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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

A Method to Identify the Heat Flux From Photons and Neutrals at the Divertor Target

The Surface Eroding Thermocouple (SETC) is a diagnostic designed for fast surface heat flux measurement and has been successfully applied in DIII-D to investigate divertor detachment. A novel method has been developed of using a combination of surface-facing and recessed SETCs to distinguish between the heat flux from charged particles, and that from neutrals and radiative heating. Furthermore, this technique suggests that at least 20% of the total incident heat flux is attributable to the latter sources not trapped in the magnetic field in a fully detached open divertor condition. It not only indicates the non-charged particle heating significantly contributes to the total surface heat flux in detached divertor conditions, but also demonstrates the feasibility of using two operational modes of SETCs to distinguish between the two surface heating mechanisms.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Highlight of IC project: w25_dreamxd

(left) The Earth’s radiation belts are donut-shaped regions containing MeV electrons (color contour for density) trapped by the magnetic field (white curves). We use DREAMxD code to model their dynamics. (right) We develop a new method to accelerate a key piece of the code – diffusion coefficient calculation. Comparing the compute time in node hours required by the standard approach to the compute time required for the fast method, it shows that the new method can be 100x faster for a large problem size.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The release of energetic particles from the sun.

Development of a model to account for the release of solar cosmic rays from the sun. The solar atmosphere out to 3 to 5 solar radii above the photosphere is permeated with magnetic field lines which trap low-rigidity (less than or equal to 50 MV) flare particles. Plasma heated by the flare process disturbs the trapping field, and not until the disturbance reaches 3 to 5 solar radii can the low-rigidity flare particles have access to interplanetary space. If the plasma is not heated sufficiently to overcome the coronal field, flare particles are trapped efficiently. Subsequent leakage of these particles into interplanetary space forms corotating streams. Reference is made to satellite observations of solar electromagnetic radiation and charged particles.

Simnett, G. M.↗

Effect of small flares in the neutral component of secondary cosmic radiation

The results are presented of an investigation of the effect of small flares, scale divisions 1 and 1(+), in the neutron component of secondary cosmic radiation from the data of neutron supermonitors at the stations of Kiev, Bukhta Tiksi, and Deep River. It is shown that flares of scale divisions 1 and 1(+) are accompanied by an effect in the neutron component amounting to about 0.4%. A mechanism is presented for calculating the outflow of particles accelerated in small flares, owing to diffusion across the magnetic field of a trap.

Bondarenko, V. I.↗

Effects of ion two-stream instability on auroral ion heating

The ion two-stream instability develops between upflowing H(+) and O(+) in the auroral acceleration region, if the two species are accelerated to different velocities in a semistationary electrostatic potential. Parallel propagating modes are unstable only for small relative drifts, while oblique modes remain unstable at larger drifts and, consequently, higher altitudes. The effects of oblique modes on ion heating are investigated, and it is found that O(+) heats primarily by trapping in the direction of wave propagation during the early, coherent phase of wave growth in the temporal evolution problem. After undergoing trapping along the magnetic field direction, H(+) heats primarily by quasi-linear diffusion when the spectrum broadens nonlinearly. The parallel ion distributions evolve by formation of a high-energy (low-energy) tail on oxygen (hydrogen) along with bulk slowing of hydrogen, which results in more energetic oxygen than hydrogen. Total heating is greatest in the direction of wave propagation, and this effect is greater for hydrogen than for oxygen.

Roth, I.↗

Propagation of whistler waves driven by fine structured ion beams in the magnetotail

In a previous paper, which examined the propagation of low-frequency whistler waves generated by ion beams in the Earth's plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL), it was found that whistler waves driven in the PSBL are focused toward the central plasma sheet due to the global magnetotail inhomogeneities; this finding may help explain the observations of magnetic noise bursts in the tail (Burinskaya et al., 1993). In this paper the same phenomenon is examined, but this time a much more realistic model is used for the ion beam in the PSBL. While the PSBL has been modeled as a solid, homogeneous ion beams with a width of one Earth radius, observations and theoretical considerations have shown that PSBL ion beams actually have a decreasing velocity profile toward the plasma sheet and that the density of the beams within the PSBL can vary locally. We consider again the propagation and generation of electromagnetic waves but in the presence of fine structured ion beams in the PSBL. Our results show that whistler waves, generated quasi-parallel to the background magnetic field, can be trapped locally within small spatial regions where the ion beam density is enhanced compared to the density of the adjacent PSBL region. Wave spectra and nonlinear saturation mechanisms are discussed.

