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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Artificial plasma density structures produced by energetic electron beams from rockets and spacecraft

Recent rocket and Space Shuttle experiments have demonstrated the capability to launch electron beams of moderate power (100 W to 10 kW) into the earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere. This letter describes how such beams, when fired from rockets or satellites, can create significant ionization in the E- and F-regions of the ionosphere. Through proper selection of beam-related parameters, an interesting variety of plasma density structures, including plasma sheets and plasma filaments, can be created and studied over periods of 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the rate of plasma recombination and the density of the ambient plasma. Observations of these structures can give new information relating to the physics of plasma density structures in the ionosphere, and the effects these features have upon the scattering of radio waves. It is also possible that observations of the density structures will provide a new means for studying neutral winds and electrodynamic phenomena in the ionosphere.

Banks, P. M.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Reduced entropic model for studies of multidimensional nonlocal transport in high-energy-density plasmas

Hydrodynamic simulations of high-energy-density plasmas require a detailed description of energy fluxes. For low and intermediate atomic number materials, the leading mechanism is the electron transport, which may be a nonlocal phenomenon requiring a kinetic modeling. In this paper, we present and test the results of a nonlocal model based on the first angular moments of a simplified Fokker-Planck equation. This multidimensional model is closed thanks to an entropic relation (the Boltzman H-theorem). It provides a better description of the electron distribution function, thus enabling studies of small scale kinetic effects within the hydrodynamic framework. Examples of instabilities of electron plasma and ion-acoustic waves, driven by the heat flux, are presented and compared with the classical formula.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1985

An enhancement of plasma density by neutral gas injection observed in SEPAC Spacelab-1 experiment

An enhancement of plasma density observed during a neutral gas injection in Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators by the Space Shuttle/Spacelab-1 is presented. When a plume of nitrogen gas was injected from the orbiter into space, a large amount of plasma was detected by an onboard plasma probe. The observed density often increased beyond the background plasma density and was strongly dependent on the attitude of the orbiter with respect to the velocity vector. This effect has been explained by a collisional interaction between the injected gas molecules and the ionospheric ions relatively drifting at the orbital speed.

Sasaki, S.↗
DOE OSTI2016

Measurement of plasma density in the discharge maintained in a nonuniform gas flow by a high-power terahertz-wave gyrotron

We performed measurements of plasma density in a “point-like” discharge, which is generated in a nonuniform flow of a gas (argon) under the action of high-power terahertz gyrotron radiation with a frequency of 0.67 THz, a power of 40 kW, and a pulse duration of 20 μs. The nonuniform flow was produced by injecting the gas to the vacuum chamber through a small hole (0.14 mm in diameter) under a background pressure at a level of 0.01 Torr. The discharge developed and was localized only in a small region of space (about 1 mm) near the gas injection hole, where the pressure was high (close to the atmospheric one) and the breakdown conditions (the “point-like” discharge) were fulfilled. The density of electrons in the discharge was measured by observing the Stark broadening of the atomic radiation line H{sub α} of hydrogen (656.3 nm) which was present in the discharge as a minor admixture. The plasma density in the discharge was equal to about 2 × 10{sup 16} cm{sup −3}, which exceeds the cut-off density for a frequency of 0.67 THz used to maintain the discharge.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Parameter space for magnetization effects in high-energy-density plasmas

Magnetic fields are well known to affect the evolution of fluids via the J × B force, where J is the current density and B is the magnetic field. This force leads to the influence of magnetic fields on hydrodynamics (magnetohydrodynamics). Magnetic fields are often neglected in modeling of high-energy-density plasmas, since J × B is very small compared with the plasma pressure gradients. However, many experiments lie in a separate part of parameter space where the plasma is indirectly affected via magnetization of the heat flux and charged particle transport. This is true even for initially unmagnetized plasmas, since misaligned density and temperature gradients can self-generate magnetic fields. By comparing terms in the induction equation, we go on to estimate the regions of parameter space where these self-generated fields are strong enough to affect the hydrodynamics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Measurements of ion-electron energy-transfer cross section in high-energy-density plasmas

