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Acuna, M. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Acuna, M. H..

126 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

A two-region model of the solar wind including azimuthal velocity

The two-region model of the solar wind divides the interplanetary space into two regions: it assumes that the solar wind is one-fluid in an inner region within 0.4 AU and two-fluid in an outer region beyond 0.4 AU. This paper includes the angular motion of the solar wind in the two-region model. The flow in the one-fluid region is governed by the one-fluid magnetohydrodynamic equations. The second and third moment equations of the Vlasov equation together with other conservation equations are used to describe the solar-wind flow in the two-fluid region. The predicted azimuthal velocity at 1 AU is less than 2 km/s. All other macroscopic and microscopic properties from this model are in good agreement with experimental quiet-time observations at 1 AU. The numerical results also confirm that when the azimuthal velocity is included in the analysis, the amount of magnetic-field energy converted into kinetic energy in the solar wind is only a small fraction of the total expansion energy flux and has little effect upon the final radial expansion velocity.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Results from the GSFC fluxgate magnetometer on Pioneer 11

A high-field triaxial fluxgate magnetometer was mounted on Pioneer 11 to measure the main magnetic field of Jupiter. It is found that this planetary magnetic field is more complex than that indicated by the results of the Pioneer 10 vector helium magnetometer. At distances less than 3 Jupiter radii, the magnetic field is observed to increase more rapidly than an inverse-cubed distance law associated with any simple dipole model. Contributions from higher-order multipoles are significant, with the quadrupole and octupole being 24 and 21 percent of the dipole moment, respectively. Implications of the results for the study of trapped particles, planetary radio emission, and planetary interiors are discussed. Major conclusions are that the deviation of the main planetary magnetic field from a simple dipole leads to distortion of the L shells of the charged particles and to warping of the magnetic equator. Enhanced absorption effects associated with Amalthea and Io are predicted.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The magnetic field of Jupiter

The paper is concerned mainly with the intrinsic planetary field which dominates the inner magnetosphere up to a distance of 10 to 12 Jovian radii where other phenomena, such as ring currents and diamagnetic effects of trapped charged particles, become significant. The main magnetic field of Jupiter as determined by in-situ observations by Pioner 10 and 11 is found to be relatively more complex than a simple offset tilted dipole. Deviations from a simple dipole geometry lead to distortions of the charged particle L shells and warping of the magnetic equator. Enhanced absorption effects associated with Io and Amalthea are predicted. The results are consistent with the conclusions derived from extensive radio observations at decimetric and decametric wavelengths for the planetary field.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Implications of Pioneer-2 magnetic field models for Jupiter's decametric radio mission

The geometry and electron gyrofrequency were calculated for both the North and South feet of the Io-threaded flux tube at several altitudes as a function of sub-Io longitude for various multipole field models. The models predict a maximum surface gyrofrequency equal to the observed high frequency limit of the decameter-wave radio emission (DAM) and tend to favor a mechanism involving transverse propagation from a source in the Northern hemisphere. Calculations indicate that the beaming pattern of the emission may be determined by reflection from the ionosphere rather than by inherent beaming from the source region.

Alexander, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Summary of initial results from the GSFC fluxgate magnetometer on Pioneer 11

The main magnetic field of Jupiter was measured by the Fluxgate Magnetometer on Pioneer 11 and analysis reveals it to be relatively more complex than expected. In a centered spherical harmonic representation with a maximum order of n = 3 (designated GSFC model 04), the dipole term (with opposite polarity to the Earth's) has a moment of 4.28 Gauss x (Jupiter radius cubed), tilted by 9.6 deg towards a system 111 longitude of 232. The quadrupole and octupole moments are significant, 24% and 21% of the dipole moment respectively, and this leads to deviations of the planetary magnetic field from a simple offset tilted dipole for distances smaller than three Jupiter radii. The GSFC model shows a north polar field strength of 14 Gauss and a south polar field strength of 10.4 Gauss. Enhanced absorption effects in the radiation belts may be predicted as a result of field distortion.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

High-voltage stepping supply with fast settling time

Waveform generator is used to derive low-voltage staircase waveform that feeds relatively long response time power supply. Power supply has high output voltage that is predetermined multiple of the input voltage.

