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Results for “SWEEP FREQUENCY”

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 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2012

The K{sub a}-band 10-kW continuous wave gyrotron with wide-band fast frequency sweep

The dual-frequency gyrotron with fast 2% frequency sweep at about 28 GHz is designed to power an electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS). Operation with an output power of up to 10 kW in CW mode and efficiency of 20% was demonstrated at both frequencies. Frequency manipulation has a characteristic time of about 1 ms and is based on magnetic field variation with an additional low-power coil. Fast frequency sweep will supposedly increase the ion current and the average ion charge of ECRIS. The possibility of 100% power modulation is demonstrated using the same control method.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Modeling of long range frequency sweeping for energetic particle modes

Long range frequency sweeping events are simulated numerically within a one-dimensional, electrostatic bump-on-tail model with fast particle sources and collisions. The numerical solution accounts for fast particle trapping and detrapping in an evolving wave field with a fixed wavelength, and it includes three distinct collisions operators: Drag (dynamical friction on the background electrons), Krook-type collisions, and velocity space diffusion. The effects of particle trapping and diffusion on the evolution of holes and clumps are investigated, and the occurrence of non-monotonic (hooked) frequency sweeping and asymptotically steady holes is discussed. The presented solution constitutes a step towards predictive modeling of frequency sweeping events in more realistic geometries.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Alfven cascades with downward frequency sweeping

It is suggested that relatively rare, but challenging for the existing theory Alfven cascades with downward frequency sweeping are actually the infernal Alfven eigenmodes (IAEs). Such modes exist in discharges with flat or weakly reversed q-profile in the broad central region, when the value of the safety factor in this region is slightly above the integer or low-order rational. Similar to the toroidal Alfven eigenmode, but in contrast to the ''conventional'' Alfven cascade with upward frequency sweeping, the spectrum of IAE is almost degenerate with respect to the mode numbers. Both features mentioned above are consistent with experimental observations.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Gate frequency sweep: An effective method to evaluate the dynamic performance of AlGaN/GaN power heterojunction field effect transistors

With this paper we propose a test method for evaluating the dynamic performance of GaN-based transistors, namely, gate-frequency sweep measurements: the effectiveness of the method is verified by characterizing the dynamic performance of Gate Injection Transistors. We demonstrate that this method can provide an effective description of the impact of traps on the transient performance of Heterojunction Field Effect Transistors, and information on the properties (activation energy and cross section) of the related defects. Moreover, we discuss the relation between the results obtained by gate-frequency sweep measurements and those collected by conventional drain current transients and double pulse characterization.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modeling of frequency-sweeping Alfvén modes in the TJ-II stellarator

Alfvénic activity has been observed in the TJ-II stellarator which resembles the frequency sweeping demonstrated by Alfvén cascade modes in tokamaks. A numerical validation study was conducted using a reduced magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to show that such modes could only have been observed in discharges where the rotational transform profile was non-monotonic. During experiments, coil current was varied which resulted in shifting of the minimum value of the rotational transform profile. To mimic this effect, we study the Alfvénic activity predicted by the reduced MHD model for a set of input rotational transform profiles with varying minima. A mode is found whose toroidal and poloidal mode numbers match those predicted in experiments which sweeps downward/upward in frequency as the minimum value of the rotational transform profile is increased/decreased. The results serve as a demonstration of the validity and utility of MHD spectroscopy.

Alfvén cascades↗
DOE OSTI2016

Generation of constant-amplitude radio-frequency sweeps at a tunnel junction for spin resonance STM

We describe the measurement and successful compensation of the radio-frequency transfer function of a scanning tunneling microscope over a wide frequency range (15.5–35.5 GHz) and with high dynamic range (>50 dB). The precise compensation of cabling resonances and attenuations is critical for the production of constant-voltage frequency sweeps for electric-field driven electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. We also demonstrate that a well-calibrated tunnel junction voltage is necessary to avoid spurious ESR peaks that can arise due to a non-flat transfer function.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

Real-Time FPGA Implementation For Frequency Sweep Interferometry In The LBNF Complex

The Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) will deliver a 2.4 MW muon neutrino beam from Fermilab to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), requiring unprecedented precision in beamline alignment to achieve DUNE's neutrino oscillation measurement goals. Vertical misalignments of beamline components as small as 0.5 mm can contribute 6-7\% uncertainty in predicted neutrino flux, necessitating sub-0.1 mm alignment monitoring capabilities. The Horn Location Sensor (HLS) system employs frequency sweep interferometry (FSI) in a distributed hydrostatic leveling network to achieve the required precision under harsh radiation conditions up to 5000 kRad/year. Traditional FSI implementations suffer from laser sweep nonlinearities that degrade resolution and require computationally intensive post-processing corrections using gas reference cells. This work presents a real-time FPGA-based implementation of the HLS data acquisition and processing system using a sweep tracker interferometer for dynamic sweep linearization. The system utilizes a PYNQ-Z2 FPGA with programmable logic implementing parallel 16k-point FFT processing across four channels, synchronized by the sweep tracker signal to eliminate post-processing requirements. Spectral performance testing demonstrates significant improvements in peak sharpness compared to traditional fixed-frequency digitization. The FPGA implementation enables real-time displacement monitoring with processing speeds orders of magnitude faster than software-based approaches, essential for the operational requirements of LBNF's eventual distributed sensor network. This advancement in real-time FSI processing directly supports DUNE's precision neutrino physics program by providing the rapid feedback necessary for maintaining stringent beamline alignment tolerances during high-power beam operations.

Rossel, A. Jacob [Fermilab; Unlisted]↗
DOE OSTI2014

Frequency sweep rates of rising tone electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves: Comparison between nonlinear theory and Cluster observation

Resonant pitch angle scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves has been suggested to account for the rapid loss of ring current ions and radiation belt electrons. For the rising tone EMIC wave (classified as triggered EMIC emission), its frequency sweep rate strongly affects the efficiency of pitch-angle scattering. Based on the Cluster observations, we analyze three typical cases of rising tone EMIC waves. Two cases locate at the nightside (22.3 and 22.6 magnetic local time (MLT)) equatorial region and one case locates at the duskside (18MLT) higher magnetic latitude (λ = –9.3°) region. For the three cases, the time-dependent wave amplitude, cold electron density, and cold ion density ratio are derived from satellite data; while the ambient magnetic field, thermal proton perpendicular temperature, and the wave spectral can be directly provided by observation. These parameters are input into the nonlinear wave growth model to simulate the time-frequency evolutions of the rising tones. The simulated results show good agreements with the observations of the rising tones, providing further support for the previous finding that the rising tone EMIC wave is excited through the nonlinear wave growth process.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Microwave frequency sweep interferometer for plasma density measurements in ECR ion sources: Design and preliminary results

The Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ECRISs) development is strictly related to the availability of new diagnostic tools, as the existing ones are not adequate to such compact machines and to their plasma characteristics. Microwave interferometry is a non-invasive method for plasma diagnostics and represents the best candidate for plasma density measurement in hostile environment. Interferometry in ECRISs is a challenging task mainly due to their compact size. The typical density of ECR plasmas is in the range 10{sup 11}–10{sup 13} cm{sup −3} and it needs a probing beam wavelength of the order of few centimetres, comparable to the chamber radius. The paper describes the design of a microwave interferometer developed at the LNS-INFN laboratories based on the so-called “frequency sweep” method to filter out the multipath contribution in the detected signals. The measurement technique and the preliminary results (calibration) obtained during the experimental tests will be presented.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Cutoff probe using Fourier analysis for electron density measurement

This paper proposes a new method for cutoff probe using a nanosecond impulse generator and an oscilloscope, instead of a network analyzer. The nanosecond impulse generator supplies a radiating signal of broadband frequency spectrum simultaneously without frequency sweeping, while frequency sweeping method is used by a network analyzer in a previous method. The transmission spectrum (S21) was obtained through a Fourier analysis of the transmitted impulse signal detected by the oscilloscope and was used to measure the electron density. The results showed that the transmission frequency spectrum and the electron density obtained with a new method are very close to those obtained with a previous method using a network analyzer. And also, only 15 ns long signal was necessary for spectrum reconstruction. These results were also compared to the Langmuir probe's measurements with satisfactory results. This method is expected to provide not only fast measurement of absolute electron density, but also function in other diagnostic situations where a network analyzer would be used (a hairpin probe and an impedance probe) by replacing the network analyzer with a nanosecond impulse generator and an oscilloscope.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2013

Simulation of Alfv n frequency cascade modes in reversed shear discharges using a Landau-closure model

