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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 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

Fundamental processes in pair plasmas

The various processes that produce and destroy electron-positron pairs are reviewed, and the timescales of these processes are compared to thermalization, accretion, and cooling timescales. The various radiation spectra produced by relativistic, thermal plasmas are considered. Recent results for the equilibria available to finite, thermal relativistic plasmas with and without embedded magnetic fields are reviewed. Such plasmas, in steady state, have maximum temperatures, luminosities, and field strengths, useful diagnostics for interpreting quasars and active galaxies.

Lightman, A. P.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Linear Boltzmann transport for jet propagation in the quark-gluon plasma: Inelastic processes and jet modification

A linear Boltzmann transport (LBT) Monte Carlo model has been developed to describe jet propagation and interaction with the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. A complete set of elastic-scattering processes and medium-induced gluon emissions based on the higher-twist formalism are incorporated for both jet shower and medium recoil partons. It has been employed to describe experimental data on large transverse momentum hadron and jet spectra, correlation and jet substructures in high-energy heavy-ion collisions. Here, we document in detail the structure of the model and validation of the Monte Carlo implementations of the physics processes in LBT, in particular, the inelastic process of medium-induced gluon radiation. We carry out a comprehensive examination of the jet-medium interaction as implemented in LBT through energy loss and momentum broadening of a single hard parton, the energy and transverse momentum transfer from leading partons to medium-induced gluons and jet-induced medium excitation, and medium modification of reconstructed jets in a static and uniform medium. With realistic and event-by-event hydrodynamic medium in heavy-ion collisions, we compute and compare with experimental data on the jet cone-size dependence of the single inclusive jet suppression at both the BNL Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC) and the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the dijet asymmetry at the LHC and γ-jet correlation at RHIC. Effects of medium-induced gluon emissions and jet-induced medium excitation on jet observables are systematically examined. Rescatterings of the radiated gluons and recoil partons with the QGP are found essential to account for the enhancement of soft particle yield toward the edge of the jet cone.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Anti-Fog Coatings For Spacesuit Helmets

A permanent and robust anti-fog coating was developed that is applied to the interior of polycarbonate spacesuit helmets. The coating is a mechanically resilient and permanent superhydrophilic (SHPL) layer produced by a two-step process consisting of a plasma processing pre-etch followed by the deposition of an optically transparent Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating to achieve an anti-fog, SHPL-DLC layer with Water Contact Angle (WCA) < 10°. The all-dry vacuum process consists of an oxygen plasma etching to engineer the surface of the polycarbonate, creating a well-controlled nanotextured morphology, which is key to the superhydrophilic properties, followed by vacuum deposited Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) DLC coating with high surface energy. The process is carried out at low temperatures compatible with polycarbonate materials and the two steps are performed back-to-back without breaking vacuum between steps. The process is readily scalable and compatible with large scale production volumes. The SHPL-DLC coating was tested for > 200 hours exposure using a breath simulator with no detrimental effect on the coating performance. The coating was also tested for exposure to cleaning fluids, IPA chemical exposure, adhesion testing per ASTM D3359, and abrasion resistance per MIL-E-12397 with no detrimental effects.

Spacesuit↗
NASA NTRS1993

Interaction of solar wind with the magnetopause-boundary layer and generation of magnetic impulse events

The transport of mass, momentum, energy and waves from the solar wind to the Earth's magnetosphere takes place in the magnetopause-boundary layer region. Various plasma processes that may occur in this region have been proposed and studied. In this paper, we present a brief review of the plasma processes in the dayside magnetopause-boundary layer. These processes include (1) flux transfer events at the dayside magnetopause, (2) formation of plasma vortices in the low-latitude boundary layer by the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and coupling to the polar ionosphere, (3) the response of the magnetopause to the solar wind dynamic pressure pulses, and (4) the impulsive penetration of solar wind plasma filaments through the dayside magnetopause into the magnetospheric boundary layer. Through the coupling of the magnetopause-boundary layer to the polar ionosphere, those above processes may lead to occurrence of magnetic impulse events observed in the high-latitude stations.

