Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Particle acceleration in plasmas”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1989

Report from space plasma science

Space plasma science, especially plasma experiments in space, is discussed. Computational simulations, wave generation and propagation, wave-particle interactions, charged particle acceleration, particle-particle interactions, radiation transport in dense plasmas, macroscopic plasma flow, plasma-magnetic field interactions, plasma-surface interactions, prospects for near-term plasma science experiments in space and three-dimensional plasma experiments are among the topics discussed.

Hastings, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Efficiency of regular acceleration of particles by a shock wave at different injection regimes

A significant fraction of the inflowing plasma energy in the collisionless shock vicinity might be transferred to the particles accelerated by a regular acceleration mechanism. The accelerated particles back pressure modifies an ininite planar shock structure so that a profile of the plasma flow velocity in the shock frame has two characteristic length scales.

Berezhko, E. G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The acceleration of charged particles in interplanetary shock waves

Consideration of the theoretical and observational literature on energetic ion acceleration in interplanetary shock waves is the basis for the present discussion of the shock acceleration of the solar wind plasma and particle transport effects. It is suggested that ISEE data be used to construct data sets for shock events that extend continuously from solar wind to galactic cosmic ray energies, including data for electrons, protons, alphas and ions with Z values greater than 2.0, and that the temporal and spatial evolution of two- and three-dimensional particle distribution functions be studied by means of two or more spacecraft.

Pesses, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Anti-solar acceleration of ionospheric plasma across the Venus terminator

It is demonstrated that the horizontal ionospheric particle pressure gradient across the Venus terminator is the principal body force accelerating the plasm to the observed anti-solar velocity. The large scale horizontal electromagnetic body force is typically an order of magnitude smaller than the particle pressure gradient. The viscous body forces above 300 km - drag or acceleration - are also an order of magnitude smaller than the pressure gradient body force. In the immediate vicinity of the ionopause where the ionospheric plasma density decreases below 1000 ions/cu cm and the magnetic field strength increases, the electromagnetic body force may become significant. The electromagnetic body force may also be significant in the nightside ionosphere. The bulk of the ionospheric flow momentum is not derived from the ionosheath momentum.

Knudsen, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Evolution of our knowledge of the heliosphere

The historical development of ideas and investigations leading to the present understanding of the heliosphere is presented. A summary of the most recent research in plasmas, magnetic fields and accelerated charged particles in the outer heliosphere based on spacecraft investigations, is reviewed. Current plans for investigating the heliosphere in three dimensions are discussed.

Simpson, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Thermal Testing and Model Correlation of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Observatories

International Conference on Envronmental Systems (ICES), Seattle WA NCTS 20964-15. The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission is a Solar Terrestrial Probes mission comprising four identically instrumented spacecraft that will use Earths magnetosphere as a laboratory tostudy the microphysics of three fundamental plasma processes: magnetic reconnection, energetic particle acceleration, and turbulence. This paper presents the complete thermal balance (TB) test performed on the first of four observatories to go through thermal vacuum (TV) and the minibalance testing that was performed on the subsequent observatories to provide a comparison of all four. The TV and TB tests were conducted in a thermal vacuum chamber at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C. with the vacuum level higher than 1.3 x 10-4 Pa (10-6 torr)and the surrounding temperature achieving -180 C. Three TB test cases were performed that included hot operational science, cold operational science and a cold survival case. In addition to the three balance cases a two hour eclipse and a four hour eclipse simulation was performed during the TV test to provide additional transient data points that represent the orbit in eclipse (or Earth's shadow) The goal was to perform testing such that the flight orbital environments could be simulated as closely as possible. A thermal model correlation between the thermal analysis and the test results was completed. Over 400 1-Wire temperature sensors, 200 thermocouples and 125 flight thermistor temperature sensors recorded data during TV and TB testing. These temperatureversus time profiles and their agreements with the analytical results obtained using Thermal Desktop and SINDAFLUINT are discussed. The model correlation for the thermal mathematical model (TMM) is conducted based on the numerical analysis results and the test data. The philosophy of model correlation was to correlate the model to within 3 C of the test data using the standard deviation and mean deviation error calculation. Individual temperature error goal is to be within 5 C and the heater power goal is to be within 5 of test data. The results of the model correlation are discussed and the effect of some material and interface parameters on the temperature profiles are presented.

