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At least 649 records · Page 36

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NASA NTRS1984

Internal inertia-gravity waves in the tropical lower stratosphere observed by the Arecibo radar

A quasi-periodic wind oscillation with an apparent 20-50 hour period was observed at between 16 and 20 km in every experiment conducted during three periods from 1979 to 1981 with the Arecibo UHF radar. The wave disappeared near 20 km, where the mean zonal flow had easterly shear with height. This phenomenon is discussed in terms of wave absorption at a critical level, and it is suggested that the wave had a westward horizontal phase speed of 10-20 m/sec. On the basis of a relationship from f-plane theory in which the Doppler-shifted wave frequency approaches the Coriolis frequency at the critical level, an intrinsic period and horizontal wavelength at the wave-generated height of 20-30 hours and about 2000 km, respectively, are inferred.

Maekawa, Y.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Short-wavelength electrostatic waves in the earth's magnetosheath

Recent observations with the ISEE-1 spacecraft have found electric field emissions in the dayside magnetosheath whose frequency spectrum is modulated at twice the spacecraft spin period. The upper frequency cut-off in the frequency-time spectrum of the emissions has a characteristic parabola shape or festoon shape. The low frequency cutoff ranges from 100 Hz to 400 Hz, while the high frequency limit ranges from about 1 kHz to 4 kHz. The bandwidth is found to minimize for antenna orientations parallel to the wave vectors. The wave vector does not appear to be related to either the local magnetic field direction of the plasma flow velocity. The spacecraft observed frequency spectrum results from the spacecraft antenna response to the Doppler shifted wave vector spectrum which exists in the plasma. Imposed constraints on the plasma restframe wave vectors and frequencies indicate that the emissions occur within the frequency range from about 150 Hz to 1 kHz, with wavelengths between about 30 meters and 600 meters. These constraints strongly suggest that the festoon-shaped emissions are ion-acoustic waves. The small group velocity and k direction of the ion-acoustic mode are consistent with wave generation upstream at the bow shock and convection downstream to locations within the outer dayside magnetosheath.

Gallagher, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Lower hybrid heating of ionospheric ions due to ion ring distributions in cusp

The stability of H(+) and H(++) ring distributions which have been observed downflowing into the cusp on the DE and S3-3 satellites is examined in the context of the feedback of those instabilities on plasma of ionospheric origin consisting of (H(+) and O(+). Lower hybrid waves are excited by the ring distributions in three distinct phases of wave-particle interaction: linear growth, trapping, and quasi-linear diffusion.The latter phase accounts for most particle heating. Including background O(+) and/or a He(++) ring introduces new modes not present in a pure H(+) plasma which play an important role in heating heavier ions. O(+) is heated significantly more by a He(++) ring than a H(+) ring of comparable energy density. It is suggested that lower hybrid waves generated by downflowing ion ring distributions play a role in energizing ion conics in the cusp.

Roth, I.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Simulation of the electron acoustic instability in the polar cusp

A computer simulation of the beam-driven electron acoustic instability in the polar cusp is used to investigate the temporal evolution of typical cusp electron distribution functions in self-consistently generated wave fields. The simulation results are compared with linear, second-order, and nonlinear theory. The behavior of the instability over a range of plasma parameters, such as beam speed and the cold electron density, is shown. The saturation mechanism of the instability is examined, and the relevance of the results for observations of cusp hiss are discussed.

Lin, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Hierarchical structure of stratospheric wind fluctuations

In order to verify the gravity-wave-breaking theories, high resolution observations of middle-stratospheric winds were carried out by balloon-borne anemometers. The observed features were summarized, the parameters of waves generating the turbulence were estimated, and the effect on the general circulation and the transport process were discussed.

Yamanaka, M. D.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Simulation of the thermospheric tides by use of the NCAR thermospheric general circulation model

Numerical calculations of the thermospheric tidal winds and temperatures at equinox are presented. The calculations were made using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermospheric General Circulation Model (TGCM), which includes the effects of viscosity, conductivity, diffusion, ion drag, winds, and temperature gradients. The thermospheric diurnal and semidiurnal tides are excited in situ by solar heating and by ion-neutral momentum coupling. The semidiurnal tidal calculations also include the effects of upward propagating waves generated by heating in the lower atmosphere. This semidiurnal propagating component is modeled by use of the classical tidal perturbations as lower boundary conditions. The model is tuned by adjusting the propagating tidal forcing term until calculated semidiurnal wind and temperature fields best approximate incoherent scatter observations. The tidal TGCM results are consistent with previous theoretical work and successfully reproduce high altitude temperature and meridional velocity data, but they give significantly lower magnitudes for velocities and temperatures near 160 km than are seen by observations.

