Vertical and Lateral Electron Content in the Martian Ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Paetzold, M. P.; Peter, K.; Bird, M. K.; Häusler, B.; Tellmann, S.
2016-12-01
The radio-science experiment MaRS (Mars Express Radio Science) on the Mars Express spacecraft sounds the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere of Mars since 2004. Approximately 800 vertical profiles of the ionospheric electron density have been acquired until today. The vertical electron content (TEC) is easily computed from the vertical electron density profile by integrating along the altitude. The TEC is typically a fraction of a TEC unit (1E16 m^-2) and depends on the solar zenith angle. The magnitude of the TEC is however fully dominated by the electron density contained in the main layer M2. The contributions by the M1 layer below M2 or the topside is marginal. MaRS is using two radio frequencies for the sounding of the ionosphere. The directly observed differential Doppler from the two received frequencies is a measure of the lateral electron content that means along the ray path and perpendicular to the vertical electron density profile. Combining both the vertical electron density profile, the vertical TEC and the directly observed lateral TEC describes the lateral electron density distribution in the ionosphere.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Durazo, Juan A.; Kostelich, Eric J.; Mahalov, Alex
2017-09-01
We propose a targeted observation strategy, based on the influence matrix diagnostic, that optimally selects where additional observations may be placed to improve ionospheric forecasts. This strategy is applied in data assimilation observing system experiments, where synthetic electron density vertical profiles, which represent those of Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate/Formosa satellite 3, are assimilated into the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics General Circulation Model using the local ensemble transform Kalman filter during the 26 September 2011 geomagnetic storm. During each analysis step, the observation vector is augmented with five synthetic vertical profiles optimally placed to target electron density errors, using our targeted observation strategy. Forecast improvement due to assimilation of augmented vertical profiles is measured with the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of analyzed electron density, averaged over 600 km regions centered around the augmented vertical profile locations. Assimilating vertical profiles with targeted locations yields about 60%-80% reduction in electron density RMSE, compared to a 15% average reduction when assimilating randomly placed vertical profiles. Assimilating vertical profiles whose locations target the zonal component of neutral winds (Un) yields on average a 25% RMSE reduction in Un estimates, compared to a 2% average improvement obtained with randomly placed vertical profiles. These results demonstrate that our targeted strategy can improve data assimilation efforts during extreme events by detecting regions where additional observations would provide the largest benefit to the forecast.
Measurement of a density profile of a hot-electron plasma in RT-1 with three-chord interferometry
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Saitoh, H.; Yano, Y.; Yoshida, Z.
2015-02-15
The electron density profile of a plasma in a magnetospheric dipole field configuration was measured with a multi-chord interferometry including a relativistic correction. In order to improve the accuracy of density reconstruction, a 75 GHz interferometer was installed at a vertical chord of the Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) device in addition to previously installed ones at tangential and another vertical chords. The density profile was calculated by using the data of three-chord interferometry including relativistic effects for a plasma consisting of hot and cold electrons generated by electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECH). The results clearly showed the effects of density peakingmore » and magnetic mirror trapping in a strongly inhomogeneous dipole magnetic field.« less
Bottomside Ionospheric Electron Density Specification using Passive High Frequency Signals
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kaeppler, S. R.; Cosgrove, R. B.; Mackay, C.; Varney, R. H.; Kendall, E. A.; Nicolls, M. J.
2016-12-01
The vertical bottomside electron density profile is influenced by a variety of natural sources, most especially traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). These disturbances cause plasma to be moved up or down along the local geomagnetic field and can strongly impact the propagation of high frequency radio waves. While the basic physics of these perturbations has been well studied, practical bottomside models are not well developed. We present initial results from an assimilative bottomside ionosphere model. This model uses empirical orthogonal functions based on the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) to develop a vertical electron density profile, and features a builtin HF ray tracing function. This parameterized model is then perturbed to model electron density perturbations associated with TIDs or ionospheric gradients. Using the ray tracing feature, the model assimilates angle of arrival measurements from passive HF transmitters. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the model using angle of arrival data. Modeling results of bottomside electron density specification are compared against suitable ancillary observations to quantify accuracy of our model.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Denisenko, P. F.; Maltseva, O. A.; Sotsky, V. V.
2018-03-01
The method of correcting the daytime vertical profiles of electron plasma frequency in the low ionosphere from International Refererence Ionosphere (IRI) model in accordance with the measured data of the virtual heights and absorption of signal radiowaves (method A1) reflected from the bottom of E-region at vertical sounding (VS) is presented. The method is based on the replacement of the IRI model profile by an approximation of analytical dependence with parameters determined according to VS data and partially by the IRI model. The method is tested by the results of four joint ground-based and rocket experiments carried out in the 1970s at midlatitudes of the European part of Russia upon the launches of high-altitude geophysical rockets of the Vertical series. It is shown that the consideration of both virtual reflection heigths and absorption makes it possible to obtain electron density distributions that show the best agreement with the rocket measurements made at most height ranges in the D- and E-regions. In additional, the obtained distributions account more adequately than the IRI model for the contributions of D- and E-regions to absorption of signals reflected above these regions.
A new inversion algorithm for HF sky-wave backscatter ionograms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Feng, Jing; Ni, Binbin; Lou, Peng; Wei, Na; Yang, Longquan; Liu, Wen; Zhao, Zhengyu; Li, Xue
2018-05-01
HF sky-wave backscatter sounding system is capable of measuring the large-scale, two-dimensional (2-D) distributions of ionospheric electron density. The leading edge (LE) of a backscatter ionogram (BSI) is widely used for ionospheric inversion since it is hardly affected by any factors other than ionospheric electron density. Traditional BSI inversion methods have failed to distinguish LEs associated with different ionospheric layers, and simply utilize the minimum group path of each operating frequency, which generally corresponds to the LE associated with the F2 layer. Consequently, while the inversion results can provide accurate profiles of the F region below the F2 peak, the diagnostics may not be so effective for other ionospheric layers. In order to resolve this issue, we present a new BSI inversion method using LEs associated with different layers, which can further improve the accuracy of electron density distribution, especially the profile of the ionospheric layers below the F2 region. The efficiency of the algorithm is evaluated by computing the mean and the standard deviation of the differences between inverted parameter values and true values obtained from both vertical and oblique incidence sounding. Test results clearly manifest that the method we have developed outputs more accurate electron density profiles due to improvements to acquire the profiles of the layers below the F2 region. Our study can further improve the current BSI inversion methods on the reconstruction of 2-D electron density distribution in a vertical plane aligned with the direction of sounding.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhou, Chen; Lei, Yong; Li, Bofeng; An, Jiachun; Zhu, Peng; Jiang, Chunhua; Zhao, Zhengyu; Zhang, Yuannong; Ni, Binbin; Wang, Zemin; Zhou, Xuhua
2015-12-01
Global Positioning System (GPS) computerized ionosphere tomography (CIT) and ionospheric sky wave ground backscatter radar are both capable of measuring the large-scale, two-dimensional (2-D) distributions of ionospheric electron density (IED). Here we report the spatial and temporal electron density results obtained by GPS CIT and backscatter ionogram (BSI) inversion for three individual experiments. Both the GPS CIT and BSI inversion techniques demonstrate the capability and the consistency of reconstructing large-scale IED distributions. To validate the results, electron density profiles obtained from GPS CIT and BSI inversion are quantitatively compared to the vertical ionosonde data, which clearly manifests that both methods output accurate information of ionopsheric electron density and thereby provide reliable approaches to ionospheric soundings. Our study can improve current understanding of the capability and insufficiency of these two methods on the large-scale IED reconstruction.
First Ionospheric Results From the MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Withers, Paul; Felici, M.; Mendillo, M.; Moore, L.; Narvaez, C.; Vogt, M. F.; Jakosky, B. M.
2018-05-01
Radio occultation observations of the ionosphere of Mars can span the full vertical extent of the ionosphere, in contrast to in situ measurements that rarely sample the main region of the ionosphere. However, most existing radio occultation electron density profiles from Mars were acquired without clear context for the solar forcing or magnetospheric conditions, which presents challenges for the interpretation of these profiles. Here we present 48 ionospheric electron density profiles acquired by the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission (MAVEN) Radio Occultation Science Experiment (ROSE) from 5 July 2016 to 27 June 2017 at solar zenith angles of 54° to 101°. Latitude coverage is excellent, and comprehensive context for the interpretation of these profiles is provided by other MAVEN instruments. The profiles show a 9-km increase in ionospheric peak altitude in January 2017 that is associated with a lower atmospheric dust storm, variations in electron densities in the M1 layer that cannot be explained by variations in the solar soft X-ray flux, and topside electron densities that are larger in strongly magnetized regions than in weakly magnetized regions. MAVEN Radio Occultation Science Experiment electron density profiles are publicly available on the NASA Planetary Data System.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Mirmovich, E.G.; Shapiro, B.S.
1975-01-01
Simultaneous satellite measurements of electron density N/sub s/ and temperature (T/sub e/)/sub s/ at a height h/sub s/ above an observatory and ground-based observations are used to compute the total vertical electron density profiles N(h) and estimate the temperature of the ionospheric plasma. Four close time intervals after sunset were selected for analysis.
Validation of COSMIC radio occultation electron density profiles by incoherent scatter radar data
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Cherniak, Iurii; Zakharenkova, Irina
The COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 is a joint US/Taiwan radio occultation mission consisting of six identical micro-satellites. Each microsatellite has a GPS Occultation Experiment payload to operate the ionospheric RO measurements. FS3/COSMIC data can make a positive impact on global ionosphere study providing essential information about height electron density distribu-tion. For correct using of the RO electron density profiles for geophysical analysis, modeling and other applications it is necessary to make validation of these data with electron density distributions obtained by another measurement techniques such as proven ground based facili-ties -ionosondes and IS radars. In fact as the ionosondes provide no direct information on the profile above the maximum electron density and the topside ionosonde profile is obtained by fitting a model to the peak electron density value, the COSMIC RO measurements can make an important contribution to the investigation of the topside part of the ionosphere. IS radars provide information about the whole electron density profile, so we can estimate the agreement of topside parts between two independent measurements. To validate the reliability of COS-MIC data we have used the ionospheric electron density profiles derived from IS radar located near Kharkiv, Ukraine (geographic coordinates: 49.6N, 36.3E, geomagnetic coordinates: 45.7N, 117.8E). The Kharkiv radar is a sole incoherent scatter facility on the middle latitudes of Eu-ropean region. The radar operates with 100-m zenith parabolic antenna at 158 MHz with peak transmitted power 2.0 MW. The Kharkiv IS radar is able to determine the heights-temporal distribution of ionosphere parameters in height range of 70-1500 km. At the ionosphere in-vestigation by incoherent scatter method there are directly measured the power spectrum (or autocorrelation function) of scattered signal. With using of rather complex procedure of the received signal processing it is possible to estimate the majority of the ionospheric parameters -density and kinetic temperature of electron and main ions, the plasma drift velocity and others. The comparison of RO reveals that usually COSMIC RO profiles are in a rather good agreement with ISR profiles both in the F2 layer peak electron density (NmF2) and the form of profiles. The coincidence of profiles is better in the cases when projection of the ray path of tangent points is closer to the ISR location. It is necessary to note that retrieved electron density profiles should not be interpreted as actual vertical profiles. The geographical location of the ray path tangent points at the top and at the bottom of a profile may differ by several hundred kilometers. So the spatial smearing of data takes place and RO technique represents an image of vertical and horizontal ionospheric structure. That is why the comparison with ground-based data has rather relative character. We derived quantitative parameters to char-acterize the differences of the compared profiles: the peak height difference, the relative peak density difference. Most of the compared profiles agree within error limits, depending on the accuracy of the occultation-and the radar-derived profiles. In general COSMIC RO profiles are in a good agreement with incoherent radar profiles both in the F2 layer peak electron density (NmF2) and the form of the profiles. The coincidence of COSMIC and incoherent radar pro-files is better in the cases when projection of the ray path tangent points is closer to the radar location. COSMIC measurements can be efficiently used to study the topside part of the iono-spheric electron density. To validate the reliability of the COSMIC ionospheric observations it must be done the big work on the analysis and statistical generalization of the huge data array (today the total number of ionospheric occultation is more than 2.300.000), but this technique is a very promising one to retrieve accurate profiles of the ionospheric electron density with ground-based measurements on a global scale. We acknowledge the Taiwan's National Space Organization (NSPO) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) for providing the COSMIC Data.
TEC data ingestion into IRI and NeQuick over the antarctic region
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nava, Bruno; Pezzopane, Michael; Radicella, Sandro M.; Scotto, Carlo; Pietrella, Marco; Migoya Orue, Yenca; Alazo Cuartas, Katy; Kashcheyev, Anton
2016-07-01
In the present work a comparative analysis to evaluate the IRI and NeQuick 2 models capabilities in reproducing the ionospheric behaviour over the Antarctic Region has been performed. A technique to adapt the two models to GNSS-derived vertical Total Electron Content (TEC) has been therefore implemented to retrieve the 3-D ionosphere electron density at specific locations where ionosonde data were available. In particular, the electron density profiles used in this study have been provided in the framework of the AUSPICIO (AUtomatic Scaling of Polar Ionograms and Cooperative Ionospheric Observations) project applying the Adaptive Ionospheric Profiler (AIP) to ionograms recorded at eight selected mid, high-latitude and polar ionosondes. The relevant GNSS-derived vertical TEC values have been obtained from the Global Ionosphere Maps (GIM) produced by the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE). The effectiveness of the IRI and NeQuick 2 in reconstructing the ionosphere electron density at the given locations and epochs has been primarily assessed in terms of statistical comparison between experimental and model-retrieved peak parameters values (foF2 and hmF2). The analysis results indicate that in general the models are equivalent in their ability to reproduce the critical frequency of the F2 layer and they also tend to overestimate the height of the peak electron density, especially during high solar activity periods. Nevertheless this tendency is more noticeable in NeQuick 2 than in IRI. For completeness, the statistics indicating the models bottomside reconstruction capabilities, computed as height integrated electron density profile mismodeling, will also be discussed.
Ionospheric Profiling Through Nonlinear Dielectric Response to Electron Density*
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Moses, R. W.; Jacobson, A. R.
2002-12-01
It is well known that the total electron content (TEC) along a line of sight in the ionosphere can be extracted from the frequency-dependent time lag measured in transionospheric RF signals [1]. For five years the FORTE satellite has been used to develop a substantial data base of transionospheric signals originating in both lightning and man-made sources. Here, we use signals generated by the Los Alamos Portable Pulser (LAPP) [2] and recorded by FORTE as input to a multi-layer computer model of RF wave propagation in the ionosphere, including Faraday rotation in the Earth's magnetic field. Nonlinearities in both the frequency dependence of the group velocity and the optical pathlength are modeled and matched to FORTE data to infer details of the vertical profile of electron density. Using the International Reference Ionosphere [3] as a profile model, we show how the vertical TEC, peak electron density, and ionospheric thickness can be extracted even at large transmitter-to-satellite separations. [1] Roussel-Dupre, R. A., A. R. Jacobson, and L. A. Triplett, Radio Sci., 36, 1615 (2001). [2] Massey, R.S., S.O. Knox, R.C. Franz, D.N. Holden, and C.T. Rhodes, Radio Sci., 33, 1739 (1998). [3] Bilitza, D., "International Reference Ionosphere 1990," NSSDC/WDC-A-R&S 90-92. *Work supported by USDOE
Analysis of Total Electron Content and Electron Density Profile during Different Geomagnetic Storms
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chapagain, N. P.; Rana, B.; Adhikari, B.
2017-12-01
Total Electron content (TEC) and electron density are the key parameters in the mitigation of ionospheric effects on radio communication system. Detail study of the TEC and electron density variations has been carried out during geomagnetic storms, with longitude and latitude, for four different locations: (13˚N -17˚N, 88˚E -98˚E), (30˚N-50˚N, 120˚W -95˚W), (29˚S-26˚S, 167˚W-163˚W,) and (60˚S-45˚S, 120˚W-105˚W) using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite observations. In order to find the geomagnetic activity, the solar wind parameters such as north-south component of inter planetary magnetic field (Bz), plasma drift velocity (Vsw), flow pressure (nPa), AE, Dst and Kp indices were obtained from Operating Mission as Nodes on the Internet (OMNI) web system. The data for geomagnetic indices have been correlated with the TEC and electron density for four different events of geomagnetic storms on 6 April 2008, 27 March 2008, 4 September 2008, and 11 October 2008. The result illustrates that the observed TEC and electron density profile significantly vary with longitudes and latitudes. This study illustrates that the values of TEC and the vertical electron density profile are influenced by the solar wind parameters associated with solar activities. The peak values of electron density and TEC increase as the geomagnetic storms become stronger. Similarly, the electron density profile varies with altitudes, which peaks around the altitude range of about 250- 350 km, depending on the strength of geomagnetic storms. The results clearly show that the peak electron density shifted to higher altitude (from about 250 km to 350 km) as the geomagnetic disturbances becomes stronger.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kalita, Bitap Raj; Bhuyan, Pradip Kumar
2017-07-01
The vertical electron density profiles over Dibrugarh (27.5°N, 95°E, 43° dip) a low mid latitude station normally located at the northern edge of the EIA for the period of July 2010 till October 2015 are constructed from the measured bottom side profiles and ionosonde-GPS TEC assisted Topside Sounder Model (TSM) topside profiles. The bottom side density profiles are obtained by using POLAN on the manually scaled ionograms. The topside is constructed by the modified ionosonde assisted TSM model (TaP-TSM assisted by POLAN) which is integrated with POLAN for the first time. The reconstructed vertical profile is compared with the IRI predicted density profile and the electron density profile obtained from the COSMIC/FORMOSAT radio occultation measurements over Dibrugarh. The bottom side density profiles are fitted to the IRI bottom side function to obtain best-fit bottom side thickness parameter B0 and shape parameter B1. The temporal and solar activity variation of the B-parameters over Dibrugarh are investigated and compared to those predicted by IRI-2012 model with ABT-2009 option. The bottom side thickness parameter B0 predicted by the IRI model is found to be similar to the B0 measured over Dibrugarh in the night time and the forenoon hours. Differences are observed in the early morning and the afternoon period. The IRI doesn't reproduce the morning collapse of B0 and overestimates the B0 over Dibrugarh in the afternoon period, particularly in summer and equinox. The IRI model predictions are closest to the measured B0 in the winter of low solar activity. The B0 over Dibrugarh is found to increase by about 15% with solar activity during the period of study encompassing almost the first half of solar cycle 24 but solar activity effect was not observed in the B1 parameter. The topside profile obtained from TaP profiler is thicker than the IRI topside in equinox from afternoon to sunrise period but is similar to the IRI in summer daytime. The differences in the bottom side may be attributed to the non-inclusion of ground measurements from 90°E to 100°E longitude in the ABT-2009 model while differences in the topside could be due the non-uniform longitudinal distribution of topside sounder profiles data and the stronger fountain effect in this longitude.
Evaluation of Inversion Methods Applied to Ionospheric ro Observations
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Rios Caceres, Arq. Estela Alejandra; Rios, Victor Hugo; Guyot, Elia
The new technique of radio-occultation can be used to study the Earth's ionosphere. The retrieval processes of ionospheric profiling from radio occultation observations usually assume spherical symmetry of electron density distribution at the locality of occultation and use the Abel integral transform to invert the measured total electron content (TEC) values. This pa-per presents a set of ionospheric profiles obtained from SAC-C satellite with the Abel inversion technique. The effects of the ionosphere on the GPS signal during occultation, such as bending and scintillation, are examined. Electron density profiles are obtained using the Abel inversion technique. Ionospheric radio occultations are validated using vertical profiles of electron con-centration from inverted ionograms , obtained from ionosonde sounding in the vicinity of the occultation. Results indicate that the Abel transform works well in the mid-latitudes during the daytime, but is less accurate during the night-time.
Evolution of ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) parameters in the cusp region related to ion upflow events
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kervalishvili, Guram; Lühr, Hermann
2017-04-01
In this study we investigate the relationships of various IT parameters with the intensity of vertical ion flow. Our study area is the ionospheric cusp region in the northern hemisphere. The approach uses superposed epoch analysis (SEA) method, centered alternately on peaks of the three different variables: neutral density enhancement, vertical plasma flow, and electron temperature. Further parameters included are large-scale field-aligned currents (LSFACs) and thermospheric zonal wind velocity profiles over magnetic latitude (MLat), which are centered at the event time and location. The dependence on the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) By component orientation and the local (Lloyd) season is of particular interest. Our investigations are based on CHAMP and DMSP (F13 and F15) satellite observations and the OMNI online database collected during the years 2002-2007. The three Lloyd seasons of 130 days each are defined as follows: local winter (1 January ± 65 days), combined equinoxes (1 April and 1 October ± 32 days), and local summer (1 July ± 65 days). A period of 130 days corresponds to the time needed by CHAMP to sample all local times. The SEA MLat profiles with respect to neutral density enhancement and vertical plasma flow peaks show no significant but only slight (decreasing towards local summer) seasonal variations for both IMF By orientations. The latitude profiles of median LSFACs show a clear dependence on the IMF By orientation. As expected, the maximum and minimum values of LSFAC amplitudes are increasing towards local summer for both IMF By signs. With respect to zero epoch latitude, FAC peaks appear equatorward (negative MLat) related to Region 1 (R1) and poleward (positive MLat) to Region 0 (R0) FACs. However, there is an imbalance between the amplitudes of LSFACs, depending on the current latitude. R1 currents are systematically stronger than R0 FACs. A somewhat different distribution of density enhancements and large-scale FACs emerges when the SEA is centered on electron temperature peaks. As expected, the background electron temperature increases towards summer and shows no dependence on the IMF By orientation. In contrast to the previous sorting the mass density enhancement shows a dependence on the IMF By sign and increases towards local summer in case of IMF By<0. As before LSFAC peak values are increasing towards local summer, but there is no clear latitudinal profile of upward and downward FACs. We think that intense precipitation of soft electrons (<100 eV) cause the electron temperature enhancement in the cusp region. But there is no direct dependence on the FAC intensity. But for neutral density enhancement and vertical plasma flow the combination of Joule heating and soft electron precipitation, causing electron temperature and conductivity enhancements, are required.
Performance and data analysis aspects of the new DIII-D monostatic profile reflectometer system
Zeng, Lei; Peebles, William A.; Doyle, Edward J.; ...
2014-08-07
A new frequency-modulated (FMCW) profile reflectometer system, featuring a monostatic antenna geometry (using one microwave antenna for both launch and receive), has been installed on the DIII-D tokamak, providing a first experimental test of this measurement approach for profile reflectometry. Significant features of the new system are briefly described in this paper, including the new monostatic arrangement, use of overmoded, broadband transmission waveguide, and dual-polarization combination/demultiplexing. Updated data processing and analysis, and in-service performance aspects of the new monostatic profile reflectometer system are also presented. By using a raytracing code (GENRAY) to determine the approximate trajectory of the probe beam,more » the electron density (n e) profile can be successfully reconstructed with L-mode plasmas vertically shifted by more than 10 cm off the vessel midplane. Specifically, it is demonstrated that the new system has a capability to measure n e profiles with plasma vertical offsets of up to ±17 cm. Furthermore, examples are also presented of accurate, high time and spatial resolution density profile measurements made over a wide range of DIII-D conditions, e.g. the measured temporal evolution of the density profile across an L-H transition.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Stankov, S. M.; Warnant, R.; Stegen, K.
2009-04-01
The purpose of the LIEDR (Local Ionospheric Electron Density Reconstruction) system is to acquire and process data from simultaneous ground-based GNSS TEC and digital ionosonde measurements, and subsequently to deduce the vertical electron density distribution in the local ionosphere. LIEDR is primarily designed to operate in real time for service applications, and, if sufficient data from solar and geomagnetic observations are available, to provide short-term forecast as well. For research applications and further development of the system, a post-processing mode of operation is also envisaged. In essence, the reconstruction procedure consists in the following. The high-precision ionosonde measurements are used for directly obtaining the bottom part of the electron density profile. The ionospheric profiler for the lower side (i.e. below the density peak height, hmF2) is based on the Epstein layer functions using the known values of the critical frequencies, foF2 and foE, and the propagation factor, M3000F2. The corresponding bottom-side part of the total electron content is calculated from this profile and is then subtracted from the GPS TEC value in order to obtain the unknown portion of the TEC in the upper side (i.e. above the hmF2). Ionosonde data, together with the simultaneously-measured TEC and empirically obtained O+/H+ ion transition level values, are all required for the determination of the topside electron density scale height. The topside electron density is considered as a sum of the constituent oxygen and hydrogen ion densities with unknown vertical scale heights. The latter are calculated by solving a system of transcendental equations that arise from the incorporation of a suitable ionospheric profiler (Chapman, Epstein, or Exponential) into formulae describing ionospheric conditions (plasma quasi-neutrality, ion transition level). Once the topside scale heights are determined, the construction of the vertical electron density distribution in the entire altitude range is a straightforward process. As a by-product of the described procedure, the value of the ionospheric slab thickness can be easily computed. To be able to provide forecast, additional information about the current solar and geomagnetic activity is needed. For the purpose, observations available in real time -- at the Royal Institute of Meteorology (RMI), the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB), and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) -- are used. Recently, a new hybrid model for estimating and predicting the local magnetic index K has been developed. This hybrid model has the advantage of using both, ground-based (geomagnetic field components) and space-based (solar wind parameters) measurements, which results in more reliable estimates of the level of geomagnetic activity - current and future. The described reconstruction procedure has been tested on actual measurements at the RMI Dourbes Geophysics Centre (coordinates: 50.1N, 4.6E) where a GPS receiver is collocated with a digital ionosonde (code: DB049, type: Lowell DGS 256). Currently, the nominal time resolution between two consecutive reconstructions is set to 15 minutes with a forecast horizon for each reconstruction of up to 60 minutes. Several applications are envisaged. For example, the ionospheric propagation delays can be estimated and corrected much easier if the electron density profile is available at a nearby location on a real-time basis. Also, both the input data and the reconstruction results can be used for validation purposes in ionospheric models, maps, and services. Recent studies suggest that such ionospheric monitoring systems can help research/services related to aircraft navigation, e.g. for development of the ‘ionospheric threat' methodology.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kawakami, Todd Mori
In April of 1995, the launch of the GPS Meteorology Experiment (GPS/MET) onboard the Orbview-1 satellite, formerly known as Microlab-1, provided the first technology demonstration of active limb sounding of the Earth's atmosphere with a low Earth orbiting spacecraft utilizing the signals transmitted by the satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Though the experiment's primary mission was to probe the troposphere and stratosphere, GPS/MET was also capable of making radio occultation observations of the ionosphere. The application of the GPS occultation technique to the upper atmosphere created a unique opportunity to conduct ionospheric research with an unprecedented global distribution of observations. For operational support requirements, the Abel transform could be employed to invert the horizontal TEC profiles computed from the L1 and L2 phase measurements observed by GPS/MET into electron density profiles versus altitude in near real time. The usefulness of the method depends on how effectively the TEC limb profiles can be transformed into vertical electron density profiles. An assessment of GPS/MET's ability to determine electron density profiles needs to be examined to validate the significance of the GPS occultation method as a new and complementary ionospheric research tool to enhance the observational databases and improve space weather modeling and forecasting. To that end, simulations of the occultation observations and their inversions have been conducted to test the Abel transform algorithm and to provide qualitative information about the type and range of errors that might be experienced during the processing of real data. Comparisons of the electron density profiles inferred from real GPS/MET observations are then compared with coincident in situ measurements from the satellites of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and ground-based remote sensing from digisonde and incoherent scatter radar facilities. The principal focus of this study is the validation of the electron density profiles inferred from GPS occultation observations using the Abel transform.
Operation of the ORNL High Particle Flux Helicon Plasma Source
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Goulding, Richard Howell; Biewer, Theodore M; Caughman, John B
2011-01-01
A high power, high particle flux rf-based helicon plasma source has been constructed at ORNL and operated at power levels up to 30 kW. High-density hydrogen and helium plasmas have been produced. The source has been designed as the basis for a linear plasma materials interaction (PMI) test facility that will generate particle fluxes Gamma(p) > 10(23) M-3 s(-1), and utilize additional ion and electron cyclotron heating to produce high parallel (to the magnetic field) heat fluxes of similar to 10 MW/m(2). An rf-based source for PMI research is of interest because high plasma densities are generated with no internalmore » electrodes, allowing true steady state operation with minimal impurity generation. The ORNL helicon source has a diameter of 15 cm and to-date has operated at a frequency f = 13.56 MHz, with magnetic field strength vertical bar B vertical bar in the antenna region up to similar to 0.15 T. Maximum densities of 3 x 10(19) M-3 in He and 2.5 x 10(19) m(-3) in H have been achieved. Radial density profiles have been seen to be dependent on the axial vertical bar B vertical bar profile.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gok, Gokhan; Mosna, Zbysek; Arikan, Feza; Arikan, Orhan; Erdem, Esra
2016-07-01
Ionospheric observation is essentially accomplished by specialized radar systems called ionosondes. The time delay between the transmitted and received signals versus frequency is measured by the ionosondes and the received signals are processed to generate ionogram plots, which show the time delay or reflection height of signals with respect to transmitted frequency. The critical frequencies of ionospheric layers and virtual heights, that provide useful information about ionospheric structurecan be extracted from ionograms . Ionograms also indicate the amount of variability or disturbances in the ionosphere. With special inversion algorithms and tomographical methods, electron density profiles can also be estimated from the ionograms. Although structural pictures of ionosphere in the vertical direction can be observed from ionosonde measurements, some errors may arise due to inaccuracies that arise from signal propagation, modeling, data processing and tomographic reconstruction algorithms. Recently IONOLAB group (www.ionolab.org) developed a new algorithm for effective and accurate extraction of ionospheric parameters and reconstruction of electron density profile from ionograms. The electron density reconstruction algorithm applies advanced optimization techniques to calculate parameters of any existing analytical function which defines electron density with respect to height using ionogram measurement data. The process of reconstructing electron density with respect to height is known as the ionogram scaling or true height analysis. IONOLAB-RAY algorithm is a tool to investigate the propagation path and parameters of HF wave in the ionosphere. The algorithm models the wave propagation using ray representation under geometrical optics approximation. In the algorithm , the structural ionospheric characteristics arerepresented as realistically as possible including anisotropicity, inhomogenity and time dependence in 3-D voxel structure. The algorithm is also used for various purposes including calculation of actual height and generation of ionograms. In this study, the performance of electron density reconstruction algorithm of IONOLAB group and standard electron density profile algorithms of ionosondes are compared with IONOLAB-RAY wave propagation simulation in near vertical incidence. The electron density reconstruction and parameter extraction algorithms of ionosondes are validated with the IONOLAB-RAY results both for quiet anddisturbed ionospheric states in Central Europe using ionosonde stations such as Pruhonice and Juliusruh . It is observed that IONOLAB ionosonde parameter extraction and electron density reconstruction algorithm performs significantly better compared to standard algorithms especially for disturbed ionospheric conditions. IONOLAB-RAY provides an efficient and reliable tool to investigate and validate ionosonde electron density reconstruction algorithms, especially in determination of reflection height (true height) of signals and critical parameters of ionosphere. This study is supported by TUBITAK 114E541, 115E915 and Joint TUBITAK 114E092 and AS CR 14/001 projects.
Magnetically Controlled Upper Ionosphere of Mars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Majeed, T.; Al Aryani, O.; Al Mutawa, S.; Bougher, S. W.; Haider, S. A.
2017-12-01
The electron density (Ne) profiles measured by the Mars Express spacecraft over regions of strong crustal magnetic fields have shown anomalous characteristics of the topside plasma distribution with variable scale heights. One of such Ne profiles is located at 82oS and 180oE whose topside ionosphere is extended up to an altitude of 700 km. The crustal magnetic field at this southern site is nearly vertical and open to the access of solar wind plasma through magnetic reconnection with the interplanetary magnetic field. This can lead to the acceleration of electrons and ions during the daytime ionosphere. The downward accelerated electrons with energies >200 eV can penetrate deep into the Martian upper ionosphere along vertical magnetic field lines and cause heating, excitation and ionization of the background atmosphere. The upward acceleration of ions resulting from energy input by precipitating electrons can lead to enhance ion escape rate and modify scale heights of the topside ionosphere. We have developed a 1-D chemical diffusive model from 100 km to 400 km to interpret the Martian ionospheric structure at 82oS latitude. The primary source of ionization in the model is due to solar EUV radiation. An extra ionization source due to precipitating electrons of 0.25 keV, peaking near an altitude of 145 km is added in the model to reasonably reproduce the measured ionospheric structure below an altitude of 180 km. The behavior of the topside ionosphere can be interpreted by the vertical plasma transport caused by precipitating electrons. The vertical transport of plasma in our model is simulated by vertical ion velocities, whose values can be interpreted as drift velocities along magnetic field lines. We find that the variation of the topside Ne scale heights is sensitive to the magnitudes of upward and downward drifts with an imposed outward flux boundary condition at the top of the model. The model requires an upward flux of more than 107 ions cm-2 s-1 for both O2+ and O+, and drift speeds of 200 m/s to interpret the measured topside ionospheric structure for altitudes >180 km. The magnitudes of outward ion fluxes and drift velocities are compared with those simulated by existing models. The model results will be presented in comparison with the measured electron density profile. This work is supported by MBRSC, Dubai, UAE.
Gutt, C; Sant, T; Ksenzov, D; Capotondi, F; Pedersoli, E; Raimondi, L; Nikolov, I P; Kiskinova, M; Jaiswal, S; Jakob, G; Kläui, M; Zabel, H; Pietsch, U
2017-09-01
We report the results of resonant magnetic XUV reflectivity experiments performed at the XUV free-electron laser FERMI. Circularly polarized XUV light with the photon energy tuned to the Fe M 2,3 edge is used to measure resonant magnetic reflectivities and the corresponding Q -resolved asymmetry of a Permalloy/Ta/Permalloy trilayer film. The asymmetry exhibits ultrafast changes on 240 fs time scales upon pumping with ultrashort IR laser pulses. Depending on the value of the wavevector transfer Q z , we observe both decreasing and increasing values of the asymmetry parameter, which is attributed to ultrafast changes in the vertical spin and charge density profiles of the trilayer film.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hong, Junseok; Kim, Yong Ha; Chung, Jong-Kyun; Ssessanga, Nicholas; Kwak, Young-Sil
2017-03-01
In South Korea, there are about 80 Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring stations providing total electron content (TEC) every 10 min, which can be accessed through Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) for scientific use. We applied the computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) algorithm to the TEC dataset from this GPS network for monitoring the regional ionosphere over South Korea. The algorithm utilizes multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (MART) with an initial condition of the latest International Reference Ionosphere-2016 model (IRI-2016). In order to reduce the number of unknown variables, the vertical profiles of electron density are expressed with a linear combination of empirical orthonormal functions (EOFs) that were derived from the IRI empirical profiles. Although the number of receiver sites is much smaller than that of Japan, the CIT algorithm yielded reasonable structure of the ionosphere over South Korea. We verified the CIT results with NmF2 from ionosondes in Icheon and Jeju and also with GPS TEC at the center of South Korea. In addition, the total time required for CIT calculation was only about 5 min, enabling the exploration of the vertical ionospheric structure in near real time.
Effects of pressing schedule on formation of vertical density profile for MDF panels
Zhiyong Cai; James H. Muehl; Jerrold E. Winandy
2006-01-01
A fundamental understanding of mat consolidation during hot pressing will help to optimize the medium-density fiberboard (MDF) manufacturing process by increasing productivity, improving product quality, and enhancing durability. Effects of panel density, fiber moisture content (MC), and pressing schedule on formation of vertical density profile (VDP) during hot...
Physics based model of D-region variability related to VLF propagation effects
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chakravarty, S. C.
2012-07-01
D-region (~60-85 km) electron density profiles measured using large number of sounding rocket experiments carried out from two Indian low latitude stations show large variations with solar zenith angle, season and solar activity. Similarly the ground based multi frequency radio wave absorption technique has provided continuous data on the morphology of the hourly electron density variations. However suitable models of the D-region electron density profile variations both during quiet and disturbed solar conditions over the Indian region are lacking. The renewed interest in the study of the VLF/LF propagation anomalies taking place through perturbations in the D-region electron densities due to various geophysical phenomena requires the availability of a baseline D-region model over low latitudes. The purpose of this paper is to critically review the physical processes of D-region production and loss of free electrons, dynamical coupling due to variety of vertically propagating atmospheric waves, sudden changes brought about by the solar energetic events like CMEs and different categories of X-ray flares. Low latitude region is not likely to be affected by the PMSE or PCA type of events but the changes due to lightning induced mesospheric red sprites and LEPs need to be considered. Based on this analysis, a preliminary low latitude D-region electron density profile model development is proposed. Sample results would illustrate key requirements from such a model in terms of its effectiveness to simulate the low latitude observations of VLF/LF amplitude and phase variations using waveguide propagation models like LWPC.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Eldering, Annmarie; Kahn, Brian H.; Mills, Franklin P.; Irion, Fredrick W.; Steele, Helen M.; Gunson, Michael R.
2004-01-01
The high-resolution infrared absorption spectra of the Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment are utilized to derive vertical profiles of sulfate aerosol volume density and extinction coefficient. Following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in June 1991, the ATMOS spectra obtained on three Space Shuttle missions (1992, 1993, and 1994) provide a unique opportunity to study the global stratospheric sulfate aerosol layer shortly after a major volcanic eruption and periodically during the decay phase. Synthetic sulfate aerosol spectra are fit to the observed spectra, and a global fitting inversion routine is used to derive vertical profiles of sulfate aerosol volume density. Vertical profiles of sulfate aerosol volume density for the three missions over portions of the globe are presented, with the peak in aerosol volume density occurring from as low as 10 km (polar latitudes) to as high as 20 km (subtropical latitudes). Derived aerosol volume density is as high as 2-3.5 (mu)m(exp 3) per cubic centimeter +/-10% in 1992, decreasing to 0.2-0.5 (mu)m(exp 3) per cubic centimeter +/-20% in 1994, in agreement with other experiments. Vertical extinction profiles derived from ATMOS are compared with profiles from Improved Stratospheric And Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS) and Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES) that coincide in space and time and show good general agreement. The uncertainty of the ATMOS vertical profiles is similar to CLAES and consistently smaller than ISAMS at similar altitudes.
Electric currents in the subsolar region of the Venus lower ionosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Cole, K. D.; Hoegy, W. R.
1994-01-01
The ion and electron momentum equations, along with Ampere's law, are solved for the ion and electron drift velocities and the electric field in the subsolar Venus ionosphere, assuming a partially ionized gas and a single ion species having the ion mean mass. All collision terms among the ions, electrons and neutral particles are retained in the equations. A general expression for the evolution of the magnetic field is derived and compared with earlier expressions. Subsolar region data in the altitude range 150-300 km from the Pioneer Venus Orbiter are used to calculate altitude profiles of the components of the current due to the electric field, gradients of pressure, and gravity. Altitude profiles of the ion and electron velocities as well as the electric field, electrodynamic heating, and the energy density are determined. Only orbits having a complete set of measured plasma temperatures and densities, neutral densities, and magnetic field were considered for analysis; the results are shown only for orbit 202. The vertical velocity at altitudes above 220 km is upgoing for orbit 202. This result is consistent with observations of molecular ions at high altitudes and of plasma flow to the nightside, both of which require upward velocity of ions from the dayside ionosphere. Above about 230 km the momentum equations are extremely sensitive to the altitude profiles of density, temperature, and magnetic field.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Benson, Robert F.; Fainberg, Joseph; Osherovich, Vladimir A.; Truhlik, Vladimir; Wang, Yongli; Bilitza, Dieter; Fung, Shing F.
2015-01-01
Large magnetic-storm induced changes have been detected in high-latitude topside vertical electron-density profiles Ne(h). The investigation was based on the large database of topside Ne(h) profiles and digital topside ionograms from the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program available from the NASA Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) at http://spdf.gsfc.nasa.gov/isis/isis-status.html. This large database enabled Ne(h) profiles to be obtained when an ISIS satellite passed through nearly the same region of space before, during, and after a major magnetic storm. A major goal was to relate the magnetic-storm induced high-latitude Ne(h) profile changes to solar-wind parameters. Thus an additional data constraint was to consider only storms where solar-wind data were available from the NASA/SPDF OMNIWeb database. Ten large magnetic storms (with Dst less than -100 nT) were identified that satisfied both the Ne(h) profile and the solar-wind data constraints. During five of these storms topside ionospheric Ne(h) profiles were available in the high-latitude northern hemisphere and during the other five storms similar ionospheric data were available in the southern hemisphere. Large Ne(h) changes were observed during each one of these storms. Our concentration in this paper is on the northern hemisphere. The data coverage was best for the northern-hemisphere winter. Here Ne(h) profile enhancements were always observed when the magnetic local time (MLT) was between 00 and 03 and Ne(h) profile depletions were always observed between 08 and 10 MLT. The observed Ne(h) deviations were compared with solar-wind parameters, with appropriate time shifts, for four storms.
The plasmasphere electron content paradox
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Krall, J.; Huba, J. D.
2016-09-01
Measurements show that plasmasphere refilling rates decrease with increasing solar activity, while paradoxically, the vertical integration of the plasmasphere electron density (pTEC) increases with increasing solar activity. Using the Naval Research Laboratory SAMI2 (Sami2 is Another Model of the Ionosphere) and SAMI3 (Sami3 is Also a Model of the Ionosphere) codes, we simulate plasmasphere refilling following a model storm, reproducing this observed phenomenon. In doing so, we find that the refilling rate and resulting pTEC values are sensitive to the oxygen profile in the thermosphere and exosphere: the supply of H+ in the topside ionosphere is limited by the local O+ density, through H+O+→H++O charge exchange. At solar minimum, the O+ supply simply increases with the O density in the exosphere. At solar maximum, we find that O-O+ collisions limit the O+ density in the topside ionosphere such that it decreases with increasing O density. The paradox occurs because the pTEC metric gives electrons in the topside ionosphere more weight than electrons in the plasmasphere.
Thermo-Rotational Instability in Plasma Disks Around Compact Objects*
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Coppi, Bruno
2008-04-01
Differentially rotating plasma disks, around compact objects, that are imbedded in a ``seed'' magnetic field are shown to develop vertically localized ballooning modes that are driven by the combined radial gradient of the rotation frequency and the vertical gradients of the plasma density and temperature [1]. When the electron mean free path is shorter than the disk height and the (vertical) thermal conductivity can be neglected, the vertical particle flows produced by of these modes have the effect to drive the density and temperature profiles toward the ``adiabatic condition'' where ηT≡(dlnT/dz/(dlnn/dz)=2/3. Here T is the plasma temperature and n the particle density. The faster growth rates correspond to steeper temperature profiles (ηT>2/3) such as those produced by an internal (e.g. viscous) heating process. In the end, ballooning modes excited for various values of ηT can lead to the evolution of the disk into a different current carrying configuration such as a sequence of plasma rings[2].*Sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Energy[1]B. Coppi, M.I.T. (LNS) Report HEP, 07/02, Cambridge, MA (2007), Invited Paper at the International Symposium on ``Momentum Transport in Jets, Disks and Laboratory Plasmas'', Alba, Piedmont, September 2007, to be published in Europhysical Letters (EPL, IOP)[2]B. Coppi andF. Rousseau, Ap. J., 641, 458, (2006)
Longitudinal Differences of Ionospheric Vertical Density Distribution and Equatorial Electrodynamics
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Yizengaw, E.; Zesta, E.; Moldwin, M. B.; Damtie, B.; Mebrahtu, A.; Valledares, C.E.; Pfaff, R. F.
2012-01-01
Accurate estimation of global vertical distribution of ionospheric and plasmaspheric density as a function of local time, season, and magnetic activity is required to improve the operation of space-based navigation and communication systems. The vertical density distribution, especially at low and equatorial latitudes, is governed by the equatorial electrodynamics that produces a vertical driving force. The vertical structure of the equatorial density distribution can be observed by using tomographic reconstruction techniques on ground-based global positioning system (GPS) total electron content (TEC). Similarly, the vertical drift, which is one of the driving mechanisms that govern equatorial electrodynamics and strongly affect the structure and dynamics of the ionosphere in the low/midlatitude region, can be estimated using ground magnetometer observations. We present tomographically reconstructed density distribution and the corresponding vertical drifts at two different longitudes: the East African and west South American sectors. Chains of GPS stations in the east African and west South American longitudinal sectors, covering the equatorial anomaly region of meridian approx. 37 deg and 290 deg E, respectively, are used to reconstruct the vertical density distribution. Similarly, magnetometer sites of African Meridian B-field Education and Research (AMBER) and INTERMAGNET for the east African sector and South American Meridional B-field Array (SAMBA) and Low Latitude Ionospheric Sensor Network (LISN) are used to estimate the vertical drift velocity at two distinct longitudes. The comparison between the reconstructed and Jicamarca Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) measured density profiles shows excellent agreement, demonstrating the usefulness of tomographic reconstruction technique in providing the vertical density distribution at different longitudes. Similarly, the comparison between magnetometer estimated vertical drift and other independent drift observation, such as from VEFI onboard Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite and JULIA radar, is equally promising. The observations at different longitudes suggest that the vertical drift velocities and the vertical density distribution have significant longitudinal differences; especially the equatorial anomaly peaks expand to higher latitudes more in American sector than the African sector, indicating that the vertical drift in the American sector is stronger than the African sector.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shaikh, M. M.; Notarpietro, R.; Nava, B.
2014-02-01
'Onion-peeling' is a very common technique used to invert Radio Occultation (RO) data in the ionosphere. Because of the implicit assumption of spherical symmetry for the electron density (N(e)) distribution in the ionosphere, the standard Onion-peeling algorithm could give erroneous concentration values in the retrieved electron density profile. In particular, this happens when strong horizontal ionospheric electron density gradients are present, like for example in the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) region during high solar activity periods. In this work, using simulated RO Total Electron Content (TEC) data computed by means of the NeQuick2 ionospheric electron density model and ideal RO geometries, we tried to formulate and evaluate an asymmetry level index for quasi-horizontal TEC observations. The asymmetry index is based on the electron density variation that a signal may experience along its path (satellite to satellite link) in a RO event and is strictly dependent on the occultation geometry (e.g. azimuth of the occultation plane). A very good correlation has been found between the asymmetry index and errors related to the inversion products, in particular those concerning the peak electron density NmF2 estimate and the Vertical TEC (VTEC) evaluation.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Benson, Robert F.; Fainberg, Joseph; Osherovich, Vladimir A.; Truhlik, Vladimir; Wang, Yongli; Bilitza, Dieter; Fung, Shing F.
2016-01-01
Large magnetic-storm-induced changes were detected in high-latitude topside vertical electron density profiles Ne(h) in a database of profiles and digital topside ionograms, from the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program, that enabled Ne(h) profiles to be obtained in nearly the same region of space before, during, and after a major magnetic storm (Dst -100nT). Storms where Ne(h) profiles were available in the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere had better coverage of solar wind parameters than storms with available Ne(h) profiles in the high-latitude Southern Hemisphere. Large Ne(h) changes were observed during all storms, with enhancements and depletions sometimes near a factor of 10 and 0.1, respectively, but with substantial differences in the responses in the two hemispheres. Large spatial andor temporal Ne(h) changes were often observed during Dst minimum and during the storm recovery phase. The storm-induced Ne(h) changes were the most pronounced and consistent in the Northern Hemisphere in that large enhancements were observed during winter nighttime and large depletions during winter and spring daytime. The limited available cases suggested that these Northern Hemisphere enhancements increased with increases of the time-shifted solar wind velocity v, magnetic field B, and with more negative values of the B components except for the highest common altitude (1100km) of the profiles. There was also some evidence suggesting that the Northern Hemisphere depletions were related to changes in the solar wind parameters. Southern Hemisphere storm-induced enhancements and depletions were typically considerably less with depletions observed during summer nighttime conditions and enhancements during summer daytime and fall nighttime conditions.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Benson, Robert F.; Fainberg, Joseph; Osherovich, Vladimir A.; Truhlik, Vladimir; Wang, Yongli; Bilitza, Dieter; Fung, Shing F.
2016-05-01
Large magnetic-storm-induced changes were detected in high-latitude topside vertical electron density profiles Ne(h) in a database of profiles and digital topside ionograms, from the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program, that enabled Ne(h) profiles to be obtained in nearly the same region of space before, during, and after a major magnetic storm (Dst < -100 nT). Storms where Ne(h) profiles were available in the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere had better coverage of solar wind parameters than storms with available Ne(h) profiles in the high-latitude Southern Hemisphere. Large Ne(h) changes were observed during all storms, with enhancements and depletions sometimes near a factor of 10 and 0.1, respectively, but with substantial differences in the responses in the two hemispheres. Large spatial and/or temporal Ne(h) changes were often observed during Dst minimum and during the storm recovery phase. The storm-induced Ne(h) changes were the most pronounced and consistent in the Northern Hemisphere in that large enhancements were observed during winter nighttime and large depletions during winter and spring daytime. The limited available cases suggested that these Northern Hemisphere enhancements increased with increases of the time-shifted solar wind velocity v, magnetic field B, and with more negative values of the B components except for the highest common altitude (1100 km) of the profiles. There was also some evidence suggesting that the Northern Hemisphere depletions were related to changes in the solar wind parameters. Southern Hemisphere storm-induced enhancements and depletions were typically considerably less with depletions observed during summer nighttime conditions and enhancements during summer daytime and fall nighttime conditions.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Benson, Robert F.; Fainberg, Joseph; Osherovich, Vladimir; Truhlik, Vladimir; Wang, Yongli; Arbacher, Becca
2011-01-01
The latest results from an investigation to establish links between solar-wind and topside-ionospheric parameters will be presented including a case where high-latitude topside electron-density Ne(h) profiles indicated dramatic rapid changes in the scale height during the main phase of a large magnetic storm (Dst < -200 nT). These scale-height changes suggest a large heat input to the topside ionosphere at this time. The topside profiles were derived from ISIS-1 digital ionograms obtained from the NASA Space Physics Data Facility (SPDF) Coordinated Data Analysis Web (CDA Web). Solar-wind data obtained from the NASA OMNIWeb database indicated that the magnetic storm was due to a magnetic cloud. This event is one of several large magnetic storms being investigated during the interval from 1965 to 1984 when both solar-wind and digital topside ionograms, from either Alouette-2, ISIS-1, or ISIS-2, are potentially available.
The First Results About Earthquake Study with FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, J. Y.; Oyama, K.; Jhuang, H. K.; Istep, M.; Hsiao, C. C.; Wang, Y. H.
2007-12-01
To improve the global weather prediction and space weather monitoring, six microsatellites termed the Formosa Satellite 3 - Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC) were launched into a circular low-Earth orbit (LEO) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, at 0140 UTC on 15 April 2006. Each microsatellite of the joint Taiwan-US satellite constellation mission has a GPS occultation experiment (GOX) payload to operate the atmospheric and ionospheric radio occultation, a tiny ionospheric photometer (TIP) to observe the nighttime ionospheric airglow OI 135.6 nm emission, and a tri-band beacon (TBB) to tomographically estimate fine structures of ionospheric electron density on the satellite-to-receiver plane. While the GOX daily observes about 2500 vertical electron density profiles up to the satellite altitude, the TIP provides accurate horizontal gradients of nighttime electron density. In this study, anomalies in the ionospheric electron density structure and dynamics concurrently observed by FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and co-located ground- based GPS receivers before recent large earthquakes are presented and discussed.
John F. Hunt; Weiqi Leng; Mehdi Tajvidi
2017-01-01
In this study, the effects of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) ratio, press program, particle size, and density on the vertical density profile (VDP) and internal bond (IB) strength of the wet-formed particleboard were investigated. Results revealed that the VDP was significantly influenced by the press program. Pressing using a constant pressure (CP) press program...
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Laughman, B.; Fritts, D. C.; Lund, T. S.
2017-05-01
Many characteristics of tsunami-driven gravity waves (TDGWs) enable them to easily propagate into the thermosphere and ionosphere with appreciable amplitudes capable of producing detectable perturbations in electron densities and total electron content. The impact of vertically varying background and tidal wind structures on TDGW propagation is investigated with a series of idealized background wind profiles to assess the relative importance of wave reflection, critical-level approach, and dissipation. These numerical simulations employ a 2-D nonlinear anelastic finite-volume neutral atmosphere model which accounts for effects accompanying vertical gravity wave (GW) propagation such as amplitude growth with altitude. The GWs are excited by an idealized tsunami forcing with a 50 cm sea surface displacement, a 400 km horizontal wavelength, and a phase speed of 200 ms-1 consistent with previous studies of the tsunami generated by the 26 December 2004 Sumatra earthquake. Results indicate that rather than partial reflection and trapping, the dominant process governing TDGW propagation to thermospheric altitudes is refraction to larger and smaller vertical scales, resulting in respectively larger and smaller vertical group velocities and respectively reduced and increased viscous dissipation. Under all considered background wind profiles, TDGWs were able to attain ionospheric altitudes with appreciable amplitudes. Finally, evidence of nonlinear effects is observed and the conditions leading to their formation is discussed.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Bean, T. A.; Bowhill, S. A.
1973-01-01
Partial-reflection data collected for the eclipse of July 10, 1972 as well as for July 9 and 11, 1972, are analyzed to determine eclipse effects on D-region electron densities. The partial-reflection experiment was set up to collect data using an on-line PDP-15 computer and DECtape storage. The electron-density profiles show good agreement with results from other eclipses. The partial-reflection programs were changed after the eclipse data collection to improve the operation of the partial-reflection system. These changes were mainly due to expanded computer hardware and have simplified the operations of the system considerably.
The Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM): Bottomside Parameterization
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Themens, D. R.; Jayachandran, P. T.
2017-12-01
It is well known that the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) suffers reduced accuracy in its representation of monthly median ionospheric electron density at high latitudes. These inaccuracies are believed to stem, at least in part, from a historical lack of data from these regions. Now, roughly thirty and forty years after the development of the original URSI and CCIR foF2 maps, respectively, there exists a much larger dataset of high latitude observations of ionospheric electron density. These new measurements come in the form of new ionosonde deployments, such as those of the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network, the CHAMP, GRACE, and COSMIC radio occultation missions, and the construction of the Poker Flat, Resolute, and EISCAT Incoherent Scatter Radar systems. These new datasets afford an opportunity to revise the IRI's representation of the high latitude ionosphere. Using a spherical cap harmonic expansion to represent horizontal and diurnal variability and a Fourier expansion in day of year to represent seasonal variations, we have developed a new model of the bottomside ionosphere's electron density for the high latitude ionosphere, above 50N geomagnetic latitude. For the peak heights of the E and F1 layers (hmE and hmF1, respectively), current standards use a constant value for hmE and either use a single-parameter model for hmF1 (IRI) or scale hmF1 with the F peak (NeQuick). For E-CHAIM, we have diverged from this convention to account for the greater variability seen in these characteristics at high latitudes, opting to use a full spherical harmonic model description for each of these characteristics. For the description of the bottomside vertical electron density profile, we present a single-layer model with altitude-varying scale height. The scale height function is taken as the sum three scale height layer functions anchored to the F2 peak, hmF1, and hmE. This parameterization successfully reproduces the structure of the various bottomside layers while ensuring that the resulting electron density profile is free of strong vertical gradient artifacts and is doubly differentiable.
Numerical simulation of current-free double layers created in a helicon plasma device
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Rao, Sathyanarayan; Singh, Nagendra
2012-09-15
Two-dimensional simulations reveal that when radially confined source plasma with magnetized electrons and unmagnetized ions expands into diverging magnetic field B, a current-free double layer (CFDL) embedded in a conical density structure forms, as experimentally measured in the Australian helicon plasma device (HPD). The magnetized electrons follow the diverging B while the unmagnetized ions tend to flow directly downstream of the source, resulting in a radial electric field (E{sub Up-Tack }) structure, which couples the ion and electron flows. Ions are transversely (radially) accelerated by E{sub Up-Tack} on the high potential side of the double layer in the CFDL. Themore » accelerated ions are trapped near the conical surface, where E{sub Up-Tack} reverses direction. The potential structure of the CFDL is U-shaped and the plasma density is enhanced on the conical surface. The plasma density is severely depleted downstream of the parallel potential drop ({phi}{sub Double-Vertical-Line Double-Vertical-Line o}) in the CFDL; the density depletion and the potential drop are related by quasi-neutrality condition, including the divergence in the magnetic field and in the plasma flow in the conical structure. The potential and density structures, the CFDL spatial size, its electric field strengths and the electron and ion velocities and energy distributions in the CFDL are found to be in good agreements with those measured in the Australian experiment. The applicability of our results to measured axial potential profiles in magnetic nozzle experiments in HPDs is discussed.« less
Radio Sounding of the Martian and Venusian Ionospheres
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Paetzold, M.; Haeusler, B.; Bird, M. K.; Peter, K.; Tellmann, S.; Tyler, G. L.; Withers, P.
2011-12-01
The Mars Express Radio Science Experiment MaRS and the radio science experiment Vera on Venus Express sound the ionospheres of Mars and Venus, respectively, at two frequencies in the microwave band and cover altitudes from the base of the ionosphere at 80 km (100 km at Venus) to the ionopause at altitudes between 300 km and 600 km. In general, both ionospheres consists of a lower layer M1 (V1 at Venus) at about 110 km (115 km), and the main layer M2 (V2) at about 135 km (145 km) altitude, both formed mainly by solar radiation at X-ray and EUV, respectively. The specific derivation and interpretation of the vertical electron density profiles at two radio frequencies from radio sounding is demonstrated in detail. Cases of quiet and disturbed ionospheric electron density profiles and cases of potential misinterpretations are presented. The behavior of the peak densities and peak altitudes of both ionospheres as a function of solar zenith angle and phase of the solar cycle as seen with Mars Express and Venus Express will be compared with past observations, models and conclusions.
Comparison of COSMIC RO Data with European Digisondes and GPS TEC measurements
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zakharenkova, Irina; Krypiak-Gregorczyk, Anna; Shagimuratov, Irk; Krankowski, Andrzej; Lagovsky, Anatoly
FormoSat-3/COSMIC now provides unprecedented global coverage of GPS occultations mea-surements, each of which yields the ionosphere electron density information with high vertical resolution. However systematic validation work is still needed before using the powerful RO technique for sounding the ionosphere on a routine basis. In the given study electron density profiles retrieved from the Formosat-3/COSMIC RO measurements were compared with differ-ent kinds of ground-based observations. We used the ionospheric data recorded by European digisondes of DIAS network (Rome, Ebro, Arenosillo, Athens, Chilton, Pruhonice and Julius-ruh) for temporal interval of 2007-2009 and compare these ground measured data with the GPS COSMIC RO ionospheric profiles. It was revealed that in general the form of COSMIC profile in the bottom side is in a good agreement with ionosonde profiles, the heights of the peak density value are also good comparable. Special attention was focused to the question of the topside part of electron density profile. Practically for all analyzed cases there are observed the understated values of electron density in the topside part of the ionosonde profiles in compare with RO profiles. As the topside ionosonde profile is obtained by fitting a model to the peak electron density value, the COSMIC radio occultation measurements can make an important contribution to the investigation of the topside part of the ionosphere. In order to assess the ac-curacy of the COSMIC ionospheric electron density retrievals, coincidences of ionosonde data with COSMIC NmF2 values have been examined. NmF2 was calculated from the observed critical plasma frequency foF2 of the F2 layer. Values of foF2 have been scaled manually from ionograms for all considered time-location cases to avoid the evident risks related with using of the autoscaled data. The created scatter plots show a high degree of correlation between two independent estimates of NmF2. Also it was analyzed the variation of NmF2 for the considered seasons depending on day-time and night-time conditions. Also it was analyzed the total elec-tron content values calculated for the nearest ground-based GPS stations located in European region. To compare GPS TEC with RO and ionosondes' data these profiles were integrated. In general bottom parts of COSMIC and ionosondes' data are in a rather good agreement while the topside can be varied greatly that is the evidence of difference in the topside parts of these profiles. GPS TEC values are greater than COSMIC and ionosondes' data as TEC contains IEC and PEC. This procedure can be useful to estimate the impact of PEC into TEC. Results of the given comparisons can be important to validate the reliability of the COSMIC iono-spheric observations using the RO technique. We acknowledge the Taiwan's National Space Organization (NSPO) and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) for providing the COSMIC Data. We are grateful to European Digital Upper Atmosphere Server (DIAS) for providing the ionosondes' products and to International GNSS Service (IGS) for GPS Data.
Initial performance of the radio occultation experiment in the Venus orbiter mission Akatsuki
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Imamura, Takeshi; Ando, Hiroki; Tellmann, Silvia; Pätzold, Martin; Häusler, Bernd; Yamazaki, Atsushi; Sato, Takao M.; Noguchi, Katsuyuki; Futaana, Yoshifumi; Oschlisniok, Janusz; Limaye, Sanjay; Choudhary, R. K.; Murata, Yasuhiro; Takeuchi, Hiroshi; Hirose, Chikako; Ichikawa, Tsutomu; Toda, Tomoaki; Tomiki, Atsushi; Abe, Takumi; Yamamoto, Zen-ichi; Noda, Hirotomo; Iwata, Takahiro; Murakami, Shin-ya; Satoh, Takehiko; Fukuhara, Tetsuya; Ogohara, Kazunori; Sugiyama, Ko-ichiro; Kashimura, Hiroki; Ohtsuki, Shoko; Takagi, Seiko; Yamamoto, Yukio; Hirata, Naru; Hashimoto, George L.; Yamada, Manabu; Suzuki, Makoto; Ishii, Nobuaki; Hayashiyama, Tomoko; Lee, Yeon Joo; Nakamura, Masato
2017-10-01
After the arrival of Akatsuki spacecraft of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency at Venus in December 2015, the radio occultation experiment, termed RS (Radio Science), obtained 19 vertical profiles of the Venusian atmosphere by April 2017. An onboard ultra-stable oscillator is used to generate stable X-band downlink signals needed for the experiment. The quantities to be retrieved are the atmospheric pressure, the temperature, the sulfuric acid vapor mixing ratio, and the electron density. Temperature profiles were successfully obtained down to 38 km altitude and show distinct atmospheric structures depending on the altitude. The overall structure is close to the previous observations, suggesting a remarkable stability of the thermal structure. Local time-dependent features are seen within and above the clouds, which is located around 48-70 km altitude. The H2SO4 vapor density roughly follows the saturation curve at cloud heights, suggesting equilibrium with cloud particles. The ionospheric electron density profiles are also successfully retrieved, showing distinct local time dependence. Akatsuki RS mainly probes the low and middle latitude regions thanks to the near-equatorial orbit in contrast to the previous radio occultation experiments using polar orbiters. Studies based on combined analyses of RS and optical imaging data are ongoing.[Figure not available: see fulltext.
Characterization of magnetic field profiles at RFX-mod by Faraday rotation measurements
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Auriemma, Fulvio; Brombin, Matteo; Canton, Alessandra; Giudicotti, Leonardo; Innocente, Paolo; Zilli, Enrico
2009-11-01
A multichannel far-infrared (FIR, λ=118.8 μm) polarimeter has been recently upgraded and re-installed on RFX-mod to measure the Faraday rotation angle along five vertical chords. Polarimetric data, associated with electron density profile, allow the reconstruction of the poloidal magnetic field profile. In this work the setup of the diagnostic is presented and the first Faraday rotation measurements are analyzed. The measurements have been performed at plasma current above 1.2 MA and electron density between 2 and 6x10^19 m-3. The actual S/N ratio is slightly lower than the expected one, due to electromagnetic coupling of the detectors with the saddle coils close to the polarimeter position. Due to this limit, only average information in the flat-top phase of the discharge could be so far obtained. The experimental data have been compared with the result of the μ&p equilibrium model [1], showing a good agreement between experiment and model, whereas the main differences are in the external region of the plasma. A different parameterization of the μ=μ0 J.B/B^2 profile has been proposed to enhance the agreement between model and experiment. [0pt] [1] Ortolani and Snack, World Scientific (1993) Singapore
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ito, S.; Feng, B.; Arita, M.; Someya, T.; Chen, W.-C.; Takayama, A.; Iimori, T.; Namatame, H.; Taniguchi, M.; Cheng, C.-M.; Tang, S.-J.; Komori, F.; Matsuda, I.
2018-04-01
Alkali-metal adsorption on the surface of materials is widely used for in situ surface electron doping, particularly for observing unoccupied band structures by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). However, the effects of alkali-metal atoms on the resulting band structures have yet to be fully investigated, owing to difficulties in both experiments and calculations. Here, we combine ARPES measurements on cesium-adsorbed ultrathin bismuth films with first-principles calculations of the electronic charge densities and demonstrate a simple method to evaluate alkali-metal induced band deformation. We reveal that deformation of bismuth surface bands is directly correlated with vertical charge-density profiles at each electronic state of bismuth. In contrast, a change in the quantized bulk bands is well described by a conventional rigid-band-shift picture. We discuss these two aspects of the band deformation holistically, considering spatial distributions of the electronic states and cesium-bismuth hybridization, and provide a prescription for applying alkali-metal adsorption to a wide range of materials.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Das, Tanmoy; Jang, Houk; Bok Lee, Jae; Chu, Hyunwoo; Kim, Seong Dae; Ahn, Jong-Hyun
2015-12-01
Graphene-based heterostructured vertical transistors have attracted a great deal of research interest. Herein we propose a Si-based technology platform for creating graphene/ultrathin semiconductor/metal (GSM) junctions, which can be applied to large-scale and low-power electronics compatible with a variety of substrates. We fabricated graphene/Si nanomembrane (NM)/metal vertical heterostructures by using a dry transfer technique to transfer Si NMs onto chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene layers. The resulting van der Waals interfaces between graphene and p-Si NMs exhibited nearly ideal Schottky barrier behavior. Due to the low density of states of graphene, the graphene/Si NM Schottky barrier height can be modulated by modulating the band profile in the channel region, yielding well-defined current modulation. We obtained a maximum current on/off ratio (Ion/Ioff) of up to ˜103, with a current density of 102 A cm-2. We also observed significant dependence of Schottky barrier height Δφb on the thickness of the Si NMs. We confirmed that the transport in these devices is dominated by the effects of the graphene/Si NM Schottky barrier.
Research activities on Antarctic middle atmosphere by JARE 25th team
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Hirasawa, T.; Eiwasaka, Y. AFTANAKA, M. agfujii, r.0 typ; Eiwasaka, Y. AFTANAKA, M. agfujii, r.0 typ
1985-01-01
The Antarctic Middle Atmosphere (AMA)-Japan research project was set about by the JARE (Japan Antarctic Research Expedition) 23rd team in 1982, and since then the JARE-24th and JARE-25th teams have been continuing reseach on the Antarctic Middle Atmosphere. Results gained by JARE-25th team members who are now working at Syowa Station (69.99 deg S, 39.35 deg E), Antarctica are presented. In their activities satellite measurements (Exos-C) and rocket soundings are used. Three rockets of the S310 type were launched at Syowa Station (Geomagnetic Latitude = 69.9 deg S) for the purpose of directly observing the electron density, ionospheric temperature, auroral patterns and luminosity in situ. Vertical profiles of electron density and auroral emission 4278A measured by three rockets are compared.
Sporadic-E As Observed with Rockets
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Seddon, J. Carl
1961-01-01
Data obtained with rockets flown over New Mexico, U.S.A. and Manitoba, Canada have always shown the sporadic-E layer to be a thin layer with a large electron density gradient. The vertical electron density profiles and the horizontal uniformity of the sporadic-E layer are discussed herein. These layers have a strong tendency to form at preferential altitudes separated by approximately 6 km, and a striking correlation exists with wind- shears and magnetic field variations. In two cases where comparisons with ionograms were possible, the minimum frequency of the F-region echoes was found approximately equal to the plasma frequency of the sporadic-E layer reduced by half the gyrofrequency. On the other hand, the maximum frequency of the sporadic-E echoes as noted on ionograms was sometimes as much as 1 to 2 Mc greater than the plasma frequency.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Zhang Lan; Liu Chao; Zhao Gang
To constrain the Galactic gravitational potential near the Sun ({approx}1.5 kpc), we derive and model the spatial and velocity distributions for a sample of 9000 K-dwarfs with spectra from SDSS/SEGUE, which yield radial velocities and abundances ([Fe/H] and [{alpha}/Fe]). We first derive the spatial density distribution for three abundance-selected sub-populations of stars accounting for the survey's selection function. The vertical profiles of these sub-populations are simple exponentials and their vertical dispersion profile is nearly isothermal. To model these data, we apply the 'vertical' Jeans equation, which relates the observable tracer number density and vertical velocity dispersion to the gravitational potentialmore » or vertical force. We explore a number of functional forms for the vertical force law, fit the dispersion and density profiles of all abundance-selected sub-populations simultaneously in the same potential, and explore all parameter co-variances using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique. Our fits constrain a disk mass scale height {approx}< 300 pc and the total surface mass density to be 67 {+-} 6 M{sub Sun} pc{sup -2} at |z| = 1.0 kpc of which the contribution from all stars is 42 {+-} 5 M{sub Sun} pc{sup -2} (assuming a contribution from cold gas of 13 M{sub Sun} pc{sup -2}). We find significant constraints on the local dark matter density of 0.0065 {+-} 0.0023 M{sub Sun} pc{sup -3} (0.25 {+-} 0.09 GeV cm{sup -3}). Together with recent experiments this firms up the best estimate of 0.0075 {+-} 0.0021 M{sub Sun} pc{sup -3} (0.28 {+-} 0.08 GeV cm{sup -3}), consistent with global fits of approximately round dark matter halos to kinematic data in the outskirts of the Galaxy.« less
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Rottger, J.
1983-01-01
Mesospheric echoes are strongly influenced by the electron density profile of the ionospheric D region. These echoes therefore are only observed during daylight hours or high energy particle precipitation. The turbulence occurs in layers, which often confines the radar echoes to rather thin regions of several 100 m vertical extent, although layers as thick as several kilometers are also observed. Evaluable echoes are not observed through the entire altitude region of the mesosphere for the given power aperture product. The echoes indicate temporal variation.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zare, Saeed; Alizadeh, M. Mahdi; Schuh, Harald
2017-04-01
Ionosphere is a layer of the upper atmosphere, between the thermosphere and the exosphere, distinguished because it is ionized by solar radiation. As an important part of human living environment, ionosphere affects our modern society in many ways. International broadcasters use this medium to reflect radio signals back toward the Earth. Ionosphere provides long range capabilities for commercial ship-to-shore communications, for trans-oceanic aircraft links, and for military communication and surveillance systems. Space geodetic techniques have turned into a capable tool for studying the ionosphere in the last decades. Up to now, two dimensional (2-D) models of vertical TEC (VTEC) have been widely developed and used by different communities; however, due to the fact that these models provide information about the integral of the whole electron content along the vertical or slant ray path, these maps are not useful when information about the ionosphere at different altitude is required. The aim of this study is to develop three dimensional (3-D) regional model of electron density by using combination of various space geodetic techniques. B-Spline basis functions are used for longitude and latitude variations of the electron density and Chapman profile function for altitude variations. The National Cartographic Center of Iran (NCC) has established a network of one hundred GPS stations: The Iranian Permanent GPS Network for Geodynamics (IPGN). The main task of the GPS stations is to collect and store raw GPS data and send it to Tehran processing center on a daily basis for final processing. The required data for our investigation are ground based measurements of permanent GPS stations over Iran and radio occultation data from Formosat-3/Cosmic for region of interest. We expect to increase accuracy and reliability of final model by integrating different observation techniques.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Brunini, Claudio; Azpilicueta, Francisco; Nava, Bruno
2013-09-01
Well credited and widely used ionospheric models, such as the International Reference Ionosphere or NeQuick, describe the variation of the electron density with height by means of a piecewise profile tied to the F2-peak parameters: the electron density,, and the height, . Accurate values of these parameters are crucial for retrieving reliable electron density estimations from those models. When direct measurements of these parameters are not available, the models compute the parameters using the so-called ITU-R database, which was established in the early 1960s. This paper presents a technique aimed at routinely updating the ITU-R database using radio occultation electron density profiles derived from GPS measurements gathered from low Earth orbit satellites. Before being used, these radio occultation profiles are validated by fitting to them an electron density model. A re-weighted Least Squares algorithm is used for down-weighting unreliable measurements (occasionally, entire profiles) and to retrieve and values—together with their error estimates—from the profiles. These values are used to monthly update the database, which consists of two sets of ITU-R-like coefficients that could easily be implemented in the IRI or NeQuick models. The technique was tested with radio occultation electron density profiles that are delivered to the community by the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 mission team. Tests were performed for solstices and equinoxes seasons in high and low-solar activity conditions. The global mean error of the resulting maps—estimated by the Least Squares technique—is between and elec/m for the F2-peak electron density (which is equivalent to 7 % of the value of the estimated parameter) and from 2.0 to 5.6 km for the height (2 %).
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ram Sudarsanam, Tulasi; Su, Shin-Yi; Liu, C. H.; Reinisch, Bodo
In this study, we propose the assimilation of topside in situ electron density data from ROCSAT-1 satellite along with the ionosonde measurements for accurate determination of topside iono-spheric effective scale heights (HT) using -Chapman function. The reconstructed topside elec-tron density profiles using these scale heights exhibit an excellent similitude with Jicamarca Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) profiles, and are much better representations than the existing methods of Reinisch-Huang method and/or the empirical IRI-2007 model. The main advan-tage with this method is that it allows the precise determination of the effective scale height (HT) and the topside electron density profiles at a dense network of ionosonde/digisonde sta-tions where no ISR facilities are available. The demonstration of the method is applied by investigating the diurnal, seasonal and solar activity variations of HT over the dip-equatorial station Jicamarca and the mid-latitude station Grahamstown. The diurnal variation of scale heights over Jicamarca consistently exhibits a morning time descent followed by a minimum around 0700-0800 LT and a pronounced maximum at noon during all the seasons of both high and moderate solar activity periods. Further, the scale heights exhibit a secondary maximum during the post-sunset hours of equinoctial and summer months, whereas the post-sunset peak is absent during the winter months. These typical features are further investigated using the topside ion properties obtained by ROCSAT-1 as well as SAMI2 model simulations. The re-sults consistently indicate that the diurnal variation of the effective scale height (HT) does not closely follow the plasma temperature variation and at equatorial latitudes is largely controlled by the vertical ExB drift.
