the effective temperature measured in the simulation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Strong Turbulent Alfvén Wave Interactions in a Laboratory Plasma (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

Turbulence is a fundamental and widespread aspect of plasma behavior, occurring in nearly every natural plasma system that is observed, from clusters of distant galaxies to plasmas within the solar system. Plasma continuously streaming from the sun, known as the solar wind, has been particularly fruitful in understanding plasma turbulence due to the availability of spacecraft data. An ensuring mystery in solar wind turbulence is the unexpected observation of residual energy – there is excess energy in the magnetic fluctuations compared to the velocity fluctuations even though an Alfvén wave in Magnetohydrodynamics has equal amounts of energy in each. The project studied strong non-linear interaction between counter-propagating Alfvén waves in the lab for the first time. Dr. Mel Abler, who was hired as a postdoctoral researcher under this grant, obtained the first observation of residual energy in a counter-propagating Alfvén wave interaction. Dr. Abler showed experimentally that the interaction of two counter-propagating Alfvén waves produces daughter modes that are not not normal modes of the system and only exist in the presence of the nonlinear drive. These Alfvén quasimodes contain either negative residual energy (more energy in magnetic fluctuations) or positive residual energy (more energy in velocity fluctuations).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1975

Plasma wave interactions with energetic ions near the magnetic equator

An intense band of electromagnetic noise is frequently observed near the magnetic equatorial plane at radial distance from about 2 to 5 Re. Recent wideband wave-form measurements with the IMP-6 and Hawkeye-1 satellites have shown that the equatorial noise consists of a complex superposition of many harmonically spaced lines. Several distinctly different frequency spacings are often evident in the same spectrum. The frequency spacing typically ranges from a few Hz to a few tens of Hz. It is suggested that these waves are interacting with energetic protons, alpha particles, and other heavy ions trapped near the magnetic equator. The possible role these waves play in controlling the distribution of the energetic ions is considered.

Gurnett, D. A.↗