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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 1,423 records · Page 79
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NASA NTRS1993

Magnetic field signatures near Galileo's closest approach to Gaspra

Two large magnetic field rotations were recorded by the spacecraft Galileo 1 minute before and 2 minutes after its closest approach to the asteroid Gaspra. The timing and the geometry of the field changes suggest a connection with Gaspra, and the events can be interpreted as the result of the draping of the solar wind field around a magnetospheric obstacle. Gaspra's surface field is inferred to be within an order of magnitude of Earth's surface field, and its magnetic moment per unit mass is in the range observed for iron meteorites and highly magnetized chondrites. The location of the magnetic signatures suggests that perturbations are carried by waves in the magnetosonic-whistler mode with wavelengths between electron and ion gyro radii.

Kivelson, M. G.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Substorm theories: United they stand, divided they fall

Consensus on the timing and mapping of substorm features has permitted a synthesis of substorm models. Within the synthesis model the mechanism for onset of substorm expansion is still unknown. Possible mechanisms are: growth of an ion tearing mode, current disruption by a cross-field current instability, and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. While the synthesis model is consistent with overall substorm morphology, including near-Earth onset, none of the onset theories, taken individually, appear to account for substorm expansion onset. A grand synthesis with unification of the underlying onset theories appears necessary.

Erickson, Gary M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

VLF waves in the foreshock

Plasma waves observed in the VLF range upstream of planetary bow shocks not only modify the particle distributions, but also provide important information about the acceleration processes that occur at the bow shock. Electron plasma oscillations observed near the tangent field line in the electron foreshock are generated by electrons reflected at the bow shock through a process that has been referred to as Fast Fermi acceleration. Fast Fermi acceleration is the same as shock-drift acceleration, which is one of the mechanisms by which ions are energized at the shock. We have generated maps of the VLF emissions upstream of the Venus bow shock, using these maps to infer properties of the shock energization processes. We find that the plasma oscillations extend along the field line up to a distance that appears to be controlled by the shock scale size, implying that shock curvature restricsts the flux and energy of reflected electrons. We also find that the ion acoustic waves are observed in the ion foreshock, but at Venus these emissions are not detected near the ULF forshock boundary. Through analogy with terrestrial ion observations, this implies that the ion acoustic waves are not generated by ion beams, but are instead generated by diffuse ion distributions found deep within the ion foreshock. However, since the shock is much smaller at Venus, and there is no magnetosphere, we might expect ion distributions within the ion foreshock to be different than at the Earth. Mapping studies of the terrestrial foreshock similar to those carried out at Venus appear to be necessary to determine if the inferences drawn from Venus data are applicable to other foreshocks.

Strangeway, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

On the Azimuthal Variation of Core Plasma in the Equatorial Magnetosphere

Previous results of plasmapause position surveys have been synthesized into a description of the underlying global distribution of plasmasphere-like or core plasma densities unique to a steady state magnetosphere. Under these steady conditions, the boundary between high- and low-density regions is taken to represent the boundary between diurnal near-corotation and large-scale circulation streamlines that traverse the entire magnetosphere. Results indicate a boundary that has a pronounced bulge in the dusk sector that is rotated westward and markedly reduced in size at increased levels of geomagnetic activity (and presumably magnetospheric convection). The derived profile is empirical confirmation of an underlying 'tear drop' distribution of core plasma, which is valid only for prolonged steady conditions and is somewhat different from that associated with the simple superposition of sunward flow and corotation, both in its detailed shape and in its varying orientation. Variation away from the tear drop profile suggests that magnetospheric circulation departs from a uniform flow field, having a radial dependence with respect to the Earth that is qualitatively consistent with electrostatic shielding of the convection electric field and which is rotated westward at increased levels of geophysical activity.

Gallagher, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Relative Navigation Algorithms for Phase 1 of the MMS Formation

This paper evaluates several navigation approaches for the first phase of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, which consists of a tetrahedral formation of four satellites in highly eccentric Earth orbits of approximately 1.2 by 12 Earth radii at an inclination of 10 degrees. The inter-satellite separation is approximately 10 kilometers near apogees. Navigation approaches were studied using ground station m g e =d two-way Doppler measurements, Global Positioning System (GPS) pseudorange measurements, crosslink range measurements among the members flying in formation, and various combinations of these measurement types. An absolute position accuracy of 10 kilometers or better can be achieved with most of the approaches studied and a relative position accuracy of 100 meters or better can be achieved at apogee in some cases. Among the various approaches studied, the approaches that use a combination of GPS and crosslink measurements were found to be more reliable in terms of absolute and relative navigation accuracies and operational flexibility.