A method for retrieving vertical ozone profiles from limb scattered measurements
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, Zijun; Chen, Shengbo; Yang, Chunyan; Jin, Lihua
2011-10-01
A two-step method is employed in this study to retrieve vertical ozone profiles using scattered measurements from the limb of the atmosphere. The combination of the Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) and the Multiplicative Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (MART) is proposed. First, the limb radiance, measured over a range of tangent heights, is processed using the DOAS technique to recover the effective column densities of atmospheric ozone. Second, these effective column densities along the lines of sight (LOSs) are inverted using the MART coupled with a forward model SCIATRAN (radiative transfer model for SCIAMACHY) to derive the ozone profiles. This method is applied to Optical Spectrograph and Infra Red Imager System (OSIRIS) radiance, using the wavelength windows 571-617 nm. Vertical ozone profiles between 10 and 48 km are derived with a vertical resolution of 1 km. The results illustrate a good agreement with the cloud-free coincident SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) ozone measurements, with deviations less than ±10% (±5% for altitudes from 17 to 47 km). Furthermore, sensitivities of retrieved ozone to aerosol, cloud parameters and NO2 concentration are also investigated.
González-Ferreiro, Eduardo; Arellano-Pérez, Stéfano; Castedo-Dorado, Fernando; Hevia, Andrea; Vega, José Antonio; Vega-Nieva, Daniel; Álvarez-González, Juan Gabriel; Ruiz-González, Ana Daría
2017-01-01
The fuel complex variables canopy bulk density and canopy base height are often used to predict crown fire initiation and spread. Direct measurement of these variables is impractical, and they are usually estimated indirectly by modelling. Recent advances in predicting crown fire behaviour require accurate estimates of the complete vertical distribution of canopy fuels. The objectives of the present study were to model the vertical profile of available canopy fuel in pine stands by using data from the Spanish national forest inventory plus low-density airborne laser scanning (ALS) metrics. In a first step, the vertical distribution of the canopy fuel load was modelled using the Weibull probability density function. In a second step, two different systems of models were fitted to estimate the canopy variables defining the vertical distributions; the first system related these variables to stand variables obtained in a field inventory, and the second system related the canopy variables to airborne laser scanning metrics. The models of each system were fitted simultaneously to compensate the effects of the inherent cross-model correlation between the canopy variables. Heteroscedasticity was also analyzed, but no correction in the fitting process was necessary. The estimated canopy fuel load profiles from field variables explained 84% and 86% of the variation in canopy fuel load for maritime pine and radiata pine respectively; whereas the estimated canopy fuel load profiles from ALS metrics explained 52% and 49% of the variation for the same species. The proposed models can be used to assess the effectiveness of different forest management alternatives for reducing crown fire hazard.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Wang, Yongli; Benson, Robert F.
2011-01-01
Two software applications have been produced specifically for the analysis of some million digital topside ionograms produced by a recent analog-to-digital conversion effort of selected analog telemetry tapes from the Alouette-2, ISIS-1 and ISIS-2 satellites. One, TOPIST (TOPside Ionogram Scalar with True-height algorithm) from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, is designed for the automatic identification of the topside-ionogram ionospheric-reflection traces and their inversion into vertical electron-density profiles Ne(h). TOPIST also has the capability of manual intervention. The other application, from the Goddard Space Flight Center based on the FORTRAN code of John E. Jackson from the 1960s, is designed as an IDL-based interactive program for the scaling of selected digital topside-sounder ionograms. The Jackson code has also been modified, with some effort, so as to run on modern computers. This modification was motivated by the need to scale selected ionograms from the millions of Alouette/ISIS topside-sounder ionograms that only exist on 35-mm film. During this modification, it became evident that it would be more efficient to design a new code, based on the capabilities of present-day computers, than to continue to modify the old code. Such a new code has been produced and here we will describe its capabilities and compare Ne(h) profiles produced from it with those produced by the Jackson code. The concept of the new code is to assume an initial Ne(h) and derive a final Ne(h) through an iteration process that makes the resulting apparent-height profile fir the scaled values within a certain error range. The new code can be used on the X-, O-, and Z-mode traces. It does not assume any predefined profile shape between two contiguous points, like the exponential rule used in Jackson s program. Instead, Monotone Piecewise Cubic Interpolation is applied in the global profile to keep the monotone nature of the profile, which also ensures better smoothness in the final profile than in Jackson s program. The new code uses the complete refractive index expression for a cold collisionless plasma and can accommodate the IGRF, T96, and other geomagnetic field models.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Raymund, T.D.
Recently, several tomographic techniques for ionospheric electron density imaging have been proposed. These techniques reconstruct a vertical slice image of electron density using total electron content data. The data are measured between a low orbit beacon satellite and fixed receivers located along the projected orbital path of the satellite. By using such tomographic techniques, it may be possible to inexpensively (relative to incoherent scatter techniques) image the ionospheric electron density in a vertical plane several times per day. The satellite and receiver geometry used to measure the total electron content data causes the data to be incomplete; that is, themore » measured data do not contain enough information to completely specify the ionospheric electron density distribution in the region between the satellite and the receivers. A new algorithm is proposed which allows the incorporation of other complementary measurements, such as those from ionosondes, and also includes ways to include a priori information about the unknown electron density distribution in the reconstruction process. The algorithm makes use of two-dimensional basis functions. Illustrative application of this algorithm is made to simulated cases with good results. The technique is also applied to real total electron content (TEC) records collected in Scandinavia in conjunction with the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar. The tomographic reconstructions are compared with the incoherent scatter electron density images of the same region of the ionosphere.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vogt, Marissa F.; Withers, Paul; Fallows, Kathryn; Flynn, Casey L.; Andrews, David J.; Duru, Firdevs; Morgan, David D.
2016-10-01
Radio occultation electron densities measurements from the Mariner 9 and Viking spacecraft, which orbited Mars in the 1970s, have recently become available in a digital format. These data are highly complementary to the radio occultation electron density profiles from Mars Global Surveyor, which were restricted in solar zenith angle and altitude. We have compiled data from the Mariner 9, Viking, and Mars Global Surveyor radio occultation experiments for comparison to electron density measurements made by Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), the topside radar sounder on Mars Express, and MARSIS-based empirical density models. We find that the electron densities measured by radio occultation are in generally good agreement with the MARSIS data and model, especially near the altitude of the peak electron density but that the MARSIS data and model display a larger plasma scale height than the radio occultation profiles at altitudes between the peak density and 200 km. Consequently, the MARSIS-measured and model electron densities are consistently larger than radio occultation densities at altitudes 200-300 km. Finally, we have analyzed transitions in the topside ionosphere, at the boundary between the photochemically controlled and transport-controlled regions, and identified the average transition altitude, or altitude at which a change in scale height occurs. The average transition altitude is 200 km in the Mariner 9 and Viking radio occultation profiles and in profiles of the median MARSIS radar sounding electron densities.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Benson, R. F.; Truhlik, V.; Huang, X.; Wang, Y.; Bilitza, D.
2011-01-01
The topside-sounders on the four satellites of the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program were designed as analog systems. The resulting ionograms were displayed on 35-mm film for analysis by visual inspection. Each of these satellites, launched between 1962 and 1971, produced data for 10 to 20 years. A number of the original telemetry tapes from this large data set have been converted directly into digital records. Software, known as the TOPside Ionogram Scalar with True-height (TOPIST) algorithm has been produced that enables the automatic inversion of ISIS-2 ionogram reflection traces into topside vertical electron-density profiles Ne(h). More than million digital Alouette/ISIS topside ionograms have been produced and over 300,000 are from ISIS 2. Many of these ISIS-2 ionograms correspond to a passive mode of operation for the detection of natural radio emissions and thus do not contain ionospheric reflection traces. TOPIST, however, is not able to produce Ne(h) profiles from all of the ISIS-2 ionograms with reflection traces because some of them did not contain frequency information. This information was missing due to difficulties encountered during the analog-to-digital conversion process in the detection of the ionogram frame-sync pulse and/or the frequency markers. Of the many digital topside ionograms that TOPIST was able to process, over 200 were found where direct comparisons could be made with Ne(h) profiles that were produced by manual scaling in the early days of the ISIS program. While many of these comparisons indicated excellent agreement (<10% average difference over the entire profile) there were also many cases with large differences (more than a factor of two). Here we will report on two approaches to improve the automatic inversion process: (1) improve the quality of the digital ionogram database by remedying the missing frequency-information problem when possible, and (2) using the above-mentioned comparisons as teaching examples of how to improve the original TOPIST software.
Detection of an electron beam in a high density plasma via an electrostatic probe
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Majeski, Stephen; Yoo, Jongsoo; Zweben, Stewart; Yamada, Masaaki
2018-07-01
An electron beam is detected by a 1D floating potential probe array in a relatively high density (1012–1013 cm‑3) and low temperature (∼5 eV) plasma of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. Clear perturbations in the floating potential profile by the electron beam are observed. Based on the floating potential profile and a current balance equation to the probe array tips, the effective width of the electron beam is determined, from which we determine the radial and toroidal beam current density profiles. After the profile of the electron beam is specified from the measured beam current, we demonstrate the consistency of the current balance equation and the location of the perturbation is also in agreement with field line mapping. No significant broadening of the electron beam is observed after the beam propagates for tens of centimeters through the high density plasma. These results prove that the field line mapping is, in principle, possible in high density plasmas.
Detection of an electron beam in a high density plasma via an electrostatic probe
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Majeski, Stephen; Yoo, Jongsoo; Zweben, Stewart
Here, an electron beam is detected by a 1D floating potential probe array in a relatively high density (10 12–10 13 cm -3) and low temperature (~5 eV) plasma of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. Clear perturbations in the floating potential profile by the electron beam are observed. Based on the floating potential profile and a current balance equation to the probe array tips, the effective width of the electron beam is determined, from which we determine the radial and toroidal beam current density profiles. After the profile of the electron beam is specified from the measured beam current, we demonstratemore » the consistency of the current balance equation and the location of the perturbation is also in agreement with field line mapping. No significant broadening of the electron beam is observed after the beam propagates for tens of centimeters through the high density plasma. These results prove that the field line mapping is, in principle, possible in high density plasmas.« less
Detection of an electron beam in a high density plasma via an electrostatic probe
Majeski, Stephen; Yoo, Jongsoo; Zweben, Stewart; ...
2018-05-08
Here, an electron beam is detected by a 1D floating potential probe array in a relatively high density (10 12–10 13 cm -3) and low temperature (~5 eV) plasma of the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment. Clear perturbations in the floating potential profile by the electron beam are observed. Based on the floating potential profile and a current balance equation to the probe array tips, the effective width of the electron beam is determined, from which we determine the radial and toroidal beam current density profiles. After the profile of the electron beam is specified from the measured beam current, we demonstratemore » the consistency of the current balance equation and the location of the perturbation is also in agreement with field line mapping. No significant broadening of the electron beam is observed after the beam propagates for tens of centimeters through the high density plasma. These results prove that the field line mapping is, in principle, possible in high density plasmas.« less
Circulation in the eastern North Pacific: results from a current meter array along 152°W
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hall, Melinda M.; Niiler, Pearn P.; Schmitz, William J.
1997-07-01
Data from four, 2-3 year long current meter records, at 28°N, 35°N, 39°N and 42°N, along 152°W in the eastern North Pacific, are used to describe the variability found in mesoscale period (< 200 days) and long period ( > 200 days) motions. Energy in the mesoscale energy band of 40-200 day periodicity is found in the upper ocean at each location, generally decreasing to the north and with depth. The long period flow is not coherent among these locations. Record length mean velocities at 3-4 separate depths were used to provide estimates of reference level velocities for vertical profiles of geostrophic currents derived from historical hydrographic data. The vertical profile of measured east-west vertical shear agrees well with the geostrophically computed value; the north-south measured vertical shear is not in as good agreement. Assuming a vorticity balance of fwz= βv, and with w( z=0) as the Ekman pumping, the vertical velocity profiles were also calculated at 28°N and 42dgN. Using these three-dimensional referenced vertical profiles of mean currents, an examination of the mean advection of density in the thermocline revealed significant residuals in the net three-dimensional advection of density (or heat and salt) above 850 m at 28°N and above 240 m at 42°N. These results are relatively independent of the reference level velocities.
Results of rocket measurements of D-region ionization over Thumba in MAP
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Chakrabarty, D. K.; Beig, G.; Garg, S. C.; Subrahmanyam, P.; Zalpuri, K. S.; Somayajulu, Y. V.; Rao, M. N. M.; Tandel, C. B.; Murlikrishna, T. R.
1989-01-01
Under MAP, two rockets were launched from Thumba (8.5 N, 76.8 E) around 1030 hrs Lt with identical payloads on 7 and 10 March 1986 for D region studies. Positive ion densities were measured by spherical probe and Gerdien condenser and electron densities were measured by Langmuir probe and propagation experiments. In both flights a valley in ionization height profile was noticed around 83 km. The density of ionization at this altitude was about 4 x 10(2) cu cm. A detailed positive ion-chemical scheme was used to reproduce the measured ionization height profiles. The density of NO needed to reproduce the valley in ionization at 83 km came around 5 x 10(5) cu cm. A photochemical treatment without diffusion process was found inadequate to explain this value of NO. Calculations showed that the value of vertical eddy diffusion needed to reproduce the value of NO was around 10(6)sq cm/s. Interestingly, the same value of eddy diffusion coefficient was obtained when derived in the manner described by Thrane and his coworkers using only the positive ion current data of spherical probes.
TaiWan Ionospheric Model (TWIM) prediction based on time series autoregressive analysis
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tsai, L. C.; Macalalad, Ernest P.; Liu, C. H.
2014-10-01
As described in a previous paper, a three-dimensional ionospheric electron density (Ne) model has been constructed from vertical Ne profiles retrieved from the FormoSat3/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate GPS radio occultation measurements and worldwide ionosonde foF2 and foE data and named the TaiWan Ionospheric Model (TWIM). The TWIM exhibits vertically fitted α-Chapman-type layers with distinct F2, F1, E, and D layers, and surface spherical harmonic approaches for the fitted layer parameters including peak density, peak density height, and scale height. To improve the TWIM into a real-time model, we have developed a time series autoregressive model to forecast short-term TWIM coefficients. The time series of TWIM coefficients are considered as realizations of stationary stochastic processes within a processing window of 30 days. These autocorrelation coefficients are used to derive the autoregressive parameters and then forecast the TWIM coefficients, based on the least squares method and Lagrange multiplier technique. The forecast root-mean-square relative TWIM coefficient errors are generally <30% for 1 day predictions. The forecast TWIM values of foE and foF2 values are also compared and evaluated using worldwide ionosonde data.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Benson, Robert F.; Truhlik, Vladimir; Huang, Xueqin; Wang, Yongli; Bilitza, Dieter
2012-01-01
The topside sounders of the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program were designed as analog systems. The resulting ionograms were displayed on 35 mm film for analysis by visual inspection. Each of these satellites, launched between 1962 and 1971, produced data for 10 to 20 years. A number of the original telemetry tapes from this large data set have been converted directly into digital records. Software, known as the Topside Ionogram Scalar With True-Height (TOPIST) algorithm, has been produced and used for the automatic inversion of the ionogram reflection traces on more than 100,000 ISIS-2 digital topside ionograms into topside vertical electron density profiles Ne(h). Here we present some topside ionospheric solar cycle variations deduced from the TOPIST database to illustrate the scientific benefit of improving and expanding the topside ionospheric Ne(h) database. The profile improvements will be based on improvements in the TOPIST software motivated by direct comparisons between TOPIST profiles and profiles produced by manual scaling in the early days of the ISIS program. The database expansion will be based on new software designed to overcome limitations in the original digital topside ionogram database caused by difficulties encountered during the analog-to-digital conversion process in the detection of the ionogram frame sync pulse and/or the frequency markers. This improved and expanded TOPIST topside Ne(h) database will greatly enhance investigations into both short- and long-term ionospheric changes, e.g., the observed topside ionospheric responses to magnetic storms, induced by interplanetary magnetic clouds, and solar cycle variations, respectively.
The Effects of Thunderstorm Static and Quasi-Static Electric Fields on the Lower Ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Salem, Mohammad Ahmad
Thunderstorms and their lightning discharges are of great interest to many areas of geophysics and atmospheric electricity. A thunderstorm is an electric generator; it can produce both electrostatic and quasi-electrostatic fields in the overhead atmospheric D region. The D region is the lower part of the ionosphere that extends from about 40-90 km altitude where the electrons and ions are sufficient enough to affect the propagation of radio waves. In contrast to the electrostatic field, the quasi-electrostatic fields can be much stronger in magnitude, but shorter in duration, and can trigger halos. A halo is one type of the transient luminous events (TLEs) and typically appears within 1-2 ms after an intense cloud to ground lightning discharge. It looks like a relatively homogeneous glow in the shape of a pancake that is centered around 75-80 km altitude with a horizontal extent of tens of kilometers and vertical thickness of several kilometers. The goals of this dissertation research are to investigate the electrical effects of thunderstorm electrostatic and quasi-electrostatic fields on the nighttime lower ionosphere, and their covert relation to the formation of atmospheric halos. This work entails numerical and theoretical modeling analyses, and comparison of current theory and simulation results with the actual observations. For the first part of this study we have demonstrated that, under steady state conditions, electrostatic fields of <0.4Ek values (not strong enough to produce TLEs) can be established in the lower ionosphere due to underlying thunderstorms. We utilized the simplified nighttime ion chemistry model described in the work of Liu [2012] to investigate how these fields affect the lower ionosphere ion density profile. The three-body electron attachment, through which electrons can be converted to negative ions, is the only process whose rate constant depends on the field values within the above-mentioned limit. As a result of the variation of the rate constant with the electric field, the nighttime steady state electron density profile can be reduced by ˜40% or enhanced by a factor of ˜6. We have improved our model in order to self-consistently calculate the steady state conductivity of the lower ionosphere above a thunderstorm. The new model takes into account the heating effects of thunderstorm electrostatic fields on the free electrons. The modeling results indicate that under steady state condition, although the electron density is generally increased, the nighttime lower ionospheric conductivity can be reduced by up to 1-2 orders of magnitude because electron mobility is significantly reduced due to the electron heating effect. Because of this reduction, it is found that for a typical ionospheric density profile, the resulting changes in the reflection heights of ELF and VLF waves are 5 and 2 km, respectively. In the second part of this dissertation, a one-dimensional plasma discharge fluid model is developed to study the response of the nighttime lower ionosphere to the quasi-electrostatic field produced by cloud-to-ground lightning flashes. When the quasi-electrostatic field reaches and exceeds about E k, a halo can be triggered in the lower ionosphere. The modeling results indicate that the ionospheric perturbation is determined by the ambient ionospheric density profile, the charge. moment change, and charge transfer time. Tenuous ambient profiles result in larger changes in the ionospheric electron density. Cloud-to-ground lightning discharges, with larger charge moment changes and shorter charge transfer times, result in a larger change in the ionospheric electron density. In particular, the enhancement in the lower ionospheric electron density due to impulsive negative cloud-to-ground lightning flashes has been investigated. It is found that the enhancement can reach up to about 3 orders of magnitude above ˜70 km altitude in a few seconds. Below ˜75 km altitude, this enhancement recovers in a few seconds due to the fast electron attachment process. The recovery time of the electron enhancement above ˜75 km altitude is controlled by a slower recombination process; it depends on the ambient density profile and can last for tens of minutes to hours. Finally, the modeling results of the lower ionosphere recovery time are analyzed to investigate the role of halos in producing early VLF events with long recovery time. It is found that these events can be explained when sufficient ionization is produced around ˜80 km altitude. Such ionization can be produced by the impact of impulsive negative cloud-to-ground lightning flashes with a relatively large charge moment change on a tenuous ionospheric density profile.
Demers, Hendrix; Ramachandra, Ranjan; Drouin, Dominique; de Jonge, Niels
2012-01-01
Lateral profiles of the electron probe of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were simulated at different vertical positions in a micrometers-thick carbon sample. The simulations were carried out using the Monte Carlo method in the CASINO software. A model was developed to fit the probe profiles. The model consisted of the sum of a Gaussian function describing the central peak of the profile, and two exponential decay functions describing the tail of the profile. Calculations were performed to investigate the fraction of unscattered electrons as function of the vertical position of the probe in the sample. Line scans were also simulated over gold nanoparticles at the bottom of a carbon film to calculate the achievable resolution as function of the sample thickness and the number of electrons. The resolution was shown to be noise limited for film thicknesses less than 1 μm. Probe broadening limited the resolution for thicker films. The validity of the simulation method was verified by comparing simulated data with experimental data. The simulation method can be used as quantitative method to predict STEM performance or to interpret STEM images of thick specimens. PMID:22564444
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Rajesh, P. K.; Nanan, Balan; Liu, Jann-Yenq; Lin, Charles C. H.; Chang, S. Y.; Chen, Chia-Hung
This study investigates the mid-latitude electron density enhancement (MEDE) using global ionospheric map (GIM) total electron content (TEC) measurements and FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) electron density profiles. Diurnal, seasonal, latitudinal, and solar activity variations in the occurrence and strength of MEDE are examined using global GIM TEC data in the years 2002 and 2009. The results show that MEDE occurrence is pronounced during 2200-0400 LT, the feature also appears during day. The strength of MEDE maximizes around 0400 LT, and is very weak during daytime. The occurrence and strength show significant longitude dependence, and vary with season and solar activity. Concurrent F3/C electron density profiles also reveal enhancement of the peak electron density and total electron content. Further studies are carried out by examining the role of neutral wind in re-organizing the plasma using SAMI2 and HWM93 models. The results indicate that meridional neutral wind could cause the plasma to converge over mid-latitudes, and thus support in maintaining the enhancement.
Castedo-Dorado, Fernando; Hevia, Andrea; Vega, José Antonio; Vega-Nieva, Daniel; Ruiz-González, Ana Daría
2017-01-01
The fuel complex variables canopy bulk density and canopy base height are often used to predict crown fire initiation and spread. Direct measurement of these variables is impractical, and they are usually estimated indirectly by modelling. Recent advances in predicting crown fire behaviour require accurate estimates of the complete vertical distribution of canopy fuels. The objectives of the present study were to model the vertical profile of available canopy fuel in pine stands by using data from the Spanish national forest inventory plus low-density airborne laser scanning (ALS) metrics. In a first step, the vertical distribution of the canopy fuel load was modelled using the Weibull probability density function. In a second step, two different systems of models were fitted to estimate the canopy variables defining the vertical distributions; the first system related these variables to stand variables obtained in a field inventory, and the second system related the canopy variables to airborne laser scanning metrics. The models of each system were fitted simultaneously to compensate the effects of the inherent cross-model correlation between the canopy variables. Heteroscedasticity was also analyzed, but no correction in the fitting process was necessary. The estimated canopy fuel load profiles from field variables explained 84% and 86% of the variation in canopy fuel load for maritime pine and radiata pine respectively; whereas the estimated canopy fuel load profiles from ALS metrics explained 52% and 49% of the variation for the same species. The proposed models can be used to assess the effectiveness of different forest management alternatives for reducing crown fire hazard. PMID:28448524
Density effects on the electronic contribution to hydrogen Lyman alpha Stark profiles
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Motapon, O.
1998-01-01
The quantum unified theory of Stark broadening (Tran Minh et al. 1975, Feautrier et al. 1976) is used to study the density effects on the electronic contribution to the hydrogen Lyman alpha lineshape. The contribution of the first angular momenta to the total profile is obtained by an extrapolation method, and the results agree with other approaches. The comparison made with Vidal et al. (1973) shows a good agreement; and the electronic profile is found to be linear in density for | Delta lambda right | greater than 8 Angstroms for densities below 10(17) cm(-3) , while the density dependence becomes more complex for | Delta lambda right | less than 8 Angstroms. The wing profiles are calculated at various temperatures scaling from 2500 to 40000K and a polynomial fit of these profiles is given.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pietrella, M.; Pignalberi, A.; Pezzopane, M.; Pignatelli, A.; Azzarone, A.; Rizzi, R.
2018-05-01
Three-dimensional (3-D) electron density matrices, computed in the Mediterranean area by the IRI climatological model and IRIEup and ISP nowcasting models, during some intense and severe geomagnetic-ionospheric storms, were ingested by the ray tracing software tool IONORT, to synthesize quasi-vertical ionograms. IRIEup model was run in different operational modes: (1) assimilating validated autoscaled electron density profiles only from a limited area which, in our case, is the Mediterranean sector (IRIEup_re(V) mode); (2) assimilating electron density profiles from a larger region including several stations spread across Europe: (a) without taking care of validating the autoscaled data in the assimilation process (IRIEup(NV)); (b) validating carefully the autoscaled electron density profiles before their assimilation (IRIEup(V)). The comparative analysis was carried out comparing IRI, IRIEup_re(V), ISP, IRIEup(NV), and IRIEup(V) foF2 synthesized values, with corresponding foF2 measurements autoscaled by ARTIST, and then validated, at the truth sites of Roquetes (40.80°N, 0.50°E, Spain), San Vito (40.60°N, 17.80°E, Italy), Athens (38.00°N, 23.50°E, Greece), and Nicosia, (35.03°N, 33.16°E, Cyprus). The outcomes demonstrate that: (1) IRIEup_re(V), performs better than ISP in the western Mediterranean (around Roquetes); (2) ISP performs slightly better than IRIEup_re(V) in the central part of Mediterranean (around Athens and San Vito); (3) ISP performance is better than the IRIEup_re(V) one in the eastern Mediterranean (around Nicosia); (4) IRIEup(NV) performance is worse than the IRIEup(V) one; (5) in the central Mediterranean area, IRIEup(V) performance is better than the IRIEup_re(V) one, and it is practically the same for the western and eastern sectors. Concerning the overall performance, nowcasting models proved to be considerably more reliable than the climatological IRI model to represent the ionosphere behaviour during geomagnetic-ionospheric storm conditions; ISP and IRIEup(V) provided the best performance, but neither of them has clearly prevailed over the other one.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nigussie, M.; Damtie, B.; Moldwin, M.; Yizengaw, E.; Tesema, F.; Tebabal, A.
2017-12-01
Theoretical simulations have shown that gravity wave (GW) seeded perturbations amplified by Rayleigh-Taylor Instability (RTI) results in ESF (equatorial spread F); however, there have been limited observational studies using simultaneous observations of GW and ionospheric parameters. In this paper, for the fist time, simultaneous atmospheric temperature perturbation profiles that are due to GWs obtained from Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) on-board the TIMED satellite and equatorial in -situ ion density and vertical plasma drift velocity observations with and without ESF activity obtained from C/NOFS satellites are used to investigate the effect of GW on the generation of ESF. The horizontal and vertical wavelengths of ionospheric oscillations and GWs respectively have been estimated applying wavelet transforms. Cross wavelet analysis has also been applied between two closely observed profiles of temperature perturbations to estimate the horizontal wavelength of the GWs. Moreover, vertically propagating GWs that dissipate energy at the upper atmosphere have been investigated using spectral analysis compared with theoretical results. The analysis show that when the ion density shows strong post sunset irregularity between 20 and 24 LT, vertically upward drift velocities increase between 17 and 19 LT, but it becomes vertically downward when the ion density shows smooth variation. The horizontal wavelengths estimated from C/NOFS and SABER observations show excellent agreement when ion density observations show strong fluctuations; otherwise, they have poor agreement. It is also found that altitude profiles of potential energy of GW increases up to 90 km and then decreases significantly. It is found that the vertical wavelength of GW, corresponding to the dominant spectral power, ranges from about 7 km to 20 km regardless of the situation of the ionosphere; however, GWs with vertical wavelengths between 100 m to 1 km are found to be saturated between 90 and 110 km whether the ionosphere exhibits irregularity or not. The above results imply that ESF is due to the amplification of perturbations as a result of energy dissipation from GW with vertical wavelength 100 m to 1 km by the RTI that is mainly controlled by Pre-Reversal Enhancement of the zonal electric field.
Variability of dayside electron temperature at Venus
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Mahajan, K. K.; Ghosh, S.; Paul, R.; Hoegy, W. R.
1994-01-01
Langmuir probe measurements on Pioneer Venus Orbiter show that electron temperature (Te) profiles exhibit two distinct regions. The lower, but more extended region is in the main ionosphere where Te increases slowly with altitude. The other, less extended region is in the ionopause, where Te rise sharply with altitude. If horizontal magnetic fields and flux ropes in the ionosphere inhibit vertical thermal conductivity sufficiently, then the observed Te profile could be explained with EUV as the major heat source (Cravens et al., 1980). The rise in Te in the ionopause region has generally been attributed to solar wind heating (Brace and Kliore, 1991). We suggest that this sharp rise in Te is due primarily to the steep fall in electron density, Ne. If the heating rate is essentially unchanged and heat conduction is not of primary importance, then a steep rise in Te will maintain a constant electron cooling rate for a steeply falling Ne. We have observed large orbit to orbit variations in Te in the ionopause region which are found to be inversely related to changes in Ne. Variations in solar wind dynamic pressure do not seem to have a direct effect on Te, rather the effect is indirect coming through the sharp decrease in Ne.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bullett, Terry; Jee, Geonhwa; Livingston, Robert; Kim, Jeong-Han; Zabotin, Nikolay; Lee, Chang-Sup; Grubb, Richard; Mabie, Justin; Kwon, Hyuck-Jin
2016-04-01
The Korean Polar Research Institute has established the Jang Bogo research station in Antarctica on Terra Nova Bay (74.62°S, 164.23°E). One of the space environment sensors installed in 2014 is a world class research ionosonde facility consisting of a Vertical Incidence Pulsed Ionospheric Radar (VIPIR) with Dynasonde signal processing. The VIPIR is an MF/HF radar oeprating from 0.5 to 25 MHz. The transmit antenna is a 36x75x75m dual vertical incidence log periodic design and the receive antenna is a 70x70m array of 8 orthogonal 4m active dipoles attached to 8 coherent digital receivers. Full resolution In-Phase and Quadrature data are recorded for post analysis. The low atmospheric noise and low interference combine with the high system performance to produce ionogram data of very high quality and allow measurements with high time resolution. The 2015 data were taken using the first generation VIPIR electronics on loan from Boulder. Antenna repairs and the installation of the second generation VIPIR electronics were completed at the end of 2015. Phase based Dynasonde analysis techniques are applied to the VIPIR data to perform echo detection and to derive electron density profiles and velocity vectors.
Observations and Operational Products from the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dandenault, Patrick; Nicholas, Andrew C.; Coker, Clayton; Budzien, Scott A.; Chua, Damien H.; Finne, Ted T.; Metzler, Christopher A.; Dymond, Kenneth F.
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed five ultraviolet remote sensing instru-ments for the Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). These instruments known as SSULI (Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager) are on the DMSP block of 5D3 satellites, which first launched in 2003. The DMSP satellites are launched in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 830 km. SSULI measures vertical profiles of the natural airglow radiation from atoms, molecules and ions in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere by viewing the earth's limb at a tangent altitude of approximately 50 km to 750 km. Limb observations are made from the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) to the far ultraviolet (FUV) over the wavelength range of 80 nm to 170 nm, with 1.8 nm resolution. An extensive operational data processing system, the SSULI Ground Data Analysis Software (GDAS), has been developed to generate environmental data products from SSULI spectral data in near-real time for use at the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA). The operational software uses advanced science algorithms developed at NRL and was designed to calibrate data from USAF Raw Sensor Data Records (RSDR) and generate Environmental Data Records (EDRs). Data products from SSULI observations include vertical profiles of electron (Ne) densities, N2, O2, O, O+, Temperature and also vertical Total Electron Content (TEC). On October 18, 2009, the third SSULI sensor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, aboard the DMSP F18 spacecraft. An overview of the SSULI operational program and the status of the F18 sensor will be discussed.
Measurement of electron density profiles on HT-6M tokamak by 7-channel FIR HCN laser interferometer
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Xiang, Gao; Qiliang, Guo
1990-12-01
Electron density measurements are periormed on HT-6M tokamak using a 7 channel Far-Infrared HCN laser interferometer. From the measured line integrals--7 channel phase shifts the electron density profile is reconstructed by a fit procedure. Results were tested by comparison to Abel inverted. Some recent interesting experimental results were reported.
Yu, Woo Jong; Li, Zheng; Zhou, Hailong; Chen, Yu; Wang, Yang; Huang, Yu; Duan, Xiangfeng
2014-01-01
The layered materials such as graphene have attracted considerable interest for future electronics. Here we report the vertical integration of multi-heterostructures of layered materials to enable high current density vertical field-effect transistors (VFETs). An n-channel VFET is created by sandwiching few-layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) as the semiconducting channel between a monolayer graphene and a metal thin film. The VFETs exhibit a room temperature on-off ratio >103, while at same time deliver a high current density up to 5,000 A/cm2, sufficient for high performance logic applications. This study offers a general strategy for the vertical integration of various layered materials to obtain both p- and n-channel transistors for complementary logic functions. A complementary inverter with larger than unit voltage gain is demonstrated by vertically stacking the layered materials of graphene, Bi2Sr2Co2O8 (p-channel), graphene, MoS2 (n-channel), and metal thin film in sequence. The ability to simultaneously achieve high on-off ratio, high current density, and logic integration in the vertically stacked multi-heterostructures can open up a new dimension for future electronics to enable three-dimensional integration. PMID:23241535
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Xing, Chengzhi; Liu, Cheng; Wang, Shanshan; Chan, Ka Lok; Gao, Yang; Huang, Xin; Su, Wenjing; Zhang, Chengxin; Dong, Yunsheng; Fan, Guangqiang; Zhang, Tianshu; Chen, Zhenyi; Hu, Qihou; Su, Hang; Xie, Zhouqing; Liu, Jianguo
2017-12-01
Ground-based multi-axis differential optical absorption spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) and lidar measurements were performed in Shanghai, China, during May 2016 to investigate the vertical distribution of summertime atmospheric pollutants. In this study, vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficient, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations were retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements using the Heidelberg Profile (HEIPRO) algorithm, while vertical distribution of ozone (O3) was obtained from an ozone lidar. Sensitivity study of the MAX-DOAS aerosol profile retrieval shows that the a priori aerosol profile shape has significant influences on the aerosol profile retrieval. Aerosol profiles retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements with Gaussian a priori profile demonstrate the best agreements with simultaneous lidar measurements and vehicle-based tethered-balloon observations among all a priori aerosol profiles. Tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities (VCDs) measured with MAX-DOAS show a good agreement with OMI satellite observations with a Pearson correlation coefficient (R) of 0.95. In addition, measurements of the O3 vertical distribution indicate that the ozone productions do not only occur at surface level but also at higher altitudes (about 1.1 km). Planetary boundary layer (PBL) height and horizontal and vertical wind field information were integrated to discuss the ozone formation at upper altitudes. The results reveal that enhanced ozone concentrations at ground level and upper altitudes are not directly related to horizontal and vertical transportation. Similar patterns of O3 and HCHO vertical distributions were observed during this campaign, which implies that the ozone productions near the surface and at higher altitudes are mainly influenced by the abundance of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the lower troposphere.
Snow Densification and Recent Accumulation Along the iSTAR Traverse, Pine Island Glacier, Antarctica
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Morris, E. M.; Mulvaney, R.; Arthern, R. J.; Davies, D.; Gurney, R. J.; Lambert, P.; De Rydt, J.; Smith, A. M.; Tuckwell, R. J.; Winstrup, M.
2017-12-01
Neutron probe measurements of snow density from 22 sites in the Pine Island Glacier basin have been used to determine mean annual accumulation using an automatic annual layer identification routine. A mean density profile which can be used to convert radar two-way travel times to depth has been derived, and the effect of annual fluctuations in density on estimates of the depth of radar reflectors is shown to be insignificant, except very near the surface. Vertical densification rates have been derived from the neutron probe density profiles and from deeper firn core density profiles available at 9 of the sites. These rates are consistent with the rates predicted by the Herron and Langway model for stage 1 densification (by grain-boundary sliding, grain growth and intracrystalline deformation) and stage 2 densification (predominantly by sintering), except in a transition zone extending from ≈8 to ≈13 m from the surface in which 10-14% of the compaction occurs. Profiles of volumetric strain rate at each site show that in this transition zone the rates are consistent with the Arthern densification model. Comparison of the vertical densification rates and volumetric strain rates indicates that the expected relation to mean annual accumulation breaks down at high accumulation rates even when corrections are made for horizontal ice velocity divergence.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Tripathi, Vipin K.; Sharma, Anamika
2013-05-15
We estimate the ponderomotive force on an expanded inhomogeneous electron density profile, created in the later phase of laser irradiated diamond like ultrathin foil. When ions are uniformly distributed along the plasma slab and electron density obeys the Poisson's equation with space charge potential equal to negative of ponderomotive potential, φ=−φ{sub p}=−(mc{sup 2}/e)(γ−1), where γ=(1+|a|{sup 2}){sup 1/2}, and |a| is the normalized local laser amplitude inside the slab; the net ponderomotive force on the slab per unit area is demonstrated analytically to be equal to radiation pressure force for both overdense and underdense plasmas. In case electron density is takenmore » to be frozen as a Gaussian profile with peak density close to relativistic critical density, the ponderomotive force has non-monotonic spatial variation and sums up on all electrons per unit area to equal radiation pressure force at all laser intensities. The same result is obtained for the case of Gaussian ion density profile and self consistent electron density profile, obeying Poisson's equation with φ=−φ{sub p}.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Soltanmoradi, Elmira; Shokri, Babak, E-mail: b-shokri@sbu.ac.ir; Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, G. C., Evin, Tehran 19839-63113
Gigahertz electromagnetic wave scattering from an inhomogeneous collisional plasma layer with bell-like and Epstein electron density distributions is studied by the Green's function volume integral equation method to find the reflectance, transmittance, and absorbance coefficients of this inhomogeneous plasma. Also, the effects of the frequency of the electromagnetic wave, plasma parameters, such as collision frequency, electron density, and plasma thickness, and the effects of the profile of the electron density on the electromagnetic wave scattering from this plasma slab are investigated. According to the results, when the electron density, collision frequency, and plasma thickness are increased, collisional absorbance is enhanced,more » and as a result, the absorbance bandwidth of plasma is broadened. Moreover, this broadening is more evident for plasma with bell-like electron density profile. Also, the bandwidth of the frequency and the range of pressure in which plasma behaves as a good reflector are determined in this article. According to the results, the bandwidth of the frequency is decreased for thicker plasma with bell-like profile, while it does not vary for a different plasma thickness with Epstein profile. Moreover, the range of the pressure is decreased for bell-like profile in comparison with Epstein profile. Furthermore, due to the sharp inhomogeneity of the Epstein profile, the coefficients of plasma that are uniform for plasma with bell-like profile are changed for plasma with Epstein profile, and some perturbations are seen.« less
Ultrafast decay of hot phonons in an AlGaN/AlN/AlGaN/GaN camelback channel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Leach, J. H.; Wu, M.; Morkoç, H.; Liberis, J.; Šermukšnis, E.; Ramonas, M.; Matulionis, A.
2011-11-01
A bottleneck for heat dissipation from the channel of a GaN-based heterostructure field-effect transistor is treated in terms of the lifetime of nonequilibrium (hot) longitudinal optical phonons, which are responsible for additional scattering of electrons in the voltage-biased quasi-two-dimensional channel. The hot-phonon lifetime is measured for an Al0.33Ga0.67N/AlN/Al0.1Ga0.9N/GaN heterostructure where the mobile electrons are spread in a composite Al0.1Ga0.9N/GaN channel and form a camelback electron density profile at high electric fields. In accordance with plasmon-assisted hot-phonon decay, the parameter of importance for the lifetime is not the total charge in the channel (the electron sheet density) but rather the electron density profile. This is demonstrated by comparing two structures with equal sheet densities (1 × 1013 cm-2), but with different density profiles. The camelback channel profile exhibits a shorter hot-phonon lifetime of ˜270 fs as compared with ˜500 fs reported for a standard Al0.33Ga0.67N/AlN/GaN channel at low supplied power levels. When supplied power is sufficient to heat the electrons > 600 K, ultrafast decay of hot phonons is observed in the case of the composite channel structure. In this case, the electron density profile spreads to form a camelback profile, and hot-phonon lifetime reduces to ˜50 fs.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Du, Huarong; Jhang, Hogun; Hahm, T. S.; Dong, J. Q.; Wang, Z. X.
2017-12-01
We perform a numerical study of linear stability of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode and the trapped electron mode (TEM) in tokamak plasmas with inverted density profiles. A local gyrokinetic integral equation is applied for this study. From comprehensive parametric scans, we obtain stability diagrams for ITG modes and TEMs in terms of density and temperature gradient scale lengths. The results show that, for the inverted density profile, there exists a normalized threshold temperature gradient above which the ITG mode and the TEM are either separately or simultaneously unstable. The instability threshold of the TEM for the inverted density profile is substantially different from that for normal and flat density profiles. In addition, deviations are found on the ITG threshold from an early analytic theory in sheared slab geometry with the adiabatic electron response [T. S. Hahm and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids B 1, 1185 (1989)]. A possible implication of this work on particle transport in pellet fueled tokamak plasmas is discussed.
Electronic properties of Laves phase ZrFe{sub 2} using Compton spectroscopy
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bhatt, Samir, E-mail: sameerbhatto11@gmail.com; Kumar, Kishor; Ahuja, B. L.
First-ever experimental Compton profile of Laves phase ZrFe{sub 2}, using indigenous 20 Ci {sup 137}Cs Compton spectrometer, is presented. To analyze the experimental electron momentum density, we have deduced the theoretical Compton profiles using density functional theory (DFT) and hybridization of DFT and Hartree-Fock scheme within linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method. The energy bands and density of states are also calculated using LCAO prescription. The theoretical profile based on local density approximation gives a better agreement with the experimental profile than other reported schemes. The present investigations validate the inclusion of correlation potential of Perdew-Zunger in predicting themore » electronic properties of ZrFe{sub 2}.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Abe, Takumi; Moen, J. I.
The ICI-2 (Investigation of Cusp Irregularities-2) sounding rocket campaign was conducted in Svalbard, Norway on December 2008. The scientific objective of ICI-2 is to investigate genera-tion mechanism(s) of coherent HF radar backscatter targets. Strong coherent HF backscatter echoes are well-known phenomena in the polar ionospheric cusp, and are thought to result from field-aligned plasma irregularities with decameter scale length. However, the generation mech-anism of backscatter targets has not yet been understood, and even the altitude profile of HF cusp backscatter is unknown. The ICI-2 rocket was launched at 10:35:10 UT at Ny-˚lesund, A and reached an apogee of 330 km at about 5 minutes after the launch. All onboard systems functioned flawlessly. A comprehensive measurement of the electron density, low energy elec-tron flux, medium energy particle flux, AC and DC electric fields was conducted to exploit the potential role of the gradient drift instability versus the other suggested mechanisms. We present a result obtained from a Fixed-Biased Probe (FBP) which was aimed at measuring fine-scale (< 1 m) electron density perturbation. Our analysis of the FBP data during the rocket's flight indicates that the rocket traversed HF backscatter regions where the electron density perturbation is relatively large. The power spectrum analysis of the electron density shows that the amplitude increases not only in the decameter wavelength but also in the broad range of frequency. Characteristic features of the electron density perturbation are summarized as follows: 1) A strong perturbation of the electron density was observed by the FBP when the ICI-2 rocket passed through a front side of the poleward moving 630 nm emission region which was identified by the all-sky imager. This means that the electron density perturbation and the 630 nm emission are observed to coexist in the same region. 2) The absolute value of the electron density becomes larger in the disturbed region than in the surrounding region. The electron density gradient in the boundary with the outer region is larger in the equatorward side than in the poleward side. 3) The amplitude of the electron density perturbation is remarkably large in the equatorward edge rather than the poleward boundaries. 4) The FBP identified the electron density perturbation at three different altitudes during the rocket flight. This indicates that the perturbation likely exists not only within the narrow limits but in a larger extent in the vertical direction.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yang, Changjun; Zhao, Biqiang; Zhu, Jie; Yue, Xinan; Wan, Weixing
2017-10-01
In this study we propose the combination of topside in-situ ion density data from the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) along with the electron density profile measurement from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate (COSMIC) satellites Radio Occultation (RO) for studying the spatial and temporal variations of the ionospheric upper transition height (hT) and the oxygen ion (O+) density scale height. The latitudinal, local time and seasonal distributions of upper transition height show more consistency between hT re-calculated by the profile of the O+ using an α-Chapman function with linearly variable scale height and that determined from direct in-situ ion composition measurements, than with constant scale height and only the COSMIC data. The discrepancy in the values of hT between the C/NOFS measurement and that derived by the combination of COSMIC and C/NOFS satellites observations with variable scale height turns larger as the solar activity decreases, which suggests that the photochemistry and the electrodynamics of the equatorial ionosphere during the extreme solar minimum period produce abnormal structures in the vertical plasma distribution. The diurnal variation of scale heights (Hm) exhibits a minimum after sunrise and a maximum around noon near the geomagnetic equator. Further, the values of Hm exhibit a maximum in the summer hemisphere during daytime, whereas in the winter hemisphere the maximum is during night. Those features of Hm consistently indicate the prominent role of the vertical electromagnetic (E × B) drift in the equatorial ionosphere.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zhao, Biqiang
2017-04-01
In this study we propose the combination of topside in-situ ion density data from the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecast System (C/NOFS) along with the electron density profile measurement from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere & Climate (COSMIC) satellites Radio Occultation (RO) for studying the spatial and temporal variations of the ionospheric upper transition height (hT) and the oxygen ion (O+) density scale height. The latitudinal, local time and seasonal distributions of upper transition height show more consistency between hT re-calculated by the profile of the O+ using an a-Chapman function with linearly variable scale height and that determined from direct in-situ ion composition measurements, than with constant scale height and only the COSMIC data. The discrepancy in the values of hT between the C/NOFS measurement and that derived by the combination of COSMIC and C/NOFS satellites observations with variable scale height turns larger as the solar activity decreases, which suggests that the photochemistry and the electrodynamics of the equatorial ionosphere during the extreme solar minimum period produce abnormal structures in the vertical plasma distribution. The diurnal variation of scale heights (Hm) exhibits a minimum after sunrise and a maximum around noon near the geomagnetic equator. Further, the values of Hm exhibit a maximum in the summer hemisphere during daytime, whereas in the winter hemisphere the maximum is during night. Those features of Hm consistently indicate the prominent role of the vertical electromagnetic (E×B) drift in the equatorial ionosphere.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Vedantam, NandaKishore; Parthasarathy, Ramkumar N.
2004-01-01
The effects of the mean velocity profiles on the instability characteristics in the near-injector region of axisymmetric low density gas jets injected vertically upwards into a high-density gas medium were investigated using linear inviscid stability analysis. The flow was assumed to be isothermal and locally parallel. Three velocity profiles, signifying different changes in the mean velocity in the shear layer, were used in the analysis. The effects of the inhomogeneous shear layer and the Froude number (signifying the effects of gravity) on the instability for each set of mean profiles were delineated. At a large Froude number (negligible gravity), a critical density ratio was found for the three profiles at which the jet became absolutely unstable. The critical density ratio for each velocity profile was increased as the Froude number was reduced. A critical Froude number was found for the three sets of profiles, below which the jet was absolutely unstable for all the density ratios less than unity, which demarcated the jet flow into the momentum-driven regime and the buoyancy-driven regime.
The Relationship between Ionospheric Slab Thickness and the Peak Density Height, hmF2
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meehan, J.; Sojka, J. J.
2017-12-01
The electron density profile is one of the most critical elements in the ionospheric modeling-related applications today. Ionosphere parameters, hmF2, the height of the peak density layer, and slab thickness, the ratio of the total electron content, TEC, to the peak density value, NmF2, are generally obtained from any global sounding observation network and are easily incorporated into models, theoretical or empirical, as numerical representations. Slab thickness is a convenient one-parameter summary of the electron density profile and can relate a variety of elements of interest that effect the overall electron profile shape, such as the neutral and ionospheric temperatures and gradients, the ionospheric composition, and dynamics. Using ISR data from the 2002 Millstone Hill ISR data campaign, we found, for the first time, slab thickness to be correlated to hmF2. For this, we introduce a new ionospheric index, k, which ultimately relates electron density parameters and can be a very useful tool for describing the topside ionosphere shape. Our study is an initial one location, one season, 30-day study, and future work is needed to verify the robustness of our claim. Generally, the ionospheric profile shape, requires knowledge of several ionospheric parameters: electron, ion and neutral temperatures, ion composition, electric fields, and neutral winds, and is dependent upon seasons, local time, location, and the level of solar and geomagnetic activity; however, with this new index, only readily-available, ionospheric density information is needed. Such information, as used in this study, is obtained from a bottomside electron density profile provided by an ionosonde, and TEC data provided by a local, collocated GPS receiver.
Shapes of Magnetically Controlled Electron Density Structures in the Dayside Martian Ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Diéval, C.; Kopf, A. J.; Wild, J. A.
2018-05-01
Nonhorizontal localized electron density structures associated with regions of near-radial crustal magnetic fields are routinely detected via radar oblique echoes on the dayside of Mars with the ionospheric sounding mode of the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) radar onboard Mars Express. Previous studies mostly investigated these structures at a fixed plasma frequency and assumed that the larger apparent altitude of the structures compared to the normal surrounding ionosphere implied that they are bulges. However, the signal is subjected to dispersion when it propagates through the plasma, so interpretations based on the apparent altitude should be treated with caution. We go further by investigating the frequency dependence (i.e., the altitude dependence) of the shape of 48 density structure events, using time series of MARSIS electron density profiles corrected for signal dispersion. Four possible simplest shapes are detected in these time series, which can give oblique echoes: bulges, dips, downhill slopes, and uphill slopes. The altitude differences between the density structures and their edges are, in absolute value, larger at low frequency (high altitude) than at high frequency (low altitude), going from a few tens of kilometers to a few kilometers as frequency increases. Bulges dominate in numbers in most of the frequency range. Finally, the geographical extension of the density structures covers a wide range of crustal magnetic fields orientations, with near-vertical fields toward their center and near-horizontal fields toward their edges, as expected. Transport processes are suggested to be a key driver for these density structures.
Fujiwara, Y; Hirano, Y; Kiyama, S; Nakamiya, A; Koguchi, H; Sakakita, H
2014-02-01
The self-focusing phenomenon has been observed in a high current density and low energy ion beam. In order to study the mechanism of this phenomenon, a special designed double probe to measure the electron density and temperature is installed into the chamber where the high current density ion beam is injected. Electron density profile is successfully measured without the influence of the ion beam components. Estimated electron temperature and density are ∼0.9 eV and ∼8 × 10(8) cm(-3) at the center of ion beam cross section, respectively. It was found that a large amount of electrons are spontaneously accumulated in the ion beam line in the case of self-forcing state.
Altitude Variation of the Plasmapause Signature in the Main Ionospheric Trough
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Grebowsky, Joseph M.; Benson, Robert F.; Webb, Phillip A.; Truhlik, Vladimir; Bilitza, Dieter
2009-01-01
The projection of the plasmapause magnetic-field lines to low altitudes, where the light-ion chemistry is dominated by O(+), tends to occur near the minimum electron density in the main (midlatitude) electron density trough at night. With increasing attitude in the trough, where H(+) emerges as the dominant iota on the low-latitude boundary, we have found cases where the plasmapause field lines are located on the sharp low-Latitude side of the trough as expected if this topside ionosphere H(+) distribution varies in step with the plasmapause gradient in the distant plasmasphere. These conclusions are based on near-equatorial crossings of the plasmapause (corresponding to the steep gradient in the dominant species H(+) by the Explorer-45 satellite as determined from electric-field measurements by Maynard and Cauffman in the early 1970s and ISIS-2 ionospheric topside-sounder measurements. The former data have now been converted to digital form and made available at http://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov. The latter provide samples of nearly coincident observations of ionospheric main trough crossings near the same magnetic-field lines of the Explorer 45-determined equatorial plasmapause. The ISIS-2 vertical electron density profiles are used to infer where the F-region transitions from an O(+) to a H(+) dominated plasma through the main trough boundaries.
Nagle, J F; Wiener, M C
1989-01-01
Three relations are derived that connect low angle diffraction/scattering results obtained from lipid bilayers to other structural quantities of interest. The first relates the area along the surface of the bilayer, the measured specific volume, and the zeroth order structure factor, F(0). The second relates the size of the trough in the center of the electron density profile, the volume of the terminal methyl groups, and the volume of the methylene groups in the fatty acid chains. The third relates the size of the headgroup electron density peak, the volume of the headgroup, and the volumes of water and hydrocarbon in the headgroup region. These relations, which are easily modified for neutron diffraction, are useful for obtaining structural quantities from electron density profiles obtained by fitting model profiles to measured low angle x-ray intensities. PMID:2713444
Composition and structure of the martian upper atmosphere: analysis of results from viking.
McElroy, M B; Kong, T Y; Yung, Y L; Nier, A O
1976-12-11
Densities for carbon dioxide measured by the upper atmospheric mass spectrometers on Viking 1 and Viking 2 are analyzed to yield height profiles for the temperature of the martian atmosphere between 120 and 200 kilometers. Densities for nitrogen and argon are used to derive vertical profiles for the eddy diffusion coefficient over the same height range. The upper atmosphere of Mars is surprisingly cold with average temperatures for both Viking 1 and Viking 2 of less than 200 degrees K, and there is significant vertical structure. Model calculations are presented and shown to be in good agreement with measured concentrations of carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitric oxide.
Profiles of Ionospheric Storm-enhanced Density during the 17 March 2015 Great Storm
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, J.; Wang, W.; Burns, A. G.; Yue, X.; Zhang, S.; Zhang, Y.
2015-12-01
Ionospheric F2 region peak densities (NmF2) are expected to show a positive phase correlation with total electron content (TEC), and electron density is expected to have an anti-correlation with electron temperature near the ionospheric F2 peak. However, we show that, during the 17 March 2015 great storm, TEC and F2 region electron density peak height (hmF2) over Millstone Hill increased, but the F2 region electron density peak (NmF2) decreased significantly during the storm-enhanced density (SED) phase of the storm compared with the quiet-time ionosphere. This SED occurred where there was a negative ionospheric storm near the F2 peak and below it. The weak ionosphere below the F2 peak resulted in much reduced downward heat conduction for the electrons, trapping the heat in the topside. This, in turn, increased the topside scale height, so that, even though electron densities at the F2 peak were depleted, TEC increased in the SED. The depletion in NmF2 was probably caused by an increase in the density of the molecular neutrals, resulting in enhanced recombination. In addition, the storm-time topside ionospheric electron density profile was much closer to diffusive equilibrium than non-storm time profile because of less daytime plasma flow from the ionosphere to the plasmasphere.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Narukull, V. R.; Schneider, N. M.; Yaswanth, C.; MohanaManasa, P.; Crismani, M. M. J.; Deighan, J.; Jain, S.
2017-12-01
The close encounter of comet Siding Spring (C/2013 A1, CSS) with Mars on 19 October 2014 had several aftermath effects on the Martian upper atmosphere. Instruments on several spacecraft, such as the IUVS and NGIMS on MAVEN, MARSIS on MEX, and the SHARAD on MRO reported the atmospheric effects of the CSS event. In this study, we re-examined the IUVS and MARSIS observations to get further insight into the CSS effects on the Martian upper atmosphere. The IUVS repeated its observations over the same location with an interval of 22.5 hours. By using these repeated observations, we computed the rate of vertical transport of metallic ions at a given location. This analysis is repeated over several locations. We found that the lifetime of the metallic ion layer increases with increase in altitude and the high-density layers decay faster than the low-density ones, in agreement with model simulations. These vertical transport rates are then used to examine time of the peak in metallic ion layer measured by NGIMS at 185 km. Previous studies have shown that there is an ambiguity in the altitude of the peak of metallic ion layer and that of the electron density layer due to CSS with the former being 60 km higher than the later. By re-analyzing the observations of IUVS and MARSIS, we addressed the ambiguity in altitude. The ambiguity in the altitude is mainly because of the differences in the orbital passes of the two spacecraft, the global inhomogeneity of the initial dust deposition, and the dispersion effects of the electron density profiles in the MARSIS observations.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Detweiler, L. G.; Glocer, A.; Benson, R. F.; Fung, S. F.
2016-12-01
In order to investigate and understand the role that different drivers play on the electron density altitude profile in the topside ionosphere of the polar regions, we used satellite radio-sounding data collected during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s to construct a series of graphs of electron density as a function of altitude and solar zenith angle. These data were gathered by the swept-frequency topside sounders from four of the satellites from the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) program: Alouette 1 and 2, and ISIS 1 and 2, and were obtained from the NASA Space Physics Data Facility. In order to control for phenomenon known to effect electron density, we restricted our data set to data collected during a specific DST range (between -10 and 40 nT), and roughly constant solar radio flux values (between 40 and 90 W*m-2*Hz-1). To look at the effect of electron precipitation, we examine two separate cases, one above an invariant latitude of 60°, which includes precipitation, and one above 75°, which excludes precipitation. Under these restrictions we gathered a total of 407,500 altitude, solar zenith angle, and electron density data pairs. We then sorted these data pairs into bins of altitude and solar zenith angle, and present graphs of the medians of these binned data. We then fit our binned data to an exponential function representing hydrostatic equilibrium in the ionosphere presented in Kitamura et. al [2011]. We present graphs which show how well this best fit equation fits our data. Our results clearly show the strong dependence of electron density with respect to solar zenith angle, and demonstrates that electron precipitation can also influence the electron density profile, particularly on the nightside. We also examine how seasonal effects, via differences in the neutral thermosphere, can affect the electron density profiles. This study provides a climatological picture of what drives the topside electron density profile in the polar regions, and could be useful in future studies for model validation.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Broccardo, Stephen; Heue, Klaus-Peter; Walter, David; Meyer, Christian; Kokhanovsky, Alexander; van der A, Ronald; Piketh, Stuart; Langerman, Kristy; Platt, Ulrich
2018-05-01
Aircraft measurements of NO2 using an imaging differential optical absorption spectrometer (iDOAS) instrument over the South African Highveld region in August 2007 are presented and compared to satellite measurements from OMI and SCIAMACHY. In situ aerosol and trace-gas vertical profile measurements, along with aerosol optical thickness and single-scattering albedo measurements from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), are used to devise scenarios for a radiative transfer modelling sensitivity study. Uncertainty in the air-mass factor due to variations in the aerosol and NO2 profile shape is constrained and used to calculate vertical column densities (VCDs), which are compared to co-located satellite measurements. The lower spatial resolution of the satellites cannot resolve the detailed plume structures revealed in the aircraft measurements. The airborne DOAS in general measured steeper horizontal gradients and higher peak NO2 vertical column density. Aircraft measurements close to major sources, spatially averaged to the satellite resolution, indicate NO2 column densities more than twice those measured by the satellite. The agreement between the high-resolution aircraft instrument and the satellite instrument improves with distance from the source, this is attributed to horizontal and vertical dispersion of NO2 in the boundary layer. Despite the low spatial resolution, satellite images reveal point sources and plumes that retain their structure for several hundred kilometres downwind.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Silverman, M. L.; Szykman, J.; Chen, G.; Crawford, J. H.; Janz, S. J.; Kowalewski, M. G.; Lamsal, L. N.; Long, R.
2015-12-01
Studies have shown that satellite NO2 columns are closely related to ground level NO2 concentrations, particularly over polluted areas. This provides a means to assess surface level NO2 spatial variability over a broader area than what can be monitored from ground stations. The characterization of surface level NO2 variability is important to understand air quality in urban areas, emissions, health impacts, photochemistry, and to evaluate the performance of chemical transport models. Using data from the NASA DISCOVER-AQ campaign in Baltimore/Washington we calculate NO2 mixing ratios from the Airborne Compact Atmospheric Mapper (ACAM), through four different methods to derive surface concentration from column measurements. High spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) mixed layer heights, vertical P3B profiles, and CMAQ vertical profiles are used to scale ACAM vertical column densities. The derived NO2 mixing ratios are compared to EPA ground measurements taken at Padonia and Edgewood. We find similar results from scaling with HSRL mixed layer heights and normalized P3B vertical profiles. The HSRL mixed layer heights are then used to scale ACAM vertical column densities across the DISCOVER-AQ flight pattern to assess spatial variability of NO2 over the area. This work will help define the measurement requirements for future satellite instruments.
Electron momentum density and Compton profile by a semi-empirical approach
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Aguiar, Julio C.; Mitnik, Darío; Di Rocco, Héctor O.
2015-08-01
Here we propose a semi-empirical approach to describe with good accuracy the electron momentum densities and Compton profiles for a wide range of pure crystalline metals. In the present approach, we use an experimental Compton profile to fit an analytical expression for the momentum densities of the valence electrons. This expression is similar to a Fermi-Dirac distribution function with two parameters, one of which coincides with the ground state kinetic energy of the free-electron gas and the other resembles the electron-electron interaction energy. In the proposed scheme conduction electrons are neither completely free nor completely bound to the atomic nucleus. This procedure allows us to include correlation effects. We tested the approach for all metals with Z=3-50 and showed the results for three representative elements: Li, Be and Al from high-resolution experiments.
Optimization of laser-plasma injector via beam loading effects using ionization-induced injection
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lee, P.; Maynard, G.; Audet, T. L.; Cros, B.; Lehe, R.; Vay, J.-L.
2018-05-01
Simulations of ionization-induced injection in a laser driven plasma wakefield show that high-quality electron injectors in the 50-200 MeV range can be achieved in a gas cell with a tailored density profile. Using the PIC code Warp with parameters close to existing experimental conditions, we show that the concentration of N2 in a hydrogen plasma with a tailored density profile is an efficient parameter to tune electron beam properties through the control of the interplay between beam loading effects and varying accelerating field in the density profile. For a given laser plasma configuration, with moderate normalized laser amplitude, a0=1.6 and maximum electron plasma density, ne 0=4 ×1018 cm-3 , the optimum concentration results in a robust configuration to generate electrons at 150 MeV with a rms energy spread of 4% and a spectral charge density of 1.8 pC /MeV .
Scaling of confinement and profiles in the EXTRAP T2 reversed-field pinch
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Welander, A.
1999-01-01
In the EXTRAP T2 reversed-field pinch the diagnostic techniques for the measurement of electron density and temperature include; Thomson scattering which gives values at three radial positions in the core (r/a = 0, 0.28, 0.56), Langmuir probes which give values at the edge (r/a > 0.9) and interferometry which gives a line-averaged density. The empirical scaling of electron density and temperature including profile information with global plasma parameters has been studied. The density profile is subject to large variations, with an average parabolic shape when the density is low and flatter shapes when the density is increased. The change in the profile shape can be attributed to a shift in the penetration length of neutrals from the vicinity of the wall. The temperature scales roughly as I/n1/2 where I is the plasma current and n is the density. The temperature profile is always quite flat with lower variations and there is a tendency for a flatter profile at higher temperatures.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wu, M. J.; Guo, P.; Fu, N. F.; Xu, T. L.; Xu, X. S.; Jin, H. L.; Hu, X. G.
2016-06-01
The ionosphere scale height is one of the most significant ionospheric parameters, which contains information about the ion and electron temperatures and dynamics in upper ionosphere. In this paper, an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis method is applied to process all the ionospheric radio occultations of GPS/COSMIC (Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate) from the year 2007 to 2011 to reconstruct a global ionospheric scale height model. This monthly medium model has spatial resolution of 5° in geomagnetic latitude (-87.5° ~ 87.5°) and temporal resolution of 2 h in local time. EOF analysis preserves the characteristics of scale height quite well in the geomagnetic latitudinal, anural, seasonal, and diurnal variations. In comparison with COSMIC measurements of the year of 2012, the reconstructed model indicates a reasonable accuracy. In order to improve the topside model of International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), we attempted to adopt the scale height model in the Bent topside model by applying a scale factor q as an additional constraint. With the factor q functioning in the exponent profile of topside ionosphere, the IRI scale height should be forced equal to the precise COSMIC measurements. In this way, the IRI topside profile can be improved to get closer to the realistic density profiles. Internal quality check of this approach is carried out by comparing COSMIC realistic measurements and IRI with or without correction, respectively. In general, the initial IRI model overestimates the topside electron density to some extent, and with the correction introduced by COSMIC scale height model, the deviation of vertical total electron content (VTEC) between them is reduced. Furthermore, independent validation with Global Ionospheric Maps VTEC implies a reasonable improvement in the IRI VTEC with the topside model correction.
Taheri, Mehrshad; Braeckman, Ulrike; Vincx, Magda; Vanaverbeke, Jan
2014-08-01
The responses of nematode communities to short-term hypoxia (1 and 7 days) were investigated in three North Sea stations with different sediment types (coarse silt, fine sand and medium sand). In the field, nematode density, diversity, vertical distribution and community structure differ among the stations. In the laboratory, oxic and hypoxic treatments were established for 1 and 7 days for all sediment types. Comparison between field control and oxic day 1 treatments showed that experimental sediment handling did not affect nematode characteristics. Our results revealed that short-term hypoxia did not affect total density, diversity, community composition, vertical density profiles (except in the fine sand) and densities of five dominant species in all sediment types. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Data Impact of the DMSP F18 SSULI UV Data on the Operational GAIM Model
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dandenault, P. B.; Metzler, C. A.; Nicholas, A. C.; Coker, C.; Budzien, S. A.; Chua, D. H.; Finne, T. T.; Dymond, K.; Walker, P. W.; Schunk, R. W.; Scherliess, L.; Gardner, L. C.
2011-12-01
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed five ultraviolet remote sensing instruments for the United States Air Force (USAF) Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The DMSP satellites are launched in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 830 km. Each Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) instrument measures vertical profiles of the natural airglow radiation from atoms, molecules and ions in the upper atmosphere and ionosphere by viewing the earth's limb within a tangent altitude range of approximately 50 km to 750 km. Limb observations are made from the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) to the far ultraviolet (FUV) over the wavelength range of 80 nm to 170 nm, with 1.8 nm resolution. Data products from SSULI observations include nightglow and dayglow Sensor Data Records (SDRs), as well as Environmental Data Records (EDRs) which contain vertical profiles of electron (Ne) densities, N2, O2, O, O+, and Temperature, hmF2, NmF2 and vertical Total Electron Content (TEC). On October 18, 2009, the third SSULI sensor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base aboard the DMSP F18 spacecraft. The Calibration and Validation of the F18 instrument has completed and the SSULI program is scheduled to go operational at the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) in Fall 2011. The SSULI F18 data are ingested by the Global Assimilation of Ionospheric Measurements (GAIM) space weather model, which was developed by Utah State University and has been used operationally at AFWA since February 2006. A brief overview of the SSULI F18 SDR data assimilation process with GAIM is provided and the impact of the SSULI 1356 Å emission on the GAIM model is examined for spring and summer 2011 nightside data in the low-latitude region.
Suprathermal electron energy distribution within the dayside Venus ionosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Knudsen, W. C.; Miller, K. L.; Spenner, K.; Novak, V.; Michelson, P. F.; Whitten, R. C.
1980-01-01
The suprathermal electron energy distribution for the dayside ionosphere has been derived from data returned by the Pioneer-Venus orbiter retarding potential analyzer. The shape and magnitude of the spectrum are consistent with the assumption that solar EUV radiation is the only significant source. The magnitude of the spectrum and its variation with altitude suggest that significant vertical transport occurs, with the electrons being lost through the ionopause. In turn, significant vertical transport suggests that the effective vertical electron heat conductivity may be comparable to the field-free value. The heat input to the thermal electron gas from the measured suprathermal electron flux is too small by a factor of at least five to maintain the observed electron temperature profile if the electron thermal conductivity is assumed to be close to the field-free value. It is thus inferred that most of the heat is supplied by the solar wind.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jee, G.; Kim, E.; Kwak, Y. S.; Kim, Y.; Kil, H.
2017-12-01
We investigate the climatological characteristics of the ionospheric electron density profiles in the auroral and polar cap regions in comparison with the mid-latitude ionosphere using incoherent scatter radars (ISR) observations from Svalbard (78.15N, 16.05E), Tromso (69.59N, 19.23E), and Millstone Hill (42.6N, 288.5E) during a period of 1995 - 2015. Diurnal variations of electron density profiles from 100 to 500 km are compared among the three radar observations during equinox, summer and winter solstice for different solar and geomagnetic activities. Also investigated are the physical characteristics of E-region and F-region peak parameters of electron density profiles in the auroral and polar cap regions, which are significantly different from the mid-latitude ionosphere. In the polar ionosphere, the diurnal variations of density profiles are extremely small in summer hemisphere. Semiannual anomaly hardly appears for all latitudes, but winter anomaly occurs at mid-latitude and auroral ionospheres for high solar activity. Nighttime density becomes larger than daytime density in the winter polar cap ionosphere for high solar activity. The E-region peak is very distinctive in the nighttime auroral region and the peak height is nearly constant at about 110 km for all conditions. Compared with the F-region peak density, the E-region peak density does not change much with solar activity. Furthermore, the E-region peak density can be even larger than F-region density for low solar activity in the auroral region, particularly during disturbed condition.
Vertical temperature and density patterns in the Arctic mesosphere analyzed as gravity waves
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Eberstein, I. J.; Theon, J. S.
1975-01-01
Rocket soundings conducted from high latitude sites in the Arctic mesosphere are described. Temperature and wind profiles and one density profile were observed independently to obtain the thermodynamic structure, the wind structure, and their interdependence in the mesosphere. Temperature profiles from all soundings were averaged, and a smooth curve (or series of smooth curves) drawn through the points. A hydrostatic atmosphere based on the average, measured temperature profile was computed, and deviations from the mean atmosphere were analyzed in terms of gravity wave theory. The vertical wavelengths of the deviations were 10-20 km, and the wave amplitudes slowly increased with height. The experimental data were matched by calculated gravity waves having a period of 15-20 minutes and a horizontal wavelength of 60-80 km. The wind measurements are consistent with the thermodynamic measurements. The results also suggest that gravity waves travel from East to West with a horizontal phase velocity of approximately 60 m sec-1.
Ionospheric effects during severe space weather events seen in ionospheric service data products
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jakowski, Norbert; Danielides, Michael; Mayer, Christoph; Borries, Claudia
Space weather effects are closely related to complex perturbation processes in the magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere systems, initiated by enhanced solar energy input. To understand and model complex space weather processes, different views on the same subject are helpful. One of the ionosphere key parameters is the Total Electron Content (TEC) which provides a first or-der approximation of the ionospheric range error in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications. Additionally, horizontal gradients and time rate of change of TEC are important for estimating the perturbation degree of the ionosphere. TEC maps can effectively be gener-ated using ground based GNSS measurements from global receiver networks. Whereas ground based GNSS measurements provide good horizontal resolution, space based radio occultation measurements can complete the view by providing information on the vertical plasma density distribution. The combination of ground based TEC and vertical sounding measurements pro-vide essential information on the shape of the vertical electron density profile by computing the equivalent slab thickness at the ionosonde station site. Since radio beacon measurements at 150/400 MHz are well suited to trace the horizontal structure of Travelling Ionospheric Dis-turbances (TIDs), these data products essentially complete GNSS based TEC mapping results. Radio scintillation data products, characterising small scale irregularities in the ionosphere, are useful to estimate the continuity and availability of transionospheric radio signals. The different data products are addressed while discussing severe space weather events in the ionosphere e.g. events in October/November 2003. The complementary view of different near real time service data products is helpful to better understand the complex dynamics of ionospheric perturbation processes and to forecast the development of parameters customers are interested in.
JPL/USC GAIM: Using COSMIC Occultations in a Real-Time Global Ionospheric Data Assimilation Model
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mandrake, L.; Komjathy, A.; Wilson, B. D.; Pi, X.; Hajj, G.; Iijima, B.; Wang, C.
2006-12-01
We are in the midst of a revolution in ionospheric remote sensing driven by the illuminating powers of ground and space-based GPS receivers, new UV remote sensing satellites, and the advent of data assimilation techniques for space weather. In particular, the COSMIC 6-satellite constellation launched in April 2006. COSMIC will provide unprecedented global coverage of GPS occultations (~5000 per day), each of which yields electron density information with unprecedented ~1 km vertical resolution. Calibrated measurements of ionospheric delay (total electron content or TEC) suitable for input into assimilation models will be available in near real-time (NRT) from the COSMIC project with a latency of 30 to 120 minutes. Similarly, NRT TEC data are available from two worldwide NRT networks of ground GPS receivers (~75 5-minute sites and ~125 more hourly sites, operated by JPL and others). The combined NRT ground and space-based GPS datasets provide a new opportunity to more accurately specify the 3-dimensional ionospheric density with a time lag of only 15 to 120 minutes. With the addition of the vertically-resolved NRT occultation data, the retrieved profile shapes will model the hour-to-hour ionospheric "weather" much more accurately. The University of Southern California (USC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have jointly developed a real-time Global Assimilative Ionospheric Model (GAIM) to monitor space weather, study storm effects, and provide ionospheric calibration for DoD customers and NASA flight projects. JPL/USC GAIM is a physics- based 3D data assimilation model that uses both 4DVAR and Kalman filter techniques to solve for the ion & electron density state and key drivers such as equatorial electrodynamics, neutral winds, and production terms. Daily (delayed) GAIM runs can accept as input ground GPS TEC data from 1000+ sites, occultation links from CHAMP, SAC-C, and the COSMIC constellation, UV limb and nadir scans from the TIMED and DMSP satellites, and in situ data from a variety of satellites (DMSP and C/NOFS). RTGAIM ingests multiple data sources in real time, updates the 3D electron density grid every 5 minutes, and solves for improved drivers every 1-2 hours. Since our forward physics model and the adjoint model were expressly designed for data assimilation and computational efficiency, all of this can be accomplished on a single dual-processor Unix workstation. Customers are currently evaluating the accuracy of JPL/USC GAIM "nowcasts" for ray tracing applications and trans-ionospheric path delay calibration. In the talk, we will discuss the expected impact of COSMIC occultation data; show first results for ingest of COSMIC data using the GAIM Kalman filter; present validation of the GAIM electron density grid by comparisons to Abel profiles and independent datasets; describe recent improvements to the JPL/USC GAIM model; and describe our plans for NRT ingest of COSMIC data into RTGAIM.
Gravitational circulation in a tidal strait
Smith, P.E.; Cheng, R.T.; Burau, J.R.; Simpson, M.R.; ,
1991-01-01
Eight months of continuous measurements of tidal current profiles with an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) were made in Carquinez Strait, California, during 1988 for the purpose of estimating long-term variations in vertical profiles of Eulerian residual currents. Salinity stratification near the ADCP deployment site also was analyzed. The strength of density-driven gravitational circulation and the amount of salinity stratification in the strait varied significantly over the spring-neap tidal cycle. Density currents and stratification were greater during neap tides when vertical mixing from the tide is at a minimum. Landward residual currents along the bottom were observed only during neap tides. Simulations made with a three-dimensional model to supplement the field measurements show a significant, tidally induced lateral variation in residual currents across the strait. The Stokes drift of 1-2 cm/s in the strait is small relative to the speed of gravitational currents.
Yi, C.; Monson, Russell K.; Zhai, Z.; Anderson, D.E.; Lamb, B.; Allwine, G.; Turnipseed, A.A.; Burns, Sean P.
