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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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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Adaptive Stiffness Power Take-Off System for a Hydraulic Hose-Pump Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter

Two crucial challenges faced in the design of ocean wave energy converters (WECs) are maintaining high capacity factors and remaining robust in everchanging, harsh ocean environments. This study introduces a novel mechanism for achieving reactive WEC control with a soft hydraulic power take-off, thereby addressing both challenges. The device of interest involves a hydraulic pump, constructed from a fluidic flexible matrix composite (F2MC), which is cyclically stretched by driving waves and pressurizes working fluid through a turbine-generator. This class of fiber-reinforced stretch hoses is established for ocean use as robust moorings and shock absorbers. The dynamic properties of the F2MC pump depend on internal pressure, which can be controlled by a continuously variable transmission between the turbine and generator, allowing the system to be adapted for better performance over a wide range of wave conditions. This work presents a dynamic model for operation and adaptive behavior of this power take-off system, experimentally validates components of the model, and performs dynamic simulations of the system that show increases in power production and capacity factor compared to non-adaptive operation for a variety of driving wave conditions. This work develops the basis for future large-scale experimental testing and controller design of this system.

Wave energy conversion, fluidic flexible matrix co↗
NASA NTRS1994

Growth rates of new parametric instabilities occurring in a plasma with streaming He(2+)

We consider parametic instabilities of a circularly polarized pump Alfven wave, which propagates parallel to the ambient magnetic field; the daughter waves are also parallel-propagating. We follow Hollweg et al. (1993) and consider several new instabilites that owe their existence to the presence of streaming alpha particles. One of the new instabilites is similar to the famililar decay instability, but the daughter waves are a forward going alpha sound wave and a backward going Alfven wave. The growth rate of this instability is usually small if the alpha abundance is small. The other three new instabilities occur at high frequencies and small wavelengths. We find that the new instability which involves the proton cyclotron wave and alpha sound (i.e., the +f, - alpha) instability, which involves both the proton and alpha cycltron resonances, but if the pump wave must have low frequency and large amplitude. These instabilities may be a means of heating and accelerating alpha particles in the solar wind, but this claim is unproven until a fully kinetic study is carried out.

Jayanti, V.↗
NASA NTRS1977

CW operation of an intracavity pumped molecular submillimeter-wave laser

The 373-micron line of CH3CN was operated in a CW mode in an arrangement where the submillimeter (SMM)-wave laser is placed inside the resonator of the CO2 pump laser. 1 mW of CW output power was obtained; this is five times the power of a comparable SMM-wave laser in the common extracavity arrangement. In a pulsed mode, a peak power of 46 mW was measured.

Koepf, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The theory of ionospheric focused heating

Ionospheric modification by high power radio waves and by chemical releases are combined in a theoretical study of ionospheric focused heating. The release of materials which promote electron-ion recombination creates a hole in the bottomside ionosphere. The ionospheric hole focuses high power radio waves from a ground-based transmitter to give a 20 dB or greater enhancement in power density. The intense radio beam excites atomic oxygen by collisions with accelerated electrons. Airglow from the excited oxygen provides a visible trace of the focused beam. The large increase in the intensity of the radio beam stimulates new wave-plasma interactions. Numerical simulations show that the threshold for the two-plasmon decay instability is exceeded. The interaction of the pump electromagnetic wave with the backward plasmon produces a scattered electromagnetic wave at 3/2 the pump frequency. The scattered wave provides a unique signature of the two-plasmon decay process for ground-based detection.

Bernhardt, P. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Three-wave coupling observed between a shear Alfvén wave and a kink-unstable magnetic flux rope

Results from a laboratory experiment are presented in which, for the first time, a shear Alfvén wave is launched using an antenna in a current-carrying plasma column that is tailored to be either stable or unstable to the kink oscillation. As the plasma is driven kink unstable, the frequency power spectrum of the Alfvén wave evolves from a single peak to a peak with multiple sidebands separated by integer multiples of the kink frequency. The main sidebands (one on either side of the launched wave peak in the power spectrum) are analyzed using azimuthal wavenumber matching, perpendicular and parallel wavenumber decomposition, and bispectral time series analysis. The dispersion relation and three-wave matching conditions are satisfied, given each sideband is a propagating Alfvén wave that results from the interaction of the pump Alfvén wave and the co-propagating component of a half-wavelength, standing kink mode. The interaction is shown to generate smaller perpendicular wavelength Alfvén waves that drive energy transport to scales that will approach the dissipation scale of k⊥ρs=1, with k⊥ being the perpendicular wavenumber and ρs being the ion gyroradius at the electron temperature.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1990

