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DOE OSTI2023

Lightning Rings and Gravity Waves: Insights Into the Giant Eruption Plume From Tonga's Hunga Volcano on 15 January 2022

Abstract On 15 January 2022, Hunga Volcano in Tonga produced the most violent eruption in the modern satellite era, sending a water‐rich plume at least 58 km high. Using a combination of satellite‐ and ground‐based sensors, we investigate the astonishing rate of volcanic lightning (>2,600 flashes min −1 ) and what it reveals about the dynamics of the submarine eruption. In map view, lightning locations form radially expanding rings. We show that the initial lightning ring is co‐located with an internal gravity wave traveling >80 m s −1 in the stratospheric umbrella cloud. Buoyant oscillations of the plume's overshooting top generated the gravity waves, which enhanced turbulent particle interactions and triggered high‐current electrical discharges at unusually high altitudes. Our analysis attributes the intense lightning activity to an exceptional mass eruption rate (>5 × 10 9 kg s −1 ), rapidly expanding umbrella cloud, and entrainment of abundant seawater vaporized from magma‐water interaction at the submarine vent.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2024

Electron energy gain due to a laser frequency modulation experienced by electron during betatron motion

Direct laser acceleration of electrons is an important energy deposition mechanism for laser-irradiated plasmas that is particularly effective at relativistic laser intensities in the presence of quasi-static laser-driven plasma electric and magnetic fields. These radial electric and azimuthal magnetic fields provide transverse electron confinement by inducing betatron oscillations of forward-moving electrons undergoing laser acceleration. Electrons are said to experience a betatron resonance when the frequency of betatron oscillations matches the average frequency of the laser field oscillations at the electron position. In this paper, we show that the modulation of the laser frequency as seen by an electron performing betatron oscillations can be another important mechanism for net energy gain that is qualitatively different from the betatron resonance. Specifically, we show that the frequency modulation experienced by the electron can lead to net energy gain in the regime where the laser field performs three oscillations per betatron oscillation. There is no net energy gain in this regime without the modulation because the energy gain is fully compensated by the energy loss. The modulation slows down the laser oscillation near transverse stopping points, increasing the time interval during which the electron gains energy and making it possible to achieve net energy gain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1980

Flow oscillations of spike-tipped bodies

The oscillating flow field around a spike-tipped body has been simulated by the numerical solution of the 3-D compressible Navier-Stokes equations at a Mach number of 3.0 and a nominal Reynolds number of 7.87 x 10 to the 6th/m. Computations were performed using a vectorized 3-D Navier-Stokes program on the STAR 100 computer. Numerical solutions confirmed the experimental result that the self-sustained oscillation occurs within a limited range of the protruded spike length to shoulder height ratio. The numerical result predicted correctly the discrete frequency range as well as the rms pressure intensity. The detailed flow structure is also presented and discussed.

Shang, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1998

Evidence for Langmuir Envelope Solitons in Solar Type III Burst Source Regions

We present observational evidence for the generation of Langmuir envelope solitons in the source regions of solar type III radio bursts. The solitons appear to be formed by electron beams which excite either the modulational instability or oscillating two-stream instability (OTSI). Millisecond data from the Ulysses Unified Radio and Plasma Wave Experiment (URAP) show that Langmuir waves associated with type III bursts occur as broad intense peaks with time scales ranging from 15 to 90 milliseconds (6 - 27 km). These broad field structures have the properties expected of Langmuir envelope solitons, viz.: the normalized peak energy densities, W(sub L)/n(sub e)T(sub e) approximately 10(exp -5), are well above the modulational instability threshold; the spatial scales, L, which range from 1 - 5 Langmuir wavelengths, show a high degree of inverse correlation with (W(sub L)/n(sub e)T(sub e))(sup 1/2); and the observed widths of these broad peaks agree well with the predicted widths of envelope solitons. We show that the orientation of the Langmuir field structures is random with respect to the ambient magnetic field, indicating that they are probably isotropic structures that have evolved from initially pancake-like solitons. These observations suggest that strong turbulence processes, such as the modulational instability or the OTSI, stabilize the electron beams that produce type III bursts.

