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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 163 records · Page 9
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NASA NTRS1985

The effect of the interplanetary magnetic field on sidereal variations observed at medium depth underground detectors

It has been known for some years that the intensity variations in sidereal time observed by muon detectors at moderate underground depths are sensitive to the polarity of the interplanetary magnetic field (ipmf) near the Earth. There are differences in the response to these anisotropies as observed in the Norhtern and southern hemispheres. When fully understood, the nature of the anisotropy seems likely to provide information on the 3-dimensional structure of the heliomagnetosphere, its time variations, and its linking with the local interstellar field. The summation harmonic dials for the sidereal diurnal variation during 1958 to 1982 show that there is a strong dependence on whether the ipmf near the Earth is directed outwards from the Sun or inwards it.

Humble, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Variation with interplanetary sector of the total magnetic field measured at the OGO 2, 4, and 6 satellites

Variations in the scalar magnetic field (delta B) from the polar orbiting OGO 2, 4, and 6 spacecraft are examined as a function of altitude for times when the interplanetary magnetic field is toward the sun and for times when the interplanetary magnetic field away from the sun. This morphology is basically the same as that found when all data, irrespective of interplanetary magnetic sector, are averaged together. Differences in delta B occur, both between sectors and between seasons, which are similar in nature to variations in the surface delta Z found by Langel (1973c). The altitude variation of delta B at sunlit local times, together with delta Z at the earth's surface, demonstrates that the delta Z and delta B which varies with sector has an ionospheric source. Langel (1973b) showed that the positive delta B region in the dark portion of the hemisphere is due to at least two sources, the westward electrojet and an unidentified non-ionospheric source(s). Comparison of magnetic variations between season/sector at the surface and at the satellite, in the dark portion of the hemisphere, indicates that these variations are caused by variations in the latitudinally narrow electrojet currents and not by variations in the non-ionospheric source of delta B.

Langel, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Galactic cosmic ray modulation and interplanetary medium perturbations due to a long-living active region during October 1989

During October 1989, three very energetic flares were ejected by the same active region at longitudes 9 deg E, 32 deg W, and 57 deg W, respectively. The shape of the galactic cosmic ray variations suggests the presence of large magnetic cloud structures (Nagashima et al., 1990) following the shock-associated perturbations. In spite of long data gaps the interplanetary observations at Interplanetary Monitoring Platform (IMP) 8 (near the Earth) and International Cometary Explorer (ICE)(approximately 1 AU, approximately 65 deg W) confirm this possibility for the event related to the 9 deg E flare; the principal axes analysis shows that the interplanetary magnetic field variations at both spacecraft locations are mainly confined on a meridian plane. This result suggests that the western longitudinal extension of this cloud is indeed very large (greater than or equal to 5 deg). The nonnegligible depression in the cosmic ray intensity observed inside the possible cloud related to the 57 deg W flare indicates that also the eastern extension could be very wide. The analysis of neutron monitor data shows clearly the cosmic ray trapping effect of magnetic clouds; this mechanism seems to be responsible for the enhanced diurnal effect often observed during the recovery phase of Forbush decreases. We give an interpretation for the anisotropic cosmic ray peak occurring in the third event, and, related to that, we suggest that the Forbush decrease modulated region at the Earth's orbit could be somewhat wider than the magnetic cloud, as already anticipated by Nagashima et al. (1990). By this analysis, based mainly on cosmic ray data, we show that it is possible to do reasonable inferences on the large-scale structure of flare-related interplanetary perturbations when interplanetary medium data are not completely present.

Bavassano, B.↗
NASA NTRS1973

A variation of the Davis-Smith method for in-flight determination of spacecraft magnetic fields.

A variation of a procedure developed by Davis and Smith (1968) is presented for the in-flight determination of spacecraft magnetic fields. Both methods take statistical advantage of the observation that fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field over short periods of time are primarily changes in direction rather than in magnitude. During typical solar wind conditions between 0.8 and 1.0 AU, a statistical analysis of 2-3 days of continuous interplanetary field measurements yields an estimate of a constant spacecraft field with an uncertainty of plus or minus 0.25 gamma in the direction radial to the sun and plus or minus 15 gammas in the directions transverse to the radial. The method is also of use in estimating variable spacecraft fields with gradients of the order of 0.1 gamma/day and less and in other special circumstances.

Belcher, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Characteristics of magnetosheath plasma observed at low altitudes in the dayside magnetospheric cusps

Magnetosheath plasma penetrating to low altitudes in the dayside cusp region of the magnetosphere has been observed by the ISIS 1 soft particle spectrometer (SPS). The extent of these particle fluxes in local magnetic time and invariant latitude, their variation with magnetic activity, and their pitch angle distribution are given. Comparison between the SPS data and energetic particle data indicates that the boundary between open and closed field lines on the dayside is associated with a sharp drop in the outer zone keV electron fluxes. It is shown that these newly identified cusp fluxes provide the necessary energy to produce observed dayside auroral oval phenomena.

