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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 505 records · Page 28
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Lattice Boltzmann modeling of self-propelled Leidenfrost droplets on ratchet surfaces

Here in this paper, the self-propelled motion of Leidenfrost droplets on ratchet surfaces is numerically investigated with a thermal multiphase lattice Boltzmann model with liquid-vapor phase change. The capability of the model for simulating evaporation is validated via the D 2 law. Using the model, we first study the performances of Leidenfrost droplets on horizontal ratchet surfaces. It is numerically shown that the motion of self-propelled Leidenfrost droplets on ratchet surfaces is owing to the asymmetry of the ratchets and the vapor flows beneath the droplets. It is found that the Leidenfrost droplets move in the direction toward the slowly inclined side from the ratchet peaks, which agrees with the direction of droplet motion in experiments [Linke et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2006, 96, 154502]. Moreover, the influences of the ratchet aspect ratio are investigated. For the considered ratchet surfaces, a critical value of the ratchet aspect ratio is approximately found, which corresponds to the maximum droplet moving velocity. Furthermore, the processes that the Leidenfrost droplets climb uphill on inclined ratchet surfaces are also studied. Lastly, numerical results show that the maximum inclination angle at which a Leidenfrost droplet can still climb uphill successfully is affected by the initial radius of the droplet.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2024

Localizing the non-thermal X-ray emission of PSR J2229+6114 from its multi-wavelength pulse profiles

Context.Pulsars are detected over the whole electromagnetic spectrum, from radio wavelengths up to very high energies, in the GeV-TeV range. While the radio emission site for young pulsars is well constrained to occur at altitudes about several percent of the light-cylinder radius andγ-ray emission is believed to be produced in the striped wind, outside the light cylinder, the non-thermal X-ray production site remains unknown. Aims.The aim of this Letter is to localize the non-thermal X-ray emission region based on a multi-wavelength pulse profile fitting for PSR J2229+6114, which stands as a particularly good candidate given its high X-ray brightness. Methods.Based on the geometry deduced from the joint radio andγ-ray pulse profiles, we fixed the magnetic axis inclination angle and the line-of-sight (LoS) inclination angle. However, we left the region of X-ray emission unlocalized, setting it somewhere between the surface and the light cylinder. We localized this region and its extension by fitting the X-ray pulse profile as observed by the NICER,NuSTAR, and RXTE telescopes in the ranges of 2–7 keV, 3–10 keV, and 9.4–22.4 keV, respectively. Results.We constrained the non-thermal X-ray emission to arise from altitudes between 0.2 r L and 0.55 r L wherer L is the light-cylinder radius. The magnetic obliquity is approximatelyα ≈ 45° −50° and the LoS inclination angle isζ ≈ 32° −48°. Conclusions.This Letter is among the first works to offer a tight constraint on the location of non-thermal X-ray emission from pulsars. We plan to apply this procedure to several other promising candidates to confirm this new result.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE KINEMATICS AND IONIZATION OF NUCLEAR GAS CLOUDS IN CENTAURUS A

Neumayer et al. established the existence of a blueshifted cloud in the core of Centaurus A, within a few parsecs of the nucleus and close to the radio jet. We propose that the cloud has been impacted by the jet, and that it is in the foreground of the jet, accounting for its blueshifted emission on the southern side of the nucleus. We consider both shock excitation and photoionization models for the excitation of the cloud. Shock models do not account for the [Si VI] and [Ca VIII] emission line fluxes. However, X-ray observations indicate a source of ionizing photons in the core of Centaurus A; photoionization by the inferred flux incident on the cloud can account for the fluxes in these lines relative to Brackett-{gamma}. The power-law slope of the ionizing continuum matches that inferred from synchrotron models of the X-rays. The logarithm of the ionization parameter is -1.9, typical of that in Seyfert galaxies and consistent with the value proposed for dusty ionized plasmas. The model cloud density depends upon the Lorentz factor of the blazar and the inclination of our line of sight to the jet axis. For acute inclinations, the inferred density is consistent with expected cloud densities. However, for moderate inclinations of the jet to the line of sight, high Lorentz factors imply cloud densities in excess of 10{sup 5} cm{sup -3} and very low filling factors, suggesting that models of the gamma-ray emission should incorporate jet Lorentz factors {approx}< 5.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

