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At least 307 records · Page 17

DSMC simulation of ionized rarefied flows

Recently a renewed interest has been exhibited in understanding contamination and space environmental effect in the LEO range of 200 to 600 km as well as in low density microelectronics manufacturing technologies. Realistic simulations must model the physics of the highly coupled effects of neutral and charged particle flows, thermodynamic nonequilibrium, surface charging, and electromagnetic field effects. The computational requirements are enormous for this level of modeling and are almost impossible on current single processor supercomputers. An effort was initiated to develop this capability on a massively parallel MIMD supercomputers. The Wake Shield Facility experiment will be used for test case calculations. Preliminary results indicate that parallel supercomputers may be the only computers capable of simulating the required level of physics and spatial resolution. Calculations which contain from 1 to 8 million simulation particles are presented.

Bartel, Timothy J.↗

Extreme Heating of Minor Ions in Imbalanced Solar-wind Turbulence

Minor ions in the solar corona are heated to extreme temperatures, far in excess of those of the electrons and protons that comprise the bulk of the plasma. These highly nonthermal distributions make minor ions sensitive probes of the collisionless processes that heat the corona and power the solar wind. The recent discovery of the "helicity barrier" offers a mechanism in which imbalanced Alfvénic turbulence in low-β plasmas preferentially heats protons over electrons, generating high-frequency, proton-cyclotron-resonant fluctuations. We use the hybrid-kinetic particle-in-cell code Pegasus++ to drive imbalanced Alfvénic turbulence in a 3D low-β plasma with additional passive ion species, He 2+ and O 5+ . A helicity barrier naturally develops, followed by clear phase-space signatures of oblique proton-cyclotron-wave heating and Landau-resonant heating from the imbalanced Alfvénic fluctuations. The former results in characteristically arced ion velocity distribution functions, whose non-bi-Maxwellian features are shown by linear ALPS calculations to be critical to the heating process. Additional features include a steep transition-range electromagnetic spectrum, proton-cyclotron waves propagating in the direction of the imbalance, significantly enhanced proton-to-electron heating ratios, ion temperatures that are considerably more perpendicular with respect to magnetic field, and extreme heating of heavier species in a manner consistent with mass scalings inferred from spacecraft measurements. None of these features are realized in an otherwise equivalent simulation of balanced turbulence. If seen simultaneously in the fast solar wind, these signatures of the helicity barrier would testify to the necessity of incorporating turbulence imbalance in a complete theory for the evolution of the solar wind.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves

The Feyman-diagram technique is used to calculate the differential cross sections for the scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves of spin 0, 1, and 2 by linearized Schwarzschild and Kerr geometries in the long-wavelength weak-field limit. It is found that the polarization of right (or left) circularly polarized electromagnetic waves is unaffected by the scattering process (i.e., helicity is conserved) and that the two helicity (polarization) states of the photon are scattered differently by the Kerr geometry. This coupling between the photon helicity and the angular momentum of the scatterer also leads to a partial polarization of unpolarized incident light. For gravitational waves, on the other hand, there is neither helicity conservation nor helicity-dependent scattering; the angular momentum of the scatterer has no polarizing effect on incident unpolarized gravitational waves.

