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At least 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Vacillations in a coupled ocean-atmosphere model

Results are presented from a 35-year integration of a coupled ocean-atmosphere model. Both ocean and atmosphere are two-level, nonlinear primitive equation models. The global atmospheric model is forced by a steady, zonally symmetric Newtonian heating. The ocean model is solved in a rectangular tropical basin. Heat fluxes between ocean and atmosphere are linear in air-sea temperature differences, and the interfacial stress is proportional to lower-level atmospheric winds. The coupled models produce ENSO-like variability on time scales of 3 to 5 years. Since there is no external time-dependent forcing, these are self-sustained vacillations of the nonlinear system. It is argued that the energetics of the vacillations is that of unstable coupled modes and that the time scale is crucially dependent on the effects of ocean waves propagating in a closed basin.

Schopf, Paul S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Progress in the Development of a Class of Efficient Low Dissipative High Order Shock-capturing Methods

In a series of papers, Olsson (1994, 1995), Olsson & Oliger (1994), Strand (1994), Gerritsen Olsson (1996), Yee et al. (1999a,b, 2000) and Sandham & Yee (2000), the issue of nonlinear stability of the compressible Euler and Navier-Stokes Equations, including physical boundaries, and the corresponding development of the discrete analogue of nonlinear stable high order schemes, including boundary schemes, were developed, extended and evaluated for various fluid flows. High order here refers to spatial schemes that are essentially fourth-order or higher away from shock and shear regions. The objective of this paper is to give an overview of the progress of the low dissipative high order shock-capturing schemes proposed by Yee et al. (1999a,b, 2000). This class of schemes consists of simple non-dissipative high order compact or non-compact central spatial differencings and adaptive nonlinear numerical dissipation operators to minimize the use of numerical dissipation. The amount of numerical dissipation is further minimized by applying the scheme to the entropy splitting form of the inviscid flux derivatives, and by rewriting the viscous terms to minimize odd-even decoupling before the application of the central scheme (Sandham & Yee). The efficiency and accuracy of these scheme are compared with spectral, TVD and fifth- order WENO schemes. A new approach of Sjogreen & Yee (2000) utilizing non-orthogonal multi-resolution wavelet basis functions as sensors to dynamically determine the appropriate amount of numerical dissipation to be added to the non-dissipative high order spatial scheme at each grid point will be discussed. Numerical experiments of long time integration of smooth flows, shock-turbulence interactions, direct numerical simulations of a 3-D compressible turbulent plane channel flow, and various mixing layer problems indicate that these schemes are especially suitable for practical complex problems in nonlinear aeroacoustics, rotorcraft dynamics, direct numerical simulation or large eddy simulation of compressible turbulent flows at various speeds including high-speed shock-turbulence interactions, and general long time wave propagation problems. These schemes, including entropy splitting, have also been extended to freestream preserving schemes on curvilinear moving grids for a thermally perfect gas (Vinokur & Yee 2000).

Yee, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS2021

Prompt Response of the Dayside Magnetosphere to Discrete Structures within the Sheath Region of a Coronal Mass Ejection

A sequence of discrete solar wind structures within the sheath region of an interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) on Nov 06, 2015 caused a series of compressions and releases of the dayside magnetosphere. Each compression resulted in a brief adiabatic enhancement of ions (electrons) driving bursts of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (whistler mode chorus) wave growth across the dayside magnetosphere. Fine-structured rising tones were observed in the EMIC wave bursts, resulting in nonlinear scattering of relativistic electrons in the outer radiation belt. Multipoint observations allow us to study the spatial structure and evolution of these sheath structures as they propagate Earthward from L1 as well as the spatio-temporal characteristics of the magnetospheric response. This event highlights the importance of fine-scale solar wind structure, in particular within complex sheath regions, in driving dayside phenomena within the inner magnetosphere.

L. W. Blum↗
DOE OSTI2022

Integrating a ponderomotive guiding center algorithm into a quasi-static particle-in-cell code based on azimuthal mode decomposition

