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At least 739 records · Page 41

A solid state data recorder for spacecraft telemetry applications

A solid state data recorder (SSDR) has been developed which offers a high-reliability alternative to tape recorders in many spacecraft telemetry applications. The storage medium used in this recorder was ferrimagnetic garnet films supporting nonvolatile magnetic bubble domains. The recorder was designed using modular construction consisting of a digital control unit, power supply, and two memory modules. A prototype SSDR has been fabricated which is designed for 100-million bits of storage but was populated with 128 chips for a 13-million bit capacity. Preliminary tests indicate satisfactory operation.

Stermer, R. L., Jr.↗

Preparation of Nb{sub 3}Al Superconducting Tapes by a Powder-in-Tube Method Combined with Hot-Pressed Sintering

The precursors of Nb-Al tape were fabricated by a powder-in-tube (PIT) technique. Supersaturated solid solutions of Nb-Al powder were obtained by high-energy ball milling, followed by a powder-in-tube process to prepare series of Nb{sub 3}Al precursor tapes. Compared with sintering under normal pressure, the hot-pressing sintering greatly increased the critical current density of the tapes. The results showed that the Nb{sub 3}Al tapes prepared via the powder-in-tube method and hot-pressed sintering could significantly improve the J{sub c} performance, and the value of J{sub c} (8 K, 0 T) was higher than 6 × 10{sup 5} A/cm{sup 2}. The Nb{sub 3}Al tapes after pressing under the pressure of 20 MPa and sintering at 950 {sup ∘}C for 3 h had the best magnetic flux pinning performance, and the sample reached the maximum flux pinning force (F{sub p,max}) of 3.28109 N/m{sup 3} in the magnetic field of 2.2 T.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

The 1983 tail-era data series. Volume 2: ISEE 3 magnetic field

ISEE 3 spacecraft measurements within and near the Earth's magnetic tail is presented. Plots are shown of ISEE 3 magnetic field data. The plots in this volume showing observations from the ISEE 3 vector helium magnetometer experiment were produced from a tape of merged plasma/magnetic field data. The magnetometer produced six vector measurements/sec that were subsequently averaged over one minute intervals before merging with plasma data. Merging was accomplished by associating the nearest 1 minute field average with each plasma sample.

Fairfield, D. H.↗

LDEF Interplanetary Dust Experiment (IDE) results

The Interplanetary Dust Experiment (IDE) provided high time resolution detection of microparticle impacts on the Long Duration Exposure Facility satellite. Particles, in the diameter range from 0.2 microns to several hundred microns, were detected impacting on six orthogonal surfaces of the gravity-gradient stabilized LDEF spacecraft. The total sensitive surface area was about one square meter, distributed between LDEF rows 3 (Wake or West), 6 (South), 9 (Ram or East), 12 (North), as well as the Space and Earth ends of LDEF. The time of each impact is known to an accuracy that corresponds to better than one degree in orbital longitude. Because LDEF was gravity-gradient stabilized and magnetically damped, the direction of the normal to each detector panel is precisely known for each impact. The 11 1/2 month tape-recorded data set represents the most extensive record gathered of the number, orbital location, and incidence direction for microparticle impacts in low Earth orbit. Perhaps the most striking result from IDE was the discovery that microparticle impacts, especially on the Ram, South, and North surfaces, were highly episodic. Most such impacts occurred in localized regions of the orbit for dozens or even hundreds of orbits in what we have termed Multiple Orbit Event Sequences (MOES). In addition, more than a dozen intense and short-lived 'spikes' were seen in which impact fluxes exceeded the background by several orders of magnitude. These events were distributed in a highly non-uniform fashion in time and terrestrial longitude and latitude.

