Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Christopher Lamb, graduate student.
Lead Presenter's Name
Christopher Lamb
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Byonghoon Seo
Abstract
Presented is a method to observe magnetic field strengths in a 3 dimensional volume above a pulsed plasma source. This source will produce a plasma which exhibits a key phenomenon under investigation: magnetic reconnection. Magnetic reconnection is a process in which some magnetic field energy is transferred into kinetic and thermal energy of a plasma. By observing field strengths at different locations over many pulses, a 3-d vector space can be built up of the plasma as it evolves over time. The magnetic field observations will be performed with a calibrated magnetic field probe array (MPA). By interpreting this data over key parameter variations, construction of an empirical model may be formed, or prediction can be made with an AI to optimize reconnection parameters to produce optimal heating and acceleration for an input power. Optimization of parameters may be intrinsic to system geometry, and may need adjustment for dissimilar architecture. Outside of propulsion, this study will investigate the fundamental physics and the drivers of reconnection, and may lead to a better understanding of the dynamics of the corona of our star and plasma.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Study of Magnetic Reconnection with Magnetic Sensors
Presented is a method to observe magnetic field strengths in a 3 dimensional volume above a pulsed plasma source. This source will produce a plasma which exhibits a key phenomenon under investigation: magnetic reconnection. Magnetic reconnection is a process in which some magnetic field energy is transferred into kinetic and thermal energy of a plasma. By observing field strengths at different locations over many pulses, a 3-d vector space can be built up of the plasma as it evolves over time. The magnetic field observations will be performed with a calibrated magnetic field probe array (MPA). By interpreting this data over key parameter variations, construction of an empirical model may be formed, or prediction can be made with an AI to optimize reconnection parameters to produce optimal heating and acceleration for an input power. Optimization of parameters may be intrinsic to system geometry, and may need adjustment for dissimilar architecture. Outside of propulsion, this study will investigate the fundamental physics and the drivers of reconnection, and may lead to a better understanding of the dynamics of the corona of our star and plasma.