High fidelity modeling of plasma based acceleration (PBA) requires the use of three dimensional, fully nonlinear, and kinetic descriptions based on the particle-in-cell (PIC) method. In PBA an intense particle beam or laser (driver) propagates through a tenuous plasma whereby it excites a plasma wave wake. Three-dimensional PIC algorithms based on the quasi-static approximation (QSA) have been successfully applied to efficiently model the interaction between relativistic charged particle beams and plasma. In a QSA PIC algorithm, the plasma response to a charged particle beam or laser driver is calculated based on forces from the driver and self-consistent forces from the QSA form of Maxwell's equations. These fields are then used to advance the charged particle beam or laser forward by a large time step. Since the time step is not limited by the regular Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) condition that constrains a standard 3D fully electromagnetic PIC code, a 3D QSA PIC code can achieve orders of magnitude speedup in performance. Recently, a new hybrid QSA PIC algorithm that combines another speedup technique known as an azimuthal Fourier decomposition has been proposed and implemented. This hybrid algorithm decomposes the electromagnetic fields, charge and current density into azimuthal harmonics and only the Fourier coefficients need to be updated, which can reduce the algorithmic complexity of a 3D code to that of a 2D code. Modeling the laser-plasma interaction in a full 3D electromagnetic PIC algorithm is very computationally expensive due the enormous disparity of physical scales to be resolved. In the QSA the laser is modeled using the ponderomotive guiding center (PGC) approach. We describe how to implement a PGC algorithm compatible for the QSA PIC algorithms based on the azimuthal mode expansion. Here this algorithm permits time steps orders of magnitude larger than the cell size and it can be asynchronously parallelized. Details on how this is implemented into the QSA PIC code that utilizes an azimuthal mode expansion, QPAD, are also described. Benchmarks and comparisons between a fully 3D explicit PIC code (OSIRIS), as well as a few examples related to laser wakefield acceleration, are presented.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRS1986

Statistical foundation of the fluid analogue of the soliton formalism

A fully nonlinear analysis is used to develop a general soliton formalism for the description of the nonlinear evolution of soliton fluctuations in both plasmas and classical fluids. From the Navier-Stokes equations for plasmas and compressible fluids of two scales, two equations for the propagation of density waves are derived. A fast soliton field is spontaneously created by rarefaction, and a slow density wave modulates the field intensity as a ponderomotive force. Constitutive properties are demonstrated using a Lagrangian-kinetic formalism of the fluctuation-dissipation theory.

Tchen, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Multiscale low-frequency circulation modes in the global atmosphere

In this paper, fundamental multiscale circulation modes in the global atmosphere are identified with the objective of providing better understanding of atmospheric low-frequency variabilities over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. With the use of a combination of rotated principal component technique, singular spectrum analysis, and phase space portraits, three categories of basic multiscale modes in the atmosphere are found. The first is the interannual-mode (IAM), which is dominated by time scales longer than a year and can be attributed to heating and circulation anomalies associated with the coupled tropical ocean-atmosphere, in particular the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. The second is a set of tropical intraseasonal modes consisting of three separate multiscale patterns (ISO-1, -2, -3) related to tropical heating that can be identified with the different phases of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), including its teleconnection to the extratropics. The ISO spatial and temporal patterns suggest that the extratropical wave train in the North Pacific and North America is related to heating over the Maritime Continent and that the evolution of the MJO around the equator may require forcing from the extratropics spawning convection over the Indian Ocean. The third category represents extratropical intraseasonal oscillations arising from internal dynamics of the basic-state circulation. In the Northern Hemisphere, there are two distinct circulation modes with multiple frequencies in this category: the Pacific/North America (PNA) and the North Atlantic/Eurasia (NAE). In the Southern Hemisphere, two phase-locked modes (PSA-1 and PSA-2) are found depicting an eastward propagating wave train from eastern Australia, via the Pacific South America to the South Atlantic. The extratropical modes exhibit temporal characteristics such as phase locking and harmonic oscillations possibly associated with quadratically nonlinear dynamical systems. Additionally, the observed monthly and seasonal anomalies arise from a complex interplay of the various multiscale low-frequency modes. The relative dominance of the different modes varies widely from month to month and from year to year. On the monthly time scale, while one or two mechanisms may dominate in one year, no single mechanism seems to dominate for all years. There are indications that when the IAM, that is, ENSO heating patterns are strong, the extratropical modes may be suppressed and vice versa. For the seasonal mean, the interannual mode tends to dominate and the contribution from the PNA remains quite significant.

Lau, K.-M.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Unravelling the Components of a Multi-Thermal Coronal Loop Using Magnetohydrodynamic Seismology

Coronal loops, constituting the basic building blocks of the active Sun, serve as primary targets to help understand the mechanisms responsible for maintaining multi-million Kelvin temperatures in the solar and stellar coronae. Despite significant advances in observations and theory, our knowledge on the fundamental properties of these structures is limited. Here, we present unprecedented observations of accelerating slow magnetoacoustic waves along a coronal loop that show differential propagation speeds in two distinct temperature channels, revealing the multi-stranded and multithermal nature of the loop. Utilizing the observed speeds and employing nonlinear force free magnetic field extrapolations, we derive the actual temperature variation along the loop in both channels, and thus are able to resolve two individual components of the multithermal loop for the first time. The obtained positive temperature gradients indicate uniform heating along the loop, rather than isolated foot point heating.