Oliver, John P.↗

Vanadium oxide coatings to self-regulate current sharing in high-temperature superconducting cables and magnets

High-temperature superconductors such as REBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (REBCO, RE = rare earth) enable high-current cables and high-field magnets. By removing the turn-to-turn insulation in a magnet application, recent experiments demonstrated that REBCO magnets can self-protect against catastrophic damage during a superconducting-to-normal transition (quench), i.e., when the stored magnetic energy rapidly converts to heat. The current can bypass the hot spot during a quench, thereby reducing the localized heat dissipation. The removal of the insulation between turns, however, leads to excessive eddy currents during current ramping, thereby forcing a much-prolonged magnet charging time. To address this issue, we investigate vanadium oxide (VO x ) coatings as a temperature-dependent self-switching medium that automatically manages current sharing. VO x coatings (with 1.70 ≤ × ≤ to 2.07) were deposited by reactive cathodic arc deposition, initially on insulating glass to determine the electrical properties, and later on commercial REBCO tapes. The coatings are x-ray amorphous but with a short-range crystalline ordering according to Raman spectrometry. The resistivity of VO x decreased by at least three orders of magnitude when the temperature increased from 80 to 300 K. The coating process is compatible with commercial REBCO tapes as evidenced by the negligible change in the critical current caused by the coating process. Here, the results from current sharing experiments and circuit analysis suggest that the VO x coating can effectively self-regulate current sharing in REBCO magnets, suppress excessive eddy currents, and enable self-protection during quenches.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Magnetic Anisotropy and Stress Dependent Epoxy Wetting in FeNi-based Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite

Recently developed FeNi-based metal amorphous nanocomposites (MANCs) used in high-speed motors (HSMs) exhibit reduced eddy current losses while maintaining good mechanical properties and glass-forming abilities. Magnetic anisotropy in (Fe 70 Ni 30 ) 80 Nb 4 B 14 Si 2 amorphous magnetic ribbon (AMR) in the as-cast state and upon conventional (T CA ) and strain (T SA ) annealing heat treatment is investigated. From ribbon samples in as-cast condition, quenched in stress from planar flow casting (PFC) induced as-cast curvature derived uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Stress relief by conventional furnace annealing at T CA > 350 °C achieved isotropic properties in the bulk. Annealing about the primary crystallization temperature, T CA ~ 450 °C, resulted in the formation of both FCC and BCC nanocrystallites and evolution to isotropic bulk magnetic properties confirming the random anisotropy model. In samples strain annealed at T SA = 440 °C at various tensions, relatively large controlled induced uniaxial anisotropy is achieved. The largest magnetic anisotropy occurs in annealing under the stress of 250 MPa yielding an anisotropy field of 7.1 x 10 4 A/m. Surface anisotropy observed by MOKE differs from bulk anisotropy due to image contrast from closure domains. Epoxy coatings are important for improved bonding, mechanical properties, and resistivity in tape-wound MANC cores for HSMs. Using a sessile droplet method, the equilibrium contact angle of an epoxy droplet on a tensile stress annealed MANC exhibits stress dependent surface energies. Anisotropic wetting in FeNi-based MANC heat treated at T CA = 440 °C mimics surface magnetic anisotropy observed by MOKE.

soft magnetic materials↗

High Temperature Superconducting Magnets with Active Control for Attraction Levitation Transport Applications

A research program, involving 3 British universities, directed at quantifying the controllability of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnets for use in attraction levitation transport systems will be described. The work includes measurement of loss mechanisms for iron cored HTS magnets which need to produce a flux density of approx. 1 tesla in the airgap between the magnet poles and a ferromagnetic rail. This flux density needs to be maintained and this is done by introducing small variations of the magnet current using a feedback loop, at frequencies up to 10 Hz to compensate for load changes, track variation etc. The test magnet assemblies constructed so far will be described and the studies and modelling of designs for a practical levitation demonstrator (using commercially obtained HTS tape) will be discussed with particular emphasis on how the field distribution and its components, e.g., the component vector normal to the broad face of the tape, can radically affect design philosophy compared to the classical electrical engineering approach. Although specifically aimed at levitation transport the controllability data obtained have implications for a much wider range of applications.