Lee, L. C.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fundamental data for modeling electron-induced processes in plasma remediation of perfluoroalkyl substances

Plasma treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated water is a potentially energy efficient remediation method. In this treatment, an atmospheric pressure plasma interacts with surface-resident PFAS molecules. Developing a reaction mechanism and modeling of plasma–PFAS interactions requires fundamental data for electron–molecule reactions. In this paper, we present results of electron scattering calculations, potential energy landscapes and their implications for plasma modelling of a dielectric barrier discharge in PFAS contaminated gases, a first step towards modelling of plasma–water–PFAS intereactions. It is found that the plasma degradation of PFAS is dominated by dissociative electron attachment with the importance of other contributing processes varying depending on the molecule. All molecules posses a large number of shape resonances – transient negative ion states – from near-threshold up to ionization threshold. These states lie in the region of the most probable electron energies in the plasma (4–5 eV) and consequently are expected to further enhance the fragmentation dynamics in both dissociative attachment and dissociative excitation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Development of ASCENT Propellant Thrusters and Propulsion Systems

Since the 1960s, hydrazine technology has dominated the market of propulsion technology by providing reliable performance on a wide variety of spacecraft. Efforts to replace hydrazine with a higher-performance and safer alternative have engaged numerous emerging technologies in the industry to mature. ASCENT propellant, also known as AF-M315E, is an example of one such green propellant. Initially developed to provide a safer handling environment than hydrazine, ASCENT offers higher overall performance than a hydrazine equivalent by creating more heat during ignition. The next generation of propulsion technology, based on ASCENT propellant, produces a higher impulse and energy density, expanding the realm of applicable missions from LEO to GEO and beyond. Building on a strong background in small satellite technology and expertise in thermal and oxidation resistant materials, Plasma Processes began several thruster programs for variety of small satellite applications using ASCENT-based technology. Plasma Processes’ background expertise in thermal and oxidation resistant materials provides the necessary foundation to create ASCENT-based technology hardware.

Green Propellant↗
NASA NTRS1986

The Earth's magnetosphere as a sample of the plasma universe

Plasma processes in the Earth's neighborhood determine the environmental conditions under which space-based equipment for science or technology must operate. These processes are peculiar to a state of matter that is rare on Earth but dominates the universe as whole. The physical, and especially the electrodynamic, properties of this state of matter is still far from well understood. By fortunate circumstances, the magnetosphere-ionosphere system of the Earth provides a rich sample of widely different plasma populations, and, even more importantly, it is the site of a remarkable variety of plasma processes. In different combinations such processes must be important throughout the universe, which is overwhelmingly dominated by matter in the plasma state. Therefore, observations and experiments in the near-Earth plasma serve a multitude of purposes. They will not only (1) clarify the dynamics of the space environment but also (2) widen the understanding of matter, (3) form a basis for interpretating remote observations of astrophysical objects, thereby even (4) help to reconstruct events that led to the evolution of the solar system. Last but not least they will (5) provide know-how required for adapting space-based technology to the plasma environment. Such observations and experiments will require a close mutual interplay between science and technology.

Faelthammar, Carl-Gunne↗
NASA NTRS1989

On the interpretation of measured ion streams in the wake of the Shuttle Orbiter in terms of plasma expansion processes

Measurements of the flow vector and current density of ion streams between 11 and 18 m downstream in the near wake of the Shuttle Orbiter during the Spacelab 2 mission are compared with a one-dimensional, time-dependent plasma expansion model for wake filling. The model is based on the self-consistent plasma model of Singh et al. (1987) modified to simulate the one-dimensional expansion of counter-streaming plasmas. The results show good agreement between the model and the experimental results, suggesting that the measured streams can be interpreted in terms of collisionless plasma expansion.

