Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “CYCLOTRON RESONANCE”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15

Product distributions and rate constants for ion-molecule reactions in water, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane

The thermal energy, bimolecular ion-molecule reactions occurring in gaseous water, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane have been identified and their rate constants determined using ion cyclotron resonance methods. Absolute rate constants were determined for the disappearance of the primary ions by using the trapped ion method, and product distributions were determined for these reactions by using the cyclotron ejection method. Previous measurements are reviewed and compared with the results using the present methods. The relative rate constants for hydrogen-atom abstraction, proton transfer, and charge transfer are also determined for reactions of the parent ions.

Huntress, W. T., Jr.↗

Ion Cyclotron Heating in a Levitated Dipole Fusion Reactor

OpenStar Technologies is pursuing the levitated dipole (LD) as a highly modular, loosely-coupled system that leverages their expertise in high temperature superconductor (HTS) technology. The next generation experiment at OpenStar, Tahi (Ma¯ori for “first”), will demonstrate the generation and confinement of fast ions in a levitated dipole for the first time. Ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) heating is a leading candidate for energetic ion formation in Tahi. A frequency in the 10 MHz range will be used for H minority heating or D majority heating with waves launched from an antenna located above the floating coil. Unlike a tokamak, where the targeted cyclotron resonance is typically a vertical path through the center of the plasma, in a dipole the resonance location follows a C-shaped path from the separatrix to the center of the plasma. The value of B also varies significantly within the confined plasma resulting in a large number of cyclotron harmonics present in the low field region. Furthermore, levitated dipoles contain a “first closed flux surface” surrounding the floating coil, in addition to the traditional separatrix /last closed flux surface. Simulation e ff orts using full-wave ICRF codes show that ICRF heating of a levitated dipole reactor is feasible using a pair of toroidal current straps phased to launch the appropriate parallel ( i.e. poloidal) refractive index.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Evidence of auroral plasma cavities at Uranus and Neptune from radio burst observations

Radio bursts originating from the stronger magnetic polar regions of both Uranus and Neptune were detected by the planetary radio astronomy experiment during the Voyager 2 encounters with the planets. It has previously been demonstrated that these bursts are beamed into a broad, hollow emission pattern from their auroral sources. It is now shown that the bursts at both planets also manifest similar detailed patterns, with the waves beamed into two separate and distinct radiation cones at intermediate wave frequencies. This double-cone emission pattern is predicted by relativistic cyclotron resonance theory, and application of this theory to the observed emission pattern yields the plasma density structure within the radio source region. Calculations indicate that at both Uranus and Neptune the plasma-to-cyclotron frequency ratio can drop well below 0.01 within the active region. Such low values indicate that the southern auroral zones at both planets contain an auroral plasma cavity that is similar to that found in earth's nightside auroral zone.

Farrell, W. M.↗

Hot-cold plasma interactions in the earth's magnetosphere

The paper gives a synopsis of observations and results obtained from the Explorer-45 satellite which pertain directly to the interaction of the magnetospheric hot and cold plasma populations. The specific case discussed is the interaction of the hot ring current plasma with the cold plasmaspheric plasma in the evening to early morning local time sector during magnetic storm recovery phase. It was found that above the plasmapause region, the hot ring current plasma is stable with negligible losses due to pitch angle diffusion; the hot ring current plasma enters a moderate pitch angle regime in the plasmapause region, whereby the addition of cold plasma destabilizes the hot plasma. Analysis of the energy, spatial, and temporal dependence of the above destabilization along with the ion-cyclotron resonant energy equation, and comparison of this analysis with an in situ estimate of the plasma density strongly indicate that the mechanism responsible for destabilization of the hot plasma is the amplification of ion-cyclotron waves due to the interaction of the cold plasmaspheric plasma with the hot ring current plasma in a manner similar to that discussed by Cornwall et al. (1970).