Thejappa, G.↗

NASA NTRS1997

MFLOP to GFLOP: The Impact on High Fidelity Based Computational Aeroelasticity

Aeroelasticity which involves strong coupling of fluids, structures and controls is an important element in designing an aircraft. Computational aeroelasticity using low fidelity methods such as the linear aerodynamic flow equations coupled with the modal structural equations are well advanced. Though these low fidelity approaches are computationally less intensive, they are not adequate for the analysis of modern aircraft which can experience complex flow/structure interactions. Even at moderate angles of attack supersonic aircraft can experience vortex induced aeroelastic oscillations. Near transonic speeds buffet associated structural oscillations are possible. Aircraft flying in transonic regime may experience a dip in the flutter speed. For accurate aeroelastic computations at these complex fluid/structure interaction situations, high fidelity equations such as the Navier-Stokes for fluids and the finite-elements for structures are needed. Computations using these high fidelity equations require large computational resources both in memory and speed. Current conventional supercomputers have reached their limitations both in memory and speed. As a result, parallel computers have evolved to overco me the limitations of conventional computers. This paper will address the transition that is taking place in computational aeroelasticity from conventional computers to parallel computers. The paper will address special techniques needed to take advantage of the architecture of new parallel computers. Results will be illustrated from computations made on iPSC/860 and IBM SP2 computer by using ENSAERO code that directly couples the Euler/Navier-Stokes flow equations with high resolution finite-element structural equations. Modifications required in both fluids and structural solvers in order to run efficiently on parallel computers will be discussed. Implementation of moving grids and fluid/structural interface on parallel computers will be discussed.

Guruswamy, Guru P.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Phase Matching of Diverse Modes in a WGM Resonator

Phase matching of diverse electromagnetic modes (specifically, coexisting optical and microwave modes) in a whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) resonator has been predicted theoretically and verified experimentally. Such phase matching is necessary for storage of microwave/terahertz and optical electromagnetic energy in the same resonator, as needed for exploitation of nonlinear optical phenomena. WGM resonators are used in research on nonlinear optical phenomena at low optical intensities and as a basis for design and fabrication of novel optical devices. Examples of nonlinear optical phenomena recently demonstrated in WGM resonators include low-threshold Raman lasing, optomechanical oscillations, frequency doubling, and hyperparametric oscillations. The present findings regarding phase matching were made in research on low-threshold, strongly nondegenerate parametric oscillations in lithium niobate WGM resonators. The principle of operation of such an oscillator is rooted in two previously observed phenomena: (1) stimulated Raman scattering by polaritons in lithium niobate and (2) phase matching of nonlinear optical processes via geometrical confinement of light. The oscillator is partly similar to terahertz oscillators based on lithium niobate crystals, the key difference being that a novel geometrical configuration of this oscillator supports oscillation in the regime. The high resonance quality factors (Q values) typical of WGM resonators make it possible to achieve oscillation at a threshold signal level much lower than that in a non-WGM-resonator lithium niobate crystal.

Savchenkov, Anatoliy↗

NASA NTRS2012

Low Frequency (11 mHz) Oscillations in H1743-322: A New Class of Black Hole QPOs?

We report the discovery of quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) at approx 11 mHz in two RXTE observations and one Chandra observation of the black hole candidate HI743-322. The QPO is observed only at the beginning of the 2010 and 2011 outbursts at similar hard color and intensity, suggestive of an accretion state dependence for the QPO. Although its frequency appears to be correlated with Xray intensity on timescales of a day, in successive outbursts eight months apart we measure a QPO frequency that differs by less than approximately equals 0.0015 Hz while the intensity had changed significantly. We show that this 11 mHz QPO is different from the so-called Type-C QPOs seen in black holes and that the mechanisms that produce the two flavors of variability are most probably independent. We compare the 11 mHz QPO with other variability phenomena seen in accreting black holes and neutron stars and conclude that although at 1-2 orders of magnitude lower in frequency, they best resemble the so-called "1 Hz" QPOs seen in dipping neutron star systems. If confirmed, H1743-322 is the first black hole showing this type of variability. Given the unusual characteristics and the hard-state dependence of the 11 mHz QPO, we speculate that these oscillations might instead be related to the radio jets observed in HI743-322. It remains unexplained, however, why similar QPOs have not yet been identified in other black holes and why they have only been seen in the last two outbursts of HI743-322.

Altamirano, D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Power spectra of quasi-periodic oscillations in luminous X-ray stars

A variety of partial random processes are considered in order to study the effects on the power-density spectrum of several physical phenomena that may occur in the beat-frequency modulated accretion (BFMA) model of QPOs. The relevant physical properties of BFMA model are summarized, and the class of random processes used to represent the X-ray intensity time series predicted by the model are introduced. The dependence of the power-density spectrum on pulse shape is discussed. Pulse-lifetime and orbital-frequency distributions are introduced, illustrating how these affect the power-density spectrum. The effect of nonuniform initial-pulse phase distributions and of nonuniform pulse-time distributions are considered. The effects of a particular type of pulse-to-pulse correlation that may be natural in the context of the BFMA model and that greatly increases the power of the oscillations relative to that in the red noise is analyzed.

