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At least 19 records

Studies of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves using AMPTE/CCE and dynamics explorer

The overall objective of this research is to investigate the generation and propagation of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the frequency range from 0.2 to 5 Hz (Pc 1 frequency band). Data used in this research were acquired by the AMPTE/CCE, DE-1, and DE-2 satellites. One of the primary questions addressed in this research is the role which EMIC waves have on the transfer of energy from the equatorial magnetosphere to the ionosphere. The primary result from this research is that some fraction of EMIC waves, generated in the equatorial magnetosphere, are Landau damped in the ionosphere and are therefore a heat source for ionospheric electrons. This result as well as other results are summarized below.

Erlandson, Robert E.↗

Studies of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves using AMPTE/CCE and Dynamics Explorer

The principal activity during the past six months has involved the analysis of ion cyclotron waves recorded from DE-2 using the magnetic field experiment and electric field experiment. The results of this study have been published in the Geophysical Research Letters (GRL). The primary finding of this paper is that ion cyclotron waves were found to heat electrons, as observed in the DE-2 Langmuir probe data, through a Landau damping process. A second activity, which was started during the last six months, involves the study of large amplitude approximately one Hz electric and magnetic field oscillations recorded in the nightside auroral zone at substorm onset. Work is under way to determine the properties of these waves and investigate any association these waves may have with the substorm initiation process. A third activity under way involves a comprehensive study of ion cyclotron waves recorded at ionospheric altitudes by DE-2. This study will be an extension of the work reported in the GRL paper and will involve a larger sampling of wave events. This paper will focus on wave properties at ionospheric altitudes. A fourth activity involves a more in-depth analysis of the acceleration mechanisms and the resulting electron distributions based on the observations presented in the GRL paper.

Erlandson, Robert E.↗

Polarized Observations of Falling Snow from IMPACTS

The polarization of electromagnetic waves (radio waves and light) provides useful information on the dynamics and structure of precipitating storms. Polarization results from aligned precipitation particles interacting with the electromagnetic waves. This orientation is related to the dynamics of the weather system, and the orientation effects the radiative properties of the clouds (which is related to climate sensivity and feedbacks). We use observations from the Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Storms (IMPACTS), a NASA field campaign aiming to understand winter storms that regularly impact the East Coast of the United States, to understand the relationship between properties of snowstorms and polarization of millimeter waves (89 GHz and 166 GHz). We see that height and intensity are strong indicators of the polarization signatures observed in these systems.

Ian S Adams↗

Relativistic electromagnetic waves in an electron-ion plasma

High power laser beams can drive plasma particles to relativistic energies. An accurate description of strong waves requires the inclusion of ion dynamics in the analysis. The equations governing the propagation of relativistic electromagnetic waves in a cold electron-ion plasma can be reduced to two equations expressing conservation of energy-momentum of the system. The two conservation constants are functions of the plasma stream velocity, the wave velocity, the wave amplitude, and the electron-ion mass ratio. The dynamic parameter, expressing electron-ion momentum conversation in the laboratory frame, can be regarded as an adjustable quantity, a suitable choice of which will yield self-consistent solutions when other plasma parameters were specified. Circularly polarized electromagnetic waves and electrostatic plasma waves are used as illustrations.

Chian, Abraham C.-L.↗

The relativistic dynamics of a point charge in the field of a plane electromagnetic wave traveling in the direction of a uniform static magnetic field

The motion of a charged particle in electromagnetic fields of various geometric configurations and arising from a variety of sources is of intrinsic interest in electromagnetic theory. The particular configuration consisting of a plane wave propagating in the presence of a static uniform magnetic field whose direction is parallel to the wave normal is examined. The analysis presented here is treated within the context of classical electromagnetic theory. A numerical solution - at least to the approximate Lorentz-Dirac equation - is obtained.

Mitchell, T. P.↗

Ring Current Ion Coupling with Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves

A new ring current global model has been developed that couples the system of two kinetic equations: one equation describes the ring current (RC) ion dynamic, and another equation describes wave evolution of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves (EMIC). The coupled model is able to simulate, for the first time self-consistently calculated RC ion kinetic and evolution of EMIC waves that propagate along geomagnetic field lines and reflect from the ionosphere. Ionospheric properties affect the reflection index through the integral Pedersen and Hall conductivities. The structure and dynamics of the ring current proton precipitating flux regions, intensities of EMIC global RC energy balance, and some other parameters will be studied in detail for the selected geomagnetic storms.