Burinskaya, T.↗

Development of Y-Ba-Cu-O Superconductors for Magnetic Bearings

The material requirements, material manufacturing and magnetic properties that are relevant to fabrication of High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnetic bearings have been discussed. It is found that the seeded-melt-texturing method can be used to fabricate the single domain material that is required to achieve the best magnetic properties. Trapped-field mapping has been used as a non-destructive tool to determine the single-domain nature of the HTS material and quantity of the HTS disks. Both the trapped field and the levitation force of the Y-Ba-Cu-O disks are found to be strongly sensitive to the oxygen content.

Selvamanickam, V.↗

Transport of Space Environment Electrons: A Simplified Rapid-Analysis Computational Procedure

A computational procedure for describing transport of electrons in condensed media has been formulated for application to effects and exposures from spectral distributions typical of electrons trapped in planetary magnetic fields. The procedure is based on earlier parameterizations established from numerous electron beam experiments. New parameterizations have been derived that logically extend the domain of application to low molecular weight (high hydrogen content) materials and higher energies (approximately 50 MeV). The production and transport of high energy photons (bremsstrahlung) generated in the electron transport processes have also been modeled using tabulated values of photon production cross sections. A primary purpose for developing the procedure has been to provide a means for rapidly performing numerous repetitive calculations essential for electron radiation exposure assessments for complex space structures. Several favorable comparisons have been made with previous calculations for typical space environment spectra, which have indicated that accuracy has not been substantially compromised at the expense of computational speed.

Nealy, John E.↗

Apparatus and method to pulverize rock using a superconducting electromagnetic linear motor

A rock pulverizer device based on a superconducting linear motor. The superconducting electromagnetic rock pulverizer accelerates a projectile via a superconducting linear motor and directs the projectile at high speed toward a rock structure that is to be pulverized by collision of the speeding projectile with the rock structure. The rock pulverizer is comprised of a trapped field superconducting secondary magnet mounted on a movable car following a track, a wire wound series of primary magnets mounted on the track, and the complete magnet/track system mounted on a vehicle used for movement of the pulverizer through a mine as well as for momentum transfer during launch of the rock breaking projectile.

Ignatiev, Alex↗

A Deterministic Computational Procedure for Space Environment Electron Transport

A deterministic computational procedure for describing the transport of electrons in condensed media is formulated to simulate the effects and exposures from spectral distributions typical of electrons trapped in planetary magnetic fields. The primary purpose for developing the procedure is to provide a means of rapidly performing numerous repetitive transport calculations essential for electron radiation exposure assessments for complex space structures. The present code utilizes well-established theoretical representations to describe the relevant interactions and transport processes. A combined mean free path and average trajectory approach is used in the transport formalism. For typical space environment spectra, several favorable comparisons with Monte Carlo calculations are made which have indicated that accuracy is not compromised at the expense of the computational speed.

Nealy, John E.↗

Asteroid Belts in Debris Disk Twins: Vega and Fomalhaut

Vega and Fomalhaut are similar in terms of mass, ages, and global debris disk properties; therefore, they are often referred to as debris disk twins. We present Spitzer 10-35 micrometers spectroscopic data centered at both stars and identify warm, unresolved excess emission in the close vicinity of Vega for the first time. The properties of the warm excess in Vega are further characterized with ancillary photometry in the mid-infrared and resolved images in the far-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths. The Vega warm excess shares many similar properties with the one found around Fomalhaut. The emission shortward of approximately 30 micrometers from both warm components is well described as a blackbody emission of approximately 170 K. Interestingly, two other systems, Eri and HR 8799, also show such an unresolved warm dust using the same approach. These warm components may be analogous to the solar system s zodiacal dust cloud, but of far greater mass (fractional luminosity of approximately 10(exp-5) to 10(exp-6) compared to 10(exp-8) to 10(exp-7). The dust temperature and tentative detections in the submillimeter suggest that the warm excess arises from dust associated with a planetesimal ring located near the water-frost line and presumably created by processes occurring at similar locations in other debris systems as well. We also review the properties of the 2 micrometers hot excess around Vega and Fomalhaut, showing that the dust responsible for the hot excess is not spatially associated with the dust we detected in the warm belt.We suggest it may arise from hot nano grains trapped in the magnetic field of the star. Finally, the separation between the warm and cold belt is rather large with an orbital ratio greater than or approximately 10 in all four systems. In light of the current upper limits on the masses of planetary objects and the large gap, we discuss the possible implications for their underlying planetary architecture and suggest that multiple, low-mass planets likely reside between the two belts in Vega and Fomalhaut.