De Logi, W. K.↗

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2011

The topics include: 1) Distributed Aerodynamic Sensing and Processing Toolbox; 2) Collaborative Supervised Learning for Sensor Networks; 3) Hazard Detection Software for Lunar Landing; 4) Onboard Nonlinear Engine Sensor and Component Fault Diagnosis and Isolation Scheme; 5) Network-Capable Application Process and Wireless Intelligent Sensors for ISHM; 6) Interface Supports Multiple Broadcast Transceivers for Flight Applications; 7) FPGA Sequencer for Radar Altimeter Applications; 8) Miniature Sapphire Acoustic Resonator - MSAR; 9) Process-Hardened, Multi-Analyte Sensor for Characterizing Rocket Plume Constituents; 10) SAD5 Stereo Correlation Line-Striping in an FPGA; 11) Hybrid Composite Cryogenic Tank Structure; 12) Nanoscale Deformable Optics; 13) Reliability-Based Design Optimization of a Composite Airframe Component; 14) Zinc Oxide Nanowire Interphase for Enhanced Lightweight Polymer Fiber Composites; 15) Plasma Igniter for Reliable Ignition of Combustion in Rocket Engines; 16) Wire Test Grip Fixture; 17) A Sub-Hertz, Low-Frequency Vibration Isolation Platform; 18) Carbon Nanofibers Synthesized on Selective Substrates for Nonvolatile Memory and 3D Electronics; 19) Nanoparticle/Polymer Nanocomposite Bond Coat or Coating; 20) High-Resolution Wind Measurements for Offshore Wind Energy Development; 21) Spring Tire; 22) Marsviewer 2008; 23) Mission Services Evolution Center Message Bus; 24) Major Constituents Analysis for the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor; 25) Astronaut Health Participant Summary Application; 26) Adaption of the AMDIS Method to Flight Status on the VCAM Instrument; 27) Natural Language Interface for Safety Certification of Safety-Critical Software; 28) Cryogenic Caging for Science Instrumentation; 29) Wide-Range Neutron Detector for Space Nuclear Applications; 30) In Situ Guided Wave Structural Health Monitoring System; 31) Multiplexed Energy Coupler for Rotating Equipment; 32) Attitude Estimation in Fractionated Spacecraft Cluster Systems; 33) Full Piezoelectric Multilayer-Stacked Hybrid Actuation/Transduction Systems; 34) Active Flow Effectors for Noise and Separation Control; 35) Method and System for Temporal Filtering in Video Compression Systems; 36) Apparatus for Measuring Total Emissivity of Small, Low-Emissivity Samples; 37) Multiple-Zone Diffractive Optic Element for Laser Ranging Applications; 38) Simplified Architecture for Precise Aiming of a Deep-Space Communication Laser Transceiver; 39) Two-Photon-Absorption Scheme for Optical Beam Tracking; 40) High-Sensitivity, Broad-Range Vacuum Gauge Using Nanotubes for Micromachined Cavities; 41) Wide-Field Optic for Autonomous Acquisition of Laser Link; 42) Extracting Zero-Gravity Surface Figure of a Mirror; 43) Modeling Electromagnetic Scattering From Complex Inhomogeneous Objects; 44) Visual Object Recognition and Tracking of Tools; 45) Method for Implementing Optical Phase Adjustment; 46) Visual SLAM Using Variance Grid Maps; 47) Rapid Calculation of Spacecraft Trajectories Using Efficient Taylor Series Integration; 48) Efficient Kriging Algorithms; 49) Predicting Spacecraft Trajectories by the WeavEncke Method; 50) An Augmentation of G-Guidance Algorithms; 51) Comparison of Aircraft Icing Growth Assessment Software; 52) Silicon-Germanium Voltage-Controlled Oscillator at 105 GHz; 53) Estimation of Coriolis Force and Torque Acting on Ares-1; 54) Null Lens Assembly for X-Ray Mirror Segments; and 55) High-Precision Pulse Generator.

Source record↗

Electromagnetic Pulse in Wide-Angle Gamma Shadows

Unavoidable masses external to the warhead, associated with collateral EMP scenarios of current interest, produce a gamma shadow which changes the EMP seen in the shadowed region compared to that in the absence of a shadow. Calculations with the author’s three-dimensional MACSYNC code for a ground observer under the burst show shadowed field rise times ranging from many tens to hundreds of microseconds, durations approaching a millisecond, and magnitudes similar to those of the unshadowed field, depending on gamma shadow angle. These fields are likely to be smaller for larger observer ground ranges because the source region will shift to higher altitudes with associated higher conductivity that will attenuate the field.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗

A quasi-static particle-in-cell algorithm based on an azimuthal Fourier decomposition for highly efficient simulations of plasma-based acceleration: QPAD

