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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Dissipation in the magnetic turbulence of reversed field pinch plasmas

Reversed field pinch plasmas are subject to tearing instability that creates a broad spectrum of magnetic fluctuations. The dominant fluctuations have poloidal and toroidal mode numbers (m,n) = (1,6 - 10) and can grow to 2 - 3% of the mean magnetic field. Through non-linear coupling this growth culminates in a strong reconnection event and broadening of the magnetic spectrum extending to the ion gyroradius scale. Multiple developments occur during the reconnection stage: ions and electrons are energized, magnetic fluctuation amplitudes increase, plasma flow is halted, and the toroidal magnetic flux increases in a sawtooth-like fashion as the RFP dynamo becomes stronger. Magnetic fluctuations are measured in the plasma edge at multiple radial locations from r/a = 0.75 to 0.96 to assess and characterize the magnetic turbulence. The measured spectrum perpendicular to the mean field, S(k ⊥ ), can be fit to a model spectrum consisting of power law and exponential component with one free parameter that characterizes dissipation. The measured dissipation is much larger than estimated from classical viscous or resistive dissipation, but it is consistent with a flow damping measurement of anomalous viscosity. The measurements show an evolution of the spectrum during which fluctuation power builds up in the smallest wavenumbers and cascades to the larger wavenumber due to the non-linear coupling between the linear (m,n) = (1, > 6) and the non-linear (m,n) = (0, 1) tearing mo

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Simulations of non-integer upconversion in resonant six-wave scattering

Resonant upconversion through a sixth order relativistic nonlinearity resulting in a unique resonance was recently proposed [Malkin and Fisch, Phys. Rev. E 108, 045208 (2023)]. The high order resonance is a unique non-integer multiple of a driving pump frequency resulting in a frequency upshift by a factor of ≈3.73. We demonstrate the presence, unique requirements, and growth of this mode numerically. Through tuning waves to high amplitude, in a mildly underdense plasma, the six-photon process may grow more than other non-resonant but lower order processes. The growth of the high frequency mode remains below the nonlinear growth regime. However, extending current numerical results to more strongly coupled resonances with longer pulse propagation distances suggests a pathway to significant upconversion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Checking nonflow assumptions and results via PHENIX published correlations in p+p, p+Au, d+Au, and 3 He+Au at √ s NN=200 GeV

Recently the PHENIX Collaboration has made available two-particle correlation Fourier coefficients for multiple detector combinations in minimum bias p+p and 0–5% central p+Au, d+Au, and 3 He+Au collisions at √ s NN = 200 GeV [Phys. Rev. C 105, 024901 (2022)]. Using these coefficients for three sets of two-particle correlations, azimuthal anisotropy coefficients v 2 and v 3 are extracted for midrapidity charged hadrons as a function of transverse momentum. In this paper, we use the available coefficients to explore various nonflow hypotheses as well as to compare the results with theoretical model calculations. The nonflow methods fail basic closure tests with ampt and pythia/angantyr, particularly when including correlations with particles in the low multiplicity light-projectile going direction. In data, the nonflow adjusted v 2 results are modestly lower in p+Au and the adjusted v 3 results are more significantly higher in p+Au and d+Au. However, the resulting higher values for the ratio v 3 /v 2 in p+Au at RHIC compared to p+Pb at the LHC is additional evidence for a significant overcorrection. Incorporating these additional checks, the conclusion that these flow coefficients are dominated by initial geometry coupled with final-state interactions (e.g., hydrodynamic expansion of quark-gluon plasma) remains true, and explanations based solely on initial-state glasma are ruled out. The detailed balance between intrinsic and fluctuation-driven geometry and the exact role of weakly versus strongly coupled prehydrodynamic evolution remains an open question for triangular flow, requiring further theoretical and experimental investigation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1995

Non-gyrotropic proton and alpha-particle velocity distributions in the solar wind: TAUS observations and stability analysis

Ion velocity distribution functions have been measured with high time resolution by the TAUS plasma instrument on the PHOBOS mission to Mars in 1989. The unambiguous separation of protons and alpha-particles by TAUS enabled us to study the nonthermal features of their distributions separately and to analyze the stability of the distributions against excitation of waves in the cyclotron-frequency domain. Typical nonthermal features include temperature anisotropies, with T(sub perpendicular) larger than T(sub parallel), and ion beam populations drifting along the local magnetic field direction. Also, distinctly non-gyrotropic alpha-particle velocity distributions were sometimes found. Non-gyrotropy strongly changes the wave dispersion and gives rise to new growing modes, related to the coupling of the standard wave modes existing in gyrotropic plasma. It is found that for the measured non-gyrotropic ion distributions the right-hand polarized wave can also be excited by a temperature anistropy instead of the usual beam drift.