A STATE TRANSITION OF THE LUMINOUS X-RAY BINARY IN THE LOW-METALLICITY BLUE COMPACT DWARF GALAXY I Zw 18

We present a measurement of the X-ray spectrum of the luminous X-ray binary in I Zw 18, the blue compact dwarf galaxy with the lowest known metallicity. We find the highest flux yet observed, corresponding to an intrinsic luminosity near 1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 40} erg s{sup -1} establishing it as an ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX). The energy spectrum is dominated by disk emission with a weak or absent Compton component and there is no significant timing noise; both are indicative of the thermal state of stellar-mass black hole X-ray binaries and inconsistent with the Compton-dominated state typical of most ULX spectra. A previous measurement of the X-ray spectrum shows a harder spectrum that is well described by a power law. Thus, the binary appears to exhibit spectral states similar to those observed from stellar-mass black hole binaries. If the hard state occurs in the range of luminosities found for the hard state in stellar-mass black hole binaries, then the black hole mass must be at least 85 M{sub Sun }. Spectral fitting of the thermal state shows that disk luminosities for which thin disk models are expected to be valid are produced only for relatively high disk inclinations, {approx}> 60 Degree-Sign , and rapid black hole spins. We find a{sub *} > 0.98 and M > 154 M{sub Sun} for a disk inclination of 60 Degree-Sign . Higher inclinations produce higher masses and somewhat lower spins.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Magnetohydrodynamic modeling of the solar eruption on 2010 April 8

The structure of the coronal magnetic field prior to eruptive processes and the conditions for the onset of eruption are important issues that can be addressed through studying the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability and evolution of nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) models. This paper uses data-constrained NLFFF models of a solar active region (AR) that erupted on 2010 April 8 as initial conditions in MHD simulations. These models, constructed with the techniques of flux rope insertion and magnetofrictional relaxation (MFR), include a stable, an approximately marginally stable, and an unstable configuration. The simulations confirm previous related results of MFR runs, particularly that stable flux rope equilibria represent key features of the observed pre-eruption coronal structure very well, and that there is a limiting value of the axial flux in the rope for the existence of stable NLFFF equilibria. The specific limiting value is located within a tighter range, due to the sharper discrimination between stability and instability by the MHD description. The MHD treatment of the eruptive configuration yields a very good agreement with a number of observed features, like the strongly inclined initial rise path and the close temporal association between the coronal mass ejection and the onset of flare reconnection. Minor differences occur in the velocity of flare ribbon expansion and in the further evolution of the inclination; these can be eliminated through refined simulations. We suggest that the slingshot effect of horizontally bent flux in the source region of eruptions can contribute significantly to the inclination of the rise direction. Finally, we demonstrate that the onset criterion, formulated in terms of a threshold value for the axial flux in the rope, corresponds very well to the threshold of the torus instability in the considered AR.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Inducing chaos by breaking axial symmetry in a black hole magnetosphere

While the motion of particles near a rotating, electrically neutral (Kerr), and charged (Kerr-Newman) black hole is always strictly regular, a perturbation in the gravitational or the electromagnetic field generally leads to chaos. The transition from regular to chaotic dynamics is relatively gradual if the system preserves axial symmetry, whereas non-axisymmetry induces chaos more efficiently. Here we study the development of chaos in an oblique (electro-vacuum) magnetosphere of a magnetized black hole. Besides the strong gravity of the massive source represented by the Kerr metric, we consider the presence of a weak, ordered, large-scale magnetic field. An axially symmetric model consisting of a rotating black hole embedded in an aligned magnetic field is generalized by allowing an oblique direction of the field having a general inclination with respect to the rotation axis of the system. The inclination of the field acts as an additional perturbation to the motion of charged particles as it breaks the axial symmetry of the system and cancels the related integral of motion. The axial component of angular momentum is no longer conserved and the resulting system thus has three degrees of freedom. Our primary concern within this contribution is to find out how sensitive the system of bound particles is to the inclination of the field. We employ the method of the maximal Lyapunov exponent to distinguish between regular and chaotic orbits and to quantify their chaoticity. We find that even a small misalignment induces chaotic motion.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Profiled spectral lines generated in the field of Kerr superspinars