Khazanov. G. V.↗

Ring Current Ion Coupling with Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves

A new ring current global model has been developed for the first time that couples the system of two kinetic equations: one equation describes the ring current (RC) ion dynamic, and another equation describes wave evolution of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves (EMIC). The coupled model is able to simulate, for the first time self-consistently calculated RC ion kinetic and evolution of EMIC waves that propagate along geomagnetic field lines and reflect from the ionosphere. Ionospheric properties affect the reflection index through the integral Pedersen and Hall coductivities. The structure and dynamics of the ring current proton precipitating flux regions, intensities of EMIC, global RC energy balance, and some other parameters will be studied in detail for the selected geomagnetic storms. The space whether aspects of RC modelling and comparison with the data will also be discussed.

Khazanov, George V.↗

Induced mass and wave motions in the lower solar atmosphere. I - Effects of shear motion of flux tubes

Observations indicate that various dynamic solar phenomena lead to enhanced emission of electromagnetic waves from radio to X-ray wavelengths which can be traced to magnetic activity in the photospheric level. A number of previous investigations have ignored the dynamic responses in the solar atmosphere. On the other hand, Nakagawa et al. (1978, 1981) have studied the atmospheric responses in the frame of MHD in the supersonic super-Alfvenic region. Studies of the slowly varying dynamic response (subsonic) have been unsuccessful because of the requirements of high accuracy in the numerical scheme in which a rigorous mathematical treatment of the boundary conditions is necessary. Recently, a numerical MHD model was constructed by using the full implicit continuous eulerian method. The present investigation makes use of a method which is written in a more convenient numerical code. A two-dimensional, time-dependent, nonplanar MHD model is used to investigate the induced mass and wave motions in the lower solar atmosphere due to the shear motion of flux tubes.

Wu, S. T.↗

The Nonlinear Coupling of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron and Lower Hybrid Waves in the Ring Current Region

The excitation of lower hybrid waves (LHWs) is a widely discussed mechanism of interaction between plasma species in space, and is one of the unresolved questions of magnetospheric multi-ion plasmas. In this paper we present the morphology, dynamics, and level of LHW activity generated by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves during the May 2-7, 1998 storm period on the global scale. The LHWs were calculated based on a newly developed self-consistent model (Khazanov et. al., 2002, 2003) that couples the system of two kinetic equations: one equation describes the ring current (RC) ion dynamic, and another equation describes the evolution of EMIC waves. It is found that the LHWs are excited by helium ions due to their mass dependent drift in the electric field of EMIC waves. The level of LHW activity is calculated assuming that the induced scattering process is the main saturation mechanism for these waves. The calculated LHWs electric fields are consistent with the observational data.

Khazanov, G. V.↗

The Nonlinear Coupling of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron and Lower Hybrid Waves in the Ring Current Region: The Magnetic Storm May 1-7 1998

The excitation of lower hybrid waves (LHWs) is a widely discussed mechanism of interaction between plasma species in space, and is one of the unresolved questions of magnetospheric multi-ion plasmas. In this paper we present the morphology, dynamics, and level of LHW activity generated by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves during the May 2-7, 1998 storm period on the global scale. The LHWs were calculated based on our newly developed self-consistent model that couples the system of two kinetic equations: one equation describes the ring current (RC) ion dynamic, and another equation describes the evolution of EMIC waves. It is found that the LHWs are excited by helium ions due to their mass dependent drift in the electric field of EMIC waves. The level of LHW activity is calculated assuming that the induced scattering process is the main saturation mechanism for these waves. The calculated LHWs electric fields are consistent with the observational data.

