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Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Improving The Efficiency Of The Preconditioning Of Iterative Solutions To The Kinetic Equation, D. Caleb Price
Improving The Efficiency Of The Preconditioning Of Iterative Solutions To The Kinetic Equation, D. Caleb Price
Physics Capstone Projects
To achieve the reality of fusion, a greater understanding of plasma is required. The kinetic equation can be evolved simultaneously alongside the fluid equations to solve for kinetic closures. NIMROD performs this with numerical solvers where the General Minimum Residual (GMRES) solver becomes more efficient with a preconditioning matrix as input. Using a GPU-enabled library, the efficiency of GPU offloading to the preconditioning step was tested. A significant decrease in the factoring time of preconditioning matrix was observed. This suggests that the allocation of GPUs is worth investigating for NIMROD’s own benefit, but also anyone seeking to improve the efficiency …
Hybrid Iterative Approach For Simulation Of Radio-Frequency Fields In Plasma, Vladimir A. Svidzinski, Jin-Soo Kim, Liangji Zhao, S. A. Galkin, Joseph Andrew Spencer
Hybrid Iterative Approach For Simulation Of Radio-Frequency Fields In Plasma, Vladimir A. Svidzinski, Jin-Soo Kim, Liangji Zhao, S. A. Galkin, Joseph Andrew Spencer
Physics Student Research
A novel iterative approach for solving discretized linear wave equations in a frequency domain, which combines time evolution with iterative relaxation schemes, is presented. In this hybrid approach, each iteration cycle consists of evolution of electromagnetic (EM) fields in time over a specified number of field periods followed by several iterative relaxations. Provided that there is sufficient dissipation, both the time evolution and the iterative relaxations contribute to the convergence of the EM fields to the solution of the formulated full wave boundary value problem. Time evolution rapidly distributes EM fields, propagating with group velocity, over the simulation domain, while …
Electrically Induced Plasma, Nate Ashby
Electrically Induced Plasma, Nate Ashby
Physics Capstone Projects
My research project, under the mentorship of research professor Ajay Singh was to prove that the plasma he was creating was lasting longer than the electrical current data indicated. He decided that if the plasma was still there, it would be producing light. So we set out to prove that the light emitted from his plasma lasted longer than the current draw measurements.
Langmuir Probes In A Microwave Generated Plasma, Wesley Rawlins
Langmuir Probes In A Microwave Generated Plasma, Wesley Rawlins
Physics Capstone Projects
In this work, we considered a microwave generated plasma, in a toroidal device. In this set up, we tend to meet the conditions for several known plasma instabilities. Not all the gas in the chamber was ionized. Using a Langmuir probe we were able to determine the population temperature and the plasma density in the chamber. The existence of a plasma was determined by measuring the strength of reflected microwaves. We varied the fill pressure in the chamber, as well as the strength of an externally imposed magnetic field. From this, we determined that the plasma temperature decreased with an …
Relevance Of Ground-Based Electron-Induced Electrostatic Discharge Measurements To Space Plasma Environments, Jennifer A. Roth, Ryan Hoffmann, John R. Dennison, Jonathon R. Tippetts
Relevance Of Ground-Based Electron-Induced Electrostatic Discharge Measurements To Space Plasma Environments, Jennifer A. Roth, Ryan Hoffmann, John R. Dennison, Jonathon R. Tippetts
All Physics Faculty Publications
Electron-induced electrostatic discharge (ESD) can lead to severe spacecraft anomalies. It is crucial to the success of space missions that the likelihood of ESD occurrence is understood and mitigated. To aid in predicting ESD occurrence, a model for electric fields above and below the charge layer inside an electronirradiated dielectric material was developed. An instrumentation system was also designed to induce and detect ESD events. Because ESD events with a wide range of maximum current values can occur over a range of time intervals, multiple simultaneous detection methods were employed as charge was accumulated on a sample surface; these included …
Snapover: Anomalous Plasma Current Collection By Positively Biased Conductors When Surrounded By A Dielectric, Clint Thomson, John R. Dennison
Snapover: Anomalous Plasma Current Collection By Positively Biased Conductors When Surrounded By A Dielectric, Clint Thomson, John R. Dennison
All Physics Faculty Publications
Over the last decade, high-powered spacecraft have been designed that will operate at voltages greater than 100 V. At these voltages, the solar arrays can undergo both destructive arcing at negative biases, and plasma electron current collection at positive biases. Furthermore, above some critical positive bias voltage (~100 V), the electron current collected by the array interconnects increases dramatically through a phenomenon termed Asnapover@. During snapover, large portions of the solar array cover glass charge positively, and begin to draw electron current from the plasma as if it were a conducting surface. This leads to substantial power losses for the …
Investigation Of The First Snapover Of Positively Biased Conductors In A Plasma, C. D. Thomson, John R. Dennison, R. E. Davies, D. C. Ferguson, J. T. Galafaro, B. V. Vayner
Investigation Of The First Snapover Of Positively Biased Conductors In A Plasma, C. D. Thomson, John R. Dennison, R. E. Davies, D. C. Ferguson, J. T. Galafaro, B. V. Vayner
All Physics Faculty Publications
We describe a systematic experimental investigation of the phenomenon termed "snapover." In snapover, the current collected by a positively biased conductor, surrounded by a dielectric and immersed in a plasma, increases dramatically when the conductor potential is raised above some threshold value. The phenomenon is particularly relevant to the case of high-voltage solar arrays in Earth orbit. Our experiments examined the importance of conducting material, insulating material, size and shape of the conductor, sample history, biasing rate, and condition of the dielectric surface (contamination and smoothness) to the onset potential and current jump. In addition to a primary snapover occurring …
The Conductor-Dielectric Junctions In A Low Density Plasma, B. V. Vayner, J. T. Galofaro, D. C. Ferguson, Win De Groot, Clint Thomson, John R. Dennison, Robert Davies
The Conductor-Dielectric Junctions In A Low Density Plasma, B. V. Vayner, J. T. Galofaro, D. C. Ferguson, Win De Groot, Clint Thomson, John R. Dennison, Robert Davies
All Physics Faculty Publications
A conductor-dielectric junction exposed to the space environment is a frequent spacecraft design feature. Due to spacecraft charging and/or solar array operation, the conductor can acquire a high potential with respect to the surrounding plasma. If this potential is positive the insulators adjacent to exposed conductors can collect current as if they were conductors themselves. This phenomenon, called snapover, results in a substantial increase in current collection, and may even result in a glow discharge if the potential is high enough. If a conductor has a negative potential, arcing can occur at the site of a junction. Both of these …
Plasma Characteristics Of Polar Cap F-Layer Arcs, H C. Carlson Jr., Vincent B. Wickwar, E J. Weber, J Buchau, J G. Moore, W Whiting
Plasma Characteristics Of Polar Cap F-Layer Arcs, H C. Carlson Jr., Vincent B. Wickwar, E J. Weber, J Buchau, J G. Moore, W Whiting
All Physics Faculty Publications
First results are reported of a comprehensive campaign to measure ionospheric structure and dynamics of nighttime polar cap F‐layer or F‐region arcs. Airborne optical and digital ionosonde data were collected simultaneously with ground based incoherent scatter radar data, continuously over many hours in time and 500 to 1000 km in space. Polar cap F‐region sub‐visual auroral arcs, which are commonly observed during quiet magnetic conditions, are found to represent boundaries (or shears) in the polar cap plasma circulation pattern. F‐region electron concentration enhancements are found in these features and can be of significance to polar thermospheric circulation, composition, and thermal …