The three-dimensional (3D) quasi-static particle-in-cell (PIC) algorithm is a very efficient method for modeling short-pulse laser or relativistic charged particle beam–plasma interactions. In this algorithm, the plasma response, i.e., plasma wave wake, to a non-evolving laser or particle beam is calculated using a set of Maxwell’s equations based on the quasi-static approximate equations that exclude radiation. The plasma fields are then used to advance the laser or beam forward using a large time step. The algorithm is many orders of magnitude faster than a 3D fully explicit relativistic electromagnetic PIC algorithm. It has been shown to be capable to accurately model the evolution of lasers and particle beams in a variety of scenarios. Additionally, at the same time, an algorithm in which the fields, currents and Maxwell equations are decomposed into azimuthal harmonics has been shown to reduce the algorithmic complexity of a 3D explicit PIC algorithm to that of a 2D algorithm when the expansion is truncated while maintaining accuracy for problems with near azimuthal symmetry. This hybrid algorithm uses a PIC description in r–z and a gridless description in . We describe a novel method that combines the quasi-static and hybrid PIC methods. This algorithm expands the fields, charge and current density into azimuthal harmonics. A set of the quasi-static field equations is derived for each harmonic. The complex amplitudes of the fields are then solved using the finite difference method. The beam and plasma particles are advanced in Cartesian coordinates using the total fields. Details on how this algorithm was implemented using a similar workflow to an existing quasi-static code, QuickPIC, are presented. The new code is called QPAD for QuickPIC with Azimuthal Decomposition. Benchmarks and comparisons between a fully 3D explicit PIC code (OSIRIS), a full 3D quasi-static code (QuickPIC), and the new quasi-static PIC code with azimuthal decomposition (QPAD) are also presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

On the local measurement of electric currents and magnetic fields using Thomson scattering in Weibel-unstable plasmas

Here, we demonstrate the capability of the Thomson Scattering (TS) diagnostic to measure locally the microscopic electron and ion currents in counter-streaming plasmas unstable to the Weibel or current-filamentation instability. Synthetic TS spectra are calculated with particle distribution functions obtained from particle-in-cell simulations and used to accurately reproduce the simulated currents. We show that this technique allows accurate local measurements of the magnetic field, thus opening the way for the complete experimental characterization of the growth rate, saturation, and nonlinear dynamics of electromagnetic instabilities in plasmas. We illustrate the application of this diagnostic to experimental TS data, which yields local measurements of the magnetic field in Weibel-unstable plasmas and indicates that the magnetic energy density reaches ~1% of the kinetic energy density of the flows, in agreement with previous numerical studies.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Charge Conservation beyond Uniformity: Spatially Inhomogeneous Electromagnetic Response in Periodic Solids

Nonlinear electromagnetic response functions have reemerged as a crucial tool for studying quantum materials, due to recently appreciated connections between optical response functions, quantum geometry, and band topology. Most attention has been paid to responses to spatially uniform electric fields, relevant to low-energy optical experiments in conventional solid state materials. However, magnetic and magnetoelectric phenomena are naturally connected by responses to spatially varying electric fields due to Maxwell’s equations. Furthermore, in the emerging field of moiré materials, characteristic lattice scales are much longer, allowing spatial variation of optical electric fields to potentially have a measurable effect in experiments. In order to address these issues, we develop a formalism for computing linear and nonlinear responses to spatially inhomogeneous electromagnetic fields. Starting with the continuity equation, we derive an expression for the second-quantized current operator that is manifestly conserved and model independent. Crucially, our formalism makes no assumptions on the form of the microscopic Hamiltonian and so is applicable to model Hamiltonians derived from tight-binding or calculations. We then develop a diagrammatic Kubo formalism for computing the wave vector dependence of linear and nonlinear conductivities, using Ward identities to fix the value of the diamagnetic current order by order in the vector potential. We apply our formula to compute the magnitude of the Kerr effect at oblique incidence for a model of a moiré-Chern insulator and demonstrate the experimental relevance of spatially inhomogeneous fields in these systems. We further show how our formalism allows us to compute the (orbital) magnetic multipole moments and magnetic susceptibilities in insulators. Turning to nonlinear response, we use our formalism to compute the second-order transverse response to spatially varying transverse electric fields in our moiré-Chern insulator model, with an eye toward the next generation of experiments in these systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Physics↗

