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Results for “ion acoustic waves”

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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NASA NTRS1984

Turbulent heating in solar cosmic-ray theory

The heating of minor ions in solar flares by wave-wave-particle interaction with Langmuir waves, or ion acoustic waves, can be described by a diffusion equation in velocity-space for the particle distribution function. The dependence of the heating on the ion charge and mass, and on the composition of the plasma, is examined in detail. It is found that the heat mechanisms proposed by Ibragimov and Kocharov cannot account for the enhanced abundances of heavy elements in the solar cosmic rays.

Weatherall, J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Evidence for nonlinear wave-wave interactions in solar type III radio bursts

Evidence is presented that nonlinear wave-wave interactions occur in type III solar radio bursts. Intense, spiky Langmuir waves are observed to be driven by electron beams associated with type III solar radio bursts in the interplanetary medium. Bursts of 30-300 Hz (in the spacecraft frame) waves are often observed coincident in time with the most intense spikes of the Langmuir waves. These low-frequency waves appear to be long-wavelength ion acoustic waves, with wavenumber approximately equal to the beam resonant Langmuir wavenumber. Three possible interpretations of these observations are considered: modulational instability, parametric decay of the parent Langmuir waves to daughter ion acoustic and Langmuir waves, and decay to daughter electromagnetic waves and ion acoustic waves.

Lin, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The effect of beam-driven return current instability on solar hard X-ray bursts

The problem of electrostatic wave generation by a return current driven by a small area electron beam during solar hard X-ray bursts is discussed. The marginal stability method is used to solve numerically the electron and ion heating equations for a prescribed beam current evolution. When ion-acoustic waves are considered, the method appears satisfactory and, following an initial phase of Coulomb resistivity in which T sub e/T sub i rise, predicts a rapid heating of substantial plasma volumes by anomalous ohmic dissipation. This hot plasma emits so much thermal bremsstrahlung that, contrary to previous expectations, the unstable beam-plasma system actually emits more hard X-rays than does the beam in the purely collisional thick target regime relevant to larger injection areas. Inclusion of ion-cyclotron waves results in ion-acoustic wave onset at lower T sub e/T sub i and a marginal stability treatment yields unphysical results.

Cromwell, D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Decay of electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron waves into ion acoustic modes in auroral field lines

The coherent three-wave decay of a linearly unstable electrostatic hydrogen cyclotron (EHC) wave into stable EHC and ion acoustic modes is considered. The general problem of the three weakly interacting electrostatic normal modes in a Maxwellian plasma is discussed. EHC is examined in a fluid description, and the results are used to guide a similar study in a Vlasov plasma system intended to model the aurora acceleration region parameters. The time dependence of the decay in a simple three-wave interaction is presented in order to show how wave saturation can arise.

Bergmann, R.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Momentum-exchange current drive by electrostatic waves in an unmagnetized collisionless plasma

For a planar electrostatic wave interacting with a single species in a collisionless plasma, momentum conservation implies current conservation. However, when multiple species interact with the wave, they can exchange momentum, leading to current drive. A simple, general formula for this driven current is derived. As examples, we show how currents can be driven for Langmuir waves in electron–positron–ion plasmas, and for ion-acoustic waves in electron–ion plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1985

The plasma mechanism for preferential acceleration of heavy ions

The induced scattering of ion-acoustic waves on ions is considered for preferential preacceleration of heavy elements. The reconsidered diffusion coefficient in velocity space is used. If the threshold velocity for the main acceleration is linear in charge-to-mass ratio, the induced scattering can account for the observed heavy element abundances in solar cosmic rays.

Kocharov, L. G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Simulation of amplitude-modulated circularly polarized Alfven waves for beta less than one

The nonlinear properties of the amplitude-modulated circularly polarized Alfven wave are studied for beta less than one. The temporal behavior of the wave packet of the electromagnetic hybrid simulation is compared with a numerical solution of the derivative nonlinear Schroedinger (DNLS) equation. It is shown that the left-hand-polarized mode evolves into a shocklike structure due to the modulational instability. However, both cyclotron damping and a snowplow effect near the steepened wave packet suppress its further steepening, contrary to the predictions of the DNLS equation. For the right-hand mode, formation of the shock does not take place, and the initial time development is well described by the DNLS equation. The daughter Alfven wave and ion acoustic waves are excited due to the decay instability at a later time. Heating or acceleration of the particles takes place for both left- and right-hand waves. Energy transfer from the wave to the particles occurs effectively when substantial modulation in the wave amplitude is present.