Singh, N.↗
DOE OSTI2024

One-Step Spark Plasma Erosion Processing of Carbon-Coated Sn-Si Nanoparticles for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

High density portable energy storage is desirable owing to the energy requirements of portable electronics and electric vehicles. The Li-ion battery’s high energy density could be even further improved through the utilization of alternative materials (instead of carbon) for the anode, such as Sn or Si. Nonetheless, the large volume expansion upon lithiation, up to ~300% for Li 22 Si 5 , causes pulverization and rapid capacity degradation during cycling. Sn also forms a Li 22 Sn 5 compound with the equivalent stoichiometric Li capacity but with enhanced ductility. Nano-sized Si and Sn have demonstrated distinctive nanoscale properties, facilitating the retention of higher capacities, particularly when coated with carbon, which improves mechanical stability. To date, the methods of synthesizing coated Si, Sn, or Si-Sn alloyed nanoparticles are complicated, costly, and not readily scalable to meet the demands of cost-effective manufacturing. Spark plasma erosion in a hydrocarbon dielectric has been explored as a one-step process to produce Sn-Si alloy nanoparticles coated with a thin carbon film, offering a scalable and cost-effective processing route. The resulting Sn-Si particles exhibited a bi-modal size distribution at ~5 nm and ~500 nm and were carbon-coated, as intended, from the hydrocarbon dielectric breakdown. The spark-eroded nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized using TEM/EDS, XPS, AES, SSNMR, and TGA, and their improved electrochemical performance was assessed through half-cell experiments.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
NASA NTRS1997

Relative rates for plasma homo- and copolymerizations of olefins in a homologous series of fluorinated ethylenes

It is well known that the rate of plasma polymerization, or deposition rate, of a given monomer depends on various plasma process parameters, e.g., monomer flow rate, pressure, power, frequency (DC, rf or microwave), location of the substrate in the reactor, reactor geometry or configuration, and temperature. In contrast, little work has been done to relate deposition rates to monomer structures for a homologous series of monomers where the rates are obtained under identical plasma process parameters. For the particular series of fluorinated ethylenes (C2HxF4-x; x = 0-4), deposition rates were reported for ethylene (ET), vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), but for plasma polymerizations carried out under different discharge conditions, e.g., pressure, current density, and electrode temperature. Apparently, relative deposition rates were reported for only two members of that series (ET, x = 4, and TFE, x = 0) for which the plasma polymerizations were conducted under identical conditions. We now present relative deposition rates for both homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of the entire series of fluorinated ethylenes (x = 0-4). Our interest in such rates stems from prior work on the plasma copolymerization of ET and TFE in which it was found that the deposition rates for the plasma copolymers, when plotted versus mol % TFE in the ET/TFE feed stock, followed a concave-downward curve situated above the straight line joining the deposition rates for the plasma homopolymers. This type of plot (observed also for an argon-ET/TFE plasma copolymerization) indicated a positive interaction between ET and TFE such that each monomer apparently "sensitized" the plasma copolymerization of the other. Since the shape of that plot is not altered if mol % TFE is replaced by F/C, the fluorine-to-carbon ratio, this paper aims (1) to show how the relative deposition rates for plasma copolymers drawn from all pairs of monomers in the C2HxF4-x series, as well as the deposition rates for the individual plasma homopolymers, vary with F/C ratios of the monomers or monomer blends, and (2) to see if those rates give rise to a common plot.

NASA Center ARC↗
NASA NTRS2018

Characterization of Rapid Charging Events Due to Sheath Capacitance and Impact on the International Space Station Plasma Hazard Process