2005-01-01
The nocturnal drainage flow of air causes significant uncertainty in ecosystem CO2, H2O, and energy budgets determined with the eddy covariance measurement approach. In this study, we examined the magnitude, nature, and dynamics of the nocturnal drainage flow in a subalpine forest ecosystem with complex terrain. We used an experimental approach involving four towers, each with vertical profiling of wind speed to measure the magnitude of drainage flows and dynamics in their occurrence. We developed an analytical drainage flow model, constrained with measurements of canopy structure and SF6 diffusion, to help us interpret the tower profile results. Model predictions were in good agreement with observed profiles of wind speed, leaf area density, and wind drag coefficient. Using theory, we showed that this one-dimensional model is reduced to the widely used exponential wind profile model under conditions where vertical leaf area density and drag coefficient are uniformly distributed. We used the model for stability analysis, which predicted the presence of a very stable layer near the height of maximum leaf area density. This stable layer acts as a flow impediment, minimizing vertical dispersion between the subcanopy air space and the atmosphere above the canopy. The prediction is consistent with the results of SF6 diffusion observations that showed minimal vertical dispersion of nighttime, subcanopy drainage flows. The stable within-canopy air layer coincided with the height of maximum wake-to-shear production ratio. We concluded that nighttime drainage flows are restricted to a relatively shallow layer of air beneath the canopy, with little vertical mixing across a relatively long horizontal fetch. Insight into the horizontal and vertical structure of the drainage flow is crucial for understanding the magnitude and dynamics of the mean advective CO2 flux that becomes significant during stable nighttime conditions and are typically missed during measurement of the turbulent CO2 flux. The model and interpretation provided in this study should lead to research strategies for the measurement of these advective fluxes and their inclusion in the overall mass balance for CO2 at this site with complex terrain. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yi, Chuixiang; Monson, Russell K.; Zhai, Zhiqiang; Anderson, Dean E.; Lamb, Brian; Allwine, Gene; Turnipseed, Andrew A.; Burns, Sean P.
2005-11-01
The nocturnal drainage flow of air causes significant uncertainty in ecosystem CO2, H2O, and energy budgets determined with the eddy covariance measurement approach. In this study, we examined the magnitude, nature, and dynamics of the nocturnal drainage flow in a subalpine forest ecosystem with complex terrain. We used an experimental approach involving four towers, each with vertical profiling of wind speed to measure the magnitude of drainage flows and dynamics in their occurrence. We developed an analytical drainage flow model, constrained with measurements of canopy structure and SF6 diffusion, to help us interpret the tower profile results. Model predictions were in good agreement with observed profiles of wind speed, leaf area density, and wind drag coefficient. Using theory, we showed that this one-dimensional model is reduced to the widely used exponential wind profile model under conditions where vertical leaf area density and drag coefficient are uniformly distributed. We used the model for stability analysis, which predicted the presence of a very stable layer near the height of maximum leaf area density. This stable layer acts as a flow impediment, minimizing vertical dispersion between the subcanopy air space and the atmosphere above the canopy. The prediction is consistent with the results of SF6 diffusion observations that showed minimal vertical dispersion of nighttime, subcanopy drainage flows. The stable within-canopy air layer coincided with the height of maximum wake-to-shear production ratio. We concluded that nighttime drainage flows are restricted to a relatively shallow layer of air beneath the canopy, with little vertical mixing across a relatively long horizontal fetch. Insight into the horizontal and vertical structure of the drainage flow is crucial for understanding the magnitude and dynamics of the mean advective CO2 flux that becomes significant during stable nighttime conditions and are typically missed during measurement of the turbulent CO2 flux. The model and interpretation provided in this study should lead to research strategies for the measurement of these advective fluxes and their inclusion in the overall mass balance for CO2 at this site with complex terrain.
Vertical distribution of ozone at the terminator on Mars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Maattanen, Anni; Lefevre, Franck; Guilbon, Sabrina; Listowski, Constantino; Montmessin, Franck
2016-10-01
The SPICAM/Mars Express UV solar occultation dataset gives access to the ozone vertical distribution via the ozone absorption in the Hartley band (220-280 nm). We present the retrieved ozone profiles and compare them to the LMD Mars Global Climate Model (LMD-MGCM) results.Due to the photochemical reactivity of ozone, a classical comparison of local density profiles is not appropriate for solar occultations that are acquired at the terminator, and we present here a method often used in the Earth community. The principal comparison is made via the slant profiles (integrated ozone concentration on the line-of-sight), since the spherical symmetry hypothesis made in the onion-peeling vertical inversion method is not valid for photochemically active species (e.g., ozone) around terminator. For each occultation, we model the ozone vertical and horizontal distribution with high solar zenith angle (or local time) resolution around the terminator and then integrate the model results following the lines-of-sight of the occultation to construct the modeled slant profile. We will also discuss the difference of results between the above comparison method and a comparison using the local density profiles, i.e., the observed ones inverted by using the spherical symmetry hypothesis and the modeled ones extracted from the LMD-MGCM exactly at the terminator. The method and the results will be presented together with the full dataset.SPICAM is funded by the French Space Agency CNES and this work has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Programme (H2020-Compet-08-2014) under grant agreement UPWARDS-633127.
December anomaly in ionosphere using FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC electron density profiles
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dashnyam, G.; Lin, C. C. H.; Rajesh, P. K.; Lin, J. T.
2017-12-01
December anomaly in ionosphere refers to the observation of greater value of global average ionospheric peak electron density (NmF2) in December-January months than in June-July months. So far there has been no satisfactory explanation to account for this difference, which is also known as annual asymmetry, leading to the speculation that forcing from lower atmosphere may be important. In this work, FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC electron density profiles are used to investigate the characteristics of December anomaly at different local times and longitudes in varying levels of solar activity. The observations in the years 2008, 2009 and 2012 are used for the study. The results suggest that the anomaly exists in all the three years, and is pronounced during day. Detailed analysis is carried out using latitude-altitude electron density profiles at selected longitude sectors, revealing that neutral wind may play dominant role. SAMI2 model is used to further examine the role of neutral wind influencing the electron density in different solstices. Tidal decomposition of the wind is carried out to understand the dominant tidal components that give rise to the larger electron density in the December-January months.
Gueddida, Saber; Yan, Zeyin; Kibalin, Iurii; Voufack, Ariste Bolivard; Claiser, Nicolas; Souhassou, Mohamed; Lecomte, Claude; Gillon, Béatrice; Gillet, Jean-Michel
2018-04-28
In this paper, we propose a simple cluster model with limited basis sets to reproduce the unpaired electron distributions in a YTiO 3 ferromagnetic crystal. The spin-resolved one-electron-reduced density matrix is reconstructed simultaneously from theoretical magnetic structure factors and directional magnetic Compton profiles using our joint refinement algorithm. This algorithm is guided by the rescaling of basis functions and the adjustment of the spin population matrix. The resulting spin electron density in both position and momentum spaces from the joint refinement model is in agreement with theoretical and experimental results. Benefits brought from magnetic Compton profiles to the entire spin density matrix are illustrated. We studied the magnetic properties of the YTiO 3 crystal along the Ti-O 1 -Ti bonding. We found that the basis functions are mostly rescaled by means of magnetic Compton profiles, while the molecular occupation numbers are mainly modified by the magnetic structure factors.
Vertical nanowire heterojunction devices based on a clean Si/Ge interface.
Chen, Lin; Fung, Wayne Y; Lu, Wei
2013-01-01
Different vertical nanowire heterojunction devices were fabricated and tested based on vertical Ge nanowires grown epitaxially at low temperatures on (111) Si substrates with a sharp and clean Si/Ge interface. The nearly ideal Si/Ge heterojuctions with controlled and abrupt doping profiles were verified through material analysis and electrical characterizations. In the nSi/pGe heterojunction diode, an ideality factor of 1.16, subpicoampere reverse saturation current, and rectifying ratio of 10(6) were obtained, while the n+Si/p+Ge structure leads to Esaki tunnel diodes with a high peak tunneling current of 4.57 kA/cm(2) and negative differential resistance at room temperature. The large valence band discontinuity between the Ge and Si in the nanowire heterojunctions was further verified in the p+Si/pGe structure, which shows a rectifying behavior instead of an Ohmic contact and raises an important issue in making Ohmic contacts to heterogeneously integrated materials. A raised Si/Ge structure was further developed using a self-aligned etch process, allowing greater freedom in device design for applications such as the tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET). All measurement data can be well-explained and fitted with theoretical models with known bulk properties, suggesting that the Si/Ge nanowire system offers a very clean heterojunction interface with low defect density, and holds great potential as a platform for future high-density and high-performance electronics.
High-latitude electron density observations from the IMAGE radio plasma imager
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Henize, Vance Karl
2003-11-01
Before the IMAGE mission, electron densities in the high latitude, high altitude region of the magnetosphere were measured exclusively by in situ means. The Radio Plasma Imager instrument onboard IMAGE is capable of remotely observing electron densities between 0.01 and 100,000 e-/cm-3 from distances of several Earth radii or more. This allows a global view of the high latitude region that has a far greater accuracy than was previously possible. Soundings of the terrestrial magnetic cusp provide the first remote observations of the dynamics and poleward density profile of this feature continuously over a 60- minute interval. During steady quiet-time solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field conditions, the cusp is shown to be stable in both position and density structure with only slight variations in both. Peak electron densities within the cusp during this time are found to be somewhat higher than predicted. New procedures for deriving electron densities from radio sounding measurements are developed. The addition of curve fitting algorithms significantly increases the amount of useable data. Incorporating forward modeling techniques greatly reduces the computational time over traditional inversion methods. These methods are described in detail. A large number high latitude observations of ducted right-hand extraordinary mode waves made over the course of one year of the IMAGE mission are used to create a three dimensional model of the electron density profile of the terrestrial polar cap region. The dependence of electron density in the polar cap on average geocentric distance (d) is found to vary as d-6.6. This is a significantly steeper gradient than cited in earlier works such as Persoon et al., although the introduction of an asymptotic term provides for basic agreement in the limited region of their joint validity. Latitudinal and longitudinal variations are found to be insignificant. Both the mean profile power law index of the electron density profile and, to a stronger degree, its variance show dependence with the DST index.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Komjathy, A.; Wilson, B.; Akopian, V.; Pi, X.; Mannucci, A.; Wang, C.
2008-12-01
We seem to be in the midst of a revolution in ionospheric remote sensing driven by the abundance of ground and space-based GPS receivers, new UV remote sensing satellites, and the advent of data assimilation techniques for space weather. In particular, the COSMIC 6-satellite constellation was launched in April 2006. COSMIC now provides unprecedented global coverage of GPS occultations measurements, each of which yields electron density information with unprecedented ~1 km vertical resolution. Calibrated measurements of ionospheric delay (total electron content or TEC) suitable for input into assimilation models is currently made available in near real-time (NRT) from the COSMIC with a latency of 30 to 120 minutes. The University of Southern California (USC) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have jointly developed a real-time Global Assimilative Ionospheric Model (GAIM) to monitor space weather, study storm effects, and provide ionospheric calibration for DoD customers and NASA flight projects. JPL/USC GAIM is a physics- based 3D data assimilation model that uses both 4DVAR and Kalman filter techniques to solve for the ion and electron density state and key drivers such as equatorial electrodynamics, neutral winds, and production terms. Daily (delayed) GAIM runs can accept as input ground GPS TEC data from 1200+ sites, occultation links from CHAMP, SAC-C, and the COSMIC constellation, UV limb and nadir scans from the TIMED and DMSP satellites, and in situ data from a variety of satellites (DMSP and C/NOFS). Real-Time GAIM (RTGAIM) ingests multiple data sources in real time, updates the 3D electron density grid every 5 minutes, and solves for improved drivers every 1-2 hours. Since our forward physics model and the adjoint model were expressly designed for data assimilation and computational efficiency, all of this can be accomplished on a single dual- processor Unix workstation. Customers are currently evaluating the accuracy of JPL/USC GAIM 'nowcasts' for ray tracing applications and trans-ionospheric path delay calibration. In the presentation, we will discuss the expected impact of NRT COSMIC occultation and NRT ground-based measurements and present validation results for ingest of COSMIC data into GAIM using measurements from World Days. We will quality check our COSMIC-derived products by comparing Abel profiles and JPL- processed results. Furthermore, we will validate GAIM assimilation results using Incoherent Scatter Radar measurements from Arecibo, Jicamarca and Millstone Hill datasets. We will conclude by characterizing the improved electron density states using dual-frequency altimeter-derived Jason vertical TEC measurements.
D-region differential-phase measurements and ionization variability studies
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Weiland, R. M.; Bowhill, S. A.
1978-01-01
Measurements of electron densities in the D region are made by the partial-reflection differential-absorption and differential-phase techniques. The differential-phase data are obtained by a hard-wired phase-measuring system. Electron-sensity profiles obtained by the two techniques on six occasions are plotted and compared. Electron-density profiles obtained at the same time on 30 occasions during the years 1975 through 1977 are averaged to form a single profile for each technique. The effect of varying the assumed collision-frequency profile on these averaged profiles is studied. Time series of D-region electron-sensity data obtained by 3.4 minute intervals on six days during the summer of 1977 are examined for wave-like disturbances and tidal oscillations.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tereshchenko, E. D.; Turyansky, V. A.; Khudukon, B. Z.; Yurik, R. Yu.; Frolov, V. L.
2018-01-01
We present the results of studying the characteristics of the artificial plasma structures excited in the ionospheric F2 region modified by high-power HF radio waves. The experiments were carried out at the Sura heating facility using satellite radio sounding of the ionosphere. The plasma density profile was reconstructed with the highest possible spatial resolution for today, about 4 km. In a direction close to the magnetic zenith of the pump wave, the following phenomena were observed: the formation of a cavity with a 15% lower plasma density at the altitudes of the F2 layer and below; the formation of an area with plasma density increased by 12% at altitudes greater than 400 km. With a long-term quasiperiodic impact of the pump wave on the ionosphere, wavy large-scale electron-density perturbations (the meridional scale λx ≈ 130 km and the vertical scale λz ≈ 440 km) are also formed above the Sura facility. These perturbations can be due to the plasma density modulation by an artificial acoustic-gravity wave with a period of 10.6 m, which was formed by the heat source inside a large-scale cavity with low plasma density; there is generation of the electron density irregularities for the electrons with ΔNe/Ne ≈ 3% in the form of layers having the sizes 10-12 km along and about 24 km across the geomagnetic field, which are found both below and above the F2-layer maximum. The mechanisms of the formation of these plasma structures are discussed.
2D electron density profile measurement in tokamak by laser-accelerated ion-beam probe.
Chen, Y H; Yang, X Y; Lin, C; Wang, L; Xu, M; Wang, X G; Xiao, C J
2014-11-01
A new concept of Heavy Ion Beam Probe (HIBP) diagnostic has been proposed, of which the key is to replace the electrostatic accelerator of traditional HIBP by a laser-driven ion accelerator. Due to the large energy spread of ions, the laser-accelerated HIBP can measure the two-dimensional (2D) electron density profile of tokamak plasma. In a preliminary simulation, a 2D density profile was reconstructed with a spatial resolution of about 2 cm, and with the error below 15% in the core region. Diagnostics of 2D density fluctuation is also discussed.
More vertical etch profile using a Faraday cage in plasma etching
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Cho, Byeong-Ok; Hwang, Sung-Wook; Ryu, Jung-Hyun; Moon, Sang Heup
1999-05-01
Scanning electron microscope images of sidewalls obtained by plasma etching of an SiO2 film with and without a Faraday cage have been compared. When the substrate film is etched in the Faraday cage, faceting is effectively suppressed and the etch profile becomes more vertical regardless of the process conditions. This is because the electric potential in the cage is nearly uniform and therefore distortion of the electric field at the convex corner of a microfeature is prevented. The most vertical etch profile is obtained when the cage is used in fluorocarbon plasmas, where faceting is further suppressed due to the decrease in the chemical sputtering yield and the increase in the radical/ion flux on the substrate.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pignalberi, A.; Pezzopane, M.; Rizzi, R.
2018-03-01
An empirical method to model the lower part of the ionospheric topside region from the F2 layer peak height to about 500-600 km of altitude over the European region is proposed. The method is based on electron density values recorded from December 2013 to June 2016 by Swarm satellites and on foF2 and hmF2 values provided by IRI UP (International Reference Ionosphere UPdate), which is a method developed to update the IRI model relying on the assimilation of foF2 and M(3000)F2 data routinely recorded by a network of European ionosonde stations. Topside effective scale heights are calculated by fitting some definite analytical functions (α-Chapman, β-Chapman, Epstein, and exponential) through the values recorded by Swarm and the ones output by IRI UP, with the assumption that the effective scale height is constant in the altitude range considered. Calculated effective scale heights are then modeled as a function of foF2 and hmF2, in order to be operationally applicable to both ionosonde measurements and ionospheric models, like IRI. The method produces two-dimensional grids of the median effective scale height binned as a function of foF2 and hmF2, for each of the considered topside profiles. A statistical comparison with Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate/FORMOsa SATellite-3 collected Radio Occultation profiles is carried out to assess the validity of the proposed method and to investigate which of the considered topside profiles is the best one. The α-Chapman topside function displays the best performance compared to the others and also when compared to the NeQuick topside option of IRI.
Estimating the D-Region Ionospheric Electron Density Profile Using VLF Narrowband Transmitters
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gross, N. C.; Cohen, M.
2016-12-01
The D-region ionospheric electron density profile plays an important role in many applications, including long-range and transionospheric communications, and coupling between the lower atmosphere and the upper ionosphere occurs, and estimation of very low frequency (VLF) wave propagation within the earth-ionosphere waveguide. However, measuring the D-region ionospheric density profile has been a challenge. The D-region is about 60 to 90 [km] in altitude, which is higher than planes and balloons can fly but lower than satellites can orbit. Researchers have previously used VLF remote sensing techniques, from either narrowband transmitters or sferics, to estimate the density profile, but these estimations are typically during a short time frame and over a single propagation path.We report on an effort to construct estimates of the D-region ionospheric electron density profile over multiple narrowband transmission paths for long periods of time. Measurements from multiple transmitters at multiple receivers are analyzed concurrently to minimize false solutions and improve accuracy. Likewise, time averaging is used to remove short transient noise at the receivers. The cornerstone of the algorithm is an artificial neural network (ANN), where input values are the received amplitude and phase for the narrowband transmitters and the outputs are the commonly known h' and beta two parameter exponential electron density profile. Training data for the ANN is generated using the Navy's Long-Wavelength Propagation Capability (LWPC) model. Results show the algorithm performs well under smooth ionospheric conditions and when proper geometries for the transmitters and receivers are used.
Zhang, Chenguang; Peng, Zhiwei; Lin, Jian; Zhu, Yu; Ruan, Gedeng; Hwang, Chih-Chau; Lu, Wei; Hauge, Robert H; Tour, James M
2013-06-25
Potassium vapor was used to longitudinally split vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes carpets (VA-CNTs). The resulting structures have a carpet of partially split MWCNTs and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). The split structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When compared to the original VA-CNTs carpet, the split VA-CNTs carpet has enhanced electrochemical performance with better specific capacitance in a supercapacitor. Furthermore, the split VA-CNTs carpet has excellent cyclability as a supercapacitor electrode material. There is a measured maximum power density of 103 kW/kg at an energy density of 5.2 Wh/kg and a maximum energy density of 9.4 Wh/kg. The superior electrochemical performances of the split VA-CNTs can be attributed to the increased surface area for ion accessibility after splitting, and the lasting conductivity of the structure with their vertical conductive paths based on the preserved GNR alignment.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Aa, Ercha; Liu, Siqing; Huang, Wengeng; Shi, Liqin; Gong, Jiancun; Chen, Yanhong; Shen, Hua; Li, Jianyong
2016-06-01
In this paper, a regional 3-D ionospheric electron density specification over China and adjacent areas (70°E-140°E in longitude, 15°N-55°N in latitude, and 100-900 km in altitude) is developed on the basis of data assimilation technique. The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is used as a background model, and a three-dimensional variational technique is used to assimilate both the ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) and International GNSS Service (IGS) and the ionospheric radio occultation (RO) data from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) satellites. The regional 3-D gridded ionospheric electron densities can be generated with temporal resolution of 5 min in universal time, horizontal resolution of 2° × 2° in latitude and longitude, and vertical resolution of 20 km between 100 and 500 km and 50 km between 500 and 900 km. The data assimilation results are validated through extensive comparison with several sources of electron density information, including (1) ionospheric total electron content (TEC); (2) Abel-retrieved F3/C electron density profiles (EDPs); (3) ionosonde foF2 and bottomside EDPs; and (4) the Utah State University Global Assimilation of Ionospheric Measurements (USU-GAIM) under both geomagnetic quiet and disturbed conditions. The validation results show that the data assimilation procedure pushes the climatological IRI model toward the observation, and a general accuracy improvement of 15-30% can be expected. Thecomparisons also indicate that the data assimilation results are more close to the Center for Orbit Determination of Europe (CODE) TEC and Madrigal TEC products than USU-GAIM. These initial results might demonstrate the effectiveness of the data assimilation technique in improving specification of local ionospheric morphology.
Synopsis of the D- and E-regions during the energy budget campaign
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Friedrich, M.; Baker, K. D.; Dickinson, P. H. G.; Dumbs, A.; Grandal, B.; Andreassen, O.; Thrane, E. V.; Smith, L. G.; Stauning, P.; Torkar, K. M.
1985-01-01
Electron density profiles derived from rocket-borne measurements are presented. These data were obtained at two different sites in northern Scandinavia under various degrees of geophysical disturbance. The observed electron density profiles are related to ionospheric absorption as observed with the dense riometer network in that area.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Vedantam, Nanda Kishore
2003-01-01
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the mean flow profiles on the instability characteristics in the near-injector region of low-density gas jets injected into high-density ambient gas mediums. To achieve this, a linear temporal stability analysis and a spatio-temporal stability analysis of a low-density round gas jet injected vertically upwards into a high-density ambient gas were performed by assuming three different sets of mean velocity and density profiles. The flow was assumed to be isothermal and locally parallel. Viscous and diffusive effects were ignored. The mean flow parameters were represented as the sum of the mean value and a small normal-mode fluctuation. A second order differential equation governing the pressure disturbance amplitude was derived from the basic conservation equations. The first set of mean velocity and density profiles assumed were those used by Monkewitz and Sohn for investigating absolute instability in hot jets. The second set of velocity and density profiles assumed for this study were the ones used by Lawson. And the third set of mean profiles included a parabolic velocity profile and a hyperbolic tangent density profile. The effects of the inhomogeneous shear layer and the Froude number (signifying the effects of gravity) on the temporal and spatio-temporal results for each set of mean profiles were delineated. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.
Solar Eclipse-Induced Changes in the Ionosphere over the Continental US
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Erickson, P. J.; Zhang, S.; Goncharenko, L. P.; Coster, A. J.; Hysell, D. L.; Sulzer, M. P.; Vierinen, J.
2017-12-01
For the first time in 26 years, a total solar eclipse occurred over the continental United States on 21 August 2017, between 16:00-20:00 UT. We report on American solar eclipse observations of the upper atmosphere, conducted by a team led by MIT Haystack Observatory. Efforts measured ionospheric and thermospheric eclipse perturbations. Although eclipse effects have been studied for more than 50 years, recent major sensitivity and resolution advances using radio-based techniques are providing new information on the eclipse ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere (ITM) system response. Our study was focused on quantifying eclipse effects on (1) traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) and atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs); (2) spatial ionospheric variations associated with the eclipse; and (3) altitudinal and temporal ionospheric profile variations. We present selected early findings on ITM eclipse response including a dense global network of 6000 GNSS total electron content (TEC) receivers (100 million measurements per day; 1x1 degree spatial grid) and the Millstone Hill and Arecibo incoherent scatter radars. TEC depletions of up to 60% in magnitude were associated with the eclipse umbra and penumbra and consistently trailed the eclipse totality center. TEC enhancements associated with prominent orographic features were observed in the western US due to complex interactions as the lower atmosphere cooled in response to decreasing EUV energy inputs. Strong TIDs in the form of bow waves, stern waves, and a stern wake were observed in TEC data. Altitude-resolved plasma parameter profiles from Millstone Hill saw a nearly 50% decrease in F region electron density in vertical profiles, accompanied by a corresponding 200-250 K decrease in electron temperature. Wide field Millstone Hill radar scans showed similar decreases in electron density to the southwest, maximizing along the line of closest approach to totality. Data is available to the research community through the MIT Haystack Madrigal system. Alongside a summary of observations, we will also present preliminary quantitative comparisons with several ongoing modeling efforts.
Compact "diode-based" multi-energy soft x-ray diagnostic for NSTX.
Tritz, K; Clayton, D J; Stutman, D; Finkenthal, M
2012-10-01
A novel and compact, diode-based, multi-energy soft x-ray (ME-SXR) diagnostic has been developed for the National Spherical Tokamak Experiment. The new edge ME-SXR system tested on NSTX consists of a set of vertically stacked diode arrays, each viewing the plasma tangentially through independent pinholes and filters providing an overlapping view of the plasma midplane which allows simultaneous SXR measurements with coarse sub-sampling of the x-ray spectrum. Using computed x-ray spectral emission data, combinations of filters can provide fast (>10 kHz) measurements of changes in the electron temperature and density profiles providing a method to "fill-in" the gaps of the multi-point Thomson scattering system.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yadav, Sonu; Ghosh, Soumen; Bose, Sayak; Barada, Kshitish K.; Pal, Rabindranath; Chattopadhyay, Prabal K.
2018-04-01
Experimentally, the density profile in the magnetic nozzle of a helicon antenna based plasma device is seen to be modified from being centrally peaked to that of hollow nature as the external magnetic field is increased. It occurs above a characteristic field value when the ions become magnetized in the expansion chamber. The density profile in the source chamber behind the nozzle, however, remains peaked on-axis irrespective of the magnetic field. The electron temperature there is observed to be hollow and this nature is carried to the expansion chamber along the field line. In the electron energy distribution near the off axis peak location, a high energy tail exists. Rotation of these tail electrons in the azimuthal direction due to the gradient-B drift in the expansion chamber leads to an additional off-axis ionization and forms the hollow density profile. It seems that if the ions are not magnetized, then the off-axially produced additional plasma is not confined and the density profile retains the on-axis peak nature. The present experiment successfully demonstrates how the knowledge of the ion magnetization together with tail electrons significantly contributes to the design of an efficient helicon plasma based thruster.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kim, Taewoong; Seong, Tae-Yeon; School of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713
Efficiency droop is a phenomenon in which the efficiency of a light-emitting diode (LED) decreases with the increase in current density. To analyze efficiency droop, direct experimental observations on the energy conversion occurring inside the LED is required. Here, we present the measured voltage profiles on the cross section of an operating LED and analyze them with the cross-sectional temperature profiles obtained in a previous study under the same operation conditions. The measured voltage profiles suggest that with increases in the injection current density, electron depletion shifts from the multi-quantum well through an electron blocking layer to the p-GaN region.more » This is because electron leakage increases with increases in current density.« less
Bilayer insulator tunnel barriers for graphene-based vertical hot-electron transistors
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vaziri, S.; Belete, M.; Dentoni Litta, E.; Smith, A. D.; Lupina, G.; Lemme, M. C.; Östling, M.
2015-07-01
Vertical graphene-based device concepts that rely on quantum mechanical tunneling are intensely being discussed in the literature for applications in electronics and optoelectronics. In this work, the carrier transport mechanisms in semiconductor-insulator-graphene (SIG) capacitors are investigated with respect to their suitability as electron emitters in vertical graphene base transistors (GBTs). Several dielectric materials as tunnel barriers are compared, including dielectric double layers. Using bilayer dielectrics, we experimentally demonstrate significant improvements in the electron injection current by promoting Fowler-Nordheim tunneling (FNT) and step tunneling (ST) while suppressing defect mediated carrier transport. High injected tunneling current densities approaching 103 A cm-2 (limited by series resistance), and excellent current-voltage nonlinearity and asymmetry are achieved using a 1 nm thick high quality dielectric, thulium silicate (TmSiO), as the first insulator layer, and titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a high electron affinity second layer insulator. We also confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of our approach in a full GBT structure which shows dramatic improvement in the collector on-state current density with respect to the previously reported GBTs. The device design and the fabrication scheme have been selected with future CMOS process compatibility in mind. This work proposes a bilayer tunnel barrier approach as a promising candidate to be used in high performance vertical graphene-based tunneling devices.
Changes in divertor conditions in response to changing core density with RMPs
Briesemeister, Alexis R.; Ahn, Joon -Wook; Canik, John M.; ...
2017-06-07
The effects of changes in core density on divertor electron temperature, density and heat flux when resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) are applied are presented, notably a reduction in RMP induced secondary radial peaks in the electron temperature profile at the target plate is observed when the core density is increased, which is consistent with modeling. RMPs is used here to indicated non-axisymmetric magnetic field perturbations, created using in-vessel control coils, which have components which has at least one but typically many resonances with the rotational transform of the plasma. RMPs are found to alter inter-ELM heat flux to the divertormore » by modifying the core plasma density. It is shown that applying RMPs reduces the core density and increases the inter-ELM heat flux to both the inner and outer targets. Using gas puffing to return the core density to the pre-RMP levels more than eliminates the increase in inter-ELM heat flux, but a broadening of the heat flux to the outer target remains. These measurements were made at a single toroidal location, but the peak in the heat flux profile was found near the outer strike point where simulations indicate little toroidal variation should exist and tangentially viewing diagnostics showed no evidence of strong asymmetries. In experiments where divertor Thomson scattering measurements were available it is shown that, local secondary peaks in the divertor electron temperature profile near the target plate are reduced as the core density is increased, while peaks in the divertor electron density profile near the target are increased. Furthermore, these trends observed in the divertor electron temperature and density are qualitatively reproduced by scanning the upstream density in EMC3-Eirene modeling. Measurements are presented showing that higher densities are needed to induce detachment of the outer strike point in a case where an increase in electron temperature, likely due to a change in MHD activity, is seen after RMPs are applied.« less
Changes in divertor conditions in response to changing core density with RMPs
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Briesemeister, Alexis R.; Ahn, Joon -Wook; Canik, John M.
The effects of changes in core density on divertor electron temperature, density and heat flux when resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) are applied are presented, notably a reduction in RMP induced secondary radial peaks in the electron temperature profile at the target plate is observed when the core density is increased, which is consistent with modeling. RMPs is used here to indicated non-axisymmetric magnetic field perturbations, created using in-vessel control coils, which have components which has at least one but typically many resonances with the rotational transform of the plasma. RMPs are found to alter inter-ELM heat flux to the divertormore » by modifying the core plasma density. It is shown that applying RMPs reduces the core density and increases the inter-ELM heat flux to both the inner and outer targets. Using gas puffing to return the core density to the pre-RMP levels more than eliminates the increase in inter-ELM heat flux, but a broadening of the heat flux to the outer target remains. These measurements were made at a single toroidal location, but the peak in the heat flux profile was found near the outer strike point where simulations indicate little toroidal variation should exist and tangentially viewing diagnostics showed no evidence of strong asymmetries. In experiments where divertor Thomson scattering measurements were available it is shown that, local secondary peaks in the divertor electron temperature profile near the target plate are reduced as the core density is increased, while peaks in the divertor electron density profile near the target are increased. Furthermore, these trends observed in the divertor electron temperature and density are qualitatively reproduced by scanning the upstream density in EMC3-Eirene modeling. Measurements are presented showing that higher densities are needed to induce detachment of the outer strike point in a case where an increase in electron temperature, likely due to a change in MHD activity, is seen after RMPs are applied.« less
Uncertainties in Climatological Seawater Density Calculations
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dai, Hao; Zhang, Xining
2018-03-01
In most applications, with seawater conductivity, temperature, and pressure data measured in situ by various observation instruments e.g., Conductivity-Temperature-Depth instruments (CTD), the density which has strong ties to ocean dynamics and so on is computed according to equations of state for seawater. This paper, based on density computational formulae in the Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater 2010 (TEOS-10), follows the Guide of the expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) and assesses the main sources of uncertainties. By virtue of climatological decades-average temperature/Practical Salinity/pressure data sets in the global ocean provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), correlation coefficients between uncertainty sources are determined and the combined standard uncertainties uc>(ρ>) in seawater density calculations are evaluated. For grid points in the world ocean with 0.25° resolution, the standard deviations of uc>(ρ>) in vertical profiles cover the magnitude order of 10-4 kg m-3. The uc>(ρ>) means in vertical profiles of the Baltic Sea are about 0.028kg m-3 due to the larger scatter of Absolute Salinity anomaly. The distribution of the uc>(ρ>) means in vertical profiles of the world ocean except for the Baltic Sea, which covers the range of >(0.004,0.01>) kg m-3, is related to the correlation coefficient r>(SA,p>) between Absolute Salinity SA and pressure p. The results in the paper are based on sensors' measuring uncertainties of high accuracy CTD. Larger uncertainties in density calculations may arise if connected with lower sensors' specifications. This work may provide valuable uncertainty information required for reliability considerations of ocean circulation and global climate models.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Park, Jaeheung; Kwak, Young-Sil; Mun, Jun-Chul; Min, Kyoung-Wook
2015-12-01
In this study, we estimated the topside scale height of plasma density (Hm) using the Swarm constellation and ionosondes in Korea. The Hm above Korean Peninsula is generally around 50 km. Statistical distributions of the topside scale height exhibited a complex dependence upon local time and season. The results were in general agreement with those of Tulasi Ram et al. (2009), who used the same method to calculate the topside scale height in a mid-latitude region. On the contrary, our results did not fully coincide with those obtained by Liu et al. (2007), who used electron density profiles from Arecibo Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) between 1966 and 2002. The disagreement may result from the limitations in our approximation method and data coverage used for estimations, as well as the inherent dependence of Hm on Geographic LONgitude (GLON).
Mars Express 10 years at Mars: Observations by the Mars Express Radio Science Experiment (MaRS)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pätzold, M.; Häusler, B.; Tyler, G. L.; Andert, T.; Asmar, S. W.; Bird, M. K.; Dehant, V.; Hinson, D. P.; Rosenblatt, P.; Simpson, R. A.; Tellmann, S.; Withers, P.; Beuthe, M.; Efimov, A. I.; Hahn, M.; Kahan, D.; Le Maistre, S.; Oschlisniok, J.; Peter, K.; Remus, S.
2016-08-01
The Mars Express spacecraft is operating in Mars orbit since early 2004. The Mars Express Radio Science Experiment (MaRS) employs the spacecraft and ground station radio systems (i) to conduct radio occultations of the atmosphere and ionosphere to obtain vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, neutral number densities and electron density, (ii) to conduct bistatic radar experiments to obtain information on the dielectric and scattering properties of the surface, (iii) to investigate the structure and variation of the crust and lithosphere in selected target areas, (iv) to determine the mass, bulk and internal structure of the moon Phobos, and (v) to track the MEX radio signals during superior solar conjunction to study the morphology of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Here we report observations, results and discoveries made in the Mars environment between 2004 and 2014 over almost an entire solar cycle.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hsu, Jen-Kai; Liang, Mao-Chang; Ip, Wing-Huen
2017-04-01
From the measurements of the Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) on the Cassini spacecraft at different close encounters with Titan, it is know that the vertical temperature profile and density distributions of N2, CH4, H2 and other species could have large variations which might be driven by environmental effects such as solar radiation and magnetospheric interaction. For example, the atmospheric temperature as determined from the N2 density profiles can vary between 120 K and 175 K. Following the treatment of Li et al. (PSS, 104 (2014) 48-58) by applying a non-monotonic eddy diffusivity profile, we compute the vertical distributions of different species between Titan's surface to 2000 km altitude, for a range of atmospheric temperatures. Intercomparison between the model results and observations leads to better understanding of the production mechanisms of the minor species like C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 and others, all important to the hydrocarbon budgets of Titan's atmosphere and surface, respectively. Furthermore, such detailed photochemical calculations will also yield accurate estimates of the escape fluxes of H, H2 and CH4 into the circum-planetary region.
Investigating gravity waves evidences in the Venus upper atmosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Migliorini, Alessandra; Altieri, Francesca; Shakun, Alexey; Zasova, Ludmila; Piccioni, Giuseppe; Bellucci, Giancarlo; Grassi, Davide
2014-05-01
We present a method to investigate gravity waves properties in the upper mesosphere of Venus, through the O2 nightglow observations acquired with the imaging spectrometer VIRTIS on board Venus Express. Gravity waves are important dynamical features that transport energy and momentum. They are related to the buoyancy force, which lifts air particles. Then, the vertical displacement of air particles produces density changes that cause gravity to act as restoring force. Gravity waves can manifest through fluctuations on temperature and density fields, and hence on airglow intensities. We use the O2 nightglow profiles showing double peaked structures to study the influence of gravity waves in shaping the O2 vertical profiles and infer the waves properties. In analogy to the Earth's and Mars cases, we use a well-known theory to model the O2 nightglow emissions affected by gravity waves propagation. Here we propose a statistical discussion of the gravity waves characteristics, namely vertical wavelength and wave amplitude, with respect to local time and latitude. The method is applied to about 30 profiles showing double peaked structures, and acquired with the VIRTIS/Venus Express spectrometer, during the mission period from 2006-07-05 to 2008-08-15.
Korytowski, Agatha; Abuillan, Wasim; Makky, Ali; Konovalov, Oleg; Tanaka, Motomu
2015-07-30
The influence of phospholipid oxidization of floating monolayers on the structure perpendicular to the global plane and on the density profiles of ions near the lipid monolayer has been investigated by a combination of grazing incidence X-ray fluorescence (GIXF) and specular X-ray reflectivity (XRR). Systematic variation of the composition of the floating monolayers unravels changes in the thickness, roughness and electron density of the lipid monolayers as a function of molar fraction of oxidized phospholipids. Simultaneous GIXF measurements enable one to qualitatively determine the element-specific density profiles of monovalent (K(+) or Cs(+)) and divalent ions (Ca(2+)) in the vicinity of the interface in the presence and absence of two types of oxidized phospholipids (PazePC and PoxnoPC) with high spatial accuracy (±5 Å). We found the condensation of Ca(2+) near carboxylated PazePC was more pronounced compared to PoxnoPC with an aldehyde group. In contrast, the condensation of monovalent ions could hardly be detected even for pure oxidized phospholipid monolayers. Moreover, pure phospholipid monolayers exhibited almost no ion specific condensation near the interface. The quantitative studies with well-defined floating monolayers revealed how the elevation of lipid oxidization level alters the structures and functions of cell membranes.
Use of Total Electron Content data to analyze ionosphere electron density gradients
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nava, B.; Radicella, S. M.; Leitinger, R.; Coisson, P.
In presence of electron density gradients the thin shell approximation for the ionosphere used together with a simple mapping function to convert slant Total Electron Content TEC to vertical TEC could lead to TEC conversion errors Therefore these mapping function errors can be used to identify the effects of the electron density gradients in the ionosphere In the present work high precision GPS derived slant TEC data have been used to investigate the effects of the electron density gradients in the middle and low latitude ionosphere under geomagnetic quiet and disturbed conditions In particular the data corresponding to the geographic area of the American sector for the days 5-7 April 2000 have been used to perform a complete analysis of mapping function errors based on the coinciding pierce point technique The results clearly illustrate the electron density gradient effects according to the locations considered and to the actual levels of disturbance of the ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Aziz, Nur Suhaili Abd; Mahmood, Mohamad Rusop; Yasui, Kanji; Hashim, Abdul Manaf
2014-02-01
We report the seed/catalyst-free vertical growth of high-density electrodeposited ZnO nanostructures on a single-layer graphene. The absence of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) and heat has resulted in the formation of nanoflake-like ZnO structure. The results show that HMTA and heat are needed to promote the formation of hexagonal ZnO nanostructures. The applied current density plays important role in inducing the growth of ZnO on graphene as well as in controlling the shape, size, and density of ZnO nanostructures. High density of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods comparable to other methods was obtained. The quality of the ZnO nanostructures also depended strongly on the applied current density. The growth mechanism was proposed. According to the growth timing chart, the growth seems to involve two stages which are the formation of ZnO nucleation and the enhancement of the vertical growth of nanorods. ZnO/graphene hybrid structure provides several potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics such as photovoltaic devices, sensing devices, optical devices, and photodetectors.
Electron momentum density and band structure calculations of α- and β-GeTe
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vadkhiya, Laxman; Arora, Gunjan; Rathor, Ashish; Ahuja, B. L.
2011-12-01
We have measured isotropic experimental Compton profile of α-GeTe by employing high energy (662 keV) γ-radiation from a 137Cs isotope. To compare our experiment, we have also computed energy bands, density of states, electron momentum densities and Compton profiles of α- and β-phases of GeTe using the linear combination of atomic orbitals method. The electron momentum density is found to play a major role in understanding the topology of bands in the vicinity of the Fermi level. It is seen that the density functional theory (DFT) with generalised gradient approximation is relatively in better agreement with the experiment than the local density approximation and hybrid Hartree-Fock/DFT.
Structure of the ripple phase in lecithin bilayers.
Sun, W J; Tristram-Nagle, S; Suter, R M; Nagle, J F
1996-01-01
The phases of the x-ray form factors are derived for the ripple (Pbeta') thermodynamic phase in the lecithin bilayer system. By combining these phases with experimental intensity data, the electron density map of the ripple phase of dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine is constructed. The phases are derived by fitting the intensity data to two-dimensional electron density models, which are created by convolving an asymmetric triangular ripple profile with a transbilayer electron density profile. The robustness of the model method is indicated by the result that many different models of the transbilayer profile yield essentially the same phases, except for the weaker, purely ripple (0,k) peaks. Even with this residual ambiguity, the ripple profile is well determined, resulting in 19 angstroms for the ripple amplitude and 10 degrees and 26 degrees for the slopes of the major and the minor sides, respectively. Estimates for the bilayer head-head spacings show that the major side of the ripple is consistent with gel-like structure, and the minor side appears to be thinner with lower electron density. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 PMID:8692934
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Grierson, B. A.; Staebler, G. M.; Solomon, W. M.
Multi-scale fluctuations measured by turbulence diagnostics spanning long and short wavelength spatial scales impact energy confinement and the scale-lengths of plasma kinetic profiles in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating. Contrasting discharge phases with ECH + neutral beam injection (NBI) and NBI only at similar rotation reveal higher energy confinement and lower fluctuations when only NBI heating is used. Modeling of the core transport with TGYRO using the TGLF turbulent transport model and NEO neoclassical transport reproduces the experimental profile changes upon application of direct electron heating and indicates that multi-scale transport mechanisms are responsible for changesmore » in the temperature and density profiles. Intermediate and high-k fluctuations appear responsible for the enhanced electron thermal flux, and intermediate-k electron modes produce an inward particle pinch that increases the inverse density scale length. Projection to ITER is performed with TGLF and indicates a density profile that has a finite scale length due to intermediate-k electron modes at low collisionality and increases the fusion gain. Finally, for a range of E×B shear, the dominant mechanism that increases fusion performance is suppression of outward low-k particle flux and increased density peaking.« less
Grierson, B. A.; Staebler, G. M.; Solomon, W. M.; ...
2018-02-01
Multi-scale fluctuations measured by turbulence diagnostics spanning long and short wavelength spatial scales impact energy confinement and the scale-lengths of plasma kinetic profiles in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating. Contrasting discharge phases with ECH + neutral beam injection (NBI) and NBI only at similar rotation reveal higher energy confinement and lower fluctuations when only NBI heating is used. Modeling of the core transport with TGYRO using the TGLF turbulent transport model and NEO neoclassical transport reproduces the experimental profile changes upon application of direct electron heating and indicates that multi-scale transport mechanisms are responsible for changesmore » in the temperature and density profiles. Intermediate and high-k fluctuations appear responsible for the enhanced electron thermal flux, and intermediate-k electron modes produce an inward particle pinch that increases the inverse density scale length. Projection to ITER is performed with TGLF and indicates a density profile that has a finite scale length due to intermediate-k electron modes at low collisionality and increases the fusion gain. Finally, for a range of E×B shear, the dominant mechanism that increases fusion performance is suppression of outward low-k particle flux and increased density peaking.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Grierson, B. A.; Staebler, G. M.; Solomon, W. M.; McKee, G. R.; Holland, C.; Austin, M.; Marinoni, A.; Schmitz, L.; Pinsker, R. I.; DIII-D Team
2018-02-01
Multi-scale fluctuations measured by turbulence diagnostics spanning long and short wavelength spatial scales impact energy confinement and the scale-lengths of plasma kinetic profiles in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating. Contrasting discharge phases with ECH + neutral beam injection (NBI) and NBI only at similar rotation reveal higher energy confinement and lower fluctuations when only NBI heating is used. Modeling of the core transport with TGYRO using the TGLF turbulent transport model and NEO neoclassical transport reproduces the experimental profile changes upon application of direct electron heating and indicates that multi-scale transport mechanisms are responsible for changes in the temperature and density profiles. Intermediate and high-k fluctuations appear responsible for the enhanced electron thermal flux, and intermediate-k electron modes produce an inward particle pinch that increases the inverse density scale length. Projection to ITER is performed with TGLF and indicates a density profile that has a finite scale length due to intermediate-k electron modes at low collisionality and increases the fusion gain. For a range of E × B shear, the dominant mechanism that increases fusion performance is suppression of outward low-k particle flux and increased density peaking.
Feasibility of Juno radio occultations of the Io plasma torus
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Phipps, P. H.; Withers, P.
2016-12-01
Jupiter's magnetosphere is driven by internally produced plasma. The innermost Galilean satellite, Io, isthe dominant source of this plasma. Volcanoes on Io's surface create an atmosphere of sulfur and oxygenwhich escapes into Jupiter's magnetosphere and becomes ionized. This ionized material is trapped byJupiter's magnetic field and creates a torus of plasma centered at Io's orbital radius, called the Io plasmatorus. This torus is divided into three regions distinct in both density and composition. Densities in thistorus can be probed by spacecraft via radio occultations. A radio occultation occurs when plasma comesbetween a spacecraft and a receiver during a time when the spacecraft is sending a radio signal. The Junospacecraft, which arrived in orbit around Jupiter in July 2016, is in an orbit which will be ideal forperforming radio occultations of the Io plasma torus. We test the feasibility of using thetelecommunications system on the Juno spacecraft to perform a radio occultation. Io plasma torusdensities derived from Voyager 1 data are used in creating a model torus. Using the Ka and X-band radiofrequencies we derive vertical profiles for the total electron content of the modeled Io plasma torus. AMarkov Chain Monte Carlo fit is performed on the derived profiles to extract, for each of the torusregions, the scale height and peak total electron content. The scale height can be used to derive atemperature for the torus while the peak total electron content can be used to derive the peak electrondensity. We show that Juno radio occultation measurements of the Io plasma torus are feasible andscientifically valuable.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Snively, J. B.
2017-12-01
Our understanding of acoustic-gravity wave (AGW) dynamics at short periods ( minutes to hour) and small scales ( 10s to 100s km) in the mesosphere, thermosphere, and ionosphere (MTI) has benefited considerably from horizontally- and vertically-resolved measurements of layered species. These include, for example, imagery of the mesopause ( 80-100 km) airglow layers and vertical profiles of the sodium layer via lidar [e.g., Taylor and Hapgood, PSS, 36(10), 1988; Miller et al., PNAS, 112(49), 2015; Cao et al., JGR, 121, 2016]. In the thermosphere-ionosphere, AGW perturbations are also revealed in electron density profiles [Livneh et al., JGR, 112, 2007] and maps of total electron content (TEC) from global positioning system (GPS) receivers [Nishioka et al., GRL, 40(21), 2013]. To the extent that AGW signatures in layered species can be quantified, and the ambient atmospheric state measured or estimated, numerical models enable investigations of dynamics at intermediate altitudes that cannot readily be measured (e.g., above and below the 80-100 km mesopause region). Here, new 2D and 3D versions of the Model for Acoustic-Gravity Wave Interactions and Coupling (MAGIC) [e.g., Snively and Pasko, JGR, 113(A6), 2008, and references therein] are introduced and applied to investigate spectra of short-period AGW that can pass through the mesopause region to reach and impact the thermosphere. Simulation case studies are constructed to investigate both their signatures through the hydroxyl airglow layer [e.g., Snively et al., JGR 115(A11), 2010] and their effects above. These waves, with large vertical wavelengths and fast horizontal phase speeds, also include those that may be subject to evanescence at mesopause or in the middle-thermosphere, with potential for ducting or dissipation between where static stability is higher. Despite complicating interpretations of momentum fluxes, evanescence plays an under-appreciated role in vertical coupling by AGW [Walterscheid and Hecht, JGR, 108(D11), 2003]; it enables rapid ascents via tunneling and in some cases may enhance observable signatures. Results provide insight into these complications, and suggest opportunities to better-interpret signatures of waves that may have large effects via vertical coupling into the thermosphere despite limited impacts on mean flow.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Savio Odriozola, Siomel; de Meneses, Francisco Carlos, Jr.; Muralikrishna, Polinaya; Alvares Pimenta, Alexandre; Alam Kherani, Esfhan
2017-03-01
A two-stage VS-30 Orion rocket was launched from the equatorial rocket launching station in Alcântara, Brazil, on 8 December 2012 soon after sunset (19:00 LT), carrying a Langmuir probe operating alternately in swept and constant bias modes. At the time of launch, ground equipment operated at equatorial stations showed rapid rise in the base of the F layer, indicating the pre-reversal enhancement of the F region vertical drift and creating ionospheric conditions favorable for the generation of plasma bubbles. Vertical profiles of electron density estimated from Langmuir probe data showed wave patterns and small- and medium-scale plasma irregularities in the valley region (100-300 km) during the rocket upleg and downleg. These irregularities resemble those detected by the very high frequency (VHF) radar installed at Jicamarca and so-called equatorial quasi-periodic echoes. We present evidence suggesting that these observations could be the first detection of this type of irregularity made by instruments onboard a rocket.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Li, Shuo; Chen, Rongzhang; Nelsen, Bryan
2016-03-15
This paper reports the development of a compact and portable actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and its applications in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The laser was end-pumped by a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). The cavity lases at a wavelength of 1064 nm and produced pulses of 16 ns with a maximum pulse energy of 12.9 mJ. The laser exhibits a reliable performance in terms of pulse-to-pulse stability and timing jitter. The LIBS experiments were carried out using this laser on NIST standard alloy samples. Shot-to-shot LIBS signal stability, crater profile, time evolution of emission spectra, plasma electron density and temperature, andmore » limits of detection were studied and reported in this paper. The test results demonstrate that the VCSEL-pumped solid-state laser is an effective and compact laser tool for laser remote sensing applications.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Rolke, J.; Brion, C. E.
1996-06-01
The spherically averaged momentum profiles for the highest occupied molecular orbitals of PF 3 and P(CH 3) 3 have been obtained by electron momentum spectroscopy. The measurements provide a stringent test of basis set effects and the quality of ab-initio methods in the description of these larger molecular systems. As in previous work on the methyl-substituted amines, intuitive arguments fail to predict the correct amount of s- and p-type contributions to the momentum profile while delocalized molecular orbital concepts provide a more adequate description of the HOMOs. The experimental momentum profiles have been compared with theoretical momentum profiles calculated at the level of the target Hartree-Fock approximation with a range of basis sets. New Hartree-Fock calculations are also presented for the HOMO of PH 3 and compared to previously published experimental and theoretical momentum profiles. The experimental momentum profiles have further been compared to calculations at the level of the target Kohn-Sham approximation using density functional theory with the local density approximation and also with gradient corrected (non-local) exchange correlation potentials. In addition, total energies and dipole moments have been calculated for all three molecules by the various theoretical methods and compared to experimental values. Calculated 'density difference maps' show the regions where the HOMO momentum and position electron densities of PF 3 and P(CH 3) 3 change relative to the corresponding HOMO density of PH 3. The results suggest that methyl groups have an electron-attracting effect (relative to H) on the HOMO charge density in trimethyl phosphines. These conclusions are supported by a consideration of dipole moments and the 31P NMR chemical shifts for PH 3, PF 3 and P(CH 3) 3.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Snowden, D.; Yelle, R. V.; Cui, J.; Wahlund, J.-E.; Edberg, N. J. T.; Ågren, K.
2013-09-01
We derive vertical temperature profiles from Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) N2 density measurements from 32 Cassini passes. We find that the average temperature of Titan’s thermosphere varies significantly from pass-to-pass between 112 and 175 K. The temperatures from individual temperature profiles also varies considerably, with many passes exhibiting wave-like temperature perturbations and large temperature gradients. Wave-like temperature perturbations have wavelengths between 150 and 420 km and amplitudes between 3% and 22% and vertical wave power spectra of the INMS data and HASI data have a slope between -2 and -3, which is consistent with vertically propagating atmospheric waves. The lack of a strong correlation between temperature and latitude, longitude, solar zenith angle, or local solar time indicates that the thermal structure of Titan’s thermosphere is not primarily determined by the absorption of solar EUV flux. At N2 densities greater than 108 cm-3, Titan’s thermosphere is colder when Titan is observed in Saturn’s magnetospheric lobes compared to Saturn’s plasma sheet as proposed by Westlake et al. (Westlake, J.H. et al. [2011]. J. Geophys. Res. 116, A03318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2010JA016251). This apparent correlation suggests that magnetospheric particle precipitation causes the temperature variability in Titan’s thermosphere; however, at densities smaller than 108 cm-3 the lobe passes are hotter than the plasma sheet passes and we find no correlation between the temperature of Titan’s thermosphere and ionospheric signatures of enhanced particle precipitation, which suggests that the correlation is not indicative of a physical connection. The temperature of Titan’s thermosphere also may have decreased by ∼10 K around mid-2007. Finally, we classify the vertical temperature profiles to show which passes are hot and cold and which passes have the largest temperature variations. In a companion paper (Part II), we estimate the strength of energy sources and sinks in Titan’s thermosphere.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Patwe, P; Mhatre, V; Dandekar, P
Purpose: 3DVH software is a patient specific quality assurance tool which estimates the 3D dose to the patient specific geometry with the help of Planned Dose Perturbation algorithm. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of HU value of ArcCHECK phantom entered in Eclipse TPS on 3D dose & DVH QA analysis. Methods: Manufacturer of ArcCHECK phantom provides CT data set of phantom & recommends considering it as a homogeneous phantom with electron density (1.19 gm/cc or 282 HU) close to PMMA. We performed this study on Eclipse TPS (V13, VMS) & trueBEAM STx VMS Linac &more » ArcCHECK phantom (SNC). Plans were generated for 6MV photon beam, 20cm×20cm field size at isocentre & SPD (Source to phantom distance) of 86.7 cm to deliver 100cGy at isocentre. 3DVH software requires patients DICOM data generated by TPS & plan delivered on ArcCHECK phantom. Plans were generated in TPS by assigning different HU values to phantom. We analyzed gamma index & the dose profile for all plans along vertical down direction of beam’s central axis for Entry, Exit & Isocentre dose. Results: The global gamma passing rate (2% & 2mm) for manufacturer recommended HU value 282 was 96.3%. Detector entry, Isocentre & detector exit Doses were 1.9048 (1.9270), 1.00(1.0199) & 0.5078(0.527) Gy for TPS (Measured) respectively.The global gamma passing rate for electron density 1.1302 gm/cc was 98.6%. Detector entry, Isocentre & detector exit Doses were 1.8714 (1.8873), 1.00(0.9988) & 0.5211(0.516) Gy for TPS (Measured) respectively. Conclusion: Electron density value assigned by manufacturer does not hold true for every user. Proper modeling of electron density of ArcCHECK in TPS is essential to avoid systematic error in dose calculation of patient specific QA.« less
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Lee, Choon-Ki; Han, Shin-Chan; Dieter,Bilitza; Ki-Weon,Seo
2012-01-01
The 27-day variations of topside ionosphere are investigated using the in-situ electron density measurements from the CHAMP planar Langmuir probe and GRACE K-band ranging system. As the two satellite systems orbit at the altitudes of approx. 370 km and approx. 480 km, respectively, the satellite data sets are greatly valuable for examining the electron density variations in the vicinity of F2-peak. In a 27-day period, the electron density measurements from the satellites are in good agreements with the solar flux, except during the solar minimum period. The time delays are mostly 1-2 day and represent the hemispherical asymmetry. The globally-estimated spatial patterns of the correlation between solar flux and in-situ satellite measurements show poor correlations in the (magnetic) equatorial region, which are not found from the ground measurements of vertically-integrated electron content. We suggest that the most plausible cause for the poor correlation is the vertical movement of ionization due to atmospheric dynamic processes that is not controlled by the solar extreme ultraviolet radiation.
Satellite radio occultation investigations of internal gravity waves in the planetary atmospheres
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kirillovich, Ivan; Gubenko, Vladimir; Pavelyev, Alexander
Internal gravity waves (IGWs) modulate the structure and circulation of the Earth’s atmosphere, producing quasi-periodic variations in the wind velocity, temperature and density. Similar effects are anticipated for the Venus and Mars since IGWs are a characteristic of stably stratified atmosphere. In this context, an original method for the determination of IGW parameters from a vertical temperature profile measurement in a planetary atmosphere has been developed [Gubenko et al., 2008, 2011, 2012]. This method does not require any additional information not contained in the profile and may be used for the analysis of profiles measured by various techniques. The criterion for the IGW identification has been formulated and argued. In the case when this criterion is satisfied, the analyzed temperature fluctuations can be considered as wave-induced. The method is based on the analysis of relative amplitudes of the wave field and on the linear IGW saturation theory in which these amplitudes are restricted by dynamical (shear) instability processes in the atmosphere. When the amplitude of an internal wave reaches the shear instability threshold, energy is assumed to be dissipated in such a way that the IGW amplitude is maintained at the instability threshold level as the wave propagates upwards. We have extended the developed technique [Gubenko et al., 2008] in order to reconstruct the complete set of wave characteristics including such important parameters as the wave kinetic and potential energy per unit mass and IGW fluxes of the energy and horizontal momentum [Gubenko et al., 2011]. We propose also an alternative method to estimate the relative amplitudes and to extract IGW parameters from an analysis of perturbations of the Brunt-Vaislala frequency squared [Gubenko et al., 2011]. An application of the developed method to the radio occultation (RO) temperature data has given the possibility to identify the IGWs in the Earth's, Martian and Venusian atmospheres and to determine the magnitudes of key wave parameters such as the intrinsic frequency, amplitudes of vertical and horizontal wind velocity perturbations, vertical and horizontal wavelengths, intrinsic vertical and horizontal phase (and group) speeds, kinetic and potential energy per unit mass, vertical fluxes of the wave energy and horizontal momentum. Vertical profiles of temperature retrieved from RO measurements of the CHAMP (Earth), Mars Global Surveyor (Mars), Magellan and Venus Express (Venus) missions are used and analyzed to identify discrete or “narrow spectral” wave events and to determine IGW characteristics in the Earth’s, Martian and Venusian atmospheres. This work was partially supported by the RFBR grant 13-02-00526-a and Program 22 of the RAS Presidium. References. Gubenko V.N., Pavelyev A.G., Andreev V.E. Determination of the intrinsic frequency and other wave parameters from a single vertical temperature or density profile measurement // J. Geophys. Res. 2008. V. 113. No.D08109, doi:10.1029/2007JD008920. Gubenko V.N., Pavelyev A.G., Salimzyanov R.R., Pavelyev A.A. Reconstruction of internal gravity wave parameters from radio occultation retrievals of vertical temperature profiles in the Earth’s atmosphere // Atmos. Meas. Tech. 2011. V. 4. No.10. P. 2153-2162, doi:10.5194/amt-4-2153-2011. Gubenko V.N., Pavelyev A.G., Salimzyanov R.R., Andreev V.E. A method for determination of internal gravity wave parameters from a vertical temperature or density profile measurement in the Earth’s atmosphere // Cosmic Res. 2012. V. 50. No.1. P. 21-31, doi: 10.1134/S0010952512010029.
Pressure profiles of plasmas confined in the field of a dipole magnet
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Davis, Matthew Stiles
Understanding the maintenance and stability of plasma pressure confined by a strong magnetic field is a fundamental challenge in both laboratory and space plasma physics. Using magnetic and X-ray measurements on the Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX), the equilibrium plasma pressure has been reconstructed, and variations of the plasma pressure for different plasma conditions have been examined. The relationship of these profiles to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability limit, and to the enhanced stability limit that results from a fraction of energetic trapped electrons, has been analyzed. In each case, the measured pressure profiles and the estimated fractional densities of energetic electrons were qualitatively consistent with expectations of plasma stability. LDX confines high temperature and high pressure plasma in the field of a superconducting dipole magnet. The strong dipole magnet can be either mechanically supported or magnetically levitated. When the dipole was mechanically supported, the plasma density profile was generally uniform while the plasma pressure was highly peaked. The uniform density was attributed to the thermal plasma being rapidly lost along the field to the mechanical supports. In contrast, the strongly peaked plasma pressure resulted from a fraction of energetic, mirror trapped electrons created by microwave heating at the electron cyclotron resonance (ECRH). These hot electrons are known to be gyrokinetically stabilized by the background plasma and can adopt pressure profiles steeper than the MHD limit. X-ray measurements indicated that this hot electron population could be described by an energy distribution in the range 50-100 keV. Combining information from the magnetic reconstruction of the pressure profile, multi-chord interferometer measurements of the electron density profile, and X-ray measurements of the hot electron energy distribution, the fraction of energetic electrons at the pressure peak was estimated to be ˜ 35% of the total electron population. When the dipole was magnetically levitated the plasma density increased substantially because particle losses to the mechanical supports were eliminated so particles could only be lost via slower cross-field transport processes. The pressure profile was observed to be broader during levitated operation than it was during supported operation, and the pressure appeared to be contained in both a thermal population and an energetic electron population. X-ray spectra indicated that the X-rays came from a similar hot electron population during levitated and supported operation; however, the hot electron fraction was an order of magnitude smaller during levitated operation (<3% of the total electron population). Pressure gradients for both supported and levitated plasmas were compared to the MHD limit. Levitated plasmas had pressure profiles that were (i) steeper than, (ii) shallower than, or (iii) near the MHD limit dependent on plasma conditions. However, those profiles that exceeded the MHD limit were observed to have larger fractions of energetic electrons. When the dipole magnet was supported, high pressure plasmas always had profiles that exceeded the MHD interchange stability limit, but the high pressure in these plasmas appeared to arise entirely from a population of energetic trapped electrons.
Determination of precipitation profiles from airborne passive microwave radiometric measurements
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Kummerow, Christian; Hakkarinen, Ida M.; Pierce, Harold F.; Weinman, James A.
1991-01-01
This study presents the first quantitative retrievals of vertical profiles of precipitation derived from multispectral passive microwave radiometry. Measurements of microwave brightness temperature (Tb) obtained by a NASA high-altitude research aircraft are related to profiles of rainfall rate through a multichannel piecewise-linear statistical regression procedure. Statistics for Tb are obtained from a set of cloud radiative models representing a wide variety of convective, stratiform, and anvil structures. The retrieval scheme itself determines which cloud model best fits the observed meteorological conditions. Retrieved rainfall rate profiles are converted to equivalent radar reflectivity for comparison with observed reflectivities from a ground-based research radar. Results for two case studies, a stratiform rain situation and an intense convective thunderstorm, show that the radiometrically derived profiles capture the major features of the observed vertical structure of hydrometer density.
On the Use of Topside RO-Derived Electron Density for Model Validation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shaikh, M. M.; Nava, B.; Haralambous, H.
2018-05-01
In this work, the standard Abel inversion has been exploited as a powerful observation tool, which may be helpful to model the topside of the ionosphere and therefore to validate ionospheric models. A thorough investigation on the behavior of radio occultation (RO)-derived topside electron density (Ne(h))-profiles has therefore been performed with the main purpose to understand whether it is possible to predict the accuracy of a single RO-retrieved topside by comparing the peak density and height of the retrieved profile to the true values. As a first step, a simulation study based on the use of the NeQuick2 model has been performed to show that when the RO-derived electron density peak and height match the true peak values, the full topside Ne(h)-profile may be considered accurate. In order to validate this hypothesis with experimental data, electron density profiles obtained from four different incoherent scatter radars have therefore been considered together with co-located RO-derived Ne(h)-profiles. The evidence presented in this paper show that in all cases examined, if the incoherent scatter radar and the corresponding co-located RO profile have matching peak parameter values, their topsides are in very good agreement. The simulation results presented in this work also highlighted the importance of considering the occultation plane azimuth while inverting RO data to obtain Ne(h)-profile. In particular, they have indicated that there is a preferred range of azimuths of the occultation plane (80°-100°) for which the difference between the "true" and the RO-retrieved Ne(h)-profile in the topside is generally minimal.
Improved Abel transform inversion: First application to COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Aragon-Angel, A.; Hernandez-Pajares, M.; Juan, J.; Sanz, J.
2007-05-01
In this paper the first results of Ionospheric Tomographic inversion are presented, using the Improved Abel Transform on the COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 constellation of 6 LEO satellites, carrying on-board GPS receivers.[- 4mm] The Abel transform inversion is a wide used technique which in the ionospheric context makes it possible to retrieve electron densities as a function of height based of STEC (Slant Total Electron Content) data gathered from GPS receivers on board of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites. Within this precise use, the classical approach of the Abel inversion is based on the assumption of spherical symmetry of the electron density in the vicinity of an occultation, meaning that the electron content varies in height but not horizontally. In particular, one implication of this assumption is that the VTEC (Vertical Total Electron Content) is a constant value for the occultation region. This assumption may not always be valid since horizontal ionospheric gradients (a very frequent feature in some ionosphere problematic areas such as the Equatorial region) could significantly affect the electron profiles. [- 4mm] In order to overcome this limitation/problem of the classical Abel inversion, a studied improvement of this technique can be obtained by assuming separability in the electron density (see Hernández-Pajares et al. 2000). This means that the electron density can be expressed by the multiplication of VTEC data and a shape function which assumes all the height dependency in it while the VTEC data keeps the horizontal dependency. Actually, it is more realistic to assume that this shape fuction depends only on the height and to use VTEC information to take into account the horizontal variation rather than considering spherical symmetry in the electron density function as it has been carried out in the classical approach of the Abel inversion.[-4mm] Since the above mentioned improved Abel inversion technique has already been tested and proven to be a useful tool to obtain a vertical description of the ionospheric electron density (see García-Fernández et al. 2003), a natural following step would be to extend the use of this technique to the recently available COSMIC data. The COSMIC satellite constellation, formed by 6 micro-satellites, is being deployed since April 2006 in circular orbit around the Earth, with a final altitude of about 700-800 kilometers. Its global and almost uniform coverage will overcome one of the main limitations of this technique which is the sparcity of data, related to lack of GPS receivers in some regions. This can significantly stimulate the development of radio occultation techniques with the use of the huge volume of data provided by the COSMIC constellation to be processed and analysed updating the current knowledge of the Ionospheres nature and behaviour. In this context a summary of the Improvel Abel transform inversion technique and the first results based on COSMIC constellation data will be presented. Moreover, future improvements, taking into account the higher temporal and global spatial coverage, will be discussed. [-4mm] References:M. Hernández-Pajares, J. M. Juan and J. Sanz, Improving the Abel inversion by adding ground GPS data to LEO radio occultations in ionospheric sounding, GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 27, NO. 16, PAGES 2473-2476, AUGUST 15, 2000.M. Garcia-Fernández, M. Hernández-Pajares, M. Juan, and J. Sanz, Improvement of ionospheric electron density estimation with GPSMET occultations using Abel inversion and VTEC Information, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. A9, 1338, doi:10.1029/2003JA009952, 2003
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Aguiam, D. E., E-mail: daguiam@ipfn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt; Silva, A.; Carvalho, P. J.
A new multichannel frequency modulated continuous-wave reflectometry diagnostic has been successfully installed and commissioned on ASDEX Upgrade to measure the plasma edge electron density profile evolution in front of the Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) antenna. The design of the new three-strap ICRF antenna integrates ten pairs (sending and receiving) of microwave reflectometry antennas. The multichannel reflectometer can use three of these to measure the edge electron density profiles up to 2 × 10{sup 19} m{sup −3}, at different poloidal locations, allowing the direct study of the local plasma layers in front of the ICRF antenna. ICRF power coupling,more » operational effects, and poloidal variations of the plasma density profile can be consistently studied for the first time. In this work the diagnostic hardware architecture is described and the obtained density profile measurements were used to track outer radial plasma position and plasma shape.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
McElroy, Kenneth L., Jr.
1992-12-01
A method is presented for the determination of neutral gas densities in the ionosphere from rocket-borne measurements of UV atmospheric emissions. Computer models were used to calculate an initial guess for the neutral atmosphere. Using this neutral atmosphere, intensity profiles for the N2 (0,5) Vegard-Kaplan band, the N2 Lyman-Birge-Hopfield band system, and the OI2972 A line were calculated and compared with the March 1990 NPS MUSTANG data. The neutral atmospheric model was modified and the intensity profiles recalculated until a fit with the data was obtained. The neutral atmosphere corresponding to the intensity profile that fit the data was assumed to be the atmospheric composition prevailing at the time of the observation. The ion densities were then calculated from the neutral atmosphere using a photochemical model. The electron density profile calculated by this model was compared with the electron density profile measured by the U.S. Air Force Geophysics Laboratory at a nearby site.
Interplanetary Type III Bursts and Electron Density Fluctuations in the Solar Wind
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Krupar, V.; Maksimovic, M.; Kontar, E. P.; Zaslavsky, A.; Santolik, O.; Soucek, J.; Kruparova, O.; Eastwood, J. P.; Szabo, A.
2018-04-01
Type III bursts are generated by fast electron beams originated from magnetic reconnection sites of solar flares. As propagation of radio waves in the interplanetary medium is strongly affected by random electron density fluctuations, type III bursts provide us with a unique diagnostic tool for solar wind remote plasma measurements. Here, we performed a statistical survey of 152 simple and isolated type III bursts observed by the twin-spacecraft Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory mission. We investigated their time–frequency profiles in order to retrieve decay times as a function of frequency. Next, we performed Monte Carlo simulations to study the role of scattering due to random electron density fluctuations on time–frequency profiles of radio emissions generated in the interplanetary medium. For simplification, we assumed the presence of isotropic electron density fluctuations described by a power law with the Kolmogorov spectral index. Decay times obtained from observations and simulations were compared. We found that the characteristic exponential decay profile of type III bursts can be explained by the scattering of the fundamental component between the source and the observer despite restrictive assumptions included in the Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. Our results suggest that relative electron density fluctuations < δ {n}{{e}}> /{n}{{e}} in the solar wind are 0.06–0.07 over wide range of heliospheric distances.
Longitudinal Ionospheric Variability Observed by LITES on the ISS
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Stephan, A. W.; Finn, S. C.; Cook, T.; Geddes, G.; Chakrabarti, S.; Budzien, S. A.
2017-12-01
The Limb-Imaging Ionospheric and Thermospheric Extreme-Ultraviolet Spectrograph (LITES) is an imaging spectrograph designed to measure altitude profiles (150-350 km) of extreme- and far-ultraviolet airglow emissions that originate from photochemical processes in the ionosphere and thermosphere. During the daytime, LITES observes the bright O+ 83.4 nm emission from which the ionospheric profile can be inferred. At night, recombination emissions at 91.1 and 135.6 nm provide a direct measure of the electron content along the line of sight. LITES was launched and installed on the International Space Station (ISS) in late February 2017 where it has been operating along with the highly complementary GPS Radio Occultation and Ultraviolet Photometry - Colocated (GROUP-C) experiment. We will present some of the first observations from LITES in April 2017 that show longitudinal patterns in ionospheric density and the daily variability in those patterns. LITES vertical imaging from a vantage point near 410 km enables a particularly unique perspective on the altitude of the ionospheric peak density at night that can complement and inform other ground- and space-based measurements, and track the longitude-altitude variability that is reflective of changes in equatorial electrodynamics.
Multi-instrumental Study of Storm-induced Ionospheric Irregularities at Midlatitudes
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Cherniak, I.; Zakharenkova, I.; Sokolovskiy, S. V.
2017-12-01
We present multi-instrumental analysis of the unusually intense plasma density irregularities occurred over European midlatitudes during geomagnetic storm of 22-23 June 2015. We combine GPS/GLONASS observations derived from the dense ground-based networks ( 1500 stations) with in situ plasma density onboard Swarm and DMSP satellites and COSMIC Radio Occultation (RO) ionospheric electron density profiles. During this geomagnetic storm, the strong ionospheric irregularities of auroral origin were registered over the Northern Europe sub-auroral and midlatitudes. Meanwhile, another kind of ionospheric irregularities of equatorial origin reached European midlatitudes from the south. The prompt penetration electric fields caused the occurrence of plasma bite-outs in the post-sunset sector over the Western Africa low latitudes and extension of the large-scale plasma bubbles toward Europe. Using GPS/GLONASS observations, the plasma bubble signatures were mapped in Europe. They were observed for more than 8 h (20-04 UT) and covered a broad area within 30o-40o N and 20o W-10o E. In this region, the steep plasma gradients, as large as 5-10 TECU/degree, and numerous embedded deep plasma depletions were developed on the background of high plasma density. For low latitude region, the bite-out signature was recognized in the form of the significantly modified shape of the COSMIC-derived ionospheric electron density profiles. These unique results were confirmed by the in situ density and upward-looking GPS data onboard the Swarm satellites at 500 km altitude, in situ density measured by DMSP and ground-based absolute TEC observations. It was found that close similarity between in situ Ne and Swarm-derived topside vertical TEC suggests that plasma density enhancements and depletions are developed in the topside ionosphere (>500 km). The intensity of plasma gradients at different altitudes was also estimated by COSMIC-based measurements of GPS signal intensity and phase fluctuations as well as by rate of TEC changes on COSMIC-GPS links. Occurrence of the plasma bubbles in Europe affected GNSS measurements over number of reference stations and led to performance degradation of SBAS EGNOS.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Zafar, A., E-mail: zafara@ornl.gov; Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830; Martin, E. H.
2016-11-15
An electron density diagnostic (≥10{sup 10} cm{sup −3}) capable of high temporal (ms) and spatial (mm) resolution is currently under development at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The diagnostic is based on measuring the Stark broadened, Doppler-free spectral line profile of the n = 6–2 hydrogen Balmer series transition. The profile is then fit to a fully quantum mechanical model including the appropriate electric and magnetic field operators. The quasi-static approach used to calculate the Doppler-free spectral line profile is outlined here and the results from the model are presented for H-δ spectra for electron densities of 10{sup 10}–10{sup 13} cm{supmore » −3}. The profile shows complex behavior due to the interaction between the magnetic substates of the atom.« less
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Bougher, S. W.; Engel, S.; Hinson, D. P.; Murphy, J. R.
