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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 NTRS1990

The heliopause

A Pioneer or Voyager spacecraft will soon pass through one of the last major frontiers in the solar system - the heliospheric terminal shock. Some unknown, but perhaps small, distance beyond the terminal shock is the heliopause, marking the final boundary between solar-wind and Galactic plasmas and the final goal of these spacecraft. This occasion offers an opportunity to obtain a wealth of information on the properties of the Galaxy, the interstellar medium, and the large-scale interactions of that medium with stellar winds. Several tentative remote detections of the shock place it just beyond the present spacecraft locations. However, uncertainties in the physical processes and parameters that determine the location of the boundary lead to equal uncertainties in predicting which of the spacecraft will reach it first.

Suess, Steven T.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Energy Deposition Processes in Titan's Upper Atmosphere

Most of Titan's atmospheric organic and nitrogen chemistry, aerosol formation, and atmospheric loss are driven from external energy sources such as Solar UV, Saturn's magnetosphere, solar wind and galactic cosmic rays. The Solar UV tends to dominate the energy input at lower altitudes of approximately 1100 km but which can extend down to approximately 400 km, while the plasma interaction from Saturn's magnetosphere, Saturn's magnetosheath or solar wind are more important at higher altitudes of approximately 1400 km, but the heavy ion plasma [O(+)] of approximately 2 keV and energetic ions [H(+)] of approximately 30 keV or higher from Saturn's magnetosphere can penetrate below 950km. Cosmic rays with energies of greater than 1 GeV can penetrate much deeper into Titan's atmosphere with most of its energy deposited at approximately 100 km altitude. The haze layer tends to dominate between 100 km and 300 km. The induced magnetic field from Titan's interaction with the external plasma can be very complex and will tend to channel the flow of energy into Titan's upper atmosphere. Cassini observations combined with advanced hybrid simulations of the plasma interaction with Titan's upper atmosphere show significant changes in the character of the interaction with Saturn local time at Titan's orbit where the magnetosphere displays large and systematic changes with local time. The external solar wind can also drive sub-storms within the magnetosphere which can then modify the magnetospheric interaction with Titan. Another important parameter is solar zenith angle (SZA) with respect to the co-rotation direction of the magnetospheric flow. Titan's interaction can contribute to atmospheric loss via pickup ion loss, scavenging of Titan's ionospheric plasma, loss of ionospheric plasma down its induced magnetotail via an ionospheric wind, and non-thermal loss of the atmosphere via heating and sputtering induced by the bombardment of magnetospheric keV ions and electrons. This energy input evidently drives the large positive and negative ions observed below approximately 1100 km altitude with ion masses exceeding 10,000 daltons. We refer to these ions as seed particles for the aerosols observed below 300 km altitude. These seed particles can be formed, for example, from the polymerization of acetylene (C2H2) and benzene (C6H6) molecules in Titan's upper atmosphere to form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and/or fullerenes (C60). In the case of fullerenes, which are hollow spherical carbon shells, magnetospheric keV [O(+)] ions can become trapped inside the fullerenes and eventually find themselves inside the aerosols as free oxygen. The aerosols are then expected to fall to Titan's surface as polymerized hydrocarbons with trapped free oxygen where unknown surface chemistry can take place.

Sittler, Edward C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Spectral Diagnostics of Galactic and Stellar X-Ray Emission from Charge Exchange Recombination

The proposed research uses the electron beam ion trap at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to study X-ray emission from charge-exchange recombination of highly charged ions with neutral gases. The resulting data fill a void in existing experimental and theoretical understanding of this atomic physics process, and are needed to explain all or part of the observed X-ray emission from the soft X-ray background, stellar winds, the Galactic Center, supernova ejecta, and photoionized nebulae. Progress made during the first year of the grant is described, as is work planned for the second year.