Astudillo, H. F.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Modeling Ultraviolet Emissions Near Io

In this report, we describe work awarded to Science Applications International Corporation, for the period 6/l/99 to 5/31/00. During this time period, we have investigated the interaction of Io, Jupiter's innermost Galilean satellite, with the Io plasma torus, and the role this interaction plays in producing ultraviolet (UV) emissions from neutral oxygen and sulfur. Io, the innermost of Jupiter's Galilean satellites, plays a unique role in the jovian magnetosphere. Neutral material that escapes from Io is ionized to form the lo torus, a dense, heavy-ion plasma that corotates with Jupiter and interacts with Io. Io supplies not only the torus, but is a major source of plasma for the entire magnetosphere. Ionization and charge-exchange of neutrals near lo strongly influences the plasma interaction, and Io's neutral atmosphere plays an important role in the generation of currents that couple Io to Jupiter. There have been no in situ measurements of the neutral density near Io, but remote observations of neutrals near lo have been performed for many years. Recent observations from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have shown detailed structure in UV emissions from neutral species near Io. Electron-impact of the neutrals by the Io torus plasma is the primary mechanism responsible for exciting these emissions. Previously, we have modeled the Io plasma environment using three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, and we have shown that the interaction between Io and the plasma torus plays an important role in producing the morphology of the observed emissions. In the past year, we have extended these studies to use both UV observations and Galileo particle and field measurements to investigate the Io interaction.

Linker, Jon A.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Microphysics of Waves and Instabilities in the Solar Wind and Their Macro Manifestations in the Corona and Interplanetary Space

A breakthrough resulted from the investigation of plasma heating by ion-cyclotron waves in rapidly expanding flow tubes, often referred to as coronal funnels and expected to originate in the low transition region where the temperature gradient in the solar atmosphere rises very sharply. The investigation was made using a three-fluid plasma consisting of protons, electrons and alpha particles. It was found that these waves heat the solar wind plasma by directly heating the heavier species, namely the alphas. Although only alpha particles dissipate the waves, the strong Coulomb coupling between alpha particles and protons, and between protons and electrons, makes it possible for protons and electrons to be heated also to more than one million degrees, i.e. to coronal temperatures. Interestingly, the extreme heating of the alpha particles, however, is such that they end up being hotter and faster, and are no longer in thermal equilibrium with the protons and electrons. once the rapid expansion of the flow tube is complete, the particles return to thermal equilibrium. The observational signatures of these results are such that if spectral lines formed below a million degrees are observed at different heights in the corona, the inferred outflow velocities may vary by a factor of 5 to 6. In addition, if minor ions are indeed much faster than protons and electrons at temperatures below a million degrees, then one cannot reliably determine the bulk outflow velocity of the solar wind in that region from inferences of minor ion outflow velocities. A detailed parameter study on the resonant interaction between ion cyclotron waves and alpha particles and other minor ions is also under way. It is found that the highest frequency of the waves, or the location of the heating determines whether a thermal equilibrium can be established between minor ions and protons. As the maximum frequency is increased, alpha particles and protons become farther away from thermal equilibrium. As the maximum frequency becomes smaller, alpha particles and protons are more likely to be in thermal equilibrium. However, if the maximum frequency is below a critical value, ion cyclotron resonance occurs at a greater height and a hot corona cannot be produced.