2003-01-01
The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Radio Science (RS) experiment employs an ultrastable oscillator aboard the spacecraft. The signal from the oscillator to Earth is refracted by the Martian ionosphere, allowing retrieval of electron density profiles versus radius and geopotential. The present analysis is carried out on five sets of occultation measurements: (1) four obtained near northern summer solstice (Ls = 74-116, near aphelion) at high northern latitudes (64.7-77.6N), and (2) one set of profiles approaching equinox conditions (Ls = 135- 146) at high southern latitudes (64.7-69.1S). Electron density profiles (95 to 200 km) are examined over a narrow range of solar zenith angles (76.5-86.9 degrees) for local true solar times of (1) 3-4 hours and (2) 12.1 hours. Variations spanning 1-Martian year are specifically examined in the Northern hemisphere.
Electron Density Profiles of the Topside Ionosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Huang, Xue-Qin; Reinsch, Bodo W.; Bilitza, Dieter; Benson, Robert F.
2002-01-01
The existing uncertainties about the electron density profiles in the topside ionosphere, i.e., in the height region from h,F2 to - 2000 km, require the search for new data sources. The ISIS and Alouette topside sounder satellites from the sixties to the eighties recorded millions of ionograms but most were not analyzed in terms of electron density profiles. In recent years an effort started to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. As of November 2001 about 350000 ionograms have been digitized from the original 7-track analog tapes. These data are available in binary and CDF format from the anonymous ftp site of the National Space Science Data Center. A search site and browse capabilities on CDAWeb assist the scientific usage of these data. All information and access links can be found at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis- status.htm1. This paper describes the ISIS data restoration effort and shows how the digital ionograms are automatically processed into electron density profiles from satellite orbit altitude (1400 km for ISIS-2) down to the F peak. Because of the large volume of data an automated processing algorithm is imperative. The TOPside Ionogram Scaler with True height algorithm TOPIST software developed for this task is successfully scaling - 70% of the ionograms. An <
PROM7: 1D modeler of solar filaments or prominences
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gouttebroze, P.
2018-05-01
PROM7 is an update of PROM4 (ascl:1306.004) and computes simple models of solar prominences and filaments using Partial Radiative Distribution (PRD). The models consist of plane-parallel slabs standing vertically above the solar surface. Each model is defined by 5 parameters: temperature, density, geometrical thickness, microturbulent velocity and height above the solar surface. It solves the equations of radiative transfer, statistical equilibrium, ionization and pressure equilibria, and computes electron and hydrogen level population and hydrogen line profiles. Moreover, the code treats calcium atom which is reduced to 3 ionization states (Ca I, Ca II, CA III). Ca II ion has 5 levels which are useful for computing 2 resonance lines (H and K) and infrared triplet (to 8500 A).
Radio-Tomographic Images of Post-midnight Equatorial Plasma Depletions
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hei, M. A.; Bernhardt, P. A.; Siefring, C. L.; Wilkens, M.; Huba, J. D.; Krall, J.; Valladares, C. E.; Heelis, R. A.; Hairston, M. R.; Coley, W. R.; Chau, J. L.
2013-12-01
For the first time, post-midnight equatorial plasma depletions (EPDs) have been imaged in the longitude-altitude plane using radio-tomography. High-resolution (~10 km × 10 km) electron-density reconstructions were created from total electron content (TEC) data using an array of receivers sited in Peru and the Multiplicative Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (MART) inversion algorithm. TEC data were obtained from the 150 and 400 MHz signals transmitted by the CERTO beacon on the C/NOFS satellite. In-situ electron density data from the C/NOFS CINDI instrument and electron density profiles from the UML Jicamarca ionosonde were used to generate an initial guess for the MART inversion, and also to constrain the inversion process. Observed EPDs had widths of 100-1000 km, spacings of 300-900 km, and often appeared 'pinched off' at the bottom. Well-developed EPDs appeared on an evening with a very small (4 m/s) Pre-Reversal-Enhancement (PRE), suggesting that postmidnight enhancements of the vertical plasma drift and/or seeding-induced uplifts (e.g. gravity waves) were responsible for driving the Rayleigh-Taylor Instability into the nonlinear regime on this night. On another night the Jicamarca ISR recorded postmidnight (~0230 LT) Eastward electric fields nearly twice as strong as the PRE fields seven hours earlier. These electric fields lifted the whole ionosphere, including embedded EPDs, over a longitude range ~14° wide. CINDI detected a dawn depletion in exactly the area where the reconstruction showed an uplifted EPD. Strong Equatorial Spread-F observed by the Jicamarca ionosonde during receiver observation times confirmed the presence of ionospheric irregularities.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Huang, He; Liu, Libo; Chen, Yiding; Le, Huijun; Wan, Weixing
2016-01-01
The ionospheric equivalent slab thickness (EST), defined as the ratio of total electron content (TEC) to F2 layer peak electron density (NmF2), describes the thickness of the ionospheric profile. In this study, we retrieve EST from TEC data obtained from Global Ionospheric Map (GIM) and NmF2 retrieved from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) ionospheric radio occultation data. The diurnal, seasonal, and solar activity variations of global EST are analyzed as the excellent spatial coverage of GIM and COSMIC data. During solstices, daytime EST in the summer hemisphere is larger than that in the winter hemisphere, except in some high-latitude regions, and the reverse is true for the nighttime EST. The peaks of EST often appear at 0400 local time. The presunrise enhancement in EST appears in all seasons, while the postsunset enhancement in EST is not readily observed in equinox. Both enhancements are attributed to the more remarkable electron density decay of NmF2 compared to that of TEC. The dependence of EST on solar activity is related to the inconsistent solar activity dependences of electron density at different altitudes. Furthermore, it is interesting that EST is enhanced from 0° to 120°E in longitude and 30° to 75°S in latitude during nighttime, just to the east of Weddell Sea Anomaly, during equinox and the Southern Hemisphere summer. This phenomenon is supposed to be related to the effects of geomagnetic declination-related plasma vertical drifts.
Errors in Viking Lander Atmospheric Profiles Discovered Using MOLA Topography
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Withers, Paul; Lorenz, R. D.; Neumann, G. A.
2002-01-01
Each Viking lander measured a topographic profile during entry. Comparing to MOLA (Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter), we find a vertical error of 1-2 km in the Viking trajectory. This introduces a systematic error of 10-20% in the Viking densities and pressures at a given altitude. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.
LPWA using supersonic gas jet with tailored density profile
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kononenko, O.; Bohlen, S.; Dale, J.; D'Arcy, R.; Dinter, M.; Erbe, J. H.; Indorf, G.; di Lucchio, L.; Goldberg, L.; Gruse, J. N.; Karstensen, S.; Libov, V.; Ludwig, K.; Martinez de La Ossa, A.; Marutzky, F.; Niroula, A.; Osterhoff, J.; Quast, M.; Schaper, L.; Schwinkendorf, J.-P.; Streeter, M.; Tauscher, G.; Weichert, S.; Palmer, C.; Horbatiuk, Taras
2016-10-01
Laser driven plasma wakefield accelerators have been explored as a potential compact, reproducible source of relativistic electron bunches, utilising an electric field of many GV/m. Control over injection of electrons into the wakefield is of crucial importance in producing stable, mono-energetic electron bunches. Density tailoring of the target, to control the acceleration process, can also be used to improve the quality of the bunch. By using gas jets to provide tailored targets it is possible to provide good access for plasma diagnostics while also producing sharp density gradients for density down-ramp injection. OpenFOAM hydrodynamic simulations were used to investigate the possibility of producing tailored density targets in a supersonic gas jet. Particle-in-cell simulations of the resulting density profiles modelled the effect of the tailored density on the properties of the accelerated electron bunch. Here, we present the simulation results together with preliminary experimental measurements of electron and x-ray properties from LPWA experiments using gas jet targets and a 25 TW, 25 fs Ti:Sa laser system at DESY.
Use of total electron content data to analyze ionosphere electron density gradients
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nava, B.; Radicella, S. M.; Leitinger, R.; Coïsson, P.
In the presence of electron density gradients the thin shell approximation for the ionosphere, used together with a simple mapping function to convert slant total electron content (TEC) to vertical TEC, could lead to TEC conversion errors. These "mapping function errors" can therefore be used to detect the electron density gradients in the ionosphere. In the present work GPS derived slant TEC data have been used to investigate the effects of the electron density gradients in the middle and low latitude ionosphere under geomagnetic quiet and disturbed conditions. In particular the data corresponding to the geographic area of the American Sector for the days 5-7 April 2000 have been used to perform a complete analysis of mapping function errors based on the "coinciding pierce point technique". The results clearly illustrate the electron density gradient effects according to the locations considered and to the actual levels of disturbance of the ionosphere. In addition, the possibility to assess an ionospheric shell height able to minimize the mapping function errors has been verified.
Detection of Ionospheric Alfven Resonator Signatures Onboard C/NOFS: Implications for IRI Modeling
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Simoes, F.; Klenzing, J.; Ivanov, S.; Pfaff, R.; Rowland, D.; Bilitza, D.
2011-01-01
The 2008-2009 long-lasting solar minimum activity has been the one of its kind since the dawn of space age, offering exceptional conditions for investigating space weather in the near-Earth environment. First ever detection of Ionospheric Alfven Resonator (IAR) signatures in orbit offers new means for investigating ionospheric electrodynamics, namely MHD (MagnetoHydroDynamics) wave propagation, aeronomy processes, ionospheric dynamics, and Sun-Earth connection mechanisms at a local scale. Local and global plasma density heterogeneities in the ionosphere and magnetosphere allow for formation of waveguides and resonators where magnetosonic and shear Alfven waves propagate. The ionospheric magnetosonic waveguide results from complete magnetosonic wave reflection about the ionospheric F-region peak, where the Alfven index of refraction presents a maximum. MHD waves can also be partially trapped in the vertical direction between the lower boundary of the ionosphere and the magnetosphere, a resonance mechanism known as IAR. In this work we present C/NOFS (Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System) Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) electric field measurements related to IAR signatures, discuss the resonance and wave propagation mechanisms in the ionosphere, and address the electromagnetic inverse problem from which electron/ion distributions can be derived. These peculiar IAR electric field measurements provide new, complementary methodologies for inferring ionospheric electron and ion density profiles, and also contribute for the investigation of ionosphere dynamics and space weather monitoring. Specifically, IAR spectral signatures measured by C/NOFS contribute for improving the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model, namely electron density and ion composition.
Tangential System of Thomson Scattering for Tokamak T-15
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Asadulin, G. M.; Bel'bas, I. S.; Gorshkov, A. V.
2017-12-01
Two systems of Thomson scattering diagnostics, with vertical and tangential probing, are used in the D-shaped plasma cross section in tokamak T-15. The tangential system allows measuring plasma temperature and density profiles along the major radius of the tokamak. This paper presents the tangential system project. The system is based on a Nd:YAG laser with wavelength of 1064 nm, pulse energy of 3 J, pulse duration of 10 ns, and repetition rate of 100 Hz. The chosen geometry allows collecting light from ten uniformly spaced points. Optimization of the registration system has been accomplished. The collected light will be transmitted through an optical fiber bundle with diameter of 3 mm and quartz fibers (numerical aperture is 0.22). Six-channel polychromators based on high-contrast interference filters have been chosen as spectral equipment. The radiation will be registered by avalanche photodiodes. The technique of electron temperature and density measurement is described, and estimation of its accuracy is carried out. The proposed system allows measuring the electron temperature with accuracy not worse than 10% within the range of 50 eV to 10 keV on the pinch edge over the internal contour, from 20 eV to 9 keV in the plasma central region, and from 2 eV to 400 eV on the pinch edge over the outer contour. The estimation is made for electron density of not less than 2.6 × 1013 cm-3.
Low-Voltage Complementary Electronics from Ion-Gel-Gated Vertical Van der Waals Heterostructures
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Choi, Yongsuk; Kang, Junmo; Jariwala, Deep
2016-03-22
Low-voltage complementary circuits comprising n-type and p-type van der Waals heterojunction vertical field-effect transistors (VFETs) are demonstrated. The resulting VFETs possess high on-state current densities (>3000 A cm-2) and on/off current ratios (>104) in a narrow voltage window (<3 V).
Vertical GaN Devices for Power Electronics in Extreme Environments
2016-03-31
electronics applications. In this paper vertical p-n diodes and transistors fabricated on pseudo bulk low defect density (104 to 106 cm-2) GaN substrates are...holes in p-GaN has deleterious effect on p-n junction behavior (Fig. 2), p-GaN contacts, and channel control in junction field-effect transistors at...and transistors ) utilizing p-n junctions are suitable for most practical applications including automotive (210K < T < 423K) but may have limitations
Density Functional Study of Structures and Electron Affinities of BrO4F/BrO4F−
Gong, Liangfa; Xiong, Jieming; Wu, Xinmin; Qi, Chuansong; Li, Wei; Guo, Wenli
2009-01-01
The structures, electron affinities and bond dissociation energies of BrO4F/BrO4F− species have been investigated with five density functional theory (DFT) methods with DZP++ basis sets. The planar F-Br…O2…O2 complexes possess 3A′ electronic state for neutral molecule and 4A′ state for the corresponding anion. Three types of the neutral-anion energy separations are the adiabatic electron affinity (EAad), the vertical electron affinity (EAvert), and the vertical detachment energy (VDE). The EAad value predicted by B3LYP method is 4.52 eV. The bond dissociation energies De (BrO4F → BrO4-mF + Om) (m = 1–4) and De− (BrO4F− → BrO4-mF− + Om and BrO4F− → BrO4-mF + Om−) are predicted. The adiabatic electron affinities (EAad) were predicted to be 4.52 eV for F-Br…O2…O2 (3A′←4A′) (B3LYP method). PMID:19742128
Estimating tropical-forest density profiles from multibaseline interferometric SAR
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Treuhaft, Robert; Chapman, Bruce; dos Santos, Joao Roberto; Dutra, Luciano; Goncalves, Fabio; da Costa Freitas, Corina; Mura, Jose Claudio; de Alencastro Graca, Paulo Mauricio
2006-01-01
Vertical profiles of forest density are potentially robust indicators of forest biomass, fire susceptibility and ecosystem function. Tropical forests, which are among the most dense and complicated targets for remote sensing, contain about 45% of the world's biomass. Remote sensing of tropical forest structure is therefore an important component to global biomass and carbon monitoring. This paper shows preliminary results of a multibasline interfereomtric SAR (InSAR) experiment over primary, secondary, and selectively logged forests at La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica. The profile shown results from inverse Fourier transforming 8 of the 18 baselines acquired. A profile is shown compared to lidar and field measurements. Results are highly preliminary and for qualitative assessment only. Parameter estimation will eventually replace Fourier inversion as the means to producing profiles.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lei, J.; Wang, W.; Burns, A. G.; Yue, X.
2014-12-01
The total electron content (TEC) data measured by the Jason, CHAMP, GRACE and SAC-C satellites, the in-situ electron densities from CHAMP and GRACE, and the vertical E×B drifts from the ROCSAT satellite are utilized to examine the ionospheric response to superstorms. The combination of observations from multiple satellites provides a unique global view of positive ionospheric storm effect at low and middle latitudes, especially over Oceans and under sunlit conditions during the main phases of the storms. In this talk, we will focus on the morphology, evolution and driving mechanisms of the storm-time ionosphere and explore the relative contributions of the horizontal and vertical transport effects to the observed positive storm phase at different latitudes.
Transverse profile of the electron beam for the RHIC electron lenses
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gu, X.; Altinbas, Z.; Costanzo, M.; Fischer, W.; Gassner, D. M.; Hock, J.; Luo, Y.; Miller, T.; Tan, Y.; Thieberger, P.; Montag, C.; Pikin, A. I.
2015-10-01
The transverse profile of the electron beam plays a very important role in assuring the success of the electron lens beam-beam compensation, as well as its application in space charge compensation. To compensate for the beam-beam effect in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, we recently installed and commissioned two electron lenses. In this paper, we describe, via theory and simulations using the code Parmela, the evolution of the density of the electron beam with space charge within an electron lens from the gun to the main solenoid. Our theoretical analysis shows that the change in the beam transverse density is dominated by the effects of the space charge induced longitudinal velocity reduction, not by those of transverse Coulomb collisions. We detail the transverse profile of RHIC electron-lens beam, measured via the YAG screen and pinhole detector, and also describe its profile that we assessed from the signal of the electron-backscatter detector (eBSD) via scanning the electron beam with respect to the RHIC beam. We verified, in simulations and experiments, that the distribution of the transverse electron beam is Gaussian throughout its propagation in the RHIC electron lens.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
González, M. A. Pagnan, E-mail: miguelangel.pagnan@hotmail.com; Mitsoura, E., E-mail: meleni@uaemex.mx; Oviedo, J.O. Hernández
Mycosis fungoides is a cutaneous lymphoma that accounts for 2–3% of all lymphomas. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of TSEBT (Total Skin Electron Beam Therapy) in patients with mycosis fungoides. It is important to develop this technique and make it available to a larger number of patients in Mexico. Because large fields for electron TSEBT are required in order to cover the entire body of the patient, beam characterization at conventional treatment distances is not sufficient and a calibration distance of 500cm or higher is required. Materials and methods: Calibration of radiochromic Gafchromic® EBT2 film (RCF) for electronsmore » was performed in a solid water phantom (Scanditronix Wellhöfer) at a depth of 1.4cm and a Source Axis Distance (SAD) of 100cm. A polynomial fit was applied to the calibration curve, in order to obtain the equation relating dose response with optical density. The spatial distribution is obtained in terms of percentage of the dose, placing 3×3cm samples of RCF on the acrylic screen, which is placed in front of the patient in order to obtain maximum absorbed dose on the skin, covering an area of 200×100cm{sup 2}. The Percentage Depth Dose (PDD) curve was obtained placing RCF samples at depths of 0, 1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9cm in the solid water phantom, irradiated with an ELEKTA SINERGY Linear Accelerator electron beam, with an energy of 6 MeV, at a Source Skin Distance (SSD) of 500cm, with 1000MU = 100Gy, with a cone of 40×40cm and gantry angle of 90°. The RCFs were scanned on a flatbed scanner (EPSON EXPRESSION 10000 XL) and the images were processed with the ImageJ program using a region of interest (ROI) of 1×1cm{sup 2}. Results: The relative spatial dose distribution and the percentage depth dose for a SSD of 500±0.5cm, over an area of 200×100cm{sup 2} was obtained, resulting to an effective maximum dose depth (Z{sub ref}) for electrons of 1.4±0.05cm. Using the same experimental data, horizontal and vertical beam profiles were also graphed, showing a horizontal symmetry of ±035%, horizontal flatness of ±3.62%, vertical symmetry of ±2.1% and vertical flatness of ±14.2%. Conclusions: The electron beam was characterized and the data obtained were useful to determine the spatial dose distribution to a SSD of 500±0.5cm, in an area of 200×100cm{sup 2}. Dose profiles were obtained both horizontally and vertically, thus allowing to assess electron beam symmetry and flatness. PDD analysis up to a depth of 9±0.05cm, has made possible to establish the depth of electron penetration, assuring an only skin irradiation treatment.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, M.; Han, S.; Ping, J.; Tang, G.; Zhang, Q.
2017-09-01
The existence of lunar ionosphere has been under debate for a long time. Radio occultation experiments had been performed by both Luna 19/22 and SELENE missions and electron column density of lunar ionosphere was provided. The Apollo 14 mission also acquired the electron density with in situ measurements. But the results of these missions don't well-matched. In order to explore the lunar ionosphere, radio occultation with the service module of Chinese circumlunar return and reentry spacecraft has been performing. One coherent S-band and X-band radio signals were recorded by China deep space stations, and local correlation was adopted to compute carrier phases of both signals. Based on the above work, the electron density profiles of lunar ionosphere was obtained and analyzed.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Scarth, P.; Phinn, S. R.; Armston, J.; Lucas, R.
2015-12-01
Vertical plant profiles are important descriptors of canopy structure and are used to inform models of biomass, biodiversity and fire risk. In Australia, an approach has been developed to produce large area maps of vertical plant profiles by extrapolating waveform lidar estimates of vertical plant profiles from ICESat/GLAS using large area segmentation of ALOS PALSAR and Landsat satellite image products. The main assumption of this approach is that the vegetation height profiles are consistent across the segments defined from ALOS PALSAR and Landsat image products. More than 1500 field sites were used to develop an index of fractional cover using Landsat data. A time series of the green fraction was used to calculate the persistent green fraction continuously across the landscape. This was fused with ALOS PALSAR L-band Fine Beam Dual polarisation 25m data and used to segment the Australian landscapes. K-means clustering then grouped the segments with similar cover and backscatter into approximately 1000 clusters. Where GLAS-ICESat footprints intersected these clusters, canopy profiles were extracted and aggregated to produce a mean vertical vegetation profile for each cluster that was used to derive mean canopy and understorey height, depth and density. Due to the large number of returns, these retrievals are near continuous across the landscape, enabling them to be used for inventory and modelling applications. To validate this product, a radiative transfer model was adapted to map directional gap probability from airborne waveform lidar datasets to retrieve vertical plant profiles Comparison over several test sites show excellent agreement and work is underway to extend the analysis to improve national biomass mapping. The integration of the three datasets provide options for future operational monitoring of structure and AGB across large areas for quantifying carbon dynamics, structural change and biodiversity.
[The reconstruction of welding arc 3D electron density distribution based on Stark broadening].
Zhang, Wang; Hua, Xue-Ming; Pan, Cheng-Gang; Li, Fang; Wang, Min
2012-10-01
The three-dimensional electron density is very important for welding arc quality control. In the present paper, Side-on characteristic line profile was collected by a spectrometer, and the lateral experimental data were approximated by a polynomial fitting. By applying an Abel inversion technique, the authors obtained the radial intensity distribution at each wavelength and thus constructed a profile for the radial positions. The Fourier transform was used to separate the Lorentz linear from the spectrum reconstructed, thus got the accurate Stark width. And we calculated the electronic density three-dimensional distribution of the TIG welding are plasma.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bauer, R.; Engel, A.; Franken, H.
This paper describes balloon borne air samples taken above Kiruna (67.9[degrees]N; 21.1[degrees]E) during EASOE, which monitored the N[sub 2]O density, as the polar vortex shifted, between altitudes of 10 and 31 km. Different air samplers were used to collect samples. The results show vertical profiles, outside, in the edge of, and inside the vertex, which reveal variation in mixing ratios as airmasses mix both vertically and horizontally near the vortex.
Probing a dusty magnetized plasma with self-excited dust-density waves
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tadsen, Benjamin; Greiner, Franko; Piel, Alexander
2018-03-01
A cloud of nanodust particles is created in a reactive argon-acetylene plasma. It is then transformed into a dusty magnetized argon plasma. Plasma parameters are obtained with the dust-density wave diagnostic introduced by Tadsen et al. [Phys. Plasmas 22, 113701 (2015), 10.1063/1.4934927]. A change from an open to a cylindrically enclosed nanodust cloud, which was observed earlier, can now be explained by a stronger electric confinement if a vertical magnetic field is present. Using two-dimensional extinction measurements and the inverse Abel transform to determine the dust density, a redistribution of the dust with increasing magnetic induction is found. The dust-density profile changes from being peaked around the central void to being peaked at an outer torus ring resulting in a hollow profile. As the plasma parameters cannot explain this behavior, we propose a rotation of the nanodust cloud in the magnetized plasma as the origin of the modified profile.
Evaluation of vertical profiles to design continuous descent approach procedure
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pradeep, Priyank
The current research focuses on predictability, variability and operational feasibility aspect of Continuous Descent Approach (CDA), which is among the key concepts of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The idle-thrust CDA is a fuel economical, noise and emission abatement procedure, but requires increased separation to accommodate for variability and uncertainties in vertical and speed profiles of arriving aircraft. Although a considerable amount of researches have been devoted to the estimation of potential benefits of the CDA, only few have attempted to explain the predictability, variability and operational feasibility aspect of CDA. The analytical equations derived using flight dynamics and Base of Aircraft and Data (BADA) Total Energy Model (TEM) in this research gives insight into dependency of vertical profile of CDA on various factors like wind speed and gradient, weight, aircraft type and configuration, thrust settings, atmospheric factors (deviation from ISA (DISA), pressure and density of the air) and descent speed profile. Application of the derived equations to idle-thrust CDA gives an insight into sensitivity of its vertical profile to multiple factors. This suggests fixed geometric flight path angle (FPA) CDA has higher degree of predictability and lesser variability at the cost of non-idle and low thrust engine settings. However, with optimized design this impact can be overall minimized. The CDA simulations were performed using Future ATM Concept Evaluation Tool (FACET) based on radar-track and aircraft type data (BADA) of the real air-traffic to some of the busiest airports in the USA (ATL, SFO and New York Metroplex (JFK, EWR and LGA)). The statistical analysis of the vertical profiles of CDA shows 1) mean geometric FPAs derived from various simulated vertical profiles are consistently shallower than 3° glideslope angle and 2) high level of variability in vertical profiles of idle-thrust CDA even in absence of uncertainties in external factors. Analysis from operational feasibility perspective suggests that two key features of the performance based Flight Management System (FMS) i.e. required time of arrival (RTA) and geometric descent path would help in reduction of unpredictability associated with arrival time and vertical profile of aircraft guided by the FMS coupled with auto-pilot (AP) and auto-throttle (AT). The statistical analysis of the vertical profiles of CDA also suggests that for procedure design window type, 'AT or above' and 'AT or below' altitude and FPA constraints are more realistic and useful compared to obsolete 'AT' type altitude constraint.
Using Phase Space Density Profiles to Investigate the Radiation Belt Seed Population
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Boyd, A. J.; Spence, H.; Reeves, G. D.; Blake, J. B.; Fennell, J. F.; Claudepierre, S. G.; Turner, D. L.
2013-12-01
It is believed that particles with energies of 100s of keV play a critical role in the acceleration of electrons within the radiation belt. Through wave particle interactions, these so called 'seed electrons' can be accelerated up to energies greater than 1 MeV. Using data from the MagEIS (Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer) Instrument onboard the Van Allen Probes we calculate phase space density within the radiation belts over a wide range of mu and K values. These phase space density profiles are combined with those from THEMIS, in order to see how the phase space density evolves over a large range of L*. In this presentation we examine how the seed electron population evolves in both time and L* during acceleration events. Comparing this to the evolution of the higher mu electron population allows us to determine what role the seed electrons played in the acceleration process. Finally, we compare several of these storms to examine the importance of the seed population to the acceleration process.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hernández-Pajares, Manuel; Garcia-Fernández, Miquel; Rius, Antonio; Notarpietro, Riccardo; von Engeln, Axel; Olivares-Pulido, Germán.; Aragón-Àngel, Àngela; García-Rigo, Alberto
2017-08-01
The new radio-occultation (RO) instrument on board the future EUMETSAT Polar System-Second Generation (EPS-SG) satellites, flying at a height of 820 km, is primarily focusing on neutral atmospheric profiling. It will also provide an opportunity for RO ionospheric sounding, but only below impact heights of 500 km, in order to guarantee a full data gathering of the neutral part. This will leave a gap of 320 km, which impedes the application of the direct inversion techniques to retrieve the electron density profile. To overcome this challenge, we have looked for new ways (accurate and simple) of extrapolating the electron density (also applicable to other low-Earth orbiting, LEO, missions like CHAMP): a new Vary-Chap Extrapolation Technique (VCET). VCET is based on the scale height behavior, linearly dependent on the altitude above hmF2. This allows extrapolating the electron density profile for impact heights above its peak height (this is the case for EPS-SG), up to the satellite orbital height. VCET has been assessed with more than 3700 complete electron density profiles obtained in four representative scenarios of the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) in the United States and the Formosa Satellite Mission 3 (FORMOSAT-3) in Taiwan, in solar maximum and minimum conditions, and geomagnetically disturbed conditions, by applying an updated Improved Abel Transform Inversion technique to dual-frequency GPS measurements. It is shown that VCET performs much better than other classical Chapman models, with 60% of occultations showing relative extrapolation errors below 20%, in contrast with conventional Chapman model extrapolation approaches with 10% or less of the profiles with relative error below 20%.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Liu, Jing; Skidmore, Andrew K.; Heurich, Marco; Wang, Tiejun
2017-10-01
As an important metric for describing vertical forest structure, the plant area index (PAI) profile is used for many applications including biomass estimation and wildlife habitat assessment. PAI profiles can be estimated with the vertically resolved gap fraction from airborne LiDAR data. Most research utilizes a height normalization algorithm to retrieve local or relative height by assuming the terrain to be flat. However, for many forests this assumption is not valid. In this research, the effect of topographic normalization of airborne LiDAR data on the retrieval of PAI profile was studied in a mountainous forest area in Germany. Results show that, although individual tree height may be retained after topographic normalization, the spatial arrangement of trees is changed. Specifically, topographic normalization vertically condenses and distorts the PAI profile, which consequently alters the distribution pattern of plant area density in space. This effect becomes more evident as the slope increases. Furthermore, topographic normalization may also undermine the complexity (i.e., canopy layer number and entropy) of the PAI profile. The decrease in PAI profile complexity is not solely determined by local topography, but is determined by the interaction between local topography and the spatial distribution of each tree. This research demonstrates that when calculating the PAI profile from airborne LiDAR data, local topography needs to be taken into account. We therefore suggest that for ecological applications, such as vertical forest structure analysis and modeling of biodiversity, topographic normalization should not be applied in non-flat areas when using LiDAR data.
Effects of multiple scattering and surface albedo on the photochemistry of the troposphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Augustsson, T. R.; Tiwari, S. N.
1981-01-01
The effect of treatment of incoming solar radiation on the photochemistry of the troposphere is discussed. A one dimensional photochemical model of the troposphere containing the species of the nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur families was developed. The vertical flux is simulated by use of the parameterized eddy diffusion coefficients. The photochemical model is coupled to a radiative transfer model that calculates the radiation field due to the incoming solar radiation which initiates much of the photochemistry of the troposphere. Vertical profiles of tropospheric species were compared with the Leighton approximation, radiative transfer, matrix inversion model. The radiative transfer code includes the effects of multiple scattering due to molecules and aerosols, pure absorption, and surface albedo on the transfer of incoming solar radiation. It is indicated that significant differences exist for several key photolysis frequencies and species number density profiles between the Leighton approximation and the profiles generated with, radiative transfer, matrix inversion technique. Most species show enhanced vertical profiles when the more realistic treatment of the incoming solar radiation field is included
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Augustsson, T.R.; Tiwari, S.N.
The effect of treatment of incoming solar radiation on the photochemistry of the troposphere is discussed. A one dimensional photochemical model of the troposphere containing the species of the nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur families was developed. The vertical flux is simulated by use of the parameterized eddy diffusion coefficients. The photochemical model is coupled to a radiative transfer model that calculates the radiation field due to the incoming solar radiation which initiates much of the photochemistry of the troposphere. Vertical profiles of tropospheric species were compared with the Leighton approximation, radiative transfer, matrix inversion model. The radiative transfermore » code includes the effects of multiple scattering due to molecules and aerosols, pure absorption, and surface albedo on the transfer of incoming solar radiation. It is indicated that significant differences exist for several key photolysis frequencies and species number density profiles between the Leighton approximation and the profiles generated with, radiative transfer, matrix inversion technique. Most species show enhanced vertical profiles when the more realistic treatment of the incoming solar radiation field is included« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kim, Jae Gon; Lee, Gyoo Ho; Lee, Jin-Soo; Chon, Chul-Min; Kim, Tack Hyun; Ha, Kyoochul
2006-02-01
We examined the infiltration pattern of water in a regolith-bedrock profile consisting of two overburdens (OB1 and OB2), a buried rice paddy soil (PS), two texturally distinctive weathered materials (WM1 and WM2) and a fractured sedimentary rock (BR), using a Brilliant Blue FCF dye tracer. A black-coloured coating in conducting fractures in WM1, WM2 and BR was analysed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The dye tracer penetrated to greater than 2 m depth in the profile. The macropore flow and saturated interflow were the major infiltration patterns in the profile. Macropore flow and saturated interflow were observed along fractures in WM1, WM2 and BR and at the dipping interfaces of PS-WM1, PS-WM2 and PS-BR respectively. Heterogeneous matrix flow occurred in upper overburden (OB1) and PS. Compared with OB1, the coarser textured OB2 acted as a physical barrier for vertical flow of water. The PS with low bulk density and many fine roots was another major conducting route of water in the profile. Manganese oxide and iron oxide were positively identified in the black coating material and had low crystallinity and high surface area, indicating their high reactivity with conducting contaminants.
Synopsis of D- and E-region electron densities during the energy budget campaign
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Friedrich, M.; Baker, K. D.; Brekke, A.; Dickinson, P. H. G.; Dumbs, A.; Grandal, B.; Thrane, E. V.; Smith, L. G.; Torkar, K. M.
1982-01-01
Electron density profiles from ground-based and rocket-borne measurements conducted at three sites in northern Scandinavia under various degrees of geophysical disturbances are presented. These data are checked against an instantaneous picture of the ionospheric absorption obtained via the dense riometer network. A map of the riometer absorption and measured electron densities over Scandinavia is given.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
None
In situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) video (accelerated 10 times) of nucleation and self-organization of a high-density carbon nanotube network from catalytic iron nanoparticles, forming a vertically aligned forest.
Vertical Mixing In Western Lake Constance Due To Long Internal Waves
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Boehrer, B.
Current profiles in the pelagic waters of western Lake Constance have been broken up into modes of the internal wave equation [1,2]. All current profiles can be well represented by a combination of the first and second mode wave. The temporal vari- ation of the modal composition with the interaction of the first and second mode im- plies current shear at varying depths. From current and density profiles, the gradient Richardson number can be evaluated in its spatial and temporal pattern with occa- tional occurence of supercritical values at all depths, also in the deep hypolimnion. An empiric connection between gradient Richardson number and diapycnical mixing [3] is applied to yield a profile of vertical transport coefficients, which can be com- pared with transport coefficients from gradient flux calculations of temperature and electrical conductivity profiles [4]. [1] B. Boehrer, J. Ilmberger and K.O. Münnich (2000): Vertical Structure of Current in Western Lake Constance, JGR-Oceans, 105 (12), 28823-28835 [2] B. Boehrer (2000): Modal Response of a Deep Stratified Lake: Western Lake Con- stance, JGR-Oceans, 105 (12), 28837-28845 [3] H. Peeters, M.C. Gregg and J.M. Toole (1988): On the parameterization of equa- torial turbulence, JGR, 93, 1199-1218 [4] G. Heinz, J. Ilmberger and M. Schimmele (1990): Vertical Mixing in Überlinger See, western part of Lake Constance, Aquat. Sci., 52(3), 256-268
Evidence for the existence of negative ions in the D and lower E regions at twilight
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Kane, J. A.
1972-01-01
Evidence for negative ions in the lower ionosphere is based on the difference between simultaneously measured profiles of electron and positive ion density. The electron density profiles reported were obtained from ground-to-rocket radio wave absorption measurements while Gerdien ion traps were used to measure the positive ion profiles. Results from a series of three rockets launched from Thumba, India near sunset on 27 March, 1970 indicate that a significant number of negative ions are formed at altitudes as high as 95 km at twilight.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ko, C.; Sohn, G.; Remmel, T. K.
2012-07-01
We present a comparative study between two different approaches for tree genera classification using descriptors derived from tree geometry and those derived from the vertical profile analysis of LiDAR point data. The different methods provide two perspectives for processing LiDAR point clouds for tree genera identification. The geometric perspective analyzes individual tree crowns in relation to valuable information related to characteristics of clusters and line segments derived within crowns and overall tree shapes to highlight the spatial distribution of LiDAR points within the crown. Conversely, analyzing vertical profiles retrieves information about the point distributions with respect to height percentiles; this perspective emphasizes of the importance that point distributions at specific heights express, accommodating for the decreased point density with respect to depth of canopy penetration by LiDAR pulses. The targeted species include white birch, maple, oak, poplar, white pine and jack pine at a study site northeast of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.
Instabilities in a staircase stratified shear flow
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ponetti, G.; Balmforth, N. J.; Eaves, T. S.
2018-01-01
We study stratified shear flow instability where the density profile takes the form of a staircase of interfaces separating uniform layers. Internal gravity waves riding on density interfaces can resonantly interact due to a background shear flow, resulting in the Taylor-Caulfield instability. The many steps of the density profile permit a multitude of interactions between different interfaces, and a rich variety of Taylor-Caulfield instabilities. We analyse the linear instability of a staircase with piecewise-constant density profile embedded in a background linear shear flow, locating all the unstable modes and identifying the strongest. The interaction between nearest-neighbour interfaces leads to the most unstable modes. The nonlinear dynamics of the instabilities are explored in the long-wavelength, weakly stratified limit (the defect approximation). Unstable modes on adjacent interfaces saturate by rolling up the intervening layer into a distinctive billow. These nonlinear structures coexist when stacked vertically and are bordered by the sharp density gradients that are the remnants of the steps of the original staircase. Horizontal averages remain layer-like.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J. L.; Karasik, M.; Chan, L. Y.
2015-08-01
A grid image refractometer (GIR) has been implemented at the Nike krypton fluoride laser facility of the Naval Research Laboratory. This instrument simultaneously measures propagation angles and transmissions of UV probe rays (λ = 263 nm, Δt = 10 ps) refracted through plasma. We report results of the first Nike-GIR measurement on a CH plasma produced by the Nike laser pulse (˜1 ns FWHM) with the intensity of 1.1 × 1015 W/cm2. The measured angles and transmissions were processed to construct spatial profiles of electron density (ne) and temperature (Te) in the underdense coronal region of the plasma. Using an inversion algorithm developed for the strongly refracted rays, the deployed GIR system probed electron densities up to 4 × 1021 cm-3 with the density scale length of 120 μm along the plasma symmetry axis. The resulting ne and Te profiles are verified to be self-consistent with the measured quantities of the refracted probe light.
Lee, Patrick; Maynard, G.; Audet, T. L.; ...
2016-11-16
The dynamics of electron acceleration driven by laser wakefield is studied in detail using the particle-in-cell code WARP with the objective to generate high-quality electron bunches with narrow energy spread and small emittance, relevant for the electron injector of a multistage accelerator. Simulation results, using experimentally achievable parameters, show that electron bunches with an energy spread of ~11% can be obtained by using an ionization-induced injection mechanism in a mm-scale length plasma. By controlling the focusing of a moderate laser power and tailoring the longitudinal plasma density profile, the electron injection beginning and end positions can be adjusted, while themore » electron energy can be finely tuned in the last acceleration section.« less
Looe, Hui Khee; Delfs, Björn; Poppinga, Daniela; Harder, Dietrich; Poppe, Björn
2017-06-21
The distortion of detector reading profiles across photon beams in the presence of magnetic fields is a developing subject of clinical photon-beam dosimetry. The underlying modification by the Lorentz force of a detector's lateral dose response function-the convolution kernel transforming the true cross-beam dose profile in water into the detector reading profile-is here studied for the first time. The three basic convolution kernels, the photon fluence response function, the dose deposition kernel, and the lateral dose response function, of wall-less cylindrical detectors filled with water of low, normal and enhanced density are shown by Monte Carlo simulation to be distorted in the prevailing direction of the Lorentz force. The asymmetric shape changes of these convolution kernels in a water medium and in magnetic fields of up to 1.5 T are confined to the lower millimetre range, and they depend on the photon beam quality, the magnetic flux density and the detector's density. The impact of this distortion on detector reading profiles is demonstrated using a narrow photon beam profile. For clinical applications it appears as favourable that the magnetic flux density dependent distortion of the lateral dose response function, as far as secondary electron transport is concerned, vanishes in the case of water-equivalent detectors of normal water density. By means of secondary electron history backtracing, the spatial distribution of the photon interactions giving rise either directly to secondary electrons or to scattered photons further downstream producing secondary electrons which contribute to the detector's signal, and their lateral shift due to the Lorentz force is elucidated. Electron history backtracing also serves to illustrate the correct treatment of the influences of the Lorentz force in the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code applied in this study.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bilitza, Dieter; Huang, Xueqin; Reinisch, Bodo W.; Benson, Robert F.; Hills, H. Kent; Schar, William B.
2004-02-01
The United States/Canadian ISIS-1 and ISIS-2 satellites collected several million topside ionograms in the 1960s and 1970s with a multinational network of ground stations that provided good global coverage. However, processing of these ionograms into electron density profiles required time-consuming manual scaling of the traces from the analog ionograms, and as a result, only a few percent of the ionograms had been processed into electron density profiles. In recent years an effort began to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. As of November 2002, approximately 390,000 ISIS-1 and ISIS-2 digital topside-sounder ionograms have been produced. The Topside Ionogram Scaler With True Height Algorithm (TOPIST) program was developed for the automated scaling of the echo traces and for the inversion of these traces into topside electron density profiles. The program is based on the techniques that have been successfully applied in the analysis of ground-based Digisonde ionograms. The TOPIST software also includes an "editing option" for manual scaling of the more difficult ionograms, which could not be scaled during the automated TOPIST run. TOPIST is now successfully scaling ˜60% of the ISIS ionograms, and the electron density profiles are available through the online archive of the National Space Science Data Center at ftp://nssdcftp.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacecraft_data/isis/topside_sounder. This data restoration effort is producing a unique global database of topside electron densities over more than one solar cycle, which will be of particular importance for improvements of topside ionosphere models, especially the International Reference Ionosphere.
Assembling Bare Au Nanoparticles at Positively Charged Templates
Wang, Wenjie; Zhang, Honghu; Kuzmenko, Ivan; ...
2016-05-26
In-situ X-ray reflectivity (XRR) and grazing incidence X-ray small-angle scattering (GISAXS) reveal that unfunctionalized (bare) gold nanoparticles (AuNP) spontaneously adsorb to a cationic lipid template formed by a Langmuir monolayer of DPTAP (1,2-dihexadecanoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane) at vapor/aqueous interfaces. Analysis of the XRR yields the electron density profile across the charged-interfaces along the surface normal showing the AuNPs assemble with vertical thickness comparable to the particle size. The GISAXS analysis indicates that the adsorbed mono-particle layer exhibits short-range in-plane correlations. By contrast, single-stranded DNA-functionalized AuNPs, while attracted to the positively charged surface (more efficiently with the addition of salt to the solution), displaymore » less in-plane regular packing compared to bare AuNPs.« less
N(h) profile data at World Data Centers
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Allen, J. H.; Conkright, R.; Bilitza, D.; Feldstein, A. IA.; Willis, D. M.
1990-01-01
The data base for ionospheric electron density profiles at the World Data Centers is assessed. Past and future N(h) profiling from ionograms and profiles from incoherent scatter radar measurements are considered.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lanzillo, Nicholas A.; Restrepo, Oscar D.; Bhosale, Prasad S.; Cruz-Silva, Eduardo; Yang, Chih-Chao; Youp Kim, Byoung; Spooner, Terry; Standaert, Theodorus; Child, Craig; Bonilla, Griselda; Murali, Kota V. R. M.
2018-04-01
We present a combined theoretical and experimental study on the electron transport characteristics across several representative interface structures found in back-end-of-line interconnect stacks for advanced semiconductor manufacturing: Cu/Ta(N)/Co/Cu and Cu/Ta(N)/Ru/Cu. In particular, we evaluate the impact of replacing a thin TaN barrier with Ta while considering both Co and Ru as wetting layers. Both theory and experiment indicate a pronounced reduction in vertical resistance when replacing TaN with Ta, regardless of whether a Co or Ru wetting layer is used. This indicates that a significant portion of the total vertical resistance is determined by electron scattering at the Cu/Ta(N) interface. The electronic structure of these nano-sized interconnects is analyzed in terms of the atom-resolved projected density of states and k-resolved transmission spectra at the Fermi level. This work further develops a fundamental understanding of electron transport and material characteristics in nano-sized interconnects.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Swanson, K. K.; Tsai, H. -E.; Barber, S. K.
Control of the properties of laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams that were injected along a shock-induced density downramp through precision tailoring of the density profile was demonstrated using a 1.8 J, 45 fs laser interacting with a mm-scale gas jet. The effects on the beam spatial profile, steering, and absolute energy spread of the density region before the shock and tilt of the shock were investigated experimentally and with particle-in-cell simulations. By adjusting these density parameters, the electron beam quality was controlled and improved while the energy (30-180 MeV) and energy spread (2-11 MeV) were independently tuned. Simple models that are inmore » good agreement with the experimental results are proposed to explain these relationships, advancing the understanding of downramp injection. In conclusion, this technique allows for high-quality electron beams with percent-level energy spread to be tailored based on the application.« less
Swanson, K. K.; Tsai, H. -E.; Barber, S. K.; ...
2017-05-30
Control of the properties of laser-plasma-accelerated electron beams that were injected along a shock-induced density downramp through precision tailoring of the density profile was demonstrated using a 1.8 J, 45 fs laser interacting with a mm-scale gas jet. The effects on the beam spatial profile, steering, and absolute energy spread of the density region before the shock and tilt of the shock were investigated experimentally and with particle-in-cell simulations. By adjusting these density parameters, the electron beam quality was controlled and improved while the energy (30-180 MeV) and energy spread (2-11 MeV) were independently tuned. Simple models that are inmore » good agreement with the experimental results are proposed to explain these relationships, advancing the understanding of downramp injection. In conclusion, this technique allows for high-quality electron beams with percent-level energy spread to be tailored based on the application.« less
Simulations of Gaussian electron guns for RHIC electron lens
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Pikin, A.
Simulations of two versions of the electron gun for RHIC electron lens are presented. The electron guns have to generate an electron beam with Gaussian radial profile of the electron beam density. To achieve the Gaussian electron emission profile on the cathode we used a combination of the gun electrodes and shaping of the cathode surface. Dependence of electron gun performance parameters on the geometry of electrodes and the margins for electrodes positioning are presented.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kenmochi, Naoki; Nishiura, Masaki; Yoshida, Zensho; Sugata, Tetsuya; Nakamura, Kaori; Katsura, Shotaro
2017-10-01
The Ring Trap 1 (RT-1) device creates a laboratory magnetosphere that is realized by a levitated superconducting ring magnet in vacuum. The RT-1 experiment has demonstrated the self-organization of a plasma clump with a steep density gradient; a peaked density distribution is spontaneously created through `inward diffusion'. In order to evaluate particle transport characteristics in the RT-1 magnetospheric plasmas which cause these inward diffusion, density modulation experiments were performed in the RT-1. Density modulation is a powerful method for estimating a diffusion coefficient D and a convection velocity V by puffing a periodic neutral gas. The gas puff modulation causes the change in the electron density measured by two chords of microwave interferometer (the radial positions r = 60 and 70 cm, vertical chord). In the case of 2 Hz gas puff modulation, the phase delay and the modulation-amplitude decay at the chord r = 60 cm are obtained with 15 degree and 0.8, respectively, with respect to the phase and the amplitude at r = 70 cm. The particle balance equations are solved on the assumption of profile shapes for D to evaluate D, V and particle source rate. The result suggests the inward convection in high beta magnetospheric plasmas.
Integrated geophysical survey in defining subsidence features on a golf course
Xia, J.; Miller, R.D.
2007-01-01
Subsidence was observed at several places on the Salina Municipal Golf Course in areas known to be built over a landfill in Salina, Kansas. High-resolution magnetic survey (???5400 m2), multi-channel electrical resistivity profiling (three 154 m lines) and microgravity profiling (23 gravity-station values) were performed on a subsidence site (Green 16) to aid in determining boundaries and density deficiency of the landfill in the vicinity of the subsidence. Horizontal boundaries of the landfill were confidently defined by both magnetic anomalies and the pseudo-vertical gradient of total field magnetic anomalies. Furthermore, the pseudo-vertical gradient of magnetic anomalies presented a unique anomaly at Green 16, which provided a criterion for predicting other spots with subsidence potential using the same gradient property. Results of multi-channel electrical resistivity profiling (ERP) suggested the bottom limit of the landfill at Green 16 was around 21 m below the ground surface based on the vertical gradient of electric resistivity and a priori information on the depth of the landfill. ERP results also outlined several possible landfill bodies based on their low resistivity values. Microgravity results suggested a -0.14 g cm-3 density deficiency at Green 16 that could equate to future surface subsidence of as much as 1.5 m due to gradual compaction. ?? 2007 Nanjing Institute of Geophysical Prospecting.
Ramzaev, Valery; Mishine, Arkady; Golikov, Vladislav; Brown, Justin Emrys; Strand, Per
2007-01-01
Vertical distributions of 137Cs have been determined in vegetation-soil cores obtained from 30 different locations around two underground nuclear explosion sites--"Crystal" (event year - 1974) and "Kraton-3" (event year - 1978) in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia. In 2001-2002, background levels of 137Cs surface contamination densities on control forest plots varied from 0.73 to 0.97 kBq m(-2) with an average of 0.84+/-0.10 kBq m(-2) and a median of 0.82 kBq m(-2). 137Cs ground contamination densities at the "Crystal" site ranged from 1.3 to 64 kBq m(-2); the activity gradually decreased with distance from the borehole. For "Kraton-3", residual surface contamination density of radiocaesium varied drastically from 1.7 to 6900 kBq m(-2); maximal 137Cs depositions were found at a "decontaminated" plot. At all forest plots, radiocaesium activity decreased throughout the whole vertical soil profile. Vertical distributions of 137Cs in soil for the majority of the plots sampled (n=18) can be described using a simple exponential function. Despite the fact that more than 20 years have passed since the main fallout events, more than 80% of the total deposited activity was found in the first 5 cm of the vegetation-soil cores from most of the forested landscapes. The low annual temperatures, clay-rich soil type with neutral pH, and presence of thick lichen-moss carpet are the factors which may hinder 137Cs transport down the soil profile.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Michels, C. J.; Rose, J. R.; Sigman, D. R.
1972-01-01
Temporal and radial profiles are obtained 30 cm downstream from the anode for two peak arc currents (11.2 kA and 20 kA) and for various auxiliary magnetic fields (0, 1.0 T, and 2.0 T) using the Thomson scattering technique. Average density and temperature are relatively constant for over 100 microseconds with significant fluctuations. Radial profiles obtained are relatively flat for 4 cm from the axis. Compared to earlier 20 cm data, the exhaust density has decreased significantly, the average temperature has not changed, and the density ?hole' with an auxiliary magnetic field has enlarged.
Antão, Celeste; Teixeira, Cristina; Gomes, Maria José
2016-05-09
Theme: Multidisciplinary team working. Oral colonization starts at birth by vertical transmission. To determine whether mode of delivery influences the oral colonization of infants and contributes to the risk of childhood dental caries. A systematic review was conducted in the electronic database Web of Science for articles published from January 1995 to December 2015 by using a set of keywords. From 2,644 citations identified through electronic search, ten studies met the inclusion criteria. According to the studies mode of delivery influences oral microbial density, oral microbial profile and the timing of oral colonization by cariogenic microbiota. However, there are no consistent results concerning either the prevalence of children harboring cariogenic microbiota or the prevalence of early childhood caries by mode of delivery. Mode of delivery influences early oral colonization. However, it seems that other determinants rather than mode of delivery could be major contributors to the development of early childhood caries.
Radially Magnetized Protoplanetary Disk: Vertical Profile
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Russo, Matthew; Thompson, Christopher
2015-11-01
This paper studies the response of a thin accretion disk to an external radial magnetic field. Our focus is on protoplanetary disks (PPDs), which are exposed during their later evolution to an intense, magnetized wind from the central star. A radial magnetic field is mixed into a thin surface layer, wound up by the disk shear, and pushed downward by a combination of turbulent mixing and ambipolar and ohmic drift. The toroidal field reaches much greater strengths than the seed vertical field that is usually invoked in PPD models, even becoming superthermal. Linear stability analysis indicates that the disk experiences the magnetorotational instability (MRI) at a higher magnetization than a vertically magnetized disk when both the effects of ambipolar and Hall drift are taken into account. Steady vertical profiles of density and magnetic field are obtained at several radii between 0.06 and 1 AU in response to a wind magnetic field Br ˜ (10-4-10-2)(r/ AU)-2 G. Careful attention is given to the radial and vertical ionization structure resulting from irradiation by stellar X-rays. The disk is more strongly magnetized closer to the star, where it can support a higher rate of mass transfer. As a result, the inner ˜1 AU of a PPD is found to evolve toward lower surface density. Mass transfer rates around 10-8 M⊙ yr-1 are obtained under conservative assumptions about the MRI-generated stress. The evolution of the disk and the implications for planet migration are investigated in the accompanying paper.
Pressure Balance at Mars and Solar Wind Interaction with the Martian Atmosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Krymskii, A. M.; Ness, N. F.; Crider, D. H.; Breus, T. K.; Acuna, M. H.; Hinson, D.
2003-01-01
The strongest crustal fields are located in certain regions in the Southern hemisphere. In the Northern hemisphere, the crustal fields are rather weak and usually do not prevent direct interaction between the SW and the Martian ionosphere/atmosphere. Exceptions occur in the isolated mini-magnetospheres formed by the crustal anomalies. Electron density profiles of the ionosphere of Mars derived from radio occultation data obtained by the Radio Science Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) experiment have been compared with the crustal magnetic fields measured by the MGS Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer (MAG/ER) experiment. A study of 523 electron density profiles obtained at latitudes from +67 deg. to +77 deg. has been conducted. The effective scale-height of the electron density for two altitude ranges, 145-165 km and 165-185 km, and the effective scale-height of the neutral atmosphere density in the vicinity of the ionization peak have been derived for each of the profiles studied. For the regions outside of the potential mini-magnetospheres, the thermal pressure of the ionospheric plasma for the altitude range 145-185 km has been estimated. In the high latitude ionosphere at Mars, the total pressure at altitudes 160 and 180 km has been mapped. The solar wind interaction with the ionosphere of Mars and origin of the sharp drop of the electron density at the altitudes 200-210 km will be discussed.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lei, Jiuhou; Wang, Wenbin; Burns, Alan G.; Yue, Xinan; Dou, Xiankang; Luan, Xiaoli; Solomon, Stanley C.; Liu, Yong C.-M.
2014-03-01
The total electron content (TEC) data measured by the Jason, CHAMP, GRACE, and SAC-C satellites, the in situ electron densities from CHAMP and GRACE, and the vertical E × B drifts from the ROCSAT, have been utilized to examine the ionospheric response to the October 2003 superstorms. The combination of observations from multiple satellites provides a unique global view of ionospheric storm effects, especially over the Pacific Ocean and American regions, which were under sunlit conditions during the main phases of the October 2003 superstorms. The main results of this study are as follows: (1) There were substantial increases in TEC in the daytime at low and middle latitudes during both superstorms. (2) The enhancements were greater during the 30 October superstorm and occurred over a wider range of local times. (3) They also tended to peak at earlier local times during this second event. (4) These TEC enhancement events occurred at the local times when there were enhancements in the upward vertical drift. (5) The strong upward vertical drifts are attributed to penetration electric fields, suggesting that these penetration electric fields played a significant role in the electron density enhancements during these superstorms. Overall, the main contribution of this study is the simultaneous view of the storm time ionospheric response from multiple satellites, and the association of local time differences in ionospheric plasma response with measured vertical drift variations.
Van der Waals model for phase transitions in thermoresponsive surface films.
McCoy, John D; Curro, John G
2009-05-21
Phase transitions in polymeric surface films are studied with a simple model based on the van der Waals equation of state. Each chain is modeled by a single bead attached to the surface by an entropic-Hooke's law spring. The surface coverage is controlled by adjusting the chemical potential, and the equilibrium density profile is calculated with density functional theory. The interesting feature of this model is the multivalued nature of the density profile seen at low temperature. This van der Waals loop behavior is resolved with a Maxwell construction between a high-density phase near the wall and a low-density phase in a "vertical" phase transition. Signatures of the phase transition in experimentally measurable quantities are then found. Numerical calculations are presented for isotherms of surface pressure, for the Poisson ratio, and for the swelling ratio.
Hlaing, Htay; Kim, Chang-Hyun; Carta, Fabio; Nam, Chang-Yong; Barton, Rob A; Petrone, Nicholas; Hone, James; Kymissis, Ioannis
2015-01-14
The vertical integration of graphene with inorganic semiconductors, oxide semiconductors, and newly emerging layered materials has recently been demonstrated as a promising route toward novel electronic and optoelectronic devices. Here, we report organic thin film transistors based on vertical heterojunctions of graphene and organic semiconductors. In these thin heterostructure devices, current modulation is accomplished by tuning of the injection barriers at the semiconductor/graphene interface with the application of a gate voltage. N-channel devices fabricated with a thin layer of C60 show a room temperature on/off ratio >10(4) and current density of up to 44 mAcm(-2). Because of the ultrashort channel intrinsic to the vertical structure, the device is fully operational at a driving voltage of 200 mV. A complementary p-channel device is also investigated, and a logic inverter based on two complementary transistors is demonstrated. The vertical integration of graphene with organic semiconductors via simple, scalable, and low-temperature fabrication processes opens up new opportunities to realize flexible, transparent organic electronic, and optoelectronic devices.
Ionospheric E-region electron density and neutral atmosphere variations
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Stick, T. L.
1976-01-01
Electron density deviations from a basic variation with the solar zenith angle were investigated. A model study was conducted in which the effects of changes in neutral and relative densities of atomic and molecular oxygen on calculated electron densities were compared with incoherent scatter measurements in the height range 100-117 km at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The feasibility of determining tides in the neutral atmosphere from electron density profiles was studied. It was determined that variations in phase between the density and temperature variation and the comparable magnitudes of their components make it appear improbable that the useful information on tidal modes can be obtained in this way.
Recent progress in empirical modeling of ion composition in the topside ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Truhlik, Vladimir; Triskova, Ludmila; Bilitza, Dieter; Kotov, Dmytro; Bogomaz, Oleksandr; Domnin, Igor
2016-07-01
The last deep and prolonged solar minimum revealed shortcomings of existing empirical models, especially of parameter models that depend strongly on solar activity, such as the IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) ion composition model, and that are based on data sets from previous solar cycles. We have improved the TTS-03 ion composition model (Triskova et al., 2003) which is included in IRI since version 2007. The new model called AEIKion-13 employs an improved description of the dependence of ion composition on solar activity. We have also developed new global models of the upper transition height based on large data sets of vertical electron density profiles from ISIS, Alouette and COSMIC. The upper transition height is used as an anchor point for adjustment of the AEIKion-13 ion composition model. Additionally, we show also progress on improvements of the altitudinal dependence of the ion composition in the AEIKion-13 model. Results of the improved model are compared with data from other types of measurements including data from the Atmosphere Explorer C and E and C/NOFS satellites, and the Kharkiv and Arecibo incoherent scatter radars. Possible real time updating of the model by the upper transition height from the real time COSMIC vertical profiles is discussed. Triskova, L.,Truhlik,V., Smilauer, J.,2003. An empirical model of ion composition in the outer ionosphere. Adv. Space Res. 31(3), 653-663.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Langowski, M.; vonSavigny, C.; Burrows, J. P.; Feng, W.; Plane, J. M. C.; Marsh, D. R.; Janches, Diego; Sinnhuber, M.; Aikin, A. C.
2014-01-01
Mg and Mg+ concentration fields in the upper mesosphere/lower thermosphere (UMLT) region are retrieved from SCIAMACHY/Envisat limb measurements of Mg and Mg+ dayglow emissions using a 2-D tomographic retrieval approach. The time series of monthly means of Mg and Mg+ for number density as well as vertical column density in different latitudinal regions are shown. Data from the limb mesosphere-thermosphere mode of SCIAMACHY/Envisat are used, which covers the 50 km to 150 km altitude region with a vertical sampling of 3.3 km and a highest latitude of 82 deg. The high latitudes are not covered in the winter months, because there is no dayglow emission during polar night. The measurements were performed every 14 days from mid-2008 until April 2012. Mg profiles show a peak at around 90 km altitude with a density between 750 cm(exp-3) and 2000 cm(exp-3). Mg does not show strong seasonal variation at mid-latitudes. The Mg+ peak occurs 5-15 km above the neutral Mg peak at 95-105 km. Furthermore, the ions show a significant seasonal cycle with a summer maximum in both hemispheres at mid- and high-latitudes. The strongest seasonal variations of the ions are observed at mid-latitudes between 20-40 deg and densities at the peak altitude range from 500 cm(exp-3) to 6000 cm(exp-3). The peak altitude of the ions shows a latitudinal dependence with a maximum at mid-latitudes that is up to 10 km higher than the peak altitude at the equator. The SCIAMACHY measurements are compared to other measurements and WACCM model results. In contrast to the SCIAMACHY results, the WACCM results show a strong seasonal variability for Mg with a winter maximum, which is not observable by SCIAMACHY, and globally higher peak densities. Although the peak densities do not agree the vertical column densities agree, since SCIAMACHY results show a wider vertical profile. The agreement of SCIAMACHY and WACCM results is much better for Mg+, showing the same seasonality and similar peak densities. However, there are the following minor differences: there is no latitudinal dependence of the peak altitude for WACCM and the density maximum, passing the equatorial region during equinox conditions, is not reduced as for SCIAMACHY.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sein, Lawrence T.
2011-08-01
Hammett parameters σ' were determined from vertical ionization potentials, vertical electron affinities, adiabatic ionization potentials, adiabatic electron affinities, HOMO, and LUMO energies of a series of N, N' -bis (3',4'-substituted-phenyl)-1,4-quinonediimines computed at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) level on B3LYP/6-31G ∗ molecular geometries. These parameters were then least squares fit as a function of literature Hammett parameters. For N, N' -bis (4'-substituted-phenyl)-1,4-quinonediimines, the least squares fits demonstrated excellent linearity, with the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient ( r2) greater than 0.98 for all isomers. For N, N' -bis (3'-substituted-3'-aminophenyl)-1,4-quinonediimines, the least squares fits were less nearly linear, with r2 approximately 0.70 for all isomers when derived from calculated vertical ionization potentials, but those from calculated vertical electron affinities usually greater than 0.90.
Mini MAX-DOAS Measurements of Air Pollutants over China
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Staadt, Steffen; Hao, Nan; Trautmann, Thomas
2016-08-01
This study continues the work of Clémer et al., (2010) and is aimed to improve trace gas retrievals with mini MAX-DOAS measurements in Nanjing. Based on that work, aerosol extinction vertical profiles are retrieved using the bePRO inversion algorithm developed by the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA- IASB). Afterwards, the tropospheric trace gas vertical profiles and vertical column densities (VCDs) are retrieved by applying the optimal estimation method to the O4 MAX-DOAS measurements. The Profiles for N O2 , S O2 , glyoxal, formaldehyde and nitrous acid are obtained with different results and different settings for the DOAS measurement. The AODs show small positive correlation against the AERONET values. For NO2, the retrieval shows reasonable concentrations in winter as opposed to summer and has small positive correlations with GOME-2 data. The SO2 VCDs are not correlated with the GOME-2 data, due to high uncertainties from MAX-DOAS and satellite retrievals, while the vertical mixing ratios (VMR) show good agreement with in-situ data (SORPES) at Nanjing. Nitrous acid shows a maximum in winter and a minimum in summer, while glyoxal has its maximum in August and September.
Lidar for Wind and Optical Turbulence Profiling
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fastig, Shlomo; Porat, Omer; Englander, Abraham; Sprung, Detlev; Stein, Karin U.; Sucher, Erik
2018-04-01
A field campaign for the comparison investigation of systems to measure wind and optical turbulence profiles was conducted in northern Germany. The experimental effort was to compare the performance of the LIDAR, SODAR-RASS and ultrasonic anemometers for the measurement of the above mentioned atmospheric parameters. Soreq's LIDAR is a fiber laser based system demonstrator for the vertical profiling of the wind and turbulence, based on the correlation of aerosol density variations. It provides measurements up to 350m with 20m resolution.
Detection of an electron beam in a high density plasma via an electrostatic probe
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Majeski, Stephen; Yoo, Jongsoo; Zweben, Stewart; Yamada, Masaaki; Ji, Hantao
2017-10-01
The perturbation in floating potential by an electron beam is detected by a 1D floating potential probe array to evaluate the use of an electron beam for magnetic field line mapping in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) plasma. The MRX plasma is relatively high density (1013 cm-3) and low temperature (5 eV). Beam electrons are emitted from a tungsten filament and are accelerated by a 200 V potential across the sheath. They stream along the magnetic field lines towards the probe array. The spatial electron beam density profile is assumed to be a Gaussian along the radial axis of MRX and the effective beam width is determined from the radial profile of the floating potential. The magnitude of the perturbation is in agreement with theoretical predictions and the location of the perturbation is also in agreement with field line mapping. In addition, no significant broadening of the electron beam is observed after propagation for tens of centimeters through the high density plasma. These results demonstrate that this method of field line mapping is, in principle, feasible in high density plasmas. This work is supported by the DOE Contract No. DE-AC0209CH11466.
Coordinated satellite and incoherent scatter observations. [of the ionosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Calderon, C. H. J.
1975-01-01
Measurements taken at the Jicamarca Radar Observatory at Lima, Peru during the Cooperative Sounding Rocket Program are reported. The following types of data were acquired: (1) electron density and temperature, (2) vertical plasma drift, (3) electrojet relative echo power density, (4) electrojet Doppler shift and condition, and (5) 150 km echoing region.
Rocket observations of the ionosphere during the eclipse of 26 February 1979
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Mcinerney, M. K.; Smith, L. G.
1984-01-01
Electron density profiles and energetic particle fluxes were determined from two rockets launched, respectively, at the beginning and end of totality during the solar eclipse of 26 February 1979. These, and one other rocket at the same time of day on 24 February 1979, were launched from near Red Lake, Ontario. The electron density profile from 24 February shows the electron density to be normal above 110 km, to rocket apogee. Below 110 km, the electron density is enhanced, by an order of magnitude in the D region, compared with data from Wallops Island at the same solar zenith angle (63 deg). The enhancement is qualitatively explained by the large flux of field aligned energetic particles observed on the same rocket. During totality (on 26 February) the electron density above 110 km to rocket apogee is reduced by a factor of about three. Below 110 km, the electron density is much greater than observed during previous eclipses. The particle flux measured on the 26 February was an order of magnitude less than that on the 24 February but showed greater variability, particularly at the higher energies (100 keV). A feature of the particle flux is that, for the two rockets that were separated horizontally by 38 km while above the absorbing region, the variations are uncorrelated.
Zhu, Qing; Iversen, Colleen M.; Riley, William J.; ...
2016-12-23
Ongoing climate warming will likely perturb vertical distributions of nitrogen availability in tundra soils through enhancing nitrogen mineralization and releasing previously inaccessible nitrogen from frozen permafrost soil. But, arctic tundra responses to such changes are uncertain, because of a lack of vertically explicit nitrogen tracer experiments and untested hypotheses of root nitrogen uptake under the stress of microbial competition implemented in land models. We conducted a vertically explicit 15N tracer experiment for three dominant tundra species to quantify plant N uptake profiles. Then we applied a nutrient competition model (N-COM), which is being integrated into the ACME Land Model, tomore » explain the observations. Observations using an 15N tracer showed that plant N uptake profiles were not consistently related to root biomass density profiles, which challenges the prevailing hypothesis that root density always exerts first-order control on N uptake. By considering essential root traits (e.g., biomass distribution and nutrient uptake kinetics) with an appropriate plant-microbe nutrient competition framework, our model reasonably reproduced the observed patterns of plant N uptake. Additionally, we show that previously applied nutrient competition hypotheses in Earth System Land Models fail to explain the diverse plant N uptake profiles we observed. These results cast doubt on current climate-scale model predictions of arctic plant responses to elevated nitrogen supply under a changing climate and highlight the importance of considering essential root traits in large-scale land models. Finally, we provided suggestions and a short synthesis of data availability for future trait-based land model development.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Zhu, Qing; Iversen, Colleen M.; Riley, William J.
Ongoing climate warming will likely perturb vertical distributions of nitrogen availability in tundra soils through enhancing nitrogen mineralization and releasing previously inaccessible nitrogen from frozen permafrost soil. But, arctic tundra responses to such changes are uncertain, because of a lack of vertically explicit nitrogen tracer experiments and untested hypotheses of root nitrogen uptake under the stress of microbial competition implemented in land models. We conducted a vertically explicit 15N tracer experiment for three dominant tundra species to quantify plant N uptake profiles. Then we applied a nutrient competition model (N-COM), which is being integrated into the ACME Land Model, tomore » explain the observations. Observations using an 15N tracer showed that plant N uptake profiles were not consistently related to root biomass density profiles, which challenges the prevailing hypothesis that root density always exerts first-order control on N uptake. By considering essential root traits (e.g., biomass distribution and nutrient uptake kinetics) with an appropriate plant-microbe nutrient competition framework, our model reasonably reproduced the observed patterns of plant N uptake. Additionally, we show that previously applied nutrient competition hypotheses in Earth System Land Models fail to explain the diverse plant N uptake profiles we observed. These results cast doubt on current climate-scale model predictions of arctic plant responses to elevated nitrogen supply under a changing climate and highlight the importance of considering essential root traits in large-scale land models. Finally, we provided suggestions and a short synthesis of data availability for future trait-based land model development.« less
Copper vertical micro dendrite fin arrays and their superior boiling heat transfer capability
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, Ya-Qiao; Lyu, Shu-Shen; Luo, Jia-Li; Luo, Zhi-Yong; Fu, Yuan-Xiang; Heng, Yi; Zhang, Jian-Hui; Mo, Dong-Chuan
2017-11-01
Micro pin fin arrays have been widely used in electronic cooling, micro reactors, catalyst support, and wettability modification and so on, and a facile way to produce better micro pin fin arrays is demanded. Herein, a simple electrochemical method has been developed to fabricate copper vertical micro dendrite fin arrays (Cu-VMDFA) with controllable shapes, number density and height. High copper sulphate concentration is one key point to make the dendrite stand vertically. Besides, the applied current should rise at an appropriate rate to ensure the copper dendrite can grow vertically on its own. The Cu-VMDFA can significantly enhance the heat transfer coefficient by approximately twice compared to the plain copper surface. The Cu-VMDFA may be widely used in boiling heat transfer areas such as nuclear power plants, electronic cooling, heat exchangers, and so on.
Electronic structure and electron momentum densities of Ag2CrO4
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meena, Seema Kumari; Ahuja, B. L.
2018-05-01
We present the first-ever experimental electron momentum density of Ag2CrO4 using 661.65 keV γ-rays from 20 Ci 137Cs source. To validate our experimental data, we have also deduced theoretical Compton profiles, energy bands and density of states using linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method in the framework of density functional theory. It is seen that the DFT-LDA gives a better agreement with experimental data than free atom model. The energy bands and density of states are also discussed.
New Data Source for Studying and Modelling the Topside Ionosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Huang, Xue-Qin; Reinisch, Bodo; Bilitza, Dieter; Benson, Robert
2001-01-01
The existing uncertainties about density profiles in the topside ionosphere, i.e., in the height regime from hmF2 to approx. 2000 km, requires the search for new data sources. Millions of ionograms had been recorded by the ISIS and Alouette satellites in the sixties and seventies, that never were analyzed in terms of electron density profiles. In recent years an effort started to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. This paper shows how the digital ionograms are processed and the electron density profiles (from satellite orbit altitude, 1400 km for ISIS-2, down to the F peak) are calculated. The most difficult part of the task is the automatic scaling of the echo traces in the ISIS ionograms. Unlike the ionograms from modern ionosondes, the ISIS ionograms do not identify the wave polarization of the different echo traces, so physical logic must be applied to identify the ordinary ()) and extraordinary (X) traces, and this is not always successful. Characteristic resonance features seen in the topside ionograms occur at the gyro and plasma frequencies. An elaborate scheme was developed to identify these resonance frequencies in order to determine the local plasma and gyrofrequencies. This information helps in the identification of the O and X traces, and it provides the starting density of the electron density profile. The inversion of the echo traces into electron density profiles uses the same modified Chebyshev polynomial fitting technique that is successfully applied in the ground-based Digisonde network. The automatic topside ionogram scaler with true height algorithm TOPIST is successfully scaling approx. 70% of the ionograms. An 'editing process' is available to manually scale the more difficult ionograms. The home page for the ISIS project is at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis-status.html. It provides access to as of January 2001, 3000,000 digitized ISIS ionogram data and to related software. A search page lets users select data location, time, and a host of other search criteria. The automated processing of the ISIS ionograms will begin later this year and the electron density profiles will be made available from the project home page. The ISIS data restoration efforts are supported through NASA's Applied Systems and Information Research Program.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Berecz, Tibor, E-mail: berecz@eik.bme.hu; Jenei, Péter, E-mail: jenei@metal.elte.hu; Csóré, András, E-mail: csorean@gmail.com
2016-03-15
The microstructure and the dislocation density in as-quenched ferrous lath martensite were studied by different methods. The blocks, packets and variants formed due to martensitic transformation were identified and their sizes were determined by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Concomitant transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation revealed that the laths contain subgrains with the size between 50 and 100 nm. A novel evaluation procedure of EBSD images was elaborated for the determination of the density and the space distribution of geometrically necessary dislocations from the misorientation distribution. The total dislocation density obtained by X-ray diffraction line profile analysis was in good agreementmore » with the value determined by EBSD, indicating that the majority of dislocations formed due to martensitic transformation during quenching are geometrically necessary dislocations.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Inada, Yuki; Kamiya, Tomoki; Matsuoka, Shigeyasu; Kumada, Akiko; Ikeda, Hisatoshi; Hidaka, Kunihiko
2018-01-01
Two-dimensional electron density imaging over free burning SF6 arcs and SF6 gas-blast arcs was conducted at current zero using highly sensitive Shack-Hartmann type laser wavefront sensors in order to experimentally characterise electron density distributions for the success and failure of arc interruption in the thermal reignition phase. The experimental results under an interruption probability of 50% showed that free burning SF6 arcs with axially asymmetric electron density profiles were interrupted with a success rate of 88%. On the other hand, the current interruption of SF6 gas-blast arcs was reproducibly achieved under locally reduced electron densities and the interruption success rate was 100%.
Density profiles of granular gases studied by molecular dynamics and Brownian bridges
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Peñuñuri, F.; Montoya, J. A.; Carvente, O.