Williams, D. J.↗

Advances in physics and applications of 3D magnetic perturbations on the J-TEXT tokamak

In the last two years, three major technical improvements have been made on J-TEXT in supporting of the expanded operation regions and diagnostic capabilities. (1) The successful commission of the 105 GHz/500 kW/1 s electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system increasing the core electron temperature from 0.9 keV up to around 1.5 keV. (2) The poloidal divertor configuration with an X-point in the high-field side has been achieved. In particular, the 400 kW electron cyclotron wave has also been successfully injected into the diverted plasma. (3) A 256-channel electron cyclotron emission imaging diagnostic system and two sets of four-channel Doppler backscattering diagnostics have been successfully developed on J-TEXT, allowing detailed measurement of the electron temperature and density fluctuations for turbulence and MHD research. The locked mode (LM), especially the 2/1 LM, is one of the biggest threats to the plasma operation. Both the thresholds of 2/1 and 3/1 LM are observed to vary non-monotonically on electron density. The electrode biasing was applied successfully to unlock the LM from either a rotating or static resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) field. In the presence of 2/1 LM, three kinds of standing wave (SW) structures have been observed to share a similar connection to the island structure, i.e. the nodes of the SWs locate around the O- or X-points of the 2/1 island. The control and mitigation of disruption is essential to the safe operation of ITER, and it has been systematically studied by applying a RMP field, massive gas injection (MGI) and shattered pellet injection on J-TEXT. When the RMP-induced 2/1 LM is larger than a critical width, the MGI shutdown process can be significantly influenced. If the phase difference between the O-point of LM and the MGI valve is +90° (or –90°), the penetration depth and the assimilation of impurities can be enhanced (or suppressed) during the pre-thermal quench (TQ) phase and result in a faster (or slower) TQ. A secondary MGI can also suppress the runaway electron (RE) generation, if the additional high-Z impurity gas arrives at the plasma edge before TQ. When the secondary MGI has been applied after the formation of the RE current plateau, the RE current can be dissipated, and the dissipation rate increases with the injected impurity quantity but saturates with a maximum of 28 MA s –1 . The non-local transport is experimentally observed in the ion transport channel. The electron thermal diffusivity significantly increases with the ECRH power. Theoretical work shows that significant intrinsic current can be driven by electromagnetic turbulence, and the robust formation mechanism of the E × B staircase is identified from the Hasegawa–Wakatani system.

divertor↗

Cosmic ray scintillations. II - General theory of interplanetary scintillations

The motion of charged particles in a stochastic magnetic field with nonzero mean is considered via a generalized quasi-linear expansion of Liouville's equation. The general result is an equation relating cosmic ray scintillations to magnetic fluctuations and to cosmic ray gradients. The resonant interaction between particles and the random magnetic field is considered in detail, and the effect of nonlinear terms in the equations is considered. The nonlinear terms are important in damping out initial conditions and in determining conditions near cyclotron resonances. The application of the theory to the propagation of cosmic rays during quiet times in interplanetary space is considered. It is concluded that cosmic ray scintillations in interplanetary space may provide useful information about interplanetary particles and fields and also about nonlinear plasma interactions.

Owens, A. J.↗

Critical electron pitch angle anisotropy necessary for chorus generation

Simultaneous wave, resonant-particle, and ambient-plasma data from OGO 5 for chorus emissions on August 15, 1968, were found consistent with the theoretical critical pitch-angle-anisotropy condition for whistler-mode instability by Doppler-shifted electron cyclotron resonance. Local generation, as determined by wave normal measurements, occurred only when the pitch-angle anisotropy of resonant electrons required for instability substantially exceeded the critical anisotropy defined by Kennel and Petschek (1966).