The magnetic pumping of plasmas with sawtooth waveforms

The pumping of plasmas by sawtooth-waveform magnetic induction variations is studied theoretically and by means of computer simulations. A sawtooth is a cycle waveform that is characterized by a slow increase in the magnetic induction followed by a rapid drop in the induction. Two types of sawtooth pumping are analyzed, and the types classified as to whether or not the first adiabatic invariants of the plasma particles are conserved during the rapid drops in the magnetic induction. When the invariants are conserved, the sawtooth waveforms are found to be less efficient than square waves for pumping plasmas. When the adiabatic invariations are not conserved, the pumping efficiency is found to be a slight improvement over square waves. Both types of pumping are applied to a hypothetical tokamak plasma and it is concluded that neither type of sawtooth pumping is practical for heating magnetically confined fusion plasmas.

Borovsky, Joseph E.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electronic and Vibrational Coherence in Heterogeneous Electron Transfer (Final Report)

Interfacial electron transfer reactions constitute key physical phenomena central to a variety of energy related transport and conversion processes such as catalysis, photocatalysis, photovoltaics, energy storage, molecular electronics, etc. Heterogeneous material systems like organic/inorganic interfaces are of particular interest because they provide great potential to tailor properties according to application specific requirements. While electron transfer dynamics has been studied intensively in heterogeneous systems many questions remain unanswered. The significance of electronic-vibrational coupling and coherence is one aspect that has yet to be fully explored. The objective of this project is to develop and implement new ultrafast spectroscopic techniques based on pump four-wave mixing spectroscopy (pump-FWM) for studying the dynamics of vibrational coupling and coherence in heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) at molecule/semiconductor interfaces. The implementation of the spectroscopic setup allows to explore different four-wave mixing techniques and thus to identify a suitable approach to study the significance of vibrational as well as electronic coherence in HET.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1992

Theory for low-frequency modulated Langmuir wave packets

Langmuir wave packets with low frequency modulations (or beats) observed in the Jovian foreshock are argued to be direct evidence for the Langmuir wave decay L yields L-prime + S. In this decay, 'pump' Langmuir waves L, driven by an electron beam, produce backscattered product Langmuir waves L-prime and ion sound waves S. The L and L-prime waves beat at the frequency and wavevector of the S waves, thereby modulating the wave packets. Beam speeds calculated using the modulated Jovian wave packets (1) are reasonable, at 4-10 times the electron thermal speed, (2) are consistent with theoretical limits on the decay process, and (3) decrease with increasing foreshock depth, as expected theoretically. These results strongly support the theory. The modulation depth of some wave packets suggests saturation by the decay L yields L-prime + S. Applications to modulated Langmuir packets in the Venusian and terrestrial foreshocks and in a type III radio source are proposed.

Cairns, Iver H.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Acoustic Mechanical Feedthroughs

Electromagnetic motors can have problems when operating in extreme environments. In addition, if one needs to do mechanical work outside a structure, electrical feedthroughs are required to transport the electric power to drive the motor. In this paper, we present designs for driving rotary and linear motors by pumping stress waves across a structure or barrier. We accomplish this by designing a piezoelectric actuator on one side of the structure and a resonance structure that is matched to the piezoelectric resonance of the actuator on the other side. Typically, piezoelectric motors can be designed with high torques and lower speeds without the need for gears. One can also use other actuation materials such as electrostrictive, or magnetostrictive materials in a benign environment and transmit the power in acoustic form as a stress wave and actuate mechanisms that are external to the benign environment. This technology removes the need to perforate a structure and allows work to be done directly on the other side of a structure without the use of electrical feedthroughs, which can weaken the structure, pipe, or vessel. Acoustic energy is pumped as a stress wave at a set frequency or range of frequencies to produce rotary or linear motion in a structure. This method of transferring useful mechanical work across solid barriers by pumping acoustic energy through a resonant structure features the ability to transfer work (rotary or linear motion) across pressure or thermal barriers, or in a sterile environment, without generating contaminants. Reflectors in the wall of barriers can be designed to enhance the efficiency of the energy/power transmission. The method features the ability to produce a bi-directional driving mechanism using higher-mode resonances. There are a variety of applications where the presence of a motor is complicated by thermal or chemical environments that would be hostile to the motor components and reduce life and, in some instances, not be feasible. A variety of designs that have been designed, fabricated and tested will be presented

