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At least 217 records · Page 12

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NASA NTRS1975

Observations of an intense field-aligned thermal ion flow and associated intense narrow band electric field oscillations

An investigation is conducted concerning the conditions encountered during a Javelin sounding rocket experiment conducted on Apr. 3, 1970 at Fort Churchill, Canada. Evidence is presented that near the equatorward edge of the auroral arc an intense beam of cold plasma ions was flowing parallel to the earth's magnetic field. The beam was associated with intense narrow band electric field oscillations near the local ion gyrofrequency. The data support the hypothesis that intense electrostatic ion cyclotron waves were driven unstable by field-aligned currents.

Bering, E. A.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Global Aspects of the Earth's Magnetopause

Measurable characteristics of the magnetopause are discussed. The Earth's magnetopause is a thin magnetic discontinuity separating the shocked, magnetized plasma of the solar wind from a more tenuous plasma contained by the geomagnetic field. This external magnetosheath plasma flows around the magnetosphere with characteristics that are in approximate agreement with gas dynamic theory. The interplanetary magnetic field carried by this plasma becomes draped over the magnetosphere and its orientation relative to the local geomagnetic field determines the local magnetopause current. Solar wind pressure and interplanetary field direction control the geocentric distance to the magnetopause with high pressures and southware fields moving the equatorial magnetopause to a more earthward location. Evidence suggests that the magnetopause is Kelvin-Helmholtz unstable and surface waves are propagating toward the magnetotail.

Fairfield, D. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Plasma electron signature of magnetic connection to the earth's bow shock - ISEE 3

New observations of bowshock modified electron velocity distribution for upstreams are investigated using the Los Alamos ISEE 3 electron analyzer. Examples of two-dimensional electron distributions observed when ISEE 3 magnetically connected to the bowshock are presented, and the velocity moments are determined. The origin of the enhanced backstreaming electron fluxes and their likely effects on the upstream microturbulence spectrum are interpreted. A nearly isotropic component of back-streaming shock-heated electrons is found with energies at least as high as 1 keV. Phase-space density of the low energy parts of distributions measures well within the boundaries of accessibility and is observed to be depressed. Such distributions are likely to result from the direct sampling of electrons originating within the forward edge of the earth's bowshock, and may be unstable to whistler waves.

Feldman, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

The effects of moisture on trapped mountain lee waves

The effects of latent heat release on the dynamics of mountain lee waves are examined with the aid of two-dimensional numerical simulations, for several situations in which the Scorer parameter has a nearly two-layer vertical structure. Changes in the moisture in the lowest layer are found to produce three fundamentally different behaviors: (1) resonant waves in an absolutely stable environment are distorted and untrapped by an increase in moisture; (2) resonant waves in a conditionally unstable layer are destroyed by an increase in moisture; and (3) resonant waves in a moist environment are detuned by a decrease in moisture. Changes in the humidity in the upper layer are found to amplify or damp the wave response, depending on the depth of the lower layer. In most situations, the wave response is significantly more complicated than that predicted by simply replacing the dry stability with an equivalent moist stability in the saturated layer.

Durran, D. R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Secondary instability of wall-bounded shear flows

The present analysis of a secondary instability in a wide class of wall-bounded parallel shear flows indicates that two-dimensional, finite amplitude waves are exponentially unstable to infinitessimal three-dimensional disturbances. The instability appears to be the prototype of transitional instability in such flows as Poiseuille flow, Couette flow, and flat plate boundary layers, in that it has the convective time scales observed in the typical transitions. The energetics and vorticity dynamics of the instability are discussed, and it is shown that the two-dimensional perturbation without directly providing energy to the disturbance. The three-dimensional instability requires that a threshold two-dimensional amplitude be achieved. It is found possible to identify experimental features of transitional spot structure with aspects of the nonlinear two-dimensional/linear three-dimensional instability.

Orszag, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Detection of bump-on-tail reduced electron velocity distributions at the electron foreshock boundary

Reduced velocity distributions are derived from three-dimensional measurements of the velocity distribution of electrons in the 7 to 500 eV range in the electron foreshock. Bump-on-tail reduced distributions are presented for the first time at the foreshock boundary consistent with Filbert and Kellogg's proposed time-of-flight mechanism for generating the electron beams. In a significant number of boundary crossings, bump-on-tail reduced distributions were found in consecutive 3 sec measurements made 9 sec apart. It is concluded that, although the beams are linearly unstable to plasma waves according to the Penrose criterion, they persist on a time scale of 3 to 15 sec.