String Theory suggests existence of primordial Kerr superspinars, extremely compact objects with external spacetime described by the Kerr naked singularity geometry. The primordial Kerr superspinars have to be converted to a near-extreme black hole due to accretion, but they could survive to the era of highly redshifted quasars. We study the shape of the profiled spectral lines generated by radiating rings or the innermost parts of Keplerian discs orbiting the Kerr superspinars. Influence of the superspinar surface location on the profiled lines is also considered. We demonstrate strong difference of the character of the profiled lines generated by radiating rings for all values of the superspinar spin and all values of the inclination angles of the observer when compared to those generated in the field of Kerr black holes. For small and mediate inclination angles there are large quantitative differences in the extension and position of the lines. For large inclination angles even strong qualitative difference appears as the profiled lines have a clear doubled character. The smaller, redshifted region of the profiled line is related to the photons reaching the regions near the superspinar surface. Strong differences are obtained also for profiled lines generated by the innermost parts of Keplerian discs especially in the shape of the line. The influence of the superspinar surface location is reflected in the intermediate parts of the the profiled lines. The line profiles can give a clear signature of the presence of a Kerr superspinar and in principle enable estimates of its surface location since the signatures of the superspinar surface location are of different character as those corresponding to the presence of the black hole horizon.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Probing quasar viewing angle with the variability structure function

Given the anisotropic emission from quasar accretion discs, their viewing angle affects estimates of the quasar luminosity, black hole mass, and Eddington ratio. Discs appear overluminous when viewed pole-on and underluminous when viewed at high inclination. In radio-quiet quasars, the viewing angle is usually unknown, although spectroscopic indicators have been proposed. Here, we use a recently discovered universality in the variability structure function (SF) of quasar light curves (LCs), where all quasars show the same SF when clocks run in units of orbital time-scale. As an offset from the mean relation can be caused by incorrect orbital time-scales and thus incorrect luminosities, we correlate these offsets with suggested inclination indicators. We derive SFs from NASA/Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) LCs spanning ~6 yr of observation, using a sample of 183 luminous quasars with measured H β lines as well as 753 quasars with C $\tiny{IV}$ and Mg $\tiny{II}$ lines. Starting from the proposed orientation indicators, we expect quasars with narrower H β lines and with more blueshifted C $\tiny{IV}$ lines to be viewed more pole-on and thus appear overluminous. In contrast, our SF analysis finds that presumed pole-on discs appear underluminous, consistently for both line indicators. We discuss possible explanations for the behaviour of quasars with highly blueshifted C $\tiny{IV}$ lines irrespective of inclination angle, including dusty outflows that might render the accretion disc underluminous and flatter disc temperature profiles with longer orbital time-scales than in thin-disc models but reach no satisfying conclusion.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Diagnosis of 3D magnetic field and mode composition in MHD turbulence with Y -parameter

ABSTRACT Magnetic fields are crucial in numerous astrophysical processes within the interstellar medium (ISM). However, the detailed determination of magnetic field geometry is notoriously challenging. Based on the modern magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence theory, we introduce a novel statistical technique, the ‘Y-parameter’, to decipher the magnetic field inclination in the ISM and identify dominant turbulence modes. The Y-parameter, calculated as the ratio of anisotropies of different Stokes parameter combinations, displays contrasting trends with the mean-field inclination angle in Alfvénic and compressible turbulence modes. A Y-parameter value around 1.5 ± 0.5 provide a statistical boundary to determine the dominant MHD turbulence modes. We have discovered specific correlations between the Y-parameter value and the inclination angle that unveil the dominant turbulence mode. This methodology, when applied to future radio polarization surveys such as LOFAR and SKA, promises to significantly enhance our knowledge of 3D magnetic field in the ISM and improve our understanding of interstellar turbulence.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Colors of Centaurs observed by the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam and implications for their origin