Jones, Harry↗

Three-dimensional magnetic optimization of accelerator magnets using an analytic strip model

The end design is a critical step in the design of superconducting accelerator magnets. First, the strain energy of the conductors must be minimized, which can be achieved using differential geometry. The end design also requires an optimization of the magnetic field homogeneity. A mechanical and magnetic model for the conductors, using developable strips, is described in this paper. This model can be applied to superconducting Rutherford cables, and it is particularly suitable for High Temperature Superconducting tapes. The great advantage of this approach is analytic simplifications in the field computation, allowing for very fast and accurate computations, which save a considerable computational time during the optimization process. Some 3D designs for dipoles are finally proposed, and it is shown that the harmonic integrals can be easily optimized using this model.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Towards a 1000 tracks digital tape recorder

As the demand for high data rate (up to 1 Gb/s), high density (down to 1 sq micron/bit) tape recorder increases, the main investigation trend is an improvement of the well known helical scan concept. The drawbacks of this technology are also well known; sophisticated mechanics, head to tape contact, and wear problems. In our fixed head approach, the recorder mechanics is made much more simple, but the complexity is turned towards the integrated magnetic components, which have to record and reproduce hundreds of tracks in parallel. Our multiplexed write inductive head and magneto-optical readout head will be described, and the global system performances evaluated.

Coutellier, J. M.↗

Analysis of Bare-Tether Systems as a Thruster for MXER Studies

The concept of the electrodynamic propulsion has a number of attractive features and has been widely discussed for different applications. A number of system designs have been proposed and compared during the last ten years. In spite of this, the choice of the proper design, for a specific mission, is far from evident. Such characteristics of tether performance as system acceleration, efficiency, etc. should be calculated and compared. The code that calculates the current for bare and partly insulated tethers with circular (wire) and rectangle (tape) cross-sections is presented. It takes into account the corrections to the OML current due to the tether cross-section geometry and the magnetic field produced by the tether current. There are two options in this code: for current calculation with the prescribed energy supply and with the prescribed end-point potential. This permits to calculate the parameters characterizing tether performance. Results for the current calculated for tethers with different designs for the currently proposed Momentum exchange Electrodynamic Reboost (MXER) Tether System are presented.

Khazanov, G. V.↗

Analysis of Bare-Tether Systems as a Thruster for MXER Studies

The concept of the electrodynamic propulsion has a number of attractive features and has been widely discussed for different applications. A number of system designs have been proposed and compared during the last ten years. In spite of this, the choice of the proper design, for a specific mission, is far from evident. Such characteristics of tether performance as system acceleration, efficiency, etc. should be calculated and compared. The code that calculates the current for bare and partly insulated tethers with circular (wire) and rectangle (tape) cross-sections is presented. It takes into account the corrections to the OML current due to the tether cross-section geometry and the magnetic field produced by the tether current. There are two options in this code: for current calculation with the prescribed energy supply and with the prescribed end-point potential. This permits us to calculate the parameters characterizing tether performance. Results for the current calculated for tethers with different designs for the currently proposed Momentum exchange Electrodynamic Reboost (MXER) Tether System are presented.

Khazanov, G. V.↗

Status on the Recovery of Voyager Plasma Electron Observations at Jupiter

We give status report on the recovery of Voyager 1 and 2 plasma electron observations during their Jupiter flybys. The plan is to complete this analysis including new results never published before. The original summary data tapes and later datafiles were evidently permanently lost along with our past analysis results of the plasma electron observations except for that shown in previous publications. These summary data tapes included the plasma ion and electron raw datafiles, status words needed to convert data numbers to currents, SEDR data with trajectory and attitude information and magnetic field measurements. In addition to recovering the plasma electron plasma observations (electron intensities and fluid parameters of the thermal and suprathermal electron populations, respectively), the SEDR trajectory information during the out bound passes were lost but fortunately in the past the SEDR files were converted to Spice Kernals, so this unexpected problem was solved. In addition, we had to rewrite our read routines it looked like the previous read routines so the rest of the Fortran code could be used; the Fortran- code had to be modified to work with the latest compilers and computer platforms. We will report on the- status of our work- originally funded under the Planetary Data Archiving, Restoration, and Tools (PDART)program but now being funded by the Internal Scientist Funding Model (ISFM) Exosphere Ionosphere Magnetospheres Modeling (EIMM)program at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

