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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 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1990

Global simulation of the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction - The importance of its numerical validity

This paper examines the global interaction of the solar wind with the geomagnetic field, using a newly developed three-dimensional high-precision MHD simulation code which employs the fourth-order Runge-Kutta-Gill scheme in time and the direct finite-difference method in space, and which allows much less numerical error than the conventional code. The simulation reveals in detail the formation processes of the magnetosphere and the bow shock, as well as the plasma sheet formation process. It is shown that, contrary to the conventional understanding, no Kelvin-Helmholtz instability occurs along the magnetopause in an ideal MHD.

Watanabe, K.↗
NASA NTRS2015

MHD Model Results of Solar Wind Plasma Interaction with Mars and Comparison with MAVEN Observations

The crustal remnant field on Mars rotates constantly with the planet, varying the magnetic field configuration interacting with the solar wind. It has been found that ion loss rates slowly vary with the subsolar longitude, anticorrelating with the intensity of the dayside crustal field source, with some time delay, using a time-dependent multispecies MHD model. In this study, we investigate in detail how plasma properties are influenced locally by the crustal field and its rotation. Model results will be compared in detail with plasma observations from MAVEN.

Crustal↗
NASA NTRS1976

Magnetohydrodynamic and gasdynamic aspects of solar-wind flow around terrestrial planets: A critical review

Problems in space physics are discussed whose models, in simplified form, reduce to a supersonic flow scheme with a detached shock wave, namely: (1) solar wind interaction with an intrinsic planetary magnetic field; (2) solar wind interaction with the ionized component of the atmosphere of a comet; and (3) solar wind interaction with the ionosphere of a planet which does not possess its own magnetic field. The numerical study of the above problems is performed with the use of magnetogasdynamic equations for an ideal single fluid model. From the physical veiwpoint, the problems are solved in terms of as simple phenomena as possible; the principal objective is to make recently developed methods of numerical analysis of mixed flows applicable to space physics problems.

Spreiter, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Solar wind three; Proceedings of the Third Conference, Pacific Grove, Calif., March 25-29, 1974

Papers are presented relating to the study of solar abundances, the evolution of the solar wind, solar corona dynamics, solar wind interactions, and stellar winds. Some of the topics covered include the nuclear composition of cosmic rays, the solar wind as deduced from lunar samples, spectral characteristics of flares, numerical simulation of interplanetary shock ensembles, radial gradient of solar wind velocity from 1 to 5 AU, the enhancement of solar wind fluctuations with scale size near the proton gyroradius, solar wind-Venus interaction observed from magnetic field experiment on Mariner 10, and binary stellar winds. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Russell, C. T.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The wind-disk interaction in X-ray burst sources. II - Collimation by thick accretion disks

The wind-disk interaction model in type I cosmic X-ray bursts is here examined in the case where the accretion disk surrounding the neutron star is geometrically thick. The funnel structure along the rotation axis of such a system may collimate the radiatively driven wind following a thermonuclear flash in the star's surface layers, and could thereby enhance the radiative flux (diffusive plus advective) along the beam direction. It is shown that for plausible conditions, this mechanism can account for the super-Eddington fluxes observed in some bursts. The overall time scale for variability, the color temperature, and the spectral shape in this picture are consistent with the observed properties of type I X-ray bursts.

Melia, Fulvio↗
NASA NTRS1993

Solar wind-magnetosphere interaction as simulated by a 3D, EM particle code

The results of simulating the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction with a three dimensional, electromagnetic (EM) particle code are presented. Hitherto such global simulations were done with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) codes while lower dimensional particle or hybrid codes served to account for microscopic processes and such transport parameters as have to be introduced ad hoc in MHD. The kinetic model combines macroscopic and microscopic tasks. It relies only on the Maxwell curl equations and the Lorentz equation for particles. The preliminary results are for an unmagnetized solar wind plasma streaming past a dipolar magnetic field. The results show the formation of a bow shock and a magnetotail, the penetration of energetic particles into cusp and radiation belt regions, and dawn to dusk asymmetries.

Buneman, O.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Wide Field-of-View Soft X-Ray Imaging for Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Interactions

Soft X-ray imagers can be used to study the mesoscale and macroscale density structures that occur whenever and wherever the solar wind encounters neutral atoms at comets, the Moon, and both magnetized and unmagnetized planets. Charge exchange between high charge state solar wind ions and exospheric neutrals results in the isotropic emission of soft X-ray photons with energies from 0.1 to 2.0 keV. At Earth, this process occurs primarily within the magnetosheath and cusps. Through providing a global view, wide field-of-view imaging can determine the significance of the various proposed solar wind-magnetosphere interaction mechanisms by evaluating their global extent and occurrence patterns. A summary of wide field-of-view (several to tens of degrees) soft X-ray imaging is provided including slumped micropore microchannel reflectors, simulated images, and recent flight results.

xray↗
DOE OSTI2026

Idealized simulations of wind farm interactions with intermittent turbulence in stable boundary layer conditions