Winningham, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS2016

MMS Observations of Ion-Scale Magnetic Island in the Magnetosheath Turbulent Plasma

In this letter, first observations of ion-scale magnetic island from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the magnetosheath turbulent plasma are presented. The magnetic island is characterized by bipolar variation of magnetic fields with magnetic field compression, strong core field, density depletion, and strong currents dominated by the parallel component to the local magnetic field. The estimated size of magnetic island is about 8 di, where di is the ion inertial length. Distinct particle behaviors and wave activities inside and at the edges of the magnetic island are observed: parallel electron beam accompanied with electrostatic solitary waves and strong electromagnetic lower hybrid drift waves inside the magnetic island and bidirectional electron beams, whistler waves, weak electromagnetic lower hybrid drift waves, and strong broadband electrostatic noise at the edges of the magnetic island. Our observations demonstrate that highly dynamical, strong wave activities and electron-scale physics occur within ion-scale magnetic islands in the magnetosheath turbulent plasma..

Huang, S. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Possible origins of time variability in Jupiter's outer magnetosphere. I - Variations in solar wind dynamic pressure. II - Variations in solar wind magnetic field

Attention is given to the effect of changes in the dynamic pressure of the solar wind on the structure of a centrifugally driven planetary wind from Jupiter. It is suggested that dynamic pressure variations can induce a transition between a super-Alfvenic wind and a sub-Alfvenic wind breeze on Jupiter's dayside. This could possibly account for the observed large-scale changes in the structure of Jupiter's outer magnetosphere. An attempt is then made to conceptually merge planetary wind models of Jupiter's outer magnetosphere with reconnection models of Jupiter's outer magnetosphere.

Coroniti, F. V.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Solar cycle variations in the interplanetary magnetic field

ISEE 3 interplanetary magnetic field measurements have been used to extend the NSSDC hourly averaged IMF composite data set through mid-1982. Most of sunspot cycle 20 (start:1964) and the first half of cycle 21 (start:1976) are now covered. The average magnitude of the field was relatively constant over cycle 20 with approx. 5-10% decreases in 1969 and 1971, when the Sun's polar regions changed polarity, and a 20% decrease in 1975-6 around solar minimum. Since the start of the new cycle, the total field strength has risen with the mean for the first third of 1982 being about 40% greater than the cycle 20 average. As during the previous cycle, an approx. 10% drop in IMF magnitude accompanied the 1980 reversal of the solar magnetic field. While the interplanetary magnetic field is clearly stronger during the present solar cycle, another 5-7 years of observations will be needed to determine if cycle 21 exhibits the same modest variations as the last cycle. Accordingly, it appears at this time that intercycle changes in IMF magnitude may be much larger than the intracycle variations.

Slavin, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The magnetosphere of Mercury

Data on Mercury's magnetosphere and on the plasma, planetomagnetic, and energetic particle environment of the planet obtained in three encounters (Mariner 10 flybys) are compared, and tasks for future research are outlined. The Mercury bow shock and magnetopause are much closer to the planet than the earth counterparts are to the earth. The magnetotail with embedded plasma sheet-field reversal region, global deflection of the solar wind by an intrinsic dipolar magnetic field, variations in solar wind momentum flux, and absence of such features as ionosphere, plasmasphere, and radiation belts, are described. Energetic electrons are accelerated in the magnetotail, however, and the interplanetary magnetic field variations distort Mercury's magnetosphere to produce a southward field associated with substorm-like disturbances.

Ness, N. F.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The role of photospheric magnetic fields in the variation of solar oscillation eigenfrequencies

The frequencies of solar oscillations have been found to be higher at the peak of the solar cycle, their variation being consistent with that expected from a change in the solar structure confined to the Sun's outer layers. In this work, a technique is introduced for estimating the effect of the highly inhomogeneous photospheric magnetic field on solar oscillation eigenfrequencies, and its results are compared with the solar data. It is found that the observed steep rise in frequency shift at low frequency and the leveling of or decline at high frequency are well reproduced by the model. The correct order of magnitude for the frequency changes is also reproduced, at least at low frequency. The model implies a particular functional form for the variation of the frequency changes with order and degree, and it is suggested that future advances in observation and theory will therefore allow this model to be confirmed or refuted.