Fitzenreiter, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Detection of bump-on-tail reduced electron velocity distributions at the electron foreshock boundary

Fitzenreiter, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Stability of compressible boundary layers

The stability of compressible 2-D and 3-D boundary layers is reviewed. The stability of 2-D compressible flows differs from that of incompressible flows in two important features: There is more than one mode of instability contributing to the growth of disturbances in supersonic laminar boundary layers and the most unstable first mode wave is 3-D. Whereas viscosity has a destabilizing effect on incompressible flows, it is stabilizing for high supersonic Mach numbers. Whereas cooling stabilizes first mode waves, it destabilizes second mode waves. However, second order waves can be stabilized by suction and favorable pressure gradients. The influence of the nonparallelism on the spatial growth rate of disturbances is evaluated. The growth rate depends on the flow variable as well as the distance from the body. Floquet theory is used to investigate the subharmonic secondary instability.

Nayfeh, Ali H.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The electromagnetic effect on the critical ionization velocity process

Electromagnetic effects on the critical ionization velocity (CIV) process become important when the neutral gas velocity V(n) exceeds the local Alfven speed V(A). The electron heating due to unstable lower hybrid waves necessary for CIV still occurs, but the efficiency of the electron heating is significantly reduced when the electromagnetic effect comes into play. This is verified by a series of simulation runs using two-dimensional electromagnetic particle code combined with PANIC. The significance of the electromagnetic effects for the occurrence of CIV in the comet-solar wind interaction and other space phenomena is briefly discussed. It is found that the comet environment is marginal for the excitation of CIV.

Machida, S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Turbulence and waves in the solar wind

Studies of turbulence and waves in the solar wind is discussed. Consideration is given to the observations and theory concerning the origin and evolution of interplanetary MHD fluctuations and to the observations, theory, and simulations of compressive fluctuations. Particular attention is given to extrapolations to near-sun and polar fields regions. Results obtained on turbulence at comets and magnetic turbulence of low-frequency waves excited by unstable distributions of ions are discussed.

Roberts, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

FNAS modify matric and transparent experiments

Monotectic alloy materials are created by rapid melt/rapid solidification processing on the NASA KC-135. Separation of the uniform liquid into two liquids may occur by either of two processes; spinodal decomposition or nucleation followed by growth. In the first case, the liquid is unstable to composition waves, which form and grow, giving liquids of two different compositions. In the latter process discrete particles of the second liquid phase form via thermal fluctuations and then grow by diffusion. The two processes are very different, with the determining process being dictated by temperature, composition, and thermodynamic characteristics of the alloy. The first two quantities are process variables, while the third is determined by electronic interactions between the atoms in the alloy. In either case the initial alloy decomposition is followed by coarsening, resulting in growth of the particle size at nearly constant volume fraction. In particular, reduced gravity experiments on monotectic solutions have shown a number of interesting results in the KC-135. Monotectic solutions exhibit a miscibility gap in the liquid state, and consequently, gravity driven forces can dominate the solidification parameters at 1 g. In reduced gravity however, the distribution of the phases is different, resulting in new and interesting microstructures. The Rapid Melt/Rapid Quench Furnace allows one to melt a sample and resolidify it in one parabola of the KC-135's flight path, thus eliminating any accumulative influence of multiple parabolas to affect the microstructure of the material.

Smith, Guy A.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Intermittent Flow Regimes in a Transonic Fan Airfoil Cascade

A study was conducted in the NASA Glenn Research Center linear cascade on the intermittent flow on the suction surface of an airfoil section from the tip region of a modern low aspect ratio fan blade. Experimental results revealed that, at a large incidence angle, a range of transonic inlet Mach numbers exist where the leading-edge shock-wave pattern was unstable. Flush mounted high frequency response pressure transducers indicated large local jumps in the pressure in the leading edge area, which generates large intermittent loading on the blade leading edge. These measurements suggest that for an inlet Mach number between 0.9 and 1.0 the flow is bi-stable, randomly switching between subsonic and supersonic flows. Hence, it appears that the change in overall flow conditions in the transonic region is based on the frequency of switching between two stable flow states rather than on the continuous increase of the flow velocity. To date, this flow behavior has only been observed in a linear transonic cascade. Further research is necessary to confirm this phenomenon occurs in actual transonic fans and is not the byproduct of an endwall restricted linear cascade.

Lepicovsky, J.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Geometric Effects on the Amplification of First Mode Instability Waves

The effects of geometric changes on the amplification of first mode instability waves in an external supersonic boundary layer were investigated using numerical techniques. Boundary layer stability was analyzed at Mach 6 conditions similar to freestream conditions obtained in quiet ground test facilities so that results obtained in this study may be applied to future test article design to measure first mode instability waves. The DAKOTA optimization software package was used to optimize an axisymmetric geometry to maximize the amplification of the waves at first mode frequencies as computed by the 2D STABL hypersonic boundary layer stability analysis tool. First, geometric parameters such as nose radius, cone half angle, vehicle length, and surface curvature were examined separately to determine the individual effects on the first mode amplification. Finally, all geometric parameters were allowed to vary to produce a shape optimized to maximize the amplification of first mode instability waves while minimizing the amplification of second mode instability waves. Since first mode waves are known to be most unstable in the form of oblique wave, the geometries were optimized using a broad range of wave frequencies as well as a wide range of oblique wave angles to determine the geometry that most amplifies the first mode waves. Since first mode waves are seen most often in flows with low Mach numbers at the edge of the boundary layer, the edge Mach number for each geometry was recorded to determine any relationship between edge Mach number and the stability of first mode waves. Results indicate that an axisymmetric cone with a sharp nose and a slight flare at the aft end under the Mach 6 freestream conditions used here will lower the Mach number at the edge of the boundary layer to less than 4, and the corresponding stability analysis showed maximum first mode N factors of 3.

