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NASA NTRS1988

Microdeformation in Vredefort rocks; evidence for shock metamorphism

Planar microdeformations in quartz from basement or collar rocks of the Vredefort Dome have been cited for years as the main microtextural evidence for shock metamorphism in this structure. In addition, Schreyer describes feldspar recrystallization in rocks from the center of the Dome as the result of transformation of diaplectic glass, and Lilly reported the sighting of mosaicism in quartz. These textural observations are widely believed to indicate either an impact or an internally produced shock origin for the Vredefort Dome. Two types of (mostly sub) planar microdeformations are displayed in quartz grains from Vredefort rocks: (1) fluid inclusion trails, and (2) straight optical discontinuities that sometimes resemble lamellae. Both types occur as single features or as single or multiple sets in quartz grains. Besides qualitative descriptions of cleavage and recrystallization in feldspar and kinkbands in mica, no further microtextural evidence for shock metamorphism at Vredefort has been reported to date. Some 150 thin sections of Vredefort basement rocks were re-examined for potential shock and other deformation effects in all rock-forming minerals. This included petrographic study of two drill cores from the immediate vicinity of the center of the Dome. Observations recorded throughout the granitic core are given along with conclusions.

Reimold, W. U.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Magnetospheric substorm models - Comparison with neutral sheet magnetic field observations

Four models for geomagnetic substorms, a quiet tail model, and models incorporating structural effects of the tail are examined for consistency with magnetic-field data during satellite crossings of the tail neutral sheet/plasma sheet. For this data the tearing mode instability model is always consistent, and inward moving distant neutral line is sometimes consistent, quasi-steady reconnection with slow shock and intermediate wave structure and locally quiet tail rarely consistent, and an outward propagating rarefaction wave is never consistent with the magnetic observations. In several cases structural effects of the tail are consistent with key features of the magnetic signatures.

Speiser, T. W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Hybrid simulations of intermediate shocks - Coplanar and noncoplanar solutions

A hybrid code is used to investigate the kinetic structure and stability of subfast intermediate shocks (IS) formed dynamically by the interaction between a flowing plasma and a stationary piston. Results of the kinetic simulation of noncoplanar ISs are compared with predictions of the MHD theory. The relevance of the results of the study to observations of the magnetopause is discussed.

Karimabadi, H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

U-Pb isotopic results for single shocked and polycrystalline zircons record 550-65.5-Ma ages for a K-T target site and 2700-1850-Ma ages for the Sudbury impact event

The refractory mineral zircon develops distinct morphological features during shock metamorphism and retains these features under conditions that would anneal them in other minerals. In addition, weakly shocked zircon grains give primary ages for the impact site, while highly reconstituted (polycrystalline) single grains give ages that approach the age of the impact event. Data for a series of originally coeval grains will define a mixing line that gives both of these ages providing that no subsequent geological disturbances have overprinted the isotopic systematics. In this study, we have shown that the three zircon grain types described by Bohor, from both K-T distal ejecta (Fireball layer, Raton Basin, Colorado) and the Onaping Formation, represent a progressive increase in impact-related morphological change that coincides with a progressive increase in isotopic resetting in zircons from the ejecta and basement rocks. Unshocked grains are least affected by isotopic resetting while polycrystalline grains are most affected. U-Pb isotopic results for 12 of 14 single zircon grains from the Fireball layer plot on or close to a line recording a primary age of 550 +/- 10 Ma and a secondary age of 65.5 +/- 3 Ma. Data for the least and most shocked grains plot closest to the primary and secondary ages respectively. The two other grains each give ages between 300 and 350 Ma. This implies that the target ejecta was dominated by 550-Ma rocks and that the recrystallization features of the zircon were superimposed during the impact event at 65.5 Ma. A predominant age of 550 Ma for zircons from the Fireball layer provides an excellent opportunity to identify the impact site and to test the hypothesis that multiple impacts occurred at this time. A volcanic origin for the Fireball layer is ruled out by shock-related morphological changes in zircon and the fact that the least shocked grains are old. Basement Levack gneisses north of the Sudbury structure have a primary age of 2711 Ma. Data for three single zircons from this rock, which record a progressive increase in shock features, are displaced 24, 36, and 45 percent along a Pb-loss line toward the 1850 +/- 1 Ma minimum age for the impact as defined by the age of the norite. Southeast of the structure three shocked grains from the Murray granite record a primary age of 2468 Ma and are displaced 24, 41, and 56 percent toward the 1853 +/- 4 Ma even as defined by coexisting titanite.

