J. D. Sullivan

Plasma Observations Near Uranus: Initial Results from Voyager 2

Extensive measurements of low-energy positive ions and electrons in the vicinity of Uranus have revealed a fully developed magnetosphere. The magnetospheric plasma has a warm component with a temperature of 4 to 50 electron volts and a peak density of roughly 2 protons per cubic centimeter, and a hot component, with a temperature of a few kiloelectron volts and a peak density of roughly 0.1 proton per cubic centimeter. The warm component is observed both inside and outside of L = 5, whereas the hot component is excluded from the region inside of that L shell. Possible sources of the plasma in the magnetosphere are the extended hydrogen corona, the solar wind, and the ionosphere. The Uranian moons do not appear to be a significant plasma source. The boundary of the hot plasma component at L = 5 may be associated either with Miranda or with the inner limit of a deeply penetrating, solar wind-driven magnetospheric convection system. The Voyager 2 spacecraft repeatedly encountered the plasma sheet in the magnetotail at locations that are consistent with a geometric model for the plasma sheet similar to that at Earth.

Plasma Observations Near Jupiter: Initial Results from Voyager 1

Extensive measurements of low-energy positive ions and electrons were made throughout the Jupiter encounter of Voyager 1. The bow shock and magneto-pause were crossed several times at distances consistent with variations in the upstream solar wind pressure measured on Voyager 2. During the inbound pass, the number density increased by six orders of magnitude between the innermost magnetopause crossing at ∼47 Jupiter radii and near closest approach at ∼5 Jupiter radii; the plasma flow during this period was predominately in the direction of corotation. Marked increases in number density were observed twice per planetary rotation, near the magnetic equator. Jupiterward of the Io plasma torus, a cold, corotating plasma was observed and the energylcharge spectra show well-resolved, heavy-ion peaks at mass-to-charge ratios A/Z* = 8, 16, 32, and 64.

Plasma Observations Near Neptune: Initial Results from Voyager 2

The plasma science experiment on Voyager 2 made observations of the plasma environment in Neptunes magnetosphere and in the surrounding solar wind. Because of the large tilt of the magnetic dipole and fortuitous timing, Voyager entered Neptunes magnetosphere through the cusp region, the first cusp observations at an outer planet. Thus the transition from the magnetosheath to the magnetosphere observed by Voyager 2 was not sharp but rather appeared as a gradual decrease in plasma density and temperature. The maximum plasma density observed in the magnetosphere is inferred to be 1.4 per cubic centimeter (the exact value depends on the composition), the smallest observed by Voyager in any magnetosphere. The plasma has at least two components; light ions (mass, 1 to 5) and heavy ions (mass, 10 to 40), but more precise species identification is not yet available. Most of the plasma is concentrated in a plasma sheet or plasma torus and near closest approach to the planet. A likely source of the heavy ions is Tritons atmosphere or ionosphere, whereas the light ions probably escape from Neptune. The large tilt of Neptunes magnetic dipole produces a dynamic magnetosphere that changes configuration every 16 hours as the planet rotates.

Plasma production and heating in a tandem mirror central cell by radio‐frequency waves in the ion cyclotron frequency range

Plasma production and heating in the central cell of the Tara tandem mirror [Nucl. Fusion 22, 549 (1982); Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, 1986, Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Kyoto, Japan (IAEA, Vienna, 1987), Vol. 2, p. 251] have been studied. Using radio‐frequency excitation by a slot antenna in the ion cyclotron frequency range (ICRF), plasmas with a peak β⊥ of 3%, density of 4×1012 cm−3, ion temperature of 800 eV, and electron temperature of 75–100 eV were routinely produced. The plasma radius decreased with increasing ICRF power, causing reduced ICRF coupling and saturation of the plasma beta. About 70% of the applied ICRF power can be accounted for in direct heating of both ions and electrons. Wave field measurements have identified the applied ICRF to be the slow, ion cyclotron wave. In operation without end plugging, the plasma parameters were limited by poor axial confinement and the requirements for maintenance of magnetohydrodynamic stability and micros...