Prasad, S. Krishna↗
DOE OSTI2022

From force chains to nonclassical nonlinear dynamics in cemented granular materials

In this letter, we present evidence for a mechanism responsible for the nonclassical nonlinear dynamics observed in many cemented granular materials that are generally classified as mesoscopic nonlinear elastic materials. We demonstrate numerically that force chains are created within the complex grain-pore network of these materials when subjected to dynamic loading. The interface properties between grains along with the sharp and localized increase of the stress occurring at the grain-grain contacts leads to a reversible decrease of the elastic properties at macroscopic scale and peculiar effects on the propagation of elastic waves when grain boundary properties are appropriately considered. These effects are observed for relatively small amplitudes of the elastic waves, i.e., within tens of microstrain, and relatively large wavelengths, i.e., orders of magnitude larger than the material constituents. The mechanics are investigated numerically using the hybrid finite-discrete-element method and match those observed experimentally using nonlinear resonant ultrasound spectroscopy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1967

Investigation to define the propagation characteristics of a finite amplitude acoustic pressure wave

A theoretical analysis of the propagation characteristics of a finite amplitude pressure wave is presented. The analysis attempts to study the contribution of entropy-producing regions to the mechanism of aerodynamic noise generation. It results in a nonlinear convective wave equation in terms of entropy and a thermodynamic 'J' function. A direct analogy between the derived governing equation and those used in classical literature is obtained. An idealization of the processes considered permits the uncoupling of the equations of motion with a consequent construction of an acoustic analogy treating shock wave emission of finite amplitude acoustic waves. An engineering approach is reflected in the concept of an extended plug nozzle whose function is to facilitate aerodynamic noise attenuation by modifying the entropy-producing regions.

Peter, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Electron acceleration via kinetic Alfven waves

Obliquely propagating shear Alfven waves are effected by kinetic effects. The polarization and dispersion of these waves are discussed and it is shown that electrons can be effectively accelerated along field lines by these waves. Several nonlinear effects such as solitary waves, nonlinear damping due to current-driven instabilities, and anomalous resistivity are also discussed. Recent observations of electric and magnetic field perturbations on auroral field lines which seem to be related to these waves are described. However, the evidence for the existence of these kinetic Alfven waves is not firm.

Goertz, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Modified radiative transfer theory for a two-layer anisotropic random medium

The modified radiative transfer (MRT) equations which describe propagation and scattering of the electromagnetic field intensity in a layered anisotropic random medium are derived from the Bethe-Salpeter equation with the ladder approximation and the Dyson equation with the nonlinear approximation. The extinction matrices and scattering phase matrices for both mean and incoherent field intensities are obtained. Backscattering enhancement is observed due to the spatial coherent effect between upward and downward propagating waves. It also occurs for the half-space case, because of coupling between ordinary and extraordinary waves. The depolarization effect is predicted in the first-order renormalization approximation to the MRT equation.

Lee, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Solitary waves in the atmosphere

The weakly nonlinear theory for internal solitary waves is reviewed, and theoretical results of the vertical and horizontal structure of temperature, vertical displacements, and vertical and horizontal perturbations to the wind field associated with steadily propagating solitary waves are presented in two idealized atmospheric configurations. One configuration is representative of solitary waves observed in the lower troposphere and the other of solitary waves that occupy the entire troposphere. The important results of the theory are presented in a form that can be readily used by observationalists. The results obtained are then analyzed using actual rawinsonde data for two well-documented observations of atmospheric solitary waves, which are analogous to the two idealized configurations. The importance and difficulties of properly identifying the waveguide within which the solitary wave is confined are discussed. The fundamental role of a critical level in ducting the disturbances and thus in defining the thickness of the waveguide is illustrated in the example dealing with the solitary wave occupying the entire troposphere. Together, these two examples illustrate the decisions and compromises that must be made in applying the theory to the real atmosphere.

Rottman, James W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Quasi-linear analysis of ion Weibel instability in the earth's neutral sheet

A quasi-linear analysis of the ion Weibel instability (IWI) for waves with parallel propagation is carried out for parameters appropriate to the earth's neutral sheet during the substorm interval. For ion drift speed reaching sizable fraction of the ion thermal speed, unstable waves grow to a nonlinear regime in a time interval greater than an ion gyroperiod. The saturation level is attained with current density reduced to about 15-28 percent of its preactivity level. The unstable wave amplitude normalized to the initial ambient field is found to be in the range of 0.2-0.8. This is accompanied by ion heating along the magnetic field with the parallel temperature being enhanced by 25-90 percent. Thus, the IWI can provide nonadiabatic heating of ions in current disruptions during substorms. The associated anomalous resistivity is estimated to be about 1 x 10 exp -7 to 1 x 10 exp -6 s, which is about 11 to 12 orders of magnitude above the classical resistivity.

