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At least 91 records · Page 5

Argon pumpout by ICRF waves in C-Mod L- and I-mode plasmas

Pumpout of argon ions by ICRF waves has been observed in C-Mod deuterium L- and I-mode plasmas that had a substantial hydrogen fraction. The effect is manifested by a reduction of core argon x-ray brightness up to a factor of 90% on time scales of tens of milliseconds following injection of ICRF power. For Ar 16+ , the pumpout is strongest for hydrogen minority concentrations between 0.25 and 0.4, when the ICRF waves are not expected to result in minority heating. Modeling with the TORIC code suggests that the pumpout process occurs when the H/D mode conversion layer overlaps with the 2nd harmonic impurity resonance layer. Here, the magnitude of the argon pumpout is independent of ICRF power above an apparent threshold of ~500 kW, independent of electron density and appears to decrease as the plasma current is increased. Potential application as a heavy impurity control tool in reactors is discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Argon Pumpout by ICRF Waves in C-Mod L- and I-mode Plasmas

Pumpout of argon ions by ICRF waves has been observed in C-Mod deuterium L- and I-mode plasmas that had a substantial hydrogen fraction. The effect is manifested by a reduction of core argon x-ray brightness up to a factor of 90% on time scales of tens of milliseconds following injection of ICRF power. For Ar^16+, the pumpout is strongest for hydrogen minority concentrations between 0.25 and 0.4, when the ICRF waves are not expected to result in minority heating. Modeling with the TORIC code suggests that the pumpout process occurs when the H/D mode conversion layer overlaps with the 2nd harmonic impurity resonance layer. The magnitude of the argon pumpout is independent of ICRF power above an apparent threshold of ~500 kW, independent of electron density and appears to decrease as the plasma current is increased. Potential application as a heavy impurity control tool in reactors is discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Users manual for the Variable dimension Automatic Synthesis Program (VASP)

A dictionary and some problems for the Variable Automatic Synthesis Program VASP are submitted. The dictionary contains a description of each subroutine and instructions on its use. The example problems give the user a better perspective on the use of VASP for solving problems in modern control theory. These example problems include dynamic response, optimal control gain, solution of the sampled data matrix Ricatti equation, matrix decomposition, and pseudo inverse of a matrix. Listings of all subroutines are also included. The VASP program has been adapted to run in the conversational mode on the Ames 360/67 computer.

White, J. S.↗

Program for computer aided reliability estimation

A computer program for estimating the reliability of self-repair and fault-tolerant systems with respect to selected system and mission parameters is presented. The computer program is capable of operation in an interactive conversational mode as well as in a batch mode and is characterized by maintenance of several general equations representative of basic redundancy schemes in an equation repository. Selected reliability functions applicable to any mathematical model formulated with the general equations, used singly or in combination with each other, are separately stored. One or more system and/or mission parameters may be designated as a variable. Data in the form of values for selected reliability functions is generated in a tabular or graphic format for each formulated model.

Mathur, F. P.↗

Nonlinear wave interaction in a plasma column

Two particular cases of nonlinear wave interaction in a plasma column were investigated. The frequencies of the waves were on the order of magnitude of the electron plasma frequency, and ion motion was neglected. The nonlinear coupling of slow waves on a plasma column was studied by means of cold plasma theory, and the case of a plasma column surrounded by an infinite dielectric in the absence of a magnetic field was also examined. Nonlinear scattering from a plasma column in an electromagnetic field having it's magnetic field parallel to the axis of the column was investigated. Some experimental results on mode conversion in the presence of loss are presented along with some observations of nonlinear scattering, The effect of the earth's magnetic field and of discharge symmetry on the radiation pattern are discussed.

Larsen, J.↗

Propagation through a slab of irregularities in a magneto-ionic medium.

A theory is developed to describe the propagation of characteristic waves through an infinite slab of irregularities in a magneto-ionic medium. The theory makes use of the asymptotic Green's dyadic. The results show that mode conversion is possible through scattering from irregularities in an anisotropic background. Some special cases are discussed and an example is given.