The dynamics of energetic particle destabilized Alfve n frequency sweeping modes in tokamak reversed-shear safety factor discharges are modelled using a new Landau-closure model that includes coupling to geodesic acoustic wave dynamics and closure relations optimized for energetic particle Alfve n mode resonances. Profiles and equilibria are based upon reconstructions of a DIII-D discharge (#142111) in which a long sequence of frequency sweeping modes were observed. This model (TAEFL) has recently been included in a verification and validation study of n = 3 frequency sweeping modes for this case along with two gyrokinetic codes, GTC and GYRO. This paper provides a more detailed documentation of the equations and methods used in the TAEFL model and extends the earlier calculation to a range of toroidal mode numbers: n = 2 to 6. By considering a range of toroidal mode numbers and scanning over a range of safety factor profiles with varying qmin, both up-sweeping frequency (reversed-shear Alfve n eigenmode) and down-sweeping frequency (toriodal Alfve n eigenmode) modes are present in the results and show qualitative similarity with the frequency variations observed in the experimental spectrograms.

shear-Alfven instabiltiy tokamak Landau-closure Al↗
DOE OSTI2016

Gyrokinetic particle simulation of beta-induced Alfven-acoustic eigenmode

The beta-induced Alfven-acoustic eigenmode (BAAE) in toroidal plasmas is verified and studied by global gyrokinetic particle simulations. When ion temperature is much lower than electron temperature, the existence of the weakly damped BAAE is verified in the simulations using initial perturbation, antenna excitation, and energetic particle excitation, respectively. When the ion temperature is comparable to the electron temperature, the unstable BAAE can be excited by realistic energetic particle density gradient, even though the stable BAAE (in the absence of energetic particles) is heavily damped by the thermal ions. In the simulations with reversed magnetic shear, BAAE frequency sweeping is observed and poloidal mode structure has a triangle shape with a poloidal direction similar to that observed in tokamak experiments. Here, the triangle shape changes the poloidal direction, and no frequency sweeping is found in the simulations with normal magnetic shear.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Electron cyclotron heating can drastically alter reversed shear Alfvén eigenmode activity in DIII-D through finite pressure effects

Here, a recent DIII-D experiment investigating the impact of electron cyclotron heating (ECH) on neutral beam driven reversed shear Alfvén eigenmode (RSAE) activity is presented. The experiment includes variations of ECH injection location and timing, current ramp rate, beam injection geometry (on/off-axis), and neutral beam power. Essentially all variations carried out in this experiment were observed to change the impact of ECH on AE activity significantly. In some cases, RSAEs were observed to be enhanced with ECH near the off-axis minimum in magnetic safety factor (${{q}_{\min}}$ ), in contrast to the original DIII-D experiments where the modes were absent when ECH was deposited near ${{q}_{\min}}$ . It is found that during intervals when the geodesic acoustic mode (GAM) frequency at ${{q}_{\min}}$ is elevated and the calculated RSAE minimum frequency, including contributions from thermal plasma gradients, is very near or above the nominal TAE frequency (f TAE ), RSAE activity is not observed or RSAEs with a much reduced frequency sweep range are found. This condition is primarily brought about by ECH modification of the local electron temperature (T e ) which can raise both the local T e at ${{q}_{\min}}$ as well as its gradient. A q-evolution model that incorporates this reduction in RSAE frequency sweep range is in agreement with the observed spectra and appears to capture the relative balance of TAE or RSAE-like modes throughout the current ramp phase of over 38 DIII-D discharges. Detailed ideal MHD calculations using the NOVA code show both modification of plasma pressure and pressure gradient at ${{q}_{\min}}$ play an important role in modifying the RSAE activity. Analysis of the ECH injection near the ${{q}_{\min}}$ case where no frequency sweeping RSAEs are observed shows the typical RSAE is no longer an eigenmode of the system. What remains is an eigenmode with poloidal harmonic content reminiscent of the standard RSAE, but absent of the typical frequency sweeping behavior. The remaining eigenmode is also often strongly coupled to gap TAEs. Analysis with the non-perturbative gyro fluid code TAEFL confirms this change in RSAE activity and also shows a large drop in the resultant mode growth rates.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Analysis of Alfven eigenmodes destabilization by energetic particles in TJ-II using a Landau-closure model

