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At least 73 records · Page 4

CME Flux Rope and Shock Identifications and Locations: Comparison of White Light Data, Graduated Cylindrical Shell Model, and MHD Simulations

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are major transient phenomena in the solar corona that are observed with ground-based and spacecraft-based coronagraphs in white light or with in situ measurements by spacecraft. CMEs transport mass and momentum and often drive shocks. In order to derive the CME and shock trajectories with high precision, we apply the graduated cylindrical shell (GCS) model to fit a flux rope to the CME directed toward STEREO A after about 19:00 UT on 29 November 2013 and check the quality of the heliocentric distance-time evaluations by carrying out a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of the same CME with the Block Adaptive Tree Solar-Wind Roe Upwind Scheme (BATS-R-US) code. Heliocentric distances of the CME and shock leading edges are determined from the simulated white light images and magnetic field strength data. We find very good agreement between the predicted and observed heliocentric distances, showing that the GCS model and the BATS-R-US simulation approach work very well and are consistent. In order to assess the validity of CME and shock identification criteria in coronagraph images, we also compute synthetic white light images of the CME and shock. We find that the outer edge of a cloud-like illuminated area in the observed and predicted images in fact coincides with the leading edge of the CME flux rope and that the outer edge of a faint illuminated band in front of the CME leading edge coincides with the CME-driven shock front.

Schmidt, J. M.↗

Toward Effective Shell Modeling of Wrinkled Thin-Film Membranes Exhibiting Stress Concentrations

Geometrically nonlinear shell finite element analysis has recently been applied to solar-sail membrane problems in order to model the out-of-plane deformations due to structural wrinkling. Whereas certain problems lend themselves to achieving converged nonlinear solutions that compare favorably with experimental observations, solutions to tensioned membranes exhibiting high stress concentrations have been difficult to obtain even with the best nonlinear finite element codes and advanced shell element technology. In this paper, two numerical studies are presented that pave the way to improving the modeling of this class of nonlinear problems. The studies address the issues of mesh refinement and stress-concentration alleviation, and the effects of these modeling strategies on the ability to attain converged nonlinear deformations due to wrinkling. The numerical studies demonstrate that excessive mesh refinement in the regions of stress concentration may be disadvantageous to achieving wrinkled equilibrium states, causing the nonlinear solution to lock in the membrane response mode, while totally discarding the very low-energy bending response that is necessary to cause wrinkling deformation patterns. An element-level, strain-energy density criterion is suggested for facilitating automated, adaptive mesh refinements specifically aimed at the modeling of thin-film membranes undergoing wrinkling deformations.

Tessler, Alexander↗

Resonances of A = 4T = 1 isospin triplet states within the ab initio no-core Gamow shell model

Here, the A = 4 nuclei, i.e., 4 H, 4 He, and 4 Li , establish an interesting isospin T = 1 isobaric system. 4 H and 4 Li are unbound broad resonances, whereas 4 He is deeply bound in its ground state but unbound in all its excited states. The present situation is that experiments so far have not given consistent data on the resonances. Few-body calculations have well studied the scatterings of the 4N systems. In the present work, we provide many-body calculations of the broad resonance structures, in an ab initio framework with modern realistic interactions. It occurs that, indeed, 4 H, 4 Li, and excited 4 He are broad resonances, which is in accordance with experimental observations. The calculations also show that the first 1 - excited state almost degenerates with the 2 - ground state in the pair of mirror isobars of 4 H and 4 Li, which may suggest that the experimental data on energy and width are the mixture of the ground state and the first excited state. The T = 1 isospin triplet formed with an excited state of 4 He and ground states of 4 H and 4 Li is studied, focusing on the effect of isospin symmetry breaking.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

A cylindrical shell model of the NASA-MPE barium ion cloud experiment.

A computer model is developed using infinitely long concentric cylindrical shells to represent the neutral atoms, ions and electrons in the barium cloud. The neutral shells are given a distribution of positions and velocities whose parameters are chosen to be consistent with the dynamics of the release. From this distribution, the ion and electron shells are generated at random using the observed time constant for photoionization. The ion and electron shells thus formed are followed using self-consistent equations of motion. Various averages which could be compared with observation of the actual cloud are calculated at regular time intervals. An unexpected result is the predicted very early return of the magnetic field within the cloud to its ambient value.

Grauer, A. D.↗

Axisymmetric spherical shell models of mantle convection with variable properties and free and rigid lids

Axisymmetric spherical shell numerical simulations of mantle convection were carried out to investigate the influence of two end-member surface stress conditions: stress-free and rigid. These correspond approximately to a subducting or a rigid lithosphere and can be seen as end-member models of the surface of Venus. Our model assumed an effective Rayleigh number of 3 x 10 exp 6, similar to that for earth, and included uniform internal heating and depth-dependent thermal expansivity and thermal conductivity. The simulations utilized a Newtonian viscosity which was constant or varied with depth and/or temperature. We show how the temperature, speed, and vorticity fields change qualitatively and quantitatively with surface temperature, surface stress condition, internal heating and viscosity distribution. We find that a rigid lid and viscosity which increases with depth both promote steady large-scale circulation with smaller-scale circulation in the upper mantle.