Habbal, Shadia Rifai↗
DOE OSTI2023

Validation of magnetized gas-jet experiments to investigate the effects of an external magnetic field on laser-plasma instabilities

Laser-plasma instabilities (LPI) play a detrimental role in energy coupling to the target in inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The recent development of applied strong magnetic fields for use in ICF and laboratory astrophysics experiments has opened opportunities to investigate the role of external magnetic fields on LPIs. Recent numerical studies have shown that stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) can be mitigated by external magnetic fields in the kinetic regime of the instability and warrant systematic experimental studies to validate modelling. To this end, we design experiments at the OMEGA-EP laser facility to investigate the effect of an external perpendicular B-field of 5–30 T on the backscattered light spectrum from a gas-jet target. We present measurements from a proof-of-principle experiment, where the backward-SRS (BSRS) is in the kinetic regime, for which the magnetization is expected to produce the greatest effects on instability growth. New simulations motivated by this experiment are used to inform the proposal of an upgraded experimental design. Our simulation predictions show that the new design is suited to experimentally demonstrating BSRS mitigation by an external magnetic field, despite the magnetization effects on the hydrodynamics, as well as the inherent temporal and spatial variations in plasma conditions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1994

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for fludrocortisone in human plasma

Fludrocortisone has been a mainstay of therapy for orthostatic hypotension for many years. Clinical experience suggests that there exists a substantial interindividual variation in responsiveness to the drug. To assess this, we have developed an assay that permits measurement of the low concentrations of fludrocortisone found in human plasma. Fludrocortisone was detected by radioimmunoassay. A polyclonal rabbit antibody, raised against dexamethasone which cross-reacts strongly with fludrocortisone, was reacted with either standard or unknown samples in the presence of [125I]fludrocortisone-3-TyrNH2 (synthesized by coupling tyrosine amide to fludrocortisone-3-oxime and iodinating with chloramine T oxidation). The ED10, ED50, and ED80 were 0.34, 5.0, and 30 ng/mL of plasma, respectively. The cross reactivity with other 9-fluorinated steroids was found as follows: dexamethasone, 340%; betamethasone, 230%; and triamicinolone, 8%. To preclude an erroneous result, subjects who were pregnant or receiving any steroid medication were excluded from the study. The percent cross-reactivity with the main naturally occurring steroids was as follows: 11-desoxycortisol 3.2%, cortisol 1.1%, DOC 0.3%, pregnenolone 0.1%, corticosterone 0.06%, progesterone 0.05%, and aldosterone < 0.05%. The only compound with potential for interference, because of its high level in the circulation in the early morning, was cortisol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).

Non-NASA Center↗
DOE OSTI2020

Chirality transfer and chiral turbulence in gauge theories

Chirality transfer between fermions and gauge fields plays a crucial role for understanding the dynamics of anomalous transport phenomena such as the Chiral Magnetic Effect. In this proceeding we present a first principles study of these processes based on classical-statistical real-time lattice simulations of strongly coupled QED (e 2 N f = 64). Furthermore, our simulations demonstrate that a chirality imbalance in the fermion sector triggers chiral plasma instabilities in the gaugefield sector, which ultimately lead to the generation of long range helical magnetic fields via an self-similar turbulent cascade of the magnetic helicity.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Hybrid Kohn-Sham+Thomas-Fermi scheme for high-temperature density functional theory

We report density functional theory has revolutionised our understanding of dense, strongly coupled systems in the condensed-matter limit. At elevated temperatures, such as those found in warm dense matter and dense plasma, the computational cost of calculating enough states to accurately describe a thermal ensemble of electrons is a major obstacle to practical Kohn-Sham calculations. This problem has recently been tackled from a number of approaches, including a plane-wave approximation for electrons at high energy. In this work, we demonstrate how the Thomas-Fermi density of states, equivalent to a local plane-wave approximation, can yield improved results for thermodynamic quantities, electron density profiles, and interatomic forces while requiring fewer states than existing methods.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Numerical modeling of plasma assisted deflagration to detonation transition in a microscale channel