Electromagnetic Response of Superconducting RF Cavities

Recently reported anomalies in frequency shift of order δƒ ~ 0.1–10 kHz for Niobium SRF cavities in a narrow temperature region near T c ≃ 9 K are sensitive to the surface preparation and Nitrogen doping. We developed methods for calculating the surface current response of Nb SRF cavities, as well as the resonant frequency shift and quality factor, as functions of temperature, frequency and disorder based on the Keldysh formulation of the theory for nonequilibrium superconductivity coupled with Maxwell’s theory and boundary conditions for the response functions and electromagnetic field. We show that the anomaly is sensitive to impurity disorder. Our results for the anomaly in the frequency shift are in good agreement with experimental results for Nb with an anisotropic gap on the Fermi surface and inhomogeneous non-magnetic disorder. We also show that the quality factor as a function of the impurity scattering rate is maximum for in SRF cavities with intermediate disorder, ℏ/τΔ~O(1) with the maximum $Q$ decreasing with increasing frequency.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Proton-driven electromagnetic instabilities in high-speed solar wind streams

Electromagnetic instabilities of the field-aligned, right-hand circularly polarized magnetosonic wave and the left-hand circularly polarized Alfven wave driven by two drifted proton components are analyzed for model parameters determined from Imp 7 solar wind proton data measured during high-speed flow conditions. Growth rates calculated using bi-Lorentzian forms for the main and beam proton as well as core and halo electron velocity distributions do not differ significantly from those calculated using bi-Maxwellian forms. Using distribution parameters determined from 17 measured proton spectra, we show that considering the uncertainties the magnetosonic wave may be linearly stable and the Alfven wave is linearly unstable. Because proton velocity distribution function shapes are observed to persist for times long compared to the proton gyroperiod, the latter result suggests that linear stability theory fails for proton-driven ion cyclotron waves in the high-speed solar wind.

Abraham-Shrauner, B.↗

Shuttle Orbiter tethered subsatellite for exploring and tapping space plasmas

Consideration is given to the possibilities for studies in space plasma physics offered by a subsatellite mechanically tethered above the Space Shuttle Orbiter by a long conducting wire. The proposed experiment, designated the Shuttle Electrodynamic Tether Systems (SETS) is based on the concept of collecting electrons at the subsatellite and ejecting them from the Orbiter, made possible by the emf generated by the motion of the tether across geomagnetic field lines. The power generated in this manner can be used both for practical purposes within the Orbiter and for the creation of large-amplitude plasma and electromagnetic waves within the surrounding plasma. For a conducting spherical subsatellite 30 m in diameter with a 10-km tether drawing 1 A, calculations show that emfs on the order of 1000-2000 V and energy dissipation of as much as 10,000 W can be obtained, accompanied by the generation of two regions of net electric charge in the ionosphere. Scientific studies considered for SETS include the measurement of MHD waves artificially generated in the ionosphere, the investigation of current-driven plasma instabilities, VLF wave generation and the simulation of electrodynamics associated with the motion of celestial bodies through plasma.

Banks, P. M.↗

The 15-meter antenna performance optimization using an interdisciplinary approach

A 15-meter diameter deployable antenna has been built and is being used as an experimental test system with which to develop interdisciplinary controls, structures, and electromagnetics technology for large space antennas. The program objective is to study interdisciplinary issues important in optimizing large space antenna performance for a variety of potential users. The 15-meter antenna utilizes a hoop column structural concept with a gold-plated molybdenum mesh reflector. One feature of the design is the use of adjustable control cables to improve the paraboloid reflector shape. Manual adjustment of the cords after initial deployment improved surface smoothness relative to the build accuracy from 0.140 in. RMS to 0.070 in. Preliminary structural dynamics tests and near-field electromagnetic tests were made. The antenna is now being modified for further testing. Modifications include addition of a precise motorized control cord adjustment system to make the reflector surface smoother and an adaptive feed for electronic compensation of reflector surface distortions. Although the previous test results show good agreement between calculated and measured values, additional work is needed to study modelling limits for each discipline, evaluate the potential of adaptive feed compensation, and study closed-loop control performance in a dynamic environment.

