Engineering topics

Hilgeman, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Hilgeman, T..

10 records

NASA NTRS1980

High-resolution Martian atmosphere modeling

A multilayer radiative transfer, high-spectral-resolution infrared model of the lower atmosphere of Mars has been constructed to assess the effect of scattering on line profiles. The model takes into accout aerosol scattering and absorption and includes a line-by-line treatment of scattering and absorption by CO2 and H2O. The aerosol complex indices of refraction used were those measured on montmorillonite and basalt chosen on the basis of Mars ir data from the NASA Lear Airborne Observatory. The particle sizes and distribution were estimated using Viking data. The molecular line treatment employs the AFGL line parameters and Voigt profiles. The modeling results indicate that the line profiles are only slightly affected by normal aerosol scattering and absorption, but the effect could be appreciable for heavy loading. The technique described permits a quantitative approach to assessing and correcting for the effect of aerosols on lineshapes in planetary atmospheres.

Egan, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Near-infrared observations of a new molecular feature in IRC + 10216

This letter presents a spectrum of IRC + 10216 in the 3000-4400-kayser region at 9-kayser resolution. A molecular feature at 3400-3600 kaysers has been detected which is attributed to an unspecified N-H bonded molecule; the feature appears to be variable in phase with the infrared light curve. Evidence is given for temperature variations of the emitting dust shell in phase with the infrared light curve. The results suggest that the variability of the molecular feature is due to reversible dissociation of the responsible molecule, which could occur at the higher temperatures accompanying the maxima of the light curve.

Krassner, J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

An analysis of water in galactic infrared sources using the NASA Lear Airborne Observatory

The Michelson interferometer system on the NASA Lear Jet Airborne Observatory is described as well as the data reduction procedures. The objects observed (standard stars, M stars, a nebula, planets, and the moon) are discussed and the observing parameters are listed for each flight date. The spectra obtained from these data flights are presented, grouped by class of object.

Smith, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Comparison between infrared Martian disk spectra and optical properties of terrestrial analogs

Medium spectral resolution (20 kaysers) infrared measurements of the Martian disk made between 2900 and 5600 kaysers from the NASA Lear Airborne Observatory have been successfully compared with predictions derived from a model of the Martian soil and atmosphere. Modeling of the Martian atmosphere permitted the extraction of Martian soil reflectance in the CO2 bands centered at 3657 kaysers. Three Martian soil analogs previously considered acceptable - limonite, montmorillonite, and basalt - were analyzed to determine the optical complex indices of refraction in the same range as the airborne observations, for mathematical modeling. A characteristic surface particle size approximately 1 to 3 microns diameter is indicated. It is concluded that the Martian soil surface near-infrared optical properties are consistent with a soil composition similar to montmorillonite or limonite, mixed with a basalt.

Egan, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Airborne infrared interferometric observations and analysis of stratospheric trace constituents

Infrared interferometric observations of key trace constituents of the stratosphere have been obtained. The NASA Lear Airborne Observatory with the Grumman airborne interferometer system was flown in the lower stratosphere at an altitude of 13.7 km to obtain transmission spectra in the 2800-6000 per cm region at a resolution of 2.5 per cm using the moon as a source. An atmospheric modeling program and the AFGL line parameter atlas are used to identify H2O, CH4, O3 and other trace constituents and to derive stratospheric column densities (molecules/sq cm).

Smith, L. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Martian atmosphere modeling between 0.4 and 3.5 microns - Comparison of theory and experiment

A model of the lower atmosphere of Mars has been constructed that combines aerosol absorption and scattering with a line-by-line analysis of CO2 and H2O in a multilayer radiative transfer program. Aerosol composition previously inferred from the NASA Lear Jet Observatory data was used to measure the optical complex indices of refraction of appropriate Martian analogs from 0.4 to 2.5 microns. The aerosol vertical particle density scale was deduced using the Viking camera observations of the soil and sky intensities between 0.4 and 1.0 microns in comparison with those modeled using a multilayer Mie scattering program. A comparison of observed Mars atmospheric absorptions was made with those obtained using Lorentz, Voigt, and Doppler line profiles in a multilayer model of the CO2 and H2O. The Voigt line profile of CO2 absorption at approximately 4976 kaysers was then combined in a multilayer aerosol model of the Martian atmosphere. An evaluation of the effect on the line shape was made using several aerosol loadings.

Egan, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Polarimeter measures sea state characteristics using emitted infrared radiation

An infrared polarimeter, capable of operating between 1 and 12 micrometers wavelength has been used to measure the polarization of emitted radiation from the sea. The observed polarization at 10.6 micrometers from a smooth sea was found to be positive, indicating the dominance of reflected infrared sky radiation over the emitted. With the appearance of waves, the percent polarization increased, as expected, for a zenith angle well above the Brewster angle for water. This is qualitatively in accordance with a model presented to explain the behavior. Initial analyses indicate that the polarized components of the sea's emitted and reflected radiation are affected by type and direction of waves, angle of viewing, and foam. The effects of variations in these parameters require further delineation. The infrared polarimetric technique appears to be a novel new passive method for remote monitoring of waves.

Egan, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Ultraviolet complex refractive index of Martian dust Laboratory measurements of terrestrial analogs

The optical complex index of refraction of four candidate Martian surface materials has been determined between 0.185 and 0.4 microns using a modified Kubelka-Munk scattering theory. The cadidate materials were limonite, andesite, montmorillonite, and basalt. The effect of scattering has been removed from the results. Also presented are diffuse reflection and transmission data on these samples.

Egan, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Photometric and polarimetric properties of the Bruderheim chondritic meteorite.

Study of the spectral, photometric, and polarimetric properties of the Bruderheim olivine-hypersthene chondritic meteorite. This meteorite is representative of the most common meteoritic material recovered on earth, and, hence, could also be the most common in interplanetary space. Yet, comparison with astronomical data indicates that none of the asteroids in the main belt for which adequate observations exist can be matched with Bruderheim properties. Only the surface of the Apollo asteroid Icarus does, in light of polarization and photometry data, appear to be consistent with an ordinary chondrite composition. This suggests the possibility that this material, although common in earth-crossing orbits, is rare as a surface constituent in the main asteroid belt.

Egan, W. G.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Photometric and polarimetric properties of the Bruderheim chondritic meteorite

Photometric and polarimetric laboratory measurements were made as a function of phase angle in the U(0.36 microns), G(0.54 microns) and R(0.67 microns) bands for 0, 30 and 60 deg incident illumination on four particle size ranges of Bruderheim, an L6 olivine-hypersthene chondritic meteorite. The four particle size ranges were: 0.25-4.76 mm coated with less than 74 microns powder, 74-250 microns, and less than 37 microns. In addition, normal reflectance measurements were made in the spectral range from 0.31 to 1.1 microns. Comparison with astronomical data reveals that none of the asteroids in the main belt for which adequate observations exist can be matched with Bruderheim, which is representative of the most common meteoritic material encountered by the Earth. However, it appears from the polarization and photometry data that the surface of the Apollo asteroid Icarus is consistent with an ordinary chondrite composition. This suggests the possibility that this material, although common in Earth-crossing orbits, is rare as a surface constituent in the main asteroid belt.

Egan, W. G.↗