Krogh, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Dependence of 50-keV upstream ion events at IMP 7 and 8 upon magnetic field bow shock geometry

Results are presented for a statistical study of four years (1972-1976) of IMP 7 and 8 observations at approximately 40 R(E) of 50-200 keV upstream ion events measured with the Energetic Particle Experiment. A monotonic increase in the probability of observing upstream particle events is found with a decrease in the angle (theta-Bn) between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the local shock normal at the point where the IMF intersects the bow shock, independent of the length of time of bow shock connections exceeding approximately 10 min. Approximately equal probabilities are found for observing an event above a given flux from any portion of the bow shock with the same value of theta-Bn, a growth time of the 50-200 keV events of approximately 10 min, a maximum attainable flux of approximately 25,000/sq cm s sr, and a positive correlation between the probability of exceeding a given flux and the 3 hr Kp index. It is concluded that the local structure of the bow shock in the immediate vicinity of the field line connection is the dominant influence in the generation process of energetic upstream particle events and that wave-particle interactions produce a self-throttling mechanism that limits the maximum flux of ions escaping the upstream foreshock.

Mitchell, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Plasma wave levels and IMF orientations preceding observations of interplanetary shocks by ISEE-3

Some interplanetary shocks detected by ISEE-3 are preceded by many hours of strongly enhanced plasma wave noise at a few kHz, while others have essentially no wave precursors above background. It has been shown that these extremes correspond to quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular shocks, respectively, based on the instantaneous orientation angle of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) to the shock normal at the time the shocks cross the spacecraft. It is shown that precursor wave noise level is correlated with field orientation and an extrapolated instantaneous orientation angle throughout the preshock observation interval for two contrasting active and quiet cases, and that intermediate, variable noise levels correspond to intermediate, variable IMF orientations. It is inferred that foreshocks are an intrinsic part of the structure of quasiparallel interplanetary shocks.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Steepening of kinetic magnetosonic waves into shocklets - Simulations and consequences for planetary shocks and comets

The generation and the nonlinear evolution of oblique low-frequency electromagnetic (kinetic magnetosonic) waves which were observed upstream of planetary bow shocks and at the Giacobini-Zinner comet, and referred to as shocklets, were investigated using an electromagnetic hybrid code. The observations show that the waves, which have a sinusoidal form when their amplitude is small, become steepened and linearly polarized as they grow in amplitude. The results of simulations show the original small-amplitude elliptically polarized wave grows and steepens, so that its polarization changes and becomes somewhat linear. The steepening process is associated with the coherent generation of a broad spectrum of waves on the magnetosonic whistler branch, which propagate at various phase and group velocities. It is shown that the presence of shocklets upstream of a planetary bow shock can modify its local structure by changing the solar wind Mach number and temperature, or by colliding with the shock.

Omidi, N.↗

NASA NTRS2021

Direct Multipoint Observations Capturing the Reformation of a Supercritical Fast Magnetosonic Shock

Using multipoint Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations in an unusual string-of-pearls configuration, we examine in detail observations of the reformation of a fast magnetosonic shock observed on the upstream edge of a foreshock transient structure upstream of Earth’s bow shock. The four MMS spacecraft were separated by several hundred km, comparable to suprathermal ion gyro-radius scales or several ion inertial lengths. At least half of the shock reformation cycle was observed, with a new shock ramp rising up out of the “foot” region of the original shock ramp. Using the multipoint observations, we convert the observed time-series data into distance along the shock normal in the shock’s rest frame. That conversion allows for a unique study of the relative spatial scales of the shock’s various features, including the shock’s growth rate, and how they evolve during the reformation cycle. Analysis indicates that: the growth rate increases during reformation, electron-scale physics play an important role in the shock reformation, and energy conversion processes also undergo the same cyclical periodicity as reformation. Strong, thin electron-kinetic-scale current sheets and large-amplitude electrostatic and electromagnetic waves are reported. Evidence is also presented of nonlinear wave decay from electromagnetic whistler-mode “lion roars” to electrostatic solitary waves in the downstream plasma regime. Results highlight the critical cross-scale coupling between electron-kinetic-and ion-kinetic-scale processes and details of the nature of nonstationarity, shock-front reformation at collisionless, fast magnetosonic shocks.

D L Turner↗

NASA NTRS2010

FUN3D Grid Refinement and Adaptation Studies for the Ares Launch Vehicle

This paper presents grid refinement and adaptation studies performed in conjunction with computational aeroelastic analyses of the Ares crew launch vehicle (CLV). The unstructured grids used in this analysis were created with GridTool and VGRID while the adaptation was performed using the Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) code FUN3D with a feature based adaptation software tool. GridTool was developed by ViGYAN, Inc. while the last three software suites were developed by NASA Langley Research Center. The feature based adaptation software used here operates by aligning control volumes with shock and Mach line structures and by refining/de-refining where necessary. It does not redistribute node points on the surface. This paper assesses the sensitivity of the complex flow field about a launch vehicle to grid refinement. It also assesses the potential of feature based grid adaptation to improve the accuracy of CFD analysis for a complex launch vehicle configuration. The feature based adaptation shows the potential to improve the resolution of shocks and shear layers. Further development of the capability to adapt the boundary layer and surface grids of a tetrahedral grid is required for significant improvements in modeling the flow field.