piezoelectric devices↗
NASA NTRS1993

Self-pumped phase conjugation and four-wave mixing in 0- and 45-deg-cut n-type BaTiO3:Co

Relatively fast self-pumped phase-conjugate and four-wave-mixing rise times are reported in n-type cobalt-doped barium titanate. With the crystal oriented in a 45-deg cut as compared with the same crystal in a 0-deg cut we find a factor of 3 decrease in the 0-90-percent rise time to 800 ms with 25-mW input power at 514.5 nm. Also, the self-pumped phase-conjugate reflectivity increases from 20 to 40 percent. We deduce that the phase conjugation is from internally seeded stimulated photorefractive backscattering. The four-wave-mixing rise time of the 45-deg-cut crystal is 4 ms with a reflectivity of 48 percent when the pumping beams are derived from self-pumped phase conjugation that has an input power of 25 mW.

Garrett, M. H.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Measurement of the Alfvén Wave Parametric Decay Instability Growth Rate

Alfvén waves, a fundamental mode of magnetized plasmas, are ubiquitous in space and laboratory plasmas. The nonlinear behavior of these modes is thought to play a key role in important problems in space plasma, such as the heating of the solar corona and solar wind turbulence. In particular, theoretical predictions show that these Alfvén waves may be unstable to various parametric instabilities, but space observations of these processes are limited. We demonstrate the first measurement of the Alfvén wave parametric decay instability (PDI) growth rate. Experiments are conducted on the Large Plasma Device at UCLA in which a high amplitude 𝛿⁢𝐵/𝐵 0 ∼ 0.7% pump Alfvén wave is launched from one end of the device and a smaller seed Alfvén wave is launched from the other side. When the frequency of the seed wave is chosen to match the backward wave expected from PDI, damping of the seed wave is reduced. We compare this reduction in damping to the theoretically expected PDI growth rate while accounting for acoustic mode damping. Results show agreement between measurements and theoretical predictions. As a result, this not only provides critical validation for PDI theories and simulations that could help interpret future space observations but also suggests a new way of studying similar nonlinear wave phenomena.

Alfvén waves↗
NASA NTRS1993

Modulational and decay instabilities of Alfven waves - Effects of streaming He(2+)

The parametric instability of a circularly polarized Alfven wave propagating along the background magnetic field are considered, with emphasis on the effects of a second ion species, He(2+), which drifts relative to the protons. Even though its abundance is small, the He(2+) modifies the dispersion relation of the 'pump' Alfven wave and introduces a new sound wave (alpha sound) in addition to the usual sound wave carried primarily by the electrons and protons. Instabilities which are close to the He(2+) gyroresonance are found. This may provide a means of directly transferring Alfven wave energy to the alpha particles, if the alphas are able to resonantly extract energy from the unstable waves without quenching the instability altogether. Instabilities which are close to the alpha particle sound speed are also found.

Hollweg, Joseph V.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Evidence for Oscillating Two-Stream Instability and Spatial Collapse of Langmuir Waves in a Solar Type II Radio Burst