Leitch, A. M.↗

Delta excitations and shell-model information in heavy-ion, charge-exchange reactions

We calculate total cross sections for coherent pion production using localized plane-wave approximations for the shell-structure of valence nucleons that are excited to delta particles in the intermediate state in the (12C, 12B) and (12C, 12N) charge-exchange, heavy-ion reactions. We find comparable agreement to projectile downshift data for 12C(12C, 12B)12N. Then we improve the formalism by replacing the localized plane wave bound states with harmonic oscillator states which are imbedded in a multipole expansion approach and calculate pion differential cross sections to test for the sensitivity of the spectra to the single-particle mass parameter.

NASA Program Space Medicine↗

Nonlinear Shell Modeling of Thin Membranes with Emphasis on Structural Wrinkling

Thin solar sail membranes of very large span are being envisioned for near-term space missions. One major design issue that is inherent to these very flexible structures is the formation of wrinkling patterns. Structural wrinkles may deteriorate a solar sail's performance and, in certain cases, structural integrity. In this paper, a geometrically nonlinear, updated Lagrangian shell formulation is employed using the ABAQUS finite element code to simulate the formation of wrinkled deformations in thin-film membranes. The restrictive assumptions of true membranes, i.e. Tension Field theory (TF), are not invoked. Two effective modeling strategies are introduced to facilitate convergent solutions of wrinkled equilibrium states. Several numerical studies are carried out, and the results are compared with recent experimental data. Good agreement is observed between the numerical simulations and experimental data.

Tessler, Alexander↗

Kinematic arguments against single relativistic shell models for GRBs

Two main types of models have been suggested to explain the long durations and multiple peaks of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs). In one, there is a very quick release of energy at a central site resulting in a single relativistic shell that produces peaks in the time history through its interactions with the ambient material. In the other, the central site sporadically releases energy over hundreds of seconds forming a peak with each burst of energy. The authors show that the average envelope of emission and the presence of gaps in GRBs are inconsistent with a single relativistic shell. They estimate that the maximum fraction of a single shell that can produce gamma-rays in a GRB with multiple peaks is 10(exp (minus)3), implying that single relativistic shells require 10(exp 3) times more energy than previously thought. They conclude that either the central site of a GRB must produce (approx)10(exp 51) erg/s(exp (minus)1) for hundreds of seconds, or the relativistic shell must have structure on a scales the order of (radical)(epsilon)(Gamma)(exp (minus)1), where (Gamma) is the bulk Lorentz factor ((approximately)10(exp 2) to 10(exp 3)) and (epsilon) is the efficiency.

Fenimore, Edward E.↗

Multi-shock design tools in double shell models

The essence of the project was to implement a program in python that demonstrated certain models put forth by fusion physicists. Across the time spent at Los Alamos National Laboratory, much was spent programming. Though fundamentally programmatical in nature, the task contained considerable difficulty hid within mathematically deriving and manipulating the models while maintaining data discretization. The result of solving these complications gave invaluable experience in applied mathematics. The final product, a piece of lengthy code, ended up having the full range of desired capabilities, with plans for more. Given the laser power history from a pulse shot on NIF, Omega, or any other Inertial Confinement Fusion facility, the code maps the terrain of radiation temperature inside the hohlraum throughout the period of the shot. Additionally, shock wave convergence prediction was implemented as additional capability. As the name of the project suggests, this tool acts as a compass of direction for researchers designing laser power profiles. Further development of this tool will undoubtedly assist in the research conducted on single and double-shell indirect ICF, consequently expanding the capabilities of operating stewardship over the national nuclear stockpile.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Application of the core shell model for strengthening polymer filament interfaces

While surface segregation has been intensively studied in thin films, relatively little has been investigated in filament geometries. In contrast to thin films, the filament surface forms a continuum, with interactions both at the free air and internal filament interface, which makes it difficult to achieve an equilibrium configuration. This asymmetry has become particularly apparent with the increasing use of additive manufacturing where entire structures are constructed via layered deposition of filamentous layers from a moving thermal nozzle. In addition, this process is highly non-equilibrated with poor thermal retention and is responsible for insufficient filament–filament interfacial fusion and internal pore formation along the printing direction. These features all contribute to poor mechanical and structural properties, which are exacerbated in semi-crystalline polymers, such as Polylactic Acid (PLA), where the melting point, T m , is much higher than the glass transition, T g . Even though system is liquid the molecules become ordered within the crystal structure and this ordering interferes with interdiffusion, which in turn prevents proper interfacial fusion. Capitalizing on the differential in surface tension, we show that addition of less than 1%, or trace amounts, of longer chain polymers, an oriented core shell structure, will be formed with a self-limiting thickness of three time the radius of gyration, R g , of the tracer chains. The lower T g of the tracers and their orientation makes them poised for interdiffusion when subsequent layers are deposited producing structures with significant improvement of the mechanical properties and internal structural integrity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