Here, this work numerically studies the plasma assisted deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) of H 2 /O 2 mixtures in a microscale channel with detailed chemistry and transport. The results show that the DDT onset time is non-monotonically dependent on the discharge pulse number. The DDT is accelerated with small pulse numbers, whereas retarded with large ones. Two different DDT regimes, respectively at a small and large plasma discharge number, via acoustic choking of the burned gas and plasma-enhanced reactivity gradient without acoustic choking, are observed. Without plasma discharge, pronounced pressure and temperature gradients in front of the flame are generated by acoustic compression after the choking of the burned gas, triggering DDT via autoignition. With small plasma pulse numbers, the plasma-generated species enhance the ignition kinetics and lead to an increased reactivity in the boundary layer. After the choking of the burned gas, the plasma-enhanced reactivity advances the sequence of autoignition near the wall, strengthens ignition-shock wave coupling, and accelerates DDT. However, with a large discharge pulse number, a direct autoignition initiating DDT can occur without the acoustic choking of the burned gas due to the strongly accelerated reactivity and elevated temperature. In this case, DDT onset is retarded because the elevated temperature increases sonic velocity and the increased reactivity accelerates fuel oxidation in front of the flame, decelerating the formation of a leading shock and subsequent pressure buildup ahead of the flame. The present modeling reveals that no matter with or without plasma discharge, DDT is initiated by autoignition in thermal, pressure, and reactivity gradient fields via the Zel'dovich gradient mechanism. The acoustic choking of the burned gas may not be the necessary condition of DDT with strong plasma-enhanced reactivity gradient. This work provides an answer to the experimentally observed non-monotonic DDT onset time by plasma, which provides guidance to control DDT in advanced detonation engines and fire safety of hydrogen-fueled catalytic reactors in microchannels by non-equilibrium plasma discharge.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Generation of strong magnetic fields for magnetized plasma experiments at the 1-MA pulsed power machine

Pulsed power technology provides a platform for investigating plasmas in strong magnetic fields using a university-scale machine. Presented here are methods for generating and measuring the 1–4-MG magnetic fields developed for the 1-MA Zebra pulsed power generator at the University of Nevada, Reno. A laser coupled with the Zebra generator produces a magnetized plasma, and experiments investigate how a megagauss magnetic field affects the two-plasmon decay and the expansion of the laser-produced plasma in both transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Disorder-induced heating as a mechanism for fast neutral gas heating in atmospheric pressure plasmas

Abstract Recent findings suggest that ions are strongly correlated in atmospheric pressure plasmas if the ionization fraction is sufficiently high ( ≳ 10 − 5 ). A consequence is that ionization causes disorder-induced heating (DIH), which triggers a significant rise in ion temperature on a picosecond timescale. This is followed by a rise in the neutral gas temperature on a longer timescale of up to nanoseconds due to ion–neutral temperature relaxation. The sequence of DIH and ion–neutral temperature relaxation suggests a new mechanism for ultrafast neutral gas heating. Previous work considered only the case of an instantaneous ionization pulse, whereas the ionization pulse extends over nanoseconds in many experiments. Here, molecular dynamics simulations are used to analyze the evolution of ion and neutral gas temperatures for a gradual ionization over several nanoseconds. The results are compared with published experimental results from a nanosecond pulsed discharge, showing good agreement with a measurement of fast neutral gas heating.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Final Report for Tech-X Corporations’s contribution to Enhancing Understanding of High Energy Density Plasmas from Wire Array and Solid Liner Implosions Using Fluid Modeling with Kinetic Closures

Recent results from experiments and simulation of magnetically driven pulsed power liners have explored the role of the early-time electrothermal instability in the evolution of the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor instability. Our focus will be on understanding the development of such instabilities and the potential stabilization mechanisms via electron thermal conduction, viscosity, and large magnetic fields which we expect could play a significant role in supporting the success of the MagLIF program. Experiments have shown that studies of high-energy density plasmas from wire-array implosions require physics modeling that goes well beyond simple models such as ideal magnetohydrodynamics. The goal of this work is to provide increased understanding of these experiments by employing simulations with a multi-fluid extended-MHD model which uses kinetic closures for thermal conduction, resistivity and viscosity. We will use codes easily available to the wider research community, including university students, with a secondary goal of providing the community with well-benchmarked tools capable of advanced modeling of high-energy-density plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Higher-form symmetry and chiral transport in real-time Abelian lattice gauge theory

