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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 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2012

Images of Bottomside Irregularities Observed at Topside Altitudes

We analyzed plasma and field measurements acquired by the Communication/ Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite during an eight-hour period on 13-14 January 2010 when strong to moderate 250 MHz scintillation activity was observed at nearby Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) ground stations. C/NOFS consistently detected relatively small-scale density and electric field irregularities embedded within large-scale (approx 100 km) structures at topside altitudes. Significant spectral power measured at the Fresnel (approx 1 km) scale size suggests that C/NOFS was magnetically conjugate to bottomside irregularities similar to those directly responsible for the observed scintillations. Simultaneous ion drift and plasma density measurements indicate three distinct types of large-scale irregularities: (1) upward moving depletions, (2) downward moving depletions, and (3) upward moving density enhancements. The first type has the characteristics of equatorial plasma bubbles; the second and third do not. The data suggest that both downward moving depletions and upward moving density enhancements and the embedded small-scale irregularities may be regarded as Alfvenic images of bottomside irregularities. This interpretation is consistent with predictions of previously reported theoretical modeling and with satellite observations of upward-directed Poynting flux in the low-latitude ionosphere.

satellite↗
DOE OSTI2019

The dominant micro-turbulence instabilities in the lower q 95 high β p plasmas on DIII-D and predict-first extrapolation

Large-radius internal transport barriers (ITB) are the signature of high β p scenarios on DIII-D. Previous studies show that a large Shafranov shift, rather the E x B shear, suppresses the turbulence and helps in the formation of the large-radius ITB. New gyrokinetic simulations suggest that the remaining micro-instabilities in lower q 95 (<7.0), high β p ITB plasmas are drift wave instabilities, including the collisionless trapped electron mode in the core and ITB peak gradient region, the electron temperature gradient mode in the ITB peak gradient region and at the ITB foot and the ion temperature gradient mode at the ITB foot. Gyrokinetic simulation results qualitatively agree with the density fluctuation analysis from beam emission spectroscopy, which suggests the existence of a low-k ion mode at the ITB foot. As a result, the gyrokinetic simulations also predict that a larger Shafranov shift can overwhelm the driving sources for turbulence from the profile gradients at higher β N , leading to stronger turbulence suppression and stronger ITBs in lower q 95 , high β p plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Neoclassical toroidal viscosity in perturbed equilibria with general tokamak geometry

This paper presents a calculation of neoclassical toroidal viscous torque independent of large-aspect-ratio expansions across kinetic regimes. The Perturbed Equilibrium Nonambipolar Transport (PENT) code was developed for this purpose, and is compared to previous combined regime models as well as regime specific limits and a drift kinetic δf guiding center code. It is shown that retaining general expressions, without circular large-aspect-ratio or other orbit approximations, can be important at experimentally relevant aspect ratio and shaping. The superbanana plateau, a kinetic resonance effect recently recognized for its relevance to ITER, is recovered by the PENT calculations and shown to require highly accurate treatment of geometric effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Gyroaverage effects on chaotic transport by drift waves in zonal flows

Finite Larmor radius (FLR) effects on E Multiplication-Sign B test particle chaotic transport in the presence of zonal flows is studied. The FLR effects are introduced by the gyro-average of a simplified E Multiplication-Sign B guiding center model consisting of the linear superposition of a non-monotonic zonal flow and drift waves. Non-monotonic zonal flows play a critical role on transport because they exhibit robust barriers to chaotic transport in the region(s) where the shear vanishes. In addition, the non-monotonicity gives rise to nontrivial changes in the topology of the orbits of the E Multiplication-Sign B Hamiltonian due to separatrix reconnection. The present study focuses on the role of FLR effects on these two signatures of non-monotonic zonal flows: shearless transport barriers and separatrix reconnection. It is shown that, as the Larmor radius increases, the effective zonal flow profile bifurcates and multiple shearless regions are created. As a result, the topology of the gyro-averaged Hamiltonian exhibits very complex separatrix reconnection bifurcations. It is also shown that FLR effects tend to reduce chaotic transport. In particular, the restoration of destroyed transport barriers is observed as the Larmor radius increases. A detailed numerical study is presented on the onset of global chaotic transport as function of the amplitude of the drift waves and the Larmor radius. For a given amplitude, the threshold for the destruction of the shearless transport barrier, as function of the Larmor radius, exhibits a fractal-like structure. The FLR effects on a thermal distribution of test particles are also studied. In particular, the fraction of confined particles with a Maxwellian distribution of gyroradii is computed, and an effective transport suppression is found for high enough temperatures.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on secondary structures in drift-wave turbulence

