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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 1,063 records · Page 59
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2010

Broken ergodicity in two-dimensional homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

Two-dimensional (2D) homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence has many of the same qualitative features as three-dimensional (3D) homogeneous MHD turbulence. These features include several ideal (i.e., nondissipative) invariants along with the phenomenon of broken ergodicity (defined as nonergodic behavior over a very long time). Broken ergodicity appears when certain modes act like random variables with mean values that are large compared to their standard deviations, indicating a coherent structure or dynamo. Recently, the origin of broken ergodicity in 3D MHD turbulence that is manifest in the lowest wavenumbers was found. Here, we study the origin of broken ergodicity in 2D MHD turbulence. It will be seen that broken ergodicity in ideal 2D MHD turbulence can be manifest in the lowest wavenumbers of a finite numerical model for certain initial conditions or in the highest wavenumbers for another set of initial conditions. The origins of broken ergodicity in an ideal 2D homogeneous MHD turbulence are found through an eigenanalysis of the covariance matrices of the probability density function and by an examination of the associated entropy functional. When the values of ideal invariants are kept fixed and grid size increases, it will be shown that the energy in a few large modes remains constant, while the energy in any other mode is inversely proportional to grid size. Also, as grid size increases, we find that broken ergodicity becomes manifest at more and more wavenumbers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

High accuracy wavelength calibration for a scanning visible spectrometer

Spectroscopic applications for plasma velocity measurements often require wavelength accuracies {<=}0.2 A. An automated calibration, which is stable over time and environmental conditions without the need to recalibrate after each grating movement, was developed for a scanning spectrometer to achieve high wavelength accuracy over the visible spectrum. This method fits all relevant spectrometer parameters using multiple calibration spectra. With a stepping-motor controlled sine drive, an accuracy of {approx}0.25 A has been demonstrated. With the addition of a high resolution (0.075 arc sec) optical encoder on the grating stage, greater precision ({approx}0.005 A) is possible, allowing absolute velocity measurements within {approx}0.3 km/s. This level of precision requires monitoring of atmospheric temperature and pressure and of grating bulk temperature to correct for changes in the refractive index of air and the groove density, respectively.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2010

Temporal symmetry of individual filaments in different spatial symmetry filaments pattern in a dielectric barrier discharge

The temporal behavior of individual filament in different spatial symmetry filaments patterns in dielectric barrier discharge is investigated by using an optical method. A series of return maps of the discharge moments of individual filaments is given. It is found that the temporal symmetry of individual filament changes with the change of the spatial symmetry of filaments pattern as the applied voltage increases. The role of wall charges for this phenomenon is analyzed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Symmetries, weak symmetries, and related solutions of the Grad-Shafranov equation

We discuss a new family of solutions of the Grad-Shafranov (GS) equation that describes D-shaped toroidal plasma equilibria with sharp gradients at the plasma edge. These solutions have been derived by exploiting the continuous Lie symmetry properties of the GS equation and in particular a special type of 'weak' symmetries. In addition, we review the continuous Lie symmetry properties of the GS equation and present a short but exhaustive survey of the possible choices for the arbitrary flux functions that yield GS equations admitting some continuous Lie symmetry. Particular solutions related to these symmetries are also discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Traveling wave model for laser-guided discharges

We present an easily solvable 1D traveling wave model for laser-guided discharges. By assuming constant propagation speed u, the hydro/electrodynamic/chemistry equations are reduced to ordinary differential equations in retarded time {tau}. Negative discharges are shown to propagate only if u>{mu}E{sub b}, where {mu} is electron mobility and E{sub b} is the breakdown field; positive discharges propagate only if the channel preconductance exceeds {approx}6x10{sup -11} m/{Omega}. The axial electric field E is shown to spike up to several times E{sub b} and then relax to {approx}E{sub b} for as long as the gas remains cold. In this streamer region, the channel conductance, current, and potential all increase linearly with {tau}. The transition to the leader stage, where E is much smaller, occurs in two steps: excitation of vibrational and low-lying electronic states, then gas heating. The propagation range decreases as a function of initial radius and (for given maximum voltage) of the voltage rise rate. Expansion of the hot channel is shown to increase the range.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Calibration of a high resolution grating soft x-ray spectrometer

The calibration of the soft x-ray spectral response of a large radius of curvature, high resolution grating spectrometer (HRGS) with a back-illuminated charge-coupled device detector is reported. The instrument is cross-calibrated for the 10-50 A waveband at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory electron beam ion trap (EBIT) x-ray source with the EBIT calorimeter spectrometer. The HRGS instrument is designed for laser-produced plasma experiments and is important for making high dynamic range measurements of line intensities, line shapes, and x-ray sources.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2010