Here, we report on measurements of the ion-electron energy-transfer cross section utilizing low-velocity ion stopping in high-energy-density plasmas at the OMEGA laser facility. These measurements utilize a technique that leverages the close relationship between low-velocity ion stopping and ion-electron equilibration. Shock-driven implosions of capsules filled with D 3 He gas doped with a trace amount of argon are used to generate densities and temperatures in ranges from 1 × 10 23 to 2 × 10 24 cm –3 and from 1.4 to 2.5 keV, respectively. The energy loss of 1-MeV DD tritons and 3.7-MeV D 3 He alphas that have velocities lower than the average velocity of the thermal electrons is measured. The energy loss of these ions is used to determine the ion-electron energy-transfer cross section, which is found to be in excellent agreement with quantum-mechanical calculations in the first Born approximation. This result provides an experimental constraint on ion-electron energy transfer in high-energy-density plasmas, which impacts the modeling of alpha heating in inertial confinement fusion implosions, magnetic-field advection in stellar atmospheres, and energy balance in supernova shocks.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Streaked Sub-ps-resolution X-ray Line Shapes and Implications for Solid-density Plasma Dynamics

A high-resolution x-ray spectrometer was coupled with an ultrafast x-ray streak camera to produce time-resolved line shape spectra measured from hot, solid-density plasmas. A Bragg crystal was placed near a laser-produced plasma to maximize throughput; alignment tolerances were established by raytracing. The streak camera produced single-shot time-resolved spectra, heavily sloped due to photon time-of-flight differences, with sufficient reproducibility to accumulate photon statistics. The images are time-calibrated by the slope of streaked spectra and dewarped to generate spectra emitted at different times defined at the source. The streaked spectra demonstrate the evolution of spectral shoulders and other features on ps timescales, showing the feasibility of plasma parameter measurements on the rapid timescales necessary to study high-energy-density plasmas.

High-energy-density plasmas↗
DOE OSTI2025

A higher-order finite-element implementation of the nonlinear Fokker–Planck collision operator for charged particle collisions in a low density plasma

Collisions between particles in a low density plasma are described by the Fokker–Planck collision operator. In applications, this nonlinear integro-differential operator is often approximated by linearised or ad-hoc model operators due to computational cost and complexity. In this work, we present an implementation of the nonlinear Fokker–Planck collision operator written in terms of Rosenbluth potentials in the Rosenbluth–MacDonald–Judd (RMJ) form. The Rosenbluth potentials may be obtained either by direct integration or by solving partial differential equations (PDEs) similar to Poisson's equation: we optimise for performance and scalability by using sparse matrices to solve the relevant PDEs. We represent the distribution function using a tensor-product continuous-Galerkin finite-element representation and we derive and describe the implementation of the weak form of the collision operator. We present tests demonstrating a successful implementation using an explicit time integrator and we comment on the speed and accuracy of the operator. Finally, we speculate on the potential for applications in the current and next generation of kinetic plasma models.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Breaking of a wake wave excited by a narrow laser pulse in a low-density plasma

The spatial structure of a wake wave excited in a low-density plasma by a laser pulse with a small focal spot radius is studied both analytically and numerically. Numerical study shows that, in a small-amplitude laser field, a wake wave breaks after the formation of an off-axis density maximum, which grows in height away from the pulse to become infinitely high after several periods. Analytical and numerical calculations show that the singularity in the density arises from the intersection of the trajectories of neighboring particles. Numerical simulations demonstrate that, as the laser field amplitude increases, the breaking point of the wake wave rapidly approaches the pulse trailing edge. For weakly nonlinear conditions, an analytic dependence of the coordinate of the breaking point on the amplitude and transverse size of the laser pulse is obtained.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

The impact of Hall physics on magnetized high energy density plasma jets

Hall physics is often neglected in high energy density plasma jets due to the relatively high electron density of such jets (n{sub e} ∼ 10{sup 19} cm{sup −3}). However, the vacuum region surrounding the jet has much lower densities and is dominated by Hall electric field. This electric field redirects plasma flows towards or away from the axis, depending on the radial current direction. A resulting change in the jet density has been observed experimentally. Furthermore, if an axial field is applied on the jet, the Hall effect is enhanced and ignoring it leads to serious discrepancies between experimental results and numerical simulations. By combining high currents (∼1 MA) and magnetic field helicity (15° angle) in a pulsed power generator such as COBRA, plasma jets can be magnetized with a 10 T axial field. The resulting field enhances the impact of the Hall effect by altering the density profile of current-free plasma jets and the stability of current-carrying plasma jets (e.g., Z-pinches)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Highly collimated monoenergetic target-surface electron acceleration in near-critical-density plasmas