2018-02-01
Despite the inherent frictional forces and dissipative collisions, confined granular matter can be regarded as a system in a stationary state if we inject energy continuously. Under these conditions, both the density and the granular temperature are, in general, non-monotonic variables along the height of the container. In consequence, an analytical description of a granular system is hard to conceive. Here, by using molecular dynamics simulations, we measure the packing fraction profiles for a vertically vibrating three-dimensional granular system in several gaseous-like stationary states. We show that by using the Brownian bridge concept, the determined packing fraction profiles can be reproduced accurately and give a complete description of the distribution of the particles inside the simulation box.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pan, Wenyong; Innanen, Kristopher A.; Geng, Yu
2018-03-01
Seismic full-waveform inversion (FWI) methods hold strong potential to recover multiple subsurface elastic properties for hydrocarbon reservoir characterization. Simultaneously updating multiple physical parameters introduces the problem of interparameter tradeoff, arising from the covariance between different physical parameters, which increases nonlinearity and uncertainty of multiparameter FWI. The coupling effects of different physical parameters are significantly influenced by model parameterization and acquisition arrangement. An appropriate choice of model parameterization is critical to successful field data applications of multiparameter FWI. The objective of this paper is to examine the performance of various model parameterizations in isotropic-elastic FWI with walk-away vertical seismic profile (W-VSP) dataset for unconventional heavy oil reservoir characterization. Six model parameterizations are considered: velocity-density (α, β and ρ΄), modulus-density (κ, μ and ρ), Lamé-density (λ, μ΄ and ρ‴), impedance-density (IP, IS and ρ″), velocity-impedance-I (α΄, β΄ and I_P^'), and velocity-impedance-II (α″, β″ and I_S^'). We begin analyzing the interparameter tradeoff by making use of scattering radiation patterns, which is a common strategy for qualitative parameter resolution analysis. In this paper, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the scattering radiation patterns and recommend that interparameter tradeoffs be evaluated using interparameter contamination kernels, which provide quantitative, second-order measurements of the interparameter contaminations and can be constructed efficiently with an adjoint-state approach. Synthetic W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI experiments in the time domain verify our conclusions about interparameter tradeoffs for various model parameterizations. Density profiles are most strongly influenced by the interparameter contaminations; depending on model parameterization, the inverted density profile can be over-estimated, under-estimated or spatially distorted. Among the six cases, only the velocity-density parameterization provides stable and informative density features not included in the starting model. Field data applications of multicomponent W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI in the time domain were also carried out. The heavy oil reservoir target zone, characterized by low α-to-β ratios and low Poisson's ratios, can be identified clearly with the inverted isotropic-elastic parameters.
Pan, Wenyong; Innanen, Kristopher A.; Geng, Yu
2018-03-06
We report seismic full-waveform inversion (FWI) methods hold strong potential to recover multiple subsurface elastic properties for hydrocarbon reservoir characterization. Simultaneously updating multiple physical parameters introduces the problem of interparameter tradeoff, arising from the covariance between different physical parameters, which increases nonlinearity and uncertainty of multiparameter FWI. The coupling effects of different physical parameters are significantly influenced by model parameterization and acquisition arrangement. An appropriate choice of model parameterization is critical to successful field data applications of multiparameter FWI. The objective of this paper is to examine the performance of various model parameterizations in isotropic-elastic FWI with walk-away vertical seismicmore » profile (W-VSP) dataset for unconventional heavy oil reservoir characterization. Six model parameterizations are considered: velocity-density (α, β and ρ'), modulus-density (κ, μ and ρ), Lamé-density (λ, μ' and ρ'''), impedance-density (IP, IS and ρ''), velocity-impedance-I (α', β' and I' P), and velocity-impedance-II (α'', β'' and I'S). We begin analyzing the interparameter tradeoff by making use of scattering radiation patterns, which is a common strategy for qualitative parameter resolution analysis. In this paper, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the scattering radiation patterns and recommend that interparameter tradeoffs be evaluated using interparameter contamination kernels, which provide quantitative, second-order measurements of the interparameter contaminations and can be constructed efficiently with an adjoint-state approach. Synthetic W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI experiments in the time domain verify our conclusions about interparameter tradeoffs for various model parameterizations. Density profiles are most strongly influenced by the interparameter contaminations; depending on model parameterization, the inverted density profile can be over-estimated, under-estimated or spatially distorted. Among the six cases, only the velocity-density parameterization provides stable and informative density features not included in the starting model. Field data applications of multicomponent W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI in the time domain were also carried out. Finally, the heavy oil reservoir target zone, characterized by low α-to-β ratios and low Poisson’s ratios, can be identified clearly with the inverted isotropic-elastic parameters.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Pan, Wenyong; Innanen, Kristopher A.; Geng, Yu
We report seismic full-waveform inversion (FWI) methods hold strong potential to recover multiple subsurface elastic properties for hydrocarbon reservoir characterization. Simultaneously updating multiple physical parameters introduces the problem of interparameter tradeoff, arising from the covariance between different physical parameters, which increases nonlinearity and uncertainty of multiparameter FWI. The coupling effects of different physical parameters are significantly influenced by model parameterization and acquisition arrangement. An appropriate choice of model parameterization is critical to successful field data applications of multiparameter FWI. The objective of this paper is to examine the performance of various model parameterizations in isotropic-elastic FWI with walk-away vertical seismicmore » profile (W-VSP) dataset for unconventional heavy oil reservoir characterization. Six model parameterizations are considered: velocity-density (α, β and ρ'), modulus-density (κ, μ and ρ), Lamé-density (λ, μ' and ρ'''), impedance-density (IP, IS and ρ''), velocity-impedance-I (α', β' and I' P), and velocity-impedance-II (α'', β'' and I'S). We begin analyzing the interparameter tradeoff by making use of scattering radiation patterns, which is a common strategy for qualitative parameter resolution analysis. In this paper, we discuss the advantages and limitations of the scattering radiation patterns and recommend that interparameter tradeoffs be evaluated using interparameter contamination kernels, which provide quantitative, second-order measurements of the interparameter contaminations and can be constructed efficiently with an adjoint-state approach. Synthetic W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI experiments in the time domain verify our conclusions about interparameter tradeoffs for various model parameterizations. Density profiles are most strongly influenced by the interparameter contaminations; depending on model parameterization, the inverted density profile can be over-estimated, under-estimated or spatially distorted. Among the six cases, only the velocity-density parameterization provides stable and informative density features not included in the starting model. Field data applications of multicomponent W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI in the time domain were also carried out. Finally, the heavy oil reservoir target zone, characterized by low α-to-β ratios and low Poisson’s ratios, can be identified clearly with the inverted isotropic-elastic parameters.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pan, Wenyong; Innanen, Kristopher A.; Geng, Yu
2018-06-01
Seismic full-waveform inversion (FWI) methods hold strong potential to recover multiple subsurface elastic properties for hydrocarbon reservoir characterization. Simultaneously updating multiple physical parameters introduces the problem of interparameter trade-off, arising from the simultaneous variations of different physical parameters, which increase the nonlinearity and uncertainty of multiparameter FWI. The coupling effects of different physical parameters are significantly influenced by model parametrization and acquisition arrangement. An appropriate choice of model parametrization is important to successful field data applications of multiparameter FWI. The objective of this paper is to examine the performance of various model parametrizations in isotropic-elastic FWI with walk-away vertical seismic profile (W-VSP) data for unconventional heavy oil reservoir characterization. Six model parametrizations are considered: velocity-density (α, β and ρ΄), modulus-density (κ, μ and ρ), Lamé-density (λ, μ΄ and ρ‴), impedance-density (IP, IS and ρ″), velocity-impedance-I (α΄, β΄ and I_P^' }) and velocity-impedance-II (α″, β″ and I_S^' }). We begin analysing the interparameter trade-off by making use of scattering radiation patterns, which is a common strategy for qualitative parameter resolution analysis. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the scattering radiation patterns and recommend that interparameter trade-offs be evaluated using interparameter contamination kernels, which provide quantitative, second-order measurements of the interparameter contaminations and can be constructed efficiently with an adjoint-state approach. Synthetic W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI experiments in the time domain verify our conclusions about interparameter trade-offs for various model parametrizations. Density profiles are most strongly influenced by the interparameter contaminations; depending on model parametrization, the inverted density profile can be overestimated, underestimated or spatially distorted. Among the six cases, only the velocity-density parametrization provides stable and informative density features not included in the starting model. Field data applications of multicomponent W-VSP isotropic-elastic FWI in the time domain were also carried out. The heavy oil reservoir target zone, characterized by low α-to-β ratios and low Poisson's ratios, can be identified clearly with the inverted isotropic-elastic parameters.
Properties of thermal air plasma with admixing of copper and carbon
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fesenko, S.; Veklich, A.; Boretskij, V.; Cressault, Y.; Gleizes, A.; Teulet, Ph
2014-11-01
This paper deals with investigations of air plasma with admixing of copper and carbon. Model plasma source unit with real breaking arc was used for the simulation of real discharges, which can be occurred during sliding of Cu-C composite electrodes on copper wire at electromotive vehicles. The complex technique of plasma property studies is developed. From one hand, the radial profiles of temperature and electron density in plasma of electric arc discharge in air between Cu-C composite and copper electrodes in air flow were measured by optical spectroscopy techniques. From another hand, the radial profiles of electric conductivity of plasma mixture were calculated by solution of energy balance equation. It was assumed that the thermal conductivity of air plasma is not depending on copper or carbon vapor admixtures. The electron density is obtained from electric conductivity profiles by calculation in assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium in plasma. Computed in such way radial profiles of electron density in plasma of electric arc discharge in air between copper electrodes were compared with experimentally measured profiles. It is concluded that developed techniques of plasma diagnostics can be reasonably used in investigations of thermal plasma with copper and carbon vapors.
Multi-channel transport experiments at Alcator C-Mod and comparison with gyrokinetic simulations
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
White, A. E.; Howard, N. T.; Greenwald, M.
2013-05-15
Multi-channel transport experiments have been conducted in auxiliary heated (Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies) L-mode plasmas at Alcator C-Mod [Marmar and Alcator C-Mod Group, Fusion Sci. Technol. 51(3), 3261 (2007)]. These plasmas provide good diagnostic coverage for measurements of kinetic profiles, impurity transport, and turbulence (electron temperature and density fluctuations). In the experiments, a steady sawtoothing L-mode plasma with 1.2 MW of on-axis RF heating is established and density is scanned by 20%. Measured rotation profiles change from peaked to hollow in shape as density is increased, but electron density and impurity profiles remain peaked. Ion or electron heat fluxesmore » from the two plasmas are the same. The experimental results are compared directly to nonlinear gyrokinetic theory using synthetic diagnostics and the code GYRO [Candy and Waltz, J. Comput. Phys. 186, 545 (2003)]. We find good agreement with experimental ion heat flux, impurity particle transport, and trends in the fluctuation level ratio (T(tilde sign){sub e}/T{sub e})/(ñ{sub e}/n{sub e}), but underprediction of electron heat flux. We find that changes in momentum transport (rotation profiles changing from peaked to hollow) do not correlate with changes in particle transport, and also do not correlate with changes in linear mode dominance, e.g., Ion Temperature Gradient versus Trapped Electron Mode. The new C-Mod results suggest that the drives for momentum transport differ from drives for heat and particle transport. The experimental results are inconsistent with present quasilinear models, and the strong sensitivity of core rotation to density remains unexplained.« less
New Data on the Topside Electron Density Distribution
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Huang, Xue-Qin; Reinisch, Bodo; Bilitza, Dieter; Benson, Robert F.
2001-01-01
The existing uncertainties about the electron density profiles in the topside ionosphere, i.e., in the height region from hmF2 to approx. 2000 km, require the search for new data sources. The ISIS and Alouette topside sounder satellites from the sixties to the eighties recorded millions of ionograms and most were not analyzed in terms of electron density profiles. In recent years an effort started to digitize the analog recordings to prepare the ionograms for computerized analysis. As of November 2001 about 350,000 ionograms have been digitized from the original 7-track analog tapes. These data are available in binary and CDF format from the anonymous ftp site of the National Space Science Data Center. A search site and browse capabilities on CDAWeb assist the scientific usage of these data. All information and access links can be found at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/space/isis/isis-status.html. This paper describes the ISIS data restoration effort and shows how the digital ionograms are automatically processed into electron density profiles from satellite orbit altitude (1400 km for ISIS-2) down to the F peak. Because of the large volume of data an automated processing algorithm is imperative. The automatic topside ionogram scaler with true height algorithm TOPIST software developed for this task is successfully scaling approx.70 % of the ionograms. An 'editing process' is available to manually scale the more difficult ionograms. The automated processing of the digitized ISIS ionograms is now underway, producing a much-needed database of topside electron density profiles for ionospheric modeling covering more than one solar cycle. The ISIS data restoration efforts are supported through NASA's Applied Systems and Information Research Program.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Michels, C. J.; Rose, J. R.; Sigman, D. R.
1971-01-01
Temporal and radial profiles are obtained 30 cm downstream from the anode for two peak arc currents (11.2 kA and 20 kA) and for various auxiliary magnetic fields (0, 1.0 T, and 2.0T) using the Thomson scattering technique. Average density and temperature are relatively constant for over 100 microseconds with significant fluctuations. Radial profiles obtained are relatively flat for 4 cm from the axis. Compared to earlier 20 cm data, the exhaust density has decreased significantly, the average temperature (4.6 eV) has not changed, and the density hole with an auxiliary magnetic field has enlarged.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Vanzandt, T. E.; Smith, S. A.; Tsuda, T.; Sato, T.; Fritts, D. C.
1990-01-01
Results are presented from a six-day campaign to observe velocity fluctuations in the lower atmosphere using the MU radar (Fukao et al., 1985) in Shigaraki, Japan in March, 1986. Consideration is given to the azimuthal anisotropy, the frequency spectra, the vertical profiles of energy density, and the momentum flux of the motion field. It is found that all of the observed azimuthal variations are probably caused by a gravity wave field whose parameters vary with time. The results show significant differences between the mean zonal and meridional frequency spectra and different profiles of mean energy density with height for different frequency bands and for zonal and meridional components.
Remote Sensing of Ionosphere by IONOLAB Group
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Arikan, Feza
2016-07-01
Ionosphere is a temporally and spatially varying, dispersive, anisotropic and inhomogeneous medium that is characterized primarily by its electron density distribution. Electron density is a complex function of spatial and temporal variations of solar, geomagnetic, and seismic activities. Ionosphere is the main source of error for navigation and positioning systems and satellite communication. Therefore, characterization and constant monitoring of variability of the ionosphere is of utmost importance for the performance improvement of these systems. Since ionospheric electron density is not a directly measurable quantity, an important derivable parameter is the Total Electron Content (TEC), which is used widely to characterize the ionosphere. TEC is proportional to the total number of electrons on a line crossing the atmosphere. IONOLAB is a research group is formed by Hacettepe University, Bilkent University and Kastamonu University, Turkey gathered to handle the challenges of the ionosphere using state-of-the-art remote sensing and signal processing techniques. IONOLAB group provides unique space weather services of IONOLAB-TEC, International Reference Ionosphere extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model based IRI-Plas-MAP, IRI-Plas-STEC and Online IRI-Plas-2015 model at www.ionolab.org. IONOLAB group has been working for imaging and monitoring of ionospheric structure for the last 15 years. TEC is estimated from dual frequency GPS receivers as IONOLAB-TEC using IONOLAB-BIAS. For high spatio-temporal resolution 2-D imaging or mapping, IONOLAB-MAP algorithm is developed that uses automated Universal Kriging or Ordinary Kriging in which the experimental semivariogram is fitted to Matern Function with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). For 3-D imaging of ionosphere and 1-D vertical profiles of electron density, state-of-the-art IRI-Plas model based IONOLAB-CIT algorithm is developed for regional reconstruction that employs Kalman Filters for state/temporal transition. IONOLAB group contributes to remote sensing of upper atmosphere, ionosphere and plasmasphere with continuing TUBITAK projects. IONOLAB group is open to joint research and collaboration with researchers from all disciplines that investigate the challenges of ionosphere and space weather. This study is supported by TUBITAK 114E541, 115E915 and Joint TUBITAK 114E092 and AS CR 14/001 projects.
Vertical structure of tropospheric winds on gas giants
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Scott, R. K.; Dunkerton, T. J.
2017-04-01
Zonal mean zonal velocity profiles from cloud-tracking observations on Jupiter and Saturn are used to infer latitudinal variations of potential temperature consistent with a shear stable potential vorticity distribution. Immediately below the cloud tops, density stratification is weaker on the poleward and stronger on the equatorward flanks of midlatitude jets, while at greater depth the opposite relation holds. Thermal wind balance then yields the associated vertical shears of midlatitude jets in an altitude range bounded above by the cloud tops and bounded below by the level where the latitudinal gradient of static stability changes sign. The inferred vertical shear below the cloud tops is consistent with existing thermal profiling of the upper troposphere. The sense of the associated mean meridional circulation in the upper troposphere is discussed, and expected magnitudes are given based on existing estimates of the radiative timescale on each planet.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Peter, Kerstin; Pätzold, Martin; Molina-Cuberos, Gregorio; Witasse, Olivier; González-Galindo, F.; Withers, Paul; Bird, Michael K.; Häusler, Bernd; Hinson, David P.; Tellmann, Silvia; Tyler, G. Leonard
2014-05-01
The electron density distributions of the lower ionospheres of Mars and Venus are mainly dependent on the solar X-ray and EUV flux and the solar zenith angle. The influence of an increasing solar flux is clearly seen in the increase of the observed peak electron density and total electron content (TEC) of the main ionospheric layers. The model “Ionization in Atmospheres” (IonA) was developed to compare ionospheric radio sounding observations, which were performed with the radio science experiments MaRS on Mars Express and VeRa on Venus Express, with simulated electron density profiles of the Mars and Venus ionospheres. This was done for actual observation conditions (solar flux, solar zenith angle, planetary coordinates) from the bases of the ionospheres to ∼160 km altitude. IonA uses models of the neutral atmospheres at ionospheric altitudes (Mars Climate Database (MCD) v4.3 for Mars; VenusGRAM/VIRA for Venus) and solar flux information in the 0.5-95 nm wavelength range (X-ray to EUV) from the SOLAR2000 data base. The comparison between the observed electron density profiles and the IonA profiles for Mars, simulated for a selected MCD scenario (background atmosphere), shows that the general behavior of the Mars ionosphere is reproduced by all scenarios. The MCD “low solar flux/clear atmosphere” and “low solar flux/MY24” scenarios agree best (on average) with the MaRS set of observations, although the actual Mars atmosphere seemed to be still slightly colder at ionospheric altitudes. For Venus, the VenusGRAM model, based on VIRA, is too limited to be used for the IonA simulation of electron density profiles. The behavior of the V2 peak electron density and TEC as a function of solar zenith angle are in general reproduced, but the peak densities and the TEC are either over- or underestimated for low or high solar EUV fluxes, respectively. The simulated V2 peak altitudes are systematically underestimated by 5 km on average for solar zenith angles less than 45° and the peak altitudes rise for zenith angles larger than 60°. The latter is the opposite of the observed behavior. The explanation is that VIRA and VenusGRAM are valid only for high solar activity, although there is also very poor agreement with VeRa observations from the recent solar cycle, in which the solar activity increases to high values. The disagreement between the observation and simulation of the Venus electron density profiles proves, that the true encountered Venus atmosphere at ionospheric altitudes was denser but locally cooler than predicted by VIRA.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dean, Cayla; Soloviev, Alexander; Hirons, Amy; Frank, Tamara; Wood, Jon
2015-04-01
Recent studies suggest that diel vertical migrations of zooplankton may have an impact on ocean mixing, though details are not completely clear. A strong sound scattering layer of zooplankton undergoing diel vertical migrations was observed in Saanich Inlet, British Colombia, Canada by Kunze et al. (2006). In this study, a shipboard 200-kHz echosounder was used to track vertical motion of the sound scattering layer, and microstructure profiles were collected to observe turbulence. An increase of dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy by four to five orders of magnitude was measured during diel vertical migrations of zooplankton in one case (but not observed during other cases). A strong sound scattering layer undergoing diel vertical migration was also observed in the Straits of Florida via a bottom mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler at 244 m isobath. A 3-D non-hydrostatic computational fluid dynamics model with Lagrangian particle injections (a proxy for migrating zooplankton) via a discrete phase model was used to simulate the effect of diel vertical migrations on the turbulence for both Saanich Inlet and the Straits of Florida. The model was initialized with idealized (but based on observation) density and velocity profiles. Particles, with buoyancy adjusted to serve as a proxy for vertically swimming zooplankton, were injected to simulate diel vertical migration cycles. Results of models run with extreme concentrations of particles showed an increase in dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy of approximately five orders of magnitude over background turbulence during migration of particles in both Saanich Inlet and the Straits of Florida cases (though direct relation of the turbulence produced by buoyant particles and swimming organisms isn't straightforward). This increase was quantitatively consistent, with turbulence measurements by Kunze et al. (2006). When 10 times fewer particles were injected into the model, the effect on dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy was an order of magnitude smaller than that from the extreme concentration. At a concentration of particles 100 times smaller than the extreme concentration, there was no longer an observable effect. In the Straits of Florida, direct turbulence measurements were not available to make a quantitative comparison. However, a small, but statistically significant decrease in northward current velocity profiles during migration times were observed after averaging these profiles over 11 months. A small decrease of current velocity connected to the vertical migrations of particles was reproduced in the Straits of Florida model case. The deviations in the velocity profiles can be explained by the increase in turbulent mixing during vertical migration periods.
Brace, L H; Theis, R F; Krehbiel, J P; Nagy, A F; Donahue, T M; McElroy, M B; Pedersen, A
1979-02-23
Altitude profiles of electron temperature and density in the ionosphere of Venus have been obtained by the Pioneer Venus orbiter electron temperatutre probe. Elevated temperatutres observed at times of low solar wind flux exhibit height profiles that are consistent with a model in which less than 5 percent of the solar wind energy is deposited at the ionopause and is conducted downward through an unmagnetized ionosphere to the region below 200 kilomneters where electron cooling to the neutral atmosphere proceeds rapidly. When solar wind fluxes are higher, the electron temperatures and densities are highly structured and the ionopause moves to lower altitudes. The ionopause height in the late afternoon sector observed thus far varies so widely from day to (day that any height variation with solar zenith angle is not apparent in the observations. In the neighborhood of the ionopause, measuremnents of plasma temperatures and densities and magnetic field strength indicate that an induced magnetic barrier plays an important role in the pressure transfer between the solar wind and the ionosphere. The bow, shock is marked by a distinct increase in electron current collected by the instrument, a featutre that provides a convenient identification of the bow shock location.
Vertically grown nanowire crystals of dibenzotetrathienocoronene (DBTTC) on large-area graphene
Kim, B.; Chiu, C. -Y.; Kang, S. J.; ...
2016-06-01
Here we demonstrate controlled growth of vertical organic crystal nanowires on single layer graphene. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transition electron microscopy (TEM), and Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXD), we probe the microstructure and morphology of dibenzotetrathienocoronene (DBTTC) nanowires epitaxially grown on graphene. The investigation is performed at both the ensemble and single nanowire level, and as function of growth parameters, providing insight of and control over the formation mechanism. Finally, the size, density and height of the nanowires can be tuned via growth conditions, opening new avenues for tailoring three-dimensional (3-D) nanostructured architectures for organic electronics with improvedmore » functional performance.« less
Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J L; Karasik, M; Chan, L Y
2015-08-01
A grid image refractometer (GIR) has been implemented at the Nike krypton fluoride laser facility of the Naval Research Laboratory. This instrument simultaneously measures propagation angles and transmissions of UV probe rays (λ = 263 nm, Δt = 10 ps) refracted through plasma. We report results of the first Nike-GIR measurement on a CH plasma produced by the Nike laser pulse (∼1 ns FWHM) with the intensity of 1.1 × 10(15) W/cm(2). The measured angles and transmissions were processed to construct spatial profiles of electron density (ne) and temperature (Te) in the underdense coronal region of the plasma. Using an inversion algorithm developed for the strongly refracted rays, the deployed GIR system probed electron densities up to 4 × 10(21) cm(-3) with the density scale length of 120 μm along the plasma symmetry axis. The resulting n(e) and T(e) profiles are verified to be self-consistent with the measured quantities of the refracted probe light.
Topside ionosphere of Mars: Variability, transient layers, and the role of crustal magnetic fields
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gopika, P. G.; Venkateswara Rao, N.
2018-04-01
The topside ionosphere of Mars is known to show variability and transient topside layers. In this study, we analyzed the electron density profiles measured by the radio occultation technique aboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft to study the topside ionosphere of Mars. The electron density profiles that we used in the present study span between 1998 and 2005. All the measurements are done from the northern high latitudes, except 220 profiles which were measured in the southern hemisphere, where strong crustal magnetic fields are present. We binned the observations into six measurement periods: 1998, 1999-north, 1999-south, 2000-2001, 2002-2003, and 2004-2005. We found that the topside ionosphere in the southern high latitudes is more variable than that from the northern hemisphere. This feature is clearly seen with fluctuations of wavelengths less than 20 km. Some of the electron density profiles show a transient topside layer with a local maximum in electron density between 160 km and 210 km. The topside layer is more prone to occur in the southern hemispheric crustal magnetic field regions than in the other regions. In addition, the peak density of the topside layer is greater in regions of strong crustal magnetic fields than in other regions. The variability of the topside ionosphere and the peak density of the topside layer, however, do not show one-to-one correlation with the strength of the crustal magnetic fields and magnetic field inclination. The results of the present study are discussed in the light of current understanding on the topside ionosphere, transient topside layers, and the role of crustal magnetic fields on plasma motions.
Equilibrium theory of cylindrical discharges with special application to helicons
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Curreli, Davide; Chen, Francis F.
2011-11-01
Radiofrequency discharges used in industry often have centrally peaked plasma density profiles n(r) although ionization is localized at the edge, even in the presence of a dc magnetic field. This can be explained with a simple cylindrical model in one dimension as long as the short-circuit effect at the endplates causes a Maxwellian electron distribution. Surprisingly, a universal profile can be obtained, which is self-similar for all discharges with uniform electron temperature Te and neutral density nn. When all collisions and ionizations are radially accounted for, the ion drift velocity toward the wall reaches the Bohm velocity at a radius which can be identified with the sheath edge, thus obviating a pre-sheath calculation. For non-uniform Te and nn, the profiles change slightly but are always peaked on axis. For helicon discharges, iteration with the HELIC code for antenna-wave coupling yields profiles consistent with both energy deposition and diffusion profiles. Calculated density is in absolute-value agreement with experiment.
Upper ocean moored current and density profiler applied to winter conditions near Bermuda
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Eriksen, C.C.; Dahlen, J.M.; Shillingford, J.T. Jr.
1982-09-20
A new moored instrument which makes repeated high vertical resolution profiles of current, temperature, and salinity in the upper ocean over extended periods was used to observe midwinter conditions near Bermuda. The operation and performance of the instrument, called the profiling current meter (PCM), in the surface wave environment of winter storms is reported here. The PCM profiles along the upper portion of a slightly subsurface mooring by adjusting its buoyancy under computer control. This design decouples the instrument from vertical motions of the mooring induced by surface waves, so that its electromagnetic current sensor operates in a favorable mean-to-fluctuatingmore » flow regime. Current, temperature, and electrical conductivity are (vector) averaged into contiguous preselected bins several meters wide over the possible profile range of 20- to 250-m depth. The PCM is capable of collecting 1000--4000 profiles in a 6- to 12-month period, depending on depth range and ambient currents. A variety of baroclinic motions are evident in the Bermuda observations. Upper ocean manifestations of both Kelvin and superinertial island-trapped waves dominate longshore currents. Vertical coherence of onshore current and temperature suggest that internal wave vertical wave number energy distribution is independent of frequency but modified by island bathymetry. Kinetic energy in shear integrated over a 115.6-m-thick layer in the upper ocean is limited to values less than or equal to the potential energy required to mix the existing stratification. Mixing events occur when kinetic energy associated with shear drives the bulk Richardson number (defined by the ratio of energy integrals over the range profiles) to unity, where it remains while shear and stratification disappear together.« less
Stationary self-focusing of intense laser beam in cold quantum plasma using ramp density profile
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Habibi, M.; Ghamari, F.
2012-10-15
By using a transient density profile, we have demonstrated stationary self-focusing of an electromagnetic Gaussian beam in cold quantum plasma. The paper is devoted to the prospects of using upward increasing ramp density profile of an inhomogeneous nonlinear medium with quantum effects in self-focusing mechanism of high intense laser beam. We have found that the upward ramp density profile in addition to quantum effects causes much higher oscillation and better focusing of laser beam in cold quantum plasma in comparison to that in the classical relativistic case. Our computational results reveal the importance and influence of formation of electron densitymore » profiles in enhancing laser self-focusing.« less
An Electron Density Model above the Sunspot from a Mapping of NOAA 7260 at 17 GHz
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yu, Xing-Feng; Yao, Jin-Xing Yao
2002-06-01
The brightness temperature distribution of microwave emission in a solar active region generally shows a ring structure, with a dip at the centre. However, no dip was found in the Nobeyama Radioheliograph left handed circular polarization (LCP) image on 1992 August 18; instead, there was a peak. This is a completely LCP source with zero right-handed circular polarization (RCP). We examine this structure in terms of the joint effect of gyroresonance and bremsstrahlung mechanism with a raised electron density above the central part of the sunspot, and the commonly assumed temperature and vertical dipole magnetic field models. The raised electron density is found to be 1.4 × 1011 cm-3 at the chromosphere base.
Millimeter-wave reflectometry for electron density profile and fluctuation measurements on NSTX
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kubota, S.; Nguyen, X. V.; Peebles, W. A.
2001-01-01
A millimeter-wave reflectometry system for electron density profile and fluctuation measurements is being developed and installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment. The initial frequency coverage will be in the bands 12--18, 20--32, and 33--50 GHz, provided by frequency-tunable solid-state sources. These frequencies correspond to O-mode cutoff densities ranging from 1.8x10{sup 12} to 3.1x10{sup 13}cm{sup -3}, which will span both the plasma core ({rho}=r/a<0.8) and edge ({rho}>0.8) regions. Operated as a broadband swept-frequency (frequency-modulated continuous-wave) reflectometer, the diagnostic is expected to provide routine (shot-to-shot) time- ({<=}50 {mu}s) and spatially resolved ({approx}1 cm) density profiles. The previous hardware can be easilymore » reconfigured as a fixed-frequency reflectometer for density fluctuation measurements. The combination of measurements would be valuable for studying phenomena such as possible L- to H-mode transitions and edge-localized modes.« less
The study of the martian atmosphere from top to bottom with SPICAM light on mars express
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bertaux, Jean-Loup; Fonteyn, D.; Korablev, O.; Chassefière, E.; Dimarellis, E.; Dubois, J. P.; Hauchecorne, A.; Cabane, M.; Rannou, P.; Levasseur-Regourd, A. C.; Cernogora, G.; Quemerais, E.; Hermans, C.; Kockarts, G.; Lippens, C.; de Maziere, M.; Moreau, D.; Muller, C.; Neefs, B.; Simon, P. C.; Forget, F.; Hourdin, F.; Talagrand, O.; Moroz, V. I.; Rodin, A.; Sandel, B.; Stern, A.
2000-10-01
SPICAM Light is a small UV-IR instrument selected for Mars Express to recover most of the science that was lost with the demise of Mars 96, where the SPICAM set of sensors was dedicated to the study of the atmosphere of Mars (Spectroscopy for the investigation of the characteristics of the atmosphere of mars). The new configuration of SPICAM Light includes optical sensors and an electronics block. A UV spectrometer (118-320 nm, resolution 0.8 nm) is dedicated to Nadir viewing, limb viewing and vertical profiling by stellar occultation (3.8 kg). It addresses key issues about ozone, its coupling with H 2O, aerosols, atmospheric vertical temperature structure and ionospheric studies. An IR spectrometer (1.2- 4.8 μm, resolution 0.4-1 nm) is dedicated to vertical profiling during solar occultation of H 2O, CO 2, CO, aerosols and exploration of carbon compounds (3.5 kg). A nadir looking sensor for H 2O abundances (1.0- 1.7 μm, resolution 0.8 nm) is recently included in the package (0.8 kg). A simple data processing unit (DPU, 0.9 kg) provides the interface of these sensors with the spacecraft. In nadir orientation, SPICAM UV is essentially an ozone detector, measuring the strongest O 3 absorption band at 250 nm in the spectrum of the solar light scattered back from the ground. In the stellar occultation mode the UV Sensor will measure the vertical profiles of CO 2, temperature, O 3, clouds and aerosols. The density/temperature profiles obtained with SPICAM Light will constrain and aid in the development of the meteorological and dynamical atmospheric models, from the surface to 160 km in the atmosphere. This is essential for future missions that will rely on aerocapture and aerobraking. UV observations of the upper atmosphere will allow study of the ionosphere through the emissions of CO, CO +, and CO 2+, and its direct interaction with the solar wind. Also, it will allow a better understanding of escape mechanisms and estimates of their magnitude, crucial for insight into the long-term evolution of the atmosphere. The SPICAM Light IR sensor is inherited from the IR solar part of the SPICAM solar occultation instrument of Mars 96. Its main scientific objective is the global mapping of the vertical structure of H 2O, CO 2, CO, HDO, aerosols, atmospheric density, and temperature by the solar occultation. The wide spectral range of the IR spectrometer and its high spectral resolution allow an exploratory investigation addressing fundamental question of the possible presence of carbon compounds in the Martian atmosphere. Because of severe mass constraints this channel is still optional. An additional nadir near IR channel that employs a pioneering technology acousto-optical tuneable filter (AOTF) is dedicated to the measurement of water vapour column abundance in the IR simultaneously with ozone measured in the UV. It will be done at much lower telemetry budget compared to the other instrument of the mission, planetary fourier spectrometer (PFS).
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
K R, Sreenivas; Mohammad, Rafiuddin
2016-11-01
Predicting the fog-onset, its growth and dissipation helps in managing airports and other modes of transport. After sunset, occurrence of fog requires moist air, low wind and clear-sky conditions. Under these circumstances radiative heat transfer plays a vital role in the NBL. Locally, initiation of fog happens when the air temperature falls below the dew-point. Thus, to predict the onset of fog at a given location, one has to compute evolution of vertical temperature profile. Earlier,our group has shown that the presence of aerosols and vertical variation in their number density determines the radiative-cooling and hence development of vertical temperature profile. Aerosols, through radiation in the window-band, provides an efficient path for air layers to lose heat to the cold, upper atmosphere. This process creates cooler air layer between warmer ground and upper air layers and resulting temperature profile facilitate the initiation of fog. Our results clearly indicates that accounting for the presence of aerosols and their radiative-transfer is important in modeling micro-meteorological process of fog formation and its evolution. DST, Govt. INDIA.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bendtsen, Jørgen; Richardson, Katherine
2017-04-01
During summer the northern North Sea is characterized by nutrient rich bottom water masses and nutrient poor surface layers. This explains the distribution of chlorophyll a in the water column where a subsurface maximum, referred to as the deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), often is present during the growth season. Vertical transport of nutrients between bottom water masses and the well lit surface layer stimulates phytoplankton growth and this generally explains the location of the DCM. However, a more specific understanding of the interplay between vertical transports, nutrient fluxes and phytoplankton abundance is required for identifying the nature of the vertical transport processes, e.g the role of advection versus vertical turbulent diffusion or the role of localized mixing associated with mesoscale eddies. We present results from the VERMIX study in the north-eastern North Sea where nutrients, chlorophyll a and turbulence profiles were measured along five north-south directed transects in July 2016. A high-resolution sampling program, with horizontal distances of 1-10 km between CTD-stations, resolved the horizontal gradients of chlorophyll a across the steep bottom slope from the relatively shallow central North Sea ( 50-80 m) towards the deep Norwegian Trench (>700 m). Low oxygen concentrations in the bottom water masses above the slope indicated enhanced biological production where vertical mixing would stimulate phytoplankton growth around the DCM. Measurements of variable fluorescence (Fv/Fm) showed elevated values in the DCM which demonstrates a higher potential for electron transport in the Photosystem II in the phytoplankton cells, i.e. an indication of nutrient-rich conditions favorable for phytoplankton production. Profiles of the vertical shear and microstructure of temperature and salinity were measured by a VMP-250 turbulence profiler and the vertical diffusion of nutrients was calculated from the estimated vertical turbulent diffusivity and the distributions of nutrients. Results from the five transects and two time-series stations, where vertical profiles were made at hourly intervals, showed that vertical mixing processes above the slope increased the vertical transport of nutrients significantly and mixing above the slope can explain the hydrographic features and the distribution of the DCM in the area.
Profile Control by Biased Electrodes in Large Diameter RF Produced Pl asma
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shinohara, Shunjiro; Matsuoka, Norikazu; Yoshinaka, Toshiro
1998-10-01
Control of the plasma profile has been carried out, using the voltage biasing method in the large diameter (45 cm) RF (radio frequency) produced plasma in the presence of the uniform magnetic field (less than 1200 G). Under the low filling pressure condition of 0.16 mTorr, changing the biasing voltages to the three individual end plates with concentric circular ring shapes, the radial electron density (about 10^10 cm-3) profile could be changed from the hollow to the peaked one. On the contrary, the nearly flat electron temperature (several eV) profile did not change appreciably. The azimuthal rotation velocity measured by the Mach probe, i.e. directional probe, showed the different radial profiles (but nearly uniform along the axis) depending on the biasing voltage. This velocity became slower with the low magnetic field (less than 200 G) or in the higher pressure regime up to 20 mTorr with the higher electron density. The experimental results by other biasing methods will also be presented.
Retrieval of CHOCHO from MAX-DOAS measurements in the Beijing area
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hendrick, Francois; Lerot, Christophe; Stavrakou, Trissevgeni; De Smedt, Isabelle; Fayt, Caroline; Gielen, Clio; Hermans, Christian; Müller, Jean-Francois; Pinardi, Gaia; Van Roozendael, Michel
2015-04-01
Glyoxal (CHOCHO) is one of the most important carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere. It is produced mainly by the oxidation of biogenic and anthropogenic non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) which participate to the formation of tropospheric ozone and secondary organic aerosols. CHOCHO is also directly released by biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion. Measuring this species is therefore of major importance for air quality monitoring, especially given the scarcity of available CHOCHO observational data sets. In this presentation, CHOCHO vertical profiles and corresponding column densities are retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements in the Beijing city center and at the suburban site of Xianghe located at 60km East of Beijing. The periods covered by the observations are June 2008-April 2009 in Beijing and March 2010-December 2014 in Xianghe. We first investigate the capability of the MAX-DOAS technique to measure this species in such highly-polluted environment. Then the diurnal and seasonal cycles of CHOCHO near-surface concentrations and vertical column densities as well as the corresponding CHOCHO/HCHO ratios are examined on a long-term basis at both locations. The CHOCHO/HCHO ratios are derived from MAX-DOAS HCHO vertical profiles retrieved in parallel to the CHOCHO profiles. These diurnal and seasonal cycles are further assessed using simulations from the 3D-CTM IMAGES and observations from the OMI and GOME-2 satellite nadir instruments. The impact of these results on our knowledge about the CHOCHO budget is discussed.
MIRA: review of inputs from updated results of the phobos mission
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Moroz, V. I.; Korablev, O. I.; Rodin, A. V.; Titov, D. V.
1999-01-01
The future Mars International Reference Atmosphere (MIRA) is intended to replace the present COSPAR Mars Reference Model compiled in 1979 on the basis of Mariner 9 and Viking 1,2 missions results. At the moment, several sources of the post-Viking data potentially useful for MIRA are available. Among them is a data set obtained during Phobos mission in 1989. The interpretation of these data has undergone thorough refinement, so final recommendations for MIRA can be made. The principal points are: 1) vertical profile of water vapor with a ``knee'' at the height about 25 km retrieved in the spring equinox season near equator; 2) variations of water vapor column density including peculiarities on the slopes of high mountains; 3) vertical profiles of ozone; 4) new estimates of CO abundance; 5) surface pressure/height mapping (CO2 altimetry) in selected regions; 6) optical depths of aerosols; 7) vertical profiles of aerosol between surface and 40 km; 8) properties of high altitude ice layers and clouds above mountains; 9) microphysical properties of aerosol particles (size, composition, and number density estimates). The data have been obtained by means of instruments AUGUSTE (UV and NIR spectrometers for limb sounding of the atmosphere using solar occultations), ISM (NIR scanning spectrometer), TERMOSKAN (thermal IR scanning radiometer), KRFM (near-UV and visible multi-band photometer). The observations were performed in equatorial regions during northern spring (solar aerocentric longitudes 8° < Ls < 18°).
High-resolution Compton scattering study of the electron momentum density in Al
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ohata, T.; Itou, M.; Matsumoto, I.; Sakurai, Y.; Kawata, H.; Shiotani, N.; Kaprzyk, S.; Mijnarends, P. E.; Bansil, A.
2000-12-01
We report high-resolution Compton profiles (CP's) of Al along the three principal symmetry directions at a photon energy of 59.38 keV, together with corresponding highly accurate theoretical profiles obtained within the local-density approximation (LDA) based band-theory framework. A good accord between theory and experiment is found with respect to the overall shapes of the CP's and their first and second derivatives, as well as the anisotropies in the CP's defined as differences between pairs of various CP's. There are, however, discrepancies in that, in comparison to the LDA predictions, the measured profiles are lower at low momenta, show a Fermi cutoff that is broader, and display a tail that is higher at momenta above the Fermi momentum. A number of simple model calculations are carried out in order to gain insight into the nature of the underlying 3D momentum density in Al and the role of the Fermi surface in inducing fine structure in the CP's. The present results when compared with those on Li show clearly that the size of discrepancies between theoretical and experimental CP's is markedly smaller in Al than in Li. This indicates that, with increasing electron density, the conventional picture of the electron gas becomes more representative of the momentum density and that shortcomings of the LDA framework in describing the electron correlation effects become less important.
Short-interval multi-laser Thomson scattering measurements of hydrogen pellet ablation in LHD.
Yasuhara, R; Sakamoto, R; Yamada, I; Motojima, G; Hayashi, H
2014-11-01
Thomson scattering forms an important aspect of measuring the electron density and temperature profiles of plasmas. In this study, we demonstrate Thomson scattering measurements obtained over a short interval (<1 ms) by using an event triggering system with a multi-laser configuration. We attempt to use our system to obtain the electron temperature and density profiles before and immediately after pellet injection into the large helical device. The obtained profiles exhibit dramatic changes after pellet injection as per our shot-by-shot measurements. We believe that this measurement technique will contribute towards a better understanding of the physics of the pellet deposition.
Short-interval multi-laser Thomson scattering measurements of hydrogen pellet ablation in LHD
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Yasuhara, R., E-mail: yasuhara@nifs.ac.jp; Sakamoto, R.; Yamada, I.
2014-11-15
Thomson scattering forms an important aspect of measuring the electron density and temperature profiles of plasmas. In this study, we demonstrate Thomson scattering measurements obtained over a short interval (<1 ms) by using an event triggering system with a multi-laser configuration. We attempt to use our system to obtain the electron temperature and density profiles before and immediately after pellet injection into the large helical device. The obtained profiles exhibit dramatic changes after pellet injection as per our shot-by-shot measurements. We believe that this measurement technique will contribute towards a better understanding of the physics of the pellet deposition.
TIME-DEPENDENT DENSITY DIAGNOSTICS OF SOLAR FLARE PLASMAS USING SDO/EVE
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Milligan, Ryan O.; Kennedy, Michael B.; Mathioudakis, Mihalis
2012-08-10
Temporally resolved electron density measurements of solar flare plasmas are presented using data from the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. The EVE spectral range contains emission lines formed between 10{sup 4} and 10{sup 7} K, including transitions from highly ionized iron ({approx}>10 MK). Using three density-sensitive Fe XXI ratios, peak electron densities of 10{sup 11.2}-10{sup 12.1} cm{sup -3} were found during four X-class flares. While previous measurements of densities at such high temperatures were made at only one point during a flaring event, EVE now allows the temporal evolution of these high-temperature densities to bemore » determined at 10 s cadence. A comparison with GOES data revealed that the peak of the density time profiles for each line ratio correlated well with that of the emission measure time profile for each of the events studied.« less
Tsunami Speed Variations in Density-stratified Compressible Global Oceans
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Watada, S.
2013-12-01
Recent tsunami observations in the deep ocean have accumulated unequivocal evidence that tsunami traveltime delays compared with the linear long-wave tsunami simulations occur during tsunami propagation in the deep ocean. The delay is up to 2% of the tsunami traveltime. Watada et al. [2013] investigated the cause of the delay using the normal mode theory of tsunamis and attributed the delay to the compressibility of seawater, the elasticity of the solid earth, and the gravitational potential change associated with mass motion during the passage of tsunamis. Tsunami speed variations in the deep ocean caused by seawater density stratification is investigated using a newly developed propagator matrix method that is applicable to seawater with depth-variable sound speeds and density gradients. For a 4-km deep ocean, the total tsunami speed reduction is 0.45% compared with incompressible homogeneous seawater; two thirds of the reduction is due to elastic energy stored in the water and one third is due to water density stratification mainly by hydrostatic compression. Tsunami speeds are computed for global ocean density and sound speed profiles and characteristic structures are discussed. Tsunami speed reductions are proportional to ocean depth with small variations, except for in warm Mediterranean seas. The impacts of seawater compressibility and the elasticity effect of the solid earth on tsunami traveltime should be included for precise modeling of trans-oceanic tsunamis. Data locations where a vertical ocean profile deeper than 2500 m is available in World Ocean Atlas 2009. The dark gray area indicates the Pacific Ocean defined in WOA09. a) Tsunami speed variations. Red, gray and black bars represent global, Pacific, and Mediterranean Sea, respectively. b) Regression lines of the tsunami velocity reduction for all oceans. c)Vertical ocean profiles at grid points indicated by the stars in Figure 1.
Density-driven transport of gas phase chemicals in unsaturated soils
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fen, Chiu-Shia; Sun, Yong-tai; Cheng, Yuen; Chen, Yuanchin; Yang, Whaiwan; Pan, Changtai
2018-01-01
Variations of gas phase density are responsible for advective and diffusive transports of organic vapors in unsaturated soils. Laboratory experiments were conducted to explore dense gas transport (sulfur hexafluoride, SF6) from different source densities through a nitrogen gas-dry soil column. Gas pressures and SF6 densities at transient state were measured along the soil column for three transport configurations (horizontal, vertically upward and vertically downward transport). These measurements and others reported in the literature were compared with simulation results obtained from two models based on different diffusion approaches: the dusty gas model (DGM) equations and a Fickian-type molar fraction-based diffusion expression. The results show that the DGM and Fickian-based models predicted similar dense gas density profiles which matched the measured data well for horizontal transport of dense gas at low to high source densities, despite the pressure variations predicted in the soil column were opposite to the measurements. The pressure evolutions predicted by both models were in trend similar to the measured ones for vertical transport of dense gas. However, differences between the dense gas densities predicted by the DGM and Fickian-based models were discernible for vertically upward transport of dense gas even at low source densities, as the DGM-based predictions matched the measured data better than the Fickian results did. For vertically downward transport, the dense gas densities predicted by both models were not greatly different from our experimental measurements, but substantially greater than the observations obtained from the literature, especially at high source densities. Further research will be necessary for exploring factors affecting downward transport of dense gas in soil columns. Use of the measured data to compute flux components of SF6 showed that the magnitudes of diffusive flux component based on the Fickian-type diffusion expressions in terms of molar concentration, molar fraction and mass density fraction gradient were almost the same. However, they were greater than the result computed with the mass fraction gradient for > 24% and the DGM-based result for more than one time. As a consequence, the DGM-based total flux of SF6 was in magnitude greatly less than the Fickian result not only for horizontal transport (diffusion-dominating) but also for vertical transport (advection and diffusion) of dense gas. Particularly, the Fickian-based total flux was more than two times in magnitude as much as the DGM result for vertically upward transport of dense gas.
Optical Diagnostics in the Gaseous Electronics Conference Reference Cell
Hebner, G. A.; Greenberg, K. E.
1995-01-01
A number of laser-induced fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy studies have been conducted using Gaseous Electronics Conference Reference Cells. Laser-induced fluorescence has been used to measure hydrogen atom densities, to measure argon metastable spatial profiles, to determine the sheath electric field, and to infer the electron density and temperature. Absorption spectroscopy, using lamp sources and diode lasers, has been used to measure metastable atom densities in helium and argon discharges and fluorocarbon densities in silicon etching discharges. The experimental techniques and sample results of these investigations are reviewed. PMID:29151748
A study of the Ionospheric electron density profile with FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC observation data
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chou, Min-Yang; Tsai, Ho-Fang; Lin, Chi-Yen; Lee, I.-Te; Lin, Charles; Liu, Jann-Yenq
2015-04-01
The GPS Occultation Experiment payload onboard FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC microsatellite constellation is capable of scanning the ionospheric structure by the radio occultation (RO) technique to retrieve precise electron density profiles since 2006. Due to the success of FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC, the follow-on mission, FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2, is to launch 12 microsatellites in 2016 and 2018, respectively, with the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) RO instrument onboard for tracking GPS, Galileo and/or GLONASS satellite signals and to provide more than 8,000 RO soundings per day globally. An overview of the validation of the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC ionospheric profiling is given by means of the traditional Abel transform through bending angle and total electron content (TEC), while the ionospheric data assimilation is also applied, based on the Gauss-Markov Kalman filter with the International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-2007) and global ionosphere map (GIM) as background model, to assimilate TEC observations from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC. The results shows comparison of electron density profiles from Abel inversion and data assimilation. Furthermore, an observing system simulation experiment is also applied to determine the impact of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on ionospheric weather monitoring, which reveals an opportunity on advanced study of small spatial and temporal variations in the ionosphere.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Nagasawa, C.; Abo, M.; Shibata, Y.; Nagai, T.; Tsukamoto, M.
2012-12-01
We report the new 1.6 μm DIAL system that can measure the temperature profiles with the CO2 concentration profiles in the atmosphere because of improvement of measurement accuracy of the CO2 density and mixing ratio (ppm). We have developed a direct detection 1.6 μm differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique to perform range-resolved measurements of vertical CO2 concentration profiles in the atmosphere [Sakaizawa et al. 2009]. Our 1.6 μm DIAL system consists of the Optical Parametric Generator (OPG) transmitter that excited by the LD pumped Nd:YAG laser with high repetition rate (500 Hz) and the receiving optics that included the near-infrared photomultiplier tube with high quantum efficiency operating at the photon counting mode and the telescope with larger aperture than that of the coherent detection method. Laser beams of three wavelengths around a CO2 absorption line is transmitted alternately to the atmosphere for measurements of CO2 concentration and temperature profiles. Moreover, a few retrieval algorithms of CO2-DIAL are also performed for improvement of measurement accuracy. The accurate vertical CO2 profiles in the troposphere are highly desirable in the inverse techniques to improve quantification and understanding of the global budget of CO2 and also global climate changes [Stephens et al. 2007]. In comparison with the ground-based monitoring network, CO2 measurements for vertical profiles in the troposphere have been limited to campaign-style aircraft and commercial airline observations with the limited spatial and temporal coverage. This work was financially supported by the System Development Program for Advanced Measurement and Analysis of the Japan Science and Technology Agency. References Sakaizawa, D., C. Nagasawa, T. Nagai, M. Abo, Y. Shibata, H. Nagai, M. Nakazato, and T. Sakai, Development of a 1.6μm differential absorption lidar with a quasi-phase-matching optical parametric oscillator and photon-counting detector for the vertical CO2 profile, Applied Optics, Vol.48, No.4, pp.748-757, 2009. Stephens, B. B. et al., Weak Northern and Strong Tropical Land Carbon Uptake from Vertical Profiles of Atmospheric CO2, Science 316, pp.1732-1735, 2007.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Wang, Guiding
Accurate measurement of the edge electron density profile is essential to optimizing antenna coupling and assessment of impurity contamination in studying long-pulse plasma heating and current drive in fusion devices. Measurement of the edge density profile has been demonstrated on the US fusion devices such as C-Mod, DIII-D, and TFTR amongst many devices, and has been used for RF loading and impurity modeling calculations for many years. University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) has recently installed a density profile reflectometer system on the EAST fusion device at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Chinamore » based on the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)-designed reflectometer system on the DIII-D fusion device at General Atomics Company in San Diego, California. UCLA has been working with USTC to optimize the existing microwave antenna, waveguide system, microwave electronics, and data analysis to produce reliable edge density profiles. During the past budget year, progress has been made in all three major areas: effort to achieve reliable system operations under various EAST operational conditions, effort to optimize system performance, and effort to provide quality density profiles into EAST’s database routinely.« less
Monte Carlo modeling of ultrasound probes for image guided radiotherapy
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bazalova-Carter, Magdalena, E-mail: bazalova@uvic.ca; Schlosser, Jeffrey; Chen, Josephine
2015-10-15
Purpose: To build Monte Carlo (MC) models of two ultrasound (US) probes and to quantify the effect of beam attenuation due to the US probes for radiation therapy delivered under real-time US image guidance. Methods: MC models of two Philips US probes, an X6-1 matrix-array transducer and a C5-2 curved-array transducer, were built based on their megavoltage (MV) CT images acquired in a Tomotherapy machine with a 3.5 MV beam in the EGSnrc, BEAMnrc, and DOSXYZnrc codes. Mass densities in the probes were assigned based on an electron density calibration phantom consisting of cylinders with mass densities between 0.2 andmore » 8.0 g/cm{sup 3}. Beam attenuation due to the US probes in horizontal (for both probes) and vertical (for the X6-1 probe) orientation was measured in a solid water phantom for 6 and 15 MV (15 × 15) cm{sup 2} beams with a 2D ionization chamber array and radiographic films at 5 cm depth. The MC models of the US probes were validated by comparison of the measured dose distributions and dose distributions predicted by MC. Attenuation of depth dose in the (15 × 15) cm{sup 2} beams and small circular beams due to the presence of the probes was assessed by means of MC simulations. Results: The 3.5 MV CT number to mass density calibration curve was found to be linear with R{sup 2} > 0.99. The maximum mass densities in the X6-1 and C5-2 probes were found to be 4.8 and 5.2 g/cm{sup 3}, respectively. Dose profile differences between MC simulations and measurements of less than 3% for US probes in horizontal orientation were found, with the exception of the penumbra region. The largest 6% dose difference was observed in dose profiles of the X6-1 probe placed in vertical orientation, which was attributed to inadequate modeling of the probe cable. Gamma analysis of the simulated and measured doses showed that over 96% of measurement points passed the 3%/3 mm criteria for both probes placed in horizontal orientation and for the X6-1 probe in vertical orientation. The X6-1 probe in vertical orientation caused the highest attenuation of the 6 and 15 MV beams, which at 10 cm depth accounted for 33% and 43% decrease compared to the respective (15 × 15) cm{sup 2} open fields. The C5-2 probe in horizontal orientation, on the other hand, caused a dose increase of 10% and 53% for the 6 and 15 MV beams, respectively, in the buildup region at 0.5 cm depth. For the X6-1 probe in vertical orientation, the dose at 5 cm depth for the 3-cm diameter 6 MV and 5-cm diameter 15 MV beams was attenuated compared to the corresponding open fields to a greater degree by 65% and 43%, respectively. Conclusions: MC models of two US probes used for real-time image guidance during radiotherapy have been built. Due to the high beam attenuation of the US probes, the authors generally recommend avoiding delivery of treatment beams that intersect the probe. However, the presented MC models can be effectively integrated into US-guided radiotherapy treatment planning in cases for which beam avoidance is not practical due to anatomy geometry.« less
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Krisher, T. P.; Anderson, J. D.; Morabito, D. D.; Asmar, S. W.; Borutzki, S. E.; Delitsky, M. L.; Densmore, A. C.; Eshe, P. M.; Lewis, G. D.; Maurer, M. J.
1991-01-01
Radio range measurements of total solar plasma delay obtained during the solar conjunction of the Voyager 2 spacecraft in December 1988, which occurred near solar maximum activity in the 11 yr cycle are reported. The radio range measurements were generated by the Deep Space Network at two wavelengths on the downlink from the spacecraft: 3.6 and 13 cm. A direct measurement of the integrated electron density along the ray path between the earth stations and the spacecraft was obtained by differencing the range at the two wavelengths. Coronal electron density profiles have been derived during ingress and egress of the ray path, which approached the sun to within 5 solar radii. At 10 solar radii, the derived density profiles yield 34079 + or - 611/cu cm on ingress and 49688 + or - 983/cu cm on egress. These density levels are significantly higher than observed near previous solar maxima.
The preplasma effect on the properties of the shock wave driven by a fast electron beam
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Llor Aisa, E.; Ribeyre, X.; Tikhonchuk, V. T.
2016-08-15
Strong shock wave generation by a mono-energetic fast electron beam in a plasma with an increasing density profile is studied theoretically. The proposed analytical model describes the shock wave characteristics for a homogeneous plasma preceded by a low density precursor. The shock pressure and the time of shock formation depend on the ratio of the electron stopping length to the preplasma areal density and on the initial energy of injected electrons. The conclusions of theoretical model are confirmed in numerical simulations.
SPICAM: studying the global structure and composition of the Martian atmosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bertaux, J.-L.; Fonteyn, D.; Korablev, O.; Chassefre, E.; Dimarellis, E.; Dubois, J. P.; Hauchecorne, A.; Lefèvre, F.; Cabane, M.; Rannou, P.; Levasseur-Regourd, A. C.; Cernogora, G.; Quemerais, E.; Hermans, C.; Kockarts, G.; Lippens, C.; de Maziere, M.; Moreau, D.; Muller, C.; Neefs, E.; Simon, P. C.; Forget, F.; Hourdin, F.; Talagrand, O.; Moroz, V. I.; Rodin, A.; Sandel, B.; Stern, A.
2004-08-01
The SPICAM (SPectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars) instrument consists of two spectrometers. The UV spectrometer addresses key issues about ozone and its H2O coupling, aerosols, the atmospheric vertical temperature structure and the ionosphere. The IR spectrometer is aimed primarily at H2O and abundances and vertical profiling of H2O and aerosols. SPICAM's density/temperature profiles will aid the development of meteorological and dynamical atmospheric models from the surface up to 160 km altitude. UV observations of the upper atmosphere will study the ionosphere and its direct interaction with the solar wind. They will also allow a better understanding of escape mechanisms, crucial for insight into the long-term evolution of the atmosphere.
Glow and Dust in Plasma Boundaries
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Land, Victor; Douglass, Angela; Qiao, Ke; Zhang, Zhuanhao; Matthews, Lorin S.; Hyde, Truell
2013-04-01
The sheath region is probed in different complex plasma experiments using dust particles in addition to measurement of the optical emission originating from the plasma. The local maximum in optical emission coincides with the breaking of quasi-neutrality at the sheath boundary as indicated by the vertical force profile reconstructed from dust particle trajectories, as well as by the local onset of dust density waves in high density dust clouds suspended in a dielectric box.
Spiral density waves and vertical circulation in protoplanetary discs
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Riols, A.; Latter, H.
2018-06-01
Spiral density waves dominate several facets of accretion disc dynamics - planet-disc interactions and gravitational instability (GI) most prominently. Though they have been examined thoroughly in two-dimensional simulations, their vertical structures in the non-linear regime are somewhat unexplored. This neglect is unwarranted given that any strong vertical motions associated with these waves could profoundly impact dust dynamics, dust sedimentation, planet formation, and the emissivity of the disc surface. In this paper, we combine linear calculations and shearing box simulations in order to investigate the vertical structure of spiral waves for various polytropic stratifications and wave amplitudes. For sub-adiabatic profiles, we find that spiral waves develop a pair of counter-rotating poloidal rolls. Particularly strong in the non-linear regime, these vortical structures issue from the baroclinicity supported by the background vertical entropy gradient. They are also intimately connected to the disc's g modes which appear to interact non-linearly with the density waves. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the poloidal rolls are ubiquitous in gravitoturbulence, emerging in the vicinity of GI spiral wakes, and potentially transporting grains off the disc mid-plane. Other than hindering sedimentation and planet formation, this phenomena may bear on observations of the disc's scattered infrared luminosity. The vortical features could also impact on the turbulent dynamo operating in young protoplanetary discs subject to GI, or possibly even galactic discs.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gupta, Bipin Kumar; Kedawat, Garima; Gangwar, Amit Kumar; Nagpal, Kanika; Kashyap, Pradeep Kumar; Srivastava, Shubhda; Singh, Satbir; Kumar, Pawan; Suryawanshi, Sachin R.; Seo, Deok Min; Tripathi, Prashant; More, Mahendra A.; Srivastava, O. N.; Hahm, Myung Gwan; Late, Dattatray J.
2018-01-01
The vertical aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based pillar architectures were created on laminated silicon oxide/silicon (SiO2/Si) wafer substrate at 775 °C by using water-assisted chemical vapor deposition under low pressure process condition. The lamination was carried out by aluminum (Al, 10.0 nm thickness) as a barrier layer and iron (Fe, 1.5 nm thickness) as a catalyst precursor layer sequentially on a silicon wafer substrate. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that synthesized CNTs are vertically aligned and uniformly distributed with a high density. The CNTs have approximately 2-30 walls with an inner diameter of 3-8 nm. Raman spectrum analysis shows G-band at 1580 cm-1 and D-band at 1340 cm-1. The G-band is higher than D-band, which indicates that CNTs are highly graphitized. The field emission analysis of the CNTs revealed high field emission current density (4mA/cm2 at 1.2V/μm), low turn-on field (0.6 V/μm) and field enhancement factor (6917) with better stability and longer lifetime. Emitter morphology resulting in improved promising field emission performances, which is a crucial factor for the fabrication of pillared shaped vertical aligned CNTs bundles as practical electron sources.
Rotational temperatures of Venus upper atmosphere as measured by SOIR on board Venus Express
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mahieux, A.; Vandaele, A. C.; Robert, S.; Wilquet, V.; Drummond, R.; López Valverde, M. A.; López Puertas, M.; Funke, B.; Bertaux, J. L.
2015-08-01
SOIR is a powerful infrared spectrometer flying on board the Venus Express spacecraft since mid-2006. It sounds the Venus atmosphere above the cloud layer using the solar occultation technique. In the recorded spectra, absorption structures from many species are observed, among them carbon dioxide, the main constituent of the Venus atmosphere. Previously, temperature vertical profiles were derived from the carbon dioxide density retrieved from the SOIR spectra by assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. These profiles show a permanent cold layer at 125 km with temperatures of ~100 K, surrounded by two warmer layers at 90 and 140 km, reaching temperatures of ~200 K and 250-300 K, respectively. In this work, temperature profiles are derived from the SOIR spectra using another technique based on the ro-vibrational structure of carbon dioxide observed in the spectra. The error budget is extensively investigated. Temperature profiles obtained by both techniques are comparable within their respective uncertainties and they confirm the vertical structure previously determined from SOIR spectra.
Addae-Mensah, Kweku A.; Retterer, Scott; Opalenik, Susan R.; Thomas, Darrell; Lavrik, Nickolay V.; Wikswo, John P.
2013-01-01
This paper examines the use of deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) of silicon with fluorine high-density plasmas at cryogenic temperatures to produce silicon master molds for vertical microcantilever arrays used for controlling substrate stiffness for culturing living cells. The resultant profiles achieved depend on the rate of deposition and etching of a SiOxFy polymer, which serves as a passivation layer on the sidewalls of the etched structures in relation to areas that have not been passivated with the polymer. We look at how optimal tuning of two parameters, the O2 flow rate and the capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) power, determine the etch profile. All other pertinent parameters are kept constant. We examine the etch profiles produced using e-beam resist as the main etch mask, with holes having diameters of 750 nm, 1 µm, and 2 µm. PMID:24223478
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Friedrich, M.; Baker, K.D.; Brekke, A.
Electron density profiles from ground-based and rocket-borne measurements conducted at three sites in northern Scandinavia under various degrees of geophysical disturbances are presented. These data are checked against an instantaneous picture of the ionospheric absorption obtained via the dense riometer network. A map of the riometer absorption and measured electron densities over Scandinavia is given.
Mink, Justine E; Rojas, Jhonathan P; Logan, Bruce E; Hussain, Muhammad M
2012-02-08
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are an environmentally friendly method for water purification and self-sustained electricity generation using microorganisms. Microsized MFCs can also be a useful power source for lab-on-a-chip and similar integrated devices. We fabricated a 1.25 μL microsized MFC containing an anode of vertically aligned, forest type multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a nickel silicide (NiSi) contact area that produced 197 mA/m(2) of current density and 392 mW/m(3) of power density. The MWCNTs increased the anode surface-to-volume ratio, which improved the ability of the microorganisms to couple and transfer electrons to the anode. The use of nickel silicide also helped to boost the output current by providing a low resistance contact area to more efficiently shuttle electrons from the anode out of the device. © 2012 American Chemical Society
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Marinoni, A.; Pinsker, R. I.; Porkolab, M.; Rost, J. C.; Davis, E. M.; Burrell, K. H.; Candy, J.; Staebler, G. M.; Grierson, B. A.; McKee, G. R.; Rhodes, T. L.; The DIII-D Team
2017-12-01
Experiments simulating the ITER baseline scenario on the DIII-D tokamak show that torque-free pure electron heating, when coupled to plasmas subject to a net co-current beam torque, affects density fluctuations at electron scales on a sub-confinement time scale, whereas fluctuations at ion scales change only after profiles have evolved to a new stationary state. Modifications to the density fluctuations measured by the phase contrast imaging diagnostic (PCI) are assessed by analyzing the time evolution following the switch-off of electron cyclotron heating (ECH), thus going from mixed beam/ECH to pure neutral beam heating at fixed βN . Within 20 ms after turning off ECH, the intensity of fluctuations is observed to increase at frequencies higher than 200 kHz in contrast, fluctuations at lower frequency are seen to decrease in intensity on a longer time scale, after other equilibrium quantities have evolved. Non-linear gyro-kinetic modeling at ion and electron scales scales suggest that, while the low frequency response of the diagnostic is consistent with the dominant ITG modes being weakened by the slow-time increase in flow shear, the high frequency response is due to prompt changes to the electron temperature profile that enhance electron modes and generate a larger heat flux and an inward particle pinch. These results suggest that electron heated regimes in ITER will feature multi-scale fluctuations that might affect fusion performance via modifications to profiles.
Linear MHD stability analysis of post-disruption plasmas in ITER
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Aleynikova, K., E-mail: ksenia.aleynikova@gmail.com; Huijsmans, G. T. A.; Aleynikov, P.
2016-05-15
Most of the plasma current can be replaced by a runaway electron (RE) current during plasma disruptions in ITER. In this case the post-disruption plasma current profile is likely to be more peaked than the pre-disruption profile. The MHD activity of such plasma will affect the runaway electron generation and confinement and the dynamics of the plasma position evolution (Vertical Displacement Event), limiting the timeframe for runaway electrons and disruption mitigation. In the present paper, we evaluate the influence of the possible RE seed current parameters on the onset of the MHD instabilities. By varying the RE seed current profile,more » we search for subsequent plasma evolutions with the highest and the lowest MHD activity. This information can be applied to a development of desirable ITER disruption scenario.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Singh, Sukhmander; Malik, Hitendra K.
Role of ionization to Rayleigh instability is clarified in a Hall thruster plasma under the variety of profiles of electron drift velocity, namely, step-like profile (SLP) and two different super-Gaussian profiles (SGP1 and SGP2). For this, a relevant Rayleigh equation is derived and solved numerically using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. Interestingly, an upper cutoff frequency of oscillations {omega}{sub max} is realized for the occurrence of the instability that shows dependence on the ionization rate {alpha}, electron drift velocity u{sub 0}, electron cyclotron frequency {Omega}, azimuthal wave number k{sub y}, plasma density n{sub 0}, density gradient {partial_derivative}n{sub 0}/{partial_derivative}x, ion (electron) thermal speedmore » V{sub thI}(V{sub thE}), and ion (electron) plasma frequency {omega}{sub pi}({omega}{sub pe}). The frequency {omega}{sub max} follows the trend {omega}{sub max} (for SGP2) >{omega}{sub max} (for SLP) >{omega}{sub max} (for SGP1) and shows a similar behaviour with ionization for all types of the velocity profiles. The instability is found to grow faster for the higher {alpha} and the ion temperature but it acquires lower rate under the effect of the higher electron temperature; the perturbed potential also varies in accordance with the growth rate. The electron temperature influences the growth rate and cutoff frequency less significantly in comparison with the ion temperature.« less
Study of the technique of stellar occultation
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Hays, P. B.; Graves, M. E.; Roble, R. G.; Shah, A. N.
1973-01-01
The results are reported of a study of the stellar occultation technique for measuring the composition of the atmosphere. The intensity of starlight was monitored during the occultation using the Wisconsin stellar ultraviolet photometers aboard the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO-A2). A schematic diagram of an occultation is shown where the change in intensity at a given wavelength is illustrated. The vertical projection of the attenuation region is typically 60 km deep for molecular oxygen and 30 km deep for ozone. Intensity profiles obtained during various occultations were analyzed by first determining the tangential columm density of the absorbing gases, and then Abel inverting the column densities to obtain the number density profile. Errors are associated with each step in the inversion scheme and have been considered as an integral part of this study.
Oblique sounding using the DPS-4D stations in Europe
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mosna, Zbysek; Kouba, Daniel; Koucka Knizova, Petra; Arikan, Feza; Arikan, Orhan; Gok, Gokhan; Rejfek, Lubos
2016-07-01
The DPS-4D Digisondes are capable of detection of echoes from neighbouring European stations. Currently, a campaign with high-temporal resolution of 5 min is being run. Further, ionograms from regular vertical sounding with 15 min resolution provide us with oblique reflections together with vertical reflections. We analyzed profiles of electron concentration and basic ionospheric parameters derived from the ionograms. We compared results derived from reflections from the ionosphere above the stations (vertical sounding) with information derived from oblique reflections between the stations. This study is supported by the Joint TUBITAK 114E092 and AS CR 14/001 projects.
Light impurity transport in JET ILW L-mode plasmas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bonanomi, N.; Mantica, P.; Giroud, C.; Angioni, C.; Manas, P.; Menmuir, S.; Contributors, JET
2018-03-01
A series of experimental observations of light impurity profiles was carried out in JET (Joint European Torus) ITER-like wall (ILW) L-mode plasmas in order to investigate their transport mechanisms. These discharges feature the presence of 3He, Be, C, N, Ne, whose profiles measured by active Charge Exchange diagnostics are compared with quasi-linear and non-linear gyro-kinetic simulations. The peaking of 3He density follows the electron density peaking, Be and Ne are also peaked, while the density profiles of C and N are flat in the mid plasma region. Gyro-kinetic simulations predict peaked density profiles for all the light impurities studied and at all the radial positions considered, and fail predicting the flat or hollow profiles observed for C and N at mid radius in our cases.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pätzold, M.; Bird, M. K.; Häusler, B.; Peter, K.; Tellmann, S.; Tyler, G. L.
2016-10-01
In their recent paper, Grandin et al. (2014) claim to have developed a novel approach, principally a ray tracing method, to analyze radio sounding data from occulted spacecraft signals by planetary atmospheres without the usual assumptions of the radio occultation inversion method of a stratified, layered, symmetric atmosphere. They apply their "new approach" to observations of the Mars Express Radio Science (MaRS) experiment and compare their resulting temperature, neutral number density, and electron density profiles with those from MaRS, claiming that there is good agreement with the observations. The fact is, however, that there are serious disagreements in the most important altitude ranges. Their temperature profile shows a 30 K shift or a 300σ (1σ standard deviation = 0.1 K for the MaRS profile near the surface) difference toward warmer temperatures at the surface when compared with MaRS, while the MaRS profile is in best agreement with the profile from the Mars Climate Data Base V5.0 (MCD V5.0). Their full temperature profile from the surface to 250 km altitude deviates significantly from the MCD V5.0 profile. Their ionospheric electron density profile is considerably different from that derived from the MaRs observations. Although Grandin et al. (2014) claim to derive the neutral number density and temperature profiles above 200 km, including the asymptotic exosphere temperature, it is simply not possible to derive this information from what is essentially noise.
Adsorption properties of AlN on Si(111) surface: A density functional study
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yuan, Yinmei; Zuo, Ran; Mao, Keke; Tang, Binlong; Zhang, Zhou; Liu, Jun; Zhong, Tingting
2018-04-01
In the process of preparing GaN on Si substrate by MOCVD, an AlN buffer layer is very important. In this study, we conducted density functional theory calculations on the adsorption of AlN molecule on Si(111)-(2 × 2) surface, with the AlN molecule located horizontally or vertically above Si(111) surface at different adsorption sites. The calculations revealed that the lowest adsorption energy was at the N-top-Al-bridge site in the horizontal configuration, with the narrowest band gap, indicating that it was the most preferential adsorption growth status of AlN. In the vertical configurations, N adatom was more reactive and convenient to form bonds with the topmost Si atoms than Al adatom. When the N-end of the AlN molecule was located downward, the hollow site was the preferred adsorption site; when the Al-end was located downward, the bridge site was the most energetically favorable. Moreover, we investigated some electronic properties such as partial density of states, electron density difference, Mulliken populations, etc., revealing the microscale mechanism for AlN adsorption on Si(111) surface and providing theoretical support for adjusting the processing parameters during AlN or GaN production.
Characteristics of Mini-Magnetospheres Formed by Paleo-Magnetic Fields of Mars
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Ness, N. F.; Krymskii, A. M.; Crider, D. H.; Breus, T. K.; Acuna, M. H.; Hinson, D.; Barashyan, K. K.
2003-01-01
The intensely and non-uniformly magnetized crustal sources generate an effective large-scale magnetic field. In the Southern hemisphere the strongest crustal fields lead to the formation of large-scale mini-magnetospheres. In the Northern hemisphere, the crustal fields are rather weak and there are only isolated mini-magnetospheres. Re-connection with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) occurs in many localized regions. This may occur not only in cusp-like structures above nearly vertical field anomalies but also in halos extending several hundreds of kilometers from these sources. Re-connection will permit solar wind (SW) and more energetic particles to precipitate into and heat the neutral atmosphere. Electron density profiles of the ionosphere of Mars derived from radio occultation data obtained by the Radio Science Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) experiment are concentrated in the near polar regions. The effective scale-height of the neutral atmosphere density in the vicinity of the ionization peak has been derived for each of the profiles studied. The effective scale-heights have been compared with the crustal magnetic fields measured by the MGS Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer (MAG/ER) experiment. A significant difference between the large-scale mini-magnetospheres and regions outside of them has been found. The neutral atmosphere is cooler inside the large-scale mini-magnetospheres. It appears that outside of the cusps the strong crustal magnetic fields prevent additional heating of the neutral atmosphere by direct interaction of the SW. The scale-height of the neutral atmosphere density derived from the experiment with the MGS Accelerometer has been compared with MAG/ER data. The scale-height was found to be usually larger than mean value near the boundaries of potential mini-magnetospheres and around cusps . It may indicate that the paleo-magnetic/IMF field re-connection is characteristic of the mini-magnetospheres at Mars.