Burton, R. K.↗

Induced gyroresonant emission of extraordinary mode radiation

Induced amplification of extraordinary-mode electromagnetic waves in a magnetized plasma is investigated. The analysis is performed for a plasma which consists of two components: a relatively dense species of thermal plasma and a diffuse population of suprathermal electrons characterized by a loss cone-type distribution. The excitation mechanism is primarily due to the interaction of the electromagnetic waves with the energetic electrons via the relativistic cyclotron resonance which arises because of the momentum dependence of the gyrofrequency. The present study is particularly concerned with waves propagating perpendicularly and nearly perpendicularly with respect to the external magnetic field, since it is expected that for these cases the cyclotron damping due to thermal electrons is vanishingly small and the growth rates are maximum. The results indicate that excitation occurs primarily for frequencies near the first two gyroharmonics.

Freund, H. P.↗

Explaining the Asymmetric Line Profile in Cepheus X-4 with Spectral Variation Across Pulse Phase

The high mass X-ray binary Cepheus X-4, during its 2014 outburst, showed evidence for an asymmetric cyclotron line in its hard X-ray spectrum. The 2014 spectrum provides one of the clearest cases of an asymmetric line profile among all studied sources with Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Features (CRSF). We present a phase-resolved analysis of NuSTAR and Suzaku data taken at the peak and during the decline phases of this outburst. We find that the pulse-phased resolved spectra are well-fit by a single, symmetric cyclotron feature. The fit parameters vary strongly with pulse phase: most notably the central energy and depth of the cyclotron feature, the slope of the power-law component, and the absorbing column density. We synthesise a ‘phase averaged’ spectrum using the best-fitting parameters for these individual pulse phases, and find that this combined model spectrum has a similar asymmetry in the cyclotron features as discovered in phase-averaged data. We conclude that the pulse phase resolved analysis with simple symmetric line profiles when combined can explain the asymmetry detected in the phase-averaged data.

Bhargave, Yash↗

Simulations of heavy ion heating by electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves driven by proton temperature anisotropies

Heating of heavy ions by the electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves, which are driven by proton temperature anisotropies, is studied by means of hybrid particle simulations. Initially, relaxation of the temperature anisotropies in the proton distribution and isotropic heating of the heavy ions are observed (phase I), followed by substantial perpendicular heating of the heavy ions (phase II). The heavy ions are distinctly gyrophase modulated by the EMIC waves. The isotropic heating in phase I is due to magnetic trapping by the excited proton cyclotron waves. The perpendicular heating in phase II is attributed to cyclotron resonance with the EMIC waves, which becomes possible by means of the preceding heating in phase I. Saturation of the EMIC instability is instead attributed to magnetic trapping of the majority ions: protons. When the proton anisotropy is very large, frequency shift (decrease) of the proton cyclotron waves to less than 1/2 Ohm(p) is observed. The present mechanism is not only relevant to He(+) heating in the dayside equator of the magnetosphere, but it also predicts hot He2(+) ions behind the earth's bow shock.

Tanaka, M.↗

Jikiken /EXOS-B/ observation of Siple transmissions

Preliminary results of observations by the Japanese magnetospheric satellite Jikiken (EXOS-B) of Siple transmissions and VLF emissions triggered by the Siple signals are reviewed. The experiments discussed were carried out in July, August, and September of 1979 and in December 1979 and January 1980. Only four events concentrated within the period from August 14 to 18 were found in which triggered emissions were associated with Siple transmissions. The electron distributions observed on the equatorial crossing passes, when Siple triggered emissions were detected, suggest that the cyclotron resonance condition is satisfied for Siple signals and electrons of energy around 1 keV or less, provided the interaction region is inside the plasmapause. It is noted that if these emissions were generated outside the plasmapause, electron energies much higher than 10 keV would be necessary for the cyclotron interaction, which were above the range of the measurements. For the high latitude passes of August 14 and 17, the electron fluxes were found to be very small.

