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At least 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Theoretical description based on general and exact nonextensive dispersion relations of plasma oscillation data and verification of new acoustic plasma waves

In this paper, first we represent the differences between spatial and temporal dispersions and their dependence on the measurement techniques for electrostatic waves in unmagnetized collisionless plasma. Then, three different experimental data are compared to the solutions of exact nonextensive dispersion relations for electron-ion and pair plasma. The results confirm the existence of new acoustic plasma waves. Furthermore, these comparisons yield a Maxwellian and a nonextensive plasma with nonextensive parameter q larger than one, and a Maxwellian plasma with some abnormal dispersion properties.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1972

Nonlinear interaction of plasma waves in a cold magnetized plasma.

Coupling equations are derived for the general case of nonlinear coupling of any wave modes in a cold magnetized plasma with particle drift motions. Specifically, the transformation of electrostatic waves is studied in connection with solar type-III radiation. A relevant numerical analysis is also presented.

Chin, Y.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Undamped plasma waves

This paper describes small-amplitude nonlinear plasma wave solutions to the one-dimensional Vlasov-Maxwell equations. A sufficient condition for waves of a given phase velocity to exist arbitrarily close to a given spatially uniform Vlasov equilibrium is developed, and sufficient analytical information for the construction of approximate expressions for the electric potential and distribution functions is derived, with exact knowledge of the asymptotic behavior of the error terms. These results have a very surprising physical implication: the Landau damping of small-amplitude waves is not inevitable. Instead, there exist plasma waves that trap particles even at arbitrarily small amplitude and do not damp.

Holloway, James P.↗
NASA NTRS1994

A revised analysis of micron-sized particles detected near Saturn by the Voyager 2 plasma wave instrument

The impulsive noise that the plasma wave and radio astronomy instruments detected during the Voyager 2 swing by Saturn was attributed to dust grains striking the spacecraft. This report presents a reanalysis of the dust impacts recorded by the plasma wave instrument using an improved model for the response of the electric antenna to dust impacts. The fundamental assumption used in this analysis is that the voltage induced on the antenna is proportional to the mass of the impacting grain. Using the above assumption and the antenna response constants used at Uranus and Neptune, the following conclusions can be reached. The primary dust distribution consists of a 'disk' of particles that coincides with the equator plane and has a north-south thickness of 2-Delta zeta = 962 km. A less dense 'halo' with a north-south thickness of 2-Delta zeta = 3376 km surrounds the primary distribution. The dust particle sizes are of the order of 10 microns, assuming a mass density of 1 g/cu cm. The corresponding particle masses are of the order of 10(exp -9) g, and maximum number densities are of the order of 10(exp -2)/cu m. Most likely, the G ring is the dominate source since the particles were observed very close to that ring, namely at 2.86 R(sub S). Other sources, like nearby moons, are not ruled out especially when perturbations due to electromagnetic forces are included. The calculated optical depth differs by about a factor of 2 from photometric studies. The current particle masses, radii, and the effective north-south thickness of the particle distribution are larger than what Gurnett et al. (1983) reported by about 2, 1, and 1 orders of magnitude, respectively. This is attributed to the fact that the collection coefficient used in this study is smaller than what was used in Gurnett et al.'s earlier publication.

Tsintikidis, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Discovery of cometary kilometric radiations and plasma waves at Comet Halley

The plasma-wave probe carried by the spacecraft Sakigake discovered discrete spectra of emissions from Comet Halley in the frequency range 30-195 kHz. The observed cometary kilometric radiation appears to come from moving shocks in the coma region which are possibly associated with temporal variations of the solar wind. Waves due to plasma instabilities associated with the pick-up of cometary ions by the solar wind were observed within a region almost 10 million km from the comet nucleus.

Oya, H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A search for Saturn electrostatic discharges in the Voyager plasma wave data

A search of Voyager spacecraft plasma wave data for evidence of Saturn electrostatic discharges, whose detection was suggested to be likely on the basis of radio astronomy observations, has yielded no evidence of this phenomenon. The statistical significance of this null result is analyzed, and its ramifications are commented upon. The explanations entertained for the lack of plasma wave observations of electrostatic discharges include the possibility that many events are of much shorter duration than previously reported, or that there may be a nonlinear distortion in the radio astronomy receiver employed which may have artificially broadened the spectrum of the discharges.