Compton profiles of NiO and TiO2 obtained from first principles GWA spectral function
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
S, M. Khidzir; M, F. M. Halid; W, A. T. Wan Abdullah
2016-06-01
In this work, we first use momentum density studies to understand strongly correlated electron behavior, which is typically seen in transition metal oxides. We observe that correlated electron behavior as seen in bulk NiO is due to the Fermi break located in the middle of overlapping spectral functions obtained from a GW (G is Green’s function and W is the screened Coulomb interaction) approximation (GWA) calculation while in the case of TiO2 we can see that the origin of the constant momentum distribution in lower momenta is due to a pile up of spectra before the Fermi energy. These observations are then used to compare our calculated Compton profiles with previous experimental studies of Fukamachi and Limandri. Our calculations for NiO are observed to follow the same trend as the experimental profile but it is seen to have a wide difference in the case of TiO2before the Fermi break. The ground state momentum densities differ significantly from the quasiparticle momentum density, thus stressing the importance of the quasiparticle wave function as the input for the study of charge density and the electron localization function. Finally we perform a calculation of the quasiparticle renormalization function, giving a quantitative description of the discontinuity of the GWA momentum density.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sasmal, Sudipta; Chakrabarti, Sandip Kumar; Palit, Sourav; Chakraborty, Suman; Ghosh, Soujan; Ray, Suman
2016-07-01
We present the nature of perturbations in the propagation characteristics of Very Low Frequency (VLF) signals received at Ionospheric & Earthquake Research Centre (IERC) (Lat. 22.50 ^{o}N, Long. 87.48 ^{o}E) during and prior to the latest strong earthquakes in Nepal on 12 May 2015 at 12:50 pm local time (07:05 UTC) with a magnitude of 7.3 and depth 18 km at southeast of Kodari. The VLF signal emitted from JJI transmitter (22.2kHz) in Japan (Lat. 32.08 ^{o}N, Long. 130.83 ^{o}E) shows strong shifts in sunrise and sunset terminator times towards nighttime beginning three to four days prior to the earthquake. The shift in terminator times is numerically simulated using Long Wavelength Propagation Capability (LWPC) code. Electron density variation as a function of height is calculated for seismically quiet days using the Wait's exponential profile and it matches with the IRI model. The perturbed electron density is calculated using the effective reflection height (h') and sharpness parameter (β) and the rate of ionization due to earthquake is being obtained by the equation of continuity for ionospheric D-layer. We compute the ion production and recombination profiles during seismic and non-seismic conditions incorporating D-region ion chemistry processes and calculate the unperturbed and perturbed electron density profile and ionization rate at different heights which matches with the exponential profile. During the seismic condition, for both the cases, the rate of ionization and the electron density profile differ significantly from the normal values. We interpret this to be due to the seismo-ionospheric coupling processes.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wan, Xin; Xiong, Chao; Rodriguez-Zuluaga, Juan; Kervalishvili, Guram N.; Stolle, Claudia; Wang, Hui
2018-04-01
In this study, we developed an autodetection technique for the equatorial plasma depletions (EPDs) and their occurrence and depletion amplitudes based on in situ electron density measurements gathered by Swarm A satellite. For the first time, comparisons are made among the detected EPDs and their amplitudes with the loss of Global Positioning System (GPS) signal of receivers onboard Swarm A, and the Swarm Level-2 product, Ionospheric Bubble Index (IBI). It has been found that the highest rate of EPD occurrence takes place generally between 2200 and 0000 magnetic local time (MLT), in agreement with the IBI. However, the largest amplitudes of EPD are detected earlier at about 1900-2100 MLT. This coincides with the moment of higher background electron density and the largest occurrence of GPS signal loss. From a longitudinal perspective, the higher depletion amplitude is always witnessed in spatial bins with higher background electron density. At most longitudes, the occurrence rate of postmidnight EPDs is reduced compared to premidnight ones; while more postmidnight EPDs are observed at African longitudes. CHAMP observations confirm this point regardless of high or low solar activity condition. Further by comparing with previous studies and the plasma vertical drift velocity from ROCSAT-1, we suggest that while the F region vertical plasma drift plays a key role in dominating the occurrence of EPDs during premidnight hours, the postmidnight EPDs are the combined results from the continuing of former EPDs and newborn EPDs, especially during June solstice. And these newborn EPDs during postmidnight hours seem to be less related to the plasma vertical drift.
Monitoring of D-layer using GPS
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Golubkov, Maxim; Bessarab, Fedor; Karpov, Ivan; Golubkov, Gennady; Manzheliy, Mikhail; Borchevkina, Olga; Kuverova, Veronika; Malyshev, Nikolay; Ozerov, Georgy
2016-07-01
Changes in D layer of ionosphere during the periods of high solar activity lead to non-equilibrium two-temperature plasma parameter variations. Accordingly, the population of orbital degenerate states of Rydberg complexes changes in a fraction of a microsecond. In turn, this affects the operation of any of the systems based on the use of GPS radio signals passing through this layer. It is well known that GPS signals undergo the greatest distortion in the altitude range of 60-110 km. Therefore, the analysis of changes in signal intensity can be useful for plasma diagnosis in these altitudes. In particular, it is useful to determine the vertical temperature profiles and electron density. For this purpose, one can use the satellite radio occultation method. This method is widely used in recent years to solve problems of the electron concentration profile recovery in the F-region of the ionosphere, and also for climate problem solutions. This method allows to define the altitude profiles of the GPS signal propagation delays and to obtain from the inverse problem solution qualitatively high-altitude profiles of the quantities using relative measurements. To ensure the authenticity of the found distributions of electron density and temperature in the D region of the ionosphere, the results should be complemented by measurements of the own atmospheric radiation power at frequencies of 1.4 and 5.0 GHz. This ensures control of the reliability of the results obtained using the "Rydberg" code. Monitoring of the state changes in the D layer by repeatedly following at regular intervals GPS satellite measurements are also of great interest and can provide valuable information on the macroscopic dynamics of D layer containing Rydberg complexes and free electrons. For example, one can monitor changes in the thickness of the emitting layer in time. Such changes lead to an additional contribution to the formation of satellite GPS system errors. It should also be noted that the entire emission layer on the propagation path affects the positioning errors during the passage of the satellite signal and forming the microwave and infrared radiation. Therefore, specific details of internal irregularities in layer structure caused by atmospheric processes do not play a significant role. Naturally, they are of interest to specific issues of radio physics and dynamics of the ionosphere, but do not have a noticeable effect on the received at the Earth GPS signals. This work was supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Researches (Grant No. 16-05-00052).
Vertical Integration: Corporate Strategy in the Information Industry.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Davenport, Lizzie; Cronin, Blaise
1986-01-01
Profiles the corporate strategies of three sectors of the information industry and the trend toward consolidation in electronic publishing. Three companies' acquisitions are examined in detail using qualitative data from information industry columns and interpreting it on the basis of game theory. (EM)
Transport simulation of EAST long-pulse H-mode discharge with integrated modeling
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wu, M. Q.; Li, G. Q.; Chen, J. L.; Du, H. F.; Gao, X.; Ren, Q. L.; Li, K.; Chan, Vincent; Pan, C. K.; Ding, S. Y.; Jian, X.; Zhu, X.; Lian, H.; Qian, J. P.; Gong, X. Z.; Zang, Q.; Duan, Y. M.; Liu, H. Q.; Lyu, B.
2018-04-01
In the 2017 EAST experimental campaign, a steady-state long-pulse H-mode discharge lasting longer than 100 s has been obtained using only radio frequency heating and current drive, and the confinement quality is slightly better than standard H-mode, H98y2 ~ 1.1, with stationary peaked electron temperature profiles. Integrated modeling of one long-pulse H-mode discharge in the 2016 EAST experimental campaign has been performed with equilibrium code EFIT, and transport codes TGYRO and ONETWO under integrated modeling framework OMFIT. The plasma current is fully-noninductively driven with a combination of ~2.2 MW LHW, ~0.3 MW ECH and ~1.1 MW ICRF. Time evolution of the predicted electron and ion temperature profiles through integrated modeling agree closely with that from measurements. The plasma current (I p ~ 0.45 MA) and electron density are kept constantly. A steady-state is achieved using integrated modeling, and the bootstrap current fraction is ~28%, the RF drive current fraction is ~72%. The predicted current density profile matches the experimental one well. Analysis shows that electron cyclotron heating (ECH) makes large contribution to the plasma confinement when heating in the core region while heating in large radius does smaller improvement, also a more peaked LHW driven current profile is got when heating in the core. Linear analysis shows that the high-k modes instability (electron temperature gradient driven modes) is suppressed in the core region where exists weak electron internal transport barriers. The trapped electron modes dominates in the low-k region, which is mainly responsible for driving the electron energy flux. It is found that the ECH heating effect is very local and not the main cause to sustained the good confinement, the peaked current density profile has the most important effect on plasma confinement improvement. Transport analysis of the long-pulse H-mode experiments on EAST will be helpful to build future experiments.
MAVEN Observations of Dayside Peak Electron Densities in the Ionosphere of Mars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vogt, M. F.; Withers, P.; Andersson, L.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Benna, M.; Elrod, M. K.; Connerney, J. E. P.; Espley, J. R.; Eparvier, F. G.; Jakosky, B. M.
2016-12-01
The peak electron density in the dayside Martian ionosphere is a valuable diagnostic of the state of the ionosphere. Its dependence on factors like the solar zenith angle, ionizing solar irradiance, neutral scale height, and electron temperature has been well studied. The MAVEN spacecraft's September 2015 "deep dip" orbits, in which the orbital periapsis is lowered to 120 km, provided our first opportunity since Viking to sample in situ a complete dayside electron density profiles including the main peak, and the first observations with contemporaneous comprehensive measurements of the local plasma and magnetic field properties. We have analyzed the peak electron density measurements from the MAVEN deep dip orbits and will discuss their variability with various ionospheric properties, including the proximity to regions of large crustal magnetic fields, and external drivers. We will also present observations of the electron temperature and atmospheric neutral and ion composition at the altitude of the peak electron density.
Metal concentrations in the upper atmosphere during meteor showers
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Correira, J.; Aikin, A. C.; Grebowsky, J. M.; Burrows, J. P.
2010-02-01
Using the nadir-viewing Global Ozone Measuring Experiment (GOME) UV/VIS spectrometer on the ERS-2 satellite, we investigate short term variations in the vertical magnesium column densities in the atmosphere and any connection to possible enhanced mass deposition during a meteor shower. Time-dependent mass influx rates are derived for all the major meteor showers using published estimates of mass density and temporal profiles of meteor showers. An average daily sporadic background mass flux rate is also calculated and used as a baseline against which calculated shower mass flux rates are compared. These theoretical mass flux rates are then compared with GOME derived metal vertical column densities of Mg and Mg+ from the years 1996-2001. There is no correlation between theoretical mass flux rates and changes in the Mg and Mg+ metal column densities. A possible explanation for the lack of a shower related increase in metal concentrations may be differences in the mass regimes dominating the average background mass flux and shower mass flux.
Metal concentrations in the upper atmosphere during meteor showers
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Correira, J.; Aikin, A. C.; Grebowsky, J. M.; Burrows, J. P.
2009-09-01
Using the nadir-viewing Global Ozone Measuring Experiment (GOME) UV/VIS spectrometer on the ERS-2 satellite, we investigate short term variations in the vertical magnesium column densities in the atmosphere and any connection to possible enhanced mass deposition during a meteor shower. Time-dependent mass influx rates are derived for all the major meteor showers using published estimates of mass density and temporal profiles of meteor showers. An average daily sporadic background mass flux rate is also calculated and used as a baseline against which calculated shower mass flux rates are compared. These theoretical mass flux rates are then compared with GOME derived metal vertical column densities of Mg and Mg+ from the years 1996-2001. There is no correlation between theoretical mass flux rates and changes in the Mg and Mg+ metal column densities. A possible explanation for the lack of a shower related increase in metal concentrations may be differences in the mass regimes dominating the average background mass flux and shower mass flux.
Computer simulation of schlieren images of rotationally symmetric plasma systems: a simple method.
Noll, R; Haas, C R; Weikl, B; Herziger, G
1986-03-01
Schlieren techniques are commonly used methods for quantitative analysis of cylindrical or spherical index of refraction profiles. Many schlieren objects, however, are characterized by more complex geometries, so we have investigated the more general case of noncylindrical, rotationally symmetric distributions of index of refraction n(r,z). Assuming straight ray paths in the schlieren object we have calculated 2-D beam deviation profiles. It is shown that experimental schlieren images of the noncylindrical plasma generated by a plasma focus device can be simulated with these deviation profiles. The computer simulation allows a quantitative analysis of these schlieren images, which yields, for example, the plasma parameters, electron density, and electron density gradients.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Li, Haoran; Wienecke, Steven; Romanczyk, Brian; Ahmadi, Elaheh; Guidry, Matthew; Zheng, Xun; Keller, Stacia; Mishra, Umesh K.
2018-02-01
A GaN/InGaN composite channel design for vertically scaled N-polar high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) structures is proposed and demonstrated by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. In a conventional N-polar HEMT structure, as the channel thickness (tch) decreases, the sheet charge density (ns) decreases, the electric field in the channel increases, and the centroid of the two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) moves towards the back-barrier/channel interface, resulting in stronger scattering and lower electron mobility (μ). In this study, a thin InGaN layer was introduced in-between the channel and the AlGaN cap to increase the 2DEG density and reduce the electric field in the channel and therefore increase the electron mobility. The dependence of μ on the InGaN thickness (tInGaN) and the indium composition (xIn) was investigated for different channel thicknesses. With optimized tInGaN and xIn, significant improvements in electron mobility were observed. For a 6 nm channel HEMT structure, the electron mobility increased from 606 to 1141 cm2/(V.s) when the 6 nm thick pure GaN channel was replaced by the 4 nm GaN/2 nm In0.1Ga0.9N composite channel.
Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes as anode and air-cathode in single chamber microbial fuel cells
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Amade, R.; Moreno, H. A.; Hussain, S.; Vila-Costa, M.; Bertran, E.
2016-10-01
Electrode optimization in microbial fuel cells is a key issue to improve the power output and cell performance. Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) grown on low cost stainless-steel mesh present an attractive approach to increase the cell performance while avoiding the use of expensive Pt-based materials. In comparison with non-aligned carbon nanotubes (NACNTs), VACNTs increase the oxygen reduction reaction taking place at the cathode by a factor of two. In addition, vertical alignment also increases the power density up to 2.5 times with respect to NACNTs. VACNTs grown at the anode can further improve the cell performance by increasing the electrode surface area and thus the electron transfer between bacteria and the electrode. The maximum power density obtained using VACNTs was 14 mW/m2 and 160 mV output voltage.
Pellet injection research on the HT-6M and HT-7 tokamaks
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yang, Yu; Bao, Yi; Li, Jiangang; Gu, Xuemao; He, Yexi
1999-11-01
A multishot in situ pellet injection system has been constructed in the Institute of Plasma Physics. Single- and multi-pellet injection experiments were performed on the HT-6M and superconducting HT-7 tokamaks. The system proved to be convenient and reliable to operate. Pellets were fired into ohmically and LHCD and ICRF heated plasmas. Single pellet injection in ohmic discharge was found to increase the central density of HT-7 by about one half, while two pellet injection increased the central density in a step-like fashion by one half with each shot. Peaking of the electron density profile and a hollow electron temperature profile were obtained.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jhang, Hogun
2018-05-01
We show that the threshold condition for the toroidal ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode with an inverted density profile can be derived from a simple physics argument. The key in this picture is that the density inversion reduces the ion compression due to the ITG mode and the electron drift motion mitigates the poloidal potential build-up. This condition reproduces the same result that has been reported from a linear gyrokinetic calculation [T. S. Hahm and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids B 1, 1185 (1989)]. The destabilizing role of trapped electrons in toroidal geometry is easily captured in this picture.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Massman, William
1987-01-01
A semianalytical method for describing the mean wind profile and shear stress within plant canopies and for estimating the roughness length and the displacement height is presented. This method incorporates density and vertical structure of the canopy and includes simple parameterizations of the roughness sublayer and shelter factor. Some of the wind profiles examined are consistent with first-order closure techniques while others are consistent with second-order closure techniques. Some profiles show a shearless region near the base of the canopy; however, none displays a secondary maximum there. Comparing several different analytical expressions for the canopy wind profile against observations suggests that one particular type of profile (an Airy function which is associated with the triangular foliage surface area density distribution) is superior to the others. Because of the numerical simplicity of the methods outlined, it is suggested that they may be profitably used in large-scale models of plant-atmosphere exchanges.
A Low-cost Beam Profiler Based On Cerium-doped Silica Fibers
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Potkins, David Edward; Braccini, Saverio; Nesteruk, Konrad Pawel; Carzaniga, Tommaso Stefano; Vedda, Anna; Chiodini, Norberto; Timmermans, Jacob; Melanson, Stephane; Dehnel, Morgan Patrick
A beam profiler called the Universal Beam Monitor (UniBEaM) has been developed by D-Pace Inc. (Canada) and the Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental Physics, Laboratory for High Energy Physics, University of Bern (Switzerland). The device is based on passing 100 to 600 micron cerium-doped optical fibers through a particle beam. Visible scintillation light from the sensor fibers is transmitted over distances of tens of meters to the light sensors with minimal signal loss and no susceptibility to electromagnetic fields. The probe has an insertion length of only 70 mm. The software plots the beam intensity distribution in the horizontal and vertical planes, and calculates the beam location and integrated profile area, which correlates well with total beam current. UniBEaM has a large dynamic range, operating with beam currents of ∼pA to mA, and a large range of particle kinetic energies of ∼keV to GeV, depending on the absorbed power density. Test data are presented for H- beams at 25keV for 500 μA, and H+ beams at 18MeV for 50pA to 10 μA. Maximum absorbed power density of the optical fiber before thermal damage is discussed in relation to dE/dx energy deposition as a function of particle type and kinetic energy. UniBEaM is well suited for a wide variety of beamlines including discovery science applications, radio-pharmaceutical production, hadron therapy, industrial ion beam applications including ion implantation, industrial electron beams, and ion source testing.
RADIALLY MAGNETIZED PROTOPLANETARY DISK: VERTICAL PROFILE
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Russo, Matthew; Thompson, Christopher
2015-11-10
This paper studies the response of a thin accretion disk to an external radial magnetic field. Our focus is on protoplanetary disks (PPDs), which are exposed during their later evolution to an intense, magnetized wind from the central star. A radial magnetic field is mixed into a thin surface layer, wound up by the disk shear, and pushed downward by a combination of turbulent mixing and ambipolar and ohmic drift. The toroidal field reaches much greater strengths than the seed vertical field that is usually invoked in PPD models, even becoming superthermal. Linear stability analysis indicates that the disk experiencesmore » the magnetorotational instability (MRI) at a higher magnetization than a vertically magnetized disk when both the effects of ambipolar and Hall drift are taken into account. Steady vertical profiles of density and magnetic field are obtained at several radii between 0.06 and 1 AU in response to a wind magnetic field B{sub r} ∼ (10{sup −4}–10{sup −2})(r/ AU){sup −2} G. Careful attention is given to the radial and vertical ionization structure resulting from irradiation by stellar X-rays. The disk is more strongly magnetized closer to the star, where it can support a higher rate of mass transfer. As a result, the inner ∼1 AU of a PPD is found to evolve toward lower surface density. Mass transfer rates around 10{sup −8} M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1} are obtained under conservative assumptions about the MRI-generated stress. The evolution of the disk and the implications for planet migration are investigated in the accompanying paper.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Camacho, J. F.; Ruden, E. L.; Domonkos, M. T.; Schmitt-Sody, A.; Lucero, A.
2014-10-01
A Mach-Zehnder imaging interferometer, operating with 1064-nm and 532-nm wavelength beams from a short-pulse laser and a frequency-doubled branch, respectively, has been designed and built to simultaneously measure plasma free electron and neutral gas densities profiles within a laser-triggered spark gap switch with a 5-mm gap. The switch will be triggered by focusing a separate 532-nm or 1064-nm laser pulse along the gap's axis to trigger low-jitter breakdown. Illuminating the gap transverse to this axis, the diagnostic will generate interferograms for each wavelength, which will then be numerically converted to phase-shift maps. These will be used to calculate independent line-integrated free electron and neutral density profiles by exploiting their different frequency dispersion curves. The density profiles themselves, then, will be calculated by Abel inversion. Details of the interferometer's design will be presented along with density data obtained using a variety of fill gasses at various pressures. Other switch parameters will be varied as well in order to characterize more fully the performance of the switch.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kleinwaechter, Tobias; Goldberg, Lars; Palmer, Charlotte; Schaper, Lucas; Schwinkendorf, Jan-Patrick; Osterhoff, Jens
2012-10-01
Laser-driven wakefield acceleration within capillary discharge waveguides has been used to generate high-quality electron bunches with GeV-scale energies. However, owing to fluctuations in laser and plasma conditions in combination with a difficult to control self-injection mechanism in the non-linear wakefield regime these bunches are often not reproducible and can feature large energy spreads. Specialized plasma targets with tailored density profiles offer the possibility to overcome these issues by controlling the injection and acceleration processes. This requires precise manipulation of the longitudinal density profile. Therefore our target concept is based on a capillary structure with multiple gas in- and outlets. Potential target designs are simulated using the fluid code OpenFOAM and those meeting the specified criteria are fabricated using femtosecond-laser machining of structures into sapphire plates. Density profiles are measured over a range of inlet pressures utilizing gas-density profilometry via Raman scattering and pressure calibration with longitudinal interferometry. In combination these allow absolute density mapping. Here we report the preliminary results.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Močnik, Griša; Ferrero, Luca; Castelli, Mariapina; Ferrini, Barbara S.; Moscatelli, Marco; Grazia Perrone, Maria; Sangiorgi, Giorgia; Rovelli, Grazia; D'Angelo, Luca; Moroni, Beatrice; Scardazza, Francesco; Bolzacchini, Ezio; Petitta, Marcello; Cappelletti, David
2016-04-01
Black carbon (BC), and its vertical distribution, affects the climate. Global measurements of BC vertical profiles are lacking to support climate change research. To fill this gap, a campaign was conducted over three Italian basin valleys, Terni Valley (Appennines), Po Valley and Passiria Valley (Alps), to characterize the impact of BC on the radiative budget under similar orographic conditions. 120 vertical profiles were measured in winter 2010. The BC vertical profiles, together with aerosol size distribution, aerosol chemistry and meteorological parameters, have been determined using a tethered balloon-based platform equipped with: a micro-Aethalometer AE51 (Magee Scientific), a 1.107 Grimm OPC (0.25-32 μm, 31 size classes), a cascade impactor (Siuotas SKC), and a meteorological station (LSI-Lastem). The aerosol chemical composition was determined from collected PM2.5 samples. The aerosol absorption along the vertical profiles was measured and optical properties calculated using the Mie theory applied to the aerosol size distribution. The aerosol optical properties were validated with AERONET data and then used as inputs to the radiative transfer model libRadtran. Vertical profiles of the aerosol direct radiative effect, the related atmospheric absorption and the heating rate were calculated. Vertical profile measurements revealed some common behaviors over the studied basin valleys. From below the mixing height to above it, a marked concentration drop was found for both BC (from -48.4±5.3% up to -69.1±5.5%) and aerosol number concentration (from -23.9±4.3% up to -46.5±7.3%). These features reflected on the optical properties of the aerosol. Absorption and scattering coefficients decreased from below the MH to above it (babs from -47.6±2.5% up to -71.3±3.0% and bsca from -23.5±0.8% up to -61.2±3.1%, respectively). Consequently, the Single Scattering Albedo increased above the MH (from +4.9±2.2% to +7.4±1.0%). The highest aerosol absorption was observed below the MH. The radiative power density absorbed into each atmospheric layer was normalized by the layer height to compare measurements taken at different sites with different vertical resolutions. The atmospheric absorption of radiative power below the MH ranged from +45.2±5.1 mW/m3 up to +103.3±16.2 mW/m3 and was ~2-3 times higher than above MH. The resulting heating rate was characterized by a vertical negative gradient with increasing height, from -2.6±0.2 K/(day km) up to -8.3±1.2 K/(day km), exerting a negative feedback on the atmospheric stability over basin valleys, weakening the ground-based thermal inversions and increasing the dispersal conditions.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fan, X. W.; Chen, X. J.; Zhou, S. J.; Zheng, Y.; Brion, C. E.; Frey, R.; Davidson, E. R.
1997-09-01
A newly constructed energy dispersive multichannel electron momentum spectrometer has been used to image the electron density of the outer valence orbitals of CO with high precision. Binding energy spectra are obtained at a coincidence energy resolution of 1.2 eV fwhm. The measured electron density profiles in momentum space for the outer valence orbitals of CO are compared with cross sections calculated using SCF wavefunctions with basis sets of varying complexity up to near-Hartree-Fock limit in quality. The effects of correlation and electronic relaxation on the calculated momentum profiles are investigated using large MRSD-CI calculations of the full ion-neutral overlap distributions, as well as large basis set DFT calculations with local and non-local (gradient corrected) functionals.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Ohtsu, Y., E-mail: ohtsuy@cc.saga-u.ac.jp; Matsumoto, N.; Schulze, J.
2016-03-15
Spatial structures of the electron density and temperature in ring-shaped hollow cathode capacitive rf plasma with a single narrow trench of 2 mm width have been investigated at various trench depths of D = 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 mm. It is found that the plasma density is increased in the presence of the trench and that the radial profile of the plasma density has a peak around the narrow hollow trench near the cathode. The density becomes uniform further away from the cathode at all trench depths, whereas the electron temperature distribution remains almost uniform. The measured radial profiles of the plasmamore » density are in good agreement with a theoretical diffusion model for all the trench depths, which explains the local density increase by a local enhancement of the electron heating. Under the conditions investigated, the trench of 10 mm depth is found to result in the highest plasma density at various axial and radial positions. The results show that the radial uniformity of the plasma density at various axial positions can be improved by using structured electrodes of distinct depths rather than planar electrodes.« less
Ion Densities in the Nightside Ionosphere of Mars: Effects of Electron Impact Ionization
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Girazian, Z.; Mahaffy, P.; Lillis, R. J.; Benna, M.; Elrod, M.; Fowler, C. M.; Mitchell, D. L.
2017-11-01
We use observations from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission to show how superthermal electron fluxes and crustal magnetic fields affect ion densities in the nightside ionosphere of Mars. We find that due to electron impact ionization, high electron fluxes significantly increase the CO2+, O+, and O2+ densities below 200 km but only modestly increase the NO+ density. High electron fluxes also produce distinct peaks in the CO2+, O+, and O2+ altitude profiles. We also find that superthermal electron fluxes are smaller near strong crustal magnetic fields. Consequently, nightside ion densities are also smaller near strong crustal fields because they decay without being replenished by electron impact ionization. Furthermore, the NO+/O2+ ratio is enhanced near strong crustal fields because, in the absence of electron impact ionization, O2+ is converted into NO+ and not replenished. Our results show that electron impact ionization is a significant source of CO2+, O+, and O2+ in the nightside ionosphere of Mars.
Measuring the density of a molecular cluster injector via visible emission from an electron beam.
Lundberg, D P; Kaita, R; Majeski, R; Stotler, D P
2010-10-01
A method to measure the density distribution of a dense hydrogen gas jet is presented. A Mach 5.5 nozzle is cooled to 80 K to form a flow capable of molecular cluster formation. A 250 V, 10 mA electron beam collides with the jet and produces H(α) emission that is viewed by a fast camera. The high density of the jet, several 10(16) cm(-3), results in substantial electron depletion, which attenuates the H(α) emission. The attenuated emission measurement, combined with a simplified electron-molecule collision model, allows us to determine the molecular density profile via a simple iterative calculation.
Vertical Structure and Dynamics of the Beaufort Gyre Subsurface Layer from ADCP Obervations
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Torres, D. J.; Krishfield, R. A.; Proshutinsky, A. Y.; Timmermans, M. L. E.
2014-12-01
As part of the Beaufort Gyre Observing System (BGOS), several Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) have been maintained at moorings in different locations in the Canada Basin since 2005 to measure upper ocean velocities and sea ice motion. The ADCP data have been analyzed to better understand relationships among different components of forcing driving the sea ice and upper ocean layer including: winds, tides, and horizontal and vertical density gradients in the ocean. Specific attention is paid to data processing and analysis to separate inertial and tidal motions in these regions in the vicinity of the critical latitudes. In addition, we describe the dynamic characteristics of halocline eddies and estimate their kinetic energy and their role in the total energy balance in this region. Ice-Tethered Profiler (ITP) data are used in conjunction with the ADCP measurements to identify relationships between T-S and vertical velocity structures in the mixed layer and deeper. Seasonal and interannual variability in all parameters are also discussed and causes of observed changes are suggested.
Vertical Navigation Control Laws and Logic for the Next Generation Air Transportation System
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Hueschen, Richard M.; Khong, Thuan H.
2013-01-01
A vertical navigation (VNAV) outer-loop control system was developed to capture and track the vertical path segments of energy-efficient trajectories that are being developed for high-density operations in the evolving Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The VNAV control system has a speed-on-elevator control mode to pitch the aircraft for tracking a calibrated airspeed (CAS) or Mach number profile and a path control mode for tracking the VNAV altitude profile. Mode control logic was developed for engagement of either the speed or path control modes. The control system will level the aircraft to prevent it from flying through a constraint altitude. A stability analysis was performed that showed that the gain and phase margins of the VNAV control system significantly exceeded the design gain and phase margins. The system performance was assessed using a six-deg-of-freedom non-linear transport aircraft simulation and the performance is illustrated with time-history plots of recorded simulation data.
Neutral winds and electric fields from model studies using reduced ionograms
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Baran, D. E.
1974-01-01
A relationship between the vertical component of the ion velocity and electron density profiles derived from reduced ionograms is developed. Methods for determining the horizontal components of the neutral winds and electric fields by using this relationship and making use of the variations of the inclinations and declinations of the earth's magnetic field are presented. The effects that electric fields have on the neutral wind calculations are estimated to be small but not second order. Seasonal and latitudinal variations of the calculated neutral winds are presented. From the calculated neutral winds a new set of neutral pressure gradients is determined. The new pressure gradients are compared with those generated from several static neutral atmospheric models. Sensitivity factors relating the pressure gradients and neutral winds are calculated and these indicate that mode coupling and harmonic generation are important to studies which assume linearized theories.
Effects of applied dc radial electric fields on particle transport in a bumpy torus plasma
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Roth, J. R.
1978-01-01
The influence of applied dc radial electric fields on particle transport in a bumpy torus plasma is studied. The plasma, magnetic field, and ion heating mechanism are operated in steady state. Ion kinetic temperature is more than a factor of ten higher than electron temperature. The electric fields raise the ions to energies on the order of kilovolts and then point radially inward or outward. Plasma number density profiles are flat or triangular across the plasma diameter. It is suggested that the radial transport processes are nondiffusional and dominated by strong radial electric fields. These characteristics are caused by the absence of a second derivative in the density profile and the flat electron temperature profiles. If the electric field acting on the minor radius of the toroidal plasma points inward, plasma number density and confinement time are increased.
Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Selective Cage B-H Functionalization of o-Carboranes.
Quan, Yangjian; Qiu, Zaozao; Xie, Zuowei
2018-02-26
Carboranes are a class of carbon-boron molecular clusters with unusual thermal and chemical stabilities. They have been proved as very useful building blocks in supramolecular design, optoelectronics, nanomaterials, boron neutron capture therapy agents and organometallic/coordination chemistry. Thus, the functionalization of o-carboranes has received growing interests. Over the past decades, most of the works in this area have been focused on cage carbon functionalization as the weakly acidic cage C-H proton can be readily deprotonated by strong bases. In sharp contrast, selective cage B-H activation/functionalization among chemically very similar ten B-H vertices is very challenging. Considering the differences in electron density of ten cage B-H bonds in o-carborane and the nature of transition metal complexes, we have tackled this selectivity issue by means of organometallic chemistry. Our strategy is as follows: using electron-rich transition metal catalysts for the functionalization of the most electron-deficient B(3,6)-H vertices (bonded to both cage CH vertices); using electron-deficient transition-metal catalysts for the functionalization of relatively electron-rich B(8,9,10,12)-H vertices (with no bonding to both cage CH vertices); and using the combination of directing groups and electrophilic transition metal catalysts for the functionalization of B(4,5,7,11)-H vertices (bonded to only one cage CH vertex). Successful applications of such a strategy result in the preparation of a large variety of cage B-functionalized carboranes in a regioselective and catalytic manner, which are inaccessible by other means. It is believed that as this field progresses, other cage B-functionalized carboranes are expected to be synthesized, and the results detailed in this concept article will further these efforts. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
Marinoni, Alessandro; Pinsker, Robert I.; Porkolab, Miklos; ...
2017-08-01
Experiments simulating the ITER Baseline Scenario on the DIII-D tokamak show that torque-free pure electron heating, when coupled to plasmas subject to a net co-current beam torque, affects density fluctuations at electron scales on a sub-confinement time scale, whereas fluctuations at ion scales change only after profiles have evolved to a new stationary state. Modifications to the density fluctuations measured by the Phase Contrast Imaging diagnostic (PCI) are assessed by analyzing the time evolution following the switch-off of Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH), thus going from mixed beam/ECH to pure neutral beam heating at fixed β N . Within 20 msmore » after turning off ECH, the intensity of fluctuations is observed to increase at frequencies higher than 200 kHz; in contrast, fluctuations at lower frequency are seen to decrease in intensity on a longer time scale, after other equilibrium quantities have evolved. Non-linear gyro-kinetic modeling at ion and electron scales scales suggest that, while the low frequency response of the diagnostic is consistent with the dominant ITG modes being weakened by the slow-time increase in flow shear, the high frequency response is due to prompt changes to the electron temperature profile that enhance electron modes and generate a larger heat flux and an inward particle pinch. Furthermore, these results suggest that electron heated regimes in ITER will feature multi-scale fluctuations that might affect fusion performance via modifications to profiles.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Avduevskii, V. S.; Godnev, A. G.; Semenchenko, V. V.; Uspenskii, G. R.; Cheremukhina, Z. P.
1983-03-01
Acceleration measurements in the preparachute segment of descent during the aerodynamics braking of Venera-13 and Venera-14 were made in order to study the characteristics of the Venus stratosphere and mesosphere. Results of axial-acceleration measurements are presented, and attention is given to atmospheric density and pressure profiles obtained from the accelerometer data and vertical temperature profiles acquired from Venera and Pioneer-Venus acceleration data.
Self-consistent discharge growing model of helicon plasma
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Isayama, Shogo; Hada, Tohru; Shinohara, Shunjiro; Tanikawa, Takao
2015-11-01
Helicon plasma is a high-density and low-temperature plasma generated by the electromagnetic (Helicon) wave excited in the plasma. It is thought to be useful for various applications including electric thrusters. Physics of helicon plasma production involves such fundamental processes as the wave propagation (dispersion relation), collisional and non-collisional wave damping, plasma heating, ionization/recombination of neutral particles, and modification of the dispersion relation by newly ionized plasma. There remain a number of unsolved physical issues such as, how the Helicon and the TG modes influence the plasma density, electron temperature and their spatial profiles. While the Helicon mode is absorbed in the bulk plasma, the TG mode is mostly absorbed near the edge of the plasma. The local power deposition in the helicon plasma is mostly balanced by collisional loss. This local power balance can give rise to the inhomogeneous electron temperature profile that leads to time evolution of density profile and dispersion relation. In our study, we construct a self-consistent model of the discharge evolution that includes the wave excitation, electron heat transfer, and diffusion of charged particles.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Delandmeter, Philippe; Lambrechts, Jonathan; Legat, Vincent; Vallaeys, Valentin; Naithani, Jaya; Thiery, Wim; Remacle, Jean-François; Deleersnijder, Eric
2018-03-01
The discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element method is well suited for the modelling, with a relatively small number of elements, of three-dimensional flows exhibiting strong velocity or density gradients. Its performance can be highly enhanced by having recourse to r-adaptivity. Here, a vertical adaptive mesh method is developed for DG finite elements. This method, originally designed for finite difference schemes, is based on the vertical diffusion of the mesh nodes, with the diffusivity controlled by the density jumps at the mesh element interfaces. The mesh vertical movement is determined by means of a conservative arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation. Though conservativity is naturally achieved, tracer consistency is obtained by a suitable construction of the mesh vertical velocity field, which is defined in such a way that it is fully compatible with the tracer and continuity equations at a discrete level. The vertically adaptive mesh approach is implemented in the three-dimensional version of the geophysical and environmental flow Second-generation Louvain-la-Neuve Ice-ocean Model (SLIM 3D; www.climate.be/slim). Idealised benchmarks, aimed at simulating the oscillations of a sharp thermocline, are dealt with. Then, the relevance of the vertical adaptivity technique is assessed by simulating thermocline oscillations of Lake Tanganyika. The results are compared to measured vertical profiles of temperature, showing similar stratification and outcropping events.
Spectral Analysis of Vector Magnetic Field Profiles
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Parker, Robert L.; OBrien, Michael S.
1997-01-01
We investigate the power spectra and cross spectra derived from the three components of the vector magnetic field measured on a straight horizontal path above a statistically stationary source. All of these spectra, which can be estimated from the recorded time series, are related to a single two-dimensional power spectral density via integrals that run in the across-track direction in the wavenumber domain. Thus the measured spectra must obey a number of strong constraints: for example, the sum of the two power spectral densities of the two horizontal field components equals the power spectral density of the vertical component at every wavenumber and the phase spectrum between the vertical and along-track components is always pi/2. These constraints provide powerful checks on the quality of the measured data; if they are violated, measurement or environmental noise should be suspected. The noise due to errors of orientation has a clear characteristic; both the power and phase spectra of the components differ from those of crustal signals, which makes orientation noise easy to detect and to quantify. The spectra of the crustal signals can be inverted to obtain information about the cross-track structure of the field. We illustrate these ideas using a high-altitude Project Magnet profile flown in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dnestrovskij, Yu. N.; Vershkov, V. A.; Danilov, A. V.; Dnestrovskij, A. Yu.; Zenin, V. N.; Lysenko, S. E.; Melnikov, A. V.; Shelukhin, D. A.; Subbotin, G. F.; Cherkasov, S. V.
2018-01-01
In ohmically heated (OH) plasma with low recycling, an improved particle confinement (IPC) mode is established during gas puffing. However, after gas puffing is switched off, this mode is retained only for about 100 ms, after which an abrupt phase transition into the low particle confinement (LPC) mode occurs in the entire plasma cross section. During such a transition, energy transport due to heat conduction does not change. The phase transition in OH plasma is similar to the effect of density pump-out from the plasma core, which occurs after electron cyclotron heating (ECH) is switched on. Analysis of the measured plasma pressure profiles in the T-10 tokamak shows that, after gas puffing in the OH mode is switched off, the plasma pressure profile in the IPC stage becomes more peaked and, after the peakedness exceeds a certain critical value, the IPC-LPC transition occurs. Similar processes are also observed during ECH. If the pressure profile is insufficiently peaked during ECH, then the density pump-out effect comes into play only after the critical peakedness of the pressure profile is reached. In the plasma core, the density and pressure profiles are close to the corresponding canonical profiles. This allows one to derive an expression for the particle flux within the canonical profile model and formulate a criterion for the IPC-LPC transition. The time evolution of the plasma density profile during phase transitions was simulated for a number of T-10 shots with ECH and high recycling. The particle transport coefficients in the IPC and LPC phases, as well as the dependences of these coefficients on the ECH power, are determined.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Anada, Satoshi; Yamamoto, Kazuo; Sasaki, Hirokazu; Shibata, Naoya; Hori, Yujin; Kinugawa, Kouhei; Imamura, Akihiro; Hirayama, Tsukasa
2017-12-01
We combined an in situ biasing technique with phase-shifting electron holography, which can simultaneously achieve a high precision and high spatial resolution, to measure the electric potential, field, and charge density profiles across a GaAs p-n tunnel junction. A thin-film specimen was prepared by thinning one part of a bulk specimen using a cryo focused ion beam (FIB) system. We obtained precise electric potential profiles and successfully converted them into smooth electric field and charge density profiles without any fitting simulations. From the relationship between the applied voltage and measured height of the potential step across the p-n junction, the built-in potential of the p-n junction was determined to be 1.55 ± 0.02 V. The electric field profiles showed that the unbiased p-n junction had a depletion layer with a width of 24 ± 1 nm; the width increased to 26 ± 1 nm under a reverse bias of -0.3 V and decreased to 22 ± 1 nm under a forward bias of 0.5 V. Moreover, the charge density profiles indicated the presence of passivated dopants and/or trapped carriers even in the internal active layer of the specimen, with little damage introduced by FIB milling.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Cvejić, M., E-mail: marko.cvejic@ipb.ac.rs, E-mail: krzysztof.dzierzega@uj.edu.pl; Faculty of Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001; Dzierżęga, K., E-mail: marko.cvejic@ipb.ac.rs, E-mail: krzysztof.dzierzega@uj.edu.pl
2015-07-13
We have studied isothermal equilibrium in the laser-induced plasma from aluminum pellets in argon at pressure of 200 mbar by using a method which combines the standard laser Thomson scattering and analysis of the H{sub α}, Stark-broadened, line profiles. Plasma was created using 4.5 ns, 4 mJ pulses from a Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. While electron density and temperature were determined from the electron feature of Thomson scattering spectra, the heavy particle temperature was obtained from the H{sub α} full profile applying computer simulation including ion-dynamical effects. We have found strong imbalance between these two temperatures during entire plasma evolution whichmore » indicates its non-isothermal character. At the same time, according to the McWhirter criterion, the electron density was high enough to establish plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium.« less
An Interdisciplinary Approach at Studying the Earth-Sun System with GPS/GNSS and GPS-like Signals
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Zuffada, Cinzia; Hajj, George; Mannucci, Anthony J.; Chao, Yi; Ao, Chi; Zumberge, James
2005-01-01
The value of Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) measurements to atmospheric science, space physics, and ocean science, is now emerging or showing a potential to play a major role in the evolving programs of NASA, NSF and NOAA. The objective of this communication is to identify and articulate the key scientific questions that are optimally, or perhaps uniquely, addressed by GPS or GPS-like observations, and discuss their relevance to existing or planned national Earth-science research programs. The GPS-based ocean reflection experiments performed to date have demonstrated the precision and spatial resolution suitable to altimetric applications that require higher spatial resolution and more frequent repeat than the current radar altimeter satellites. GPS radio occultation is promising as a climate monitoring tool because of its benchmark properties: its raw observable is based on extremely accurate timing measurements. GPS-derived temperature profiles can provide meaningful climate trend information over decadal time scales without the need for overlapping missions or mission-to-mission calibrations. By acquiring data as GPS satellites occult behind the Earth's limb, GPS also provides high vertical resolution information on the vertical structure of electron density with global coverage. New experimental techniques will create more comprehensive TEC maps by using signals reflected from the oceans and received in orbit. This communication will discuss a potential future GNSS Earth Observing System project which would deploy a constellation of satellites using GPS and GPS-like measurements, to obtain a) topography measurements based on GPS reflections with an accuracy and horizontal resolution suitable for eddy monitoring, and h) climate-records quality atmospheric temperature profiles. The constellation would also provide for measurements of ionospheric elec tron density. This is a good example of an interdisciplinary mission concept, with broad science objectives of high societal relevance, al l resting on common cost-effective technology.
The Ocean`s Thermohaline Circulation in a Fish Tank
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lavender, K.; Joyce, P.; Graziano, L.; Harris, S.; Jaroslow, G.; Lea, C.; Schell, J.; Witting, J.
2005-12-01
This demonstration develops intuition about density stratification, a concept critical to understanding the ocean`s thermohaline circulation. In addition, students learn how temperature and salinity affect density, how these characteristics may be density-compensating, and students gain practice in graphing and interpreting vertical profiles and temperature-salinity (T-S) diagrams. The demonstration requires a rectangular fish tank (5-10 gallons) with a plexiglass partition, preparation of three colored ''water masses'' representing surface water (warm and fresh), ''mystery'' Mediterranean Water (warm and salty), and North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW; cold and salty), a kitchen sponge, and a temperature and salinity probe. Density may be computed using an Equation of State calculator (e.g. online version at http://fermi.jhuapl.edu/denscalc.html). The larger side of the fish tank is filled halfway with NADW, then surface water is layered on top by carefully pouring it on a floating sponge. A student volunteer measures the temperature and salinity of the two water masses, while another computes the densities. Students draw vertical profiles and T-S diagrams representing the temperature, salinity, and density of the water column. The properties of the ''mystery'' water are measured and students predict what will happen when the water is poured on the opposite side of the partition and is allowed to overflow into the layered water. If the density gradients are sufficiently large, a beautiful internal wave develops as the mystery water overflows the sill and becomes intermediate Mediterranean Water. If time permits, having a student blow on the surface illustrates the limited influence of ''wind'' with depth; an internal wave may by forced by depressing the thermocline with a large, flat spoon; and pouring extra NADW on the sponge floating at the surface may illustrate deep convection.
Dual descriptors within the framework of spin-polarized density functional theory.
Chamorro, E; Pérez, P; Duque, M; De Proft, F; Geerlings, P
2008-08-14
Spin-polarized density functional theory (SP-DFT) allows both the analysis of charge-transfer (e.g., electrophilic and nucleophilic reactivity) and of spin-polarization processes (e.g., photophysical changes arising from electron transitions). In analogy with the dual descriptor introduced by Morell et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 109, 205 (2005)], we introduce new dual descriptors intended to simultaneously give information of the molecular regions where the spin-polarization process linking states of different multiplicity will drive electron density and spin density changes. The electronic charge and spin rearrangement in the spin forbidden radiative transitions S(0)-->T(n,pi(*)) and S(0)-->T(pi,pi(*)) in formaldehyde and ethylene, respectively, have been used as benchmark examples illustrating the usefulness of the new spin-polarization dual descriptors. These quantities indicate those regions where spin-orbit coupling effects are at work in such processes. Additionally, the qualitative relationship between the topology of the spin-polarization dual descriptors and the vertical singlet triplet energy gap in simple substituted carbene series has been also discussed. It is shown that the electron density and spin density rearrangements arise in agreement with spectroscopic experimental evidence and other theoretical results on the selected target systems.
Local relative density modulates failure and strength in vertically aligned carbon nanotubes.
Pathak, Siddhartha; Mohan, Nisha; Decolvenaere, Elizabeth; Needleman, Alan; Bedewy, Mostafa; Hart, A John; Greer, Julia R
2013-10-22
Micromechanical experiments, image analysis, and theoretical modeling revealed that local failure events and compressive stresses of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) were uniquely linked to relative density gradients. Edge detection analysis of systematically obtained scanning electron micrographs was used to quantify a microstructural figure-of-merit related to relative local density along VACNT heights. Sequential bottom-to-top buckling and hardening in stress-strain response were observed in samples with smaller relative density at the bottom. When density gradient was insubstantial or reversed, bottom regions always buckled last, and a flat stress plateau was obtained. These findings were consistent with predictions of a 2D material model based on a viscoplastic solid with plastic non-normality and a hardening-softening-hardening plastic flow relation. The hardening slope in compression generated by the model was directly related to the stiffness gradient along the sample height, and hence to the local relative density. These results demonstrate that a microstructural figure-of-merit, the effective relative density, can be used to quantify and predict the mechanical response.
Lemaitre, Maxime G; Donoghue, Evan P; McCarthy, Mitchell A; Liu, Bo; Tongay, Sefaattin; Gila, Brent; Kumar, Purushottam; Singh, Rajiv K; Appleton, Bill R; Rinzler, Andrew G
2012-10-23
An improved process for graphene transfer was used to demonstrate high performance graphene enabled vertical organic field effect transistors (G-VFETs). The process reduces disorder and eliminates the polymeric residue that typically plagues transferred films. The method also allows for purposely creating pores in the graphene of a controlled areal density. Transconductance observed in G-VFETs fabricated with a continuous (pore-free) graphene source electrode is attributed to modulation of the contact barrier height between the graphene and organic semiconductor due to a gate field induced Fermi level shift in the low density of electronic-states graphene electrode. Pores introduced in the graphene source electrode are shown to boost the G-VFET performance, which scales with the areal pore density taking advantage of both barrier height lowering and tunnel barrier thinning. Devices with areal pore densities of 20% exhibit on/off ratios and output current densities exceeding 10(6) and 200 mA/cm(2), respectively, at drain voltages below 5 V.
Ab Initio Calculations of Singlet and Triplet Excited States of Chlorine Nitrate and Nitric Acid
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Grana, Ana M.; Lee, Timothy J.; Head-Gordon, Martin; Langhoff, Stephen R. (Technical Monitor)
1994-01-01
Ab initio calculations of vertical excitations to singlet and triplet excited states of chlorine nitrate and nitric acid are reported. The nature of the electronic transitions are examined by decomposing the difference density into the sum of detachment and attachment densities. Counterparts for the three lowest singlet excited states of nitric acid survive relatively unperturbed in chlorine nitrate, while other low-lying singlet states of chlorine nitrate appear to be directly dissociative in the ClO chromophore. These results suggest an assignment of the two main peaks in the experimental chlorine nitrate absorption spectrum. In addition, triplet vertical excitations and the lowest optimized triplet geometries of both molecules are studied.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Rüger, Robert, E-mail: rueger@scm.com; Department of Theoretical Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1083, 1081 HV Amsterdam; Wilhelm-Ostwald-Institut für Physikalische und Theoretische Chemie, Linnéstr. 2, 04103 Leipzig
2016-05-14
We propose a new method of calculating electronically excited states that combines a density functional theory based ground state calculation with a linear response treatment that employs approximations used in the time-dependent density functional based tight binding (TD-DFTB) approach. The new method termed time-dependent density functional theory TD-DFT+TB does not rely on the DFTB parametrization and is therefore applicable to systems involving all combinations of elements. We show that the new method yields UV/Vis absorption spectra that are in excellent agreement with computationally much more expensive TD-DFT calculations. Errors in vertical excitation energies are reduced by a factor of twomore » compared to TD-DFTB.« less
Tang, Jun; Yao, Yibin; Zhang, Liang; Kong, Jian
2015-01-01
The insufficiency of data is the essential reason for ill-posed problem existed in computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) technique. Therefore, the method of integrating multi-source data is proposed. Currently, the multiple satellite navigation systems and various ionospheric observing instruments provide abundant data which can be employed to reconstruct ionospheric electron density (IED). In order to improve the vertical resolution of IED, we do research on IED reconstruction by integration of ground-based GPS data, occultation data from the LEO satellite, satellite altimetry data from Jason-1 and Jason-2 and ionosonde data. We used the CIT results to compare with incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations, and found that the multi-source data fusion was effective and reliable to reconstruct electron density, showing its superiority than CIT with GPS data alone. PMID:26266764
Tang, Jun; Yao, Yibin; Zhang, Liang; Kong, Jian
2015-08-12
The insufficiency of data is the essential reason for ill-posed problem existed in computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) technique. Therefore, the method of integrating multi-source data is proposed. Currently, the multiple satellite navigation systems and various ionospheric observing instruments provide abundant data which can be employed to reconstruct ionospheric electron density (IED). In order to improve the vertical resolution of IED, we do research on IED reconstruction by integration of ground-based GPS data, occultation data from the LEO satellite, satellite altimetry data from Jason-1 and Jason-2 and ionosonde data. We used the CIT results to compare with incoherent scatter radar (ISR) observations, and found that the multi-source data fusion was effective and reliable to reconstruct electron density, showing its superiority than CIT with GPS data alone.
Immersion Cooling of Electronics in DoD Installations
2016-05-01
2012). Bitcoin Mining Electronics Cooling Development In January 2013, inventor/consultant Mark Miyoshi began development of a two-phase cooling...system using Novec 649 to be used for cooling bitcoin mining hardware. After a short trial period, hardware power supply and logic-board failures...are reports of bitcoin mining companies vertically stacking two-phase immersion baths to improve the floor space density, but this approach is likely
Kliore, A J; Woo, R; Armstrong, J W; Patel, I R; Croft, T A
1979-02-23
Fourteen profiles of electron density in the ionosphere of Venus were obtainecd by the dual-frequency radio occulation method with the Pioneer Venus orbiter between 5 and 30 December 1978. The solar zenith angles for these measurements were between about 85 degrees and 92 degrees , and the latitudes ranged from about 81 degrees to 88 degrees (ecliptic north). In addition to the expected decreasein peak electron density from about 1.5 x 10(3) to 0.5 x 10(3) per cubic centimeter with increasing solar zenith angle, a region of almost constant electron density above about 250 kilometers was observed. The ionopause height varies from about 300 to 700 kilometers and seems to be influenced by diurnal changes in solar wind conditions. The structures of the profiles are consistent with models in which O(2)(+) dominates near the ionization peak and is replaced by O(+) at higher altitudes.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kervalishvili, G.; Lühr, H.
2016-12-01
This study reports on the results obtained by a superposed epoch analysis (SEA) method applied to the electron temperature, vertical ion velocity, field-aligned current (FAC), and thermospheric zonal wind velocity at high-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. The SEA study is performed in a magnetic latitude versus magnetic local time (MLat-MLT) frame. The obtained results are based on observations collected during the years 2001-2005 by the CHAMP and DMSP (F13 and F15) satellites. The dependence on interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) orientations is also investigated using data from the NASA/GSFC's OMNI database. Further, the obtained results are subdivided into three Lloyd seasons of 130 days each, which are defined as follows: local winter (1 January ± 65 days), combined equinoxes (1 April and 1 October ± 32days), and local summer (1 July ± 65 days). A period of 130 days is needed by the CHAMP satellite to pass through all local times. The time and location of the electron temperature peaks from CHAMP measurements near the cusp region are used as the reference parameter for the SEA method to investigate the relationship between the electron temperature and other ionospheric quantities. The SEA derived MLat profiles of the electron temperature show a seasonal dependence, increasing from winter to summer, as expected. But, the temperature rise (difference between the reference temperature peak and the background electron temperature) strongly decreases towards local summer. The SEA derived MLat profiles of the ion vertical velocity at DMSP altitude show the same seasonal behaviour as the electron temperature rice. There exists a clear linear relation between these two variables with a quiet large correlation coefficient value, >0.9. The SEA derived MLat profiles of both, thermospheric zonal wind velocity and FAC, show a clear IMF By orientation dependence for all local seasons. The zonal wind velocity is prominently directed towards west in the MLat-MLT frame for both signs of IMF By, but speeds are larger for positive By. FAC shows a systematic imbalance between downward (upward) and upward (downward) peaks equatorward and poleward of the reference point for positive (negative) IMF By. The influence of upflow events depends strongly on the amplitude of IMF By, to a lesser extend on Bz.
What does reflection from cloud sides tell us about vertical distribution of cloud droplets?
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Marshak, A.; Kaufman, Yoram; Martins, V.; Zubko, Victor
2006-01-01
In order to accurately measure the interaction of clouds with aerosols, we have to resolve the vertical distribution of cloud droplet sizes and determine the temperature of glaciation for clean and polluted clouds. Knowledge of the droplet vertical profile is also essential for understanding precipitation. So far, all existing satellites either measure cloud microphysics only at cloud top (e.g., MODIS) or give a vertical profile of precipitation sized droplets (e.g., Cloudsat). What if one measures cloud microphysical properties in the vertical by retrieving them from the solar and infrared radiation reflected or emitted from cloud sides? This was the idea behind CLAIM-3D (A 3D - cloud aerosol interaction mission) recently proposed by NASA GSFC. This presentation will focus on the interpretation of the radiation reflected from cloud sides. In contrast to plane-parallel approximation, a conventional approach to all current operational retrievals, 3D radiative transfer will be used for interpreting the observed reflectances. As a proof of concept, we will show a few examples of radiation reflected from cloud fields generated by a simple stochastic cloud model with prescribed microphysics. Instead of fixed values of the retrieved effective radii, the probability density functions of droplet size distributions will serve as possible retrievals.
A Campaign to Study Equatorial Ionospheric Phenomena over Guam
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Habash Krause, L.; Balthazor, R.; Dearborn, M.; Enloe, L.; Lawrence, T.; McHarg, M.; Petrash, D.; Reinisch, B. W.; Stuart, T.
2007-05-01
With the development of a series of ground-based and space-based experiments, the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is in the process of planning a campaign to investigate the relationship between equatorial ionospheric plasma dynamics and a variety of space weather effects, including: 1) ionospheric plasma turbulence in the F region, and 2) scintillation of radio signals at low latitudes. A Digisonde Portable Sounder DPS-4 will operate from the island of Guam (with a magnetic latitude of 5.6° N) and will provide measurements of ionospheric total electron content (TEC), vertical drifts of the bulk ionospheric plasma, and electron density profiles. Additionally, a dual-frequency GPS TEC/scintillation monitor will be located along the Guam magnetic meridian at a magnetic latitude of approximately 15° N. In campaign mode, we will combine these ground-based observations with those collected from space during USAFA's FalconSAT-3 and FalconSAT-5 low-earth orbit satellite missions, the first of which is scheduled to be active over a period of several months beginning in the 2007 calendar year. The satellite experiments are designed to characterize in situ irregularities in plasma density, and include measurements of bulk ion density and temperature, minority-to- majority ion mixing ratios, small scale (10 cm to 1 m) plasma turbulence, and ion distribution spectra in energy with sufficient resolution for observations of non-thermalized distributions that may be associated with velocity- space instabilities. Specific targets of investigation include: a) a comparison of plasma turbulence observed on- orbit with spread F on ionograms as measured with the Digisonde, b) a correlation between the vertical lifting of the ionospheric layer over Guam and the onset of radio scintillation activity along the Guam meridian at 15° N magnetic latitude, and c) a correlation between on-orbit turbulence and ionospheric scintillation at 15° N magnetic latitude. These relationships may provide further clues into understanding the trigger mechanisms responsible for instigating disturbances in the ionospheric plasma, thus resulting in a turbulent radio propagation medium that may cause outages of radio based communication and navigation systems.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Yeluri, Ramya, E-mail: ramyay@ece.ucsb.edu; Lu, Jing; Keller, Stacia
2015-05-04
The Current Aperture Vertical Electron Transistor (CAVET) combines the high conductivity of the two dimensional electron gas channel at the AlGaN/GaN heterojunction with better field distribution offered by a vertical design. In this work, CAVETs with buried, conductive p-GaN layers as the current blocking layer are reported. The p-GaN layer was regrown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition and the subsequent channel regrowth was done by ammonia molecular beam epitaxy to maintain the p-GaN conductivity. Transistors with high ON current (10.9 kA/cm{sup 2}) and low ON-resistance (0.4 mΩ cm{sup 2}) are demonstrated. Non-planar selective area regrowth is identified as the limiting factormore » to transistor breakdown, using planar and non-planar n/p/n structures. Planar n/p/n structures recorded an estimated electric field of 3.1 MV/cm, while non-planar structures showed a much lower breakdown voltage. Lowering the p-GaN regrowth temperature improved breakdown in the non-planar n/p/n structure. Combining high breakdown voltage with high current will enable GaN vertical transistors with high power densities.« less
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Scudder, J. D.; Aggson, T. L.; Mangeney, A.; Lacombe, C.; Harvey, C. C.
1986-01-01
Data collected by the ISEE dual-spacecraft mission (on November 7, 1977) on a slowly moving, supercritical, high-beta, quasi-perpendicular bow shock are presented, and the local geometry, spatial scales, and stationarity of this shock wave are assessed in a self-consistent Rankine-Hugoniot-constrained frame of reference. Included are spatial profiles of the ac and dc magnetic and electric fields, electron and proton fluid velocities, current densities, electron and proton number densities, temperatures, pressures, and partial densities of the reflected protons. The observed layer profile is shown to be nearly phase standing and one-dimensional in a Rankine-Hugoniot frame, empirically determined by the magnetofluid parameters outside the layer proper.
Kenmochi, N; Minami, T; Takahashi, C; Tei, S; Mizuuchi, T; Kobayashi, S; Nagasaki, K; Nakamura, Y; Okada, H; Kado, S; Yamamoto, S; Ohshima, S; Konoshima, S; Shi, N; Zang, L; Ohtani, Y; Kasajima, K; Sano, F
2014-11-01
A Nd:YAG Thomson scattering system has been developed for Heliotron J. The system consists of two 550 mJ 50 Hz lasers, large collection optics, and 25 radial channel (∼1 cm spatial resolution) interference polychromators. This measurement system achieves a S/N ratio of ∼50 for low-density plasma (ne ∼ 0.5 × 10(19) m(-3)). A time evolution of electron temperature profiles was measured with this system for a high-intensity gas-puff (HIGP) fueling neutral-beam-injection plasma. The peripheral temperature of the higher-density phase after HIGP recovers to the low-density pre-HIGP level, suggesting that improving particle transport in the HIGP plasma may be possible.
Laclau, J P; Arnaud, M; Bouillet, J P; Ranger, J
2001-02-01
Spatial statistical analyses were performed to describe root distribution and changes in soil strength in a mature clonal plantation of Eucalyptus spp. in the Congo. The objective was to analyze spatial variability in root distribution. Relationships between root distribution, soil strength and the water and nutrient uptake by the stand were also investigated. We studied three, 2.35-m-wide, vertical soil profiles perpendicular to the planting row and at various distances from a representative tree. The soil profiles were divided into 25-cm2 grid cells and the number of roots in each of three diameter classes counted in each grid cell. Two profiles were 2-m deep and the third profile was 5-m deep. There was both vertical and horizontal anisotropy in the distribution of fine roots in the three profiles, with root density decreasing sharply with depth and increasing with distance from the stump. Roots were present in areas with high soil strength values (> 6,000 kPa). There was a close relationship between soil water content and soil strength in this sandy soil. Soil strength increased during the dry season mainly because of water uptake by fine roots. There were large areas with low root density, even in the topsoil. Below a depth of 3 m, fine roots were spatially concentrated and most of the soil volume was not explored by roots. This suggests the presence of drainage channels, resulting from the severe hydrophobicity of the upper soil.
Hirano, Y; Kiyama, S; Fujiwara, Y; Koguchi, H; Sakakita, H
2015-11-01
A high current density (≈3 mA/cm(2)) hydrogen ion beam source operating in an extremely low-energy region (E(ib) ≈ 150-200 eV) has been realized by using a transition to a highly focused state, where the beam is extracted from the ion source chamber through three concave electrodes with nominal focal lengths of ≈350 mm. The transition occurs when the beam energy exceeds a threshold value between 145 and 170 eV. Low-level hysteresis is observed in the transition when E(ib) is being reduced. The radial profiles of the ion beam current density and the low temperature ion current density can be obtained separately using a Faraday cup with a grid in front. The measured profiles confirm that more than a half of the extracted beam ions reaches the target plate with a good focusing profile with a full width at half maximum of ≈3 cm. Estimation of the particle balances in beam ions, the slow ions, and the electrons indicates the possibility that the secondary electron emission from the target plate and electron impact ionization of hydrogen may play roles as particle sources in this extremely low-energy beam after the compensation of beam ion space charge.
Interplanetary fast shock diagnosis with the radio receiver on Ulysses
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Hoang, S.; Pantellini, F.; Harvey, C. C.; Lacombe, C.; Mangeney, A.; Meuer-Vernet, N.; Perche, C.; Steinberg, J.-L.; Lengyel-Frey, D.; Macdowall, R. J.
1992-01-01
The radio receiver on Ulysses records the quasi-thermal noise which allows a determination of the density and temperature of the cold (core) electrons of the solar wind. Seven interplanetary fast forward or reverse shocks are identified from the density and temperature profiles, together with the magnetic field profile from the Magnetometer experiment. Upstream of the three strongest shocks, bursts of nonthermal waves are observed at the electron plasma frequency f(peu). The more perpendicular the shock, the longer the time interval during which these upstream bursts are observed. For one of the strongest shocks we also observe two kinds of upstream electromagnetic radiation: radiation at 2 f(peu), and radiation at the downstream electron plasma frequency, which propagates into the less dense upstream regions.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zimovets, I. V.; Sharykin, I. N.; Wang, R.; Liu, Y. D.; Kosovichev, A. G.
2017-12-01
It is believed that solar flares are a result of release of free magnetic energy contained in electric currents (ECs) flowing in active regions (ARs). However, there are still debates whether the primary energy release and acceleration of electrons take place in coronal current sheets or in chromospheric footpoints of current-carrying magnetic flux tubes (loops). We present results of an observational statistical study of spatial relationship between hard X-ray (HXR; EHXR≥50keV) footpoint sources detected by RHESSI and vertical photospheric ECs calculated using vector magnetograms obtained from the SDO/HMI data. We found that for a sample of 47 flares (from C3.0 to X3.1 class) observed on the solar disk by both instruments in 2010-2016, at least one HXR source was in a region of strong (within 20% of the maximum EC density in the corresponding ARs) vertical ECs having the form of a ribbon (79%) or an island (21%). The total vertical ECs in such HXR sources are in the range of 1010-1013 A. The EC density is in the range of 0.01-1.0 A/m2. We found no correlation between intensity of the HXR sources and the EC density. By comparing pre-flare and post-flare EC maps we did not find evidences of significant dissipation of vertical ECs in the regions corresponding to the HXR sources. In some cases, we found amplification of ECs during flares. We discuss effects of sensitivity and angular resolution of RHESSI and SDO/HMI. In general, the results indicate that there is a link between the flare HXR footpoint sources and enhanced vertical ECs in the photosphere. However, the results do not support a concept of electron acceleration by the electric field excited in footpoints of current-carrying loops due to some (e.g. Rayleigh-Taylor) instabilities (Zaitsev et al., 2016), since strong correlation between the HXR intensity and the EC density is expected in such concept.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mukundan, Vrinda; Bhardwaj, Anil
2018-01-01
A one dimensional photochemical model for the dayside ionosphere of Titan has been developed for calculating the density profiles of ions and electrons under steady state photochemical equilibrium condition. We concentrated on the T40 flyby of Cassini orbiter and used the in-situ measurements from instruments onboard Cassini as input to the model. An energy deposition model is employed for calculating the attenuated photon flux and photoelectron flux at different altitudes in Titan's ionosphere. We used the Analytical Yield Spectrum approach for calculating the photoelectron fluxes. Volume production rates of major primary ions, like, N2+, N+ , CH4+, CH3+, etc due to photon and photoelectron impact are calculated and used as input to the model. The modeled profiles are compared with the Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) and Langmuir Probe (LP) measurements. The calculated electron density is higher than the observation by a factor of 2 to 3 around the peak. We studied the impact of different model parameters, viz. photoelectron flux, ion production rates, electron temperature, dissociative recombination rate coefficients, neutral densities of minor species, and solar flux on the calculated electron density to understand the possible reasons for this discrepancy. Recent studies have shown that there is an overestimation in the modeled photoelectron flux and N2+ ion production rates which may contribute towards this disagreement. But decreasing the photoelectron flux (by a factor of 3) and N2+ ion production rate (by a factor of 2) decreases the electron density only by 10 to 20%. Reduction in the measured electron temperature by a factor of 5 provides a good agreement between the modeled and observed electron density. The change in HCN and NH3 densities affects the calculated densities of the major ions (HCNH+ , C2H5+, and CH5+); however the overall impact on electron density is not appreciable ( < 20%). Even though increasing the dissociative recombination rate coefficients of the ions C2H5+ and CH5+ by a factor of 10 reduces the difference between modeled and observed densities of the major ions, the modeled electron density is still higher than the observation by ∼ 60% at the peak. We suggest that there might be some unidentified chemical reactions that may account for the additional loss of plasma in Titan's ionosphere.
Stephanie Moore; Nathan J. Mantua; Jan A. Newton; Mitsuhiro Kawase; Mark J. Warner; Jonathan P. Kellogg
2008-01-01
Temporal and spatial patterns of variability in Puget Sound's oceanographic properties are determined using continuous vertical profile data from two long-term monitoring programs; monthly observations at 16 stations from 1993 to 2002, and biannual observations at 40 stations from 1998 to 2003. Climatological monthly means of temperature, salinity, and density...
Propagation and Interactions of Ultrahigh Power Light: Relativistic Nonlinear Optics
2014-09-30
energy electron beams [16,17]. In the simplest implementation, a 2-mm supersonic nozzle is used to produce a high density gas flow (ne=10 19 cm-3...was a high-density jet of neutral helium produced by a 3 or 4 mm-diameter supersonic Laval nozzle . The neutral density profile (characterized...250 MeV and total charge of 0.1 nC (>50 MeV) Figure 7: (a) Gas target profiles, measured using tomography, at a height of 2 mm above the nozzle
Automated Processing of ISIS Topside Ionograms into Electron Density Profiles
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Reinisch, bodo W.; Huang, Xueqin; Bilitza, Dieter; Hills, H. Kent
2004-01-01
Modeling of the topside ionosphere has for the most part relied on just a few years of data from topside sounder satellites. The widely used Bent et al. (1972) model, for example, is based on only 50,000 Alouette 1 profiles. The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) (Bilitza, 1990, 2001) uses an analytical description of the graphs and tables provided by Bent et al. (1972). The Alouette 1, 2 and ISIS 1, 2 topside sounder satellites of the sixties and seventies were ahead of their times in terms of the sheer volume of data obtained and in terms of the computer and software requirements for data analysis. As a result, only a small percentage of the collected topside ionograms was converted into electron density profiles. Recently, a NASA-funded data restoration project has undertaken and is continuing the process of digitizing the Alouette/ISIS ionograms from the analog 7-track tapes. Our project involves the automated processing of these digital ionograms into electron density profiles. The project accomplished a set of important goals that will have a major impact on understanding and modeling of the topside ionosphere: (1) The TOPside Ionogram Scaling and True height inversion (TOPIST) software was developed for the automated scaling and inversion of topside ionograms. (2) The TOPIST software was applied to the over 300,000 ISIS-2 topside ionograms that had been digitized in the fkamework of a separate AISRP project (PI: R.F. Benson). (3) The new TOPIST-produced database of global electron density profiles for the topside ionosphere were made publicly available through NASA s National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) ftp archive at
Langmuir Probe Measurements in an Inductively Coupled Ar/CF4 Plasmas
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Rao, M. V. V. S.; Meyyappan, M.; Sharma, S. P.; Arnold, James O. (Technical Monitor)
2000-01-01
Technological advancement in the microelectronics industry requires an understanding of the physical and chemical processes occurring in plasmas of fluorocarbon gases, such as carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) which is commonly used as an etchant, and their mixtures to optimize various operating parameters. In this paper we report data on electron number density (ne), electron temperature'(Te), electron energy distribution function (EEDF), mean electron energy, ion number density (ni), and plasma potential (Vp) measured by using Langmuir probe in an inductively coupled 13.56 MHz radio frequency plasmas generated in 50%Ar:50%CF4 mixture in the GEC cell. The probe data were recorded at various radial positions providing radial profiles of these plasma parameters at 10-50 mTorr pressures and 200 W and 300 W of RF power. Present measurements indicate that the electron and ion number densities increase with increase in pressure and power. Whereas the plasma potential and electron temperature decrease with increase in pressure, and they weakly depend on RF power. The radial profiles exhibit that the electron and ion number densities and the plasma potential peak at the center of the plasma with an exponential fall away from it, while the electron temperature has a minimum at the center and it increases steadily towards the electrode edge. The EEDFs have a characteristic drop near the low energy end at all pressures and pressures and their shapes represent non-Maxwellian plasma and exhibit more like Druyvesteyn energy distribution.v
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Xiong, Chao; Zhou, Yun-Liang; Lühr, Hermann; Ma, Shu-Ying
2016-09-01
In this study we have provided new insights into the local time gradient of F region electron density (ΔNe) derived from the lower pair of Swarm satellites flying side by side. Our result shows that the electron density (Ne) increase starts just at sunrise, around 06:00 LT, simultaneously at low and middle latitudes due to the increased photoionization. At equatorial latitudes the increase in electron density gets even steeper after 07:00 LT, and the steepest increase of electron density (about 3 · 1010 m-3 within 6 min) occurs around 09:00 LT. We suggest that the upward vertical plasma drift in connection with the buildup of the equatorial fountain effect plays a major role. We also found that the local time variations of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest electron density during daytime are similar to the respective evolutions at the equator, but about 1-2 h delayed. We relate this delay to the response time between the equatorial electric field and the buildup of the plasma fountain. At equinox months a fast decrease of the F region electron density is seen at the EIA trough region during the prereversal enhancement, while an increase is found meanwhile at crest regions. Afterward, a fast decrease of the EIA crest electron density occurs between 19:00 and 23:00 LT, with seasonal dependence. The local time gradient between Swarm A and C shows also prominent longitudinal wave-4 pattern around August months, and the phase of DE3 in ΔNe is found to be delayed by 6 h compared to that in Ne.
Approximate solution for the electronic density profile at the surface of jellium
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Schmickler, Wolfgang; Henderson, Douglas
1984-09-01
A simple family of trial functions for the electronic density at the surface of jellium, which accounts for Friedel oscillations and incorporates the Budd-Vannimenus theorem, is proposed. The free parameters are determined by energy minimization. Model calculations give good results for the work function and for the induced surface charge in the presence of an external field.
Status of the Topside Vary-Chap Ionospheric Model
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Reinisch, Bodo; Nsumei, Patrick; Huang, Xueqin; Bilitza, Dieter
Status of the Topside Vary-Chap Ionospheric Model The general alpha-Chapman function for a multi-constituent gas which includes a continuously varying scale height and was therefore dubbed the Vary-Chap function, can present the topside electron density profiles in analytical form. The Vary-Chap profile is defined by the scale height function H(h) and the height and density of the F2 layer peak. By expressing 80,000 ISIS-2 measured topside density profiles as Vary-Chap functions we derived 80,000 scale height functions, which form the basis for the topside density profile modeling. The normalized scale height profiles Hn = H(h)/Hm were grouped according to season, MLAT, and MLT for each 50 km height bin from 200 km to 1400 km, and the median, lower, and upper quartiles for each bin were calculated. Hm is the scale height at the F2 layer peak. The resulting Hn functions are modeled in terms of hyperbolic tangent functions using 5 parameters that are determined by multivariate least squares, including the transition height hT where the scale height gradient has a maximum. These normalized scale height functions, representing the model of the topside electron density profiles from hmF2 to 1,400 km altitude, are independent of hmF2 and NmF2 and can therefore be directly used for the topside Ne profile in IRI. Similarly, this model can extend measured bottomside profiles to the topside, replacing the simple alpha-Chapman function with constant scale height that is currently used for construction of the topside profile in the Digisondes / ARTIST of the Global Ionospheric Radio Observatory (GIRO). It turns out that Hm(top) calculated from the topside profiles is generally several times larger than Hm(bot) derived from the bottomside profiles. This follows necessarily from the difference in the definition of the scale height functions for the topside and bottomside profiles. The diurnal variations of the ratio Hm(top) / Hm(bot) has been determined for different latitudes which makes it now possible to specify the topside profile for any given bottomside profile.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vincze, Miklos; Borcia, Ion; Harlander, Uwe; Le Gal, Patrice
2016-12-01
A water-filled differentially heated rotating annulus with initially prepared stable vertical salinity profiles is studied in the laboratory. Based on two-dimensional horizontal particle image velocimetry data and infrared camera visualizations, we describe the appearance and the characteristics of the baroclinic instability in this original configuration. First, we show that when the salinity profile is linear and confined between two non-stratified layers at top and bottom, only two separate shallow fluid layers can be destabilized. These unstable layers appear nearby the top and the bottom of the tank with a stratified motionless zone between them. This laboratory arrangement is thus particularly interesting to model geophysical or astrophysical situations where stratified regions are often juxtaposed to convective ones. Then, for more general but stable initial density profiles, statistical measures are introduced to quantify the extent of the baroclinic instability at given depths and to analyze the connections between this depth-dependence and the vertical salinity profiles. We find that, although the presence of stable stratification generally hinders full-depth overturning, double-diffusive convection can lead to development of multicellular sideways convection in shallow layers and subsequently to a multilayered baroclinic instability. Therefore we conclude that by decreasing the characteristic vertical scale of the flow, stratification may even enhance the formation of cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies (and thus, mixing) in a local sense.