Recent experiments showed a decrease of long range correlations during the application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) [Y. Xu et al., Nucl. Fusion 51, 063020 (2011)]. This finding suggests that RMPs damp zonal flows. To elucidate the effect of the RMPs on zonal structures in drift wave turbulence, we construct a generalized Hasegawa-Wakatani model including RMP fields. The effect of the RMPs is to induce a linear coupling between the zonal electric field and the zonal density gradient, which drives the system to a state of electron radial force balance for large RMP amplitude. A predator-prey model coupling the primary drift wave dynamics to the zonal modes evolution is derived. This model has both turbulence drive and RMP amplitude as control parameters and predicts a novel type of transport bifurcation in the presence of RMPs. The novel regime has a power threshold which increases with RMP amplitude as {gamma}{sub c}{approx}[({delta}B{sub r}/B)]{sup 2}.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2024

On anomalous transport of multi-species plasma associated with the resistive ballooning and resistive drift waves driven turbulence

Anomalous transport of multi-species plasma related to the resistive ballooning and resistive drift wave turbulence is considered in a “cold” ion approximation. It is found that similar to the resistive drift wave turbulence [see A. R. Knyazev and S. I. Krasheninnikov, Phys. Plasmas 31, 012502 (2024); and S. I. Krasheninnikov and R. D. Smirnov, Phys. Plasmas (to be published)] the addition of the ballooning drive does not change the main features of anomalous transport of the multi-species plasma: (i) The transport of all ion species is described as a transport of the passive scalars in the turbulent field of the electrostatic potential and electron density perturbation; (ii) the density of ion species with a larger ratio of the mass to charge has the tendency to the accumulation/depletion in the vortices of plasma flow; and (iii) the cross-field transport of all plasma species (including electrons and ions) is described by the same anomalous transport coefficient.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Lower-hybrid drift waves and their interaction with plasmas in a 3D symmetric reconnection simulation with zero guide field

We investigate lower-hybrid drift waves (LHDW) in symmetric magnetic reconnection with zero guide field using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The long-wavelength mode with kρiρe∼1 develops in the bifurcated electron current layer around the X-line within the width of the electron meandering motion from the mid-plane, where ρi(e) is the ion (electron) gyroradius. The short-wavelength mode with kρe∼1 develops in the separatrix region downstream of the electron outflow jet, producing electron vortices in the background flow frame. Electrons follow the E × B drift with corrections from the diamagnetic drift and are heated inside the vortices with diverging electric fields. In the vortices, ions have comparable E × B and inertia drifts, which together mostly cancel the diamagnetic drift. Toward the center of diverging field vortices, ions are decelerated, leading to a decrease in the perpendicular temperature, while the loss of low-energy ions results in an increase in the parallel temperature. Parallel electric fields exist as a combination of the LHDW wave field projected to the magnetic field direction and the penetration of whistler waves that are mainly outside of the LHDW layer. The magnetic flux tube is twisted in the vortices. The twist may potentially lead to slippage reconnection, as indicated by the non-uniform parallel potential variation across field lines, while the periodic variations of the twisting directions are a limiting factor.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1983

The physics of a single-event upset in integrated circuits: A review and critique of analytical models for charge collection

When an energetic particle (kinetic energy 0.5 MeV) originating from a radioactive decay or a cosmic ray transverse the active regions of semiconductor devices used in integrated circuit (IC) chips, it leaves along its track a high density electron hole plasma. The subsequent decay of this plasma by drift and diffusion leads to charge collection at the electrodes large enough in most cases to engender a false reading, hence the name single-event upset (SEU). The problem of SEU's is particularly severe within the harsh environment of Jupiter's radiation belts and constitutes therefore a matter of concern for the Galileo mission. The physics of an SEU event is analyzed in some detail. Owing to the predominance of nonlinear space charge effects and the fact that positive (holes) and negative (electrons) charges must be treated on an equal footing, analytical models for the ionized-charge collection and their corresponding currents as a function of time prove to be inadequate even in the simplest case of uniformly doped, abrupt p-n junctions in a one-dimensional geometry. The necessity for full-fledged computer simulation of the pertinent equations governing the electron-hole plasma therefore becomes imperative.