Kirk, Lindsay C.↗

NASA NTRS2020

Midlatitude Cloud Systems

In contrast to the tropics and subtropics, the middle latitudes are characterised by large meridional temperature gradients, created as a consequence of differential radiative heating between high and low latitudes. These meridional temperature gradients often concentrate in relatively narrow baroclinic zones that become unstable to wave-like perturbations called baroclinic eddies, or more commonly baroclinic storms or midlatitude cyclones. Baroclinic storms constitute the primary source of poleward energy transport at midlatitudes, which is accomplished through contrasting transports of warm air masses poleward (warm fronts) and cold air masses equatorward (cold fronts). Baroclinic storms also flux momentum into midlatitude regions, driving a region of enhanced westerly winds from the surface to the upper troposphere called the eddy-driven jet stream.

Midlatitude clouds↗

NASA NTRS1979

The wave structures of the Eady model of baroclinic instability

By solving the linear quasi-geostrophic set of equations pertinent to the Eady model, the complex eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions are obtained. The propagation speed and the growth rate are computed. Quantitative information is provided about the wave structures for several unstable models, a marginally stable mode, and a stable mode. The peculiarities concerning the amplitude and the phase variations of the waves are noted as the wavenumber varies from the unstable region to the stable region. Physical interpretations of the interrelationships among the dynamical variables are given, with a view toward revealing important aspects of the energy transfer from the basic state to the growing waves.

Hyun, J. M.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Towards Understanding the Mechanism of Receptivity and Bypass Dynamics in Laminar Boundary Layers

Three problems concerning laminar-turbulent transition are addressed by solving a series of initial value problems. The first problem is the calculation of resonance within the continuous spectrum of the Blasius boundary layer. The second is calculation of the growth of Tollmien-Schlichting waves that are a direct result of disturbances that only lie outside of the boundary layer. And, the third problem is the calculation of non-parallel effects. Together, these problems represent a unified approach to the study of freestream disturbance effects that could lead to transition. Solutions to the temporal, initial-value problem with an inhomogeneous forcing term imposed upon the flow is sought. By solving a series of problems, it is shown that: A transient disturbance lying completely outside of the boundary layer can lead to the growth of an unstable Tollmien-Schlichting wave. A resonance with the continuous spectrum leads to strong amplification that may provide a mechanism for bypass transition once nonlinear effects are considered. A disturbance with a very weak unstable Tollmien-Schlichting wave can lead to a much stronger Tollmien-Schlichting wave downstream, if the original disturbance has a significant portion of its energy in the continuum modes.

Lasseigne, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Kinetic effects on the velocity-shear-driven instability

A comparison is made between the properties of the low-frequency long-wavelength velocity-shear-driven instability in kinetic theory and magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The results show that the removal of adiabaticity along the magnetic field line in kinetic theory leads to modifications in the nature of the instability. Although the threshold for the instability in the two formalisms is the same, the kinetic growth rate and the unstable range in wave-number space can be larger or smaller than the MHD values depending on the ratio between the thermal speed, Alfven speed, and flow speed. When the thermal speed is much larger than the flow speed and the flow speed is larger than the Alfven speed, the kinetic formalism gives a larger maximum growth rate and broader unstable range in wave-number space. In this regime, the normalized wave number for instability can be larger than unity, while in MHD it is always less than unity. The normal mode profile in the kinetic case has a wider spatial extent across the shear layer.

Wang, Z.↗

NASA NTRS1978

On the stability of self-consistent large amplitude waves in a cold plasma. I - Transverse circularly polarized waves in the absence of a large scale magnetic field

It is demonstrated that a self-consistent circularly polarized wave in an otherwise field-free homogeneous cold plasma is unstable to small amplitude perturbations. For either an electron-positron plasma or an electron-proton plasma the instability rate is at least about the order of the effective plasma frequency when the bulk flow speed is zero. For finite bulk flow speeds of the plasma, it is shown that the electron-positron plasma is unstable, again with a growth rate of the order of the effective plasma frequency; it is also shown that the electron-proton plasma is unstable (at least at small wave numbers, k) with a growth rate proportional to k. The calculated instability rates are conservative, for other modes not investigated here may be more unstable. The results of these calculations bear directly on the understanding of plasma systems thought to be driven by large amplitude waves.

Lee, M. A.↗