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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2016

Electric Field Imaging Project

NDE historically has focused technology development in propagating wave phenomena with little attention to the field of electrostatics and emanating electric fields. This work is intended to bring electrostatic imaging to the forefront of new inspection technologies, and new technologies in general. The specific goals are to specify the electric potential and electric field including the electric field spatial components emanating from, to, and throughout volumes containing objects or in free space.

Wilcutt, Terrence↗
NASA NTRS1978

The convection electric field model for the magnetosphere based on Explorer 45 observations

Large-scale electric fields in the magnetosphere, represented by the scalar potentials of corotation and convection fields, are examined in order to interpret both plasmapause positions at different local times and energetic particle penetrations inside the plasmapause observed by the Explorer 45 (S3-A) dc E field measurements and particle detectors. The Volland-Stern type convection electric field is assumed. A uniform dawn-dusk convection electric field which corresponds to an exponent (gamma) of unity is not consistent with the observational data, but the Volland-Stern model with gamma = 2 more likely represents the convection electric field during the hours of electric field increases during magnetic activity. In the time-independent case, the shape of the plasmapause does not depend on the intensity of the convection electric field, so that by using two plasmapause distances at different local times along the S3 outbound and inbound orbits the shape factor gamma of the convection field could be determined. The average value of gamma for 42 cases was found to be 2.4.

Ejiri, M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Charge-Density-Specific Response of Grafted Polyelectrolytes to Electric Fields: Bending or Tilting?

The response of polyelectrolytes (PEs) to applied electric fields drive applications in energetics, diagnostics, materials development, and many more. Here we employ all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to probe the response of grafted PE brushes to axial electric fields. For PEs with large charge densities, the electric field triggers a left-right asymmetric distribution of counterions around the PE backbone: consequently, depending on the location (left or right), there is an unequal screening and an unequal force on the PE functional groups causing a bending-driven brush height reduction. However, for the weakly charged PEs, the electric field causes a uniform distribution of the counterions across the brush enforcing a uniform (without left-right asymmetry) partially unscreened PE brush: therefore, all the brush segments experience similar force causing a brush tilting-driven brush height reduction. As a result, such bending versus tilting responses is commensurate with the electric-field-driven increase (decrease) in the flexibility of strongly (weakly) charged PEs.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS2003

Effects Of Electric Field On Hydrocarbon-Fueled Flames

It has been observed that flames are susceptible to electric fields that are much weaker than the breakdown field strength of the flame gases. When an external electric field is imposed on a flame, the ions generated in the flame reaction zone drift in the direction of the electric forces exerted on them. The moving ions collide with the neutral species and change the velocity distribution in the affected region. This is often referred to as ionic wind effect. In addition, the removal of ions from the flame reaction zone can alter the chemical reaction pathway of the flame. On the other hand, the presence of space charges carried by moving ions affects the electric field distribution. As a result, the flame often changes its shape, location and color once an external electric field is applied. The interplay between the flame movement and the change of electric field makes it difficult to determine the flame location for a given configuration of electrodes and fuel source. In normal gravity, the buoyancy-induced flow often complicates the problem and hinders detailed study of the interaction between the flame and the electric field. In this work, the microgravity environment established at the 2.2 Second Drop Tower at the NASA Glenn Research Center is utilized to effectively remove the buoyant acceleration. The interaction between the flame and the electric field is studied in a one-dimensional domain. A specially designed electrode makes flame current measurements possible; thus, the mobility of ions, ion density, and ionic wind effect can be evaluated.

Yuan, Z.-G.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Direct numerical simulation of a turbulent methane/air flame impinged by a sub-breakdown electric field

Here, the effects of an external electric field on a turbulent methane/air diffusion flame are analyzed in this work using direct numerical simulations. The analyzed configuration consists of a temporally evolving mixing layer of air and a mixture of methane and nitrogen at 1 atm that is impinged by an electric field in the direction normal to the mean mixing plane. The combustion and chemi-ionization reactions involved in the flow are modeled using finite-rate chemistry and a reduced reaction scheme consisting of 26 species and 134 reactions. The mass diffusion and ion-wind effects are modeled using a detailed description of the diffusion coefficients and electric mobilities based on kinetic theory. The presented calculations show that the turbulence generated within the mixing layer is mostly unaffected by the applied electric field for the configuration under exam. In fact, the electric body force is developed away from the mixing region where the flow is uniform. Conversely, the turbulence is able to introduce very high intermittency in the electrically charged species concentration and, consequently, in the electric body force. Such intermittency will constitute a challenge in the future formulation of combustion models that take into account ion-wind effects.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS1971

Injun 5 observations of magnetospheric electric fields and plasma convection

Recent measurements of magnetospheric electric fields with the satellite Injun 5 have provided a comprehensive global survey of plasma convection at low altitudes in the magnetosphere. A persistent feature of these electric field observations is the occurrence of an abrupt reversal in the convection electric field at auroral zone latitudes. The plasma convection velocities associated with these reversals are generally directed east-west, away from the sun on the poleward side of the reversal, and toward the sun on the equatorward side of the reversal. Convection velocities over the polar cap region are normally less than those observed near the reversal region. The electric field reversal is observed to be coincident with the trapping boundary for electrons with energies E greater than 45 keV.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Edge termination in vertical GaN diodes: Electric field distribution probed by second harmonic generation