Vonroos, O.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Lower-Hybrid Drift Waves and Their Interaction With Plasmas in A 3D Symmetric Reconnection Simulation With Zero Guide Field

We investigate lower-hybrid drift waves (LHDW) in symmetric magnetic reconnection with zero guide field using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The long-wavelength mode with develops in the bifurcated electron current layer around the X-line within the width of the electron meandering motion from the mid-plane, where is the ion (electron) gyroradius. The short-wavelength mode with develops in the separatrix region downstream of the electron outflow jet, producing electron vortices in the background flow frame. Electrons follow the E × B drift with corrections from the diamagnetic drift and are heated inside the vortices with diverging electric fields. In the vortices, ions have comparable E × B and inertia drifts, which together mostly cancel the diamagnetic drift. Toward the center of diverging field vortices, ions are decelerated, leading to a decrease in the perpendicular temperature, while the loss of low-energy ions results in an increase in the parallel temperature. Parallel electric fields exist as a combination of the LHDW wave field projected to the magnetic field direction and the penetration of whistler waves that are mainly outside of the LHDW layer. The magnetic flux tube is twisted in the vortices. The twist may potentially lead to slippage reconnection, as indicated by the non-uniform parallel potential variation across field lines, while the periodic variations of the twisting directions are a limiting factor.

Shan Wang↗
NASA NTRS1993

A comparison of in situ measurements of vector-E and - vector-V x vector-B from Dynamics Explorer 2

Dynamics Explorer-2 provided the first opportunity to make a direct comparison of in situ measurements of the high-latitude convection electric field by two distinctly different techniques. The vector electric field instrument (VEFI) used antennae to measure the intrinsic electric fields and the ion drift meter (IDM) and retarding potential analyzer (RPA) measured the ion drift velocity vector, from which the convection electric field can be deduced. The data from three orbits having large electric fields at high latitude are presented, one at high, one at medium, and one at low altitudes. The general agreement between the two measurements of electric field is very good, with typical differences at high latitudes of the order of a few millivolts per meter, but there are some regions where the particle fluxes are extremely large (e.g., the cusp) and the disagreement is worse, probably because of IDM difficulties. The auroral zone potential patterns derived from the two devices are in excellent agreement for two of the cases, but not in the third, where bad attitude data may be the problem. At low latitudes there are persistent differences in the measurements of a few millivolts per meter, though these differences are quite constant from orbit to orbit. This problem seems to arise from some shortcoming in the VEFI measurments. Overall, however, these measurements confirm the concept of `frozen-in' plasma that drifts with velocity vector-E x vector-B/B(exp 2) within the measurement errors of the two techniques.

Hanson, W. B.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Symmetry breaking effects of density gradient on parallel momentum transport: A new {rho}{sub s}{sup *} effect

Symmetry breaking effects of density gradient on parallel momentum transport is studied via quasilinear theory. It is shown that finite {rho}{sub s}*({identical_to}{rho}{sub s}/L{sub n}), where {rho}{sub s} is ion sound radius and L{sub n} is density scale length, leads to symmetry breaking of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) eigenfunction. This broken symmetry persists even in the absence of mean poloidal (from radial electric field shear) and toroidal flows. This effect, as explained in the text, originates from the divergence of polarization particle current in the ion continuity equation. The form of the eigenfunction allows the microturbulence to generate parallel residual stress via symmetry breaking. Comparison with the E-vector x B-vector shear driven parallel residual stress, parallel polarization stress and turbulence intensity gradient driven parallel residual stress are discussed. It is shown that this {rho}{sub s}* driven parallel residual stress may become comparable to E-vector x B-vector shear driven parallel residual stress in small L{sub n} region. In the regular drift wave ordering, where {rho}{sub s}*<<1, this effect is found to be of the same order as the parallel polarization stress. This {rho}{sub s}* driven parallel residual stress can also overtake the turbulence intensity gradient driven parallel residual stress in strong density gradient region whereas the later one is dominant in the strong profile curvature region. The parallel momentum diffusivity is found to remain undisturbed by this {rho}{sub s}* effect as long as the turbulence intensity inhomogenity is not important.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Charge dependence of the plasma travel length in atmospheric-pressure plasma

Plasma plume is generated using a quartz tube, helium gas, and foil electrode by applying AC high voltage under the atmosphere. The plasma plume is released into the atmosphere from inside of the quartz tube and is seen as the continuous movement of the plasma bullet. The travel length of plasma bullet is defined from plasma energy and force due to electric field. The drift velocity of plasma bullet has the upper limit under atmospheric-pressure because the drift velocity is determined from the balance between electric field and resistive force due to collisions between plasma and air. The plasma plume charge depends on the drift velocity. Consequently, in the laminar flow of helium gas flow state, the travel length of the plasma plume logarithmically depends on the plasma plume charge which changes with both the electric field and the resistive force.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Ion scale nonlinear interaction triggered by disparate scale electron temperature gradient mode