Equator and High-Latitude Ionosphere-to-Magnetosphere Research
2010-12-04
characterizing plasma velocity profile in the heated region above HAARP has been clearly established. Specification of D region absorption from Digisonde...Electron density profile, Ground truth, Cal/Val, Doppler skymap, HAARP , Plasma velocity profile, Ionogram autoscaling, D region absorption...2 3 HAARP INVESTIGATIONS ............................................................................ 5 3.1
Ups and Downs in the Ocean: Effects of Biofouling on Vertical Transport of Microplastics.
Kooi, Merel; Nes, Egbert H van; Scheffer, Marten; Koelmans, Albert A
2017-07-18
Recent studies suggest size-selective removal of small plastic particles from the ocean surface, an observation that remains unexplained. We studied one of the hypotheses regarding this size-selective removal: the formation of a biofilm on the microplastics (biofouling). We developed the first theoretical model that is capable of simulating the effect of biofouling on the fate of microplastic. The model is based on settling, biofilm growth, and ocean depth profiles for light, water density, temperature, salinity, and viscosity. Using realistic parameters, the model simulates the vertical transport of small microplastic particles over time, and predicts that the particles either float, sink to the ocean floor, or oscillate vertically, depending on the size and density of the particle. The predicted size-dependent vertical movement of microplastic particles results in a maximum concentration at intermediate depths. Consequently, relatively low abundances of small particles are predicted at the ocean surface, while at the same time these small particles may never reach the ocean floor. Our results hint at the fate of "lost" plastic in the ocean, and provide a start for predicting risks of exposure to microplastics for potentially vulnerable species living at these depths.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lee, W. K.; Kil, H.; Krall, J.
2016-12-01
Significant longitudinal and latitudinal modulations in plasma density were observed by satellites during the 17 March 2015 storm. Pronounced equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and ionization trough developed in the Indian sector (60°-90°E), whereas those features did not appear in the African sector (20°-40°E). Significant ionospheric uplift was observed in the Indian sector, but the uplift was ignorable in the African sector. The vertical ExB drift is an important factor for the longitudinal variation of the ionospheric morphology, but the observed latitudinal density profiles are not explained satisfactorily by the effect of the vertical ExB drift alone. In this study, we investigate the combined effect of vertical ExB drift and meridional winds by conducting SAMI2 (Sam2 is Another Model of the Ionosphere) model simulations. By comparing the model results with satellite observations, we will assess the ionospheric conditions in the Indian and African sectors. The observations of Defense Meteorological satellite Program, Swarm, and Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System satellites will be analyzed for this purpose.
Sodankylä ionospheric tomography dataset 2003-2014
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Norberg, J.; Roininen, L.; Kero, A.; Raita, T.; Ulich, T.; Markkanen, M.; Juusola, L.; Kauristie, K.
2015-12-01
Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory has been operating a tomographic receiver network and collecting the produced data since 2003. The collected dataset consists of phase difference curves measured from Russian COSMOS dual-frequency (150/400 MHz) low-Earth-orbit satellite signals, and tomographic electron density reconstructions obtained from these measurements. In this study vertical total electron content (VTEC) values are integrated from the reconstructed electron densities to make a qualitative and quantitative analysis to validate the long-term performance of the tomographic system. During the observation period, 2003-2014, there were three-to-five operational stations at the Fenno-Scandinavian sector. Altogether the analysis consists of around 66 000 overflights, but to ensure the quality of the reconstructions, the examination is limited to cases with descending (north to south) overflights and maximum elevation over 60°. These constraints limit the number of overflights to around 10 000. Based on this dataset, one solar cycle of ionospheric vertical total electron content estimates is constructed. The measurements are compared against International Reference Ionosphere IRI-2012 model, F10.7 solar flux index and sunspot number data. Qualitatively the tomographic VTEC estimate corresponds to reference data very well, but the IRI-2012 model are on average 40 % higher of that of the tomographic results.
Galactic Spiral Shocks with Thermal Instability in Vertically Stratified Disks
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kim, Chang-Goo; Kim, W.; Ostriker, E. C.
2010-01-01
Galactic spiral shocks are dominant morphological features and believed to be responsible for substructure formation of spiral arms in disk galaxies. They can also provide a large amount of kinetic energy for the interstellar gas by tapping the rotational energy. We use numerical hydrodynamic simulations to investigate dynamics and structure of spiral shocks with thermal instability in vertically stratified galactic disks. We initially consider an isothermal disk in vertical hydrostatic equilibrium and let it evolve under interstellar cooling and heating. Due to cooling and heating, the disk rapidly turns to a dense slab near the midplane surrounded by rarefied gas at high-altitude regions. The imposed stellar spiral potential develops a vertically curved shock that exhibits strong flapping motions along the direction perpendicular to the arm. The flows across the spiral shock are characterized by transitions from rarefied to dense phases at the shock and from dense to rarefied phases at the postshock expansion zone. The shock flapping motions stirs the disk, supplying the gas with random kinetic energy. For a model resembling the galactic disk near the solar neighborhood, the density-weighted vertical velocity dispersions are 2 km/s for the rarefied gas and 1 km/s for the dense gas. The shock compression in this model reduces an amount of the rarefied gas from 29% to 19% by mass. Despite the flapping motions, the time-averaged profiles of surface density are similar to those of the one-dimensional counterparts, and the vertical density distribution is overall consistent with effective hydrostatic equilibrium. When self-gravity is included, the shock compression forms large gravitationally bound condensations with virial ratio of about 2 and typical masses of 0.5 to one million solar masses, comparable to the Jeans mass.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Jung, Euihan; Hwang, Gwangseok; Chung, Jaehun
2015-01-26
Performance degradation resulting from efficiency droop during high-power operation is a critical problem in the development of high-efficiency light-emitting diodes (LEDs). In order to resolve the efficiency droop and increase the external quantum efficiency of LEDs, the droop's origin should be identified first. To experimentally investigate the cause of efficiency droop, we used null-point scanning thermal microscopy to quantitatively profile the temperature distribution on the cross section of the epi-layers of an operating GaN-based vertical LED with nanoscale spatial resolution at four different current densities. The movement of temperature peak towards the p-GaN side as the current density increases suggestsmore » that more heat is generated by leakage current than by Auger recombination. We therefore suspect that at higher current densities, current leakage becomes the dominant cause of the droop problem.« less
Interpreting Observations of Large-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances by Ionospheric Sounders
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Pederick, L. H.; Cervera, M. A.; Harris, T. J.
2017-12-01
From July to October 2015, the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group conducted an experiment during which a vertical incidence sounder (VIS) was set up at Alice Springs Airport. During September 2015 this VIS observed the passage of many large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). By plotting the measured virtual heights across multiple frequencies as a function of time, the passage of the TID can be clearly displayed. Using this plotting method, we show that all the TIDs observed during the campaign by the VIS at Alice Springs show an apparent downward phase progression of the crests and troughs. The passage of the TID can be more clearly interpreted by plotting the true height of iso-ionic contours across multiple plasma frequencies; the true heights can be obtained by inverting each ionogram to obtain an electron density profile. These plots can be used to measure the vertical phase speed of a TID and also reveal a time lag between events seen in true height compared to virtual height. To the best of our knowledge, this style of analysis has not previously been applied to other swept-frequency sounder observations. We develop a simple model to investigate the effect of the passage of a large-scale TID on a VIS. The model confirms that for a TID with a downward vertical phase progression, the crests and troughs will appear earlier in virtual height than in true height and will have a smaller apparent speed in true height than in virtual height.
Compton profiles and electronic properties of TiB{sub 2}
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Bhatt, Samir, E-mail: sameerbhatt011@gmail.com; Suthar, K. K.; Ahuja, B. L.
In this paper, we report the experimental Compton profile (CP) of TiB{sub 2} using high energy {sup 137}Cs γ-rays Compton spectrometer. To interpret the experimental momentum density, we have calculated the CPs using Hartree-Fock (HF), density functional theory (DFT) and hybridization of DFT and HF within linear combination of atomic orbitals. The theoretical profile with generalized gradient approximation is found to be relatively in better agreement with the experimental profile. A sharp valley in density of states and hence the pseudogap near the Fermi energy is attributed to hybridization of Ti-3d and B-2p states and almost reverse trend of energymore » bands below and above the Fermi energy.« less
Rocket observations of electron density in the nighttime E region using Faraday rotation
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Smith, L. G.; Gilchrist, B. E.
1984-01-01
A rocket radio propagation experiment is described in which the electron density profile of the nighttime E region is obtained with an accuracy of 100 per cu cm. The factors limiting the accuracy of the experiment are found to be related to atmospheric and receiver noise and to the use of a magnetometer to determine the spin rate of the rocket. The Fourier analysis used for the frequency measurement may also contribute error under conditions of steep electron density gradients. The accuracy being achieved appears to be adequate for present applications of the experiment.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Saha, D., E-mail: sahaphys@gmail.com, E-mail: pmisra@rrcat.gov.in; Misra, P., E-mail: sahaphys@gmail.com, E-mail: pmisra@rrcat.gov.in; Joshi, M. P.
2016-01-18
Dopant-profile independent electron transport has been observed through a combined study of temperature dependent electrical resistivity and magnetoresistance measurements on a series of Ti incorporated ZnO thin films with varying degree of static-disorder. These films were grown by atomic layer deposition through in-situ vertical stacking of multiple sub-monolayers of TiO{sub x} in ZnO. Upon decreasing ZnO spacer layer thickness, electron transport smoothly evolved from a good metallic to an incipient non-metallic regime due to the intricate interplay of screening of spatial potential fluctuations and strength of static-disorder in the films. Temperature dependent phase-coherence length as extracted from the magnetotransport measurementmore » revealed insignificant role of inter sub-monolayer scattering as an additional channel for electron dephasing, indicating that films were homogeneously disordered three-dimensional electronic systems irrespective of their dopant-profiles. Results of this study are worthy enough for both fundamental physics perspective and efficient applications of multi-stacked ZnO/TiO{sub x} structures in the emerging field of transparent oxide electronics.« less
Cylindrical surface profile and diameter measuring tool and method
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Currie, James R. (Inventor); Kissel, Ralph R. (Inventor); Smith, Earnest C. (Inventor); Oliver, Charles E. (Inventor); Redmon, John W., Sr. (Inventor); Wallace, Charles C. (Inventor); Swanson, Charles P. (Inventor)
1987-01-01
A tool is shown having a cross beam assembly made of beams joined by a center box structure. The assembly is adapted to be mounted by brackets to the outer end of a cylindrical case. The center box structure has a vertical shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending beneath the assembly. Secured to the vertical shaft is a radius arm which is adapted to rotate with the shaft. On the longer end of the radius arm is a measuring tip which contacts the cylindrical surface to be measured and which provides an electric signal representing the radius of the cylindrical surface from the center of rotation of the radius arm. An electric servomotor rotates the vertical shaft and an electronic resolver provides an electric signal representing the angle of rotation of the shaft. The electric signals are provided to a computer station which has software for its computer to calculate and print out the continuous circumference profile of the cylindrical surface, and give its true diameter and the deviations from the ideal circle.
Refraction-enhanced backlit imaging of axially symmetric inertial confinement fusion plasmas.
Koch, Jeffrey A; Landen, Otto L; Suter, Laurence J; Masse, Laurent P; Clark, Daniel S; Ross, James S; Mackinnon, Andrew J; Meezan, Nathan B; Thomas, Cliff A; Ping, Yuan
2013-05-20
X-ray backlit radiographs of dense plasma shells can be significantly altered by refraction of x rays that would otherwise travel straight-ray paths, and this effect can be a powerful tool for diagnosing the spatial structure of the plasma being radiographed. We explore the conditions under which refraction effects may be observed, and we use analytical and numerical approaches to quantify these effects for one-dimensional radial opacity and density profiles characteristic of inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. We also show how analytical and numerical approaches allow approximate radial plasma opacity and density profiles to be inferred from point-projection refraction-enhanced radiography data. This imaging technique can provide unique data on electron density profiles in ICF plasmas that cannot be obtained using other techniques, and the uniform illumination provided by point-like x-ray backlighters eliminates a significant source of uncertainty in inferences of plasma opacity profiles from area-backlit pinhole imaging data when the backlight spatial profile cannot be independently characterized. The technique is particularly suited to in-flight radiography of imploding low-opacity shells surrounding hydrogen ice, because refraction is sensitive to the electron density of the hydrogen plasma even when it is invisible to absorption radiography. It may also provide an alternative approach to timing shockwaves created by the implosion drive, that are currently invisible to absorption radiography.
Water Migration and Swelling in Bentonite Quantified using Neutron Radiography
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vial, A.; DiStefano, V. H.; Perfect, E.; Hale, R. E.; Anovitz, L. M.; McFarlane, J.
2016-12-01
Permanent disposal of radioactive waste remains a critical challenge for the nation's energy future. All disposal system concepts include interfaces between engineered systems and natural materials requiring extensive characterization. Bentonite is often used to buffer subsurface disposal systems from geologic media containing ground water. Bentonite characterization experiments were carried out using the CG-1D neutron imaging beam line at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dry bentonite was packed into vertically-oriented aluminum cylinders. Water was ponded on the top surface of each packed cylinder. Images were acquired at 2 min intervals using dynamic neutron radiography. The detector consisted of stacked neutron sensitive microchannel plates above a quad Timepix readout with a 28 x 28 mm2 field of view. The spatial resolution of the detector was 55 μm. Raw neutron radiographs were imported into ImageJ and normalized with respect to the initial completely dry state. The wetting process was 1-dimensional, and vertical intensity profiles were computed by averaging pixel rows. The vertical distance between the clay-water interface and the wetting front could then be determined as a function of time. Depth of water infiltration increased linearly with the square root of time, yielding a sorptivity value of 0.75 (± 0.070) mm/min0.5. Swelling occurred in the form of upward movement of clay particles into the ponded water over time. The resulting low density assemblage was discernable by normalizing the raw profiles with respect to the intensity profile immediately after ponding. The packed clay-water interface was clearly visible in the normalized profiles, and swelling was quantified as the height of the low density assemblage above the original interface. Swelling occurred as a linear function of time, at a rate of 0.054 (± 0.020) mm/min. Further experiments of this type are planned under variable temperature and pressure regimes applicable to subsurface repositories.
Core transport properties in JT-60U and JET identity plasmas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Litaudon, X.; Sakamoto, Y.; de Vries, P. C.; Salmi, A.; Tala, T.; Angioni, C.; Benkadda, S.; Beurskens, M. N. A.; Bourdelle, C.; Brix, M.; Crombé, K.; Fujita, T.; Futatani, S.; Garbet, X.; Giroud, C.; Hawkes, N. C.; Hayashi, N.; Hoang, G. T.; Hogeweij, G. M. D.; Matsunaga, G.; Nakano, T.; Oyama, N.; Parail, V.; Shinohara, K.; Suzuki, T.; Takechi, M.; Takenaga, H.; Takizuka, T.; Urano, H.; Voitsekhovitch, I.; Yoshida, M.; ITPA Transport Group; JT-60 Team; EFDA contributors, JET
2011-07-01
The paper compares the transport properties of a set of dimensionless identity experiments performed between JET and JT-60U in the advanced tokamak regime with internal transport barrier, ITB. These International Tokamak Physics Activity, ITPA, joint experiments were carried out with the same plasma shape, toroidal magnetic field ripple and dimensionless profiles as close as possible during the ITB triggering phase in terms of safety factor, normalized Larmor radius, normalized collision frequency, thermal beta, ratio of ion to electron temperatures. Similarities in the ITB triggering mechanisms and sustainment were observed when a good match was achieved of the most relevant normalized profiles except the toroidal Mach number. Similar thermal ion transport levels in the two devices have been measured in either monotonic or non-monotonic q-profiles. In contrast, differences between JET and JT-60U were observed on the electron thermal and particle confinement in reversed magnetic shear configurations. It was found that the larger shear reversal in the very centre (inside normalized radius of 0.2) of JT-60U plasmas allowed the sustainment of stronger electron density ITBs compared with JET. As a consequence of peaked density profile, the core bootstrap current density is more than five times higher in JT-60U compared with JET. Thanks to the bootstrap effect and the slightly broader neutral beam deposition, reversed magnetic shear configurations are self-sustained in JT-60U scenarios. Analyses of similarities and differences between the two devices address key questions on the validity of the usual assumptions made in ITER steady scenario modelling, e.g. a flat density profile in the core with thermal transport barrier? Such assumptions have consequences on the prediction of fusion performance, bootstrap current and on the sustainment of the scenario.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Cui, Weili; Xu, Shanshan S.; Yan, Bo
Recently the applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials have been broadened by engineering their mechanical, electronic, and optical properties through either lateral or vertical hybridization. Along with this line, we report the successful design and fabrication of a novel triphasic 2D material by vertically stacking lateral 2H-/1T'-molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) heterostructures on graphene with the assistance of supercritical carbon dioxide. This triphasic structure is experimentally shown to significantly enhance the photocurrent densities for hydrogen evolution reactions. First-principles theoretical analyses reveal that the improved photoresponse should be ascribed to the beneficial band alignments of the triphasic heterostructure. More specifically, electrons can efficientlymore » hop to the 1T'-MoS 2 phase via the highly conductive graphene layer as a result of their strong vertical interfacial electronic coupling. Subsequently, the electrons acquired on the 1T'-MoS 2 phase are exploited to fill the photoholes on the photo-excited 2H-MoS 2 phase through the lateral heterojunction structure, thereby suppressing the recombination process of the photo-induced charge carriers on the 2H-MoS 2 phase. This novel triphasic concept promises to open a new avenue to widen the molecular design of 2D hybrid materials for photonics-based energy conversion applications.« less
Cui, Weili; Xu, Shanshan S.; Yan, Bo; ...
2017-05-11
Recently the applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials have been broadened by engineering their mechanical, electronic, and optical properties through either lateral or vertical hybridization. Along with this line, we report the successful design and fabrication of a novel triphasic 2D material by vertically stacking lateral 2H-/1T'-molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2) heterostructures on graphene with the assistance of supercritical carbon dioxide. This triphasic structure is experimentally shown to significantly enhance the photocurrent densities for hydrogen evolution reactions. First-principles theoretical analyses reveal that the improved photoresponse should be ascribed to the beneficial band alignments of the triphasic heterostructure. More specifically, electrons can efficientlymore » hop to the 1T'-MoS 2 phase via the highly conductive graphene layer as a result of their strong vertical interfacial electronic coupling. Subsequently, the electrons acquired on the 1T'-MoS 2 phase are exploited to fill the photoholes on the photo-excited 2H-MoS 2 phase through the lateral heterojunction structure, thereby suppressing the recombination process of the photo-induced charge carriers on the 2H-MoS 2 phase. This novel triphasic concept promises to open a new avenue to widen the molecular design of 2D hybrid materials for photonics-based energy conversion applications.« less
One-Dimensional Hybrid Satellite Track Model for the Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) Satellite
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Deng, Wei; Killeen, T. L.; Burns, A. G.; Johnson, R. M.; Emery, B. A.; Roble, R. G.; Winningham, J. D.; Gary, J. B.
1995-01-01
A one-dimensional hybrid satellite track model has been developed to calculate the high-latitude thermospheric/ionospheric structure below the satellite altitude using Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) satellite measurements and theory. This model is based on Emery et al. satellite track code but also includes elements of Roble et al. global mean thermosphere/ionosphere model. A number of parameterizations and data handling techniques are used to input satellite data from several DE 2 instruments into this model. Profiles of neutral atmospheric densities are determined from the MSIS-90 model and measured neutral temperatures. Measured electron precipitation spectra are used in an auroral model to calculate particle impact ionization rates below the satellite. These rates are combined with a solar ionization rate profile and used to solve the O(+) diffusion equation, with the measured electron density as an upper boundary condition. The calculated O(+) density distribution, as well as the ionization profiles, are then used in a photochemical equilibrium model to calculate the electron and molecular ion densities. The electron temperature is also calculated by solving the electron energy equation with an upper boundary condition determined by the DE 2 measurement. The model enables calculations of altitude profiles of conductivity and Joule beating rate along and below the satellite track. In a first application of the new model, a study is made of thermospheric and ionospheric structure below the DE 2 satellite for a single orbit which occurred on October 25, 1981. The field-aligned Poynting flux, which is independently obtained for this orbit, is compared with the model predictions of the height-integrated energy conversion rate. Good quantitative agreement between these two estimates has been reached. In addition, measurements taken at the incoherent scatter radar site at Chatanika (65.1 deg N, 147.4 deg W) during a DE 2 overflight are compared with the model calculations. A good agreement was found in lower thermospheric conductivities and Joule heating rate.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mehdian, H.; Nobahar, D.; Hajisharifi, K.
2018-02-01
Ion-acoustic (IA) waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) are investigated in an unmagnetized, uniform, and collisionless electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma system. Employing the hydrodynamic theory, the paraxial equation in term of ion perturbed number density is derived and discussed about its Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) beam solutions. Obtaining an approximate solution for the electrostatic potential, the IA wave characteristics including helical electric field structure, energy density, and OAM density are theoretically studied. Based on the numerical analysis, the effects of positron concentration, radial and angular mode number as well as beam waist on the obtained potential profile are investigated. It is shown that the depth (height) and width of the LG potential profile wells (barriers) are considerably modify by the variation of positron concentration.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kenmochi, N., E-mail: kemmchi.naoki.62r@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp; Tei, S.; Zang, L.
2014-11-15
A Nd:YAG Thomson scattering system has been developed for Heliotron J. The system consists of two 550 mJ 50 Hz lasers, large collection optics, and 25 radial channel (∼1 cm spatial resolution) interference polychromators. This measurement system achieves a S/N ratio of ∼50 for low-density plasma (n{sub e} ∼ 0.5 × 10{sup 19} m{sup −3}). A time evolution of electron temperature profiles was measured with this system for a high-intensity gas-puff (HIGP) fueling neutral-beam-injection plasma. The peripheral temperature of the higher-density phase after HIGP recovers to the low-density pre-HIGP level, suggesting that improving particle transport in the HIGP plasma maymore » be possible.« less
Lessons Learned from Previous Space-Borne Sounders as a Guide to Future Sounder Development
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Benson, Robert F.; Deshpande, Manohar D.; Farrell,William M.; Fung, Shing F.; Osherovich, Vladimir A.; Pfaff, Rovert E.; Rowland, Douglas E.; Adrian, Mark L.
2008-01-01
Space-borne radio sounding is considered to be the gold standard for electron-density (N(sub e)) measurements compared to other techniques even under low-density conditions, such as N(sub e) < 1/cu cm, when other techniques are known to experience difficulties. These reliable measurements are not restricted to in-situ N(sub e) determinations since a spaceborne sounder can provide vertical N(sub e) profiles (N(sub e)(h)) from the spacecraft altitude to the altitude of maximum N(sub e). Near-conjunction studies involving the International Satellites for Ionospheric Studies (ISIS) satellites in the topside ionosphere and Dynamics Explorer 2 (DE 2) near the altitude of the F-region peak density have verified that, even at the greatest distance from the sounder, the ISIS-derived N(sub e)(h) profiles agree with the DE-2 Langmuir-probe measurements to within about 30% over a density range of more than two decades. Space-borne sounders can also provide N(sub e) profiles along the magnetic-field B, by inverting echoes that are ducted along field-aligned irregularities (FAI), and can provide information about the terrain beneath the satellite by examining surface reflections in the frequency range above the ionospheric penetration frequency. Many nations have launched rocket and satellite radio sounders in geospace over more than 4 decades and there have been sounders on space-probes and in orbit around other planets. Here we will summarize some of the lessons learned from these accomplishments by analyzing data from radio sounders on the Alouette and ISIS satellites and the OEDIPUS and other rockets in the terrestrial ionosphere, the IMAGE satellite in the terrestrial magnetosphere, the Ulysses space probe in Jupiter's 10 plasma torus and the MARSIS satellite in orbit around Mars. The emphasis will be on information deduced concerning (1) fundamental plasma processes and gradients in N, and B in the vicinity of the sounders from sounder-stimulated plasma resonances and short-range echoes involving ion as well as electron motions, (2) the importance of the antenna orientation relative to B for the detection of different plasma resonances, (3) sounder-stimulated plasma phenomena, including FAI, when special plasma conditions are satisfied, (4) the minimum power required for long-range echoes, as indicated by echoes from frequency components of the transmitted pulse and by multiple ducted echoes, and (5) the terrain beneath the satellite from surface reflections. Knowledge of these results should enable the optimum design of a future sounder to satisfy specific science requirements with minimal spacecraft resources.
Dual-Gate Modulation of Carrier Density and Disorder in an Oxide Two-Dimensional Electron System
Chen, Zhuoyu; Yuan, Hongtao; Xie, Yanwu; ...
2016-09-08
Carrier density and disorder are two crucial parameters that control the properties of correlated two-dimensional electron systems. Furthermore, in order to disentangle their individual contributions to quantum phenomena, independent tuning of these two parameters is required. By utilizing a hybrid liquid/solid electric dual-gate geometry acting on the conducting LaAlO 3/SrTiO 3 heterointerface, we obtain an additional degree of freedom to strongly modify the electron confinement profile and thus the strength of interfacial scattering, independent from the carrier density. A dual-gate controlled nonlinear Hall effect is a direct manifestation of this profile, which can be quantitatively understood by a Poisson–Schrödinger sub-bandmore » model. In particular, the large nonlinear dielectric response of SrTiO 3 enables a very wide range of tunable density and disorder, far beyond that for conventional semiconductors. This study provides a broad framework for understanding various reported phenomena at the LaAlO 3/SrTiO 3 interface.« less
MAVEN observations of dayside peak electron densities in the ionosphere of Mars
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Vogt, Marissa F.; Withers, Paul; Fallows, Kathryn; Andersson, Laila; Girazian, Zachary; Mahaffy, Paul R.; Benna, Mehdi; Elrod, Meredith K.; Connerney, John E. P.; Espley, Jared R.; Eparvier, Frank G.; Jakosky, Bruce M.
2017-01-01
The peak electron density in the dayside Martian ionosphere is a valuable diagnostic of the state of the ionosphere. Its dependence on factors like the solar zenith angle, ionizing solar irradiance, neutral scale height, and electron temperature has been well studied. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN spacecraft's September 2015 "deep dip" orbits, in which the orbital periapsis was lowered to 125 km, provided the first opportunity since Viking to sample in situ a complete dayside electron density profile including the main peak. Here we present peak electron density measurements from 37 deep dip orbits and describe conditions at the altitude of the main peak, including the electron temperature and composition of the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere. We find that the dependence of the peak electron density and the altitude of the main peak on solar zenith angle are well described by analytical photochemical theory. Additionally, we find that the electron temperatures at the main peak display a dependence on solar zenith angle that is consistent with the observed variability in the peak electron density. Several peak density measurements were made in regions of large crustal magnetic field, but there is no clear evidence that the crustal magnetic field strength influences the peak electron density, peak altitude, or electron temperature. Finally, we find that the fractional abundance of O2+ and CO2+ at the peak altitude is variable but that the two species together consistently represent 95% of the total ion density.
Effect of modified thermal conductivity on the temperature distribution in the protonosphere.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Mayr, H. G.; Fontheim, E. G.; Mahajan, K. K.
1973-01-01
At typical protonospheric electron densities the electron mean free path is sufficiently long so that the coefficient of thermal conductivity is no longer given by Spitzer's expression. The effect on the temperature profile of using the corrected expression for conductivity is investigated. The corrected thermal conduction coefficient is density-dependent and has a more complicated temperature dependence than the coefficient applicable to higher density plasmas. The results indicate that the effect is not negligible even under quiet conditions and at low latitudes.
Al-Haddad, Ahmed; Wang, Chengliang; Qi, Haoyuan; Grote, Fabian; Wen, Liaoyong; Bernhard, Jörg; Vellacheri, Ranjith; Tarish, Samar; Nabi, Ghulam; Kaiser, Ute; Lei, Yong
2016-09-07
Resistive switching random access memories (RRAM) have attracted great scientific and industrial attention for next generation data storage because of their advantages of nonvolatile properties, high density, low power consumption, fast writing/erasing speed, good endurance, and simple and small operation system. Here, by using a template-assisted technique, we demonstrate a three-dimensional highly ordered vertical RRAM device array with density as high as that of the nanopores of the template (10(8)-10(9) cm(-2)), which can also be fabricated in large area. The high crystallinity of the materials, the large contact area and the intimate semiconductor/electrode interface (3 nm interfacial layer) make the ultralow voltage operation (millivolt magnitude) and ultralow power consumption (picowatt) possible. Our procedure for fabrication of the nanodevice arrays in large area can be used for producing many other different materials and such three-dimensional electronic device arrays with the capability to adjust the device densities can be extended to other applications of the next generation nanodevice technology.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Onishi, Isamu K.; Sekiya, Minoru
2017-04-01
We investigate the effect of a radial pressure bump in a protoplanetary disk on planetesimal formation. We performed the two-dimensional numerical simulation of the dynamical interaction of solid particles and gas with an initially defined pressure bump under the assumption of axisymmetry. The aim of this work is to elucidate the effects of the stellar vertical gravity that were omitted in a previous study. Our results are very different from the previous study, which omitted the vertical gravity. Because dust particles settle toward the midplane because of the vertical gravity to form a thin dust layer, the regions outside of the dust layer are scarcely affected by the back-reaction of the dust. Hence, the gas column density keeps its initial profile with a bump, and dust particles migrate toward the bump. In addition, the turbulence due to the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability caused by the difference of the azimuthal velocities between the inside and outside of the dust layer is suppressed where the radial pressure gradient is reduced by the pressure bump. The dust settling proceeds further where the turbulence is weak, and a number of dust clumps are formed. The dust density in some clumps exceeds the Roche density. Planetesimals are considered to be formed from these clumps owing to the self-gravity.[Figure not available: see fulltext.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Kawakami, S.; Ohno, N.; Shibata, Y.
2013-11-15
According to an early work [Y. Shibata et al., Nucl. Fusion 50, 025015 (2010)] on the behavior of the plasma current decay in the JT-60U disruptive discharges caused by the radiative collapse with a massive neon-gas-puff, the increase of the internal inductance mainly determined the current decay time of plasma current during the initial phase of current quench. To investigate what determines the increase of the internal inductance, we focus attention on the relationship between the electron temperature (or the resistivity) profile and the time evolution of the current density profile and carry out numerical calculations. As a result, wemore » find the reason of the increase of the internal inductance: The current density profile at the start of the current quench is broader than an expected current density profile in the steady state, which is determined by the temperature (or resistivity) profile. The current density profile evolves into peaked one and the internal inductance is increasing.« less
Audet, T. L.; Hansson, M.; Lee, P.; ...
2016-02-16
Ionization-induced electron injection was investigated experimentally by focusing a driving laser pulse with a maximum normalized potential of 1.2 at different positions along the plasma density profile inside a gas cell, filled with a gas mixture composed of 99%H 2+1%N 2. Changing the laser focus position relative to the gas cell entrance controls the accelerated electron bunch properties, such as the spectrum width, maximum energy, and accelerated charge. Simulations performed using the 3D particle-in-cell code WARP with a realistic density profile give results that are in good agreement with the experimental ones. Lastly, we discuss the interest of this regimemore » for optimizing the bunch charge in a selected energy window.« less
Density and temperature structure over northern Europe
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Philbrick, C. R.; Schmidlin, F. J.; Grossmann, K. U.; Lange, G.; Offermann, D.; Baker, K. D.; Krankowsky, D.; Von Zahn, U.
1985-01-01
During the Energy Budget Campaign, a number of profiles of the density and temperature were obtained to study the structure and variability of the atmosphere. The measurements were made using rocketborne instrumentation launched from Esrange, Sweden, and Andoya Rocket Range, Norway, during November and December 1980. The techniques included meteorological temperature sondes, passive falling sphere, accelerometer instrumented falling spheres, density gauges, mass spectrometers and infrared emission experiments. The instruments provided data covering the altitude range from 20 to 150 km. The measurements were made during periods which have been grouped into three categories by level of geomagnetic activity. Analysis has been made to compare the results and to examine the wave features and variations in the vertical profiles for scales ranging between hundreds of meters and tens of kilometers. Most of the features observed fit qualitatively within the range expected for internal gravity waves. However, the features in the profiles during one of the measurement periods are unusual and may be due to aurorally generated shock waves. The geomagnetic storm conditions caused temperature increases in the lower thermosphere which maximized in the 120-140 km region.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Tsai, Hai-En; Swanson, Kelly K.; Barber, Sam K.
The injection physics in a shock-induced density down-ramp injector was characterized, demonstrating precise control of a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA). Using a jet-blade assembly, experiments systematically v aried the shock injector profile, including shock angle, shock position, up-ramp width, and acceleration length. Our work demonstrates that beam energy, energy spread, and pointing can be controlled by adjusting these parameters. As a result, an electron beam that was highly tunable from 25 to 300 MeV with 8% energy spread (ΔE FWHM/E), 1.5 mrad divergence, and 0.35 mrad pointing fluctuation was produced. Particle-in-cell simulation characterized how variation in the shock angle and up-rampmore » width impacted the injection process. This highly controllable LPA represents a suitable, compact electron beam source for LPA applications such as Thomson sources and free-electron lasers.« less
Tsai, Hai-En; Swanson, Kelly K.; Barber, Sam K.; ...
2018-04-13
The injection physics in a shock-induced density down-ramp injector was characterized, demonstrating precise control of a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA). Using a jet-blade assembly, experiments systematically v aried the shock injector profile, including shock angle, shock position, up-ramp width, and acceleration length. Our work demonstrates that beam energy, energy spread, and pointing can be controlled by adjusting these parameters. As a result, an electron beam that was highly tunable from 25 to 300 MeV with 8% energy spread (ΔE FWHM/E), 1.5 mrad divergence, and 0.35 mrad pointing fluctuation was produced. Particle-in-cell simulation characterized how variation in the shock angle and up-rampmore » width impacted the injection process. This highly controllable LPA represents a suitable, compact electron beam source for LPA applications such as Thomson sources and free-electron lasers.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tsai, Hai-En; Swanson, Kelly K.; Barber, Sam K.; Lehe, Remi; Mao, Hann-Shin; Mittelberger, Daniel E.; Steinke, Sven; Nakamura, Kei; van Tilborg, Jeroen; Schroeder, Carl; Esarey, Eric; Geddes, Cameron G. R.; Leemans, Wim
2018-04-01
The injection physics in a shock-induced density down-ramp injector was characterized, demonstrating precise control of a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA). Using a jet-blade assembly, experiments systematically varied the shock injector profile, including shock angle, shock position, up-ramp width, and acceleration length. Our work demonstrates that beam energy, energy spread, and pointing can be controlled by adjusting these parameters. As a result, an electron beam that was highly tunable from 25 to 300 MeV with 8% energy spread (ΔEFWHM/E), 1.5 mrad divergence, and 0.35 mrad pointing fluctuation was produced. Particle-in-cell simulation characterized how variation in the shock angle and up-ramp width impacted the injection process. This highly controllable LPA represents a suitable, compact electron beam source for LPA applications such as Thomson sources and free-electron lasers.
Global gyrokinetic simulations of intrinsic rotation in ASDEX Upgrade Ohmic L-mode plasmas
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hornsby, W. A.; Angioni, C.; Lu, Z. X.; Fable, E.; Erofeev, I.; McDermott, R.; Medvedeva, A.; Lebschy, A.; Peeters, A. G.; The ASDEX Upgrade Team
2018-05-01
Non-linear, radially global, turbulence simulations of ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) plasmas are performed and the nonlinear generated intrinsic flow shows agreement with the intrinsic flow gradients measured in the core of Ohmic L-mode plasmas at nominal parameters. Simulations utilising the kinetic electron model show hollow intrinsic flow profiles as seen in a predominant number of experiments performed at similar plasma parameters. In addition, significantly larger flow gradients are seen than in a previous flux-tube analysis (Hornsby et al 2017 Nucl. Fusion 57 046008). Adiabatic electron model simulations can show a flow profile with opposing sign in the gradient with respect to a kinetic electron simulation, implying a reversal in the sign of the residual stress due to kinetic electrons. The shaping of the intrinsic flow is strongly determined by the density gradient profile. The sensitivity of the residual stress to variations in density profile curvature is calculated and seen to be significantly stronger than to neoclassical flows (Hornsby et al 2017 Nucl. Fusion 57 046008). This variation is strong enough on its own to explain the large variations in the intrinsic flow gradients seen in some AUG experiments. Analysis of the symmetry breaking properties of the turbulence shows that profile shearing is the dominant mechanism in producing a finite parallel wave-number, with turbulence gradient effects contributing a smaller portion of the parallel wave-vector.
An observational study of the nightside ionospheres of Mars and Venus with radio occultation methods
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Zhang, M.H.G.; Luhmann, J.G.; Kliore, A.J.
1990-10-01
An analysis of Mars and Venus nightside electron density profiles obtained with radio occultation methods shows how the nightside ionospheres of both planets vary with solar zenith angle. From previous studies it is known that the dayside peak electron densities at Mars and Venus show a basic similarity in that they both exhibit Chapman layer-like behavior. In contrast, the peak altitudes at mars behave like an ideal Chapman layer on the dayside, whereas the altitude of the peak at Venus is fairly constant up to the terminator. The effect of major dust storms can also be seen in the peakmore » altitudes at Mars. All Venus nightside electron density profiles show a distinct main peak for both solar minimum and maximum, whereas many profiles from the nightside of Mars do not show any peak at all. This suggests that the electron density in the Mars nightside ionosphere is frequently too low to be detected by radio occultation. On the Pioneer Venus orbiter, disappearing ionospheres were observed near solar maximum in the in-situ data when the solar wind dynamic pressure was exceptionally high. This condition occurs because the high solar wind dynamic pressure decreases the altitude of the ionopause near the terminator below {approximately}250 km, thus reducing the normal nightward transport of dayside ionospheric plasma. On the basis of the Venus observations, one might predict that if a positive correlation of nightside peak density with dynamic pressure was found, it could mean that transport from the dayside is the only significant source for the nightside ionosphere of Mars. The lack of a correlation would imply that the precipitation source at Mars is quite variable.« less
Kliore, A J; Patel, I R; Nagy, A F; Cravens, T E; Gombosi, T I
1979-07-06
Pioneer Venus orbiter dual-frequency radio occultation measurements have produced many electron density profiles of the nightside ionosphere of Venus. Thirty-six of these profiles, measured at solar zenith angles (chi) from 90.60 degrees to 163.5 degrees , are discussed here. In the "deep" nightside ionosphere (chi > 110 degrees ), the structure and magnitude of the ionization peak are highly variable; the mean peak electron density is 16,700 +/- 7,200 (standard deviation) per cubic centimeter. In contrast, the altitude of the peak remains fairly constant with a mean of 142.2 +/- 4.1 kilometers, virtually identical to the altitude of the main peak of the dayside terminator ionosphere. The variations in the peak ionization are not directly related to contemporal variations in the solar wind speed. It is shown that electron density distributions similar to those observed in both magnitude and structure can be produced by the precipitation on the nightside of Venus of electron fluxes of about 108 per square centimeter per second with energies less than 100 electron volts. This mechanism could very likely be responsible for the maintenance of the persistent nightside ionosphere of Venus, although transport processes may also be important.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Theiler, C.; Diallo, A.; Fasoli, A.; Furno, I.; Labit, B.; Podestà, M.; Poli, F. M.; Ricci, P.
2008-04-01
Intermittent cross-field particle transport events (ITEs) are studied in the basic toroidal device TORPEX [TORoidal Plasma EXperiment, A. Fasoli et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 055902 (2006)], with focus on the role of the density gradient. ITEs are due to the intermittent radial elongation of an interchange mode. The elongating positive wave crests can break apart and form blobs. This is not necessary, however, for plasma particles to be convected a considerable distance across the magnetic field lines. Conditionally sampled data reveal two different scenarios leading to ITEs. In the first case, the interchange mode grows radially from a slab-like density profile and leads to the ITE. A novel analysis technique reveals a monotonic dependence between the vertically averaged inverse radial density scale length and the probability for a subsequent ITE. In the second case, the mode is already observed before the start of the ITE. It does not elongate radially in a first stage, but at a later time. It is shown that this elongation is preceded by a steepening of the density profile as well.
New Thomson scattering diagnostic on RFX-mod.
Alfier, A; Pasqualotto, R
2007-01-01
This article describes the completely renovated Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic employed in the modified Reversed Field eXperiment (RFX-mod) since it restarted operation in 2005. The system measures plasma electron temperature and density profiles along an equatorial diameter, measuring in 84 positions with 7 mm spatial resolution. The custom built Nd:YLF laser produces a burst of 10 pulses at 50 Hz with energy of 3 J, providing ten profile measurements in a plasma discharge of about 300 ms duration. An optical delay system accommodates three scattering volumes in each of the 28 interference filter spectrometers. Avalanche photodiodes detect the Thomson scattering signals and allow them to be recorded by means of waveform digitizers. Electron temperature is obtained using an alternative relative calibration method, based on the use of a supercontinuum light source. Rotational Raman scattering in nitrogen has supplied the absolute calibration for the electron density measurements. During RFX-mod experimental campaigns in 2005, the TS diagnostic has demonstrated its performance, routinely providing reliable high resolution profiles.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ilhan, Z.; Wehner, W. P.; Schuster, E.; Boyer, M. D.; Gates, D. A.; Gerhardt, S.; Menard, J.
2015-11-01
Active control of the toroidal current density profile is crucial to achieve and maintain high-performance, MHD-stable plasma operation in NSTX-U. A first-principles-driven, control-oriented model describing the temporal evolution of the current profile has been proposed earlier by combining the magnetic diffusion equation with empirical correlations obtained at NSTX-U for the electron density, electron temperature, and non-inductive current drives. A feedforward + feedback control scheme for the requlation of the current profile is constructed by embedding the proposed nonlinear, physics-based model into the control design process. Firstly, nonlinear optimization techniques are used to design feedforward actuator trajectories that steer the plasma to a desired operating state with the objective of supporting the traditional trial-and-error experimental process of advanced scenario planning. Secondly, a feedback control algorithm to track a desired current profile evolution is developed with the goal of adding robustness to the overall control scheme. The effectiveness of the combined feedforward + feedback control algorithm for current profile regulation is tested in predictive simulations carried out in TRANSP. Supported by PPPL.
A theoretical study of structural and electronic properties of pentacene/Al(100) interface.
Saranya, G; Nair, Shiny; Natarajan, V; Kolandaivel, P; Senthilkumar, K
2012-09-01
The first principle calculations within the framework of density functional theory have been performed for the pentacene molecule deposited on the aluminum Al(100) substrate to study the structural and electronic properties of the pentacene/Al(100) interface. The most stable configuration was found at bridge site with 45° rotation of the pentacene molecule on Al(100) surface with a vertical distance of 3.4 Å within LDA and 3.8 Å within GGA functionals. The calculated adsorption energy reveals that the adsorption of pentacene molecule on Al(100) surface is physisorption. For the stable adsorption geometry the electronic properties such as density of states (DOS), partial density of states (PDOS), Mulliken population analysis and Schottky barrier height are studied. The analysis of atomic charge, DOS and PDOS show that the charge is transferred from the Al(100) surface to pentacene molecule, and the transferred charge is about -0.05 electrons. For the adsorbed system, the calculated Schottky barrier height for hole and electron transport is 0.27 and 1.55 eV, respectively. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Reynolds, Andy M; Reynolds, Don R
2008-01-01
Seminal field studies led by C. G. Johnson in the 1940s and 1950s showed that aphid aerial density diminishes with height above the ground such that the linear regression coefficient, b, of log density on log height provides a single-parameter characterization of the vertical density profile. This coefficient decreases with increasing atmospheric stability, ranging from −0.27 for a fully convective boundary layer to −2.01 for a stable boundary layer. We combined a well-established Lagrangian stochastic model of atmospheric dispersal with simple models of aphid behaviour in order to account for the range of aerial density profiles. We show that these density distributions are consistent with the aphids producing just enough lift to become neutrally buoyant when they are in updraughts and ceasing to produce lift when they are in downdraughts. This active flight behaviour in a weak flier is thus distinctly different from the aerial dispersal of seeds and wingless arthropods, which is passive once these organisms have launched into the air. The novel findings from the model indicate that the epithet ‘passive’ often applied to the windborne migration of small winged insects is misleading and should be abandoned. The implications for the distances traversed by migrating aphids under various boundary-layer conditions are outlined. PMID:18782743
Topographic enhancement of vertical turbulent mixing in the Southern Ocean
Mashayek, A.; Ferrari, R.; Merrifield, S.; Ledwell, J. R.; St Laurent, L.; Garabato, A. Naveira
2017-01-01
It is an open question whether turbulent mixing across density surfaces is sufficiently large to play a dominant role in closing the deep branch of the ocean meridional overturning circulation. The diapycnal and isopycnal mixing experiment in the Southern Ocean found the turbulent diffusivity inferred from the vertical spreading of a tracer to be an order of magnitude larger than that inferred from the microstructure profiles at the mean tracer depth of 1,500 m in the Drake Passage. Using a high-resolution ocean model, it is shown that the fast vertical spreading of tracer occurs when it comes in contact with mixing hotspots over rough topography. The sparsity of such hotspots is made up for by enhanced tracer residence time in their vicinity due to diffusion toward weak bottom flows. The increased tracer residence time may explain the large vertical fluxes of heat and salt required to close the abyssal circulation. PMID:28262808
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Willems van Beveren, L. H., E-mail: laurensw@unimelb.edu.au; Bowers, H.; Ganesan, K.
2016-06-14
Boron implantation with in-situ dynamic annealing is used to produce highly conductive sub-surface layers in type IIa (100) diamond plates for the search of a superconducting phase transition. Here, we demonstrate that high-fluence MeV ion-implantation, at elevated temperatures avoids graphitization and can be used to achieve doping densities of 6 at. %. In order to quantify the diamond crystal damage associated with implantation Raman spectroscopy was performed, demonstrating high temperature annealing recovers the lattice. Additionally, low-temperature electronic transport measurements show evidence of charge carrier densities close to the metal-insulator-transition. After electronic characterization, secondary ion mass spectrometry was performed to mapmore » out the ion profile of the implanted plates. The analysis shows close agreement with the simulated ion-profile assuming scaling factors that take into account an average change in diamond density due to device fabrication. Finally, the data show that boron diffusion is negligible during the high temperature annealing process.« less
Anharmonic Thermal Oscillations of the Electron Momentum Distribution in Lithium Fluoride
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Erba, A.; Maul, J.; Itou, M.; Dovesi, R.; Sakurai, Y.
2015-09-01
Anharmonic thermal effects on the electron momentum distribution of a lithium fluoride single crystal are experimentally measured through high-resolution Compton scattering and theoretically modeled with ab initio simulations, beyond the harmonic approximation to the lattice potential, explicitly accounting for thermal expansion. Directional Compton profiles are measured at two different temperatures, 10 and 300 K, with a high momentum space resolution (0.10 a.u. in full width at half maximum), using synchrotron radiation. The effect of temperature on measured directional Compton profiles is clearly revealed by oscillations extending almost up to |p |=4 a .u . , which perfectly match those predicted from quantum-mechanical simulations. The wave-function-based Hartree-Fock method and three classes of the Kohn-Sham density functional theory (local-density, generalized-gradient, and hybrid approximations) are adopted. The lattice thermal expansion, as described with the quasiharmonic approach, is found to entirely account for the effect of temperature on the electron momentum density within the experimental accuracy.
Effect of secondary electron emission on the plasma sheath
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Langendorf, S.; Walker, M.
2015-03-01
In this experiment, plasma sheath potential profiles are measured over boron nitride walls in argon plasma and the effect of secondary electron emission is observed. Results are compared to a kinetic model. Plasmas are generated with a number density of 3 × 1012 m-3 at a pressure of 10-4 Torr-Ar, with a 1%-16% fraction of energetic primary electrons. The sheath potential profile at the surface of each sample is measured with emissive probes. The electron number densities and temperatures are measured in the bulk plasma with a planar Langmuir probe. The plasma is non-Maxwellian, with isotropic and directed energetic electron populations from 50 to 200 eV and hot and cold Maxwellian populations from 3.6 to 6.4 eV and 0.3 to 1.3 eV, respectively. Plasma Debye lengths range from 4 to 7 mm and the ion-neutral mean free path is 0.8 m. Sheath thicknesses range from 20 to 50 mm, with the smaller thickness occurring near the critical secondary electron emission yield of the wall material. Measured floating potentials are within 16% of model predictions. Measured sheath potential profiles agree with model predictions within 5 V (˜1 Te), and in four out of six cases deviate less than the measurement uncertainty of 1 V.
Electron temperature response to ECRH on FTU tokamak in transient conditions.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jacchia, A.; Bruschi, A.; Cirant, S.; Granucci, G.; Sozzi, C.; de Luca, F.; Amadeo, P.; Bracco, G.; Tudisco, O.
2001-10-01
Steady-state electron heat transport analysis of FTU high density plasmas under Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECRH) shows "stiff" electron temperature profiles [1,2,3]. Plasma response to off-axis EC heating, in fact, exibits a lower limit to electron temperature gradient length, Lc , below which electron thermal conductivity switches to higher values. Stiffness, however, is attenuated in the plasma core of saw-tooth free discharges with flat-hollow temperature profile and during current ramp-up [3,4,5], in which cases the temperature gradient length can be brought to very low values by means of on-axis ECH. Steady and current ramp-up discharges probed by steady and modulated ECH are analyzed in terms of stiffnes. Critical gradient length dependence on local features of computed current density profile is discussed. [1] Sozzi, C. et al., Paper EXP5/13, Plasma Phys. Contr. Fus. Res., Proc.18th IAEA Conf., Sorrento, 2000. [2] Jacchia, A. et al. Topical Conference on Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas, Oxnard, USA, (2001). [3] Cirant, S. et al. Topical Conference on Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas, Oxnard, USA, (2001). [4] Sozzi, C. et al., EPS, Madeira 2001. [5] Bracco, G. et al.,Plasma Phys. Contr. Fus. Res., Proc.18th IAEA Conf., Sorrento, 2000.
Discharge measurements at gaging stations
Turnipseed, D. Phil; Sauer, Vernon B.
2010-01-01
The techniques and standards for making discharge measurements at streamflow gaging stations are described in this publication. The vertical axis rotating-element current meter, principally the Price current meter, has been traditionally used for most measurements of discharge; however, advancements in acoustic technology have led to important developments in the use of acoustic Doppler current profilers, acoustic Doppler velocimeters, and other emerging technologies for the measurement of discharge. These new instruments, based on acoustic Doppler theory, have the advantage of no moving parts, and in the case of the acoustic Doppler current profiler, quickly and easily provide three-dimensional stream-velocity profile data through much of the vertical water column. For much of the discussion of acoustic Doppler current profiler moving-boat methodology, the reader is referred to U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 3-A22 (Mueller and Wagner, 2009). Personal digital assistants (PDAs), electronic field notebooks, and other personal computers provide fast and efficient data-collection methods that are more error-free than traditional hand methods. The use of portable weirs and flumes, floats, volumetric tanks, indirect methods, and tracers in measuring discharge are briefly described.
Measurement of heat load density profile on acceleration grid in MeV-class negative ion accelerator.
Hiratsuka, Junichi; Hanada, Masaya; Kojima, Atsushi; Umeda, Naotaka; Kashiwagi, Mieko; Miyamoto, Kenji; Yoshida, Masafumi; Nishikiori, Ryo; Ichikawa, Masahiro; Watanabe, Kazuhiro; Tobari, Hiroyuki
2016-02-01
To understand the physics of the negative ion extraction/acceleration, the heat load density profile on the acceleration grid has been firstly measured in the ITER prototype accelerator where the negative ions are accelerated to 1 MeV with five acceleration stages. In order to clarify the profile, the peripheries around the apertures on the acceleration grid were separated into thermally insulated 34 blocks with thermocouples. The spatial resolution is as low as 3 mm and small enough to measure the tail of the beam profile with a beam diameter of ∼16 mm. It was found that there were two peaks of heat load density around the aperture. These two peaks were also clarified to be caused by the intercepted negative ions and secondary electrons from detailed investigation by changing the beam optics and gas density profile. This is the first experimental result, which is useful to understand the trajectories of these particles.
Plasma Profile Measurements for Laser Fusion Research with the Nike KrF Laser
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J. L.; Serlin, V.; Obenschain, S. P.
2015-11-01
The grid image refractometer of the Nike laser facility (Nike-GIR) has demonstrated the capability of simultaneously measuring electron density (ne) and temperature (Te) profiles of coronal plasma. For laser plasma instability (LPI) research, the first Nike-GIR experiment successfully measured the plasma profiles in density regions up to ne ~ 4 ×1021 cm-3 (22% of the critical density for 248 nm light of Nike) using an ultraviolet probe laser (λp = 263 nm). The probe laser has been recently replaced with a shorter wavelength laser (λp = 213 nm, a 5th harmonic of the Nd:YAG laser) to diagnose a higher density region. The Nike-GIR system is being further extended to measure plasma profiles in the on-going experiment using 135°-separated Nike beam arrays for the cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) studies. We present an overview of the extended Nike-GIR arrangements and a new numerical algorithm to extract self-consistant plasma profiles with the measured quantities. Work supported by DoE/NNSA.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Uslu, Salih; Yarar, Zeki
2017-02-01
The epitaxial growth of quantum wells composed of high quality allows the production and application to their device of new structures in low dimensions. The potential profile at the junction is determined by free carriers and by the level of doping. Therefore, the shape of potential is obtained by the electron density. Energy level determines the number of electrons that can be occupied at every level. Energy levels and electron density values of each level must be calculated self consistently. Starting with V(z) test potential, wave functions and electron densities for each energy levels can be calculated to solve Schrödinger equation. If Poisson's equation is solved with the calculated electron density, the electrostatic potential can be obtained. The new V(z) potential can be calculated with using electrostatic potential found beforehand. Thus, the obtained values are calculated self consistently to a certain error criterion. In this study, the energy levels formed in the interfacial potential, electron density in each level and the wave function dependence of material parameters were investigated self consistently.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Biewer, Theodore M.; Bigelow, Tim S.; Caneses Marin, Juan F.
The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure Experiment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory utilizes a variety of power systems to generate and deliver a high heat flux plasma onto the surface of material targets. In the experiments described here, a deuterium plasma is produced via a ~100 kW, 13.56 MHz RF helicon source, to which ~20 kW of 28 GHz microwave power is applied. The electron density and temperature profiles are measured using a Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic, and indicate that the electron density is centrally peaked. In the core of the plasma column, the electron density is higher than themore » cut-off density (~0.9 × 1019 m -3) for the launched mixture of X- and O-mode electron cyclotron heating waves to propagate. TS measurements indicate electron temperature increases from ~5 eV to ~20 eV during 28 GHz power application when the neutral deuterium pressure is reduced below 0.13 Pa (~1 mTorr.).« less
Advective and diapycnal diffusive oceanic flux in Tenerife - La Gomera Channel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Marrero-Díaz, A.; Rodriguez-Santana, A.; Hernández-Arencibia, M.; Machín, F.; García-Weil, L.
2012-04-01
During the year 2008, using the commercial passenger ship Volcán de Tauce of the Naviera Armas company several months, it was possible to obtain vertical profiles of temperature from expandable bathythermograph probes in eight stations across the Tenerife - La Gomera channel. With these data of temperature we have been estimated vertical sections of potential density and geostrophic transport with high spatial and temporal resolution (5 nm between stations, and one- two months between cruises). The seasonal variability obtained for the geostrophic transport in this channel shows important differences with others Canary Islands channels. From potential density and geostrophic velocity data we estimated the vertical diffusion coefficients and diapycnal diffusive fluxes, using a parameterization that depends of Richardson gradient number. In the center of the channel and close to La Gomera Island, we found higher values for these diffusive fluxes. Convergence and divergence of these fluxes requires further study so that we can draw conclusions about its impact on the distribution of nutrients in the study area and its impact in marine ecosystems. This work is being used in research projects TRAMIC and PROMECA.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sharma, S.; Sirse, N.; Turner, M. M.; Ellingboe, A. R.
2018-06-01
One-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation is used to simulate the capacitively coupled argon plasma for a range of excitation frequency from 13.56 MHz to 100 MHz. The argon chemistry set can, selectively, include two metastable levels enabling multi-step ionization and metastable pooling. The results show that the plasma density decreases when metastable atoms are included with higher discrepancy at a higher excitation frequency. The contribution of multistep ionization to the overall density increases with the excitation frequency. The electron temperature increases with the inclusion of metastable atoms and decreases with the excitation frequency. At a lower excitation frequency, the density of Ar** (3p5 4p, 13.1 eV) is higher than that of Ar* (3p5 4s, 11.6 eV), whereas at higher excitation frequencies, the Ar* (3p5 4s, 11.6 eV) is the dominant metastable atom. The metastable and electron temperature profile evolve from a parabolic profile at a lower excitation frequency to a saddle type profile at a higher excitation frequency. With metastable, the electron energy distribution function (EEDF) changes its shape from Druyvesteyn type, at a low excitation frequency, to bi-Maxwellian, at a high frequency plasma excitation; however, a three-temperature EEDF is observed without metastable atoms.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Berthet, Gwenael; Renard, Jean-Baptiste; Catoire, Valery; Huret, Nathalie; Lefevre, Franck; Hauchecorne, Alain; Chartier, Michel; Robert, Claude
Remote-sensing balloon observations have recurrently revealed high concentrations of polar stratospheric NO2 in particular in the lower stratosphere as can be seen in various published vertical profiles. A balloon campaign dedicated to the investigation of this problem through comparisons between remote-sensing (SALOMON) and in situ (SPIRALE) measurements of NO2 inside the polar vortex was conducted in January 2006. The published results show unexpected strong enhancements in the slant column densities of NO2 with respect to the elevation angle and displacement of the balloon. These fluctuations result from NO2 spatial inhomogeneities located above the balloon float altitude resulting from mid-latitude air intrusion as revealed by Potential Vorticity (PV) maps. The retrieval of the NO2 vertical profile is subsequently biased in the form of artificial excesses of NO2 concentrations. A direct implication is that the differences previously observed between measurements of NO2 and OClO and model results are probably mostly due to the improper inversion of NO2 in presence of either perturbed dynamical conditions or when mesospheric production events occur as recently highlighted from ENVISAT data. Through the occurrence of such events, we propose to re-examine formerly published high-latitude profiles from the remote-sensing instruments AMON and SALOMON using in parallel PV maps from the MIMOSA advection contour model and the REPROBUS CTM outputs. Mid-latitude profiles of NO2 will also be investigated since they are likely to be biased if presence of air from other latitudes was present at the time of the observations.
Measurements and modeling of radio frequency field structures in a helicon plasma
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Lee, C. A.; Chen, Guangye; Arefiev, A. V.
2011-01-01
Measurements of the radio frequency (rf) field structure, plasma density, and electron temperature are presented for a 1 kW argon helicon plasma source. The measured profiles change considerably when the equilibrium magnetic field is reversed. The measured rf fields are identified as fields of radially localized helicon waves, which propagate in the axial direction. The rf field structure is compared to the results of two-dimensional cold plasma full-wave simulations for the measured density profiles. Electron collision frequency is adjusted in the simulations to match the simulated and measured field profiles. The resulting frequency is anomalously high, which is attributed tomore » the excitation of an ion-acoustic instability. The calculated power deposition is insensitive to the collision frequency and accounts for most of the power supplied by the rf-generator.« less
Electronic properties of CdWO{sub 4}: Use of hybrid exchange and correlation functionals
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Meena, B. S., E-mail: bsmphysics@gmail.com; Mund, H. S.; Ahuja, B. L.
Energy bands, density of states (DOS), Mulliken population (MP) and electron momentum densities (EMDs) of CdWO{sub 4} are presented using hybrid exchange and correlation functionals namely B3LYP, B3PW and PBE0. To validate the present hybrid potentials, theoretical EMDs have been compared with the experimental Compton profile. It is found that LCAO-B3LYP based Compton profile gives a better agreement with experiment than other theoretical profiles. The energy bands and DOS show a wide band gap semiconducting nature of CdWO{sub 4}. The theoretical band gap obtained using B3LYP scheme reconciles well with the available experimental data. In addition, we have also presentedmore » the anisotropies in EMDs along [100], [110] and [001] directions and the bonding effects using the MP data.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kirneva, N. A.; Razumova, K. A.; Pochelon, A.; Behn, R.; Coda, S.; Curchod, L.; Duval, B. P.; Goodman, T. P.; Labit, B.; Karpushov, A. N.; Rancic, M.; Sauter, O.; Silva, M.; TCV Team
2012-01-01
Scenarios with different electron cyclotron heating power profile distributions and widths were compared for the first time in experiments on the Tokamak à Configuration Variable (TCV). The heating profile was changed from shot to shot over a wide range from localized on-axis, with normalized minor radius half-width at half maximum σ1/2 ~ 0.1, up to a widely distributed heating power profile with σ1/2 ~ 0.4 and finally to a profile peaked far off-axis. The global confinement, MHD activity, density, temperature and electron pressure profile evolution were compared. In particular, the energy confinement properties of discharges with localized on-axis heating and distributed on-axis heating were very similar, with degradation close to that predicted by the ITER L-mode scaling; in the case of off-axis heating, on the other hand, the confinement degradation was even stronger.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Weisman, Jennifer L.; Lee, Timothy J.; Salama, Farid; Gordon-Head, Martin; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)
2002-01-01
We investigate the electronic absorption spectra of several maximally pericondensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical cations with time dependent density functional theory calculations. We find interesting trends in the vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths for this series containing pyrene through circumcoronene, the largest species containing more than 50 carbon atoms. We discuss the implications of these new results for the size and structure distribution of the diffuse interstellar band carriers.
Hydration of excess electrons trapped in charge pockets on molecular surfaces
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Jalbout, Abraham F.; Del Castillo, R.; Adamowicz, Ludwik
2007-01-01
In this work we strive to design a novel electron trap located on a molecular surface. The process of electron trapping involves hydration of the trapped electron. Previous calculations on surface electron trapping revealed that clusters of OH groups can form stable hydrogen-bonded networks on one side of a hydrocarbon surface (i.e. cyclohexane sheets), while the hydrogen atoms on the opposite side of the surface form pockets of positive charge that can attract extra negative charge. The excess electron density on such surfaces can be further stabilized by interactions with water molecules. Our calculations show that these anionic systems are stable with respect to vertical electron detachment (VDE).
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Kaufman, Yoram; Mattoo, Shana; Tanre, Didier; Kleidman, Richard; Lau, William K. M. (Technical Monitor)
2001-01-01
The ESSP3-CENA space mission (formally PICASSO-CENA) will provide continues global observations with a two wavelength lidar. The attenuated backscattering coefficients measured by the lidar, have valuable information about the vertical distribution of aerosol particles and their sizes. However the information cannot be mapped into unique aerosol physical properties. Infinite number of physical solutions with different attenuations through the atmosphere can reconstruct the same two wavelength backscattered profile measured from space. Spectral radiance measured by MODIS simultaneously with the ESSP3 data can constrain the problem and resolve this ambiguity to a large extent. Sensitivity study shows that inversion of the integrated MODIS+ESSP3 data can derive the vertical profiles of the fine and coarse modes mixed in the same atmospheric column in the presence of moderate calibration uncertainties and electronic noise (approx. 10%). We shall present the sensitivity study and results from application of the technique to measurements in the SAFARI-2000 and SHADE experiments.
The effects of DRIE operational parameters on vertically aligned micropillar arrays
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Miller, Kane; Li, Mingxiao; Walsh, Kevin M.; Fu, Xiao-An
2013-03-01
Vertically aligned silicon micropillar arrays have been created by deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) and used for a number of microfabricated devices including microfluidic devices, micropreconcentrators and photovoltaic cells. This paper delineates an experimental design performed on the Bosch process of DRIE of micropillar arrays. The arrays are fabricated with direct-write optical lithography without photomask, and the effects of DRIE process parameters, including etch cycle time, passivation cycle time, platen power and coil power on profile angle, scallop depth and scallop peak-to-peak distance are studied by statistical design of experiments. Scanning electron microscope images are used for measuring the resultant profile angles and characterizing the scalloping effect on the pillar sidewalls. The experimental results indicate the effects of the determining factors, etch cycle time, passivation cycle time and platen power, on the micropillar profile angles and scallop depths. An optimized DRIE process recipe for creating nearly 90° and smooth surface (invisible scalloping) has been obtained as a result of the statistical design of experiments.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Fisher, A. W.; Sanford, L. P.; Scully, M. E.
2016-12-01
Coherent wave-driven turbulence generated through wave breaking or nonlinear wave-current interactions, e.g. Langmuir turbulence (LT), can significantly enhance the downward transfer of momentum, kinetic energy, and dissolved gases in the oceanic surface layer. There are few observations of these processes in the estuarine or coastal environments, where wind-driven mixing may co-occur with energetic tidal mixing and strong density stratification. This presents a major challenge for evaluating vertical mixing parameterizations used in modeling estuarine and coastal dynamics. We carried out a large, multi-investigator study of wind-driven estuarine dynamics in the middle reaches of Chesapeake Bay, USA, during 2012-2013. The center of the observational array was an instrumented turbulence tower with both atmospheric and marine turbulence sensors as well as rapidly sampled temperature and conductivity sensors. For this paper, we examined the impacts of surface gravity waves on vertical profiles of turbulent mixing and compared our results to second-moment turbulence closure predictions. Wave and turbulence measurements collected from the vertical array of Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADVs) provided direct estimates of the dominant terms in the TKE budget and the surface wave field. Observed dissipation rates, TKE levels, and turbulent length scales are compared to published scaling relations and used in the calculation of second-moment nonequilibrium stability functions. Results indicate that in the surface layer of the estuary, where elevated dissipation is balanced by vertical divergence in TKE flux, existing nonequilibrium stability functions underpredict observed eddy viscosities. The influences of wave breaking and coherent wave-driven turbulence on modeled and observed stability functions will be discussed further in the context of turbulent length scales, TKE and dissipation profiles, and the depth at which the wave-dominated turbulent transport layer transitions to a turbulent log layer. The influences of fetch-limited wind waves, density stratification, and surface buoyancy fluxes will also be discussed.
High-Latitude Ionospheric Imaging using Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN)
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meziane, K.; Jayachandran, P. T.; Hamza, A. M.; MacDougall, J. W.
2013-12-01
Understanding the polar cap dynamics is a fundamental problem in solar-terrestrial physics; any breakthroughs would have to take into account the interactions that take place at the interfaces between the Solar Wind and the Magnetosphere and between the latter and the ionosphere, respectively. Over the past decade a significant number of ground-based GPS receivers and digital ionosondes have been deployed in the polar cap and auroral region. This deployment has allowed the harvest of much needed data, otherwise not available, which in turn helps understand the dynamics of the polar ionospheric regions. A technique, used consistently by researchers in the field, consists of inverting the Total Electron Content (TEC) along the ray path obtained from a system of GPS receivers. In the present study, a combination of tomography and ionosonde data from the CHAIN network is used to examine the dynamics of polar cap patches. First, the TEC derived from GPS receivers through tomographic reconstruction is directly compared with ionosonde data. The comparison includes periods of quite and disturbed geomagnetic activity. We then use the vertical density profiles derived from the CHAIN ionosondes as initial seeds for the reconstruction of the tomographic images of the polar cap regions. Precise electron density peaks obtained through the tomographic reconstruction fall within a range that is consistent with direct CHAIN measurements when certain conditions are met. An assessment of the performance of the resulting combination of GPS and ionosonde data is performed, and conclusions are presented.
Solar corona electron density distribution
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Esposito, P. B.; Edenhofer, P.; Lueneburg, E.
1980-07-01
The paper discusses the three and one-half months of single-frequency time delay data which were acquired from the Helios 2 spacecraft around the time of its solar occultation. The excess time delay due to integrated effect of free electrons along the signal's ray path could be separated and modeled following the determination of the spacecraft trajectory. An average solar corona and equatorial electron density profile during solar minimum were deduced from the time delay measurements acquired within 5-60 solar radii of the sun. As a point of reference at 10 solar radii from the sun, an average electron density was 4500 el/cu cm. However, an asymmetry was found in the electron density as the ray path moved from the west to east solar limb. This may be related to the fact that during entry into occultation the heliographic latitude of the ray path was about 6 deg, while during exit it was 7 deg. The Helios density model is compared with similar models deduced from different experimental techniques.
A Concept for Ionospheric Tomography from a CubeSat Platform at Low Earth Orbit
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chakrabarti, S.; Cook, T.; Finn, S. C.; Mendillo, C.; Martel, J.; Geddes, G.
2015-12-01
Remote sensing of the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere using extreme and far ultraviolet airglow has now been well established. It has been shown that the OI 135.6 nm nightglow can be used to infer the density of singly ionized atomic oxygen ions, the dominant ion in the F2 region. It has also been shown that zenith angle profiles of OII 83.4 nm emissions in the dayglow are sensitive to the electron density profiles as measured by incoherent scatter radar. Finally, simultaneous measurements of OII 61.7 nm and OII 83.4 nm emissions have been shown to yield daytime electron densities. We describe several key technological advances that have made it possible to consider self-consistent characterization of the thermosphere and ionosphere from a CubeSat platform.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Jenkins, Jon M.; Steffes, Paul G.; Hinson, David P.; Twicken, Joseph D.; Tyler, G. Leonard
1994-01-01
On October 5 and 6, 1991, three dual-frequency ingress radio occultation experiments were conducted at Venus during consecutive orbits of the Magellan spacecraft. The radio signals probed a region of the atmosphere near 65 deg N, with a solar zenith angle of 108 deg, reaching below 35 km at 3.6 cm, and below 34 km at 13 cm (above a mean radius of 6052 km). The high effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the Magellan spacecraft and highly successful attitude maneuvers allowed these signals to probe deeper than any previous radio occultation experiment and also resulted in the most accurate thermal and sulfuric acid vapor abundance profiles ever obtained at Venus through radio occultation techniques. The performance of the spacecraft and the experiment design are discussed in an accompanying paper. Average electron density profiles retrieved from the data possess peaks between 2600 and 6000/cu cm, well below typical values of 10,000/cu cm retrieved in 1979 by Pioneer Venus at similar solar zenith angles. Other basic results include vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, and density in the neutral atmosphere, 13- and 3.6-cm absorpttivity, and H2SO4 (g) abundance below the main cloud layer. H2SO4 (g) becomes significant below 50 km, reaching peaks between 18 and 24 ppm near 39 km before dropping precipitously below 38 km. These sharp decreases confirm the thermal decomposition of sulfuric acid vapor below 39 km. Since the Venus atmosphere rotated approximately 10 deg between experiments, the data contain information about the horizontal variability of the atmosphere. All derived profiles exhibit significant variations from orbit to orbit, indicating the presence of dynamical processes between 33 and 200 km. In particular, the orbit-to-orbit variations in temperature and in H2SO4 (g) abundance appear to be correlated, suggesting that a common mechanism may be responsible for the observed spatial variations.
Super non-linear RRAM with ultra-low power for 3D vertical nano-crossbar arrays.
Luo, Qing; Xu, Xiaoxin; Liu, Hongtao; Lv, Hangbing; Gong, Tiancheng; Long, Shibing; Liu, Qi; Sun, Haitao; Banerjee, Writam; Li, Ling; Gao, Jianfeng; Lu, Nianduan; Liu, Ming
2016-08-25
Vertical crossbar arrays provide a cost-effective approach for high density three-dimensional (3D) integration of resistive random access memory. However, an individual selector device is not allowed to be integrated with the memory cell separately. The development of V-RRAM has impeded the lack of satisfactory self-selective cells. In this study, we have developed a high performance bilayer self-selective device using HfO2 as the memory switching layer and a mixed ionic and electron conductor as the selective layer. The device exhibits high non-linearity (>10(3)) and ultra-low half-select leakage (<0.1 pA). A four layer vertical crossbar array was successfully demonstrated based on the developed self-selective device. High uniformity, ultra-low leakage, sub-nA operation, self-compliance, and excellent read/write disturbance immunity were achieved. The robust array level performance shows attractive potential for low power and high density 3D data storage applications.
Development of high poloidal beta, steady-state scenario with ITER-like tungsten divertor on EAST
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Garofalo, A. M.; Gong, X. Z.; Qian, J.; Chen, J.; Li, G.; Li, K.; Li, M. H.; Zhai, X.; Bonoli, P.; Brower, D.; Cao, L.; Cui, L.; Ding, S.; Ding, W. X.; Guo, W.; Holcomb, C.; Huang, J.; Hyatt, A.; Lanctot, M.; Lao, L. L.; Liu, H.; Lyu, B.; McClenaghan, J.; Peysson, Y.; Ren, Q.; Shiraiwa, S.; Solomon, W.; Zang, Q.; Wan, B.
2017-07-01
Recent experiments on EAST have achieved the first long pulse H-mode (61 s) with zero loop voltage and an ITER-like tungsten divertor, and have demonstrated access to broad plasma current profiles by increasing the density in fully-noninductive lower hybrid current-driven discharges. These long pulse discharges reach wall thermal and particle balance, exhibit stationary good confinement (H 98y2 ~ 1.1) with low core electron transport, and are only possible with optimal active cooling of the tungsten armors. In separate experiments, the electron density was systematically varied in order to study its effect on the deposition profile of the external lower hybrid current drive (LHCD), while keeping the plasma in fully-noninductive conditions and with divertor strike points on the tungsten divertor. A broadening of the current profile is found, as indicated by lower values of the internal inductance at higher density. A broad current profile is attractive because, among other reasons, it enables internal transport barriers at large minor radius, leading to improved confinement as shown in companion DIII-D experiments. These experiments strengthen the physics basis for achieving high performance, steady state discharges in future burning plasmas.
Development of high poloidal beta, steady-state scenario with ITER-like tungsten divertor on EAST
Garofalo, Andrea M.; Gong, X. Z.; Qian, J.; ...
