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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 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Optimization of energy transfer in microwave electrothermal thrusters

Results are presented from preliminary tests conducted to evaluate the performance of a prototype microwave electrothermal thruster. The primary component of the device is a microwave resonant cavity. The device produces stable axial plasmas within a pressurized section of the cavity with the plasma positioned in the inlet region of the nozzle. Plasma stability is enhanced by axial power coupling, an optimal distribution of electric power density within the cavity, and a propellant gas flow which has a large vortical velocity component. The thruster has been operated with a number of propellant gases: helium, nitrogen, ammonia, and hydrogen. Plasmas can be formed in a reliable manner at cavity pressures of 1 kPa and incident power levels ranging from 50 W to 350 W, depending on the gas used, and can be operated at pressures up to 300 kPa at power levels up to 2200 W. Ideal performance results of vacuum Isp and thermal efficiency vs. specific power are presented for each gas. Representative results of this preliminary work are: He - Isp = 625 s, eta-thermal = 90 percent; N2 - Isp = 270 s, eta-thermal = 41 percent; NH3 - Isp = 475 s, eta-thermal= 55 percent; H2 - Isp = 1040 s, eta-thermal = 53 percent.

Sullivan, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Heating of thermal helium in the equatorial magnetosphere - A simulation study

The heating of He(+) ions observed by the GEOS satellite at L of about seven starting from an initial anisotropic proton distribution is studied. A simulation of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in a plasma consisting of hot anisotropic protons, a dominant thermal hydrogen plasma, and a minority species of helium ions is utilized. It is shown that the thermal ions are heated to 100 times their initial temperature due to the growth of large-amplitude ion cyclotron waves. He(+) ions are heated mainly in the perpendicular direction, and they are heated more than cold H(+) ions. The He(+) ions are heated in a two-step process. First, they are set into oscillations by the growing wave until some of the ions reach a parallel velocity on the order of the resonant velocity; then, strong heating occurs.

Omura, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Survey of the Pioneer 10 and 11 Jupiter mission

After a description of the Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft, the following scientific experiments are discussed: Helium Vector Magnetometer, Fluxgate Magnetometer, Plasma Analyzer, Geiger Tube Telescope, Cosmic Ray Telescope, Trapped Radiation Detector, Ultraviolet Photometer, Imaging Photopolarimeter, Infrared Radiometer, Asteroid-Meteoroid Detector, and Meteoroid detector. Also reviewed are the mission profile and status.

Wolfe, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Large-scale waves in the ionosphere observed by the AE satellite

Atmospheric Explorer (AE) satellite data were used to establish whether coherent waves in the gravity wave range are present in both neutral and ionized media in the thermosphere. The AE-C data in particular are shown. Data consist of the in situ argon, helium, nitrogen, and oxygen densities, plasma density, and ion and electron temperatures. Filtering provides the fluctuation signals for each which are spectrum analyzed for power and cross spectra. The observed frequencies are essentially proportional to the spatial wavenumbers along the satellite track. Scale sizes range from thousands to tens of kilometers.

Gross, S. H.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Spacecraft Charging in Geostationary Transfer Orbit

The 700 km x 5.8 Re orbit of the two Van Allen Probes spacecraft provide a unique opportunity to investigate spacecraft charging in geostationary transfer orbits. We use records from the Helium Oxygen Proton Electron (HOPE) plasma spectrometer to identify candidate surface charging events based on the "ion line" charging signature in the ion records. We summarize the energetic particle environment and the conditions necessary for charging to occur in this environment. We discuss the altitude, duration, and magnitude of events observed in the Van Allen Probes from the beginning of the mission to present time. In addition, we explore what information the dual satellites provide on the spatial and temporal variations in the charging environments.

Parker, Linda Neergaard↗
NASA NTRS1991

Heat sink effects in variable polarity plasma arc welding

The Space Shuttle External Tank is fabricated by the variable polarity plasma arc (VPPA) welding process. In VPPA welding, a noble gas, usually argon, is directed through an arc to emerge from the torch as a hot plasma jet. This jet is surrounded by a shielding gas, usually helium, to protect the weld from contamination with air. The high velocity, hot plasma jet completely penetrates the workpiece (resembling a line heat source) when operated in the 'keyhole' mode. The metal melts on touching the side of the jet, as the torch travels in the perpendicular direction to the direction of the jet, and melted metal moves around the plasma jet in the keyhole forming a puddle which solidifies behind the jet. Heat sink effects are observed when there are irregularities in the workpiece configuration, especially, if these irregularities are close to the weld bead. These heat sinks affect the geometry of the weld bead, i.e., in extreme cases they could cause defects such as incomplete fusion. Also, different fixtures seem to have varying heat sink effects. The objective of this research is to study the effect of irregularities in workpiece configuration and fixture differences (heat sink effects) on the weld bead geometry with the ultimate objective to compensate for the heat sink effects and achieve a perfect weld. Experiments were performed on different workpiece geometries and compared to approximate models.