Fensen, C. G.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Heavy ion beam-ionosphere interactions - Electron acceleration

Moore et al. (1982) described a number of unexpected effects which were observed during the first Argon Release Controlled Study (ARCS 1, or rocket flight 29:014). The present paper provides a description of detailed analyses of the interaction of the argon beam with the ionosphere. An important feature of the considered test was that all detectors and the Ar(+) gun remained attached to the rocket throughout the flight. It is pointed out that the most dramatic effect of ion gun operation on ARCS 1 involved large changes in the fluxes of electrons with energies below about 600 eV. The observations are discussed, taking into account the distribution functions, azimuth dependence, and electron and ion trajectories. Attention is given to the perpendicular ion beam, the parallel ion beam, the acceleration of downgoing and upgoing electrons, and aspects of wave generation.

Kaufmann, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Aspects of the determination of winds by means of scatterometry and of the utilization of vector wind data for meteorological forecasts

The present paper provides a description of four aspects of scatterometer winds and their uses. The theory of wave generation by the wind is considered along with an analysis of the properties of superobservations, and studies of intermittent versus continuous data assimilation methods for numerical weather predictions which use remotely sensed data. A comparison of the sum of squares versus the maximum likelihood method for recovering the vector winds is also conducted. Questions regarding wind speed, friction velocity, or normal stress are discussed and synoptic scale fields from Seasat-SASS data are examined.

Pierson, W. J., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Whistler-mode radiation from the Spacelab 2 electron beam

During the Spacelab 2 mission the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) performed a fly-around of the Shuttle at distances of up to 300 meters while an electron beam was being ejected from the Shuttle. A magnetic conjunction of the Shuttle and the PDP while the electron gun was operating in a steady (DC) mode is discussed. During this conjunction, the PDP detected a clear funnel-shaped emission that is believed to be caused by whistler-mode emission from the beam. Ray-path calculations show that the shape of the funnel can be accounted for by whistler-mode waves propagating near the resonance cone. Because the beam and waves are propagating in the same direction, the radiation must be produced by a Landau interaction with the beam. Other types of waves generated by the beam are also described.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Some aspects of double layer formation in a plasma constrained by a magnetic mirror

The shift from wave-generated anomalous resistivity toward the more large-scale effects of magnetic confinement of current carrying plasmas was inspired by the more extensive data on auroral particle distribution functions that were made available, data that may often seem consistent with a dissipation-free acceleration of auroral electrons over an extended altitude range. Efforts to interpret these data have brought new vigor to the concept that a smooth and static electric field can be self-consistently generated by suitable pitch angle anisotropies among the high altitude particle populations, different for electrons and ions, and that such an electric field is both necessary and sufficient to maintain the plasma in a quasi-neutral steady state. Certain aspects of this concept are reviewed and criticized, both from a general theoretical standpoint and from the standpoint of what is known about the magnetospheric environment. It is argued that this concept has flaws and that the actual physical problem is considerably more complicated, requiring a more complex electric field, possibly including double layer structures.

Lennartsson, W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Interplanetary shock phenomena beyond 1 AU

Attention is given to spatial dependences exhibited by spacecraft measurements obtained between 1 and 30 AU, together with temporal variations occurring between solar activity cycle maxima and minima. At 1-3 AU radial distances, shocks develop in association with the corotating solar wind streams characterizing solar minimum and accelerate solar wind evolution with distance while heating the solar wind and generating waves and turbulence. At solar maximum, shocks are observed more frequently at 1 AU but still in association with transient solar events; acceleration leading to energetic storm particles is observed both within and beyond 1 AU. The superimposed effect of large numbers of intense shocks may be responsible for the solar cycle modulation of galactic cosmic rays.

Smith, Edward J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A comparison of three types of pulse tube refrigerators - New methods for reaching 60 K

The three types of pulse tube refrigerator, namely the resonant, basic, and orifice designs, are compared with each other and with such common refrigerators as the Joule-Thomson and Stirling types, using an apparatus able to measure their intrinsic behavior from 30 to 300 K. Orifice pulse tubes are found capable of reaching 60 K temperature drops in a single stage. Additional advantages of the type are (1) a single, room-temperature moving part, (2) the use of moderate pressures and pressure ratios, (3) good intrinsic efficiency, and (4) the ability to operate several stages from the same pressure wave generator. The low refrigeration rate/unit mass flow means, however, that better regenerator units are required.