2017-06-07
Recent experiments on EAST have achieved the first long pulse H-mode (61 s) with zero loop voltage and an ITER-like tungsten divertor, and have demonstrated access to broad plasma current profiles by increasing the density in fully-noninductive lower hybrid current-driven discharges. These long pulse discharges reach wall thermal and particle balance, exhibit stationary good confinement (H 98y2~1.1) with low core electron transport, and are only possible with optimal active cooling of the tungsten armors. In separate experiments, the electron density was systematically varied in order to study its effect on the deposition profile of the external lower hybrid current drivemore » (LHCD), while keeping the plasma in fully-noninductive conditions and with divertor strike points on the tungsten divertor. A broadening of the current profile is found, as indicated by lower values of the internal inductance at higher density. A broad current profile is attractive because, among other reasons, it enables internal transport barriers at large minor radius, leading to improved confinement as shown in companion DIII-D experiments. These experiments strengthen the physics basis for achieving high performance, steady state discharges in future burning plasmas.« less
Rocket measurements of electron density irregularities during MAC/SINE
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Ulwick, J. C.
1989-01-01
Four Super Arcas rockets were launched at the Andoya Rocket Range, Norway, as part of the MAC/SINE campaign to measure electron density irregularities with high spatial resolution in the cold summer polar mesosphere. They were launched as part of two salvos: the turbulent/gravity wave salvo (3 rockets) and the EISCAT/SOUSY radar salvo (one rocket). In both salvos meteorological rockets, measuring temperature and winds, were also launched and the SOUSY radar, located near the launch site, measured mesospheric turbulence. Electron density irregularities and strong gradients were measured by the rocket probes in the region of most intense backscatter observed by the radar. The electron density profiles (8 to 4 on ascent and 4 on descent) show very different characteristics in the peak scattering region and show marked spatial and temporal variability. These data are intercompared and discussed.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Takenaga, H.; Ide, S.; Sakamoto, Y.; Fujita, T.; JT-60 Team
2008-07-01
Effects of low central fuelling on density and ion temperature profiles have been investigated using negative ion based neutral beam injection and electron cyclotron heating (ECH) in reversed shear plasmas on JT-60U. Strong internal transport barrier (ITB) was maintained in density and ion temperature profiles, when central fuelling was decreased by switching positive ion based neutral beam injection to ECH after the strong ITB formation. Similar density and ion temperature ITBs were formed for the low and high central fuelling cases during the plasma current ramp-up phase. Strong correlation between the density gradient and the ion temperature gradient was observed, indicating that particle transport and ion thermal transport are strongly coupled or the density gradient assists the ion temperature ITB formation through suppression of drift wave instabilities such as ion temperature gradient mode. These results support that the density and ion temperature ITBs can be formed under reactor relevant conditions.
Determination of atomic sodium in coal combustion using laser-induced fluorescence
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Sweeny, P.G.; Abrahamson, H.B.; Radonovich, L.J.
1987-01-01
A laser-induced fluorescence spectrometer (LIFS) was assembled and sodium atom densities produced from the aspiration of solutions and direct introduction of a lignite into a flame were determined from fluorescence measurements. The average flame volume observed was 0.4mm/sup 3/. This small volume allowed the measurement of sodium concentrations as a function of vertical and horizontal flame position. Temperature profiles of the flames employed were also obtained and compared with the sodium atom densities. The sodium atom densities calculated from the fluorescence measurements (N/sub tt/) are compared with the sodium atom densities calculated from thermodynamic considerations (N/sub tt/) and sodium concentrationsmore » derived from aspiration/introduction rates (N/sub ta/).« less
Characterization of thunderstorm induced Maxwell current densities in the middle atmosphere
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Baginski, Michael Edward
1989-01-01
Middle atmospheric transient Maxwell current densities generated by lightning induced charge perturbations are investigated via a simulation of Maxwell's equations. A time domain finite element analysis is employed for the simulations. The atmosphere is modeled as a region contained within a right circular cylinder with a height of 110 km and radius of 80 km. A composite conductivity profile based on measured data is used when charge perturbations are centered about the vertical axis at altitudes of 6 and 10 km. The simulations indicate that the temporal structure of the Maxwell current density is relatively insensitive to altitude variation within the region considered. It is also shown that the electric field and Maxwell current density are not generally aligned.
Density stratification effects in sand-bed rivers
Wright, S.; Parker, G.
2004-01-01
In this paper the effects of density stratification in sand-bed rivers are studied by the application of a model of vertical velocity and concentration profiles, coupled through the use of a turbulence closure that retains the buoyancy terms. By making the governing equations dimensionless, it is revealed that the slope is the additional dimensionless parameter introduced by inclusion of the buoyancy terms. The primary new finding is that in general density stratification effects tend to be greater in large, low-slope rivers than in their smaller, steeper brethren. Under high flow conditions the total suspended load and size distribution of suspended sediment can be significantly affected by density stratification, and should be accounted for in any general theory of suspended transport. ?? ASCE.
An x-ray backlit Talbot-Lau deflectometer for high-energy-density electron density diagnostics.
Valdivia, M P; Stutman, D; Stoeckl, C; Theobald, W; Mileham, C; Begishev, I A; Bromage, J; Regan, S P
2016-02-01
X-ray phase-contrast techniques can measure electron density gradients in high-energy-density plasmas through refraction induced phase shifts. An 8 keV Talbot-Lau interferometer consisting of free standing ultrathin gratings was deployed at an ultra-short, high-intensity laser system using K-shell emission from a 1-30 J, 8 ps laser pulse focused on thin Cu foil targets. Grating survival was demonstrated for 30 J, 8 ps laser pulses. The first x-ray deflectometry images obtained under laser backlighting showed up to 25% image contrast and thus enabled detection of electron areal density gradients with a maximum value of 8.1 ± 0.5 × 10(23) cm(-3) in a low-Z millimeter sized sample. An electron density profile was obtained from refraction measurements with an error of <8%. The 50 ± 15 μm spatial resolution achieved across the full field of view was found to be limited by the x-ray source-size, similar to conventional radiography.
Effective ion charge (Zeff) measurements and impurity behavior in KSTAR
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sarwar, S.; Na, H. K.; Park, J. M.
2018-04-01
A visible bremsstrahlung detector array diagnostic system has been developed on the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) to view the whole minor radius in a narrow region of the continuum free of spectral lines. The interference filters coupled with photomultiplier tubes have been employed to determine the effective charge Zeff by using visible bremsstrahlung data during neutral beam injection in the KSTAR plasma. The Zeff profiles are typically flat for L-mode plasmas and evolve to hollow profiles during the H mode in the KSTAR. A comparison of the visible bremsstrahlung emission based on the calculated Zeff profiles is consistent with measured values of Zeff from a visible spectrometer in the core plasma. The electron temperature is measured by X-ray imaging crystal spectrometry, and electron density needed for the analysis is taken by the assumption of parabolic profiles of these parameters. The line of sight averaged local bremsstrahlung emissivity is determined with low uncertainty, and the radial emissivity is obtained by using the Abel inversion technique. In addition, a dependence of effective charge Zeff on the line-averaged electron density is evaluated, and Zeff is also determined to observe the effect of boronization.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Srivastava, Ruby
2018-01-01
The electronic and optoelectronic properties of [A.2AP(w)/A*.2AP(WC)/C.2AP(w)/C*.2AP(WC)/C.A(w)/ C*.A(WC)]-Au8 metal-mismatch nucleobase complexes are investigated by means of density functional theory and time-dependent methods. We selected these mispairs as 2-aminopurine (2AP) produces incorporation errors when binding with cytosine (C) into the wobble (w) C.2AP(w) mispair, and is tautomerised into Watson-Crick (WC)-like base mispair C*.2AP(WC) and less effectively produces A.2AP(w)/A*.2AP(WC) mispairs. The vertical ionisation potential, vertical electron affinity, hardness and electrophilicity index of these complexes have also been discussed. The modifications of energy levels and charge density distributions of the frontier orbitals are also analysed. The absorption spectra of these complexes lie in the visible region, which suggests their application in fluorescent-bio imaging. The mechanism of cooperativity effect is studied by molecular orbital potential (MEP), atoms-in-molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital analyses. Most metalated pairs have smaller HOMO-LUMO band gaps than the isolated mismatch nucleobases which suggest interesting consequences for electron transfer through DNA duplexes.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Djaadi, Soumaia; Eddine Aiadi, Kamal; Mahtout, Sofiane
2018-04-01
The structures, relative stability and magnetic properties of pure Ge n +1, neutral cationic and anionic SnGe n (n = 1–17) clusters have been investigated by using the first principles density functional theory implemented in SIESTA packages. We find that with the increasing of cluster size, the Ge n +1 and SnGe n (0, ±1) clusters tend to adopt compact structures. It has been also found that the Sn atom occupied a peripheral position for SnGe n clusters when n < 12 and occupied a core position for n > 12. The structural and electronic properties such as optimized geometries, fragmentation energy, binding energy per atom, HOMO–LUMO gaps and second-order differences in energy of the pure Ge n +1 and SnGe n clusters in their ground state are calculated and analyzed. All isomers of neutral SnGe n clusters are generally nonmagnetic except for n = 1 and 4, where the total spin magnetic moments is 2μ b. The total (DOS) and partial density of states of these clusters have been calculated to understand the origin of peculiar magnetic properties. The cluster size dependence of vertical ionization potentials, vertical electronic affinities, chemical hardness, adiabatic electron affinities and adiabatic ionization potentials have been calculated and discussed.
Highly uniform and vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays for photovoltaic applications
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kim, Jae-Yup; Kang, Jin Soo; Shin, Junyoung; Kim, Jin; Han, Seung-Joo; Park, Jongwoo; Min, Yo-Sep; Ko, Min Jae; Sung, Yung-Eun
2015-04-01
Nanostructured electrodes with vertical alignment have been considered ideal structures for electron transport and interfacial contact with redox electrolytes in photovoltaic devices. Here, we report large-scale vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays with uniform structures, without lateral cracks fabricated by a modified anodic oxidation process. In the modified process, ultrasonication is utilized to avoid formation of partial compact layers and lateral cracks in the SnO2 nanochannel arrays. Building on this breakthrough, we first demonstrate the photovoltaic application of these vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays. These vertically aligned arrays were directly and successfully applied in quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photoanodes, yielding reasonable conversion efficiency under back-side illumination. In addition, a significantly short process time (330 s) for achieving the optimal thickness (7.0 μm) and direct utilization of the anodized electrodes enable a simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication process. Furthermore, a TiO2 shell layer was coated on the SnO2 nanochannel arrays by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for enhancement of dye-loading and prolonging the electron lifetime in the DSSC. Owing to the presence of the ALD TiO2 layer, the short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) and conversion efficiency were increased by 20% and 19%, respectively, compared to those of the DSSC without the ALD TiO2 layer. This study provides valuable insight into the development of efficient SnO2-based photoanodes for photovoltaic application by a simple and rapid fabrication process.Nanostructured electrodes with vertical alignment have been considered ideal structures for electron transport and interfacial contact with redox electrolytes in photovoltaic devices. Here, we report large-scale vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays with uniform structures, without lateral cracks fabricated by a modified anodic oxidation process. In the modified process, ultrasonication is utilized to avoid formation of partial compact layers and lateral cracks in the SnO2 nanochannel arrays. Building on this breakthrough, we first demonstrate the photovoltaic application of these vertically aligned SnO2 nanochannel arrays. These vertically aligned arrays were directly and successfully applied in quasi-solid state dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photoanodes, yielding reasonable conversion efficiency under back-side illumination. In addition, a significantly short process time (330 s) for achieving the optimal thickness (7.0 μm) and direct utilization of the anodized electrodes enable a simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication process. Furthermore, a TiO2 shell layer was coated on the SnO2 nanochannel arrays by the atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for enhancement of dye-loading and prolonging the electron lifetime in the DSSC. Owing to the presence of the ALD TiO2 layer, the short-circuit photocurrent density (Jsc) and conversion efficiency were increased by 20% and 19%, respectively, compared to those of the DSSC without the ALD TiO2 layer. This study provides valuable insight into the development of efficient SnO2-based photoanodes for photovoltaic application by a simple and rapid fabrication process. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00202h
Investigation of the effect of scattering centers on low dimensional nanowire channel
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Cariappa, K. S.; Shukla, Raja; Sarkar, Niladri
2018-05-01
In this work, we studied the effect of scattering centers on the electron density profiles of a one dimensional Nanowire channel. Density Matrix Formalism is used for calculating the local electron densities at room temperature. Various scattering centers have been simulated in the channel. The nearest neighbor tight binding method is applied to construct the Hamiltonian of nanoscale devices. We invoke scattering centers by adding local scattering potentials to the Hamiltonian. This analysis could give an insight into the understanding and utilization of defects for device engineering.
Spheromak reactor-design study
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Les, J.M.
1981-06-30
A general overview of spheromak reactor characteristics, such as MHD stability, start up, and plasma geometry is presented. In addition, comparisons are made between spheromaks, tokamaks and field reversed mirrors. The computer code Sphero is also discussed. Sphero is a zero dimensional time independent transport code that uses particle confinement times and profile parameters as input since they are not known with certainty at the present time. More specifically, Sphero numerically solves a given set of transport equations whose solutions include such variables as fuel ion (deuterium and tritium) density, electron density, alpha particle density and ion, electron temperatures.
Observations of electron heating during 28 GHz microwave power application in proto-MPEX
Biewer, Theodore M.; Bigelow, Tim S.; Caneses Marin, Juan F.; ...
2018-02-01
The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure Experiment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory utilizes a variety of power systems to generate and deliver a high heat flux plasma onto the surface of material targets. In the experiments described here, a deuterium plasma is produced via a ~100 kW, 13.56 MHz RF helicon source, to which ~20 kW of 28 GHz microwave power is applied. The electron density and temperature profiles are measured using a Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic, and indicate that the electron density is centrally peaked. In the core of the plasma column, the electron density is higher than themore » cut-off density (~0.9 × 1019 m -3) for the launched mixture of X- and O-mode electron cyclotron heating waves to propagate. TS measurements indicate electron temperature increases from ~5 eV to ~20 eV during 28 GHz power application when the neutral deuterium pressure is reduced below 0.13 Pa (~1 mTorr.).« less
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Edenhofer, P.; Lueneburg, E.; Esposito, P. B.; Martin, W. L.; Zygielbaum, A. I.; Hansen, R. T.; Hansen, S. F.
1978-01-01
S-band time delay measurements were collected from the spacecraft Helios A and B during three solar occultations in 1975/76 within heliocentric distances of about 3 and 215 earth radius in terms of range, Doppler frequency shift, and electron content. Characteristic features of measurement and data processing are described. Typical data sets are discussed to probe the electron density distribution near the sun (west and east limb as well) including the outer and extended corona. Steady-state and dynamical aspects of the solar corona are presented and compared with earth-bound-K-coronagraph measurements. Using a weighted least squares estimation, parameters of an average coronal electron density profile are derived in a preliminary analysis to yield electron densities at r = 3, 65, 215 earth radius. Transient phenomena are discussed and a velocity of propagation v is nearly equal to 900 km/s is determined for plasma ejecta from a solar flare observed during an extraordinary set of Helios B electron content measurements.
Observations of electron heating during 28 GHz microwave power application in proto-MPEX
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Biewer, T. M.; Bigelow, T. S.; Caneses, J. F.; Diem, S. J.; Green, D. L.; Kafle, N.; Rapp, J.; Proto-MPEX Team
2018-02-01
The Prototype Material Plasma Exposure Experiment at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory utilizes a variety of power systems to generate and deliver a high heat flux plasma onto the surface of material targets. In the experiments described here, a deuterium plasma is produced via a ˜100 kW, 13.56 MHz RF helicon source, to which ˜20 kW of 28 GHz microwave power is applied. The electron density and temperature profiles are measured using a Thomson scattering (TS) diagnostic, and indicate that the electron density is centrally peaked. In the core of the plasma column, the electron density is higher than the cut-off density (˜0.9 × 1019 m-3) for the launched mixture of X- and O-mode electron cyclotron heating waves to propagate. TS measurements indicate electron temperature increases from ˜5 eV to ˜20 eV during 28 GHz power application when the neutral deuterium pressure is reduced below 0.13 Pa (˜1 mTorr.).
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Khee Looe, Hui; Delfs, Björn; Poppinga, Daniela; Jiang, Ping; Harder, Dietrich; Poppe, Björn
2018-01-01
The well-known field-size dependent overresponse in small-field photon-beam dosimetry of solid-state detectors equipped with very thin sensitive volumes, such as the PTW microDiamond, cannot be caused by the photon and electron interactions within these sensitive layers because they are only a few micrometers thick. The alternative explanation is that their overresponse is caused by the combination of two effects, the modification of the secondary electron fluence profile (i) by a field size too small to warrant lateral secondary electron equilibrium and (ii) by the density-dependent electron ranges in the structural detector materials placed in front of or backing the sensitive layer. The present study aims at the numerical demonstration and visualization of this combined mechanism. The lateral fluence profiles of the secondary electrons hitting a 1 µm thick scoring layer were Monte-Carlo simulated by modelling their generation and transport in the upstream or downstream adjacent layers of thickness 0.6 mm and densities from 0.0012 to 3 g cm-3, whose atomic composition was constantly kept water-like. The scoring layer/adjacent layer sandwich was placed in an infinite water phantom irradiated by circular 60Co, 6 MV and 15 MV photon beams with diameters from 3 to 40 mm. The interpretation starts from the ideal case of lateral secondary electron equilibrium, where the Fano theorem excludes any density effect. If the field size is then reduced, electron tracks potentially originating from source points outside the field border will then be numerically ‘cut away’. This geometrical effect reduces the secondary electron fluence at the field center, but the magnitude of this reduction also varies with the density-dependent electron ranges in the adjacent layers. This combined mechanism, which strongly depends on the photon spectrum, explains the field size and material density effect on the response of detectors with very thin sensitive layers used in small-field photon-beam dosimetry.
Empirical models of the electron temperature and density in the nightside venus ionosphere.
Brace, L H; Theis, R F; Niemann, H B; Mayr, H G; Hoegy, W R; Nagy, A F
1979-07-06
Empirical models of the electron temperature and electron density of the late afternoon and nightside Venus ionosphere have been derived from Pioneer Venus measurements acquired between 10 December 1978 and 23 March 1979. The models describe the average ionosphere conditions near 18 degrees N latitude between 150 and 700 kilometers altitude for solar zenith angles of 80 degrees to 180 degrees . The average index of solar flux was 200. A major feature of the density model is the factor of 10 decrease beyond 90 degrees followed by a very gradual decrease between 120 degrees and 180 degrees . The density at 150 degrees is about five times greater than observed by Venera 9 and 10 at solar minimum (solar flux approximately 80), a difference that is probably related to the effects of increased solar activity on the processes that maintain the nightside ionosphere. The nightside electron density profile from the model (above 150 kilometers) can be reproduced theoretically either by transport of 0(+) ions from the dayside or by precipitation of low-energy electrons. The ion transport process would require a horizontal flow velocity of about 300 meters per second, a value that is consistent with other Pioneer Venus observations. Although currently available energetic electron data do not yet permit the role of precipitation to be evaluated quantitatively, this process is clearly involved to some extent in the formation of the nightside ionosphere. Perhaps the most surprising feature of the temperature model is that the electron temperature remains high throughout the nightside ionosphere. These high nocturnal temperatures and the existence of a well-defined nightside ionopause suggest that energetic processes occur across the top of the entire nightside ionosphere, maintaining elevated temperatures. A heat flux of 2 x 10(10) electron volts per square centimeter per second, introduced at the ionopause, is consistent with the average electron temperature profile on the nightside at a solar zenith angle of 140 degrees .
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Sun, Bing; Zhu, Chen-Hui; Liu, Yi
Periodically eclipsed π-stacking columns in two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) could function as direct channel paths for charge carrier transport. Incorporating a welldefined 2D COF into organic electronic devices, however, is still a challenge. Herein, we reported the solvothermal synthesis of a COF TFPy-PPDA film on single layer graphene (SLG), which was constructed via covalent imine-type linkage by employing 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-formylphenyl)pyrene (TFPy) and p-phenylenediamine (PPDA) as building blocks. A vertical field-effect transistor (VFET) based on the heterostructure of COF TFPy-PPDA film and SLG shows ambipolar charge carrier behavior under lower modulating voltages. Work-function-tunable contact between SLG and COFTFPy-PPDA film andmore » suitable injection barriers of charge carriers lead to the ambipolar transport with high current density on/off ratio (>10 5) and high on-current density (>4.1 Acm -2). Interfacing 2D COF with graphene for VFET could shed the promising application prospect of 2D COFs in organic electronics and optoelectronics.« less
Sun, Bing; Zhu, Chen-Hui; Liu, Yi; ...
2017-04-13
Periodically eclipsed π-stacking columns in two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) could function as direct channel paths for charge carrier transport. Incorporating a welldefined 2D COF into organic electronic devices, however, is still a challenge. Herein, we reported the solvothermal synthesis of a COF TFPy-PPDA film on single layer graphene (SLG), which was constructed via covalent imine-type linkage by employing 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-formylphenyl)pyrene (TFPy) and p-phenylenediamine (PPDA) as building blocks. A vertical field-effect transistor (VFET) based on the heterostructure of COF TFPy-PPDA film and SLG shows ambipolar charge carrier behavior under lower modulating voltages. Work-function-tunable contact between SLG and COFTFPy-PPDA film andmore » suitable injection barriers of charge carriers lead to the ambipolar transport with high current density on/off ratio (>10 5) and high on-current density (>4.1 Acm -2). Interfacing 2D COF with graphene for VFET could shed the promising application prospect of 2D COFs in organic electronics and optoelectronics.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gubsky, V. F.
2009-12-01
In the 1960s and 1970s, quite simply produced cylindrical Langmuir probes were used in the USSR both on satellites (Kosmos-378, Intercosmos-2, -4, -8, -10, -19) and to measure the electron density and temperature on vertical launched rockets (Vertical’-4, -6, -10) within the Intercosmos program. These measurements were first made at middle latitudes. With increasing inclination of the orbits of launched satellites (satellites had no stabilization), falling sections were sometimes observed on probe characteristics in the electron saturation region. The Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite, which was stabilized along three axes and was equipped with a cylindrical probe whose longitudinal axis was always directed downward to the Earth, was launched in 1981. This satellite allowed definite conclusions on the effect of the geomagnetic field on the form of the probe characteristic and, hence, on the determination of the electron density and temperature. Probe characteristics with falling sections are presented. These measurements are compared with those performed in a laboratory plasma. The appearance of negative sections on the probe characteristics is shown to be due to the effect of the geomagnetic field. The degree of this effect depends both on the electron density and temperature and on the probe voltage.
A Rocket Investigation of Mesospheric Eddy Diffusion Effects on Airglow and Oxygen Chemistry
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Ulwick, James C.
2001-01-01
A Terrier Orion rocket was launched at 0750 Z on 02/25/98 about seven minutes after the Clemson University chemical release rocket. Measurements made of the electron density by a dc probe calibrated by a capacitance probe showed several layers of electron density on a rocket ascent in the altitude range from 90 to 110 km. Rocket descent results showed several but not all of the ascent structure. From power spectral analysis of the measured electron densities, turbulent parameters are derived Measurements were made on rocket ascent and descent by an infrared radiometer of the OH Meinel (3-1) band and O2 singlet delta emissions. Profiles of the emissions are presented and discussed on both rocket ascent and descent an enhancement of the OH emission monitored by the OH radiometer was observed above 90 km. The glow was not defected by the O2 radiometer and was significantly reduced on rocket descent. Using these data and a mechanistic analysis, a profile proportional to atomic oxygen is obtained. This profile is compared to one from the ATOX probe on the rocket. A one-dimensional (1-D) photochemical model that solves the time-dependent continuity equations is used with the rocket data to investigate the odd-oxygen concentration in the near equatorial mesosphere.
A model-assisted radio occultation data inversion method based on data ingestion into NeQuick
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Shaikh, M. M.; Nava, B.; Kashcheyev, A.
2017-01-01
Inverse Abel transform is the most common method to invert radio occultation (RO) data in the ionosphere and it is based on the assumption of the spherical symmetry for the electron density distribution in the vicinity of an occultation event. It is understood that this 'spherical symmetry hypothesis' could fail, above all, in the presence of strong horizontal electron density gradients. As a consequence, in some cases wrong electron density profiles could be obtained. In this work, in order to incorporate the knowledge of horizontal gradients, we have suggested an inversion technique based on the adaption of the empirical ionospheric model, NeQuick2, to RO-derived TEC. The method relies on the minimization of a cost function involving experimental and model-derived TEC data to determine NeQuick2 input parameters (effective local ionization parameters) at specific locations and times. These parameters are then used to obtain the electron density profile along the tangent point (TP) positions associated with the relevant RO event using NeQuick2. The main focus of our research has been laid on the mitigation of spherical symmetry effects from RO data inversion without using external data such as data from global ionospheric maps (GIM). By using RO data from Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC) mission and manually scaled peak density data from a network of ionosondes along Asian and American longitudinal sectors, we have obtained a global improvement of 5% with 7% in Asian longitudinal sector (considering the data used in this work), in the retrieval of peak electron density (NmF2) with model-assisted inversion as compared to the Abel inversion. Mean errors of NmF2 in Asian longitudinal sector are calculated to be much higher compared to American sector.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Chinthaka Silva, G.W., E-mail: chinthaka.silva@gmail.com; Kercher, Andrew A., E-mail: rokparent@comcast.net; Hunn, John D., E-mail: hunnjd@ornl.gov
2012-10-15
Samples with five different zirconium carbide compositions (C/Zr molar ratio=0.84, 0.89, 0.95, 1.05, and 1.17) have been fabricated and studied using a variety of experimental techniques. Each sample was zone refined to ensure that the end product was polycrystalline with a grain size of 10-100 {mu}m. It was found that the lattice parameter was largest for the x=0.89 composition and smallest for the x=1.17 total C/Zr composition, but was not linear; this nonlinearity is possibly explained using electron densities calculated using charge flipping technique. Among the five samples, the unit cell of the ZrC{sub 0.89} sample showed the highest electronmore » density, corresponding to the highest carbon incorporation and the largest lattice parameter. The ZrC{sub 0.84} sample showed the lowest carbon incorporation, resulting in a larger number of carbon vacancies and resultant strain. Samples with larger carbon ratios (x=0.95, 1.05, and 1.17) showed a slight decrease in lattice parameter, due to a decrease in electron density. Optical anisotropy measurements suggest that these three samples contained significant amounts of a graphitic carbon phase, not bonded to the Zr atoms. - Graphical abstract: Characterization of zirconium carbides using electron microscopy, optical anisotropy, Auger depth profiles, X-ray diffraction, and electron density calculated by the charge flipping method. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The lattice parameter variation: ZrC{sub 0.89}>ZrC{sub 0.84}>ZrC{sub 0.95}>ZrC{sub 1.05}>ZrC{sub 1.17}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Surface oxygen with no correlation to the lattice parameter variation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer ZrC{sub 0.89} had highest electron densities correspond to highest carbon incorporation. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Second highest lattice parameter in ZrC{sub 0.84} due to strain. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Unit cell electron density order: ZrC{sub 0.95}>ZrC{sub 1.05}>ZrC{sub 1.17}.« less
Impact of the quasi-two-day traveling planetary wave on the ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Yue, J.; Wang, W.; Richmond, A. D.; Liu, H.; Chang, L. C.
2012-12-01
The Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIME-GCM) is used to simulate the quasi-two-day wave (QTDW) modulation of the ionospheric dynamo and electron density. The QTDW can directly penetrate into the lower thermosphere and modulate the neutral winds at a period of two days. On the other hand, the QTDW can change the tidal amplitudes. The QTDW in zonal and meridional winds results in a quasi-two-day oscillation (QTDO) of the dynamo electric fields. The QTDO of the electric fields in the E-region is transmitted along the magnetic field lines to the F-region and leads to the QTDOs of the vertical ion drift and total electron content (TEC) at low and mid latitudes, leading to the 2-day oscillation of the fountain effect. Since the Earth's magnetic field has zonal wavenumber 1 and higher structures in geographic coordinates, the neutral wind dynamo and its associated vertical ion drift can be influenced by the wavenumber interaction between the QTDW and the magnetic field. Thus, longitudinal structures with other wavenumbers in the ionospheric fields, such as electric field, vertical ion drifts, electron densities and TEC, emerge from this interaction. Additionally, because the tides are damped/enhanced during a strong QTDW event, the overall fountain effect and the ionospheric morphology are changed.Amplitude (TECU) and phase (UT hour) of the QTDO of TEC as a function of day and latitude. The contour interval is 0.02 TECU and 4 hr, respectively. The color scale for the amplitude and phase is 0-0.3 TECU and 0 to 48 hr.
Three Dimensional High-Resolution Reconstruction of the Ionosphere Over the Very Large Array
2010-12-15
Watts Progress Report, Dec 10; 1 Final Report: Three Dimensional High-Resolution Reconstruction of the Ionosphere over the Very Large Array...proposed research is reconstruct the three-dimensional regional electron density profile of Earth’s ionosphere with spatial resolution of better than 10 km...10x better sensitivity to total electron content (TEC, or chord integrated density) in the ionosphere that does GPS. The proposal funds the
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wojciechowski, K. F.; Rogowska, J. M.; Bogdanów, H.
1991-05-01
The thickness of a jellium slab representing an alkali monolayer on a jellium surface has been calculated, using parametrized trial functions for the electron density profile at the surface fulfilling the Budd-Vannimenus theorem and the charge neutrality condition. Reasonable values of the thicknesses of potassium, sodium, rubidium and caesium monolayers are obtained, which, contrary to earlier assumptions, depend on the bulk electron density of the substrate.
Sadlej-Sosnowska, N
2014-08-28
We have used electronic density calculations to study neutral complexes of Li with aromatic hydrocarbons. The charge transferred between a Li atom and benzene, coronene, circumcoronene, and circumcircumcoronene has been studied by ab initio methods (at the HF and MP2 level). Toward this aim, the method of integrating electron density in two cuboid fragments of space was applied. One of the fragments was constructed so that it enclosed the bulk of the electron density of lithium; the second, the bulk of the electron density of hydrocarbon. It was found that for each complex two conformations were identified: the most stable with a greater vertical Li-hydrocarbon distance, on the order of 2.5 Å, and another of higher energy with a corresponding distance less than 2 Å. In all cases the transfer of a fractional number, 0.1-0.3 electrons, between Li and hydrocarbon was found; however, the direction of the transfer was not the same in all complexes investigated. The structures of complexes of the first configuration could be represented as Li(σ-)···AH(σ+), whereas the opposite direction of charge transfer was found for complexes of the second configuration, with higher energy. The directions of the dipole moments in the complexes supported these conclusions because they directly measure the redistribution of electron density in a complex with respect to substrates.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Gerzen, T.; Minkwitz, D.
2016-01-01
The accuracy and availability of satellite-based applications like GNSS positioning and remote sensing crucially depends on the knowledge of the ionospheric electron density distribution. The tomography of the ionosphere is one of the major tools to provide link specific ionospheric corrections as well as to study and monitor physical processes in the ionosphere. In this paper, we introduce a simultaneous multiplicative column-normalized method (SMART) for electron density reconstruction. Further, SMART+ is developed by combining SMART with a successive correction method. In this way, a balancing between the measurements of intersected and not intersected voxels is realised. The methods are compared with the well-known algebraic reconstruction techniques ART and SART. All the four methods are applied to reconstruct the 3-D electron density distribution by ingestion of ground-based GNSS TEC data into the NeQuick model. The comparative case study is implemented over Europe during two periods of the year 2011 covering quiet to disturbed ionospheric conditions. In particular, the performance of the methods is compared in terms of the convergence behaviour and the capability to reproduce sTEC and electron density profiles. For this purpose, independent sTEC data of four IGS stations and electron density profiles of four ionosonde stations are taken as reference. The results indicate that SMART significantly reduces the number of iterations necessary to achieve a predefined accuracy level. Further, SMART+ decreases the median of the absolute sTEC error up to 15, 22, 46 and 67 % compared to SMART, SART, ART and NeQuick respectively.
Acoustic Profiling of Bottom Sediments in Large Oil Storage Tanks
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Svet, V. D.; Tsysar', S. A.
2018-01-01
Characteristic features of acoustic profiling of bottom sediments in large oil storage tanks are considered. Basic acoustic parameters of crude oil and bottom sediments are presented. It is shown that, because of the presence of both transition layers in crude oil and strong reverberation effects in oil tanks, the volume of bottom sediments that is calculated from an acoustic surface image is generally overestimated. To reduce the error, additional post-processing of acoustic profilometry data is proposed in combination with additional measurements of viscosity and tank density distributions in vertical at several points of the tank.
Pablant, N. A.; Satake, S.; Yokoyama, M.; ...
2016-01-28
An analysis of the radial electric field and heat transport, both for ions and electrons, is presented for a high-more » $${{T}_{\\text{e}}}$$ electron cyclotron heated (ECH) discharge on the large helical device (LHD). Transport analysis is done using the task3d transport suite utilizing experimentally measured profiles for both ions and electrons. Ion temperature and perpendicular flow profiles are measured using the recently installed x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer diagnostic (XICS), while electron temperature and density profiles are measured using Thomson scattering. The analysis also includes calculated ECH power deposition profiles as determined through the travis ray-tracing code. This is the first time on LHD that this type of integrated transport analysis with measured ion temperature profiles has been performed without NBI, allowing the heat transport properties of plasmas with only ECH heating to be more clearly examined. For this study, a plasma discharge is chosen which develops a high central electron temperature ($${{T}_{\\text{eo}}}=9$$ keV) at moderately low densities ($${{n}_{\\text{eo}}}=1.5\\times {{10}^{19}}$$ m-3). The experimentally determined transport properties from task3d are compared to neoclassical predictions as calculated by the gsrake and fortec-3d codes. The predicted electron fluxes are seen to be an order of magnitude less than the measured fluxes, indicating that electron transport is largely anomalous, while the neoclassical and measured ion heat fluxes are of the same magnitude. Neoclassical predictions of a strong positive ambipolar electric field ($${{E}_{\\text{r}}}$$ ) in the plasma core are validated through comparisons to perpendicular flow measurements from the XICS diagnostic. Furthermore, this provides confidence that the predictions are producing physically meaningful results for the particle fluxes and radial electric field, which are a key component in correctly predicting plasma confinement.« less
Rooting strategies in a subtropical savanna: a landscape-scale three-dimensional assessment.
Zhou, Yong; Boutton, Thomas W; Wu, X Ben; Wright, Cynthia L; Dion, Anais L
2018-04-01
In resource-limited savannas, the distribution and abundance of fine roots play an important role in acquiring essential resources and structuring vegetation patterns and dynamics. However, little is known regarding the three-dimensional distribution of fine roots in savanna ecosystems at the landscape scale. We quantified spatial patterns of fine root density to a depth of 1.2 m in a subtropical savanna landscape using spatially specific sampling. Kriged maps revealed that fine root density was highest at the centers of woody patches, decreased towards the canopy edges, and reached lowest values within the grassland matrix throughout the entire soil profile. Lacunarity analyses indicated that spatial heterogeneities of fine root density decreased continuously to a depth of 50 cm and then increased in deeper portions of the soil profile across this landscape. This vertical pattern might be related to inherent differences in root distribution between trees/shrubs and herbaceous species, and the presence/absence of an argillic horizon across this landscape. The greater density of fine roots beneath woody patches in both upper and lower portions of the soil profile suggests an ability to acquire disproportionately more resources than herbaceous species, which may facilitate the development and persistence of woody patches across this landscape.
Dwarf Galaxy Dark Matter Density Profiles Inferred from Stellar and Gas Kinematics
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Adams, Joshua J.; Simon, Joshua D.; Fabricius, Maximilian H.; van den Bosch, Remco C. E.; Barentine, John C.; Bender, Ralf; Gebhardt, Karl; Hill, Gary J.; Murphy, Jeremy D.; Swaters, R. A.; Thomas, Jens; van de Ven, Glenn
2014-07-01
We present new constraints on the density profiles of dark matter (DM) halos in seven nearby dwarf galaxies from measurements of their integrated stellar light and gas kinematics. The gas kinematics of low-mass galaxies frequently suggest that they contain constant density DM cores, while N-body simulations instead predict a cuspy profile. We present a data set of high-resolution integral-field spectroscopy on seven galaxies and measure the stellar and gas kinematics simultaneously. Using Jeans modeling on our full sample, we examine whether gas kinematics in general produce shallower density profiles than are derived from the stars. Although two of the seven galaxies show some localized differences in their rotation curves between the two tracers, estimates of the central logarithmic slope of the DM density profile, γ, are generally robust. The mean and standard deviation of the logarithmic slope for the population are γ = 0.67 ± 0.10 when measured in the stars and γ = 0.58 ± 0.24 when measured in the gas. We also find that the halos are not under-concentrated at the radii of half their maximum velocities. Finally, we search for correlations of the DM density profile with stellar velocity anisotropy and other baryonic properties. Two popular mechanisms to explain cored DM halos are an exotic DM component or feedback models that strongly couple the energy of supernovae into repeatedly driving out gas and dynamically heating the DM halos. While such models do not yet have falsifiable predictions that we can measure, we investigate correlations that may eventually be used to test models. We do not find a secondary parameter that strongly correlates with the central DM density slope, but we do find some weak correlations. The central DM density slope weakly correlates with the abundance of α elements in the stellar population, anti-correlates with H I fraction, and anti-correlates with vertical orbital anisotropy. We expect, if anything, the opposite of these three trends for feedback models. Determining the importance of these correlations will require further model developments and larger observational samples. This paper includes data obtained at The McDonald Observatory of The University of Texas at Austin.
Dwarf galaxy dark matter density profiles inferred from stellar and gas kinematics
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Adams, Joshua J.; Simon, Joshua D.; Fabricius, Maximilian H.
2014-07-01
We present new constraints on the density profiles of dark matter (DM) halos in seven nearby dwarf galaxies from measurements of their integrated stellar light and gas kinematics. The gas kinematics of low-mass galaxies frequently suggest that they contain constant density DM cores, while N-body simulations instead predict a cuspy profile. We present a data set of high-resolution integral-field spectroscopy on seven galaxies and measure the stellar and gas kinematics simultaneously. Using Jeans modeling on our full sample, we examine whether gas kinematics in general produce shallower density profiles than are derived from the stars. Although two of the sevenmore » galaxies show some localized differences in their rotation curves between the two tracers, estimates of the central logarithmic slope of the DM density profile, γ, are generally robust. The mean and standard deviation of the logarithmic slope for the population are γ = 0.67 ± 0.10 when measured in the stars and γ = 0.58 ± 0.24 when measured in the gas. We also find that the halos are not under-concentrated at the radii of half their maximum velocities. Finally, we search for correlations of the DM density profile with stellar velocity anisotropy and other baryonic properties. Two popular mechanisms to explain cored DM halos are an exotic DM component or feedback models that strongly couple the energy of supernovae into repeatedly driving out gas and dynamically heating the DM halos. While such models do not yet have falsifiable predictions that we can measure, we investigate correlations that may eventually be used to test models. We do not find a secondary parameter that strongly correlates with the central DM density slope, but we do find some weak correlations. The central DM density slope weakly correlates with the abundance of α elements in the stellar population, anti-correlates with H I fraction, and anti-correlates with vertical orbital anisotropy. We expect, if anything, the opposite of these three trends for feedback models. Determining the importance of these correlations will require further model developments and larger observational samples.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Beall, M., E-mail: mbeall@trialphaenergy.com; Deng, B. H.; Gota, H.
2016-11-15
In the prior C-2 experiment, electron density was measured using a two-color 6-chord CO{sub 2}/HeNe interferometer. Analysis shows that high-frequency common mode phase noise can be reduced by a factor of 3 by constructing a reference chord. In the system upgrade from C-2 to C-2U a 4-chord far-infrared laser interferometer was developed, which demonstrated superior sensitivity (1 × 10{sup 16} m{sup −2} at >1 MHz bandwidth) and solved the under spatial sampling issue of the C-2 interferometer system. Improved density-profile measurement results are presented in this paper, including evidence of fast-ion modified density profile and stabilization of the n =more » 1 plasma wobble mode.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Mitkin, V.
Experimental investigations of fine and macroscopic structures of density and veloc- ity disturbances generated by a towing cylinder or a vertical strip in a linearly strati- fied liquid are carried out in a rectangular tank. A density gradient field is visualised by different Schlieren methods (direct shadow, 'slit-knife', 'slit-thread', 'natural rain- bow') characterised by a high spatial resolution. Profiles of fluid velocity are visu- alised by density markers U wakes past a vertically descending sugar crystal or an ascending gas bubble. In a fluid at rest the density marker acts as a vertical linear source of internal oscillations, which allows us to measure buoyancy frequency over all depth by the Schlieren instrument directly or by a conductivity probe in a particular point. Sensitive methods reveal a set of high gradient interfaces inside and outside the downstream wake besides well-known large-scale elements: upstream disturbances, attached internal waves and vortices. High gradient interfaces bound compact vor- tices. Vortices moving with respect to environment emit their own systems of internal waves randomising a regular pattern of attached antisymmetric internal waves. But after a rather long time a wave recurrence occurs and a regular but symmetric struc- ture of the longest waves (similar to the pattern of initial attached internal waves) is observed again. Results of studying of the influence of obstacles shape on phase struc- ture and amplitudes of attached internal waves field, vortex formation, their structure and characteristics are presented.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Nsumei, Patrick; Reinisch, Bodo W.; Huang, Xueqin; Bilitza, Dieter
2012-01-01
A new Vary-Chap function is introduced for the empirical modeling of the electron density N(h) profile in the topside ionosphere that uses a shape function S(h) in the generalized Chapman function. The Vary-Chap profile extends the bottomside profile that is specified by the IRI model or measured by the Global Ionospheric Radio Observatory (GIRO) to the altitude of the ISIS-2 satellite. Some 80,000 topside profiles, measured by the topside sounder on the ISIS-2 satellite were analyzed, and the shape function S(h) was calculated for each profile. A parameterized function S*(h), composed of two sub-functions S1(h) and S2(h), is fitted to the measured S(h) profile using three free parameters. At altitudes just above the F2 layer peak height hmF2, the shape function S1 controls S(h), and at greater altitudes S2 controls S(h). The height of the intersection of S1 and S2 is defined as the transition height h(sub T) indicating the transition from an O(+) to an H(+)-dominated profile shape. The observed transition heights range from approx.500 km to 800 km.
Faraday-effect polarimeter-interferometer system for current density measurement on EAST
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Liu, H. Q.; Jie, Y. X., E-mail: yx-jie@ipp.ac.cn; Zou, Z. Y.
2014-11-15
A multichannel far-infrared laser-based POlarimeter-INTerferometer (POINT) system utilizing the three-wave technique is under development for current density and electron density profile measurements in the EAST tokamak. Novel molybdenum retro-reflectors are mounted in the inside wall for the double-pass optical arrangement. A Digital Phase Detector with 250 kHz bandwidth, which will provide real-time Faraday rotation angle and density phase shift output, have been developed for use on the POINT system. Initial calibration indicates the electron line-integrated density resolution is less than 5 × 10{sup 16} m{sup −2} (∼2°), and the Faraday rotation angle rms phase noise is <0.1°.
Effects of Temperature and Air Density Profiles on Ozone Lidar Retrievals
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Kirgis, G.; Langford, A. O.; Senff, C. J.; Alvarez, R. J. _II, II
2017-12-01
The recent reduction in the primary U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone (O3) from 75 to 70 parts-per-billion by volume (ppbv) adds urgency to the need for better understanding of the processes that control ground-level concentrations in the United States. While ground-based in situ sensors are capable of measuring ozone levels, they don't give any insight into upper air transport and mixing. Differential absorption lidars such as the NOAA/ESRL Tunable Optical Profiler for Aerosol and oZone (TOPAZ) measure continuous vertical ozone profiles with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the retrieved ozone mixing ratios depend on the temperature and air density profiles used in the analysis. This study analyzes the ozone concentrations for seven field campaigns from 2013 to 2016 to evaluate the impact of the assumed pressure and temperature profiles on the ozone mixing ratio retrieval. Pressure and temperature profiles from various spatial and temporal resolution models (Modern Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications, NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis, NCEP North American Regional Reanalysis, Rapid Refresh, and High-Resolution Rapid Refresh) are compared to reference ozone profiles created with pressure and temperature profiles from ozonesondes launched close to the TOPAZ measurement site. The results show significant biases with respect to time of day and season, altitude, and location of the model-extracted profiles. Limitations and advantages of all datasets used will also be discussed.
Compton scattering studies and electronic properties of BaTiO3
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Meena, Seema Kumari; Bapna, Komal; Heda, N. L.; Ahuja, B. L.
2018-04-01
We present the experimental momentum density of BaTiO3 measured using 20 Ci 137Cs Compton spectrometer. The experimental Compton profile (CP) has been compared with the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) based theoretical profiles for various exchange-correlation potentials. It is found that LCAO-B3PW based CP gives a better agreement with experiment than other theoretical profiles. We have also deduced the energy bands and density of states (DOS) for BaTiO3 using LCAO-B3PW scheme. The energy bands and DOS suggest an indirect band gap in the system arising due to O-2p states of valence band and Ti-3d states of conduction band. Peculiar electronic response of this system is found to be mainly due to hybridized states of Ba-5p/5s and O-2p orbitals.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Owen, L. W.; Rapp, J.; Canik, J.; Lore, J. D.
2017-11-01
Data-constrained interpretative analyses of plasma transport in convection dominated helicon discharges in the Proto-MPEX linear device, and predictive calculations with additional Electron Cyclotron Heating/Electron Bernstein Wave (ECH/EBW) heating, are reported. The B2.5-Eirene code, in which the multi-fluid plasma code B2.5 is coupled to the kinetic Monte Carlo neutrals code Eirene, is used to fit double Langmuir probe measurements and fast camera data in front of a stainless-steel target. The absorbed helicon and ECH power (11 kW) and spatially constant anomalous transport coefficients that are deduced from fitting of the probe and optical data are additionally used for predictive simulations of complete axial distributions of the densities, temperatures, plasma flow velocities, particle and energy fluxes, and possible effects of alternate fueling and pumping scenarios. The somewhat hollow electron density and temperature radial profiles from the probe data suggest that Trivelpiece-Gould wave absorption is the dominant helicon electron heating source in the discharges analyzed here. There is no external ion heating, but the corresponding calculated ion temperature radial profile is not hollow. Rather it reflects ion heating by the electron-ion equilibration terms in the energy balance equations and ion radial transport resulting from the hollow density profile. With the absorbed power and the transport model deduced from fitting the sheath limited discharge data, calculated conduction limited higher recycling conditions were produced by reducing the pumping and increasing the gas fueling rate, resulting in an approximate doubling of the target ion flux and reduction of the target heat flux.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
C. BARNES
Electron cyclotron emission (ECE) has been employed as a standard electron temperature profile diagnostic on many tokamaks and stellarators, but most magnetically confined plasma devices cannot take advantage of standard ECE diagnostics to measure temperature. They are either overdense, operating at high density relative to the magnetic field (e.g. {omega}{sub pe} >> {Omega}{sub ce} in a spherical torus) or they have insufficient density and temperature to reach the blackbody condition ({tau} > 2). Electron Bernstein waves (EBWs) are electrostatic waves which can propagate in overdense plasmas and have a high optical thickness at the electron cyclotron resonance layers, as amore » result of their large K{sub i}. This talk reports on measurements of EBW emission on the CDX-U spherical torus, where B{sub 0} {approx} 2 kG,
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Ziane, M.; Amitouche, F.; Bouarab, S.; Vega, A.
2017-12-01
Structural and electronic properties of pure molybdenum Mo n and molybdenum-sulfide Mo n S ( n = 1 - 10) clusters were investigated in the framework of the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation to exchange and correlation with the aim of addressing how doping with a single S atom affects the geometries, magnetic properties, and reactivity of pure molybdenum clusters. These clusters exhibit a less marked tendency to dimerization than their isoelectronic Cr counterparts despite sharing their half-filled valence shell configuration. Doping with a single S impurity is enough to change the structure of the host molybdenum cluster to a large extent, as well as to modify the bonding pattern, the magnetic state and the magnetic moment distribution in the Mo host. Vertical ionization potentials and electron affinities are calculated to determine global reactivity indicators like the electronegativity and the chemical hardness. The results are discussed in terms of the thermodynamical and relative stabilities, charge transfer effects, and spin-polarized densities of electronic states.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Wang, Xiang; Zhou, Chen
2018-05-01
Incoherent scatter radar (ISR) is the most powerful ground-based measurement facility to study the ionosphere. The plasma lines are not routinely detected by the incoherent scatter radar due to the low intensity, which falls below the measured spectral noise level of the incoherent scatter radar. The plasma lines are occasionally enhanced by suprathermal electrons through the Landau damping process and detectable to the incoherent scatter radar. In this study, by using the European Incoherent Scatter Association (EISCAT) UHF incoherent scatter radar, the experiment observation presents that the enhanced plasma lines were observed. These plasma lines were considered as manifest of the suprathermal electrons generated by the high-frequency heating wave during the ionospheric modification. The electron density profile is also obtained from the enhanced plasma lines. This study can be a promising technique for obtaining the accurate electron density during ionospheric modification experiment.
LETTER: Test of Te profile invariance by sensitivity studies
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Becker, G.
1992-06-01
The response of the electron temperature profile shape to variations of the electron heating and density profiles is investigated in different confinement regimes. It is shown that the changes in rTe = -Te/(dTe/dr) exceed the measurement error if the shape of the electron heat diffusivity χe(r) is kept fixed. The observed constancy of rTe(r) in the outer half of the plasma is incompatible with such a fixed χe(r) shape, i.e., a Te profile constraining mechanism must be present. Local transport laws of the form χe varies as rTe-α with α gtrsim 4 and χe propto (dTe/dr)α with α >= 2 yield the experimental stiffness of the Te(r) shape but conflict with empirical χe scalings. These results support the model of a self-organizing and adjusting χe(r) causing Te profile invariance
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Garriott, O K
1960-04-01
The results of observations of the radio transmissions from Sputnik III (1958 δ 2) in an 8-month period are presented. The measurements of integrated electron density are made in two ways, described in part 1. The measurements reveal the diurnal variation of the total ionospheric electron content; and the ratio of the total content to the content of the lower ionosphere below the height of maximum density in the F layer is obtained. An estimate of the average electron-density profile above the F-layer peak is made possible by the slow variation in the height of the satellite due to rotationmore » of the perigee position. The gross effects of large magnetic storms on the electron content and distribution are found.« less
Study of electronic structure and Compton profiles of transition metal diborides
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Bhatt, Samir; Heda, N. L.; Kumar, Kishor; Ahuja, B. L.
2017-08-01
We report Compton profiles (CPs) of transition metal diborides (MB2; M= Ti and Zr) using a 740 GBq 137Cs Compton spectrometer measured at an intermediate resolution of 0.34 a.u. To validate the experimental momentum densities, we have employed the linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) method to compute the theoretical CPs along with the energy bands, density of states (DOS) and Mulliken's population response. The LCAO computations have been performed in the frame work of density functional theory (DFT) and hybridization of Hartree-Fock and DFT (namely B3LYP and PBE0). For both the diborides, the CPs based on revised Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof exchange and correlation functions (DFT-PBESol) lead to a better agreement with the experimental momentum densities than other reported approximations. Energy bands, DOS and real space analysis of CPs confirm a metallic-like character of both the borides. Further, a comparison of DFT-PBESol and experimental data on equal-valence-electron-density scale shows more ionicity in ZrB2 than that in TiB2, which is also supported by the Mulliken's population based charge transfer data.
Electromigration and morphological changes in Ag nanostructures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Chatterjee, A.; Bai, T.; Edler, F.; Tegenkamp, C.; Weide-Zaage, K.; Pfnür, H.
2018-02-01
Electromigration (EM) as a structuring tool was investigated in Ag nanowires (width 300 nm, thickness 25 nm) and partly in notched and bow-tie Ag structures on a Si(1 0 0) substrate in ultra-high vacuum using a four-tip scanning tunneling microscope in combination with a scanning electron microscope. From simulations of Ag nanowires we got estimates of temperature profiles, current density profiles, EM and thermal migration (TM) mass flux distributions within the nanowire induced by critical current densities of 108 A cm-2. At room temperature, the electron wind force at these current densities by far dominates over thermal diffusion, and is responsible for formation of voids at the cathode and hillocks at the anode side. For current densities that exceed the critical current densities necessary for EM, a new type of wire-like structure formation was found both at room temperature and at 100 K for notched and bow-tie structures. This suggests that the simultaneous action of EM and TM is structure forming, but with a very small influence of TM at low temperature.
Multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory investigation of the electronic spectrum of MnO4-
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sharma, Prachi; Truhlar, Donald G.; Gagliardi, Laura
2018-03-01
The electronic spectrum of permanganate ions contains various highly multiconfigurational ligand-to-metal charge transfer states and is notorious for being one of the most challenging systems to be treated by quantum-chemical methods. Here we studied the lowest nine vertical excitation energies using restricted active space second-order perturbation theory (RASPT2) and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) to test and compare these two theories in computing such a challenging spectrum. The results are compared to literature data, including time-dependent density functional theory, completely renormalized equation-of-motion couple-cluster theory with single and double excitations, symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction, and experimental spectra in the gas phase and solution. Our results show that MC-PDFT accurately predicts the spectrum at a significantly reduced cost as compared to RASPT2.
A Molecular Electron Density Theory Study of the Chemical Reactivity of Cis- and Trans-Resveratrol.
Frau, Juan; Muñoz, Francisco; Glossman-Mitnik, Daniel
2016-12-01
The chemical reactivity of resveratrol isomers with the potential to play a role as inhibitors of the nonenzymatic glycation of amino acids and proteins, both acting as antioxidants and as chelating agents for metallic ions such as Cu, Al and Fe, have been studied by resorting to the latest family of Minnesota density functionals. The chemical reactivity descriptors have been calculated through Molecular Electron Density Theory encompassing Conceptual DFT. The active sites for nucleophilic and electrophilic attacks have been chosen by relating them to the Fukui function indices, the dual descriptor f ( 2 ) ( r ) and the electrophilic and nucleophilic Parr functions. The validity of "Koopmans' theorem in DFT" has been assessed by means of a comparison between the descriptors calculated through vertical energy values and those arising from the HOMO and LUMO values.
Multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory investigation of the electronic spectrum of MnO4.
Sharma, Prachi; Truhlar, Donald G; Gagliardi, Laura
2018-03-28
The electronic spectrum of permanganate ions contains various highly multiconfigurational ligand-to-metal charge transfer states and is notorious for being one of the most challenging systems to be treated by quantum-chemical methods. Here we studied the lowest nine vertical excitation energies using restricted active space second-order perturbation theory (RASPT2) and multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) to test and compare these two theories in computing such a challenging spectrum. The results are compared to literature data, including time-dependent density functional theory, completely renormalized equation-of-motion couple-cluster theory with single and double excitations, symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration interaction, and experimental spectra in the gas phase and solution. Our results show that MC-PDFT accurately predicts the spectrum at a significantly reduced cost as compared to RASPT2.
An automated system for the study of ionospheric spatial structures
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Belinskaya, I. V.; Boitman, O. N.; Vugmeister, B. O.; Vyborova, V. M.; Zakharov, V. N.; Laptev, V. A.; Mamchenko, M. S.; Potemkin, A. A.; Radionov, V. V.
The system is designed for the study of the vertical distribution of electron density and the parameters of medium-scale ionospheric irregularities over the sounding site as well as the reconstruction of the spatial distribution of electron density within the range of up to 300 km from the sounding location. The system comprises an active central station as well as passive companion stations. The central station is equipped with the digital ionosonde ``Basis'', the measuring-and-computing complex IVK-2, and the receiver-recorder PRK-3M. The companion stations are equipped with receivers-recorders PRK-3. The automated comlex software system includes 14 subsystems. Data transfer between them is effected using magnetic disk data sets. The system is operated in both ionogram mode and Doppler shift and angle-of-arrival mode. Using data obtained in these two modes, the reconstruction of the spatial distribution of electron density in the region is carried out. Reconstruction is checked for accuracy using data from companion stations.
Near-field control and imaging of free charge carrier variations in GaN nanowires
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Berweger, Samuel; Blanchard, Paul T.; Brubaker, Matt D.; Coakley, Kevin J.; Sanford, Norman A.; Wallis, Thomas M.; Bertness, Kris A.; Kabos, Pavel
2016-02-01
Despite their uniform crystallinity, the shape and faceting of semiconducting nanowires (NWs) can give rise to variations in structure and associated electronic properties. Here, we develop a hybrid scanning probe-based methodology to investigate local variations in electronic structure across individual n-doped GaN NWs integrated into a transistor device. We perform scanning microwave microscopy (SMM), which we combine with scanning gate microscopy to determine the free-carrier SMM signal contribution and image local charge carrier density variations. In particular, we find significant variations in free carriers across NWs, with a higher carrier density at the wire facets. By increasing the local carrier density through tip-gating, we find that the tip injects current into the NW with strongly localized current when positioned over the wire vertices. These results suggest that the strong variations in electronic properties observed within NWs have significant implications for device design and may lead to new paths to optimization.
A sporadic third layer in the ionosphere of Mars.
Pätzold, M; Tellmann, S; Häusler, B; Hinson, D; Schaa, R; Tyler, G L
2005-11-04
The daytime martian ionosphere has been observed as a two-layer structure with electron densities that peak at altitudes between about 110 and 130 kilometers. The Mars Express Orbiter Radio Science Experiment on the European Mars Express spacecraft observed, in 10 out of 120 electron density profiles, a third ionospheric layer at altitude ranges of 65 to 110 kilometers, where electron densities, on average, peaked at 0.8 x 10(10) per cubic meter. Such a layer has been predicted to be permanent and continuous. Its origin has been attributed to ablation of meteors and charge exchange of magnesium and iron. Our observations imply that this layer is present sporadically and locally.
Comparison of MAX-DOAS profiling algorithms during CINDI-2 - Part 1: aerosols
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Friess, Udo; Hendrick, Francois; Tirpitz, Jan-Lukas; Apituley, Arnoud; van Roozendael, Michel; Kreher, Karin; Richter, Andreas; Wagner, Thomas
2017-04-01
The second Cabauw Intercomparison campaign for Nitrogen Dioxide measuring Instruments (CINDI-2) took place at the Cabauw Experimental Site for Atmospheric Research (CESAR; Utrecht area, The Netherlands) from 25 August until 7 October 2016. CINDI-2 was aiming at assessing the consistency of MAX-DOAS slant column density measurements of tropospheric species (NO2, HCHO, O3, and O4) relevant for the validation of future ESA atmospheric Sentinel missions, through coordinated operation of a large number of DOAS and MAXDOAS instruments from all over the world. An important objective of the campaign was to study the relationship between remote-sensing column and profile measurements of the above species and collocated reference ancillary observations. For this purpose, the CINDI-2 Profiling Task Team (CPTT) was created, involving 22 groups performing aerosol and trace gas vertical profile inversion using dedicated MAX-DOAS profiling algorithms, as well as the teams responsible for ancillary profile and surface concentration measurements (NO2 analysers, NO2 sondes, NO2 and Raman LIDARs, CAPS, Long-Path DOAS, sun photometer, nephelometer, etc). The main purpose of the CPTT is to assess the consistency of the different profiling tools for retrieving aerosol extinction and trace gas vertical profiles through comparison exercises using commonly defined settings and to validate the retrievals with correlative observations. In this presentation, we give an overview of the MAX-DOAS vertical profile comparison results, focusing on the retrieval of aerosol extinction profiles, with the trace gas retrievals being presented in a companion abstract led by F. Hendrick. The performance of the different algorithms is investigated with respect to the variable visibility and cloud conditions encountered during the campaign. The consistency between optimal-estimation-based and parameterized profiling tools is also evaluated for these different conditions, together with the level of agreement with available ancillary aerosol observations, including sun photometer, nephelometer and LIDAR. This comparison study will be put in the perspective of the development of a centralized MAX-DOAS processing system within the framework of the ESA Fiducial Reference Measurements (FRM) project.
Smith, R.L.; Harvey, R.W.; LeBlanc, D.R.
1991-01-01
Vertical gradients of selected chemical constituents, bacterial populations, bacterial activity and electron acceptors were investigated for an unconfined aquifer contaminated with nitrate and organic compounds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Fifteen-port multilevel sampling devices (MLS's) were installed within the contaminant plume at the source of the contamination, and at 250 and 2100 m downgradient from the source. Depth profiles of specific conductance and dissolved oxygen at the downgradient sites exhibited vertical gradients that were both steep and inversely related. Narrow zones (2-4 m thick) of high N2O and NH4+ concentrations were also detected within the contaminant plume. A 27-fold change in bacterial abundance; a 35-fold change in frequency of dividing cells (FDC), an indicator of bacterial growth; a 23-fold change in 3H-glucose uptake, a measure of heterotrophic activity; and substantial changes in overall cell morphology were evident within a 9-m vertical interval at 250 m downgradient. The existence of these gradients argues for the need for closely spaced vertical sampling in groundwater studies because small differences in the vertical placement of a well screen can lead to incorrect conclusions about the chemical and microbiological processes within an aquifer.Vertical gradients of selected chemical constituents, bacterial populations, bacterial activity and electron acceptors were investigated for an unconfined aquifer contaminated with nitrate and organic compounds on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Fifteen-port multilevel sampling devices (MLS's) were installed within the contaminant plume at the source of the contamination, and at 250 and 2100 m downgradient from the source. Depth profiles of specific conductance and dissolved oxygen at the downgradient sites exhibited vertical gradients that were both steep and inversely related. Narrow zones (2-4 m thick) of high N2O and NH4+ concentrations were also detected within the contaminant plume. A 27-fold change in bacterial abundance; a 35-fold change in frequency of dividing cells (FDC), an indicator of bacterial growth; a 23-fold change in 3H-glucose uptake, a measure of heterotrophic activity; and substantial changes in overall cell morphology were evident within a 9-m vertical interval at 250 m downgradient. The existence of these gradients argues for the need for closely spaced vertical sampling in ground-water studies because small differences in the vertical placement of a well screen can lead to incorrect conclusions about the chemical and microbiological processes within an aquifer.
Fitting of the Thomson scattering density and temperature profiles on the COMPASS tokamak
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Stefanikova, E.; Division of Fusion Plasma Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-10691 Stockholm; Peterka, M.
2016-11-15
A new technique for fitting the full radial profiles of electron density and temperature obtained by the Thomson scattering diagnostic in H-mode discharges on the COMPASS tokamak is described. The technique combines the conventionally used modified hyperbolic tangent function for the edge transport barrier (pedestal) fitting and a modification of a Gaussian function for fitting the core plasma. Low number of parameters of this combined function and their straightforward interpretability and controllability provide a robust method for obtaining physically reasonable profile fits. Deconvolution with the diagnostic instrument function is applied on the profile fit, taking into account the dependence onmore » the actual magnetic configuration.« less
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Xue, Haizhou; Zhang, Yanwen; Zhu, Zihua
Single crystalline 6H-SiC samples were irradiated at 150 K using 2MeV Pt ions. Local volume swelling is determined by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), a nearly sigmoidal dependence with irradiation dose is observed. The disorder profiles and ion distribution are determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), transmission electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrum. Since the volume swelling reaches 12% over the damage region under high ion fluence, lattice expansion is considered and corrected during the data analysis of RBS spectra to obtain depth profiles. Projectile and damage profiles are estimated by SRIM (Stopping and Range of Ions in Matter).more » Comparing with the measured profiles, SRIM code significantly overestimates the electronic stopping power for the slow heavy Pt ions, and large derivations are observed in the predicted ion distribution and the damage profiles. Utilizing the reciprocity method that is based on the invariance of the inelastic excitation in ion atom collisions against interchange of projectile and target, much lower electronic stopping is deduced. A simple approach based on reducing the density of SiC target in SRIM simulation is proposed to compensate the overestimated SRIM electronic stopping power values. Better damage profile and ion range are predicted.« less
First artificial periodic inhomogeneity experiments at HAARP
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Hysell, D. L.; McCarrick, M. J.; Fallen, C. T.; Vierinen, J.
2015-03-01
Experiments involving the generation and detection of artificial periodic inhomogeneities have been performed at the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility. Irregularities were created using powerful X-mode HF emissions and then probed using short (10 μs) X- and O-mode pulses. Reception was performed using a portable software-defined receiver together with the crossed rhombic antenna from the local ionosonde. Echoes were observed reliably between about 85 and 140 km altitude with signal-to-noise ratios as high as about 30 dB. The Doppler shift of the echoes can be associated with the vertical neutral wind in this altitude range. Small but persistent Doppler shifts were observed. The decay time constant of the echoes is meanwhile indicative of the ambipolar diffusion coefficient which depends on the plasma temperature, composition, and neutral gas density. The measured time constants appear to be consistent with theoretical expectations and imply a methodology for measuring neutral density profiles. The significance of thermospheric vertical neutral wind and density measurements which are difficult to obtain using ground-based instruments by other means is discussed.
Electron precipitation control of the Mars nightside ionosphere
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lillis, R. J.; Girazian, Z.; Mitchell, D. L.; Adams, D.; Xu, S.; Benna, M.; Elrod, M. K.; Larson, D. E.; McFadden, J. P.; Andersson, L.; Fowler, C. M.
2017-12-01
The nightside ionosphere of Mars is known to be highly variable, with densities varying substantially with ion species, solar zenith angle, solar wind conditions and geographic location. The factors that control its structure include neutral densities, day-night plasma transport, plasma temperatures, dynamo current systems driven by neutral winds, solar energetic particle events, superthermal electron precipitation, chemical reaction rates and the strength, geometry and topology of crustal magnetic fields. The MAVEN mission has been the first to systematically sample the nightside ionosphere by species, showing that shorter-lived species such as CO2+ and O+ are more correlated with electron precipitation flux than longer lived species such as O2+ and NO+, as would be expected, and is shown in the figure below from Girazian et al. [2017, under review at Geophysical Research Letters]. In this study we use electron pitch-angle and energy spectra from the Solar Wind Electron Analyzer (SWEA) and Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) instruments, ion and neutral densities from the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer (NGIMS), electron densities and temperatures from the Langmuir Probe and Waves (LPW) instrument, as well as electron-neutral ionization cross-sections. We present a comprehensive statistical study of electron precipitation on the Martian nightside and its effect on the vertical, local-time and geographic structure and composition of the ionosphere, over three years of MAVEN observations. We also calculate insitu electron impact ionization rates and compare with ion densities to judge the applicability of photochemical models of the formation and maintenance of the nightside ionosphere. Lastly, we show how this applicability varies with altitude and is affected by ion transport measured by the Suprathermal and thermal Ion Composition (STATIC) instrument.
Longitudinal bunch shaping of picosecond high-charge MeV electron beams
Beaudoin, B. L.; Thangaraj, J. C. T.; Edstrom, Jr., D.; ...
2016-10-20
With ever increasing demands for intensities in modern accelerators, the understanding of space-charge effects becomes crucial. Herein are presented measurements of optically shaped picosecond-long electron beams in a superconducting L-band linac over a wide range of charges, from 0.2 nC to 3.4 nC. At low charges, the shape of the electron beam is preserved, while at higher charge densities, modulations on the beam convert to energy modulations. Here, energy profile measurements using a spectrometer and time profile measurements using a streak camera reveal the dynamics of longitudinal space-charge on MeV-scale electron beams.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tsujimura, T., Ii; Kubo, S.; Takahashi, H.; Makino, R.; Seki, R.; Yoshimura, Y.; Igami, H.; Shimozuma, T.; Ida, K.; Suzuki, C.; Emoto, M.; Yokoyama, M.; Kobayashi, T.; Moon, C.; Nagaoka, K.; Osakabe, M.; Kobayashi, S.; Ito, S.; Mizuno, Y.; Okada, K.; Ejiri, A.; Mutoh, T.
2015-11-01
The central electron temperature has successfully reached up to 7.5 keV in large helical device (LHD) plasmas with a central high-ion temperature of 5 keV and a central electron density of 1.3× {{10}19} m-3. This result was obtained by heating with a newly-installed 154 GHz gyrotron and also the optimisation of injection geometry in electron cyclotron heating (ECH). The optimisation was carried out by using the ray-tracing code ‘LHDGauss’, which was upgraded to include the rapid post-processing three-dimensional (3D) equilibrium mapping obtained from experiments. For ray-tracing calculations, LHDGauss can automatically read the relevant data registered in the LHD database after a discharge, such as ECH injection settings (e.g. Gaussian beam parameters, target positions, polarisation and ECH power) and Thomson scattering diagnostic data along with the 3D equilibrium mapping data. The equilibrium map of the electron density and temperature profiles are then extrapolated into the region outside the last closed flux surface. Mode purity, or the ratio between the ordinary mode and the extraordinary mode, is obtained by calculating the 1D full-wave equation along the direction of the rays from the antenna to the absorption target point. Using the virtual magnetic flux surfaces, the effects of the modelled density profiles and the magnetic shear at the peripheral region with a given polarisation are taken into account. Power deposition profiles calculated for each Thomson scattering measurement timing are registered in the LHD database. The adjustment of the injection settings for the desired deposition profile from the feedback provided on a shot-by-shot basis resulted in an effective experimental procedure.
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)
Zeng, L., E-mail: zeng@fusion.gat.com; Doyle, E. J.; Rhodes, T. L.
2016-11-15
A new model-based technique for fast estimation of the pedestal electron density gradient has been developed. The technique uses ordinary mode polarization profile reflectometer time delay data and does not require direct profile inversion. Because of its simple data processing, the technique can be readily implemented via a Field-Programmable Gate Array, so as to provide a real-time density gradient estimate, suitable for use in plasma control systems such as envisioned for ITER, and possibly for DIII-D and Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. The method is based on a simple edge plasma model with a linear pedestal density gradient and low scrape-off-layermore » density. By measuring reflectometer time delays for three adjacent frequencies, the pedestal density gradient can be estimated analytically via the new approach. Using existing DIII-D profile reflectometer data, the estimated density gradients obtained from the new technique are found to be in good agreement with the actual density gradients for a number of dynamic DIII-D plasma conditions.« less
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Lin, Yi; West, Geoff
2016-08-01
As an important canopy structure indicator, leaf area index (LAI) proved to be of considerable implications for forest ecosystem and ecological studies, and efficient techniques for accurate LAI acquisitions have long been highlighted. Airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), often termed as airborne laser scanning (ALS), once was extensively investigated for this task but showed limited performance due to its low sampling density. Now, ALS systems exhibit more competing capacities such as high density and multi-return sampling, and hence, people began to ask the questions like-;can ALS now work better on the task of LAI prediction?; As a re-examination, this study investigated the feasibility of LAI retrievals at the individual tree level based on high density and multi-return ALS, by directly considering the vertical distributions of laser points lying within each tree crown instead of by proposing feature variables such as quantiles involving laser point distribution modes at the plot level. The examination was operated in the case of four tree species (i.e. Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris, Populus tremula and Quercus robur) in a mixed forest, with their LAI-related reference data collected by using static terrestrial laser scanning (TLS). In light of the differences between ALS- and TLS-based LAI characterizations, the methods of voxelization of 3D scattered laser points, effective LAI (LAIe) that does not distinguish branches from canopies and unified cumulative LAI (ucLAI) that is often used to characterize the vertical profiles of crown leaf area densities (LADs) was used; then, the relationships between the ALS- and TLS-derived LAIes were determined, and so did ucLAIs. Tests indicated that the tree-level LAIes for the four tree species can be estimated based on the used airborne LiDAR (R2 = 0.07, 0.26, 0.43 and 0.21, respectively) and their ucLAIs can also be derived. Overall, this study has validated the usage of the contemporary high density multi-return airborne LiDARs for LAIe and LAD profile retrievals at the individual tree level, and the contribution are of high potential for advancing forest ecosystem modeling and ecological understanding.
Annealed Au-assisted epitaxial growth of si nanowires: control of alignment and density.
Park, Yi-Seul; Jung, Da Hee; Kim, Hyun Ji; Lee, Jin Seok
2015-04-14
The epitaxial growth of 1D nanostructures is of particular interest for future nanoelectronic devices such as vertical field-effect transistors because it directly influences transistor densities and 3D logic or memory architectures. Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are a particularly important 1D nanomaterial because they possess excellent electronic and optical properties. What is more, the scalable fabrication of vertically aligned SiNW arrays presents an opportunity for improved device applications if suitable properties can be achieved through controlling the alignment and density of SiNWs, yet this is something that has not been reported in the case of SiNWs synthesized from Au films. This work therefore explores the controllable synthesis of vertically aligned SiNWs through the introduction of an annealing process prior to growth via a Au-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid mechanism. The epitaxial growth of SiNWs was demonstrated to be achievable using SiCl4 as the Si precursor in chemical vapor deposition, whereas the alignment and density of the SiNWs could be controlled by manipulating the annealing time during the formation of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) from Au films. During the annealing process, gold silicide was observed to form on the interface of the liquid-phase AuNPs, depending on the size of the AuNPs and the annealing time. This work therefore makes a valuable contribution to improving nanowire-based engineering by controlling its alignment and density as well as providing greater insight into the epitaxial growth of 1D nanostructures.
Zheng, Shuanghao; Li, Zhilin; Wu, Zhong-Shuai; Dong, Yanfeng; Zhou, Feng; Wang, Sen; Fu, Qiang; Sun, Chenglin; Guo, Liwei; Bao, Xinhe
2017-04-25
Interfacial integration of a shape-engineered electrode with a strongly bonded current collector is the key for minimizing both ionic and electronic resistance and then developing high-power supercapacitors. Herein, we demonstrated the construction of high-power micro-supercapacitors (VG-MSCs) based on high-density unidirectional arrays of vertically aligned graphene (VG) nanosheets, derived from a thermally decomposed SiC substrate. The as-grown VG arrays showed a standing basal plane orientation grown on a (0001̅) SiC substrate, tailored thickness (3.5-28 μm), high-density structurally ordering alignment of graphene consisting of 1-5 layers, vertically oriented edges, open intersheet channels, high electrical conductivity (192 S cm -1 ), and strong bonding of the VG edges to the SiC substrate. As a result, the demonstrated VG-MSCs displayed a high areal capacitance of ∼7.3 mF cm -2 and a fast frequency response with a short time constant of 9 ms. Furthermore, VG-MSCs in both an aqueous polymer gel electrolyte and nonaqueous ionic liquid of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate operated well at high scan rates of up to 200 V s -1 . More importantly, VG-MSCs offered a high power density of ∼15 W cm -3 in gel electrolyte and ∼61 W cm -3 in ionic liquid. Therefore, this strategy of producing high-density unidirectional VG nanosheets directly bonded on a SiC current collector demonstrated the feasibility of manufacturing high-power compact supercapacitors.