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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

GLOBAL AND LOCAL CUTOFF FREQUENCIES FOR TRANSVERSE WAVES PROPAGATING ALONG SOLAR MAGNETIC FLUX TUBES

It is a well-established result that the propagation of linear transverse waves along a thin but isothermal magnetic flux tube is affected by the existence of the global cutoff frequency, which separates the propagating and non-propagating waves. In this paper, the wave propagation along a thin and non-isothermal flux tube is considered and a local cutoff frequency is derived. The effects of different temperature profiles on this local cutoff frequency are studied by considering different power-law temperature distributions, as well as the semi-empirical VAL C model of the solar atmosphere. The obtained results show that the conditions for wave propagation strongly depend on the temperature gradients. Moreover, the local cutoff frequency calculated for the VAL C model gives constraints on the range of wave frequencies that are propagating in different parts of the solar atmosphere. These theoretically predicted constraints are compared to observational data and are used to discuss the role played by transverse tube waves in the atmospheric heating and dynamics, and in the excitation of solar atmospheric oscillations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

DOWNWARD CATASTROPHE OF SOLAR MAGNETIC FLUX ROPES

2.5-dimensional time-dependent ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models in Cartesian coordinates were used in previous studies to seek MHD equilibria involving a magnetic flux rope embedded in a bipolar, partially open background field. As demonstrated by these studies, the equilibrium solutions of the system are separated into two branches: the flux rope sticks to the photosphere for solutions at the lower branch but is suspended in the corona for those at the upper branch. Moreover, a solution originally at the lower branch jumps to the upper, as the related control parameter increases and reaches a critical value, and the associated jump is here referred to as an upward catastrophe. The present paper advances these studies in three aspects. First, the magnetic field is changed to be force-free; the system still experiences an upward catastrophe with an increase in each control parameter. Second, under the force-free approximation, there also exists a downward catastrophe, characterized by the jump of a solution from the upper branch to the lower. Both catastrophes are irreversible processes connecting the two branches of equilibrium solutions so as to form a cycle. Finally, the magnetic energy in the numerical domain is calculated. It is found that there exists a magnetic energy release for both catastrophes. The Ampère's force, which vanishes everywhere for force-free fields, appears only during the catastrophes and does positive work, which serves as a major mechanism for the energy release. The implications of the downward catastrophe and its relevance to solar activities are briefly discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

The search for a 100MA RancheroS magnetic flux compression generator

The Eulerian AMR rad-hydro-MHD code Roxane was used to investigate modifications to existing designs of the new RancheroS class of Magnetic Flux Compression Generators (FCGs) which might allow some members of this FCG family to exceed 100 MA driving a 10 nH static load. This report details the results of that study and proposes a specific generator modification which seems to satisfy both the peak current and desired risetime for the current pulse into the load. The details of the study and necessary modifications are presented. For details of the LA43S RancheroS FCG design and predictions for the first use of the generator refer to the relevant publications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2015

Laboratory Study of the Equilibrium and Eruption of Line-Tied Magnetic Flux Ropes in the Solar Corona

Ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instabilities such as the kink instability and the torus instability are leading candidates to explain the sudden onset of eruptive events in the solar corona. These instabilities act on line-tied magnetic flux ropes--long-lived arched structures anchored to the solar surface. In spite of substantial observational and numerical research, however, the role of these instabilities in the corona remains a subject of intense debate. For this thesis, we have constructed and operated a new line-tied flux rope experiment that permits for the first time the study of both the kink and torus instabilities in the laboratory. This experiment has the following key features: (1) the arched flux rope is line-tied to two conducting footpoints; (2) the system is magnetically dominated (low-beta) with significant stored energy; (3) the system is driven quasi-statically, producing a long-lived equilibrium; and (4) the flux rope is generated within a potential (vacuum) magnetic field arcade whose decay index--the predicted torus instability control parameter--can be externally controlled. The flux ropes are diagnosed using a two-dimensional in situ magnetic probe array whose cross-section covers a substantial portion of the plasma. The central result of this thesis is that toroidal field forces, which are traditionally neglected in the analysis of coronal flux ropes, are identified for the first time as an essential contributor to both the equilibrium and the stability of line-tied flux ropes. Most importantly, experimental measurements show that a tension force derived from a self-generated paramagnetic toroidal field exerts a restoring force on the line-tied plasma and suppresses eruptive behavior in a significant portion of the parameter space. This suppression extends to regimes that are both kink and torus unstable. We find that, in order to explain the measured tension force, low aspect ratio and line-tying effects must be considered. Finally, flux rope eruptions are observed in these experiments, but only in regimes with sufficiently low external toroidal field where the tension force is reduced. These results constitute a new condition for the prediction of line-tied magnetic flux rope eruptions: that of low external toroidal field.