We present the high time resolution in situ observations of Langmuir waves, likely excited by an electron beam accelerated by a coronal-mass ejection-driven super-critical quasi-perpendicular interplanetary shock into its upstream solar wind, which happens to be the source region of a solar type II radio burst. We show that (1) these waves occur as coherent localized magnetic-field-aligned, one-dimensional wave packets with durations of a few milliseconds and with peak intensities well in excess of the threshold for strong turbulence processes, (2) they provide what is believed to be the first evidence for: (a) the oscillating two-stream instability (OTSI) L(sub 1) + L(sub 2) S/⟶ U + D, where L(sub 1) and L(sub 2), U and D, and S are the pump Langmuir waves, up- and down-shifted side bands, and ion sound waves, respectively, (b) a three-wave interaction U + D ⟶ T(sub 2f(sub pe)), where T(sub 2f(sub pe)) is the second harmonic electromagnetic wave, (3) they satisfy the threshold condition for formation of collapsing solitons, and (4) they are accompanied by their ponderomotive force induced density cavities with δn(sub p)/n(sub e) > δn(sub b)/n(sub e), where δn(sub p)/n(sub e) is the level of ponderomotive force induced density fluctuations and δn(sub b)/n(sub e) is that of the ambient fluctuations. These findings strongly suggest that the observed wave packets provide evidence for the collapsing solitons formed as a result of OTSI. The implication is that the strong turbulence processes probably play very important roles in excitation of type II radio emissions as well as in stabilization of shock-accelerated electron beams.

Sun radio radiation↗
NASA NTRS2007

Dual-Beam Atom Laser Driven by Spinor Dynamics

An atom laser now undergoing development simultaneously generates two pulsed beams of correlated Rb-87 atoms. (An atom laser is a source of atoms in beams characterized by coherent matter waves, analogous to a conventional laser, which is a source of coherent light waves.) The pumping mechanism of this atom laser is based on spinor dynamics in a Bose-Einstein condensate. By virtue of the angular-momentum conserving collisions that generate the two beams, the number of atoms in one beam is correlated with the number of atoms in the other beam. Such correlations are intimately linked to entanglement and squeezing in atomic ensembles, and atom lasers like this one could be used in exploring related aspects of Bose-Einstein condensates, and as components of future sensors relying on atom interferometry. In this atom-laser apparatus, a Bose-Einstein condensate of about 2 x 10(exp 6) Rb-87 atoms at a temperature of about 120 micro-K is first formed through all-optical means in a relatively weak singlebeam running-wave dipole trap that has been formed by focusing of a CO2-laser beam. By a technique that is established in the art, the trap is loaded from an ultrahigh-vacuum magnetooptical trap that is, itself, loaded via a cold atomic beam from an upstream two-dimensional magneto-optical trap that resides in a rubidium-vapor cell that is differentially pumped from an adjoining vacuum chamber, wherein are performed scientific observations of the beams ultimately generated by the atom laser.

Thompson, Robert↗
DOE OSTI2025

N -way parametric frequency beamsplitter for quantum photonics

Optical networks are the leading platform for the transfer of information due to their low loss and ability to scale to many information channels using optical frequency modes. To fully leverage the quantum properties of light in this platform, it is desired to manipulate higher-dimensional superpositions by orchestrating linear, beamsplitter-type interactions between several channels simultaneously. We propose a method of achieving simultaneous, all-to-all coupling between N optical frequency modes via N -way Bragg-scattering four-wave mixing. By exploiting the frequency degree of freedom, additional modes can be multiplexed in an interaction medium of fixed volume and loss while avoiding the introduction of excess noise. We generalize the theory of the frequency-encoded two-mode interaction to N modes under this four-wave-mixing approach, finding that arbitrary unitary transformations are possible through successive four-wave-mixing pump configurations. We experimentally verify the quantum nature of this scheme by demonstrating three-way multiphoton interference. Two input photons are shared among three frequency modes and display interference differing from that of two classical (coherent-state) inputs. These results show the potential of our approach for the scalability of photonic quantum information processing to general N -mode systems in the frequency domain. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Oliver, Richard (ORCID:0000000207760657)↗
NASA NTRS1971

Postulation of the arc restrike mechanisms for exploding wires and tubes.

The many facets of exploding wire restrikes are studied. They are related to the cylindrical shock wave which pumps down the density of the center region of a line energy source or around the surface of the heated wire continuously to a lower density. When the density of any region is pumped down to lower than Paschen's electric breakdown criteria, restrike occurs. The cylindrical shocks occurring in exploding wires are, in general, divided into two types. In the first type the shock is generated by the wire explosion and in the second type the shock is generated by the heat conduction of the wire to the surrounding gas. Application of this mechanism to exploding tubes will enable us to create arc channels in arbitrary gaseous atmospheres with controllable plasma density with the contamination excluded. Neutral density shielded plasma experiments, therefore, can be conducted in a controllable environment.

Cheng, D. Y.↗