Grantham, William L.↗

HZEFRG1: An energy-dependent semiempirical nuclear fragmentation model

Methods for calculating cross sections for the breakup of high-energy heavy ions by the combined nuclear and coulomb fields of the interacting nuclei are presented. The nuclear breakup contributions are estimated with an abrasion-ablation model of heavy ion fragmentation that includes an energy-dependent, mean free path. The electromagnetic dissociation contributions arising from the interacting coulomb fields are estimated by using Weizsacker-Williams theory extended to include electric dipole and electric quadrupole contributions. The complete computer code that implements the model is included as an appendix. Extensive comparisons of cross section predictions with available experimental data are made.

Townsend, Lawrence W.↗

Generation and propagation of electromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere

Characteristics of broadband ELF, VLF, and LF emissions in the magnetosphere were calculated assuming incoherent Cerenkov radiation from magnetospheric electrons with energies from 50 eV to 50 keV. Calculations were included to determine the ray paths of the emitted waves. A diffusive equilibrium model of the magnetosphere with an ionosphere, plasmapause, and a centered dipole magnetic field was used. Ray path calculations were done in three dimensions. Using simultaneous energetic electron and VLF data, comparisons were made between calculated and observed VLF hiss. Assuming a wave normal angle six degrees from the resonance cone angle, the calculated spectral densities are both two orders of magnitude below the observed spectral densities. It seems unlikely that VLF hiss is produced by incoherent Cerenkov radiation. The observed spectral shape of V-shaped VLF hiss is similar to that calculated from incoherent Cerenkov radiation.

Taylor, W. W. L.↗

Determination of efficiencies, loss mechanisms, and performance degradation factors in chopper controlled dc vehical motors. Section 2: The time dependent finite element modeling of the electromagnetic field in electrical machines: Methods and applications

The time dependent solution of the magnetic field is introduced as a method for accounting for the variation, in time, of the machine parameters in predicting and analyzing the performance of the electrical machines. The method of time dependent finite element was used in combination with an also time dependent construction of a grid for the air gap region. The Maxwell stress tensor was used to calculate the airgap torque from the magnetic vector potential distribution. Incremental inductances were defined and calculated as functions of time, depending on eddy currents and saturation. The currents in all the machine circuits were calculated in the time domain based on these inductances, which were continuously updated. The method was applied to a chopper controlled DC series motor used for electric vehicle drive, and to a salient pole sychronous motor with damper bars. Simulation results were compared to experimentally obtained ones.

Hamilton, H. B.↗

Multiscale modeling of microwave-heated multiphase systems

Modeling of microwave heating of multiphase systems requires resolving the electromagnetic field from the single particle to the entire cavity. We introduce a multiscale methodology for computationally affordable simulations of microwave heating of multiphase systems consisting of one phase dispersed in a continuum phase. The methodology homogenizes the original multiphase system, by taking advantage of the large separation of length scales, to calculate the effective permittivity, effective thermal conductivity, and volumetric power absorbed in each phase. The methodology is rigorously assessed against particle-resolved detailed numerical simulations of model systems. We demonstrate a significant reduction in computational cost while retaining the accuracy of detailed simulations. Lastly, the present methodology enables high throughput exploration of novel multiphase system designs utilizing microwave heating.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

High-frequency modulation of ion-acoustic waves.

A large amplitude, high-frequency electromagnetic oscillation is impressed on a nonrelativistic, collisionless plasma from an external source. The frequency is chosen to be far from the plasma frequency (in fact, lower). The resulting electron velocity distribution function strongly modifies the propagation of ion-acoustic waves parallel to the oscillating electric field. The complex frequency is calculated numerically.

Albright, N. W.↗