Magnetic Fields↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effects of magnetic flux density and substrate bias voltage on Ni films prepared on a flexible substrate material using unbalanced magnetron sputtering assisted by inductively coupled plasma

The authors fabricated Ni films on a flexible substrate material using unbalanced magnetron sputtering assisted by inductively coupled plasma. The effects of magnetic flux density B{sub C} and substrate DC bias voltage V{sub S} on the Ni film structures were investigated. For V{sub S} = −40 V, the average surface grain size D{sub G} measured by atomic force microscopy for B{sub C} = 0, 3, and 5 mT was 88.2, 95.4, and 104.4 nm, respectively. In addition, D{sub G} increased with V{sub S}. From x-ray diffraction measurements, the (111) and (200) peaks were clearly visible for the fabricated Ni films. The ratio of the integrated intensities of I(111)/I(200) increased with V{sub S}. For V{sub S} = −40 V and B{sub C} = 3 mT, a film resistivity ρ of 8.96 × 10{sup −6} Ω cm was observed, which is close to the Ni bulk value of 6.84 × 10{sup −6} Ω cm. From these results, the authors determined that the structure of the fabricated Ni films on the flexible substrate material was affected by the values of B{sub C} and V{sub S}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2012

Cosmic strings with twisted magnetic flux lines and wound-strings in extra dimensions

We consider a generalization of the Nielsen-Olesen ansatz, in the abelian-Higgs model, which describes strings with twisted magnetic flux lines in the vortex core. The solution does not possess cylindrical symmetry, which leads to the existence of components of conserved momentum, both around the core-axis and along the length of the string. In addition, we consider a model of F-strings with rotating, geodesic windings in the compact space of the Klebanov-Strassler geometry and determine matching conditions which ensure energy and momentum conservation when loops chop off from the long-string network. We find that the expressions for the constants of motion, which determine the macroscopic string dynamics, can be made to coincide with those for the twisted flux line string, suggesting that extra-dimensional effects for F-strings may be mimicked by field-theoretic structure in topological defects.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

The scattering of f- and p-modes from ensembles of thin magnetic flux tubes: an analytical approach

Motivated by the observational results of Braun, we extend the model of Hanson and Cally to address the effect of multiple scattering of f and p modes by an ensemble of thin vertical magnetic flux tubes in the surface layers of the Sun. As in the observational Hankel analysis, we measure the scatter and phase shift from an incident cylindrical wave in a coordinate system roughly centered in the core of the ensemble. It is demonstrated that although thin flux tubes are unable to interact with high-order fluting modes individually, they can indirectly absorb energy from these waves through the scatters of kink and sausage components. It is also shown how the distribution of absorption and phase shift across the azimuthal order m depends strongly on the tube position as well as on the individual tube characteristics. This is the first analytical study into an ensembles multiple-scattering regime that is embedded within a stratified atmosphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Mapping of the HIDRA stellarator magnetic flux surfaces

The Hybrid Illinois Device for Research and Applications (HIDRA) is a classical stellarator designed for conducting plasma material interaction experiments and developing novel Plasma Facing Components (PFCs). Notably, the testing of two open-channel liquid lithium PFCs is imminent. Determining the shape of the plasma and its magnetic structure inside HIDRA is essential to carry out these tests. For this, electron traces were captured to build up the images of the HIDRA magnetic flux surfaces for several magnetic configurations, following the same procedure previously employed on the WEGA stellarator coupling an electron gun with a fluorescent detector. The FIELDLINES code has then been used to generate computational surfaces matching the experimental results. The obtained surfaces were found to be subject to a similar n = 1 error field as the one observed on WEGA, suggesting that the origin of this error field is inherent to the HIDRA vacuum vessel. Also, the effect of adding a vertical field was investigated, demonstrating the ability to radially shift the magnetic axis and move to a regime free of low-order rational resonances. Finally, this additional control over the HIDRA plasma and magnetic structure allows more freedom in setting up the PFC tests in the limiter and divertor regions.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2013