Stable atmospheric boundary layer conditions typically correspond to weak turbulence levels, but intermittent periods of elevated turbulence can occur during otherwise quiescent conditions. The interaction between intermittent turbulence and wind turbines is not well understood because of sparse observations, as well as the difficulty in realistically resolving small-scale turbulence during strongly stable conditions with numerical simulations. In this study, an explicit filtering and reconstruction approach for large-eddy simulation (LES) is used to simulate weakly and strongly stable conditions, with surface cooling rates of −0.2 and −2.0 K h −1 , respectively. This approach can sustain resolved background turbulence at relatively coarse grid spacing and stronger stratification compared to conventional closures, permitting more realistic intermittent stable boundary layer (SBL) turbulence. The idealized LES capability of the Weather Research and Forecasting model is employed with turbine rotors parameterized using generalized actuator disks to examine (1) how the presence of turbine wakes affects SBL evolution and (2) the effect of intermittent turbulence on power production and wake recovery. Wakes increase mixing and deepen the SBL, with a stronger effect under strongly stable conditions, primarily because the SBL is shallower and closer to the top of the wind turbine rotor layer. Intermittent turbulence does not have a significant impact on mean power generation and wake recovery because the relevant intermittent turbulent structures in this study only affect the bottom half of the rotor disk. Power production is, however, more variable during periods of elevated turbulence, demonstrating the impact of SBL intermittency. This study uses an idealized configuration, focusing on LES model performance and physical understanding, with the goal of informing future simulations of the conditions observed during the American Wake Experiment.

Energy - Wind↗
NASA NTRS1998

Multidimensional MHD Model Studies of the Ionospheres of Venus and Mars

Continuing efforts have been made towards an increased understanding of the solar wind interaction and ionospheric processes at Venus and Mars. This work centered on a systematic development of a new generation of three dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical code, which models the interaction processes of the solar wind with non-magnetic planets, such as Venus and Mars. We have also worked on a number of different, more specific and discrete studies, as various opportunities arose. We have developed new numerical codes for magnetospheric and cometary studies. As a first step in this process we built an axisymmetric model in which the solar wind interacts with a hard, perfectly conducting sphere. Even that model provided, in certain respects, significant improvements over previous ones.

Nagy, Andrew↗
NASA NTRS1992

Solar wind-magnetosphere interaction as simulated by a 3-D EM particle code

We present here our first results of simulating the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction with a new three-dimensional electromagnetic particle code. Hitherto such global simulations were done with MHD codes while lower-dimensional particle or hybrid codes served to account for microscopic processes and such transport parameters as have to be introduced ad hoc in MHD. Our kinetic model attempts to combine the macroscopic and microscopic tasks. It relies only on the Maxwell curl equation and the Lorentz equation for particles, which are ideally suited for computers. The preliminary results shown here are for an unmagnetized solar wind plasma streaming past a dipolar magnetic field. The results show the formation of a bow shock and a magnetotail, the penetration of energetic particles into cusp and radiation belt regions, and dawn-dusk asymmetries.

Buneman, Oscar↗
NASA NTRS2011

The Character of the Solar Wind, Surface Interactions, and Water

We discuss the key characteristics of the proton-rich solar wind and describe how it may interact with the lunar surface. We suggest that solar wind can be both a source and loss of water/OH related volatiles, and review models showing both possibilities. Energy from the Sun in the form of radiation and solar wind plasma are in constant interaction with the lunar surface. As such, there is a solar-lunar energy connection, where solar energy and matter are continually bombarding the lunar surface, acting at the largest scale to erode the surface at 0.2 Angstroms per year via ion sputtering [1]. Figure 1 illustrates this dynamically Sun-Moon system.

Farrell, William M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The interaction of wind and water in the desertification environment

An appropriate process/response model for the physical basis of desertification is provided by the interactions of wind and water in the desert fringe environment. Essentially, the process of desertification can be thought of as a progressive environmental transition from predominantly fluvial to aeolian processes. This is a simple but useful way of looking at desertification; in this context, desertification is morphogenetic in character. To illustrate the model, a study of drought-related changes in central Mali will serve to trace the interrelated responses of geomorphologic processes to drought conditions.

Jacobberger, P. A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The ionospheres and plasma tails of comets

The paper reviews the current state of knowledge about cometary plasma (type I) tails and ionospheres. Observational statistics for type I tails are examined along with spectroscopic observations of plasma tails, identified ion species in such tails, and the morphology of cometary plasma tails and ionospheres. Evidence for a strong interaction between comets and the solar wind is evaluated on the basis of observations of plasma-tail orientations, large accelerations of tail structures, and correlations between disturbances in type I tails and solar-wind or geomagnetic disturbances. The use of comets as solar-wind probes is discussed, the nature of comet-solar-wind interactions is investigated, and ionization sources for cometary gases are considered. Hydrodynamic models of comet-solar-wind interaction are summarized, and the structure and ion chemistry of cometary ionospheres are studied. Observations suggesting that significant magnetic fields are associated with comets are briefly reviewed and interpreted.

Mendis, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The global interaction of comets with the solar wind

The recent in-situ measurements of the plasma-neutral gas environment of comet Halley by the GIOTTO and VEGA spacecraft have confirmed the global theory of the comet-solar wind interaction. The ionopause, cometopause, and bow shock distances are the primary predictions of the model, although various momentum collisional cross-sections can also be estimated. With this greater confidence in the global model, the sharp Sunward intensity decrease in the spatial H2O+ profiles observed for comet Halley between 2.14 AU pre- and post-perihelion are interpreted as the cometopause boundary. This interpretation may then be used to determine the solar wind conditions local to the comet.

Houpis, Harry L. F.↗