Machida, S.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Control of VLF burst activity in the nightside ionosphere of Venus by the magnetic field orientation

A burst identificaton method developed by Ho et al. (1991) is used to analyze data on the nightside ionosphere of Venus in order to determine whether VLF bursts observed there are better interpreted as whistler mode waves or ion acoustic waves. The correlation between burst occurrence and the angle between the magnetic field and the radial direction, as well as the spacecraft flight direction are examined. Narrow-band 100-Hz bursts are found to be more frequently associated with radial magnetic fields while wideband signals are more frequently associated with horizontal fields. Under the assumption of vertical propagation, the normalized 100-Hz burst rate inside the resonance cone is larger than that outside. The burst rate inside the resonance cone dominates the altitude distribution. By assuming vertical propagation, the 100-Hz signals clearly divide into two populations. One is whistler mode propagating inside the resonance cone. The other is a nonpropagating mode outside the resonance cone which decreases quickly with altitude with a scale height of about 20 km.

Ho, C.-M.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Limitations on the upconversion of ion sound to Langmuir turbulence

The weak turbulence theory of Tsytovich, Stenflo and Wilhelmsson (1981) for evaluation of the nonlinear transfer of ion acoustic waves to Langmuir waves is shown to be limited in its region of validity to the level of ion acoustic waves. It is also demonstrated that, in applying the upconversion of ion sound to Langmuir waves for electron acceleration, nonlinear scattering should be self-consistently included, with a suppression of the upconversion process resulting. The impossibility of accelerating electrons by such a process for any reasonable physical system is thereby reaffirmed.

Vlahos, L.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Interference patterns in the Spacelab 2 plasma wave data - Oblique electrostatic waves generated by the electron beam

During the Spacelab 2 mission the University of Iowa's Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) explored the plasma environment around the shuttle. Wideband spectrograms of plasma waves were obtained from the PDP at frequencies of 0-30 kHz and at distances up to 400 m from the shuttle. Strong low-frequency (below 10 kHz) electric field noise was observed in the wideband data during two periods in which an electron beam was ejected from the shuttle. This noise shows clear evidence of interference patterns caused by the finite (3.89 m) antenna length. The low-frequency noise was the most dominant type of noise produced by the ejected electron beam. Analysis of antenna interference patterns generated by these waves permits a determination of the wavelength, the direction of propagation, and the location of the source region. The observed waves have a linear dispersion relation very similar to that of ion acoustic waves. The waves are believed to be oblique ion acoustic or high-order ion cyclotron waves generated by a current of ambient electrons returning to the shuttle in response to the ejected electron beam.

Feng, Wei↗

DOE OSTI2021

Cross-Beam Energy Transfer Saturation by Ion Heating

Cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) saturation by ion heating was measured in a gas-jet plasma characterized using Thomson scattering. Here, a wavelength-tunable ultraviolet (UV) probe laser beam was interacted with four intense UV pump beams to drive large-amplitude ion-acoustic waves. For the highest-intensity interactions, the power transferred to the probe laser dropped, demonstrating ion-acoustic wave saturation. Over this time, the ion temperature was measured to increase by a factor of 7 during the 500-ps interaction. Particle-in-cell simulations show ion trapping and a subsequent ion heating consistent with measurements. Linear kinetic CBET models were found to agree well with the observed energy transfer when the measured plasma conditions were used.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Theory and simulations of cross-beam energy transfer between speckled laser beams

In this paper, we introduce a realistic modeling of laser beams smoothed by random phase plates to investigate cross-beam energy transfer (CBET). We compute the total field of the smoothed laser beams, which allows us to perform accurate simulations and to build a model accounting for the realistic structure of the speckles. This lets us confirm the results already discussed in a previous work given by Oudin et al. [Phys. Plasmas 29, 112112 (2022)]. When CBET is induced by a plasma flow, plane wave models can predict the exchange between smoothed laser beams. By contrast, when the exchange is caused by a wavelength shift between the laser fields of each beam, plane wave models overestimate the energy transfer, even for strongly Landau-damped ion acoustic waves. We also show that the laser angular spread, which results from its focusing, affects the resonance between the ponderomotive force induced by the laser fields and the ion acoustic wave. It increases the resonance width, which weakly depends on the Landau damping rate when there is a wavelength shift and no flow. In addition, the power transfer obtained with or without a phase plate is essentially the same in the perturbative regime and for small crossing angles.

Laser plasma interactions↗

NASA NTRS1994

Evidence for ion transport and molecular ion dominance in the Venus ionotail

We present analyses from the five Pioneer Venus Orbiter plasma experiments and the plasma wave experiment when a patch of plasma with enhanced densities was encountered in the near-Venus ionotail during atmospheric entry at an altitude of approximately 1100 km in the nightside ionosphere. Our analyses of the thermal and superthermal ion measurements in this plasma feature provides the first evidence that at times molecular ions in the 28-32 amu mass range are dominant over atomic mass species thus yielding evidence for a transport mechanism that reaches into the lower ionosphere. Analysis of plasma analyzer (OPA) observations at this time indicates the presence of ions measured in the rest frame of the spacecraft at approximately 27 and 37 volt energy per unit charge steps. In the rest frame of the planet these superthermal ions are flowing from the dawn direction at speeds (assuming they are O2(+)) of approximately 8 km/s and with a flow component downward (perpendicular to the ecliptic plane) at speeds of approximately 2 km/s. OPA analyses also determine the ion number flux, energy, flow angles, and angular distributions. Plasma wave bursts appear to indicate that plasma density decreases within and on the equatorward edge of the patch of enhanced plasma densities are associated with ion acoustic waves and relative ion streaming.