Bartels, Robert E.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Hot, diamagnetic cavities upstream from the earth's bow shock

On eight occasions the ISEE 1 and 2 spacecraft registered peculiar plasma structures upstream of the earth's bow shock. The events exhibit a temporary, strong reduction in the magnitude of the magnetic field and strong enhancements of the field strength bordering the reduction zone. The low field strength regions featured temperatures from 1-10 million k and pressure an order of magnitude greater than the solar wind. The pressure gradients exceeded the magnetic tension around the structures, although the field of the cavities may be a closed structure. A model is proposed of hot, expanding diamagnetic plasma cavities with scales on the order of a few earth radii. Speculations on the interaction and origin or impetus for the cavities within the bow shock, foreshock, the magnetosphere and the solar wind are discussed. Similarities between the phenomena detected and signatures obtained with the AMPTE releases of chemicals in the solar wind are noted.

Thomsen, M. F.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Corotating particle enhancements out of the ecliptic plane

We have studied greater than 40 keV ion and electron enhancements seen at Ulysses from a series of corotating interaction regions (CIR), from mid-1992 until the end of 1993. The event intensity increased up to latitude 20 deg S; after that the ion flux maxima decreased by approximately 23%/deg while the electron maxima decreased more erratically, and more slowly, during the last half of 1993. After April, 1993, the electron increases lagged the ions by up to four days. The electron energy spectrum hardened both towards the end of the events and as the latitude went above approximately 35 deg. The electron/ion delays and the electron spectral hardening are related to the three-dimensional structure of the reverse shocks at high latitudes. The H/He ratio at approximately 0.4-1.2 MeV/nucleon decreased towards the end of each event; the mean minimum value was 3.5 +/- 0.3, lower than observed in earlier studies of CIR-associated events near the ecliptic plane. The He increases have recurred with a period of 26.0 days. There have been two phase changes: +4.3 days (February 1993) and +2.4 days (August 1993), related to changes in the coronal structure of the source regions for the high speed solar wind streams.

Simnett, G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

High temporal resolution observations of electron heating at the bow shock

Results deduced from highly time-resolved electron plasma profiles of earth's bow shock obtained with fast-plasma-experiment instrumentation on ISEE 1 and 2 are presented. Emphasis is placed on those bow-shock crossings that occurred during periods of high-data-rate transmission, so that the detailed structure of the bow-shock transition for electrons is discerned. The measurements indicate that electron thermalization and density compression are generally synchronized, although exceptions to this rule occur. In a few examples where direct comparison with magnetic-field measurements is possible, the electron-temperature and density profiles at the bow shock are found to be nearly identical to that of the field intensity. The measurements also reveal an interesting feature of the bow-shock profile, viz., an electron-pressure overshoot lasting several tens of seconds and generally followed by an undershoot, which gives the shock profile the appearance of a damped wave.

Bame, S. J.↗

NASA NTRS1996

On flow phenomena that emit X-rays in hot star winds

The X-ray emission from O stars may originate from instability-generated shocks in their stellar winds. Previous numerical simulations that assumed the wind to be isothermal could only draw limited conclusions concerning this emission. Calculations that include the energy transfer in the wind are presented. They confirm that up to a few stellar radii, radiative cooling is efficient which implies that the shock cooling zones are short in comparison with the dynamical lengths. At larger radii, the wind structure changes as all the shocks are destroyed due to a broadening of their cooling zones. The following flow phenomena are discussed as possible X-ray sources: inner radiative shock; shock merging, outer adiabatic shocks, remaining hot gas from shock destruction, and an outer corona.

Feldmeier, A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Lower hybrid waves upstream of comets and their implications for the Comet Halley 'bow wave'

Observed and theoretical features concerning the nature of so-called cometary 'bow shocks' or 'bow waves' are discussed. Collective plasma effects associated with the presence of pickup ring ions (protons and water ions) in the vicinity of the supermagnetosonic to submagnetosonic transition region in the quasi-perpendicular limit are considered; the linear and nonlinear evolution of instabilities around the lower hybrid frequency is emphasized. It is shown that lower hybrid waves can lead to heating and produce distributions with magnitudes in reasonable agreement with Giotto data. The implications to the existence and structure of cometary bow shocks are discussed.

