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At least 109 records · Page 6

Collisional-Radiative Models of Neutral and Singly-Ionized Xenon in Hall Thrusters: Experimental Validation and Model Investigations

The recently developed collisional radiative (CR) models for neutral xenon (Xe I) and singly charged xenon ion (Xe II) described by Chaplin et al. in the paper "Insights from Collisional-Radiative Models of Neutral and Singly-Ionized Xenon in Hall Thrusters" also submitted to the 2021 AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum are more thoroughly investigated. Comparisons between the existing and recently developed JPL Xe I CR models are done and reasons for discrepancies between the two models are explored. An experiment to validate the Xe II CR model is carried out in the anode region of the UCLA Plasma interactions facility. The Xe II CR model is applied to measured xenon ion emission line intensities to determine electron temperature and density. Spatial resolution of these optical measurements is obtained through an Abel inversion for direct comparison to Langmuir probe results. Although the measured electron densities were on the order of $10^{17}$ m$^{-3}$ and the Xe II CR model is most suitable for use with densities above $10^{18}$ m$^{-3}$ due to the strong dependence of the line ratios on electron temperature in that regime, initial results from the validation experiment show reasonable agreements between the optical and Langmuir probe results. The 441 nm to 605 nm line ratio appears to have the most promise for non-intrusive electron temperature measurements with the Xe II CR model. Shortcomings of the Xe II CR model revealed in the validation experiment are to be explored further.

Lobbia, Robert B.↗

Ion and electron temperatures in the SUMMA mirror device by emission spectroscopy

Ion and electron temperatures, and ion drift were measured in a superconducting magnetic mirror apparatus by observing the Doppler-broadened charge-exchange component of the 667.8 and 587.6 nanometer He lines in He plasma, and the H sub alpha and H sub beta lines in H2 plasma. The second moment of the line profiles was used as the parameter for determining ion temperature. Corrections for magnetic splitting, fine structure, monochromator slit function, and variation in charge-exchange cross section with energy are included. Electron temperatures were measured by the line ratio method for the corona model, and correlations of ion and electron temperatures with plasma parameters are presented.

Patch, R. W.↗

Ion and electron temperatures in the SUMMA mirror device by emission spectroscopy

Ion temperatures were obtained in the SUMMA mirror device by observing the Doppler-broadened charge-exchange component of the 667.8and 587.6-nm He lines in He plasma and the H alpha and H beta lines in H2 plasma. The second moment of the line profiles was used as the parameter to determine ion temperature. Corrections for magnetic splitting, fine structure, monochromator slit function, and variation in charge-exchange cross section with energy are derived and included. Even for constant cross section, no magnetic splitting or fine structure, and infinitely narrow slit function, the line profile is not Gaussian, because the excitation results from a change-exchange process. Comparison is made with temperatures from a neutral particle analyzer.-

Patch, R. W.↗

Ion temperatures in HIP-1 and SUMMA from charge-exchange neutral optical emission spectra

Ion temperatures were obtained from observations of the H sub alpha, D sub alpha, and He 587.6 nm lines emitted from hydrogen, deuterium, and helium plasmas in the SUMMA and HIP-1 mirror devices at Lewis Research Center. Steady state discharges were formed by applying a radially inward dc electric field between cylindrical or annular anodes and hollow cathodes located at the peaks of the mirrors. The ion temperatures were found from the Doppler broadening of the charge-exchange components of spectral lines. A statistical method was developed for obtaining scaling relations of ion temperature as a function of current, voltage, and magnetic flux density. Derivations are given that take into account triangular monochromator slit functions, loss cones, and superimposed charge-exchange processes. In addition, the Doppler broadening was found to be sensitive to the influence of drift on charge-exchange cross section. The effects of finite ion-cyclotron radius, cascading, and delayed emission are reviewed.

Patch, R. W.↗

Plasma wave observations with the Dynamics Explorer 1 spacecraft

This paper reviews the results from the plasma wave instrument on the Dynamics Explorer 1 (DE-1) spacecraft. The DE-1 spacecraft was launched on August 3, 1981, into an elliptical polar orbit with initial perigee and apogee radial distances of 1.09 and 4.65 earth radii. In the roughly six years since the launch of the spacecraft, DE-1 has provided basic new information on a wide variety of magnetospheric plasma wave phenomena. These include auroral kilometric radiation, auroral hiss, Z mode radiation, narrow-band electromagnetic emissions associated with equatorial upper hybrid waves, whistler mode emissions, wave-particle interactions stimulated by ground VLF transmitters, equatorial ion-cyclotron emissions, ion Bernstein-mode emissions, and electric field turbulence along the auroral field lines. A brief review of the basic plasma wave modes that can exist in the equatorial and polar regions of the magnetosphere is first given. After the basic terminology is established, each of the above areas of plasma wave research is discussed in detail, first by reviewing the state of knowledge at the time of the DE-1 launch, and then by describing the contribution made by DE-1 in the six years since the spacecraft was launched.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Probing early parton emissions in heavy ion collisions using the Lund jet plane