TURBULENCE IN THE OUTER REGIONS OF PROTOPLANETARY DISKS. I. WEAK ACCRETION WITH NO VERTICAL MAGNETIC FLUX

We use local numerical simulations to investigate the strength and nature of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks, where ambipolar diffusion is the dominant non-ideal MHD effect. The simulations include vertical stratification and assume zero net vertical magnetic flux. We employ a super time-stepping technique to ameliorate the Courant restriction on the diffusive time step. We find that in idealized stratified simulations, with a spatially constant ambipolar Elsasser number Am, turbulence driven by the magnetorotational instability (MRI) behaves in a similar manner as in prior unstratified calculations. Turbulence dies away for Am {<=} 1, and becomes progressively more vigorous as ambipolar diffusion is decreased. Near-ideal MHD behavior is recovered for Am {>=} 10{sup 3}. In the intermediate regime (10 {<=} Am {<=} 10{sup 3}) ambipolar diffusion leads to substantial increases in both the period of the MRI dynamo cycle and the characteristic scales of magnetic field structures. To quantify the impact of ambipolar physics on disk accretion, we run simulations at 30 AU and 100 AU that include a vertical Am profile based upon far-ultraviolet (FUV) ionized disk models. These models develop a vertically layered structure analogous to the Ohmic dead zone that is present at smaller radii. We find that, although the levels of surface turbulence can be strong (and consistent with constraints on turbulent line widths at these radii), the inferred accretion rates are at least an order of magnitude smaller than those observed in T Tauri stars. This discrepancy is very likely due to the assumption of zero vertical magnetic field in our simulations and suggests that vertical magnetic fields are essential for MRI-driven accretion in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

MAGNETIC FLUX TRANSPORT AND THE LONG-TERM EVOLUTION OF SOLAR ACTIVE REGIONS

With multiple vantage points around the Sun, Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and Solar Dynamics Observatory imaging observations provide a unique opportunity to view the solar surface continuously. We use He ii 304 Å data from these observatories to isolate and track ten active regions and study their long-term evolution. We find that active regions typically follow a standard pattern of emergence over several days followed by a slower decay that is proportional in time to the peak intensity in the region. Since STEREO does not make direct observations of the magnetic field, we employ a flux-luminosity relationship to infer the total unsigned magnetic flux evolution. To investigate this magnetic flux decay over several rotations we use a surface flux transport model, the Advective Flux Transport model, that simulates convective flows using a time-varying velocity field and find that the model provides realistic predictions when information about the active region's magnetic field strength and distribution at peak flux is available. Finally, we illustrate how 304 Å images can be used as a proxy for magnetic flux measurements when magnetic field data is not accessible.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Magnetic Flux Density Measurements Inside the Z Environment Chamber During Warm X-Ray Shots

The peak magnetic flux density was measured as 148.7 T in the axial direction, at a distance of 41 inches from the source. This value is likely accurate as all field components fell within the 3 dB bandwidth of the accompanying balun, with the peak field component at 3.1 kHz. No field structure could be identified during the test series, suggesting the Z-pinch may create a “mode-stirred” EM environment.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

HELIOSEISMIC INVESTIGATION OF EMERGING MAGNETIC FLUX IN THE SOLAR CONVECTION ZONE

Helioseismology is capable of detecting signatures of emerging sunspot regions in the solar interior before they appear at the surface. Here we present measurements that show the rising motion of the acoustic travel-time perturbation signatures in the deep convection zone, and study the possible physical origin of these signatures using observational and numerical simulation data. Our results show that the detected signatures first appear at deeper layers and then rise, with velocities of up to 1 km s{sup –1}, to shallower regions. We find evidences that these signatures may not be caused by subsurface flows or wave-speed perturbations, but are associated with acoustic power variations and frequency shifts of the cross-covariance function measured in the emerging-flux region. We also confirm with the use of numerical simulation data that phase travel-time shifts can be associated with frequency shifts related to acoustic power variations. The results of this work reveal the rising motion of magnetic flux in the deep convection zone and explain the large amplitude of the detected perturbation signatures.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