Lui, Anthony T. Y.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Unitary Qubit Lattice Algorithms for Plasma Physics

This final technical report summarizes research conducted under DOE Award DE-SC0021653 to develop unitary Quantum Lattice Algorithms for modeling electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering in complex media, including plasmas. The project developed and validated quantum-inspired formulations of Maxwell's equations that preserve unitary evolution and can be evaluated on classical high-performance computing systems while providing a foundation for future quantum-computing implementations. Major accomplishments include the development of two- and three-dimensional algorithms for electromagnetic scattering; scalable, distributed-memory implementations demonstrated on the Perlmutter supercomputer; formulations for nonlinear lossless fluid dynamics and cold, lossless, inhomogeneous magnetized plasmas; and an explicit quantum algorithm for a time-discretized Lorenz model. Simulations reproduced a range of characteristic wave phenomena, including transient effects that are not readily apparent in conventional frequency-domain studies, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed approach for modeling complex electromagnetic and plasma systems. The work establishes a unified theoretical and computational framework for quantum and quantum-inspired simulation and provides a foundation for future implementation on fault-tolerant quantum systems.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1975

Propagation of Sound at Moderate and High Intensities in Absorbent and Hard-Walled Cylindrical Ducts

The propagation of plane wave and higher order acoustic modes in both hard-walled and absorbent cylindrical ducts was studied at moderate sound intensities where the linear wave equation is valid, and at high intensities where nonlinear effects can be observed. The experiments were conducted with an anechoically terminated twelve-inch inside-diameter transite pipe. Various types of sound sources were mounted at one end of the duct to generate the desired acoustic fields within the duct. Arrays of conventional loudspeakers were used to generate plane waves and higher order acoustic modes at moderate intensities, and an array of four high intensity electro-pneumatic sound sources was used for the experiments in the nonlinear region. The attenuation of absorbent liners made of several different materials was obtained at moderate intensities for both plane waves and high order modes. It was found that the characteristics of the liners studied did not change appreciably at high intensities.

Mcdaniel, Oliver Herbert↗
NASA NTRS1987

The emission of narrow-band Jovian kilometric radiation

A model based on the nonlinear coupling of electrostatic plasma waves is proposed to explain the emission of the narrow-band Jovian kilometric radiation (nKOM) observed by the Voyager spacecraft. It is shown that upper-hybrid branch electrostatic waves propagating through the inhomogeneities in the outer periphery of the Io plasma torus can attain the proper geometry for localized upconversion interactions leading to pump depletion. Plasma waves propagating into a weak density gradient and reflected at the critical layer interact with the incident waves leading to the electromagnetic emission, which is beamed at large angles with respect to the background magnetic field. In general, both L-O and R-X mode waves can be generated. The observed power and net polarization (L-O) are consistent with pump depletion of electrostatic waves at a level of about 10 mV/m. A possible excitation mechanism for the electrostatic waves is also discussed.

Fung, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Interaction of the sonic boom with atmospheric turbulence

Theoretical research has been carried out to study the effect of free-stream turbulence on sonic boom pressure fields. A new transonic small-disturbance model to analyze the interactions of random disturbances with a weak shock has been developed. The model equation has an extended form of the classic small-disturbance equation for unsteady transonic aerodynamics. An alternative approach shows that the pressure field may be described by an equation that has an extended form of the classic nonlinear acoustics equation that describes the propagation of sound beams with narrow angular spectrum. The model shows that diffraction effects, nonlinear steepening effects, focusing and caustic effects and random induced vorticity fluctuations interact simultaneously to determine the development of the shock wave in space and time and the pressure field behind it. A finite-difference algorithm to solve the mixed-type elliptic-hyperbolic flows around the shock wave has also been developed. Numerical calculations of shock wave interactions with various deterministic and random fluctuations will be presented in a future report.

Rusak, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Interaction of the sonic boom with atmospheric turbulence

Theoretical research was carried out to study the effect of free-stream turbulence on sonic boom pressure fields. A new transonic small-disturbance model to analyze the interactions of random disturbances with a weak shock was developed. The model equation has an extended form of the classic small-disturbance equation for unsteady transonic aerodynamics. An alternative approach shows that the pressure field may be described by an equation that has an extended form of the classic nonlinear acoustics equation that describes the propagation of sound beams with narrow angular spectrum. The model shows that diffraction effects, nonlinear steepening effects, focusing and caustic effects and random induced vorticity fluctuations interact simultaneously to determine the development of the shock wave in space and time and the pressure field behind it. A finite-difference algorithm to solve the mixed type elliptic-hyperbolic flows around the shock wave was also developed. Numerical calculations of shock wave interactions with various deterministic and random fluctuations will be presented in a future report.

Rusak, Zvi↗