Kelbel, David↗
NASA NTRS2004

Relative Navigation Strategies for the Magnetopheric Multiscale Mission

This paper evaluates several navigation approaches for the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, which consists of a tetrahedral formation of satellites flying in highly eccentric Earth orbits. For this investigation, inter-satellite separations of approximately 10 kilometers near apogee are used for the first two phases of the MMS mission. Navigation approaches were studied using ground station two-way Doppler measurements, Global Positioning System (GPS) pseudorange measurements, and cross-link range measurements between the members of the formation. An absolute position accuracy of 15 kilometers or better can be achieved with most of the approaches studied, and a relative position accuracy of 100 meters or better can be achieved at apogee in several cases.

Gramling, Cheryl↗
NASA NTRS2005

Ring Current-Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves Coupling

The effect of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) waves, generated by ion temperature anisotropy in Earth s ring current (RC), is the best known example of wave- particle interaction in the magnetosphere. Also, there is much controversy over the importance of EMIC waves on RC depletion. Under certain conditions, relativistic electrons, with energies 21 MeV, can be removed from the outer radiation belt (RB) by EMIC wave scattering during a magnetic storm. That is why the calculation of EMIC waves must be a very critical part of the space weather studies. The new RC model that we have developed and present for the first time has several new features that we have combine together in a one single model: (a) several lower frequency cold plasma wave modes are taken into account; (b) wave tracing of these wave has been incorporated in the energy EMIC wave equation; (c) no assumptions regarding wave shape spectra have been made; (d) no assumptions regarding the shape of particle distribution have been made to calculate the growth rate; (e) pitch-angle, energy, and mix diffusions are taken into account together for the first time; (f) the exact loss-cone RC analytical solution has been found and coupled with bounce-averaged numerical solution of kinetic equation; (g) the EMIC waves saturation due to their modulation instability and LHW generation are included as an additional factor that contributes to this process; and (h) the hot ions were included in the real part of dielectric permittivity tensor. We compare our theoretical results with the different EMIC waves models as well as RC experimental data.

Khazanov, G. V.↗
NASA NTRS2015

A Kalman Filter for Mass Property and Thrust Identification of the Spin-Stabilized Magnetospheric Multiscale Formation

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission consists of four identically instrumented, spin-stabilized observatories, elliptically orbiting the Earth in a tetrahedron formation. For the operational success of the mission, on-board systems must be able to deliver high-precision orbital adjustment maneuvers. On MMS, this is accomplished using feedback from on-board star sensors in tandem with accelerometers whose measurements are dynamically corrected for errors associated with a spinning platform. In order to determine the required corrections to the measured acceleration, precise estimates of attitude, rate, and mass-properties are necessary. To this end, both an on-board and ground-based Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter (MEKF) were formulated and implemented in order to estimate the dynamic and quasi-static properties of the spacecraft.

Formation Flying↗
NASA NTRS2015

Generalized Momentum Control of the Spin-Stabilized Magnetospheric Multiscale Formation

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission consists of four identically instrumented, spin-stabilized observatories elliptically orbiting the Earth in a tetrahedron formation. The on-board attitude control system adjusts the angular momentum of the system using a generalized thruster-actuated control system that simultaneously manages precession, nutation and spin. Originally developed using Lyapunov control-theory with rate-feedback, a published algorithm has been augmented to provide a balanced attitude/rate response using a single weighting parameter. This approach overcomes an orientation sign-ambiguity in the existing formulation, and also allows for a smoothly tuned-response applicable to both a compact/agile spacecraft, as well as one with large articulating appendages.

Maneuver and Attitude Dynamics↗
NASA NTRS2015

Kalman Filter for Mass Property and Thrust Identification (MMS)

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission consists of four identically instrumented, spin-stabilized observatories, elliptically orbiting the Earth in a tetrahedron formation. For the operational success of the mission, on-board systems must be able to deliver high-precision orbital adjustment maneuvers. On MMS, this is accomplished using feedback from on-board star sensors in tandem with accelerometers whose measurements are dynamically corrected for errors associated with a spinning platform. In order to determine the required corrections to the measured acceleration, precise estimates of attitude, rate, and mass-properties is necessary. To this end, both an on-board and ground-based Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter (MEKF) were formulated and implemented in order to estimate the dynamic and quasi-static properties of the spacecraft.