Simonich, D. M.↗

Theoretical and experimental investigations of collective microwave phenomena in solids

Methods of generating microwave shear waves efficiently were studied. A new technique of mode conversion from a longitudinal wave to a shear wave was investigated and virtually 100% conversion efficiency could be obtained. Several aspects of Gunn oscillators were studied. One involved the detailed study of domains in Gunn oscillators using long samples of bulk gallium arsenide. Several new techniques were devised for measuring the properties of the domains. A fundamental theory of the efficiency of a Gunn oscillator was worked out. A computer program was devised to study the transient effect of domains passing through Gunn diodes. Some of the first planar epitaxial Gunn oscillators were made using liquid epitaxial material grown by liquid phase techniques on semi-insulating substrate. A new theory which predicted the properties of RF signals propagating in a thin film layer of GaAs was developed. The theory of the operation of a traveling wave amplifier is described.

Kino, G. S.↗

A description of a general use automated data reduction system

A data system developed for use in tests in arc jet facilities has the flexibility to accommodate various types of data, time resolution, and number of data signals. Data are tape-recorded, because a direct link to the IBM 360/67 computer is prohibited for safety reasons. The system is analogous to manual data reduction to promote user understanding and acceptance. Data computations may be performed in an interactive ('conversational') mode, for minimum delay in data reduction, or by card input. Reduced data are listed and also stored for plotting of further computational use. Operational costs of the system are reasonable, and both large and small data reduction tasks are handled readily.

Wakefield, R. M.↗

Preliminary mission planning using Interactive Graphics

The selection of satellite orbits, subject to mission and launch vehicle constraints, can be expedited using the IGOS (Interactive Graphics Orbit Selection) computer program. The program operates in a conversational mode displaying the constraints as shaded areas on a graphics terminal. Mission requirements evaluated include: earth observation coverage, radiation environment, orbit lifetime, and sun synchronization. Launch vehicle constraints consist of injection accuracy and payload capability and include the impact of launch site, and launch azimuth restrictions. Sample output is shown, the hardware and software configurations are described, and details of the mathematical model are summarized.

Rea, F. G.↗

Advanced Thermionic Technology Program

Topics include surface studies (surface theory, basic surface experiments, and activation chamber experiments); plasma studies (converter theory and enhanced mode conversion experiments); and component development (low temperature conversion experiments, high efficiency conversion experiments, and hot shell development).

Source record↗

FLOWNET: A Computer Program for Calculating Secondary Flow Conditions in a Network of Turbomachinery

The program requires the network parameters, the flow component parameters, the reservoir conditions, and the gas properties as input. It will then calculate all unknown pressures and the mass flow rate in each flow component in the network. The program can treat networks containing up to fifty flow components and twenty-five unknown network pressures. The types of flow components that can be treated are face seals, narrow slots, and pipes. The program is written in both structured FORTRAN (SFTRAN) and FORTRAN 4. The program must be run in an interactive (conversational) mode.

James. R. Rose↗

ERDA/NASA advanced thermionic technology program

Research progress is briefly outlined in the areas of activation experiments, enchanced mode conversion experiments, converter development (tungsten emitter, lanthanum hexaborate collector), and hot shell development.

Source record↗

Non-linear wave interaction in a plasma column

Non-linear three-wave interaction is analysed for propagation along a cylindrical plasma column surrounded by an infinite dielectric, in the absence of a static magnetic field. An averaged-Lagrangian method is used, and the results are specialized to parametric interaction and mode conversion, assuming an undepleted pump wave. The theory for these two types of interactions is extended to include imperfect synchronism, and the effects of loss. Computations are presented indicating that parametric growth rates of the order of a fraction of a decibel per centimeter should be obtainable for plausible laboratory plasma column parameters.

Larsen, J.-M.↗

Low-level VLF and LR radio emissions observed at earth and Jupiter

Major observational features of magnetospheric VLF-LF radio noise that have been uncovered by the IMP, Hawkeye and ISEE satellites, are examined with emphasis on the capabilities of the noise to diagnose local and remote plasma parameters. The relationship of the radiation to not less than 1-mV/m electrostatic upper hybrid emissions is assessed, and indirect observational evidence suggests that upper noise is associated with the generation of the VLF-LF radiation. Theoretical luminosities of mechanisms including synchrotron radiation, linear mode conversion of upper hybrid waves and nonlinear scattering of upper hybrid waves off plasma density irregularities are estimated, and the wave-wave scattering hypothesis is considered to be a viable mechanism if the presence of low-frequency waves as a scattering agent can be established.