Abstract Centaurs have orbits between Jupiter and Neptune and are thought to originate from the trans-Neptunian region. Observations of surface properties of Centaurs and comparison with those of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) would provide constraints on their origin and evolution. We analyzed imaging data of nine known Centaurs observed by the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) installed on the Subaru Telescope with the g- and i-band filters. Using the data available in the public HSC data archive, as well as those obtained by the HSC Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) by the end of 2017 June, we obtained the g − i colors of the nine Centaurs. We compared them with those of known TNOs in the HSC-SSP data obtained by T. Terai et al. (2018, PASJ, 70, S40). We found that the color distribution of the nine Centaurs is similar to that of those TNOs with high orbital inclinations, but distinct from those TNOs with low orbital inclinations. We also examined correlations between the colors of these Centaurs and their orbital elements and absolute magnitude. The Centaurs’ colors show a moderate positive correlation with semi-major axis, while no significant correlations between the color and other orbital elements or absolute magnitude were found for these Centaurs. On the other hand, recent studies on Centaurs with larger samples show interesting correlations between their color and absolute magnitude or orbital inclination. We discuss how our data fit in these previous studies, and also discuss implications of these results for their origin and evolution.

Sakugawa, Haruka↗
DOE OSTI2020

Star Formation in Splash Bridges

Splash bridges are created from the direct collision of two gas-rich disk galaxies. These direct collisions can eject gas masses on the order of 10 10 M ⊙ stripped from the stellar disks of each galaxy. The Taffy Galaxy system (UGC 1294/5) is a prototypical example of a splash bridge system. CO observations of the Taffy revealed that its splash bridge contains a mass of H 2 equal to the Milky Way's H 2 mass. However, the little visible star formation occurring within the bridge highlights the need for models of direct gas-rich disk collisions. The Arp 194 system displays what may be another splash bridge resulting from the collision between two disk galaxies. The region between the two stellar disks contains bright clumps of active star formation. We aim to better understand the conditions for star formation in splash bridges by employing a Jeans criterion to determine where gravitational instabilities occur in the shocked and cooling gas of gas-rich disk collisions. The splash bridge results are obtained from our previous work using a sticky particle code and post-processed. We find that the inclination between the gas disks and the collision velocity with which the gas collides strongly affects the fraction of gas that will become gravitationally unstable. Low inclinations between gas disks produce starbursts whereas high inclinations result in steady-rate star formation. The offset of the gas disks at impact will determine how many gas elements directly collide but does not strongly affect the resulting star formation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Model: Dust Geometry of Milky Way–like Disk Galaxies

We present a new two-component dust geometry model, the Chocolate Chip Cookie model, where the clumpy nebular regions are embedded in a diffuse stellar/interstellar medium disk, like chocolate chips in a cookie. By approximating the binomial distribution of the clumpy nebular regions with a continuous Gaussian distribution and omitting the dust scattering effect, our model solves the dust attenuation process for both the emission lines and stellar continua via analytical approaches. Our Chocolate Chip Cookie model successfully fits the inclination dependence of both the effective dust reddening of the stellar components derived from stellar population synthesis and that of the emission lines characterized by the Balmer decrement for a large sample of Milky Way–like (MW-like) disk galaxies selected from the main galaxy sample of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Our model shows that the clumpy nebular disk is about 0.55 times thinner and 1.6 times larger than the stellar disk for MW-like galaxies, whereas each clumpy region has a typical optical depth of τ cl,V ~ 0.5 in the V band. After considering the aperture effect, our model prediction on the inclination dependence of dust attenuation is also consistent with observations. Not only that, in our model, the dust attenuation curve of the stellar population naturally depends on the inclination, and its median case is consistent with the classical Calzetti law. As the modeling constraints are from the optical wavelengths, our model is unaffected by the optically thick dust component, which however could bias the model's prediction of the infrared emissions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

THE PRE-PENUMBRAL MAGNETIC CANOPY IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE

Penumbrae are the manifestation of magnetoconvection in highly inclined (to the vertical direction) magnetic field. The penumbra of a sunspot tends to form, initially, along the arc of the umbra antipodal to the main region of flux emergence. The question of how highly inclined magnetic field can concentrate along the antipodal curves of umbrae, at least initially, remains to be answered. Previous observational studies have suggested the existence of some form of overlying magnetic canopy that acts as the progenitor for penumbrae. We propose that such overlying magnetic canopies are a consequence of how the magnetic field emerges into the atmosphere and are, therefore, part of the emerging region. We show, through simulations of twisted flux tube emergence, that canopies of highly inclined magnetic field form preferentially at the required locations above the photosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Current Sheet Alignment in Oblique Black Hole Magnetospheres: A Black Hole Pulsar?