During an Extravehicular Activity (EVA), if the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) makes galvanic contact with the International Space Station (ISS), a negative Floating Potential (FP) can lead to an arcing hazard when it exceeds -45.5 V, and a positive FP can produce a DC current high enough to stimulate the astronaut’s muscles (5 mA), and also cause a hazard. The Boeing Space Environments team developed and utilizes a Plasma Interaction Model (PIM) in order to calculate the ISS FP based on the plasma environment, ISS velocity, geomagnetic field, solar array and ISS orientation, and solar array regulation to support EVA planning operations. Presently, the model excludes the sheath capacitance, resulting in the total potential drop being across the dielectric surface of the vehicle. Data from the Floating Potential Measurement Unit (FPMU) show this assumption to be generally true. However, Rapid Charging Events (RCE) are often observed in the FPMU data at eclipse exit when the electron number density, Ne, is low (less than 5(sub e)10 m (exp-3)). During these events, the FP can rise more than 40 V in one to five seconds. There is then a relaxation phase where the FP drops back to the normal FP values. The PIM model is not capable of producing these RCEs. It was thought that the inclusion of the sheath in PIM could improve the charging predictions, particularly as related to RCEs. A parametric study was performed to determine what portion of the measured FP is across the sheath for a range of Ne experienced by the ISS, and if the inclusion of the sheath in PIM is necessary. Results show that the potential drop across the sheath is negligible at times when the N(sub e) is greater than 1(sub e)11 m-3. However, there appears to be a transitional region between 1(sub e)10 m(exp -3) and 1(sub e)11 m(exp -3) where the sheath capacitance becomes more significant. During those conditions the potential drop across the sheath can be larger than the potential drop across the dielectric for short periods (1-5 seconds). These results agree remarkably well with measurements made by the FPMU. The inclusion of the sheath explains why high charging measurements occur when the Ne is low at eclipse exit and even times when the solar arrays are not a significant driver (i.e., potentials often rise as the ISS flies through spread-F). Results also show that the RCEs are not a safety concern because the potential drop across the dielectric surface does not exceed -45.5 V. In that case, the EMU would not arc. This gives high confidence in the low probability of an arcing hazard occurring.

plasma environment↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ohm’s Law, the Reconnection Rate, and Energy Conversion in Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection

Magnetic reconnection is a ubiquitous plasma process that transforms magnetic energy into particle energy during eruptive events throughout the universe. Reconnection not only converts energy during solar flares and geomagnetic substorms that drive space weather near Earth, but it may also play critical roles in the high energy emissions from the magnetospheres of neutron stars and black holes. In this review article, we focus on collisionless plasmas that are most relevant to reconnection in many space and astrophysical plasmas. Guided by first-principles kinetic simulations and spaceborne in-situ observations, we highlight the most recent progress in understanding this fundamental plasma process. We start by discussing the non-ideal electric field in the generalized Ohm’s law that breaks the frozen-in flux condition in ideal magnetohydrodynamics and allows magnetic reconnection to occur. We point out that this same reconnection electric field also plays an important role in sustaining the current and pressure in the current sheet and then discuss the determination of its magnitude (i.e., the reconnection rate), based on force balance and energy conservation. This approach to determining the reconnection rate is applied to kinetic current sheets with a wide variety of magnetic geometries, parameters, and background conditions. We also briefly review the key diagnostics and modeling of energy conversion around the reconnection diffusion region, seeking insights from recently developed theories. Finally, future prospects and open questions are discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

RF sheath induced sputtering on Proto-MPEX. I. Sheath equivalent dielectric layer for modeling the RF sheath

The pulsed linear plasma device Prototype Material Plasma Exposure eXperiment (Proto-MPEX) uses a radio frequency (RF) helicon antenna with an aluminum nitride ceramic window for plasma production. The RF sheath created under the helicon antenna is sufficient to cause ion impact energies to be greater than the sputtering threshold of the AlN helicon window material and for impurities to be created. In this study, we investigate the RF sheath on the inner diameter of the helicon window and its impact on the impurity production rates in Proto-MPEX. Three models—a 3D COMSOL finite element RF model of the Proto-MPEX helicon region, a rectified DC sheath potential model, and the 3D Global Impurity TRansport code—are coupled together to study impurity production and transportation. This novel method of impurity generation and transport modeling spans length scales ranging from the sheath (millimeters or less) up to the full device (meters) and can be applied to other radio frequency sources and antennas in a wide range of plasma physics studies, including basic plasmas, low-temperature processing plasmas, plasma thrusters, and fusion plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