Wargelin, B.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Removing Spectral Diagnostics of Galactic and Stellar X-Ray Emission from Charged Exchange Recombination

Our research uses the electron beam ion trap (EBIT) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to study X-ray emission from the charge exchange (CX) of highly charged ions with neutral gases. The resulting data help to fill a void in existing experimental and theoretical understanding of this atomic physics process, and are needed to explain all or part of the observed X-ray emission from the soft X-ray background, stellar winds, the Galactic Center and Galactic Ridge, supernova ejecta, and photoionized nebulae. Appreciation of the astrophysical relevance of our work continues to grow with the publication of roughly a dozen papers in the past four years describing Chandra and XMM observations of geocoronal and heliospheric CX emission, the temporal variation of such emission and correlation with X-ray emission enhancements observed by ROSAT, the theoretical spatial distribution of that emission, and CX emission around other stars. A similar number of papers were also published during that time describing CX emission from planets and comets. We expect that the launch of ASTRSE2, with its second-generation XRS microcalo- (with 6-eV resolution), will reveal even more clearly the contributions of CX to astrophysical emission. In our EBIT work we collected CX spectra from such ions as H-like and He-like Ne, Ar, and Fe. Our early measurements were made with a high-purity Ge detector, but during the second year we began operation of the first-generation XRS microcalorimeter (a twin of the XRS on ASTRO-E) and greatly improved the resolution of our measurements from roughly 150 eV (FWHM) with the Ge detectors to 10 eV with the XRS. We found that saturation of the XRS counting apparatus, which we described in our proposal as a potential concern, is not a problem for studying CX. During the course of our research, we expanded the number of injection gases permitted by the LLNL safety team, purchased and eventually operated an atomic H source, and clearly demonstrated the feasibility of our longer-range plan. For example, we successfully injected He into EBIT (not a small feat because of the difficulty of maintaining a good vacuum with He and avoiding electrical breakdown) to collect a H-like oxygen CX spectrum. The highest energy CX spectrum recorded with the XRS to date is that of the Ar K-shell emission. These measurements provided the first observation of the relative intensity ratios of resolved He-like singlet and triplet n=2->1 lines. We also carried out measurements of He-like Ne as a function of collision energy (i.e., ion temperature). Significant differences in the resulting x-ray spectra were noted. In all cases, the intensity of high-n H-like Lyman lines is significantly higher than current theoretical CX models predict.

Wargelin, Brad↗
DOE OSTI2021

Probing the Wind Component of Radio Emission in Luminous High-redshift Quasars

We discuss a probe of the contribution of wind-related shocks to the radio emission in otherwise radio-quiet quasars. Given (1) the nonlinear correlation between UV and X-ray luminosity in quasars, (2) that such a correlation leads to higher likelihood of radiation-line-driven winds in more luminous quasars, and (3) that luminous quasars are more abundant at high redshift, deep radio observations of high-redshift quasars are needed to probe potential contributions from accretion disk winds. We target a sample of 50 z ≃ 1.65 color-selected quasars that span the range of expected accretion disk wind properties as traced by broad C iv emission. 3 GHz observations with the Very Large Array to an rms of ≈10 μJy beam -1 probe to star formation rates of ~400 M ⊙ yr -1 , leading to 22 detections. Supplementing these pointed observations are survey data of 388 sources from the LOFAR Two-meter Sky Survey Data Release 1 that reach comparable depth (for a typical radio spectral index), where 123 sources are detected. These combined observations reveal a radio detection fraction that is a nonlinear function of C iv emission-line properties and suggest that the data may require multiple origins of radio emission in radio-quiet quasars. We find evidence for radio emission from weak jets or coronae in radio-quiet quasars with low Eddington ratios, with either (or both) star formation and accretion disk winds playing an important role in optically luminous quasars and correlated with increasing Eddington ratio. Additional pointed radio observations are needed to fully establish the nature of radio emission in radio-quiet quasars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Understanding the Nature of an Unusual Post-starburst Quasar with Exceptionally Strong Ne v Emission