Abstract We study the magnetospheric evolution of a nonaccreting spinning black hole (BH) with an initially inclined split monopole magnetic field by means of 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations. This serves as a model for a neutron star (NS) collapse or a BH–NS merger remnant after the inherited magnetosphere has settled into a split monopole field creating a striped wind. We show that the initially inclined split monopolar current sheet aligns over time with the BH equatorial plane. The inclination angle evolves exponentially toward alignment, with an alignment timescale that is inversely proportional to the square of the BH angular velocity, where higher spin results in faster alignment. Furthermore, magnetic reconnection in the current sheet leads to exponential decay of event-horizon-penetrating magnetic flux with nearly the same timescale for all considered BH spins. In addition, we present relations for the BH mass and spin in terms of the period and alignment timescale of the striped wind. The explored scenario of a rotating, aligning, and reconnecting current sheet can potentially lead to multimessenger electromagnetic counterparts to a gravitational-wave event due to the acceleration of particles powering high-energy radiation, plasmoid mergers resulting in coherent radio signals, and pulsating emission due to the initial misalignment of the BH magnetosphere.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗
NASA NTRS1973

Techniques for the analysis of geodynamic effects using laser data

New orbit computation techniques have been developed to realize the full precision of laser ranging measurements from a single tracking station used to accurately determine the orbital inclination of a satellite. In order to evaluate earth and ocean tidal effects on the satellite and polar motion effects on the station latitude, improved computational techniques are described for perturbations significantly influencing the satellite's inclination, such as solar radiation pressure and geopotential resonance. By using the time independent value of maximum latitude reached by the satellite as the experimental variable, orbit tracking errors caused by imprecise modelling of the gravity field and atmospheric drag have been largely overcome and made possible long term analysis of osculating elements. With these techniques, quarter day spans of laser data have been employed to monitor the inclination of the satellite to the order 0.01 arcseconds precision over a period of seventeen months.

Dunn, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

The 15th order resonance on the decaying orbit of TETR-3

The orbit of TETR-3 (1971-83B), inclination: 33 deg, passed through resonance with 15th order geopotential terms in February 1972. The resonance caused the orbit inclination to increase by 0.015 deg. Analysis of 48 sets of mean Kepler elements for this satellite in 1971-1972 (across the resonance) has established strong constraints for high degree, 15th order gravitational terms (normalized). This result combined with previous results on high inclination 15th order and other resonant orbits suggests that the coefficients of the gravity field beyond the 16th degree are significantly smaller than Kaula's rule.

Wagner, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Orbit analysis for coastal zone oceanography observations.

A study has been performed to define the orbital characteristics of a satellite dedicated to monitoring the coastal zones of the United States. The primary area of coverage is the east coast with secondary coverage of the west coast. Since no one orbital inclination fits both coasts, the inclination was determined by the east coast to be 63 deg. This inclination was found to give better coverage of the east coast than either its retrograde counterpart or a sun synchronous orbit. The two coasts require quite different orbits to maximize the coverage. The use of a small propulsive maneuver could be used to compromise the coverage between the two coastlines and change from one type orbit to the other.

Harrison, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Precise calculation of the magnetosphere surface for a tilted dipole.

The shape of the magnetosphere has been calculated self-consistently for inclinations of the earth's magnetic dipole from perpendicular to the solar wind. Inclination angles of 0-35 deg have been chosen in steps of 5 deg and various smooth trends in the surface characteristics with increasing inclination angle noted. The surface points and the complete field at the surface points have been calculated for the entire surfaces. The neutral point region has been given precise study in one degree steps and is found to be tangent to the solar wind velocity and to have a smooth continuous curvature.

Choe, J. Y.↗