MAGNETIC FLUX CONSERVATION IN THE HELIOSHEATH

Voyager 1(V1) and Voyager 2(V2) have observed heliosheath plasma since 2005 December and 2007 August, respectively. The observed speed profiles are very different at the two spacecrafts. Speeds at V1 decreased to zero in 2010 while the average speed at V2 is a constant 150 km s{sup -1} with the direction rotating tailward. The magnetic flux is expected to be constant in these heliosheath flows. We show that the flux is constant at V2 but decreases by an order of magnitude at V1, even after accounting for divergence of the flows and changes in the solar field. If reconnection were responsible for this decrease, the magnetic field would lose 70% of its free energy to reconnection and the energy density released would be 0.6 eV cm{sup -3}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Polarized neutron imaging and three-dimensional calculation of magnetic flux trapping in bulk of superconductors

Polarized neutron radiography was used to study the three-dimensional magnetic flux distribution inside of single-crystal and polycrystalline Pb cylinders with large (cm 3 ) volume and virtually zero demagnetization. Experiments with single crystals being in the Meissner phase (T c , B ext =0 T) showed a nearly Gaussian spatial distribution, centered on the cylinder axis and decreasing towards the surface of the cylinder. In the direction along the cylinder axis the trapped flux was nearly constant. The expelled field outside of the samples followed 1/R dependence. These measurements provided a unique and detailed picture of macroscopic superconducting samples, confirming the existence of both uniform bulk Meissner expulsion in single crystals and bulk flux trapping with nearly-Bean-model profiles due to flux pinning in polycrystalline samples.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Orbit-averaged quantities, the classical Hellmann-Feynman theorem, and the magnetic flux enclosed by gyro-motion

Action integrals are often used to average a system over fast oscillations and obtain reduced dynamics. It is not surprising, then, that action integrals play a central role in the Hellmann-Feynman theorem of classical mechanics, which furnishes the values of certain quantities averaged over one period of rapid oscillation. This paper revisits the classical Hellmann-Feynman theorem, rederiving it in connection to an analogous theorem involving the time-averaged evolution of canonical coordinates. We then apply a modified version of the Hellmann-Feynman theorem to obtain a new result: the magnetic flux enclosed by one period of gyro-motion of a charged particle in a non-uniform magnetic field. These results further demonstrate the utility of the action integral in regards to obtaining orbit-averaged quantities and the usefulness of this formalism in characterizing charged particle motion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2012

SCATTERING OF THE f-MODE BY SMALL MAGNETIC FLUX ELEMENTS FROM OBSERVATIONS AND NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS

The scattering of f-modes by magnetic tubes is analyzed using three-dimensional numerical simulations. An f-mode wave packet is propagated through a solar atmosphere embedded with three different flux tube models that differ in radius and total magnetic flux. A quiet-Sun simulation without a tube present is also performed as a reference. Waves are excited inside the flux tube and propagate along the field lines, and jacket modes are generated in the surroundings of the flux tube, carrying 40% as much energy as the tube modes. The resulting scattered wave is mainly an f-mode composed of a mixture of m = 0 and m = {+-}1 modes. The amplitude of the scattered wave approximately scales with the magnetic flux. A small amount of power is scattered into the p{sub 1}-mode. We have evaluated the absorption and phase shift from a Fourier-Hankel decomposition of the photospheric vertical velocities. They are compared with the results obtained from the ensemble average of 3400 small magnetic elements observed in high-resolution MDI Doppler datacubes. The comparison shows that the observed dependence of the phase shift with wavenumber can be matched reasonably well with the simulated flux tube model. The observed variation of the phase shifts with the azimuthal order m appears to depend on details of the ensemble averaging, including possible motions of the magnetic elements and asymmetrically shaped elements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Remanent Magnetic Flux Distribution in Superconducting-Ferromagnetic Layered Heterostructures

Stacks of superconducting tape, made of second-generation coated conductors, present an interesting alternative to bulk superconductors. The layered geometry allows incorporation of other functional, namely ferromagnetic, materials. The ferromagnetic material changes the field configuration within the superconductor and can be used to shape or divert the flux density from its interior. This can be used to optimise the remanent flux density after magnetisation. FEM simulations are employed to test the performance of a variety of superconductor/ferromagnet structures and explain the role of the ferromagnetic material in the composite structure. Cases where trapped field is much higher and lower than remanent magnetisation of the ferromagnetic material are considered, showing that performance can be enhanced or maintained by using ferromagnetic material while reducing the usage of costly superconducting tape.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