Khazanov, G. V.↗

The Nonlinear Coupling of Alfven and Lower Hybrid Waves in Space Plasma

Space plasmas support a wide variety of waves, and wave-particle interactions as well as wave-wave interactions which are of crucial importance to magnetospheric and ionospheric plasma behavior. The excitation of lower hybrid waves (LHWs) in particular is a widely discussed mechanism of interaction between plasma species in space and is one of the unresolved questions of magnetospheric multi-ion plasmas. It is demonstrated that large-amplitude Alfven waves may generate LHWs in the auroral zone and ring current region and in some cases (particularly in the inner magnetosphere) this serves as the Alfven wave saturation mechanism. We present several examples of observational data which illustrate that the proposed mechanism is a plausible candidate to explain certain classes of LHW generation events in the ionosphere and magnetosphere and demonstrate electron and ion energization involving these processes. We discuss the morphology dynamics and level of LHW activity generated by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves during the May 2-7 1998 storm period on the global scale. The LHWs were calculated based on a newly developed self-consistent model (Khazanov et. al. 2002) that couples the system of two kinetic equations: one equation describes the ring current (RC) ion dynamic and another equation describes the evolution of EMIC waves. It is found that the LHWs are excited by helium ions due to their mass dependent drift in the electric field of EMIC waves. The level of LHW activity is calculated assuming that the induced scattering process is the main saturation mechanism for these waves. The calculated LHWs electric fields are consistent with the observational data.

Khazanov, George V.↗

Dynamic Scheduling: Target of Opportunity Observations of Gravitational Wave Events

The simultaneous detection of electromagnetic and gravitational waves from the coalescence of two neutron stars (GW170817 and GRB170817A) has ushered in a new era of ‘multimessenger’ astronomy, with electromagnetic detections spanning from gamma to radio. This great opportunity for new scientific investigations raises the issue of how the available multimessenger tools can best be integrated to constitute a powerful method to study the transient Universe in particular. To facilitate the classification of possible optical counterparts to gravitational wave events, it is important to optimize the scheduling of observations and the filtering of transients, both key elements of the follow-up process. In this work, we describe the existing workflow whereby telescope networks such as GRANDMA and GROWTH are currently scheduled; we then present modifications we have developed for the scheduling process specifically, so as to face the relevant challenges that have appeared during the latest observing run of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. We address issues with scheduling more than one epoch for multiple fields within a skymap, especially for large and disjointed localizations. This is done in two ways: by optimizing the maximum number of fields that can be scheduled and by splitting up the lobes within the skymap by right ascension to be scheduled individually. In addition, we implement the ability to take previously observed fields into consideration when rescheduling. We show the improvements that these modifications produce in making the search for optical counterparts more efficient, and we point to areas needing further improvement.

Gravitational waves↗

Reconfigurable Metasurface Optics at NASA LaRC Towards Space Image Sensing

Reconfigurable optical metasurfaces are rapidly emerging as a major frontier in photonics research, development, and applications. They promise compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient reconfigurable optical systems with unprecedented performance and functions that can be dynamically defined on-demand. Space applications represent an emerging area in which these characteristics are highly prized. The ability to dynamically tune optical functions through selective modulation of electromagnetic waves is crucial to the advancement of a variety of sensing applications, from imaging spectrometers to light detection and ranging (LiDAR). This presentation introduces a reconfigurable metasurface optic project led by a research team at NASA Langley Research Center (NASA LaRC) since 2019. It covers advances in phase change material-based reconfigurable optics, performance data on reliability enhancement of photonic devices, image sensing system architectures, and mission concepts enabled through these advances.

metasurface↗

A Review of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Wave Phenomena Related to Tropospheric-Ionospheric Coupling Mechanisms

Investigation of coupling mechanisms between the troposphere and the ionosphere requires a multidisciplinary approach involving several branches of atmospheric sciences, from meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and fulminology to aeronomy, plasma physics, and space weather. In this work, we review low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation in the Earth-ionosphere cavity from a troposphere-ionosphere coupling perspective. We discuss electromagnetic wave generation, propagation, and resonance phenomena, considering atmospheric, ionospheric and magnetospheric sources, from lightning and transient luminous events at low altitude to Alfven waves and particle precipitation related to solar and magnetospheric processes. We review in situ ionospheric processes as well as surface and space weather phenomena that drive troposphere-ionosphere dynamics. Effects of aerosols, water vapor distribution, thermodynamic parameters, and cloud charge separation and electrification processes on atmospheric electricity and electromagnetic waves are reviewed. We also briefly revisit ionospheric irregularities such as spread-F and explosive spread-F, sporadic-E, traveling ionospheric disturbances, Trimpi effect, and hiss and plasma turbulence. Regarding the role of the lower boundary of the cavity, we review transient surface phenomena, including seismic activity, earthquakes, volcanic processes and dust electrification. The role of surface and atmospheric gravity waves in ionospheric dynamics is also briefly addressed. We summarize analytical and numerical tools and techniques to model low frequency electromagnetic wave propagation and solving inverse problems and summarize in a final section a few challenging subjects that are important for a better understanding of tropospheric-ionospheric coupling mechanisms.

Simoes, Fernando↗