Hizanidis, K.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Mineralogy of Meteorite Groups

Approximately 275 mineral species have been identified in meteorites, reflecting diverse redox environments, and, in some cases, unusual nebular formation conditions. Anhydrous ordinary, carbonaceous and R chondrites contain major olivine, pyroxene and plagioclase; major opaque phases include metallic Fe-Ni, troilite and chromite. Primitive achondrites are mineralogically similar. The highly reduced enstatite chondrites and achondrites contain major enstatite, plagioclase, free silica and kamacite as well as nitrides, a silicide and Ca-, Mg-, Mn-, Na-, Cr-, K- and Ti-rich sulfides. Aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites contain major amounts of hydrous phyllosilicates, complex organic compounds, magnetite, various sulfates and sulfides, and carbonates. In addition to kamacite and taenite, iron meteorites contain carbides, elemental C, nitrides, phosphates, phosphides, chromite and sulfides. Silicate inclusions in IAB/IIICD and lIE iron meteorites consist of mafic silicates, plagioclase and various sulfides, oxides and phosphates. Eucrites, howardites and diogenites have basaltic to orthopyroxenitic compositions and consist of major pyroxene and calcic plagioclase and several accessory oxides. Ureilttes .are made up mainly of calcic, chromian olivine and low-Ca clinopyroxene embedded in a carbonaceous matrix; accessory phases include the C polymorphs graphite, diamond, lonsdaleite and chaoite as well as metallic Fe-Ni, troilite and halides. Angrites are achondrites rich in fassaitic pyroxene (i.e. , AI-Ti diopside); minor olivine with included magnesian kirschsteinite is also present. Martian meteorites comprise basalts, Iherzolites, a dunite and an orthopyroxenite. Major phases include various pyroxenes and olivine; minor to accessory phases include various sulfides, magnetite, chromite and Ca-phosphates. Lunar meteorites comprise mare basalts with major augite and calcic plagioclase and anorthositic breccias with major calcic plagioclase. Several meteoritic phases were formed by shock metamorphism. Martensite (a2-fe,Ni) has a distorted body-centered-cubic structure and formed by a shear transformation from taenite during shock reheating and rapid cooling. The C polymorphs diamond, lonsdaleite and chaoite formed by shock from graphite. Suessite formed in the North Haig ureilite by reduction of Fe and Si (possibly from olivine) via reaction with carbonaceous matrix material. Ringwoodite, the spinel form of (Mg,Fe)2Si04, and majorite, a polymorph of (Mg,Fe)Si03 with the garnet structure, formed inside shock veins in highly shocked ordinary chondrites. Secondary minerals in meteorite finds that formed during terrestrial weathering include oxides and hy-. droxides formed directly from metallic Fe-Ni by oxidation, phosphates formed by the alteration of schreibersite, and sulfates formed by alteration of troilite.

Rubin, Alan E.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Laboratory for Extraterrestrial Physics (LEP) performs experimental and theoretical research on the heliosphere, the interstellar medium, and the magnetospheres and upper atmospheres of the planets, including Earth. LEP space scientists investigate the structure and dynamics of the magnetospheres of the planets including Earth. Their research programs encompass the magnetic fields intrinsic to many planetary bodies as well as their charged-particle environments and plasma-wave emissions. The LEP also conducts research into the nature of planetary ionospheres and their coupling to both the upper atmospheres and their magnetospheres. Finally, the LEP carries out a broad-based research program in heliospheric physics covering the origins of the solar wind, its propagation outward through the solar system all the way to its termination where it encounters the local interstellar medium. Special emphasis is placed on the study of solar coronal mass ejections (CME's), shock waves, and the structure and properties of the fast and slow solar wind. LEP planetary scientists study the chemistry and physics of planetary stratospheres and tropospheres and of solar system bodies including meteorites, asteroids, comets, and planets. The LEP conducts a focused program in astronomy, particularly in the infrared and in short as well as very long radio wavelengths. We also perform an extensive program of laboratory research, including spectroscopy and physical chemistry related to astronomical objects. The Laboratory proposes, develops, fabricates, and integrates experiments on Earth-orbiting, planetary, and heliospheric spacecraft to measure the characteristics of planetary atmospheres and magnetic fields, and electromagnetic fields and plasmas in space. We design and develop spectrometric instrumentation for continuum and spectral line observations in the x-ray, gamma-ray, infrared, and radio regimes; these are flown on spacecraft to study the interplanetary medium, asteroids, comets, and planets. Suborbital sounding rockets and groundbased observing platforms form an integral part of these research activities. This report covers the period from approximately October 1999 through September 2000.

Vondrak, Richard R.↗

NASA NTRS1983

The time development of a blast wave with shock heated electrons

Accurate approximations are presented for the time development of both edge conditions and internal structures of a blast wave with shock heated electrons, and equal ion and electron temperatures at the shock. The cases considered evolve in cavities with power law ambient densities (including the uniform ambient density case) and have negligible external pressure. Account is taken of possible saturation of the thermal conduction flux. The structures evolve smoothly to the adiabatic structures.

Edgar, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The time development of a blast wave with shock-heated electrons

Edgar, R. J.↗