We present a z = 0.94 quasar, SDSS J004846.45-004611.9, discovered in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III (SDSS-III) BOSS survey. A visual analysis of this spectrum reveals highly broadened and blueshifted narrow emission lines, in particular, [Ne v] λ3426 and [O III ] λ5007, with outflow velocities of 4000 km s -1 , along with unusually large [Ne v] λ3426/[Ne III ] λ3869 ratios. The gas shows higher ionization at higher outflow velocities, indicating a connection between the powerful outflow and the unusual strength of the high ionization lines. The spectral energy distribution and the i – W3 color of the source reveal that it is likely a core extremely red quasar (ERQ); a candidate population of young active galactic nuclei (AGN) that are violently blowing out gas and dust from their centers. The dominance of host galaxy light in its spectrum and its fortuitous position in the SDSS S82 region allows us to measure its star formation history and investigate variability for the first time in an ERQ. Our analysis indicates that SDSS J004846.45-004611.9 underwent a short-lived starburst phase 400 Myr ago and was subsequently quenched, possibly indicating a time lag between star formation quenching and the onset of AGN activity. We also find that the strong extinction can be uniquely attributed to the AGN and does not persist in the host galaxy, contradicting a scenario where the source has recently transitioned from being a dusty submillimeter galaxy. In our relatively shallow photometric data, the source does not appear to be variable at 0.24–2.4 μm in the rest frame, most likely due to the dominant contribution of host galaxy starlight at these wavelengths.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Catastrophic Cooling in Superwinds. III. Nonequilibrium Photoionization

Observations of some starburst-driven galactic superwinds suggest that strong radiative cooling could play a key role in the nature of feedback and the formation of stars and molecular gas in star-forming galaxies. These catastrophically cooling superwinds are not adequately described by adiabatic fluid models, but they can be reproduced by incorporating nonequilibrium radiative cooling functions into the fluid model. In this work, we have employed the atomic and cooling module maihem implemented in the framework of the flash hydrodynamics code to simulate the formation of radiatively cooling superwinds as well as their corresponding nonequilibrium ionization (NEI) states for various outflow parameters, gas metallicities, and ambient densities. We employ the photoionization program cloudy to predict radiation- and density-bounded photoionization for these radiatively cooling superwinds, and we predict UV and optical line emission. Our nonequilibrium photoionization models built with the NEI states demonstrate the enhancement of C iv, especially in metal-rich, catastrophically cooling outflows, and O vi in metal-poor ones.

Cooling flows↗
DOE OSTI2023

Gamma-Ray Emission from Galaxies Hosting Molecular Outflows

Many star-forming galaxies and those hosting active galactic nuclei show evidence of massive outflows of material in a variety of phases including ionized, neutral atomic, and molecular. Molecular outflows in particular have been the focus of recent interest as they may be responsible for removing gas from the galaxy, thereby suppressing star formation. As material is ejected from the cores of galaxies, interactions of the outflowing material with the interstellar medium can accelerate cosmic rays and produce high-energy gamma rays. In this work, we search for gamma-ray emission from a sample of local galaxies known to host molecular outflows using data collected by the Fermi Large Area Telescope. We employ a stacking technique in order to search for and characterize the average gamma-ray emission properties of the sample. Gamma-ray emission is detected from the galaxies in our sample at the 4.4σ level with a power-law photon index of Γ ≈ 2 in the 1–800 GeV energy range. The emission is found to correlate with tracers of star formation activity, namely the 8–1000 μm infrared luminosity. We also find that the observed signal can be predominantly attributed to H II galaxies hosting energy-driven outflows. While we do not find evidence suggesting that the outflows are accelerating charged particles directly, galaxies with molecular outflows may produce more gamma rays than galaxies without outflows. In particular, the set consisting of gamma-ray-detected galaxies with molecular outflows are nearly perfect calorimeters and may be future targets for searches of high-energy neutrinos.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1978

An experiment to measure interplanetary and solar electrons

The paper describes an ISEE experiment designed to study interplanetary and solar electrons in the energy range between solar wind and galactic cosmic rays. The instrumentation is designed to identify and measure electron fluxes with high energy resolution and high sensitivity from approximately 2 keV to 1 MeV. Angular distributions of these electrons will also be obtained; in addition, energetic ions above 50 keV will be measured. Measurements of particle acceleration in solar flares, solar radio emission, interplanetary particles and shock wave acceleration, and low energy electron propagation are discussed. The instrumentation is described with emphasis on the semiconductor telescopes, the electrostatic analyzer, and the electronics.