Kimura, I.↗

A model for X-ray pulsar spectra

The transfer of X-rays through a hot, magnetized, scattering atmosphere is studied using a Monte Carlo technique. The process considered is Compton scattering, including cyclotron resonance scattering. Unlike previous work on the subject, the effects of frequency shifts, relativistic corrections, recoil, and polarization mode changes have been included. It is found that the emergent X-ray spectra harden toward the magnetic equator, are cut off at a frequency less than the fundamental cyclotron frequency, and depend on the magnetic field strength. The relevance of the results to observed pulsar spectra is indicated.

Pravdo, S. H.↗

Gaussian mixture model clustering algorithms for the analysis of high-precision mass measurements

The development of the phase-imaging ion-cyclotron resonance (PI-ICR) technique for use in Penning trap mass spectrometry (PTMS) increased the speed and precision with which PTMS experiments can be carried out. In PI-ICR, data sets of the locations of individual ion hits on a detector are created showing how ions cluster together into spots according to their cyclotron frequency. Ideal data sets would consist of a single, 2D-spherical spot with no other noise, but in practice data sets typically contain multiple spots, non-spherical spots, or significant noise, all of which can make determining the locations of spot centers non-trivial. A method for assigning groups of ions to their respective spots and determining the spot centers is therefore essential for further improving precision and confidence in PI-ICR experiments. Here, we present the class of Gaussian mixture model (GMM) clustering algorithms as an optimal solution. We show that on simulated PI-ICR data, several types of GMM clustering algorithms perform better than other clustering algorithms over a variety of typical scenarios encountered in PI-ICR. The mass spectra of 163Gd, 163 mGd, 162 Tb, and 162 mTb measured using PI-ICR at the Canadian Penning trap mass spectrometer were checked using GMMs, producing results that were in close agreement with the previously published values.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Fast Particle-Wave Interactions and Alfvén Eigenmodes in JET Tokamak Plasmas

This document serves as the closeout report of DOE Grant Award No. DE-FG02-99ER54563 with project period 1 April 2015 through 31 March 2020. The project comprised the international collaboration between MIT and EU scientists on the JET facility to improve our understanding of the physics of energetic particle-wave interactions by measuring the damping rates of stable Alfvén Eigenmodes (AEs) and unstable energetic particle driven modes. More specifically, this project involved the continued participation of MIT, the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the Swiss Plasma Center, and theorists from various European laboratories and from UC Irvine. Past contributions from the University of São Paulo are gratefully acknowledged. The Alfvén Eigenmode Active Diagnostic (AEAD) on JET discharges was successfully upgraded in this period and has extracted physically useful information, in primarily deuterium plasma discharges. It is expected that such experiments would be continued during the DT campaign in CY 2021 to assess the damping rates of similar modes in the presence of alpha particles, a product of fusing burning plasma. Only JET would carry out such experiments in the near term in the world. It is important to note that this collaboration was continued under DOE Grant Award No. DE-SC0014264 from 1 April 2020 through the present. In this grant period, the AEAD was upgraded with a set of individual amplifiers for each of a set of six antennas in two toroidally opposite locations. These new amplifiers allowed targeted selection of the antennas’ toroidal spectrum for AEs of interest with toroidal mode number | n | ≤ 20. The resonant detection and measurement of the damping rates of AEs was obtained from magnetic probes that could be compared with theory and simulations. This is a key topic of investigation for ITER and all other next-step fusion experiments, where such modes will interact with energetic particles produced by fusion reactions (alpha particles), Neutral Beam Injection (NBI) and Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH). The majority of the observations during this period were of Toroidal Alfvén Eigenmodes (TAEs) as these are most commonly observed on JET; a number of measurements were made during dedicated TAE experiments. However, a new set of lower frequency band filters were procured with the goal of studying Geodesic Acoustic Modes (GAMs), Beta (Acoustic) AEs (BAE/BAAEs), and Reverse Shear AEs (RSAEs), also predicted by theory. Commissioning and optimizations were successfully completed in this period, and the diagnostic has been in operation during the more recent JET campaigns. Initial results have been obtained in dedicated TAE experiments and successfully compared to drift-kinetic theory. A wide range of theoretical studies have been undertaken in support of the upcoming JET campaigns experiments. To supplement the ongoing use of ideal MHD codes, such as MISHKA during the studies of TAEs, gyrokinetic simulations of low frequency AEs were performed in collaboration with UC Irvine. The Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC) was used to determine the structure, frequencies and stability of AEs in JET plasmas. Thus, a solid scientific foundation has been laid for future DT campaigns in JET in the 2021 operation period when the damping rates of relevant modes in the presence of alpha particles could be assessed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Synchrotron emission from a cosmological jet as a model of gamma-ray bursts

