The interaction of a flowing plasma with a dipole magnetic field: measurements and modelling of a diamagnetic cavity relevant to spacecraft protection

Abstract

Here we describe a new experiment to test the shielding concept of a dipolelike magnetic field and plasma, surrounding a spacecraft forming a 'mini magnetosphere'. Initial laboratory experiments have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of a magnetized plasma barrier to be able to expel an impacting, low beta, supersonic flowing energetic plasma representing the solar wind. Optical and Langmuir probe data of the plasma density, the plasma flow velocity and the intensity of the dipole field clearly show the creation of a narrow transport barrier region and diamagnetic cavity virtually devoid of energetic plasma particles. This demonstrates the potential viability of being able to create a small 'hole' in a solar wind plasma, of the order of the ion Larmor orbit width, in which an inhabited spacecraft could reside in relative safety. The experimental results have been quantitatively compared with a 3D particle-incell 'hybrid' code simulation that uses kinetic ions and fluid electrons, showing good qualitative agreement and excellent quantitative agreement. Together the results demonstrate the pivotal role of particle kinetics in determining generic plasma transport barriers.

Experimental Design and Probe Diagnostics for Simulation of AMS02‐Magnet'effects in Ionospheric Plasma Flow Near International Space Station

“…All presented and other [9,12] data confirm expected relationR mx /R mp ∝ 1/D 1/4 of Hall-model [1], in contrast to recent experiments [14] and relevant PIC-modeling [15], in which at M a 3 and D up to ∼ 0.1, were obtained R mx ∼ R mp . Our results of the first "Dipole" experiment on simulation of AMS02-ISS problem determined a new, enlarged scale R mx of magnetopause in a low-density plasma flows with a C/ω pi > R mp and M a > 1.…”

3d Pic Simulations of Collisionless Shocks at Lunar Magnetic Anomalies and Their Role in Forming Lunar Swirls

“…This occurs not just at the lunar surface but throughout the mini-magnetosphere boundary. In order to model this scale of interaction, these criteria must be maintained between lunar, laboratory (Bamford et al 2008(Bamford et al , 2012, and computer simulation,. Only a full plasma kinetic code (Dawson 1983;Fonseca et al 2002) can capture these characteristics.…”

“…The computational investigation into mini-magnetospheres has become an area of considerable interest. A number of papers on hybrid (Bamford et al 2008;Gargaté et al 2008;Kallio et al 2012;Poppe et al 2012) and particle-in-cell (PIC) (Kallio et al 2012;Bamford et al 2013aBamford et al , 2013bBamford et al , 2015Deca et al 2014Deca et al , 2015Jarvinen et al 2014;Cruz et al 2015Cruz et al , 2016Dyadechkin et al 2015;Fatemi et al 2015) simulations have been authored, following from previous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations (Harnett & Winglee 2002Kurata et al 2005). Here we perform fully self-consistent PIC simulations in 2D and 3D, with a realistic proton-to-electron mass ratio.…”

Comparison of Plasma Magnetic Field Interactions in a Static and Dynamic Plasma Facility

“…The ability of magnetic fields to guide ion flows can also be transferred into aerospace technologies. The shielding of spacecraft from the solar wind on interplanetary travel has been the subject of several numerical and experimental investigations 1,2) . Another area of interest is the use of magnetic fields as an active component to assist thermal protection systems during the atmospheric entry of spacecraft.…”

“…, Andreas KNAPP 1) , Christoph EICHHORN 1) , Stefan LÖHLE 1) , Rene LAUFER 2,1) , Georg HERDRICH 1,2) , Lorin S. MATTHEWS 2) , Truell W. HYDE 2) , Stefanos FASOULAS 1) and Hans-Peter RÖSER (Received July 31st, 2015) In space technology many concepts for magnetic fields are under discussion for the use in advanced propulsion, shielding from radiation or as aid for thermal protection system for the atmospheric entry of spacecraft. Two experiments have been conducted to investigate the feasibility of using magnetic fields to reduce the heat flux onto a thermal protection system during atmospheric entry.…”