Response to 'Comment on 'The effects of Bohm potential on ion-acoustic solitary waves interaction in a nonplanar quantum plasma'' [Phys. Plasmas 17, 114701 (2010)]

In a recent comment, M. Akbari-Moghanjoughi [Phys. Plasmas 17, 114701 (2010)] (whom we will refer to as A.M.) pointed out that in the quantum hydrodynamics plasma model the parameters p (the fractional positron to ion number density) and {sigma} (the relative positron to electron Fermi temperature) are not independent quantum plasma parameters which has important consequences on the graphical interpretations presented in our article. We agree with A.M. that the phase shift cannot be plotted in a {sigma}-p plane and the value of p=0.2 does not correspond to {sigma}=0.02. However, the main results given by formulas and the conclusion in our paper [S.-C. Li, Phys. Plasmas 17, 082307 (2010)] are independent of the figures and remain valid. To understand and interpret the results obtained in our previous article correctly, in this response, we will show some new figures and make some discusses.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

From extended phase space dynamics to fluid theory

We derive a fluid theory for spin-1/2 particles starting from an extended kinetic model based on a spin-projected density matrix formalism. The evolution equation for the spin density is found to contain a pressurelike term. We give an example where this term is important by looking at a linear mode previously found in a spin kinetic model.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Analytic theory for betatron radiation from relativistic electrons in ion plasma channels with magnetic field

We analytically solve the relativistic equation of motion for an electron in ion plasma channels and calculate the corresponding trajectory as well as the synchrotron radiation. The relativistic effect on a trajectory is strong, i.e., many high-order harmonic terms in the trajectory, when the ratio of the initial transverse velocity (v{sub x0}) to the longitudinal velocity (v{sub z0}) of the electron injected to ion plasma channels is high. Interestingly, these high-order harmonic terms result in a quite broad and intense radiation spectrum, especially at an oblique angle, in contrast to an earlier understanding. As the initial velocity ratio (v{sub x0}:v{sub z0}) decreases, the relativistic effect becomes weak; only the first and second harmonic terms remain in the transverse and longitudinal trajectories, respectively, which coincides with the result of Esarey et al. [Phys. Rev. E 65, 056505 (2002)]. Our formalism also allows the description of electron's trajectory in the presence of an applied magnetic field. Critical magnetic fields for cyclotron motions are figured out and compared with semiclassical results. The cyclotron motion leads to more high-order harmonic terms than the trajectory without magnetic fields and causes an immensely broad spectrum with vastly large radiation amplitude for high initial velocity ratios (v{sub x0}:v{sub z0}). The radiation from hard x-ray to gamma-ray regions can be generated with a broad radiation angle, thus available for applications.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Modeling of the plasma generated in a rarefied hypersonic shock layer

In this study, a rigorous numerical model is developed to simulate the plasma generated in a rarefied, hypersonic shock layer. The model uses the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method to treat the particle collisions and the particle-in-cell (PIC) method to simulate the plasma dynamics in a self-consistent manner. The model is applied to compute the flow along the stagnation streamline in front of a blunt body reentering the Earth's atmosphere at very high velocity. Results from the rigorous DSMC-PIC model are compared directly to the standard DSMC modeling approach that uses the ambipolar diffusion approximation to simulate the plasma dynamics. It is demonstrated that the self-consistent computation of the plasma dynamics using the rigorous DSMC-PIC model captures many physical phenomena not accurately predicted by the standard modeling approach. These computations represent the first assessment of the validity of the ambipolar diffusion approximation when predicting the rarefied plasma generated in a hypersonic shock layer.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Multiband reflectometry system for density profile measurement with high temporal resolution on JET tokamak

A new system has been installed on the JET tokamak consisting of six independent fast-sweeping reflectometers covering four bands between 44 and 150 GHz and using orthogonal polarizations. It has been designed to measure density profiles from the plasma edge to the center, launching microwaves through 40 m of oversized corrugated waveguides. It has routinely produced density profiles with a maximum repetition rate of one profile every 15 {mu}s and up to 100 000 profiles per pulse.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2010

High temperature Seebeck coefficient metrology

We present an overview of the challenges and practices of thermoelectric metrology on bulk materials at high temperature (300 to 1300 K). The Seebeck coefficient, when combined with thermal and electrical conductivity, is an essential property measurement for evaluating the potential performance of novel thermoelectric materials. However, there is some question as to which measurement technique(s) provides the most accurate determination of the Seebeck coefficient at high temperature. This has led to the implementation of nonideal practices that have further complicated the confirmation of reported high ZT materials. To ensure meaningful interlaboratory comparison of data, thermoelectric measurements must be reliable, accurate, and consistent. This article will summarize and compare the relevant measurement techniques and apparatus designs required to effectively manage uncertainty, while also providing a reference resource of previous advances in high temperature thermoelectric metrology.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2010

