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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 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Design of a finline antenna for current drive in TST-2

A novel “finline” antenna was designed to excite lower-hybrid waves (LHWs) for plasma current drive at 2.45 GHz in the TST-2 spherical tokamak. A periodic fin array acts as a transmission line for electromagnetic surface waves. Cold tests confirmed propagation of the electromagnetic surface wave on the fin array which was dominantly Transverse Magnetic (TM). Unlike the conventional waveguide array “grill” antenna, the finline antenna requires only two ports to feed all the elements, and calculations show that there is little reflection regardless of the plasma conditions in front of the antenna. Characteristics of the microwave transmission on the fin array were investigated using a three-dimensional full-wave simulation and the fin geometry was tuned to achieve the desired refractive index. Coupling to LHWs under typical TST-2 scrape-off layer conditions was confirmed by the simulation. Finally, to demonstrate LHW excitation, the finline antenna was energized in the presence of a plasma generated by another 200 MHz LH antenna. The x-ray radiation showed strong enhancement during the finline antenna pulse which indicated successful generation of fast electrons by LHWs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Novel fractal-textured solar absorber surfaces for concentrated solar power

The solar absorptance of a thermal receiver surface significantly affects the photothermal conversion efficiency of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants. The development of low-cost Gen3 CSP systems calls for increasing the solar absorptance of the thermal receivers at operating temperatures above 750 °C. This study presents an innovative approach to the fractal, multiscale texturing of absorber surfaces to significantly enhance solar energy absorption for Gen3 CSP applications. The absorber surface is described in terms of its fractal parameters that are uniquely determined from surface profile measurements. The interaction of solar radiation with the fractal surface is numerically simulated by solving the governing Maxwell’s equations for electromagnetic wave propagation to investigate the effect of texturing on the absorptance of the surfaces. It is shown that absorption of the solar spectrum increases with an increase in the fractal dimension and the multiscale asperity height of the surface texturing. Here, the theoretical model is demonstrated to be in close agreement with experimental measurements of spectral absorptance of electrodeposited copper (Cu), copper mono-oxide (CuO), and copper-manganese oxide (CuMnO) surfaces that are textured to produce a range of fractal parameters by tailoring the deposition parameters. Fractal surface texturing is shown to reduce reflectance by over one order of magnitude, yielding an absorptance of greater than 0.985 for CuMnO. For the first time, the study presents a significant effective means of increasing solar absorptance and a fundamental theoretical description of the underlying physics.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Observations of Offshore Internal Boundary Layers

The growth of the marine internal boundary layer (MIBL, height h i ) with the shore-normal distance x, is a topic of continuing interest because of its applications in coastal dispersion, offshore wind farm siting, coastal air-sea fluxes and in evaporative ducting. Available data on MIBL are only scarce, given its difficult to measure the variability of coastal winds. During Coupled Air-Sea Processes and Electromagnetic Research (CASPER) campaigns an array of instrumentation was deployed to measure offshore spatial variability and its effect on electromagnetic wave propagation. Meteorological sensors (flux towers and remote sensing) were deployed along the coast of Point Mugu, California, on a research vessel and FLoating Instrument Platform (FLIP) provided surface layer and boundary layer observations. In this article, measurements from multiple remote sensing instruments, such as synchronized triple Doppler lidars, small boat operations with tethered lifting system, and radiosondes provide a holistic view of the MIBL growth and its spatial variability from the coast. A convective and stable MIBL observed during two intensive operating period days showed distinct growth characteristics off the coast of Point-Mugu. During stable stratified atmospheric conditions, an MIBL was observed at least up to 47 km from the coast. The growth of the MIBL within the nearshore adjustment zone was influenced by surrounding atmospheric, oceanographic, and topographic conditions. A new parameterization scheme is developed based on advection-diffusion balance equations accounting for upstream turbulence and compared with h i observations from Doppler lidar and profiles from small boat. An evaluation of existing IBL theories was also conducted.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Verifying Ray Tracing Amplitude Methods for Global Magnetospheric Modeling