Thermal↗
NASA NTRS2015

Thermal Testing and Model Correlation of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Observatories

The Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission is a Solar Terrestrial Probes mission comprising four identically instrumented spacecraft that will use Earth's magnetosphere as a laboratory to study the microphysics of three fundamental plasma processes: magnetic reconnection, energetic particle acceleration, and turbulence. This paper presents the complete thermal balance (TB) test performed on the first of four observatories to go through thermal vacuum (TV) and the minibalance testing that was performed on the subsequent observatories to provide a comparison of all four. The TV and TB tests were conducted in a thermal vacuum chamber at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, D.C. with the vacuum level higher than 1.3 x 10 (sup -4) pascals (10 (sup -6) torr) and the surrounding temperature achieving -180 degrees Centigrade. Three TB test cases were performed that included hot operational science, cold operational science and a cold survival case. In addition to the three balance cases a two hour eclipse and a four hour eclipse simulation was performed during the TV test to provide additional transient data points that represent the orbit in eclipse (or Earth's shadow) The goal was to perform testing such that the flight orbital environments could be simulated as closely as possible. A thermal model correlation between the thermal analysis and the test results was completed. Over 400 1-Wire temperature sensors, 200 thermocouples and 125 flight thermistor temperature sensors recorded data during TV and TB testing. These temperature versus time profiles and their agreements with the analytical results obtained using Thermal Desktop and SINDA/FLUINT are discussed. The model correlation for the thermal mathematical model (TMM) is conducted based on the numerical analysis results and the test data. The philosophy of model correlation was to correlate the model to within 3 degrees Centigrade of the test data using the standard deviation and mean deviation error calculation. Individual temperature error goal is to be within 5 degrees Centigrade and the heater power goal is to be within 5 percent of test data. The results of the model correlation are discussed and the effect of some material and interface parameters on the temperature profiles are presented.

Correlation↗
NASA NTRS1994

Acceleration of electrons and ions by strong lower-hybrid turbulence in solar flares

One of the outstanding problems in solar flare theory is how to explain the 10-20 keV and greater hard x-ray emissions by a thick target bremsstrahlung model. The model requires the acceleration mechanism to accelerate approximately 10(exp 35) electrons sec(exp -l) with comparable energies, without producing a large return current which persists for long time scales after the beam ceases to exist due to Lenz's law, thereby, producing a self-magnetic field of order a few mega-Gauss. In this paper, we investigate particle acceleration resulting from the relaxation of unstable ion ring distributions, producing strong wave activity at the lower hybrid frequency. It is shown that strong lower hybrid wave turbulence collapses in configuration space producing density cavities containing intense electrostatic lower hybrid wave activity. The collapse of these intense nonlinear wave packets saturate by particle acceleration producing energetic electron and ion tails. There are several mechanisms whereby unstable ion distributions could be formed in the solar atmosphere, including reflection at perpendicular shocks, tearing modes, and loss cone depletion. Numerical simulations of ion ring relaxation processes, obtained using a 2 1/2-D fully electromagnetic, relativistic particle in cell code are discussed. We apply the results to the problem of explaining energetic particle production in solar flares. The results show the simultaneous acceleration of both electrons and ions to very high energies: electrons are accelerated to energies in the range 10-500 keV, while ions are accelerated to energies of the order of MeVs, giving rise to x-ray emission and gamma-ray emission respectively. Our simulations also show wave generation at the electron cyclotron frequency. We suggest that these waves are the solar millisecond radio spikes. The strong turbulence collapse process leads to a highly filamented plasma producing many localized regions for particle acceleration and resulting in approximately 10(exp 17) electron 'beamlets' of width approximately equal to 10 lambda sub De which eliminates the production of large magnetic fields. In this paper, we demonstrate that the model produces an energetic electron spectrum with the right flux to account for the hard x-ray observations.

Spicer, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Solar Eruptions, CMEs and Space Weather

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large-scale magnetized plasma structures ejected from the Sun and propagate far into the interplanetary medium. CMEs represent energy output from the Sun in the form of magnetized plasma and electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation suddenly increases the ionization content of the ionosphere, thus impacting communication and navigation systems. The plasma clouds can drive shocks that accelerate charged particles to very high energies in the interplanetary space, which pose radiation hazard to astronauts and space systems. The plasma clouds also arrive at Earth in about two days and impact Earth's magnetosphere, producing geomagnetic storms. The magnetic storms result in a number of effects including induced currents that can disrupt power grids, railroads, and underground pipelines. This lecture presents an overview of the origin, propagation, and geospace consequences of solar storms.

Gopalswamy, Nat↗
NASA NTRS2012

Coronal Mass Ejections Near the Sun and in the Interplanetary Medium

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most energetic phenomenon in the heliosphere. During solar eruptions, the released energy flows out from the Sun in the form of magnetized plasma and electromagnetic radiation. The electromagnetic radiation suddenly increases the ionization content of the ionosphere, thus impacting communication and navigation systems. The plasma clouds can drive shocks that accelerate charged particles to very high energies in the interplanetary space, which pose radiation hazard to astronauts and space systems. The plasma clouds also arrive at Earth in about two days and impact Earth's magnetosphere, producing geomagnetic storms. The magnetic storms result in a number of effects including induced currents that can disrupt power grids, railroads, and underground pipelines. This lecture presents an overview of the origin, propagation, and geospace consequences of CMEs and their interplanetary counterparts.