Kurth, W. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

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.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Study of dust in the vicinity of Dione using the Voyager 1 plasma wave instrument

The flyby of Voyager 1 at Saturn yielded the detection of a large variety of plasma waves, for example, chorus, hiss, and electron cyclotron harmonics. Just before the outbound equator crossing, the Voyager 1 plasma wave instrument detected a strong, well-defined low-frequency enhancement in signal levels. Initially, it was thought that this enhancement was due to plasma waves, but more recently it was suggested that dust impacts might be at least partial contributors. In this report we present evidence that dust impacts are partly responsible for the low-frequency enhancement. A new method of analysis which relies mainly on the 16-channel spectrum analyzer has been used to derive the dust impact rate. The available wideband waveform observations (which have been used previously to study dust impacts) were useful for calibrating the impact rate from the spectrum analyzer data. The mass and hence size of the dust particles were also obtained by analyzing the response of the plasma wave spectrum and analyzer. The results show that the region sampled by Voyager 1 is populated by dust particles that have rms masses of up to a few times 10(exp -11) g and sizes of up to a few microns. The dust particle number density is of the order of 10(exp -3)/cu m. The optical depth of the region sampled by the spacecraft is approximately 10(exp -6). The particle population is centered at 2470 (+/- 150) km south of the equatorial plane and has a north-south FWHM (full-width, half-maximum) thickness of 4130 (+/- 450) km. The dust may be part of the E ring or a localized ringlet assoicated with Dione.

Tsintikidis, D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

High time resolution plasma wave and magnetic field observations of the Jovian bow shock

High time resolution (60 ms) Voyager magnetometer and plasma wave measurements of a strong (fast Mach number 16), quasi-perpendicular Jovian bow shock reveal an abrupt change in the plasma wave spectrum at the leading edge of the shock foot. Upstream electron plasma waves terminate at the leading edge, and are replaced by a lower-frequency broadband spectrum of ion-acoustic-like waves, which terminates at the main shock ramp. The clear association with the foot region of the lower frequency component suggests that it is generated by reflected ions. If the upstream plasma waves are generated by an escaping electron heat flux, their termination at the leading edge suggests that electrons are heated by the low-frequency waves in the shock foot.

Moses, S. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Cosmic noise 'absorption' by E region plasma waves

Riometer records and the electric field records obtained during the same period at two different locations are compared in order to investigate the effect of cosmic radio wave backscatter by E region plasma waves on the cosmic radio wave power reaching riometers. The data on the relation between absorption events of small magnitude (a few tenths of a decibel to about 1 dB) and intense ionospheric electric fields are in agreement with the idea that a number of absorption events measured by riometers result from radiation backscatter into space by E region plasma waves of the Farley-Buneman type.

Mehta, N. C.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Electromagnetic plasma wave propagation along a magnetic field

The linearized response of a Vlasov plasma to the steady-state excitation of transverse plasma waves along an external magnetic field is examined. Assuming a delta-function excitation mechanism, and performing a detailed Vlasov-Maxwell equation analysis using Fourier-Laplace transforms, the plasma response is found to consist of three terms: a branch-cut term, a free-streaming term, and a dielectric-pole term. Also considered is the phenomenon of plasma wave echoes. The case of longitudinal electrostatic waves is extended to the case of transverse plasma waves that propagate along an external magnetic field. It is shown that a transverse echo results in lowest order only when one excitation is transverse and the other is longitudinal.

Olson, C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Lagrangian methods in nonlinear plasma wave interaction

Analysis of nonlinear plasma wave interactions is usually very complicated, and simplifying mathematical approaches are highly desirable. The application of averaged-Lagrangian methods offers a considerable reduction in effort, with improved insight into synchronism and conservation (Manley-Rowe) relations. This chapter indicates how suitable Lagrangian densities have been defined, expanded, and manipulated to describe nonlinear wave-wave and wave-particle interactions in the microscopic, macroscopic and cold plasma models. Recently, further simplifications have been introduced by the use of techniques derived from Lie algebra. These and likely future developments are reviewed briefly.