Abdelmessih, Amanie N.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A dense plasma ultraviolet source

The intense ultraviolet emission from the NASA Hypocycloidal-Pinch (HCP) plasma is investigated. The HCP consists of three disk electrodes whose cross section has a configuration similar to the cross section of a Mather-type plasma focus. Plasma foci were produced in deuterium, helium, xenon, and krypton gases in order to compare their emission characteristics. Time-integrated spectra in the wavelength range from 200 nm to 350 nm and temporal variations of the uv emission were obtained with a uv spectrometer and a photomultiplier system. Modifications to enhance uv emission in the iodine-laser pump band (250 to 290 nm) and preliminary results produced by these modifications are presented. Finally, the advantages of the HCP as a uv over use of conventional xenon lamps with respect to power output limit, spectral range, and lifetime are discussed.

Lee, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The effects of mass flow on the temperature and abundance structure of the solar transition region

The density and temperature structure of a multicomponent plasma consisting of electrons, protons, ionized helium, and a trace minor ion species are computed. The equations of force and energy balance for this model are developed and solved. It is found that in the case of downflows the minor ion temperature can be significantly hotter than the electron temperature, and significant abundance enhancements are possible due to the slowdown of the minor species from the effect of the thermal force. A simple physical picture of the source of the thermal force is given.

Woods, D. T.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Preliminary investigation of high power microwave plasmas for electrothermal thruster use

Results are reported from preliminary tests to evaluate the high power microwave electrothermal thruster (MET) concept, which employs a free-floating plasma discharge maintained by applied CW microwave power to heat a propellant gas flow. Stable plasmas have been created and maintained in helium (He), nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen (H2) as propellants in both the TM(sub 011) and TM(sub 012) modes at discharge pressures from 10 Pa to 69 kPa. Reproducible starting conditions of pressure and power have been documented for all the plasmas. Vortical inflow of the propellant gas was observed to cause the formation of on-axis 'spike' plasmas. The formation and unformation conditions of these plasmas were studied. Operation in the spike plasma condition enables maximum power absorption with minimum wall heating and offers maximum efficiency in heating the propellant gas. In the spike condition, plasmas of the three propellant gases were investigated in an open channel configuration to a maximum applied power level of 11.2 kW (in N2). Microwave power coupling efficiencies of over 90 percent were routinely obtained at absorbed power levels up to 2 kW. Magnetic nozzle effects were investigated with a superconducting solenoid Al magnet applying a high magnetic field to the plasmas in and exiting from the discharge tube.

Power, John L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Absorption of laser radiation in a H-He plasma. I - Theoretical calculation of the absorption coefficient

The theory for calculating the absorption of laser radiation by hydrogen is outlined for the temperatures and pressures of common laboratory plasmas. Nonhydrogenic corrections for determining the absorption by helium are also included. The coefficients for the absorption of He-Ne laser radiation at the wavelengths of 0.633, 1.15, and 3.39 microns in a H plasma is presented for temperatures in the range from 10,000 to 40,000 K and electron number densities in the range from 10 to the 15th power to 10 to the 18th power per cu cm. The total absorption of a H-He plasma calculated from this theory is compared with the measured absorption. The theoretical composition of the H-He absorption is analyzed with respect to the significant absorption processes, inverse bremsstrahlung, photoionization, resonance excitation, and photodetachment.

Stallcop, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Transverse ion heating in multicomponent plasmas along auroral zone field lines

This paper considers plasma modes that can occur in a multicomponent plasma, such as an O(+)-H(+) plasma, along auroral zone field lines and the effect of these plasma modes on heavy-ion acceleration. A simulation study of ion heating by ion cyclotron, lower hybrid, and ion-ion hybrid waves is conducted using parameters that pertain to different regions of the aurora. Three different auroral regions are identified, in which various types of heating occur; these regions are distinguished by the plasma conditions found there and by the instability that would be expected to be dominant in the ion-heating process. It is shown that, when a small amount of helium ions are added into the predominantly hydrogen and oxygen plasma, two ion-ion hybrid modes exist: hydrogen-helium and oxygen-helium modes (in addition to the lower hybrid mode). The effect of ion heating by these wave modes is discussed.

Ashour-Abdalla, Maha↗
NASA NTRS1974

Laser-plasma spectra of highly ionized fluorine

Lines between 11.3 and 17.2 A of lithium-like, helium-like, and hydrogen-like fluorine have been observed in spectra of laser-produced plasmas. These lines include nine members of the Lyman series of F IX; eight members of the principal series of F VIII; and satellite lines arising from doubly excited configurations of F VII and F VIII. Similar satellite lines of the abundant solar elements have been identified in soft X-ray spectra of solar flares. A wavelength list of fluorine lines is given, and physical conditions in the plasma are discussed.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Simulations of active ion injection experiments on ARCS 3

The ARCS 3 sounding rocket experiment used two argon guns oriented parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. The parameters of this experiment have been used in a series of particle simulations in order to interpret ion beam interaction with the multispecies ionospheric plasma. Along with the lower hybrid mode between the electron and the hydrogen gyrofrequencies, ion-ion hybrid modes between the hydrogen and helium gyrofrequencies and between the helium and oxygen gyrofrequencies are identified in the simulations. Besides these cold plasma modes, warm Bernstein modes of the respective ion species are identified. The parallel argon beam injections excite lower hybrid waves perpendicular to the magnetic field because of the finite thermal spread of the parallel beam. Perpendicular ion heating of background hydrogen, helium, and oxygen is comparable in the simulations. Comparisons are made with the wave and particle data from the ARCS 3 rocket experiment.

Hudson, M. K.↗