Dynamical stability of electron trajectories in a free-electron laser with planar wiggler

The numerical computation of Kolmogorov entropy is used to study the dynamical stability of a free-electron laser with a planar wiggler. Axial magnetic field and ion-channel guiding are examined as two different types of focusing mechanism for confinement of the electron beam against its self-fields. It was found that the dynamical stability of electron trajectories decreases profoundly near the resonance region. Self-fields increase the dynamical stability in group I orbits and decrease it in group II orbits. These orbits are defined according to their axial magnetic field or ion-channel density.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Deuterium retention in tungsten exposed to low-energy pure and helium-seeded deuterium plasmas

Influence of helium (He) on the deuterium (D) retention in tungsten (W) under simultaneous He-D plasma exposure was investigated. Bulk polycrystalline tungsten and two W coatings on carbon substrate, namely, plasma-sprayed tungsten and combined magnetron-sputtered and ion implanted tungsten (CMSII-W) were exposed to pure and He-seeded D plasmas generated by electron-cyclotron-resonance plasma source. The D retention in each sample was subsequently analyzed by various methods such as nuclear reaction analysis for the D depth profiling up to 6 {mu}m and thermal desorption spectroscopy for the determination of total amount of D retention. It is shown that seeding of helium into D plasma with helium ion flux fraction of 10% reduces the deuterium retention for all tungsten grades but more significant reduction was observed for polycrystalline W and less significant effect was found for W coatings. From the thermal desorption spectroscopy measurements, we conclude that the presence of He modifies the density of existing traps for D but does not modify the nature of traps. Maximum effect of a reduction in the deuterium retention due to helium seeding was observed at around 500 K for bulk polycrystalline W. Mechanisms of deuterium retention and He effect in different W materials are discussed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of transport in a magnetized electronegative plasma

Particle transport in a uniformly magnetized electronegative plasma is studied in two-dimensional (2D) geometry with insulating (dielectric) boundaries. A 2D particle-in-cell (PIC) code is employed, with the results compared to analytic one-dimensional models that approximate the end losses as volume losses. A modified oxygen reaction set is used to scale to the low densities used in PIC codes and also to approximately model other gases. The principal study is the limiting of the transverse electron flow due to strong electron magnetization. The plasma in the PIC calculation is maintained by axial currents that vary across the transverse dimension. For a cosine current profile nearly uniform electron temperature is obtained, which at the B-fields studied (600-1200 G) give a small but significant fraction (0.25 or less) of electron to negative ion transverse loss. For a more transverse-confined current, and approximating the higher mass and attachment reaction rate of iodine, the fraction of electron to negative ion transverse loss can be made very small. The models which have been constructed reasonably approximate the PIC results and indicate that the cross-field transport is nearly classical.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Experimental Investigation of Axial and Beam-Riding Propulsive Physics with TEA CO{sub 2} laser

A twin Lumonics K922M pulsed TEA CO{sub 2} laser system (pulse duration of approximately 100 ns FWHM spike, with optional 1 {mu}s tail, depending upon laser gas mix) was employed to experimentally measure both axial thrust and beam-riding behavior of Type no. 200 lightcraft engines, using a ballistic pendulum and Angular Impulse Measurement Device (AIMD, respectively. Beam-riding forces and moments were examined along with engine thrust-vectoring behavior, as a function of: a) laser beam lateral offset from the vehicle axis of symmetry; b) laser pulse energy ({approx}12 to 40 joules); c) pulse duration (100 ns, and 1 {mu}s); and d) engine size (97.7 mm to 161.2 mm). Maximum lateral momentum coupling coefficients (C{sub M}) of 75 N-s/MJ were achieved with the K922M laser whereas previous PLVTS laser (420 J, 18 {mu}s duration) results reached only 15 N-s/MJ--an improvement of 5x. Maximum axial C{sub M} performance with the K922M reached 225 N-s/MJ, or about {approx}3x larger than the lateral C{sub M} values. These axial C{sub M} results are sharply higher than the 120 N/MW previously reported for long pulse (e.g., 10-18 {mu}s)CO{sub 2} electric discharge lasers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2010

Momentum Transfer by Laser Ablation of Irregularly Shaped Space Debris

Proposals for ground-based laser remediation of space debris rely on the creation of appropriately directed ablation-driven impulses to either divert the fragment or drive it into an orbit with a perigee allowing atmospheric capture. For a spherical fragment, the ablation impulse is a function of the orbital parameters and the laser engagement angle. If, however, the target is irregularly shaped and arbitrarily oriented, new impulse effects come into play. Here we present an analysis of some of these effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