Doong, H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Main magnetic field of Jupiter and its implications for future orbiter missions

A very strong planetary magnetic field and an enormous magnetosphere with extremely intense radiation belts exist at Jupiter. Pioneer 10 and 11 fly-bys confirmed and extended the earlier ground based estimates of many of these characteristics but left unanswered or added to the list of several important and poorly understood features: the source mechanism and location of decametric emissions, and the absorption effects by the natural satellites Amalthea, Io, Europa and Ganymede. High inclination orbits (exceeding 60 deg) with low periapses (less than 2 Jupiter radii) are required to map the radiation belts and main magnetic field of Jupiter accurately so as to permit full investigation of these and associated phenomena.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Controllable high voltage source having fast settling time

A high voltage dc stepping power supply for sampling a utilization device such as an electrostatic analyzer has a relatively fast settling time for voltage steps. The supply includes a waveform generator for deriving a low voltage staircase waveform that feeds a relatively long response time power supply, deriving a high output voltage generally equal to a predetermined multiple of the input voltage. In the power supply, an ac voltage modulated by the staircase waveform is applied to a step-up transformer and then to a voltage multiplier stack to form a high voltage, relatively poor replica of the input waveform at an intermediate output terminal. A constant dc source, applied to the input of the power supply, biases the voltage at the intermediate output terminal to be in excess of the predetermined multiple of the input voltage.

Doong, H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The complex magnetic field of Jupiter

An analysis of the characteristics of the magnetic field of the planet Jupiter is presented. The data were obtained during the flight of Pioneer 11 space probe, using a high field triaxial fluxgate magnetometer. The data are analyzed in terms of traditional Schmitt normalized spherical harmonic expansion fitted to the observations in a least squares sense. Tables of data and graphs are provided to summarize the findings.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Jupiter's main magnetic field measured by Pioneer 11

The preliminary results of an analysis of quick-look data obtained from a high field magnetometer placed on Pioneer 11 are presented. It is found that within three planetary radii of Jupiter, the planetary magnetic field is too complex to be represented by a simple offset tilted dipole (OTD), as was suggested by Pioneer 10 data, and that higher harmonic multipoles are required. Reconciliation is achieved with earlier independently derived estimates obtained from ground-based observations of radio emissions, since the movement and tilt of the Pioneer 10 model yielded a field configuration and intensity that were inconsistent with those estimates.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Fluxgate magnetometers for outer planets exploration

The exploration of the interplanetary medium and the magnetospheres of the outer planets requires the implementation of magnetic field measuring instrumentation with wide dynamic range, high stability, and reliability. The fluxgate magnetometers developed for the Pioneer 11 and Mariner-Jupiter-Saturn missions are presented. These instruments cover the range of .01 nT to 2 million nT with optimum performance characteristics and low power consumption.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A study of the solar wind angular momentum including proton thermal anisotropy

The solution to the steady state magnetohydrodynamic equations governing the supersonic expansion of the solar corona into interplanetary space is obtained for various assumptions regarding the form in which proton thermal energy is carried away from the sun. The one-fluid, inviscid, formulation of the MHD equations is considered assuming that thermal energy is carried away by conduction from a heat source located at the base of the corona. Angular motion of the solar wind led to the existence of three critical points through which the numerical solutions must pass to extend from the sun's surface to large heliocentric distances. The results show that the amount of magnetic field energy converted into kinetic energy in the solar wind is only a small fraction of the total expansion energy flux and has little effect upon the final radial expansion velocity.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The Pioneer 11 high-field fluxgate magnetometer

The High Field Fluxgate Magnetometer Experiment flow aboard the Pioneer 11 spacecraft to investigate Jupiter's magnetic field is described. The instrument extends the spacecraft's upper limit measurement capability by more than an order of magnitude to 17.3 gauss with minimum power and volume requirements.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1971

The IMP-H ion composition experiment

A compact mass energy spectrometer to be flown aboard the IMP-H spacecraft is described. Scientific aims include determination of the relative and absolute fluxes of He-4(2+), He-4 (+), 0(6+), and 0(7+), and He-3(2+).

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Two-axis flux gate magnetometer

Magnetometer uses single sensing head to measure magnetic flux density along two axes simultaneously. The sensor head consists of permalloy core and four windings. Two windings perform a multivibrator function, the two remaining windings sense magnetic fields. The smaller magnetometer performs same functions as more complex devices.

Acuna, M. H.↗
NASA NTRS1969

A miniature two-axis fluxgate magnetometer

Miniature fluxgate magnetometer for sounding rocket measurements of two orthogonal components of external magnetic field, predicting performance by linear mathematical model

Acuna, M. H.↗