Optimized-quality monoenergetic target surface electron beams at MeV level with low normalized emittance (0.03π mm mrad) and high charge (30 pC) per shot have been obtained from 3 TW laser-solid interactions at a grazing incidence. The 2-Dimension particle-in-cell simulations suggest that electrons are wake-field accelerated in a large-scale, near-critical-density preplasma. It reveals that a bubble-like structure as an accelerating cavity appears in the near-critical-density plasma region and travels along the target surface. A bunch of electrons are pinched transversely and accelerated longitudinally by the wake field in the bubble. The outstanding normalized emittance and monochromaticity of such highly collimated surface electron beams could make it an ideal beam for fast ignition or may serve as an injector in traditional accelerators.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Absolute intensity calibration of flat-field space-resolved extreme ultraviolet spectrometer using radial profiles of visible and extreme ultraviolet bremsstrahlung continuum emitted from high-density plasmas in Large Helical Device

A precise absolute intensity calibration of a flat-field space-resolved extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometer working in wavelength range of 60-400 A is carried out using a new calibration technique based on radial profile measurement of the bremsstrahlung continuum in Large Helical Device. A peaked vertical profile of the EUV bremsstrahlung continuum has been successfully observed in high-density plasmas (n{sub e}{>=} 10{sup 14} cm{sup -3}) with hydrogen ice pellet injection. The absolute calibration can be done by comparing the EUV bremsstrahlung profile with the visible bremsstrahlung profile of which the absolute value has been already calibrated using a standard lamp. The line-integrated profile of measured visible bremsstrahlung continuum is firstly converted into the local emissivity profile by considering a magnetic surface distortion due to the plasma pressure, and the local emissivity profile of EUV bremsstrahlung is secondly calculated by taking into account the electron temperature profile and free-free gaunt factor. The line-integrated profile of the EUV bremsstrahlung continuum is finally calculated from the local emissivity profile in order to compare with measured EUV bremsstrahlung profile. The absolute intensity calibration can be done by comparing measured and calculated EUV bremsstrahlung profiles. The calibration factor is thus obtained as a function of wavelength with excellent accuracy. It is also found in the profile analysis that the grating reflectivity of EUV emissions is constant along the direction perpendicular to the wavelength dispersion. Uncertainties on the calibration factor determined with the present method are discussed including charge-coupled device operation modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Local thermodynamic equilibrium in rapidly heated high energy density plasmas

Emission spectra and the dynamics of high energy density plasmas created by optical and Free Electron Lasers (FELs) depend on the populations of atomic levels. Calculations of plasma emission and ionization may be simplified by assuming Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (LTE), where populations are given by the Saha-Boltzmann equation. LTE can be achieved at high densities when collisional processes are much more significant than radiative processes, but may not be valid if plasma conditions change rapidly. A collisional-radiative model has been used to calculate the times taken by carbon and iron plasmas to reach LTE at varying densities and heating rates. The effect of different energy deposition methods, as well as Ionization Potential Depression are explored. This work shows regimes in rapidly changing plasmas, such as those created by optical lasers and FELs, where the use of LTE is justified, because timescales for plasma changes are significantly longer than the times needed to achieve an LTE ionization balance.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Helical instability in MagLIF due to axial flux compression by low-density plasma

The MagLIF (Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion) experiment at Sandia National Labs is one of the three main approaches to inertial confinement fusion. Radiographic measurements of the imploding liner have shown helical structuring that was not included in MagLIF scaling calculations but that could fundamentally change the viability of the approach. We present the first MagLIF linear dynamics simulations, using extended magnetohydrodynamical (XMHD) as well as standard MHD modeling, that reproduce these helical structures, thus enabling a physical understanding of their origin and development. Specifically, it is found that low-density plasma from the simulated power flow surfaces can compress the axial flux in the region surrounding the liner, leading to a strong layer of axial flux on the liner. The strong axial magnetic field on the liner imposes helical magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor perturbations into the imploding liner. A detailed comparison of XMHD and MHD modeling shows that there are defects in the MHD treatment of low-density plasma dynamics that are remedied by inclusion of the Hall term that is included in our XMHD model. In order to obtain fair agreement between XMHD and MHD, great care must be taken in the implementation of the numerics, especially for MHD. Even with a careful treatment of low-density plasma, MHD exhibits significant shortcomings that emphasize the importance of using XMHD modeling in pulsed-power driven high-energy-density experiments. As a result, the present results may explain why past MHD modeling efforts have failed to produce the helical structuring without initially imposing helical perturbations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Simulation of plasma density evolution in the T-10 tokamak