E C Sittler Jr.↗

High-temperature superconducting CORC ® wires with record-breaking axial tensile strain tolerance present a breakthrough for high-field magnets

Cuprate high-temperature superconductors (HTS), such as RE-Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7–δ (REBCO, RE = rare earth), (Bi,Pb) 2 Sr 2 Ca 2 Cu 3 O 10–x and Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8–x , have enabled the development of high-field superconducting magnets capable of generating magnetic fields far exceeding 20 T. The brittle nature of HTS requires elaborate means to protect them against the high stresses and strains associated with high-field magnet operation, and so far, has prevented reliable high-field HTS magnets from becoming a reality. Here we report a more than tenfold increase in the irreversible strain limit under axial tension (epsilonirr) to over 7% in optimized high-current conductor on round core (CORC®) conductors, compared to the REBCO tapes from which the CORC® conductor is wound. Minimizing the tape winding pitch of the helical wind mechanically decouples the brittle REBCO film from the overall conductor. The REBCO tapes behave as springs, limiting the rate at which applied strain is transferred to the ceramic film. In addition, high-strength alloy cores allow the critical stress (ϵ crit ) under axial tension at which initial degradation of CORC® conductors occurs to exceed 600 MPa, making them one of the strongest superconductors available. Mechanically decoupling the ceramic REBCO films from the overall CORC® conductor allows effective protection against the high operating stresses in high-field magnets. Furthermore, this breakthrough presents a monumental shift for HTS magnet technology, bringing reliable high-field superconducting magnets for compact fusion machines, the next generation of particle accelerators, and 40–60 T research solenoids within reach.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Modeling and Measuring the Stress Distribution in Soft Magnetic Cores due to Epoxy Impregnation and Curing

Understanding the effects of viscoelastic relaxation of stresses is critical in electric motor and inductor applications, where the magnetic material is fully or partially comprised of an amorphous phase and impregnated in an epoxy. Magnetic Amorphous Nanocomposites (MANCs) are a class of recently developed high-frequency magnetic materials that exhibit low magnetic hysteresis, high saturation flux density and very low AC magnetic losses. MANCs are formed as long, thin ribbons, a shape factor that minimizes eddy current-induced self-heating. This feature, in addition to their 1 GPa strength, and makes them attractive candidates for high-speed, high-power density, electric motors. MANCs are used in the form of tape-wound cores (TWCs). During the manufacturing process, the cores are impregnated with liquid epoxy between each layer of ribbon. Validated knowledge of the stresses imposed by the manufacturing process and during operation is necessary to understand motor performance limitations with respect to strength. Magnetostriction, the strain imposed by reversal of the magnetic field, also affects performance. When the epoxy cures, it contracts volumetrically by 8%, imposing radial and circumferential stresses that vary along the radial direction. To date, these stresses have received little attention in the literature. Here, we model the stress distribution throughout a TWC due to epoxy curing. Strain gauge measurements reported here indicate substantially lower tangential strain than model values, which is beneficial and which we attribute to viscoelastic relaxation of the epoxy layers. We will incorporate a constitutive model of this viscoelastic relaxation, and conduct more detailed strain measurements to understand how this takes

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Quench detection using Hall sensors in high-temperature superconducting CORC ® -based cable-in-conduit-conductors for fusion applications