Shibazaki, N.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Observation of light-driven band structure via multiband high-harmonic spectroscopy

Intense light–matter interactions have revolutionized our ability to probe and manipulate quantum systems at sub-femtosecond timescales, opening routes to the all-optical control of electronic currents in solids at petahertz rates. Such control typically requires electric-field amplitudes in the range of almost volts per angstrom, when the voltage drop across a lattice site becomes comparable to the characteristic bandgap energies. In this regime, intense light–matter interaction induces notable modifications to the electronic and optical properties, dramatically modifying the crystal band structure. Yet, identifying and characterizing such modifications remain an outstanding problem. As the oscillating electric field changes within the driving field’s cycle, does the band structure follow and how can it be defined? Here we address this fundamental question, proposing all-optical spectroscopy to probe the laser-induced closing of the bandgap between adjacent conduction bands. Our work reveals the link between nonlinear light–matter interactions in strongly driven crystals and the sub-cycle modifications in their effective band structure.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2026

Charged Pion Production Explorations Using the NOvA Near Detector

Measurements of neutrino-nucleus interactions in the few-GeV region provide crucial inputs to the neutrino oscillation program being carried out by currently running experiments (NOvA, SBN, T2K), and next-generation experiments (DUNE, 2HK). This poster presents the status of a measurement using the high-intensity NuMI beam and the NOvA Near Detector of the flux-integrated differential cross-section in pion kinetic energy for $\nu_\mu + N \rightarrow \mu^- + \pi^\pm + X$, where X does not include any charged pions. This signal is sensitive to inelastic processes with Delta resonance production, which dominate at neutrino energies relevant for NOvA and DUNE. To overcome the difficulty of reconstructing the energy of charged pions in a lower-spatial-resolution detector, a novel analysis technique is used that incorporates a multi-template fit to extract the number of events for two signal categories that differ from one another by their purity and resolution. The two signal categories are combined leveraging their complementary errors into a more informative cross section result.

Ewart, Erin [Indiana U.]↗

NASA NTRS1972

Excitation of atomic nitrogen by electron impact

Absolute cross sections were measured for the excitation of the N I(1134, 1164, 1168, 1200, 1243, and 1743 A) multiplets by electron impact on atomic nitrogen. The presence of vibrationally excited molecular nitrogen in the discharged gas was confirmed, and its effect on the measurements is discussed. The ratio of the oscillator strengths of the 1200 and 1134 A resonance transitions is presented, as well as the branching ratio for the N I(1311/1164 A) multiplets. Striking differences in the distribution of intensity between the spectra of atomic nitrogen and molecular nitrogen excited by energetic electrons suggest an optical method for measuring the density of atomic nitrogen in the upper atmosphere.

Stone, E. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

ISEE-3 wave measurements in the distant geomagnetic tail and boundary layer

The ISEE-3 excursion into the distant tail region reveals a complex structure with several wave, particle and field characteristics that differ significantly from those measured closer to earth. The most striking results are found within the distant boundary layer where intense electrostatic turbulence levels are detected in association with bidirectional electron distributions. The wave amplitudes appear to increase with increasing downstream distance and the polarizations are those expected for ion acoustic oscillations. Near the boundary of the distant plasmas sheet the turbulence spectra are essentially identical to those measured much closer to earth on IMP-8. It is also found that in the distant tail the continuum radiation spectrum has a low frequency cutoff that is much higher than the minimum value for the local plasma frequency.

Scarf, F. L.↗

NASA NTRS1996

On the Theory of High-Power Ultrashort Pulse Propagation in Raman-Active Media

The propagation of an intense femtosecond pulse in a Raman-active medium is analyzed. An analytic solution which describes in explicit form the evolution of the light pulse is derived. The field of an intense light wave undergoes a substantial transformation as the wave propagates through the medium. The nature of this transformation can change over time scales comparable to the period of the optical oscillations. As a result, the pulse of sufficiently high energy divides into stretched and compressed domains where the field decreases and increases respectively.

Belenov, E. M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Electron plasma oscillations in the Venus foreshock

Plasma waves are observed in the solar wind upstream of the Venus bow shock by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter. These wave signatures occur during periods when the interplanetary magnetic field through the spacecraft position intersects the bow shock, thereby placing the spacecraft in the foreshock region. The electron foreshock boundary is clearly evident in the data as a sharp onset in wave activity and a peak in intensity. Wave intensity is seen to drop rapidly with increasing penetration into the foreshock. The peak wave electric field strength at the electron foreshock boundary is found to be similar to terrestrial observations. A normalized wave spectrum was constructed using measurements of the electron plasma frequency and the spectrum was found to be centered about this value. These results, along with polarization studies showing the wave electric field to be field aligned, are consistent with the interpretation of the waves as electron plasma oscillations.