In scattering experiments, high-virtuality partons, i.e., quarks and gluons, initiate a series of additional parton emissions to create collimated sprays of particles known as jets. This paper presents a measurement of the Lund jet plane (LJP) of high-energy jets produced in lead-lead (PbPb) collisions and compares the results to data for proton-proton (pp) collisions. The LJP is formed by iteratively declustering the constituents of a jet into consecutive emissions and recording the relative transverse momentum ($k_\mathrm{T}$) and angle of the resulting emission with respect to its emitter. The angular distributions of two different $k_\mathrm{T}$ slices of the LJP are investigated for jets with radius parameter of 0.4 and transverse momentum in the range 200$-$1000 GeV. The PbPb (pp) data were recorded by the CMS experiment in 2018 (2017) and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 1.7 nb$^{-1}$ (301 pb$^{-1}$) at a nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The measurement was designed to test whether the earliest jet emissions are produced before the formation of the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) in PbPb collisions. Within the experimental uncertainties, no significant difference is observed between the angular distribution of high-$k_\mathrm{T}$ emissions in \pp and PbPb collisions, which is consistent with these emissions occurring early in the jet evolution, before substantial interaction with the QGP.

Belyaev, Andrey [Yerevan Phys. Inst.] (ORCID:00000↗

Multifrequency emission from hot ion disks

The discovery of a large number of gamma-emitting active galactic nuclei (AGNs) by the EGRET instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) has spawned a lot of theoretical interest in the high-energy and multifrequency emission from these objects. Since most of them show evidence for relativistic outflow, jet models have received most of the attention so far. However, the presence of soft photons at the center of the active nucleus and the resulting Compton drag make it difficult to produce the observed amount of MeV/GeV emission. We explore hot, two-temperature accretion disks around Kerr black holes as an alternative to relativistic beam models for the production of the high-enerty emission. The decay of neutral pions created in the hot region produces photons with energies up to several hundred MeV. Relativistic pairs created as a result of charged pion decays produce additional inverse-Compton radiation in the range of approx. 1 keV-4 MeV if the pairs are exposed to UV radiation, or in the range of approx. 40 keV-150 MeV if the pairs are exposed to soft X-rays. This suggests that high-energy flares in AGNs may be triggered by changes in the disk structure (such as phase transitions or the development of electron scattering coronae) that temporarily shield the hot inner region from UV photons emitted at larger radii, thereby reducing the optical depth for MeV/GeV gamma-rays. Stochastic processes may also play a role in accelerating the utrarelativistic electrons responsible for producing the highest energy (GeV) emission.

Maisack, Michael↗

Simulations and observations of plasma depletion, ion composition, and airglow emissions in two auroral ionospheric depletion experiments

Observations of plasma depletion, ion composition modification, and airglow emissions in the Waterhole experiments are presented. The detailed ion chemistry and airglow emission processes related to the ionospheric hole formation in the experiment are examined, and observations are compared with computer simulation results. The latter indicate that the overall depletion rates in different parts of the depletion region are governed by different parameters.

Yau, A. W.↗

Gyroharmonic emissions induced by energetic ions in the equatorial plasmasphere

A theoretical investigation shows that MeV ions observed in the plasmasphere which have a power law distribution function possessing strong pitch angle anisotropy can give rise to emissions at frequencies near the harmonics of the ion gyrofrequencies observed in the same region. These emissions are sustained by the low-beta sub c plasma in the plasmasphere. It is found that only emissions with frequencies along the fast magnetosonic branch may occur and that these waves are essentially perpendicularly propagating. Growth is restricted to frequencies immediately below the ion gyroharmonics by the resonance condition and implies line widths of about 0.001 Omega sub alpha. Observations of ion gyroharmonic emissions with spacings of 1/16, 1/8, and 3/16 of the proton gyrofrequency may indicate the existence of energetic ion O(+), O(2+), and O(3+), respectively.

Curtis, S. A.↗

Use of LEED, Auger emission spectroscopy and field ion microscopy in microstructural studies

Surface research tools such as LEED, Auger emission spectroscopy analysis, and field ion microscopy are discussed. Examples of their use in studying adhesion, friction, wear, and lubrication presented. These tools have provided considerable insight into the basic nature of solid surface interactions. The transfer of metals from one surface to another at the atomic level has been observed and studied with each of these devices. The field ion microscope has been used to study polymer-metal interactions and Auger analysis to study the mechanism of polymer adhesion to metals. LEED and Auger analysis have identified surface segregation of alloying elements and indicated the influence of these elements in metallic adhesion. LEED and Auger analysis have assisted in adsorption studies in determining the structural arrangement and quantity of adsorbed species present in making an understanding of the influence of these species on adhesion possible. These devices are assisting in the furtherance of understanding of the fundamental mechanism involved in the adhesion, friction, wear, and lubrication processes.