Anderson, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The acceleration of charged particles in interplanetary shock waves

Consideration of the theoretical and observational literature on energetic ion acceleration in interplanetary shock waves is the basis for the present discussion of the shock acceleration of the solar wind plasma and particle transport effects. It is suggested that ISEE data be used to construct data sets for shock events that extend continuously from solar wind to galactic cosmic ray energies, including data for electrons, protons, alphas and ions with Z values greater than 2.0, and that the temporal and spatial evolution of two- and three-dimensional particle distribution functions be studied by means of two or more spacecraft.

Pesses, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Dense gas and HII regions in the starburst galaxy NGC 253

The energetic activity in the nuclear barred region of NGC 253 is attributable to a burst of star formation. NGC 253 is in many ways a twin of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82; the strong non-thermal radio continuum, high far-infrared luminosity, and bright molecular emission of the central 1 Kpc parallel the morphology of the M82 starburst. Furthermore, the filamentary low ionization optical emission and extended x ray emission along the minor axis in NGC 253 is similar to a scaled down version of the well developed galactic bipolar wind in M82. The infrared luminosity of NGC 253, 3(exp 10) solar luminosity, is comparable to M82 but is emitted from a smaller region (Telesco and Harper 1980). This suggests that the NGC 253 starburst may be more intense and at an earlier evolutionary stage than M82. However, the presence of a non-stellar AGN in NGC 253 may complicate the comparison (Turner and Ho, 1985). Researchers used the Hat Creek millimeter interferometer to map emission from the J = 1 to 0 transitions of HCN and HCO(+) as well as 3 mm continuum emission, toward the nuclear region of NGC 253. The HCO(+) and continuum observations are sensitive to spatial scales from 6 to 45 seconds. The 2 minute field of view comfortably includes the entire starburst region (about 40 seconds; 650 pc). Because the longer baseline HCN observations are not yet complete, they are only sensitive to spatial scales from 15 to 45 seconds.

Carlstrom, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Ring nebulae around Wolf-Rayet stars in M33

Results of a systematic search for H II ring nebulae surrounding Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars in M33 are presented. Eleven objects are found to be good candidates, while eight others are classified as possible WR ring nebulae. The WR rings in M33 are larger on average than their Galactic counterparts, but the H-alpha luminosity of most of them is comparable to the bright Galactic wind-blown bubbles. The rings are associated with WC as well as with WN stars.

Drissen, Laurent↗
NASA NTRS1992

A determination of the mass of Sagittarius A* from its radio spectral and source size measurements

There is growing evidence that Sgr A* may be a million solar mass black hole accreting from the Galactic center wind. A consideration of the spectral and source size characteristics associated with this process can offer at least two distinct means of inferring the mass M, complementing the more traditional dynamical arguments. We show that M is unmistakably correlated with both the radio spectral index and the critical wavelength below which the intrinsic source size dominates over the angular broadening due to scattering in the interstellar medium. Current observations can already rule out a mass much in excess of 2 x 10 exp 6 solar masses and suggest a likely value close to 1 x 10 exp 6 solar masses, in agreement with an earlier study matching the radio and high-energy spectral components. We anticipate that such a mass may be confirmed with the next generation of source-size observations using milliarcsecond angular resolution at 0.5 - 1 cm wavelengths.