Alfvén Eigenmodes (AE) can be destabilized by energetic particles in neutral beam injection (NBI) heated plasmas through inverse Landau damping and couplings with gap modes in the shear Alfvén continua. In this paper, we describe the linear evolution of the poloidal flux and the toroidal component of the vorticity in a full 3D system using the reduced MHD equations, density and parallel velocity moments for the energetic particles as well as the geodesic acoustic wave dynamics. A closure relation adds the Landau damping and resonant destabilization effects in the model. We apply the model to study the Alfvén modes stability in TJ-II, performing a parametric analysis in a range of realistic values of energetic particle β ($\beta_{f}$ ), ratios of thermal/Alfvén velocities ($V_{\rm th}/V_{\rm A0}$ ), energetic particle density profiles and toroidal modes (n) including toroidal and helical couplings. The study predicts a large helical coupling between different toroidal modes and the destabilization of helical Alfvén eigenmodes (HAE) with frequencies similar to the AE activity measured in TJ-II, between 50–400 kHz. The analysis has also revealed the destabilization of GAE (global Alfvén eigenmodes), TAE (toroidal Alfvén eigenmodes) and EPM (energetic particle modes). For the modes considered here, optimized TJ-II operations require a $\rlap{-} \iota$ profile in the range of $[0.845, 0.979]$ to stabilize AEs in the inner and middle plasma. AEs in the plasma periphery cannot be fully stabilized, although for a configuration with $\rlap{-} \iota = [0.945, 1.079]$ , only $n=7, 11, 15$ AE are unstable with a growth rate 4 times smaller compared to the standard $\rlap{-} \iota = [1.54, 1.68]$ case and a frequency of 100 kHz. Finally, we reproduce the frequency sweeping evolution of the AE frequency observed in TJ-II as the $\rlap{-} \iota$ profile is varied. The AE frequency sweeping is caused by consecutive changes of the instability dominant modes between different helical families.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Gyrokinetic simulation of global and local Alfvén eigenmodes driven by energetic particles in a DIII-D discharge

The unstable spectrum of Alfvén eigenmodes (AEs) driven by neutral beam-sourced energetic particles (EPs) in a benchmark DIII-D discharge (142111) is calculated in a fully gyrokinetic model using the GYRO code's massively parallel linear eigenvalue solver. One cycle of the slow (equilibrium scale) frequency sweep of the reverse shear Alfvén eigenmode (RSAE) at toroidal mode number n=3 is mapped. The RSAE second harmonic and an unstable beta-induced Alfvén eigenmode (BAE) are simultaneously tracked alongside the primary RSAE. An observed twist in the eigenmode pattern, caused mostly by shear in the driving EP profile, is shown through artificially varying the E×B rotational velocity shear to depend generally on shear in the local wave phase velocity. Coupling to the BAE and to the toroidal Alfvén eigenmode limit the RSAE frequency sweeps at the lower and upper end, respectively. While the present fully gyrokinetic model (including thermal ions and electrons) constitutes the best treatment of compressibility physics available, the BAE frequency is overpredicted by about 20% against experiment here and is found to be sensitive to energetic beam ion pressure. The RSAE frequency is more accurately matched except when it is limited by the BAE. Simulations suggest that the experiment is very close to marginal AE stability at points of RSAE-BAE coupling. A recipe for comparing the radial profile of quasilinear transport flux from local modes to that from global modes paves the way for the development of a stiff (critical gradient) local AE transport model based on local mode stability thresholds.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Rotational Millimeter-Wave Shoe Scanner Using the Discrete Fourier Transform for Backprojection-Based Image Reconstruction

An active 3D microwave / millimeter-wave shoe scanner was previously developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) using two linear arrays scanned over a rectilinear aperture. The radar system chirps a frequency sweep from 10-40 GHz. These frequencies allow imaging through optically opaque material such as leather, rubber, plastics, and other dielectrics. The system was designed to detect concealed items in the soles of shoes while allowing people to leave their shoes on through a security checkpoint. To shrink the footprint of the system, a new iteration of the design has been developed that scans the two linear arrays over a circular aperture. This new footprint opens the possibility of it being installed in the floor of a cylindrical millimeter-wave body scanner. The backprojection-based multilayer dielectric image reconstruction developed at PNNL can easily handle arbitrary spatial sampling, accommodating the new rotational shoe scanner design. Commonly, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is used to efficiently compute the range response from the data collected by the system as a preprocessing step to the backprojection algorithm. It was found that converting to range using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) directly has some advantages over the FFT. For example, nonlinear and non-uniform frequency sweeps can easily be compensated for during the computation of the DFT and only the range bins of interest need to be computed and their spacing can be chosen arbitrarily. Because the range conversion step of the image reconstruction is the fastest part of the process there is very little speed penalty for using the DFT over the FFT and it can even increase the speed of image reconstruction when the ranges of interest are fewer than the total span that is calculated in the FFT.

Millimeter-wave imaging, microwave imaging, shoe s↗
DOE OSTI2013

Measurements of the eigenfunction of reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes that sweep downward in frequency

Reversed shear Alfvén eigenmodes (RSAEs) usually sweep upward in frequency when the minimum value of the safety factor q{sub min} decreases in time. On rare occasions, RSAEs sweep downward prior to the upward sweep. Electron cyclotron emission measurements show that the radial eigenfunction during the downsweeping phase is similar to the eigenfunction of normal, upsweeping RSAEs.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