Abstract Ray tracing is a commonly used method for modeling the propagation of electromagnetic waves in Earth's magnetosphere. To apply ray tracing results to global models of wave‐particle interaction such as energetic electron scattering, it is useful to map the discrete rays to a volume filling mesh. However, some methods have inherent losses of energy from the wave source, or do not account for the full range of wave properties within a sample volume. We have developed and tested a 3D magnetospheric ray tracing code “MESHRAY” which resolves these issues. MESHRAY uses the conservation of Poynting flux through ray triplets with finite volume to determine the local field amplitudes. Electromagnetic wave energy density from all ray data points is mapped to a mesh and verified against the wave source power for energy conservation varying time step length, number of rays, and total time steps. We find that the method is self‐consistent and numerically robust. We further investigate whether the neglect of phase information and superposition has a significant impact on the accuracy of mapping wave intensity to a mesh. We find excellent agreement between the analytic solution for waves emitted by a line source in a plane‐stratified medium and an equivalent ray tracing solution. When phase information is excluded, ray tracing reproduces an average amplitude spread over regions of coherent constructive and destructive interference. This may be an important consideration for interpolating ray tracing results of longer wavelength waves such as magnetosonic, electromagnetic ion cyclotron, or ULF waves.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Time growth rate and field profiles of hybrid modes excited by a relativistic elliptical electron beam in an elliptical metallic waveguide with dielectric rod

The dispersion relation of guided electromagnetic waves propagating in an elliptical metallic waveguide with a dielectric rod driven by relativistic elliptical electron beam (REEB) is investigated. The electric field profiles and the growth rates of the waves are numerically calculated by using Mathieu functions. The effects of relative permittivity constant of dielectric rod, accelerating voltage, and current density of REEB on the growth rate are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Analysis of plasma-magnetic photonic crystal with a tunable band gap

In this paper, electromagnetic wave propagation through the one-dimensional plasma-magnetic photonic crystal in the presence of external magnetic field has been analyzed. The dispersion relation, transmission and reflection coefficients have been obtained by using the transfer matrix method. It is investigated how photonic band gap of photonic crystals will be tuned when both dielectric function {epsilon} and magnetic permeability {mu} of the constitutive materials, depend on applied magnetic field. This is shown by one dimensional photonic crystals consisting of plasma and ferrite material layers stacked alternately.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Nonlinear multiferroic phase shifters for microwave frequencies

A nonlinear microwave phase shifter based on a planar multiferroic composite has been studied. The multiferroic structure is fabricated in the form of a bilayer consisting of yttrium iron garnet and barium strontium titanate. The principle of operation of the device is based on the linear and nonlinear control of the phase shift of the hybrid spin-electromagnetic waves propagating in the bilayer. The linear control is realized with magnetic and electric fields. The nonlinear control is provided by the input power of microwave signal. The device showed a nonlinear phase shift up to 250°, electric field induced phase shift up to 330°, and magnetic field induced phase shift of more than 180°.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Numerical study on microwave-sustained argon discharge under atmospheric pressure

A numerical study on microwave sustained argon discharge under atmospheric pressure is reported in this paper. The purpose of this study is to investigate both the process and effects of the conditions of microwave-excited gas discharge under atmospheric pressure, thereby aiding improvements in the design of the discharge system, setting the appropriate working time, and controlling the operating conditions. A 3D model is presented, which includes the physical processes of electromagnetic wave propagation, electron transport, heavy species transport, gas flow, and heat transfer. The results can be obtained by means of the fluid approximation. The maxima of the electron density and gas temperature are 4.96 × 10{sup 18} m{sup −3} and 2514.8 K, respectively, and the gas pressure remains almost unchanged for typical operating conditions with a gas flow rate of 20 l/min, microwave power of 1000 W, and initial temperature of 473 K. In addition, the conditions (microwave power, gas flow rate, and initial temperature) of discharge are varied to obtain deeper information about the electron density and gas temperature. The results of our numerical study are valid and clearly describe both the physical process and effects of the conditions of microwave-excited argon discharge.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Theory of electromagnetic fluctuations for magnetized multi-species plasmas