Su, Kate Y. L.↗

A Comparison of Van Allen Belt Radiation Environment Modeling Programs: AE8/AP8 Legacy, AE9/AP9, and SPENVIS

In the space surrounding Earth there exists an active radiation environment consisting mostly of electrons and protons that have been trapped by Earths magnetic field. This radiation, also known as the Van Allen Belts, has the potential to damage man-made satellites in orbit; thus, proper precautions must be taken to shield NASA assets from this phenomenon. Data on the Van Allen Belts has been collected continuously by a multitude of space-based instruments since the beginning of space exploration. Subsequently, using theory to fill in the gaps in the collected data, computer models have been developed that take in the orbital information of a hypothetical mission and output the expected particle fluence and flux for that orbit. However, as new versions of the modeling system are released, users are left wondering how the new version differs from the old. Therefore, we performed a comparison of three different editions of the modeling system: AE8/AP8 (legacy), which is included in the model 9 graphical user interface as an option for ones calculations, AE9/AP9, and the Space Environment Information System (SPENVIS), which is an online-based form of AE8/AP8 developed by NASA and the European Space Agency that changed the code to allow the program to extrapolate data to predict fluence and flux at higher energies. Although this evaluation is still ongoing, it is predicted that the model 8 (legacy) and SPENVIS version will have identical outputs with the exception of the extended energy levels from SPENVIS, while model 9 will provide different fluences than model 8 based on additional magnetic field descriptions and on-orbit data.

Modeling Programs↗

Global Positioning System Energetic Particle Data: The Next Space Weather Data Revolution

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has revolutionized the process of getting from point A to point Band so much more. A large fraction of the worlds population relies on GPS (and its counterparts from other nations) for precision timing, location, and navigation. Most GPS users are unaware that the spacecraft providing the signals they rely on are operating in a very harsh space environment the radiation belts where energetic particles trapped in Earths magnetic field dash about at nearly the speed of light. These subatomic particles relentlessly pummel GPS satellites. So by design, every GPS satellite and its sensors are radiation hardened. Each spacecraft carries particle detectors that provide health and status data to system operators. Although these data reveal much about the state of the space radiation environment, heretofore they have been available only to system operators and supporting scientists. Research scientists have long sought a policy shift to allow more general access. With the release of the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan organized by the White House Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP) a sample of these data have been made available to space weather researchers. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the National Center for Environmental Information released a months worth of GPS energetic particle data from an interval of heightened space weather activity in early 2014 with the hope of stimulating integration of these data sets into the research arena. Even before the public data release GPS support scientists from LANL showed the extraordinary promise of these data.

Knipp, Delores J.↗

Survey of Galileo Plasma Observations in Jupiter's Plasma Sheet

The plasma science (PLS) Instrument on the Galileo spacecraft (orbiting Jupiter from December 1995 to September 2003) measured properties of the ions that were trapped in the magnetic field. The PLS data provide a survey of the plasma properties between approx. 5 and 30 Jupiter radii [R(sub J)] in the equatorial region. We present plasma properties derived via two analysis methods: numerical moments and forward modeling. We find that the density decreases with radial distance by nearly 5 orders of magnitude from approx. 2 to 3000 cm(exp.-3) at 6R(sub j) to approx. 0.05cm(sub -3) at 30 R(sub j). The density profile did not show major changes from orbit to orbit, suggesting that the plasma production and transport remained constant within about a factor of 2. The radial profile of ion temperature increased with distance which implied that contrary to the concept of adiabatic cooling on expansion, the plasma heats up as it expands out from Io's orbit (where TI is approx.60-80 eV) at approx. 6R(sub j) to a few keV at 30R(sub j).There does not seem to be a long-term, systematic variation in ion temperature with either local time or longitude. This latter finding differs from earlier analysis of Galileo PLS data from a selection of orbits. Further examination of all data from all Galileo orbits suggests that System Ill variations are transitory on timescales of weeks, consistent with the modeling of Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph observations. The plasma flow is dominated by azimuthal flow that is between 80% and 100% of corotation out to 25 R(sub j).

Bagenal, Fran↗

The dynamics of fibril magnetic fields. III - Fibril configurations in steady flows. IV - Trapping in closed convective rolls

The present investigation has the objective to provide an illustration of the equilibrium form of a hypothetical fibril field beneath the surface of the sun. Equilibrium fibril paths in static and moving atmospheres are considered. The provided examples are related to horizontal flows in an atmosphere in which the two anchor points of the arched fibril lie along the flow direction relative to each other. A brief introduction to the subject of the motion of horizontal fibrils in convective rolls is also presented, taking into account some implications for the sun. The equations of motion for a slender, buoyant flux tube extending horizontally along a closed convective roll are solved to illustrate the motion of the flux tube relative to the fluid, and attention is given to theoretical possibilities for the escape of flux tubes from a large horizontal convective roll in the sun.

Parker, E. N.↗

Energetic particles in the earth's magnetic field.

Radiation belts, energetic charged particle flux and trapped radiation in geomagnetic field as result of neutron albedo decay and plasma- magnetic field interactions

PLASMA-ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTION↗