The nonthermal rapidly varying spectra of gamma-ray bursts require relativistic beaming if the source is at a cosmological distance. Limits on the Lorentz factors and magnetic fields of extragalactic jet models of gamma-ray bursts are derived from the synchrotron source function, the position of the fundamental cyclotron resonance, the Thomson optical depth of radiating electrons, and the Thomson optical depth of electron-positron pairs created in photon-photon collisions of Compton upscattered radiation. The last of these constraints is the strongest, and it is satisfied by the observations if the jet's Lorentz factor is greater than 100. The limit from the position of the cyclotron fundamental requires a magnetic field strength below approximately 10 exp 10 G. Jet models producing observable cyclotron lines are allowed. The acceleration region in the burst must be separate from the emission region. The similarity of gamma-ray burst jet models to models of quasars and BL Lac objects suggest that if gamma-ray bursts are cosmological sources, they are a type of active galaxy.

Brainerd, J. J.↗

Energetics and dynamics of resonant and nonresonant scattering in strong magnetic fields

The energetics and the dynamics resulting from electron-photon resonant and nonresonant scattering in a plasma with magnetic field about 10 to the 12th G are studied in detail. Precise analytic results are obtained in the optically thin limit, and numerical results are presented for the optically thick case. For the latter, it is found that when the equilibrium temperature T(C) is determined by the cooling/heating balance due solely to cyclotron resonant scattering, the ratio of T(C) to the superstrong field B remains fairly constant for N(e) up to about 6 x 10 to the 21st electrons/sq cm. This line-dominated region comes to an end when the extra heating from the hard continuum photons becomes competitive with the line processes and drives T(C) well above the pure line value. For parameters characteristic of GB 880205, the thickness of the line-dominated region is determined to be between 10 to the 21st and 10 to the 22nd electrons/sq cm.

Lamb, Don Q.↗

Lunar Precursor Effects in the Solar Wind and Terrestrial Magnetosphere

The two ARTEMIS probes observe significant precursor activity upstream from the Moon, when magnetically connected to the dayside lunar surface. The most common signature consists of high levels of whistler wave activity near half of the electron cyclotron frequency. This precursor activity extends to distances of many thousands of km, in both the solar wind and terrestrial magnetosphere. In the magnetosphere, electrons reflect from a combination of magnetic and electrostatic fields above the lunar surface, forming loss cone distributions. In the solar wind they generally form conics, as a result of reflection from an obstacle moving with respect to the plasma frame (just as at a shock). The anisotropy associated with these reflected electrons provides the free energy source for the whistlers, with cyclotron resonance conditions met between the reflected source population and Moonward-propagating waves. These waves can in turn affect incoming plasma, and we observe significant perpendicular electron heating and plasma density depletions in some cases. In the magnetosphere, we also observe broadband electrostatic modes driven by beams of secondary electrons and/or photoelectrons accelerated outward from the surface. We also occasionally see waves near the ion cyclotron frequency in the magnetosphere. These lower frequency waves, which may result from the presence of ions of lunar origin, modulate the whistlers described above, as well as the electrons. Taken together, our observations suggest that the presence of the Moon leads to the formation of an upstream region analogous in many ways to the terrestrial electron foreshock.

Magnetosphere↗