Detailed validation of the bidirectional effect in various Case I and Case II waters.

Simulated bidirectional reflectance distribution functions (BRDF) were compared with measurements made just beneath the waters surface. In Case I water, the set of simulations that varied the particle scattering phase function depending on chlorophyll concentration agreed more closely with the data than other models. In Case II water, however, the simulations using fixed phase functions agreed well with the data and were nearly indistinguishable from each other, on average. The results suggest that BRDF corrections in Case II water are feasible using single, average, particle scattering phase functions, but that the existing approach using variable particle scattering phase functions is still warranted in Case I water.

Plasma potential enhancement by rf heating near the ion‐cyclotron frequency

The observation of enhanced plasma potentials, i.e., potentials greater than the Boltzmann values, in a mirror device is reported. The potential structure is driven by strong radio frequency heating near the ion‐cyclotron resonance and near the local electron bounce frequency. The potentials and their effect on losses from the central cell of a tandem mirror are discussed.

Experimental study of nonlinear M = 1 modes in the Tara tandem mirror

The nature of a rigid, flutelike M=1 instability as seen in the Tara tandem mirror [Nucl. Fusion 22, 549 (1982); Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion 1984 (IAEA, Vienna, 1985), Vol. 2, p. 285] is discussed. Radial density and light emission profiles obtained by inverting chord measurements are compared to end loss radial profiles during the evolution of the mode to its nonlinear saturated state. This final state is characterized by a coherent, flutelike motion of the plasma as a whole about the machine axis.

Gas pressure measurements and control in the Tara Tandem Mirror experiment

The Tara Tandem Mirror has a 10 m long, 22 cm diameter central cell plasma heated by fundamental ion cyclotron heating. Typical central cell parameters in unplugged operation are n = 3 × 1012/cm3, Ti⊥ = 300 eV, Ti∥ ≃ 75 eV. The axisymmetric plug cell incorporates sloshing ions and ECH to generate axial confining potentials. The axisymmetric central cell and plug comprise a max B mirror which is observed to operate in both flute stable and unstable regimes. The flute instability is m = 1 and can be stabilized by an outboard anchor. The anchor plasma is formed by electron and ion cyclotron heating. Satisfactory operation of a tandem mirror requires extensive control of neutral gas from neutral beam (NB) sources [1] and startup. Tara makes extensive use of Ti gettering in the beamlines, beam dumps and plasma surfaces for both hydrogen pumping and reflux control. A description of this technology along with its impact on plasma performance is discussed.

Gyrotron collective Thomson scattering from plasma fluctuations in a Tara axicell

Collective Thomson scattering in the Tara Tandem Mirror axicell at MIT was accomplished with a 137-GHz, approx.0.4-kW, 75-ms pulsed gyrotron. Ion cyclotron waves, ion Bernstein wave harmonics, and other plasma fluctuations possibly due to microinstabilities and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) activity have been observed during ion cyclotron resonance frequency (ICRF) heating. The observation of ion Bernstein waves may be due to an enhanced ion thermal fluctuation spectrum in an ICRF heated plasma.

TARA diagnostic set

The TARA Tandem Mirror Experiment has recently begun operation. The set of diagnostics available at this time is discussed. The following diagnostics are now in use: diamagnetic loops, a multichord microwave interferometer, Langmuir and emissive probes, pick‐up loops, and secondary‐emission detectors. End‐loss diagnostics include net current detector arrays, Faraday cup arrays, swept particle analyzer arrays, and calorimetry. Light‐emission measurements are made in the visible and VUV regions. A multichord fiber‐optic array for plasma position detection is also used. In addition, a three‐channel charge exchange analyzer, a hard x‐ray system, and fast pressure gauges are available.