Ferrante, J.↗

Modification of spacecraft potentials by plasma emission

The ion engine operations on Applied Technology Satellite 6 (ATS-6) altered the charge state of the spacecraft, changing the spacecraft surface potentials with respect to the distant plasmas. Plasma emission in quiet environments (plasma temperatures below 1 keV) caused the spacecraft potential to shift from a few volts positive to a few volts negative. A net ion current is emitted in such cases. The emission of a plasma or beam in energetic environments (plasma temperatures in the 5-10-keV range) in sunlight caused larger changes. Typical equilibrium potentials for ATS-6 in such environments were on the order of a hundred volts negative, with variations in potential across the spacecraft surface of comparable magnitude. Engine operations under such conditions raised the mainframe potential to near zero volts, and discharged the differential potentials on the dielectric surfaces. Plasma emission by the plasma bridge was an effective method of discharging kilovolt potentials in eclipse.

Olsen, R. C.↗

Density sensitivity of the solar EUV emission from boron-like ions

The paper investigated the level populations and the line emission arising from ions of the boron isoelectronic sequence from C II to Ca XVI. It is found that, under conditions present in the solar corona, some of these ions have pairs of emission lines having intensity ratios which are density-sensitive. The boron-like lines observed in the solar spectrum between 300 and 1350 A are analyzed, and densities for quiet and active regions, coronal holes, sunspots, and flares are derived. Some aspects of the differences in the behavior of the emission from the lithium and boron sequences are also discussed.

Vernazza, J. E.↗

Experimental limits on the velocities of sodium atoms sputtered from solid surfaces by hydrogen ions

Optical emission at 589.0 nm by sodium atoms sputtered from solid targets by hydrogen molecular ions was observed, and no accompanying broadening or shifts of this line could be detected relative to that from a laboratory lamp. This allowed an upper limit of about 500,000 cm/sec on the mean speed of ejected sodium atoms to be calculated. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the atomic sodium cloud surrounding Io is produced by this mechanism.

Stoner, J. O., Jr.↗

Secondary electron emission characteristics of ion-textured copper and high-purity isotropic graphite surfaces

Experimentally determined values of true secondary electron emission and relative values of reflected primary electron yield for untreated and ion textured oxygen free high conductivity copper and untreated and ion textured high purity isotropic graphite surfaces are presented for a range of primary electron beam energies and beam impingement angles. This investigation was conducted to provide information that would improve the efficiency of multistage depressed collectors (MDC's) for microwave amplifier traveling wave tubes in space communications and aircraft applications. For high efficiency, MDC electrode surfaces must have low secondary electron emission characteristics. Although copper is a commonly used material for MDC electrodes, it exhibits relatively high levels of secondary electron emission if its surface is not treated for emission control. Recent studies demonstrated that high purity isotropic graphite is a promising material for MDC electrodes, particularly with ion textured surfaces. The materials were tested at primary electron beam energies of 200 to 2000 eV and at direct (0 deg) to near grazing (85 deg) beam impingement angles. True secondary electron emission and relative reflected primary electron yield characteristics of the ion textured surfaces were compared with each other and with those of untreated surfaces of the same materials. Both the untreated and ion textured graphite surfaces and the ion treated copper surface exhibited sharply reduced secondary electron emission characteristics relative to those of untreated copper. The ion treated graphite surface yielded the lowest emission levels.

Curren, A. N.↗

Dependence of ion-cyclotron range of frequencies instabilities on species mix and fast-ion distribution: I. Stability

Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) driven by fast ions has the potential to be a reactor relevant diagnostic of confined and escaping fast ions; moreover, controlled experiments in magnetic fusion devices can shed light on similar magnetospheric instabilities below and above the ion cyclotron frequency f ci . Dedicated DIII-D experiments studied instabilities below f ci and at cyclotron harmonics l f ci by injecting thirteen different neutral beam populations into plasmas with different thermal compositions of H, D, and 3He at five different values of toroidal field. High-frequency magnetic loops diagnose mode properties. Each beam type is individually injected for an approximate slowing-down time (~100 ms), resulting in a database of 2529 conditions that are analyzed in frequency bands corresponding to ICE harmonics and < f ci global Alfvén eigenmodes. The sub-cyclotron modes are more unstable at low field and in plasmas with large H concentration. For D injection, first harmonic ICE at f cD is more unstable in hydrogen plasmas but, for H injection, the converse is true (ICE at f cH is more unstable in D), suggesting that thermal same-species ions damp fundamental ICE. ICE stability also depends upon the pitch-angle anisotropy gradient and upon the ‘bump-on-tail’ gradient ∂f/∂v. Although the frequency of unstable ICE in these plasmas always occurs near the central cyclotron frequency, the precise value also depends on the Alfvén speed and beam direction, consistent with the idea that instability occurs for modes that simultaneously satisfy ω ≃ 2πlf ci , the magnetosonic dispersion relation, and the Doppler-shifted resonance condition.

electromagnetic ion cyclotron instabilities↗