Rosenthal, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Geomagnetically Induced Currents Around the World During the 17 March 2015 Storm

Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) represent a significant space weather issue for power grid and pipeline infrastructure, particularly during severe geomagnetic storms. In this study, magnetometer data collected from around the world are analyzed to investigate the GICs caused by the 2015 St. Patricks Day storm. While significant GIC activity in the high-latitude regions due to storm time substorm activity is shown for this event, enhanced GIC activity was also measured at two equatorial stations in the American and Southeast Asian sectors. This equatorial GIC activity is closely examined, and it is shown that it is present both during the arrival of the interplanetary shock at the storm sudden commencement (SSC) in Southeast Asia and during the main phase of the storm approximately 10 h later in South America. The SSC caused magnetic field variations at the equator in Southeast Asia that were twice the magnitude of those observed only a few degrees to the north, strongly indicating that the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) played a significant role. The large equatorial magnetic field variations measured in South America are also examined, and the coincident solar wind data are used to investigate the causes of the sudden changes in the EEJ approximately 10 h into the storm. From this analysis it is concluded that sudden magnetopause current increases due to increases in the solarwind dynamic pressure, and the sudden changes in the resultant magnetospheric and ionospheric current systems, are the primary drivers of equatorial GICs.

Carter, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Large-scale variations of the interplanetary magnetic field: Voyager 1 and 2 observations between 1-5 AU

Observations by the Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft of the interplanetary magnetic field between 1 and 5 AU were used to investigate the large scale structure of the IMF in a period of increasing solar activity. The Voyager spacecraft found notable deviations from the Parker axial model. These deviations are attributed both to temporal variations associated with increasing solar activity, and to the effects of fluctuations of the field in the radial direction. The amplitude of the latter fluctuations were found to be large relative to the magnitude of the radial field component itself beyond approximately 3 AU. Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 observed decreases with increasing heliocentric distance in the amplitude of transverse fluctuations in the averaged field strength (B) which are consistent with the presence of predominantly undamped Alfven waves in the solar wind, although and necessarily implying the presence of them. Fluctuations in the strength of B (relative to mean field strength) were found to be small in amplitude, with a RMS which is approximately one third of that for the transverse fluctuations and they are essentially independent of distance from the Sun.

Burlaga, L. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Variations of the interplanetary magnetic field intensity between 1 and 0.3 AU

This is a preliminary report on the interplanetary magnetic field intensity B measured by the Rome/GSFC experiment carried on Helios 1 over the period 10 December 1974 to 3 April 1975 when the spacecraft moved from 1 AU to 0.3 AU (on 15 March 1975) and back to 0.47 AU. The large-scale radial variations between 1 and 0.3 AU are consistent with Parker's model for a spiral field. The distribution of B between 0.30 AU and 0.32 AU is comparable to that generally observed near 1 AU. Large changes are observed from day to day. Surprisingly large and abrupt changes in B (about 30 gammas in a few hours) are observed near perihelion.

Mariani, F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The 2- to 12-min quasi-periodic variation of 50- to 1000-keV trapped electron fluxes

It was previously shown that trapped electron fluxes of energies in the range from 50 keV to 1 MeV observed in the afternoon magnetosphere during substorms frequently undergo periodic variations. High-resolution electron spectrometer data indicate that these electron variations are periodic in the range of about 2-12 min, correlated with magnetic field variations, organized by the local magnetic field, and dependent on pitch angle. The observations suggest that the electron variations are adiabatic. The study derives quantitative adiabatic expressions of particle flux variations in a model geomagnetic field perturbation to show that the observational features are consistent with effects arising from adiabatic modulation of trapped particle fluxes.

Lin, C. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

On the complex state of the interplanetary medium of 28-29 July 1977

Observations of plasma and magnetic field variations in the near-Earth solar wind are discussed. Both a corotating stream and a driven shock are present. The driver gas seems to be enveloped in the rising speed phase of this stream; this appearance is attributed to a convoluted surface separating the two plasma domains. The magnetic field in the post shock flow (0030-1230 UT of July 29) has a large and geoeffective southward component at times; the energy coupling coefficient reaches approximately 5.4 x 10 to the 19th power ergs/s. In the driver gas (1230 UT of July 29 to 0110 of July 30) the magnetic field is dominantly northward. The density and dynamic pressure decrease by almost two orders of magnitude (100 to 2 cm/3) from just behind the interplanetary shock to approximately 3 hours into the driver gas flow. The dominant magnetic field variation in the driver gas is modeled by a cloud-like structure. Significant plasma parameter variations within the driver gas are attributed to structure in the parent solar mass ejection event and to interplanetary kinematics.

King, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1968

Early-type magnetic stars.

Surface magnetic field variations in early stars, suggesting mechanism for magnetic energy transfer from convective core to surface

Finzi, A.↗