We characterized the electric field distribution of GaN-on-GaN p–n diodes with partially compensated ion-implanted edge termination (ET) using an electric field induced second harmonic generation technique (EFISHG). The distributed electric field from the anode to the outer edge of the ET demonstrates the effectiveness of the ET structure. However, EFISHG also shows that its effectiveness is strongly dependent on the acceptor charge distribution in the ET's partially compensated layer (PC). A generally lower amount of acceptor charge can be inferred from the measured electric field distribution resulting from excessive ion implantation energy or dose during ET fabrication and causing lower than optimal breakdown voltage. Localized field crowding can be observed when the remaining acceptors uncompensated by the implant in the PC layer are nonuniformly distributed around the periphery of the devices. Important information can be obtained from these direct electric field measurements and used for optimizing the device design and fabrication process.

Cao, Yuke↗
DOE OSTI2020

Emergent electric field control of phase transformation in oxide superlattices

Electric fields can transform materials with respect to their structure and properties, enabling various applications ranging from batteries to spintronics. Recently electrolytic gating, which can generate large electric fields and voltage-driven ion transfer, has been identified as a powerful means to achieve electric-field-controlled phase transformations. The class of transition metal oxides provide many potential candidates that present a strong response under electrolytic gating. However, very few show a reversible structural transformation at room-temperature. Here, we report the realization of a digitally synthesized transition metal oxide that shows a reversible, electric-field-controlled transformation between distinct crystalline phases at room-temperature. In superlattices comprised of alternating one-unit-cell of SrIrO 3 and La 0.2 Sr 0.8 MnO 3 , we find a reversible phase transformation with a 7% lattice change and dramatic modulation in chemical, electronic, magnetic and optical properties, mediated by the reversible transfer of oxygen and hydrogen ions. Strikingly, this phase transformation is absent in the constituent oxides, solid solutions and larger period superlattices. Our findings open up this class of materials for voltage-controlled functionality.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1999

Enhanced Fair-Weather Electric Fields Soon After Sunrise

The typical fair weather electric field at the ground is between -100 and -300 V/m. At the NASA Kennedy Space Center and US Air Force Cape Canaveral Air Station (KSC) the electric field at the ground sometimes reaches -400 to -1200 V/m within an hour or two after sunrise on days that otherwise seem to be fair weather. We refer to the enhanced negative electric fields as the "sunrise enhancement." To investigate the sunrise enhancement at KSC we measured the electric field (E) in the first few hundred meters above the ground before and during several sunrise enhancements. From these E soundings we can infer the presence of charge layers and determine their thickness and charge density.

Marshall, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Enhancement of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer and Control of Bubble Motion in Microgravity Using Electric Fields (BCOEL)

The BCOEL project focuses on improving pool boiling heat transfer and bubble control in microgravity by exposing the fluid to electric fields. The electric fields induce a body force that can replace gravity in the low gravity environment, and enhance bubble removal from the heated surface. A better understanding of microgravity effects on boiling with and without electric fields is critical to the proper design of the phase-change-heat-removal equipment for use in spacebased applications. The microgravity experiments will focus on the visualization of bubble formation and shape during boiling. Heat fluxes on the boiling surface will be measured, and, together with the measured driving temperature differences, used to plot boiling curves for different electric field magnitudes. Bubble formation and boiling processes were found to be extremely sensitive to g-jitter. The duration of the experimental run is critical in order to achieve steady state in microgravity experiments. The International Space Station provides conditions suitable for such experiments. The experimental apparatus to be used in the study is described in the paper. The apparatus will be tested in the KC-135 first, and microgravity experiments will be conducted on board of the International Space Station using the Microgravity Science Glovebox as the experimental platform.

Herman, Cila↗
NASA NTRS2001

Enhancement of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer and Control of Bubble Motion in Microgravity Using Electric Fields - BCOEL

The BCOEL project focuses on improving pool boiling heat transfer and bubble control in microgravity by exposing the fluid to electric fields. The electric fields induce a body force that can replace gravity in the low gravity environment, and enhance bubble removal from thc heated surface. A better understanding of microgravity effects on boiling with and without electric fields is critical to the proper design of the phase-change-heat-removal equipment for use in space-based applications. The microgravity experiments will focus on the visualization of bubble formation and shape during boiling. Heat fluxes on the boiling surface will be measured, and, together with the measured driving temperature differences, used to plot boiling curvcs for different electric field magnitudes. Bubble formation and boiling processes were found to be extremely sensitive to g-jitter. The duration of the experimental run is critical in order to achieve steady state in microgravity experiments. The International Space Station provides conditions suitable for such experiments. The experimental appararus to be used in the study is described in the paper. The apparatus will be tested in the KC-135 first, and microgravity experiments will be conducted on board of the International Space Station using the Microgravity Science Glovebox as the experimental platform.