Maneuver and Attitude Dynamics↗
NASA NTRS2022

Dayside Transient Phenomena and Their Impact on the Magnetosphere and Ionosphere

Dayside transients, such as hot flow anomalies, foreshock bubbles, magnetosheath jets, flux transfer events, and surface waves, are frequently observed upstream from the bow shock, in the magnetosheath, and at the magnetopause. They play a significant role in the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling. Foreshock transient phenomena, associated with variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure, deform the magnetopause, and in turn generates field-aligned currents (FACs) connected to the auroral ionosphere. Solar wind dynamic pressure variations and transient phenomena at the dayside magnetopause drive magnetospheric ultra low frequency (ULF) waves, which can play an important role in the dynamics of Earth’s radiation belts. These transient phenomena and their geoeffects have been investigated using coordinated in-situ spacecraft observations, spacecraft-borne imagers, ground-based observations, and numerical simulations. Cluster, THEMIS, Geotail, and MMS multi-mission observations allow us to track the motion and time evolution of transient phenomena at different spatial and temporal scales in detail, whereas ground-based experiments can observe the ionospheric projections of transient magnetopause phenomena such as waves on the magnetopause driven by hot flow anomalies or flux transfer events produced by bursty reconnection across their full longitudinal and latitudinal extent. Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), hybrid, and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations are powerful tools to simulate the dayside transient phenomena. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the present understanding of dayside transient phenomena at Earth and other planets, their geoeffects, and outstanding questions.

Bow shock↗
NASA NTRS2024

The Global Mapping of Electron Precipitation and Ionospheric Conductance From Whistler-Mode Chorus Waves

Auroral precipitation is the second major energy source after solar irradiation that ionizes the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Diffuse electron aurora caused by wave-particle interaction in the inner magnetosphere (L < 8) takes over 60% of total auroral energy flux, strongly contributing to the ionospheric conductance and thus to the ionosphere-thermosphere dynamics. This paper quantifies the impact of chorus waves on the diffuse aurora and the ionospheric conductance during quiet, medium, and strong geomagnetic activities, parameterized by AE <100, 100 < AE < 300, and AE > 300, respectively. Using chorus wave statistics and inner-magnetosphere plasma conditions from Timed History Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) observations, we directly derive the energy spectrum of diffuse electron precipitation under quasi-linear theory. We then calculate the height-integrated conductance from the wave-driven aurora spectrum using the electron impact ionization model of Fang et al. (Geophys. Res. Lett., 2010, 37) and the MSIS atmosphere model. By utilizing Fang’s ionization model, the US Naval Research Laboratory Mass Spectrometer and Incoherent Scattar Radar (NRLMSISE-00) model from 2000s for the neutral atmosphere components, and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Full Diffusion Code, we improve upon the standard generalization of Maxwellian diffuse electron precipitation patterns and their resulting ionosphere conductance. Our study of global auroral precipitation and ionospheric conductance from chorus wave statistics is the first statistical model of its kind. We show that the total electron flux and conductance pattern from our results agree with those of Ovation Prime model over the pre-midnight to post-dawn sector as geomagnetic activity increases. Our study examines the relative contributions of upper band chorus (UBC) and lower band chorus wave (LBC) driven conductance in the ionosphere. We found LBC waves drove diffuse electron precipitation significantly more than UBC waves, however it is possible that THEMIS data may have underestimated the upper chorus band wave observations for magnetic latitudes below 65 degrees. ° .

diffuse auroral precipitation↗
NASA NTRS1990

Observations of the magnetic fluctuation enhancement in the earth's foreshock region

Upstream waves have been postulated to be a major source of energy for the dayside magnetic pulsations within the magnetosphere. Thus, it is of interest to determine over what frequency range in the ion foreshock the power of fluctuations in the solar wind is enhanced. The magnetic field data from pairs of spacecraft, when they stay on either side of the ion foreshock boundary, were examined. It was found that the power of magnetic fluctuations is enhanced only at periods less than about two minutes, not at longer periods. Thus the upstream waves may contribute to Pc 3 and Pc 4 pulsations in the dayside magnetosphere, but they cannot be directly responsible for the longer-period waves.

Le, G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Well-resolved observations by ISEE 2 of ion dispersion in the magnetospheric cusp

During a prolonged period of southward IMF on October 30, 1978, the ISEE 2 spacecraft observed an unusually prolonged and distinct region of ion energy-time dispersion in the dayside dawn magnetosphere. Observed plasma features included the (1) presence of magnetosheath electrons and initial absence of magnetosheath ions and (2) subsequent arrival and energy-time dispersion of magnetosheath ions as the spacecraft transited outbound from 6.03 to 7.66 Earth radii. We use ISEE 2 ion measurements to illustrate these dispersive time-of-flight effects and to support our interpretation of a location in the north magnetospheric cusp. Ion energy dispersion persists for about 35 min and includes well-resolved sequences of magnetosheath and magnetospheric ion distributions. We focus primarily on observations and time-of-flight analysis of ions from the magnetosheath, which are observed simultaneously entering and exiting the cusp at different energies. We discuss the observational support and shortcomings of various ion injection locations and durations and conclude that quasi-steady merging at the dayside magnetopause, with ion dispersion caused by spacecraft motion away from the last closed field line, is the most likely scenario.