Crawford, F. W.↗
DOE OSTI2012

Evolution of ultrashort laser pulse in large amplitude plasma waves

The propagation and evolution of an ultrashort laser pulse in a large amplitude plasma wave are investigated based on the photon kinetic theory. The photon number distribution function for a laser pulse in the phase space is analytically obtained by solving the photon kinetic equation in the background plasma wave. And then, the behavior of the laser pulse can be described by combining the single photon dynamics and the photon number distribution function. The evolutions of the photon number density in the coordinate and frequency domain space are discussed, and broadening or compressing of the laser pulse is also displayed in this paper. In particular, the frequency shift of the entire laser pulse is analyzed, which reflects a way of energy transformation between the laser pulse and the plasma wave.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1993

A Study of Saturn's E-Ring Particles Using the Voyager 1 Plasma Wave Instrument

The flyby of Voyager 1 at Saturn resulted in the detection of a large variety of plasma waves, e.g., chorus, hiss, and electron cyclotron harmonics. Just before the outbound equator crossing, at about 6.1 R(sub s), the Voyager 1 plasma wave instrument detected a strong, well-defined low-frequency enhancement. Initially it was suggested that plasma waves might be responsible for the spectral feature but more recently dust was suggested as at least a partial contributor to the enhancement. In this report we present evidence which supports the conclusion that dust contributes to the low-frequency enhancement. A new method has been used to derive the dust impact rate. The method relies mainly on the 16-channel spectrum analyzer data. The few wide band waveform observations available (which have been used to study dust impacts during the Voyager 2 ring plane crossing) were useful for calibrating the impact rate from the spectrum analyzer data. The mass and, hence, the size of the dust particles were also obtained by analyzing the response of the plasma wave spectrum analyzer. The results show that the region sampled by Voyager 1 is populated by dust particles that have rms masses of up to few times 10(exp -11) g and sizes of up to a few microns. The dust particle number density is on the order of 10(exp -3) m(exp 3). The optical depth of the region sampled by the spacecraft is 1.04 x 10(exp -6). The particle population is centered about 2500 km south of the equatorial plane and has a north-south thickness of about 4000 km. Possible sources of these particles are the moons Enceladus and Tethys whose orbits lie within the E-ring radial extent. These results are in reasonable agreement with photometric studies and numerical simulations.

Tsintikidis, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Plasma waves associated with the first AMPTE magnetotail barium release

Plasma waves observed during the March 21, 1985, AMPTE magnetotail barium release are described. Electron plasma oscillations provided local measurements of the plasma density during both the expansion and decay phases. Immediately after the explosion, the electron density reached a peak of about 400,000/cu cm, and then started decreasing approximately as t to the -2.4 as the cloud expanded. About 6 minutes after the explosion, the electron density suddenly began to increase, reached a secondary peak of about 240/cu cm, and then slowly decayed down to the preevent level over a period of about 15 minutes. The density increase is believed to be caused by the collapse of the ion cloud into the diamagnetic cavity created by the initial expansion. The plasma wave intensities observed during the entire event were quite low. In the diamagnetic cavity, electrostatic emissions were observed near the barium ion plasma frequency, and in another band at lower frequencies. A broadband burst of electrostatic noise was also observed at the boundary of the diamagnetic cavity. Except for electron plasma oscillations, no significant wave activity was observed outside of the diamagnetic cavity.

Gurnett, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Magnetospheric plasma wave research 1975-1978

Research conducted from 1975 through 1978 on magnetospheric plasma waves generated in or passing through the magnetospheres of the earth and Jupiter is reviewed. Attention is given to bow shock whistlers and electrostatic waves, electromagnetic wave packets in the magnetosheath ('lion roars'), nonthermal continuum radiation apparently associated with energetic electrons in the outer radiation zone, electrostatic and magnetic noise and PI2 pulsations in the magnetotail and plasma sheet and polar cusp phenomena. Plasma waves in the auroral zone, including VLF hiss and saucers, electrostatic wave turbulence and kilometric radiation are treated, together with MHD waves and magnetic pulsations, ion cyclotron waves, VLF chorus and hiss and electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic radiation in and beyond plasmapause, plasmaspheric hiss, whistlers, power line harmonic radiation and controlled wave generation experiments. Observations of plasmasphere and auroral zone phenomena in the ionosphere are discussed, and escaping and trapped plasma waves in the magnetospheres of Jupiter and other planets are considered. Planned future magnetospheric research for the next four years is outlined.

Shawhan, S. D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Radiation of plasma waves by a conducting body moving through a magnetized plasma

A theory is presented describing energy loss due to radiation of plasma waves by a conducting body moving through a magnetized plasma, which makes it possible to estimate the total power radiated at all frequencies. Using energy conservation and a source current deduced by physical reasoning, numerical predictions were made for the power radiated. It was found that radiation is produced at all frequencies for which one of the plasma modes has zero phase velocity in some direction.

Barnett, Alan↗