Analysis of electromagnetic fluctuations in plasma provides relevant information about the plasma state and its macroscopic properties. In particular, the solar wind persistently sustains a small but detectable level of magnetic fluctuation power even near thermal equilibrium. These fluctuations may be related to spontaneous electromagnetic fluctuations arising from the discreteness of charged particles. Here, we derive general expressions for the plasma fluctuations in a multi-species plasma following arbitrary distribution functions. This formalism, which generalizes and includes previous works on the subject, is then applied to the generation of electromagnetic fluctuations propagating along a background magnetic field in a plasma of two proton populations described by drifting bi-Maxwellians.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mathematical, theoretical and experimental confirmations of IRS and IBS by R.M. Santilli

The objective of present work is to put forward the Santilli’s experimental, physical and mathematical conception of IsoRedShift (IRS), IsoBlueShift (IBS) and NoIsoShift (NIS). Santilli has carried out a step-by step isotopic lifting of the physical laws of special relativity resulting in a new theory today specifically known Santilli isorelativity. In his 1991 hypothesis Santilli established the requirement to realize the light as electromagnetic waves propagating within a universal substratum. Furthermore Santilli has carried out a step-by step isotopic lifting of the physical laws of special relativity resulting in a new theory today specifically known Santilli isorelativity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Polariton dispersion of a quantum wire superlattice system

Superlattices have drawn considerable attention in the recent years. In this work, the behaviour of polaritons in a quantum wire superlattice is analysed both at the brillouin zone edge and at centre of the brillouin zone using LiNbO3/ LiTaO3 as an example. The significance of the polariton modes in both the cases are analysed. New modes on the polaritonic gap, where the propagation of electromagnetic wave is forbidden, is obtained in the system as suggested by some recent literature. The effect on nonlinear interactions of phonon polaritons in LiNbO3/ LiTaO3 superlattices is also discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Improving microwave antenna gain and bandwidth with phase compensation metasurface

Metasurface, as a planar version of artificial metamaterial, provide an effective way to manipulate electromagnetic wave propagation. Here, we present a transparent metasurface for compensating the out-of-phase radiation from a microstrip patch antenna to improve its radiation gain and bandwidth. Based on the equivalence principle of Huygens’ surface, we propose metasurface composed of both inductive and capacitive resonant elements which could produce high transmission with variable phase characteristics. Such metasurface mounted on a patch antenna can transform the spherical-like phase profile generated from the patch into an in-phase planar one. A prototype antenna has been fabricated and validated the squeezed radiation pattern with suppressed sidelobes as well as enhanced impedance bandwidth due to strong near-field coupling. As operating at around 5.7 GHz, the proposed antenna may have potential application in wireless communication systems especially for point-to-point data transmission. It is believed that the design methodology could also be scaled to other frequency bands such as millimeter or terahertz wave.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Plasma filamentation and shock wave enhancement in microwave rockets by combining low-frequency microwaves with external magnetic field

