Bodies in flowing plasmas: Laboratory studies

A brief review of early laboratory investigations of bodies in flowing, rarefied plasmas is given together with a discussion of more recent parametric studies carried out at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), which include the effects of the ion acoustic Mach number and the normalized test body potential. Good agreement is found between the experimental results and theoretical calculations which omit ion thermal motion. The relation between laboratory investigations and the results of satellite-borne measurements is addressed. This relationship has led to an appreciation for the benefits of applying the methods and techniques of laboratory plasma physics to investigations in space, where several limitations inherent to the laboratory can be circumvented. These types of investigations, conducted in Earth orbit, can enhance our understanding of space plasma physics and have direct application to certain types of solar system phenomena.     

Constraining the mass of the black hole GX 339-4 using spectro-temporal analysis of multiple outbursts

We carried out spectro-temporal analysis of the archived data from multiple outbursts spanning over the last two decades from the black hole X-ray binary GX 339-4. In this paper, the mass of the compact object in the X-ray binary system GX 339-4 is constrained based on three indirect methods. The first method uses broadband spectral modelling with a two component flow structure of the accretion around the black hole. The broadband data are obtained from RXTE (Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer) in the range 3.0 to 150.0?keV and from Swift and NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) simultaneously in the range 0.5 to 79.0?keV. In the second method, we model the time evolution of Quasi-periodic Oscillation (QPO) frequencies, considering it to be the result of an oscillating shock that radially propagates towards or away from the compact object. The third method is based on scaling a mass dependent parameter from an empirical model of the photon index ($\mathrm{\Gamma }$) – QPO ($\nu$) correlation. We compare the results at 90 percent confidence from the three methods and summarize the mass estimate of the central object to be in the range $8.28–11.89M_{\odot }$.     

A refined trigonometric shear deformation theory for thermoelastic bending of functionally graded sandwich plates

A refined trigonometric shear deformation theory (RTSDT) taking into account transverse shear deformation effects is presented for the thermoelastic bending analysis of functionally graded sandwich plates. Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved is only four, as against five in case of other shear deformation theories. The theory presented is variationally consistent, does not require shear correction factor, the displacement components are expressed by trigonometric series representation through the plate thickness to develop a two-dimensional theory and gives rise to transverse shear stress variation such that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness satisfying shear stress free surface conditions. The sandwich with homogeneous facesheet and FGM core is considered. Material properties of the present FGM core are assumed to vary according to a power law distribution in terms of the volume fractions of the constituents. The influences played by the transverse shear deformation, thermal load, plate aspect ratio, and volume fraction distribution are studied. Numerical results for deflections and stresses of functionally graded metal–ceramic plates are investigated. It can be concluded that the proposed theory is accurate and simple in solving the thermoelastic bending behavior of functionally graded plates.     

Bodies in flowing plasmas: Spacecraft measurements

Results from in-situ measurements relevant to the interaction of bodies in flowing plasmas are reviewed. A brief discussion of the interaction in the general context of SPACE PLASMA PHYSICS, including possible applications to solar-system plasmas is given. The mode of experimentation in the Shuttle/Spacelab era is also mentioned.     

Shuttle-era experiments in the area of plasma flow interactions with bodies in space

A new experimental approach is discussed in general terms, that can be adopted in the Shuttle/Spacelab era starting in the 1980s for studies in the area of plasma flow interactions with bodies in space. The potential use of the Space Shuttle/Orbiter as a near Earth plasma laboratory for studies in the area of Space Plasma Physics and particularly in the area of Solar-System Plasmas is discussed. This new experimental approach holds great promise for studies in the Supersonic and sub-Alfvenic flow regime which has applications to the motion of natural satellites around their mother planets in the Solar-system (e.g. the satellite Io around the planet Jupiter). A well conceived experimental and theoretical program, can lead to a better physical understanding regarding the validity and range of applicability of using gas-dynamic, kinetic and fluid approaches in describing collisionless plasma flow interactions with bodies in a variety of flow regimes.In addition to the above scientific aspects of the program, significant technological advances can be achieved regarding the interaction of space probes in planetary atmospheres/ionospheres and the reliability of using various plasma diagnostic devices on board spacecraft and large space platforms.