Intriligator, D. S.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Toward streaked collective Thomson scattering measurements on an extreme ultraviolet plasma light source

Here we show through forward modeling calculations that streaked collective Thomson scattering measurements are feasible on laser-produced tin plasmas generated under conditions relevant for extreme ultraviolet lithography. Using a 532 nm probe laser beam, the feasibility of simultaneous measurements of electron plasma wave (EPW) and ion acoustic wave (IAW) spectra is investigated. Absolute photon counts for laser scattering off both waves are calculated. Probe laser electron heating and bremsstrahlung background radiation effects are accounted for. While a large spatiotemporal region can be successfully probed based on the IAW feature, only one measurement location can be accessed through the EPW as a result of the low signal to noise ratio. A portable/traveling tabletop system is proposed.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

NASA NTRS1985

Electromagnetic radiation and nonlinear energy flow in an electron beam-plasma system

It is shown that the unstable electron-plasma waves of a beam-plasma system can generate electromagnetic radiation in a uniform plasma. The generation mechanism is a scattering of the unstable electron plasma waves off ion-acoustic waves, producing electromagnetic waves whose frequency is near the local plasma frequency. The wave vector and frequency matching conditions of the three-wave mode coupling are experimentally verified. The electromagnetic radiation is observed to be polarized with the electric field parallel to the beam direction, and its source region is shown to be localized to the unstable plasma wave region. The frequency spectrum shows negligible intensity near the second harmonic of the plasma frequency. These results suggest that the observed electromagnetic radiation of type III solar bursts may be generated near the local plasma frequency and observed downstream where the wave frequency is near the harmonic of the plasma frequency.

Whelan, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1987

The emissions of broadband electrostatic noise in the near vicinity of the Shuttle Orbiter

Measurements of the Space Shuttle environment from the STS-3 and Spacelab 2 missions indicate the presence of oblique ion streams and broadband electrostatic noise. A two-dimensional theoretical model is applied to study a possible causal relationship between the ion streams and the broadband noise, especially in terms of the ion acoustic wave and ion-ion wave modes. This model predicts the generation of waves with frequencies ranging from the ion cyclotron frequency up to values greater than the ion plasma frequency, with the maximum growth rate occurring in the 10-kHz range. These results are consistent with the observational data from the STS-3 mission. The model also shows that these two wave modes can coexist only when the wave vectors of the two wave modes are nearly perpendicular. The parametric dependence of the wave instabilities on the plasma parameters and the inclination of the wave propagation vector is also studied.

Hwang, K. S.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Ion acoustic stability analysis of the earth's bow shock

A marginal stability criterion for ion acoustic waves is applied to the analysis of five thin bow shock crossings observed by OGO-5; the observations began with the satellite in the magnetosheath. The assumption of marginally stable ion acoustic wave generation in the shock ramp provides the basis for determining the thickness of the magnetic gradients for subcritical, quasi-perpendicular shock features.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

DOE OSTI2024

A deep learning approach to fast analysis of collective Thomson scattering spectra

Fast analysis of collective Thomson scattering ion acoustic wave features using a deep convolutional neural network model is presented. The network was trained from spectra to predict the plasma parameters, including ion velocities, population fractions, and ion and electron temperatures. A fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulation was used to model a laboratory astrophysics experiment and simulate a diagnostic image of the ion acoustic wave feature. Network predictions were compared with Bayesian inference of the plasma model parameters for both the simulated and experimentally measured images. Both approaches were fairly accurate predicting the simulated image and the network predictions matched a good portion of the Bayesian results for the experimentally measured image. The Bayesian approach is more robust to noise and motivates future work to train deep learning models with realistic noise. The advantage of the deep learning model is making thousands of predictions in a few hundred milliseconds, compared to a few seconds to minutes per prediction for the optimization and Bayesian approaches presented here. The results demonstrate promising capabilities of deep learning models to analyze Thomson data orders of magnitude faster than conventional methods when using the neural network for standalone analysis. If more rigorous analysis is needed, neural network predictions can be used to quickly initialize other optimization methods and increase chances of success. This is especially useful when the dataset becomes very large or highly dimensional and manually refining initial conditions for the entire dataset are no longer tractable.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