Advanced magnet systems for fusion applications would greatly benefit from the use of high-temperature superconductors (HTS). These materials allow fusion magnets to operate at higher magnetic fields, allowing for more compact fusion machines, and allow for operation at elevated temperatures, enabling demountable coils that provide access for maintenance of the fusion reactor. Quench detection remains a major challenge in the protection of HTS magnets that are vulnerable to localized conductor burnout due to their low quench propagation velocities. One of the methods explored is the use of Hall sensors that are incorporated in or near the magnet terminations that can detect local field variations that occur as a result of current redistribution within the conductor to bypass a hotspot within the magnet winding. This method is potentially well suited for Cable in Conduit Conductors, such as those made from Conductor on Round Core (CORC) cables, in which sub-cables containing HTS tapes are connected to the terminations at a low resistance. Here, to demonstrate the technique, a CORC ® triplet consisting of three sub-cables, rated for 4 kA operation at 77 K, was manufactured and Hall sensors were used to measure local field variations next to the terminations due to current redistribution between the cables. The Hall response was compared to voltages that developed over the cables and terminations as a local hotspot was applied to different cables in the triplet. It was found that the Hall sensors were faster and more sensitive than voltage contact measurements and were able to reliably detect current redistribution of only a few amperes caused by a hotspot, well before the triplet exceeded its critical current. The method also allowed the detection of heater-induced hotspots during high ramp rates of 2 kA s<:sup>–1 relevant for fusion applications. Hall sensors have a distinct benefit of being less sensitive to inductive pickup of AC interference compared to voltage contact measurements that make quench detection through voltage measurements in magnets especially challenging. The method can also be used for diagnostic measurements of current redistribution caused by other sources such as inhomogeneous current injection from faulty joints, or localized conductor damage. The Hall sensors are likely capable of detecting the onset of a quench that may occur a far distance away from the sensor location, presenting a breakthrough in HTS quench detection that potentially removes one of the remaining barriers to reliable operation of large HTS magnet systems.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Active Quenching Technique for YBCO Tapes: Quench Acceleration and Protection

The application of resistive-type superconducting fault current limiters (RSFCLs) in electrical networks is very attractive due to their relative compactness, light weight, and good performance. However, this technology still has drawbacks: asymmetrical quench, uncertain limiting velocity, passive action and incapability of enlarging capacity. Here, we present an active quenching technique which can potentially solve these problems. The quenching process is triggered using high-frequency (HF) AC fields, which are generated by two coupled copper coils attached on both sides of the YBCO sample. Our experiments show that this approach is effective in guaranteeing uniform quench and therefore is expected to be able to significantly extend the service life of the device. Moreover, the quench speed can be considerably increased by the HF field. We find that the performance of acceleration is positively correlated to the transport current, intensity and frequency of the AC field. In addition, a DC magnetic field is added around the sample holder simultaneously with the AC field, to study the field-angular-frequency dependence of the quench time t(B{sub AC}f{sub AC}B{sub DC}𝜃{sub DC}). Experimental results prove that the DC magnetic field can cooperate with the HF AC field to accelerate quench, which means better performance can be produced with lower costs with the two fields acting together. In all, this technique showed outstanding performance regarding quench acceleration and tape protection. We believe the HF-assisted quenching technology has a promising future in current-limiting devices and hope our findings could be helpful for its potential applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Investigation from Japanese MAGSAT team

The acquisition of tapes which contain vector and scalar data decimated at an interval of 0.5 sec, together with time and position data, is reported. Progress in the study of magnetic anomalies in the vicinity of Japan and in electric currents in the ionosphere and magnetosphere is also reported. MAGSAT data was used in obtaining a map of total force anomaly for the area of latitude 10-70 deg N and longitude 110-170 deg E. One of the outstanding features in the map of the magnetic anomaly is a negative magnetic anomaly in the Okhotsk Sea, which is of geophysical interest because of its possible connection with high heat flow values in that area.

Fukushima, N.↗

Report of investigation from Japanese MAGSAT Team

Progress in the data processing and data acquisition of computer compatible MAGSAT tapes is reported. Investigations focused on the crustal structure near Japan and its Antarctic station, and electric currents and hydrodynamic waves in the ionosphere and the magnetosphere. The magnetization of the crust in the northwestern Pacific region is discussed.

Fukushima, N.↗