Crawford, G. K.↗

DOE OSTI2025

The Nature of Standing Plasma Waves Following Fast Breakdown in Thunderstorms

Narrow bipolar events (NBEs) are produced by large-scale systems of streamer corona discharges that occur inside thunderstorms and radiate intensely at very-high frequencies. Here we examine 14 high-power NBEs recorded in Florida which are followed by a lasting oscillatory signal. We isolate the dominant frequencies of the oscillations using empirical mode decomposition methods, and cross-reference this information with the radiator size inferred from broadband interferometry. We conclude that the oscillations are evidence of a standing electromagnetic wave in the plasma cavity created by the preceding streamer system, that is, the cavity's fundamental mode with wavelength equal to twice the radiator length. Contrasting the dispersive and attenuation properties of these waves across several different events allows us to conclude that the cavity is filled with ions resulting in an average conductivity of 0.01–0.1 mS/m, which are left behind after the streamers decay via electron attachment to oxygen molecules.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS2012

Phase Coupling in Langmuir Wave Packets: Evidence for Four Wave Interactions in Solar Type III Radio Bursts

The four wave interaction process, known as the oscillating two stream instability (OTSI) is considered as one of the mechanisms responsible for stabilizing the electron beams associated with solar type III radio bursts. It has been reported that (1) an intense localized Langmuir wave packet associated with a type III burst contains the spectral characteristics of the OTSI: (a) a resonant peak at the local electron plasma frequency, f(sub pe), (b) a Stokes peak at a frequency slightly lower than f(sub pe), (c) anti-Stokes peak at a frequency slightly higher than f(sub pe), and (d) a low frequency enhancement below a few hundred Hz, (2) the frequencies and wave numbers of these spectral components satisfy the resonance conditions of the OTSI, and (3) the peak intensity of the wave packet is well above the thresholds for the OTSI as well as spatial collapse of envelope solitons. Here, for the first time, applying the trispectral analysis on this wave packet, we show that the tricoherence, which measures the degree of coherent four-wave coupling amongst the observed spectral components exhibits a peak. This provides an additional evidence for the OTSI and related spatial collapse of Langmuir envelope solitons in type III burst sources.

Thejappa, G.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced energy gain through higher-order resonances during direct laser acceleration with superluminal phase velocity

Ultra-high intensity laser–plasma interactions can produce ultra-relativistic electrons via direct laser acceleration, assisted by quasi-static plasma magnetic and electric fields. These fields transversely confine electron motion and induce betatron oscillations. The net energy gain is strongly influenced by the interplay between two frequencies: the betatron frequency and the frequency of laser field oscillations experienced by the electron. Prior work has shown that energy gain is enabled by a resonance between the betatron oscillations and the oscillations of the laser field. In particular, higher-order resonances occur when the laser field completes multiple cycles during one betatron oscillation, allowing additional regimes of energy transfer beyond the fundamental (betatron) resonance. In this work, we demonstrate that such resonances become particularly effective when the laser's phase velocity is superluminal. Although the two frequencies generally evolve differently with increasing electron energy—leading to detuning—a superluminal phase velocity introduces a non-monotonic frequency ratio with a global minimum. This minimum allows sustained frequency matching over a broad energy range, thereby enabling enhanced energy gain. As the phase velocity increases, the betatron resonance becomes ineffective due to premature frequency detuning. At the same time, higher-order resonances become increasingly effective, emerging as the dominant mechanisms for enhanced energy gain in this regime of direct laser acceleration.

Laser plasma interactions↗

NASA NTRS1972

An investigation of satellites to the resonance lines in some hydrogen-like ions

An experimental and theoretical investigation was conducted on the origin of satellite to resonance lines of the hydrogen-like ions of boron, carbon, and nitrogen. A theta pinch was employed with a grazing incidence spectrograph to measure the wavelengths of the satellites. The spectroscopic data also provided an estimate of the satellite/resonance line intensity ratio. Wavelengths of spectral lines due to transition from doubly excited states were calculated by a Hartree-Fock computer program. Wave functions were also calculated and were used to obtain the oscillator strengths of the transitions. Experimental work confirmed that the lines investigated were not satellites but were due to highly ionized argon which was present as an impurity in the filling gas.

Jalufka, N. W.↗