Gopalswamy, Nat↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Consequences of Alfven Waves and Parallel Potential Drops in the Auroral Zone

The goal of this research is to examine the causes of field-aligned plasma acceleration in the auroral zone using satellite data and numerical simulations. A primary question to be addressed is what causes the field-aligned acceleration of electrons (leading to precipitation) and ions (leading to upwelling ions) in the auroral zone. Data from the Fast Auroral SnapshoT (FAST) and Polar satellites is used when the two satellites are in approximate magnetic conjunction and are in the auroral region. FAST is at relatively low altitudes and samples plasma in the midst of the auroral acceleration region while Polar is at much higher altitudes and can measure plasmas and waves propagating towards the Earth. Polar can determine the sources of energy streaming earthward from the magnetotail, either in the form of field-aligned currents, electromagnetic waves or kinetic particle energy, that ultimately leads to the acceleration of plasma in the auroral zone. After identifying and examining several events, numerical simulations are run that bridges the spatial region between the two satellites. The code is a one-dimensional, long system length particle in cell simulation that has been developed to model the auroral region. A main goal of this research project is to include Alfven waves in the simulation to examine how these waves can accelerate plasma in the auroral zone.

Schriver, David↗
NASA NTRS1991

Plasma motions in planetary magnetospheres

Interplanetary space is pervaded by a supersonic 'solar wind' plasma; five planets, in addition to the earth, have magnetic fields of sufficient strength to form the cometlike cavities called 'magnetospheres'. Comparative studies of these structures have indicated the specific environmental factor that can result in dramatic differences in the behavior of any pair of magnetospheres. Although planetary magnetospheres are large enough to serve as laboratories for in situ study of cosmic plasma and magnetic field behavior effects on particle acceleration and EM emission, much work remains to be done toward relating magnetospheric physics results to the study of remote astrophysical plasmas.

Hill, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Report of the cosmic and heliospheric panel

The Cosmic and Heliospheric Branch proposes a bold new program for the years 1995 to 2010 that is centered on the following two themes: (1) the global heliosphere and interstellar space; and (2) cosmic particle acceleration and the evolution of matter. Within these major themes are more specific goals that have been studied and continue to be examined for a better understanding of their processes. These include: origin, structure, and evolution of the solar wind; interaction of the heliosphere, the solar wind, and the interstellar medium; fundamental microscopic and macroscopic plasma processes; acceleration and transport of energetic particles; and the origin and evolution of matter. Finally, the report summarizes a wide variety of proposed small and large space missions.

Mewaldt, Richard A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Gas ionization induced by a high speed plasma injection in space

Gas ionization induced by a fast plasma injection has been observed with the Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators (SEPAC) Experiment on Spacelab-1. When an impulsive high-density plasma was injected from the orbiter, waves near the lower-hybrid frequency were enhanced, and the surrounding gas drifting with the orbiter was ionized for several tens of milliseconds after the plasma injection. The long-duration gas ionization was observed only when the plasma flux incoming to the orbiter cargo bay and the orbital velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field were relatively large. This effect has been explained by the concept of critical velocity ionization (CVI) for the gas drifting with the orbiter, although the gas velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field was less than the Alfven critical velocity.

Sasaki, S.↗
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 NTRS2000

Energy-Dependent Ionization States of Shock-Accelerated Particles in the Solar Corona

We examine the range of possible energy dependence of the ionization states of ions that are shock-accelerated from the ambient plasma of the solar corona. If acceleration begins in a region of moderate density, sufficiently low in the corona, ions above about 0.1 MeV/amu approach an equilibrium charge state that depends primarily upon their speed and only weakly on the plasma temperature. We suggest that the large variations of the charge states with energy for ions such as Si and Fe observed in the 1997 November 6 event are consistent with stripping in moderately dense coronal. plasma during shock acceleration. In the large solar-particle events studied previously, acceleration occurs sufficiently high in the corona that even Fe ions up to 600 MeV/amu are not stripped of electrons.

Reames, Donald V.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Electron Energy Partition Across Interplanetary Shocks. III. Analysis

An analysis of model fit results of 15,210 electron velocity distribution functions (VDFs), observed within ±2 hr of 52 interplanetary (IP) shocks by the Wind spacecraft near 1 au, is presented as the third and final part on electron VDFs near IP shocks. The core electrons and protons dominate in the magnitude and change in the partialto-total thermal pressure ratio, with the core electrons often gaining as much or more than the protons. Only a moderate positive correlation is observed between the electron temperature and the kinetic energy change across the shock, while weaker, if any, correlations were found with any other macroscopic shock parameter. No VDF parameter correlated with the shock normal angle. The electron VDF evolves from a narrowly peaked core with flaring suprathermal tails in the upstream to either a slightly hotter core with steeper tails or much hotter flattop core with even steeper tails downstream of the weaker and strongest shocks, respectively. Both quasi-static and fluctuating fields are examined as possible mechanisms modifying the VDF, but neither is sufficient alone. For instance, flattop VDFs can be generated by nonlinear ion acoustic wave stochastic acceleration (i.e., inelastic collisions), while other work suggested they result from the combination of quasi-static and fluctuating fields. This three-part study shows that not only are these systems not thermodynamic in nature; even kinetic models may require modification to include things like inelastic collision operators to properly model electron VDF evolution across shocks or in the solar wind.

Solar wind↗