Herman, Cila↗
NASA NTRS2008

The Vector Electric Field Investigation on the C/NOFS Satellite

We provide an overview of the Vector Electric Field Investigation (VEFI) on the Air Force Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite, a mission designed to understand, model, and forecast the presence of equatorial ionospheric irregularities. VEFI is a NASA/GSFC instrument funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory whose main objectives are to: 1) investigate the role of the ambient electric fields in initiating nighttime ionospheric density depletions and turbulence; 2) determine the quasi-DC electric fields associated with abrupt, large amplitude, density depletions, and 3) quantify the spectrum of the wave electric fields and plasma densities (irregularities) associated with density depletions typically referred to as equatorial spread-F. The VEFI instrument includes a vector electric field double probe detector, a fixed-bias Langmuir probe operating in the ion saturation regime, a flux-gate magnetometer, an optical lightning detector, and associated electronics. The heart of the instrument is the set of detectors designed to measure DC and AC electric fields using 6 identical booms that provide 3 axis, 20-m tip-to-tip orthogonal double probes. Each probe extends a 10 cm diameter sphere containing an embedded preamplifier. VEFI also includes a burst memory that enables snapshots of data from 1-8 channels of selected instruments to be sampled at rates of up to 32 kHz each. The bursts may be triggered by the detection of density depletions, intense electric field wave activity in a given band, lightning detector pulses, or an event at a pre-determined time or location. All VEFI instrument components are working exceptionally well. A description of the instrument, its sensors, and their sampling frequencies and sensitivities will be presented. Representative measurements will be shown.

Pfaff, R.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Thin film lithium niobate electric field sensors

We present our results for using thin film lithium niobate devices for electric field sensing applications. Micro-ring modulator and Mach–Zehnder modulator-based electric field sensors are demonstrated. Micro-ring resonator sensors can be used for low frequency (up to several GHz) electric field sensing applications and achieve a high sensitivity of 80 mV/(m Hz 1/2 ) with a very compact size of 300 μm, as limited by the intensity and phase noise of the used distributed feedback laser. A measurement bandwidth of 2.5 GHz is measured for these sensors and is limited by the detector bandwidth. Alternatively, Mach–Zehnder modulators allow for perfect phase matching between the radio frequency signals and optical signals, and they can be used for electric field sensing up to several THz. A sensitivity of 2.2 V/(m Hz 1/2 ) was obtained using our Mach–Zehnder electric field sensor with an interaction length of 600 μm. The Mach–Zehnder sensor can sense electric fields with frequencies reaching 0.6 THz based on the calculated results.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1980

Field-aligned currents and large scale magnetospheric electric fields

D'Angelo's model of polar cap electric fields (1977) was used to visualize how high-latitude field-aligned currents are driven by the solar wind generator. The region 1 and region 2 currents of Iijima and Potemra (1976) and the cusp field-aligned currents of Wilhjelm et al. (1978) and McDiarmid et al. (1978) are apparently driven by different generators, although in both cases the solar wind is their ultimate source.

Dangelo, N.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Relations between transverse electric fields and field-aligned currents

A model for the field-aligned propagation of transverse electric fields and associated field-aligned sheet currents is presented which takes into account the wave nature of the process. The model is applied to the separate cases of ionospheric and magnetospheric sources, and the resulting ionospheric electric field to field-aligned sheet current ratios are determined for comparison with experimental observations. It is found that the magnetospheric wave 'conductivity' for shear mode Alfven waves is small with respect to typical values of the height-integrated ionospheric Pedersen conductivity. For plasma convecting across a stationary disturbance a dynamic equilibrium is achieved in which field-aligned currents flow continuously away from the source on convecting field lines. Consistency with typical ionospheric electric fields requires that the field-aligned sheet currents are limited to around 0.1 A/m for ionospheric polarization sources, while magnetospheric sources are easily capable of 1 A/m or more.

Mallinckrodt, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Electric Field Generation in Martian Dust Devils

Terrestrial dust devils are known to generate electric fields from the vertical separation of charged dust particles. The particles present within the dust devils on Mars may also be subject to similar charging processes and so likely contribute to electric field generation there as well. However, to date, no Marsin situ instrumentation has been deployed to measure electric field strength. In order to explore the electric environment of dust devils on Mars, the triboelectric dust charging physics from the MacroscopicTriboelectric Simulation (MTS) code has been coupled to the Mars Regional Atmospheric ModelingSystem (MRAMS). Using this model, we examine how macroscopic electric fields are generated within martian dust disturbances and attempt to quantify the time evolution of the electrodynamical system.Electric fields peak for several minutes within the dust devil simulations. The magnitude of the electric field is a strong function of the size of the particles present, the average charge on the particles and the number of particles lifted. Varying these parameters results in peak electric fields between tens of millivolts per meter and tens of kilovolts per meter.

Aeolian processes↗