Phillips, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Role of Ionospheric Plasmas in Earth's Magnetotail

This tutorial will summarize observations and theories indicating a prominent role of ionospheric plasma in the Earth's magnetotail. At the Global scale, I will argue that it is ionospheric plasma momentum and dynamic pressure that are responsible for the production of plasmoids, through the action of a transient near-Earth neutral or X-line, which serves to release excessive plasma pressure from the magnetotail field. Ionospheric plasma gains the momentum and energy to produce plasmoids and their related effects through its interaction with the solar wind, beginning at the dayside reconnection region and extending across the polar caps through the magnetotail lobes. This distant neutral line can be depicted as a feature much like that found in cometary magnetospheres, where disconnection limits the amount of IMF hung up on the cometary coma. On the other hand, the near-Earth neutral one can be seen as a feature unique to planets with an intrinsic magnetic field and internal source of plasma, the heating of which produces pressures too large to be restrained. Ionospheric plasmas also have other more local roles to play in the magnetotail. The circulation influences the composition of the plasma sheet, and the resultant wave environment, giving rise to reduced wave propagation speeds. Important heavy ion cyclotron resonances, and enhanced finite gyro-radius effects including non-adiabatic particle acceleration. At minimum, the presence of ionospheric plasma must influence the rate of reconnection via its enhanced mass density. Other non-MHD effects of ionospheric plasma presence are likely to be important but need much more investigation to be well understood. The MMS mission is designed to penetrate the subtle diffusion region physics that is involved, and its ability to observe ionospheric plasma involvement in reconnection will contribute significantly toward that goal.

Moore, Thomas E.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Saturn's Auroral Response to the Solar Wind: Centrifugal Instability Model

We describe a model initially presented by Sittler et al. [2006] which attempts to explain the global response of Saturn's magnetosphere and its corresponding auroral behavior to variations in the solar wind. The model was derived from published simultaneous Hubble Space Telescope (HST) auroral images and Cassini upstream measurements taken during the month of January 2004. These observations show a direct correlation between solar wind dynamic pressure and (1) auroral brightening toward dawn local time, (2) an increase of rotational movement of auroral features to as much as 75% of the corotation speed, (3) the movement of the auroral oval to higher latitudes and (4) an increase in the intensity of Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR). This model is an alternative to the reconnection model of Cowley et al. [2004a,b; 2005] which is more Earth-like while ours stresses rotation. If angular momentum is conserved in a global sense, then when compressed the magnetosphere will tend to spin up and when it expands will tend to spin down. With the plasma sheet outer boundary at L approximates 15 we argue this region to be the dominant source region for the precipitating particles. If radial transport is dominated by centrifugal driven flux tube interchange motions, then when the magnetosphere spins up, outward transport will increase, the precipitating particles will move radially outward and cause the auroral oval to move to higher latitudes as observed. The Kelvin-Helmholtz instability may contribute to the enhanced emission along the dawn meridian as observed by HST. We present this model in the context of presently published observations by Cassini.

Sittler, Edward C.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Observations of Earthward and tailward propagating flux rope plasmoids: Expanding the plasmoid model of geomagnetic substorms

A survey of Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP 8) magnetometer data for plasmoid signatures during magnetospheric intervals from 1981 through 1983 found 16 plasmoids and 37 traveling compression regions as well as two earthward propagating flux ropes and 19 south-north bipolar lobe signatures. The properties of these relatively near-Earth plasmoids, traveling compression regions, and earthward propagating flux ropes and a qualitative model for their formation are presented. The plasmoids have estimated sizes, durations, magnetic field signatures, downtail velocities, and substorm associations very similar to those of the plasmoids identified in International Sun-Earth Explorer (ISEE) 3 deep-tail observations. The occurrence frequency of these near-Earth plasma sheet plasmoids is significantly smaller than that of plasmoids found in the mid- and deep tail with ISEE 3. The earthward propagating flux ropes are characterized by a south-north bipolar turning in the Geocentric Solar Magnetospheric (GSM) B(sub z) component, are localized near the noon-midnight meridional plane, and are strongly correlated with interplanetary magnetic field B(sub z) north and small isolated high latitude geomagnetic substorms. These events are also apparently very rare and/or spatially localized. We propose that these structures are 'proto-plasmoids,' i.e., plasmoids for which near-Earth magnetic reconnection stopped before all the closed plasma sheet field lines were reconnected. The proto-plasmoids are then 'trapped' inside closed magnetic field lines and propagate earthward owing to the effect of the distant X-line's earthward plasma flow. We suggest that the two different 'types' of plasmoids are due to the different energy states of the magnetosphere during periods of southward and northward interplanetary magnetic field.

Moldwin, Mark B.↗