Analysis of the experimental profiles of the plasma density and pressure in the T-10 tokamak shows that in the plasma core they are close to the corresponding canonical profiles. This allows one to construct an expression for the particle flux in terms of the canonical profile model. T-10 experiments performed with ohmic discharges have revealed transitions from improved to low particle confinement, similar to the effect of the density pump-out from the central part of the plasma upon switching-on of the electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH). It is shown that such a change in the particle confinement is associated with the deviation of the radial pressure profile from the canonical one. A nonlinear model of particle transport in discharges with density variations that allows for the transition effects is proposed. The plasma density evolution is numerically simulated for a number of ohmic and ECRH T-10 discharges.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Shock waves in a Z-pinch and the formation of high energy density plasma

A Z-pinch liner, imploding onto a target plasma, evolves in a step-wise manner, producing a stable, magneto-inertial, high-energy-density plasma compression. The typical configuration is a cylindrical, high-atomic-number liner imploding onto a low-atomic-number target. The parameters for a terawatt-class machine (e.g., Zebra at the University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada Terawatt Facility) have been simulated. The 2-1/2 D MHD code, MACH2, was used to study this configuration. The requirements are for an initial radius of a few mm for stable implosion; the material densities properly distributed, so that the target is effectively heated initially by shock heating and finally by adiabatic compression; and the liner's thickness adjusted to promote radial current transport and subsequent current amplification in the target. Since the shock velocity is smaller in the liner, than in the target, a stable-shock forms at the interface, allowing the central load to accelerate magnetically and inertially, producing a magneto-inertial implosion and high-energy density plasma. Comparing the implosion dynamics of a low-Z target with those of a high-Z target demonstrates the role of shock waves in terms of compression and heating. In the case of a high-Z target, the shock wave does not play a significant heating role. The shock waves carry current and transport the magnetic field, producing a high density on-axis, at relatively low temperature. Whereas, in the case of a low-Z target, the fast moving shock wave preheats the target during the initial implosion phase, and the later adiabatic compression further heats the target to very high energy density. As a result, the compression ratio required for heating the low-Z plasma to very high energy densities is greatly reduced.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Dynamic Structure of Magnetized High Energy Density Plasmas (Final Report)

This report summarizes results of project DE-SC0022202 ``Dynamic Structure of Magnetized High Energy Density Plasmas,'' which was originally funded for the period 08/01/2021 - 7/31/2022, but was no-cost extended to 7/31/2023. The primary objectives of the work, as stated in the original proposal, were ``develop a theory to describe a novel state of magnetized high energy density plasmas, benchmark the theory using first-principles molecular dynamics simulations, and apply the results to develop a means to interpret x-ray scattering measurements in future experiments.'' These were the goals of the original project proposal, which was for a 3 year project. The project was ultimately funded for 1 year, and so the work completed focused on the goals described for only the first year of the proposed work. This included further developing a kinetic theory for strongly magnetized plasmas, applying it to compute fluid-scale (MHD) transport coefficients, and to test the predictions using molecular dynamics simulations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

Nonlocal theory of electromagnetic wave decay into two electromagnetic waves in a rippled density plasma channel

Parametric decay of a large amplitude electromagnetic wave into two electromagnetic modes in a rippled density plasma channel is investigated. The channel is taken to possess step density profile besides a density ripple of axial wave vector. The density ripple accounts for the momentum mismatch between the interacting waves and facilitates nonlinear coupling. For a given pump wave frequency, the requisite ripple wave number varies only a little w.r.t. the frequency of the low frequency decay wave. The radial localization of electromagnetic wave reduces the growth rate of the parametric instability. The growth rate decreases with the frequency of low frequency electromagnetic wave.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