We have observed that the disparate scale nonlinear interactions between the high-frequency (∼0.4 MHz) electron temperature gradient (ETG) mode and the ion-scale low-frequency fluctuations (∼kHz) were enhanced when the amplitude of the ETG mode exceeded a certain threshold. The dynamics of nonlinear coupling between the ETG mode and the drift wave (DW) mode has already been reported [C. Moon, T. Kaneko, and R. Hatakeyama, Phys. Rev. Lett. (2013)]. Here, we have newly observed that another low-frequency fluctuation with f ≃ 3.6 kHz, i.e., the flute mode, was enhanced, corresponding to the saturation of the DW mode growth. Specifically, the bicoherence between the flute mode and the DW mode reaches a significant level when the ∇T{sub e}/T{sub e} strength exceeded 0.54 cm{sup −1}. Thus, it is shown that the ETG mode energy was transferred to the DW mode, and then the energy was ultimately transferred to the flute mode, which was triggered by the disparate scale nonlinear interactions between the ETG and ion-scale low-frequency modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

On relaxation and transport in gyrokinetic drift wave turbulence with zonal flow

We present a theory for relaxation and transport in phase space for gyrokinetic drift wave turbulence with zonal flow. The interaction between phase space eddys and zonal flows is considered in two different limits, namely for K>>1 and K{approx_equal} 1 where K is the Kubo number. For K>>1, the growth of an isolated coherent phase space structure is calculated, including the associated zonal flow dynamics. For K{approx_equal} 1, mean field relaxation dynamics is considered in the presence of phase space granulations and zonal flows. In both limits, it is shown that the evolution equations for phase space structures are structurally similar to a corresponding Charney-Drazin theorem for zonal momentum balance in a potential vorticity conserving, quasi-geostrophic system. The transport flux in phase space is calculated in the presence of phase space density granulations and zonal flows. The zonal flow exerts a dynamical friction on ion phase space density evolution, which is a fundamentally new zonal flow effect.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

On the longitudinal distribution of electric field in the acceleration zones of plasma accelerators and thrusters with closed electron drift

The long-term experience in controlling the electric field distribution in the discharge gaps of plasma accelerators and thrusters with closed electron drift and the key ideas determining the concepts of these devices and tendencies of their development are analyzed. It is shown that an electrostatic mechanism of ion acceleration in plasma by an uncompensated space charge of the cloud of magnetized electrons “kept” to the magnetic field takes place in the acceleration zones and that the electric field distribution can be controlled by varying the magnetic field in the discharge gap. The role played by the space charge makes the mechanism of ion acceleration in this type of thrusters is fundamentally different from the acceleration mechanism operating in purely electrostatic thrusters.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Simulating Irregular Source Geometries for Ionian Plumes

Volcanic plumes on Io respresent a complex rarefied flow into a near-vacuum in the presence of gravity. A 3D Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is used to investigate the gas dynamics of such plumes, with a focus on the effects of source geometry on far-field deposition patterns. A rectangular slit and a semicircular half annulus are simulated to illustrate general principles, especially the effects of vent curvature on deposition ring structure. Then two possible models for the giant plume Pele are presented. One is a curved line source corresponding to an IR image of a particularly hot region in the volcano's caldera and the other is a large area source corresponding to the entire caldera. The former is seen to produce the features seen in observations of Pele's ring, but with an error in orientation. The latter corrects the error in orientation, but loses some structure. A hybrid simulation of 3D slit flow is also discussed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Demixing-stimulated lane formation in binary complex plasma

Recently lane formation and phase separation have been reported for experiments with binary complex plasmas in the PK3-Plus laboratory onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Positive non-additivity of particle interactions is known to stimulate phase separation (demixing), but its effect on lane formation is unknown. In this work, we used Langevin dynamics (LD) simulation to probe the role of non-additivity interactions on lane formation. The competition between laning and demixing leads to thicker lanes. Analysis based on anisotropic scaling indices reveals a crossover from normal laning mode to a demixing-stimulated laning mode. Extensive numerical simulations enabled us to identify a critical value of the non-additivity parameter {Delta} for the crossover.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