Radebaugh, Ray↗

NASA NTRS1988

Nonlinear evolution of longitudinal plasma waves

Long-time nonlinear behavior of single-mode longitudinal plasma waves is studied on the basis of the Vlasov equation with Fokker-Planck collision terms. The resonant layer, trapped island, collisional sublayers, and X-point neighborhoods are analyzed. A nonlinear evolution equation is obtained and the wave-generated current is also evaluated.

Pao, Young-Ping↗

NASA NTRS1988

Soft X-ray emissions, meter-wavelength radio bursts, and particle acceleration in solar flares

A detailed study of the relationship between metric radio bursts and soft X-ray flares has been made using an extensive data set covering 15 yr. It is found that type IV emission is mainly associated with long-duration 1-8 A events that are known to be well associated with coronal mass ejections. In contrast, type II and type III bursts originate primarily in impulsive soft X-ray events that are not necessarily accompanied by mass ejection. Strong type III bursts, in particular, appear to occur only in association with relatively impulsive flares. It is suggested that coronal shocks responsible for type II bursts are blast waves generated in impulsive energy releases.

Cane, H. V.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Monte Carlo simulations of the diurnal variation in seismic detection rate of sporadic meteoroid impacts on the moon

The rate of detection of meteoroid impacts on the moon by the lunar seismic network shows a characteristic diurnal variation. Assuming that these meteoroids have a flux and a preimpact orbital distribution similar to that of fireballs observed by terrestrial camera networks, one can compute the expected diurnal variation for a given set of parameters that describe the seismic wave generation and transmission on the moon. An iterative process to match the theoretical variation with the observed one has led us to the following results: (1) the majority of the detected impact events occur within a closer range of the network than was believed earlier. This results in higher meteoroid flux estimates from lunar seismic data that agree with the terrestrially measured flux. (2) For meteoroid masses smaller than 1000 g, seismic amplitude is approximately proportional to the one-fifth power of the impact speed; for larger masses it is approximately proportional to the eight-fifth power, provided that the terrestrial meteor data used for analysis are not biased. (3) Seismic efficiency of meteoroids smaller than 1000 g is significantly less than that of large meteoroids. (4) Using orbits of fireballs that represent meteorites, we predict that the share of meteorites among the detected impacts is approximately 15 percent assuming that seismic efficiency of the high-density meteorites is the same as that of average meteoroids. A greatly increased seismic efficiency for these high-density objects is not likely.

Oberst, J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Crossflow-vortex instability and transition on a 45 deg swept wing

A crossflow vortex experiment on a 45 deg swept wing is currently being conducted in the Arizona State University Unsteady Wind Tunnel. The experimental apparatus is designed to produce crossflow-dominated transition by simulating infinite swept wing flow using contoured end liners in a closed throat wind tunnel. Stationary fixed-wavelength crossflow vortices are observed at several chord Reynolds numbers. The vortex wavelength which is fixed for a given Reynolds number varies with Reynolds number approximately as predicted by linear stability theory, but with the predicted wavelengths about 30 percent larger than the observed wavelengths. Travelling waves are observed both in the frequency range predicted by linear stability theory and at higher frequencies. These higher frequency waves may be harmonics of the primary crossflow waves generated by a nonlinear parametric resonance phenomena.

Dagenhart, J. Ray↗

NASA NTRS1989

Source locations for impulsive electric signals seen in the night ionosphere of Venus

A mapping of the rate of occurrence of impulsive VLF noise bursts in Venus' dark low altitude ionosphere, which increases rapidly with decreasing altitude, as a function of latitude and longitude indicates enhanced occurrence rates over Atla. In a 30-sec observing period, there are impulsive signals 70 percent of the time at 160 km in the region of maximum occurrence; the occurrence rates, moreover, increase with decreasing latitude, so that the equatorial rate is of the order of 1.6 times that at 30 deg latitude. These phenomena are in keeping with lightning-generated wave sources.

Russell, C. T.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Tunable Quantum-Well Submillimeter-Wave Oscillators

Tunable submillimeter-wave generator is layered (AI/Ga)As device. Frequencies adjusted via applied voltages. New device concept offers potential to make relatively compact, efficient local oscillators for heterodyne mixers in submillimeter radar and imaging systems, nondestructive testing, diagnosis of plasmas, airborne spectroscopy of atmosphere, detection of weapons and other contraband, and communications.

Maserjian, Joseph↗