We study classical lattice simulations of theories of electrodynamics coupled to charged matter at finite temperature, interpreting them using the higher-form symmetry formulation of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). We compute transport coefficients using classical Kubo formulas on the lattice and show that the properties of the simulated plasma are in complete agreement with the predictions from effective field theories. In particular, the higher-form formulation allows us to understand from hydrodynamic considerations the relaxation rate of axial charge in the chiral plasma observed in previous simulations. A key point is that the resistivity of the plasma – defined in terms of Kubo formulas for the electric field in the 1-form formulation of MHD – remains a well-defined and predictive quantity at strong electromagnetic coupling. However, the Kubo formulas used to define the conventional conductivity vanish at low frequencies due to electrodynamic fluctuations, and thus the concept of the conductivity of a gauged electric current must be interpreted with care.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ring current impoundment of the Io plasma torus

A newly discovered feature in the Io plasma formation that may be described as a ramp separating a high-density plasma ledge on its Jupiterward side from the lower-density radially distended Io plasma disc on its anti-Jupiterward side is observed to coincide with a marked inward decrease in the ring current population. The spatial congruency of the counter-directed maximal gradients in both plasma bodies reveals a profound coupling between them. The existence of the ramp requires a local order-of-magnitude reduction in the diffusion coefficient that governs radial mass transport. It is demonstrated that the diminished diffusive efficiency there is caused by strong pressure gradient inhibition of the interchange instability that underlies mass transport. The Io plasma torus, which is defined as the region of strong ultraviolet emissions, is identified as the plasma ledge. The plasma density in the ledge is high and, incidentally therefore, able to emit strongly because it is impounded against rapid, centrifugal expulsion by the inwardly directed pressure of the ring current at its inner edge.

Siscoe, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Phase Transition in Dusty Plasmas: A Microphysical Description

Dust grains immersed in plasma discharges acquire a large negative charge and settle into a dust cloud at the edge of the sheath. In this region, the plasma ions stream toward the electrode at a velocity u approx. cs=(T(sub e)/m(sub i))(exp 1/2). Experimentally at sufficiently high gas pressure P, the random kinetic energy of the grains is damped by gas friction, and the grains are strongly coupled and self-organize into a crystalline configuration. For lower pressures despite the dissipation of grain kinetic energy to gas friction, the dust grains reach a steady-state kinetic temperature T(sub d) which is much larger than the temperature of any other component in the plasma. T(sub d) is so large that the dust acts like a fluid. We have used the dynamically shielded dust (DSD) model to simulate these physical processes. We find that the known experimental features are nicely reproduced in the simulations, and that additional features are revealed. In the figure we plot the variation of T(sub d) as P is continuously varied in a DSD code run. A marked difference is evident between the critical pressure P(sub m) for the melting transition as P is decreased, and the critical pressure P(sub c) for the condensation transition as P is increased. For P(sub m) is less than P is less than P(sub c), mixed phase states are seen. This hysteresis occurs because the instability which triggers melting is different from the instability that heats the dust in the fluid phase and inhibits freezing. At low pressure, the dust is subject to a two-stream instability with the ions. This instability is responsible for the high temperature of the dust at low pressure. The basic physics underlying the melting transition has been elucidated in a series of papers. We are developing a first-principles analytic approach to the melting transition, which embodies the same physics that is present in the DSD code.

Joyce, Glenn↗
DOE OSTI2025

Physics of Edge-Core Coupling by Inward Turbulence Propagation

The dynamics of edge-core coupling is critically important to the optimization of magnetically confined fusion plasmas. Since early proposals, there has been persistent speculation that inward propagation of turbulence from the boundary is a possible means to energize the edge-core coupling region. However, the detailed mechanism of this process has remained a mystery until recent experiments observed that regular, intense gradient relaxation events generated blob-void pairs very close to the last closed flux surface. Blobs ($\tilde{n}$ >0) propagate outward and detach from the bulk plasma, while voids ($\tilde{n}$ <0) propagate inward, and so stir the core plasma. Here, in this work, we demonstrate that this heretofore ignored process of void emission can drive a broad turbulent layer of width ∼100 𝜌 𝑠 , for typical parameters. The mechanism is the Cherenkov emission of drift waves from inward-propagating voids. The model shows promise to resolve several questions surrounding the shortfall problem and the strong turbulence in the edge-core coupling region.

drift waves↗