Melia, Fulvio↗
NASA NTRS2003

The sun and heliosphere at solar maximum

Recent Ulysses observations from the Sun's equator to the poles reveal fundamental properties of the three-dimensional heliosphere at the maximum in solar activity. The heliospheric magnetic field originates from a magnetic dipole oriented nearly perpendicular to, instead of nearly parallel to, the Sun'rotation axis. Magnetic fields, solar wind, and energetic charged particles from low-latitude sources reach all latitudes, including the polar caps. The very fast high-latitude wind and polar coronal holes disappear and reappear together. Solar wind speed continues to be inversely correlated with coronal temperature. The cosmic ray flux is reduced symmetrically at all latitudes.

magnetic field solar winds galactic cosmic rays↗
NASA NTRS2011

SEM and TEM Observation of the Surfaces of the Fine-Grained Particles Retrieved from the Muses-C Regio on the Asteroid 25413 Itokawa

Surface materials on airless solar system bodies exposed to interplanetary space are gradually changed their visible to near-infrared reflectance spectra by the process called "space weathering", which makes the spectra darker and redder. Hapke et al. proposed a model of space weathering: vapor deposition of nanophase reduced iron (npFe(sup 0)) on the surfaces of the grains within the very surface of lunar regolith. This model has been proved by detailed observation of the surfaces of the lunar soil grains by transmission electron microscope (TEM). They demonstrated that npFe(sup 0) was formed by a combination of vapor deposition and irradiation effects. In other words, both micrometeorite impacts and irradiation by solar wind and galactic cosmic ray play roles on the space weathering on the Moon. Because there is a continuum of reflectance spectra from those of Q-type asteroids (almost the same as those of ordinary chondrites) to those of S-type asteroids, it is strongly suggested that reflectance spectra of asteroids composed of ordinary chondrite-like materials were modified over time to those of S-type asteroids due to space weathering. It is predicted that a small amount of npFe(sup 0) on the surface of grains in the asteroidal regolith composed of ordinary chondrite-like materials is the main agent of asteroidal space weathering.

Noguchi, T.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Evidence of Space Weathering Processes Across the Surface of Vesta

As NASA s Dawn spacecraft explores the surface of Vesta, it has become abundantly clear that Vesta is like no other planetary body visited to date. Dawn is collecting global data at increasingly higher spatial resolution during its one-year orbital mission. The bulk properties of Vesta have previously been linked to the HED meteorites through remote mineral characterization of its surface from Earth-based spectroscopy. A principal puzzle has been why Vesta exhibits relatively unweathered diagnostic optical features compared to other large asteroids. Is this due to the composition of this proto-planet or the space environment at Vesta? Alteration or weathering of materials in space normally develops as the products of several processes accumulate on the surface or in an evolving particulate regolith, transforming the bedrock into fragmental material with properties that may be measurably different from the original. Data from Dawn reveal that the regolith of Vesta is exceptionally diverse. Regional surface units are observed that have not been erased by weathering with time. Several morphologically-fresh craters have excavated bright, mafic-rich materials and exhibit bright ray systems. Some of the larger craters have surrounding subdued regions (often asymmetric) that are lower in albedo and relatively red-sloped in the visible while exhibiting weaker mafic signatures. Several other prominent craters have rim exposures containing very dark material and/or display a system of prominent dark rays. Most, but not all, dark areas associated with craters exhibit significantly lower spectral contrast, suggesting that either a Vesta lithology with an opaque component has been exposed locally or that the surface has been contaminated by a relatively dark impactor. Similarly, most, but not all, bright areas associated with craters exhibit enhanced mafic signatures compared to surroundings. On a regional scale, the large south polar structure and surrounding terrain exhibit relatively strong mafic absorption features, suggesting either a concentration of mafic materials or that materials exposed have been less affected by space weathering products. These combined initial observations indicate some space weathering processes are active in this part of the main asteroid belt, but are highly variable across the surface of Vesta. Such processes include: impacts from wandering asteroidal debris and local mixing at both micro- and macro-scales, irradiation by solar wind and galactic particles, production and distribution of impact breccias or melt products, and local movement of materials to gravity lows (gradual as well as sudden).

Pieters, Carle M.↗