Barbosa, D. D.↗

Ultrasonic measurement of axial stress

The theory of acoustic propagation in strained media is examined, with particular emphasis on rod (bolt) geometries. The continuous wave (CW) approach is the basis of the study, and the theory is developed from a frequency domain analysis standpoint in order to obtain an applied stress/normalized frequency shift relationship. CW measurements may be influenced by such factors as propagation effects, mode conversion, frequency, material properties, and geometry. After the first loading cycle, axial stress measurements for a preloading with an initial frequency of 4.995 36 MHz dropped to 4.989 19 MHz, indicating a 6.17 kHz change. CW and pseudo-CW ultrasonic techniques are found to be reliable for axial stress measurements, and acoustic attenuation measurements correlated to residual stress fields may possibly involve transducer phase cancellation. It is thus concluded that signal drop is an artifact of the transducer directivity, rather than an actual acoustic power decrease.

Heyman, J. S.↗

Electromagnetic radiation from beam-plasma instabilities

The mechanism by which unstable electrostatic waves of an electron-beam plasma system are converted into observed electromagnetic waves is of great current interest in space plasma physics. Electromagnetic radiation arises from both natural beam-plasma systems, e.g., type III solar bursts and kilometric radiation, and from man-made electron beams injected from rockets and spacecraft. In the present investigation the diagnostic difficulties encountered in space plasmas are overcome by using a large laboratory plasma. A finite diameter (d approximately equal to 0.8 cm) electron beam is injected into a uniform quiescent magnetized afterglow plasma of dimensions large compared with electromagnetic wavelength. Electrostatic waves grow, saturate and decay within the uniform central region of the plasma volume so that linear mode conversion on density gradients can be excluded as a possible generation mechanism for electromagnetic waves.

Stenzel, R. L.↗

Integrated optical signal processing with magnetostatic waves

Magneto-optical devices based on Bragg diffraction of light by magnetostatic waves (MSW's) offer the potential of large time-bandwidth optical signal processing at microwave frequencies of 1 to 20 GHz and higher. A thin-film integrated-optical configuration, with the interacting MSW and guided-optical wave both propagating in a common ferrite layer, is necessary to avoid shape-factor demagnetization effects. The underlying theory of the MSW-optical interaction is outlined, including the development of expressions for optical diffraction efficiency as a function of MSW power and other relevant parameters. Bradd diffraction of guided-optical waves by transversely-propagating magnetostatic waves and collinear TE/TM mode conversion included by MSW's have been demonstrated in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) thin films. Diffraction levels as large as 4% (7 mm interaction length) and a modulation dynamic range of approx 30 dB have been observed. Advantages of these MSW-based devices over the analogous acousto-optical devices include: much greater operating frequencies, tunability of the MSW dispersion relation by varying either the RF frequency or the applied bias magnetic field, simple broad-band MSW transducer structures (e.g., a single stripline), and the potential for very high diffraction efficiencies.

Fisher, A. D.↗

On the behavior of hydromagnetic surface waves

The behavior of velocity, magnetic field, and pressure perturbations about a continuously varying interface in pressure equilibrium is investigated in detail within ideal incompressible magnetohydrodynamics. A specific initial value problem is solved in quadrature for a thin interface and compared with the solution for a discontinuous interface. The unattenuated surface wave about a discontinuous interface is replaced at a thin interface by a collective surface disturbance which decays, with the associated energy density flowing into local oscillations within the interface. At long times the envelope of the local oscillations is concentrated within a small fraction of the thin interface (gradients within the envelope increase linearly with time, eventually resulting in a breakdown of the linearized ideal theory). Thus, the derived decay rate of the surface disturbance gives a mode-conversion rate rather than a heating rate. In applications to the propagation and dissipation of surface waves in the solar corona, this rate cannot in general be interpreted as a coronal heating rate.

Lee, M. A.↗