A filamentary plasma is reproduced based on a fully kinetic model of electron and ion transports coupled with electromagnetic wave propagation. The discharge plasma transits from discrete to diffusive patterns at a 110-GHz breakdown, with decrease in the ambient pressure, because of the rapid electron diffusion that occurs during an increase in the propagation speed of the ionization front. A discrete plasma is obtained at low pressures when a low-frequency microwave is irradiated because the ionization process becomes more dominant than the electron diffusion, when the electrons are effectively heated by the low-frequency microwave. The propagation speed of the plasma increases with decrease in the incident microwave frequency because of the higher ionization frequency and faster plasma diffusion resulting from the increase in the energy-absorption rate. An external magnetic field is applied to the breakdown volume, which induces plasma filamentation at lower pressures because the electron diffusion is suppressed by the magnetic field. The thrust performance of a microwave rocket is improved by the magnetic fields corresponding to the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) and its higher-harmonic heating, because slower propagation of the ionization front and larger energy-absorption rates are obtained at lower pressures. It would be advantageous if the fundamental mode of ECR heating is coupled with a lower frequency microwave instead of combining the higher-harmonic ECR heating with the higher frequency microwave. This can improve the thrust performance with smaller magnetic fields even if the propagation speed increases because of the decrease in the incident microwave frequency.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2012

Gap soliton formation in a nonlinear anti-directional coupler

We consider propagation of electromagnetic solitary waves in two tunnel-coupled waveguides. It is assumed that one of the waveguides is made of a positive-index dielectric, having a Kerr nonlinearity. The other waveguide is made of a linear optical metamaterial characterised by the so-called negative refraction. The gap soliton formation in such a system, which, as shown, has a threshold character, is studied numerically. (solitons)

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Method of adiabatic modes in research of smoothly irregular integrated optical waveguides: zero approximation

We consider the application of the method of adiabatic waveguide modes for calculating the propagation of electromagnetic radiation in three-dimensional (3D) irregular integrated optical waveguides. The method of adiabatic modes takes into account a three-dimensional distribution of quasi-waveguide modes and explicit ('inclined') tangential boundary conditions. The possibilities of the method are demonstrated on the example of numerical research of two major elements of integrated optics: a waveguide of 'horn' type and a thin-film generalised waveguide Luneburg lens by the methods of adiabatic modes and comparative waveguides. (integral optical waveguides)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Modulation instability in a zigzag array of nonlinear waveguides with alternating positive and negative refractive indices

The modulation instability is analytically investigated in a zigzag array of tunnel-coupled optical waveguides with alternating refractive indices and Kerr nonlinearity. Particular solutions to a system of coupled nonlinear equations are found. They describe the propagation of electromagnetic waves that are uniform along the waveguide and their instability is studied. It is shown that the coupling coefficient between the waveguides, which are non-nearest neighbours, has a significant effect on the instability of the waves in question. When the coupling coefficient exceeds a certain threshold, the modulation instability disappears regardless of the radiation power. The influence of the ratio of the wave amplitudes in adjacent waveguides to the instability of the particular solutions is studied. Different variants of the nonlinear response in waveguides are considered. The studies performed present a new unusual type of the modulation instability in nonlinear periodic systems. (metamaterials)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2014

CONSTRAINTS ON THE SPACETIME GEOMETRY AROUND 10 STELLAR-MASS BLACK HOLE CANDIDATES FROM THE DISK'S THERMAL SPECTRUM

In a previous paper, one of us (C. Bambi) described a code to compute the thermal spectrum of geometrically thin and optically thick accretion disks around generic stationary and axisymmetric black holes, which are not necessarily of the Kerr type. As the structure of the accretion disk and the propagation of electromagnetic radiation from the disk to the distant observer depend on the background metric, the analysis of the thermal spectrum of thin disks can be used to test the actual nature of black hole candidates. In this paper, we consider the 10 stellar-mass black hole candidates for which the spin parameter has already been estimated from the analysis of the disk's thermal spectrum under the assumption of the Kerr background, and we translate the measurements reported in the literature into constraints on the spin parameter-deformation parameter plane. The analysis of the disk's thermal spectrum can be used to estimate only one parameter of the geometry close to the compact object; therefore, it is not possible to get independent measurements of both the spin and the deformation parameters. The constraints obtained here will be used in combination with other measurements in future work with the final goal of breaking the degeneracy between the spin and possible deviations from the Kerr solution and thus test the Kerr black hole hypothesis.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