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Hsieh, K. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Hsieh, K. C..

At least 37 records · Page 2

Observations of breakup processes of liquid jets using real-time X-ray radiography

To unravel the liquid-jet breakup process in the nondilute region, a newly developed system of real-time X-ray radiography, an advanced digital image processor, and a high-speed video camera were used. Based upon recorded X-ray images, the inner structure of a liquid jet during breakup was observed. The jet divergence angle, jet breakup length, and fraction distributions along the axial and transverse directions of the liquid jets were determined in the near-injector region. Both wall- and free-jet tests were conducted to study the effect of wall friction on the jet breakup process.

Char, J. M.

Modeling of combustion processes of stick propellants via combined Eulerian-Lagrangian approach

This research is motivated by the improved ballistic performance of large-caliber guns using stick propellant charges. A comprehensive theoretical model for predicting the flame spreading, combustion, and grain deformation phenomena of long, unslotted stick propellants is presented. The formulation is based upon a combined Eulerian-Lagrangian approach to simulate special characteristics of the two phase combustion process in a cartridge loaded with a bundle of sticks. The model considers five separate regions consisting of the internal perforation, the solid phase, the external interstitial gas phase, and two lumped parameter regions at either end of the stick bundle. For the external gas phase region, a set of transient one-dimensional fluid-dynamic equations using the Eulerian approach is obtained; governing equations for the stick propellants are formulated using the Lagrangian approach. The motion of a representative stick is derived by considering the forces acting on the entire propellant stick. The instantaneous temperature and stress fields in the stick propellant are modeled by considering the transient axisymmetric heat conduction equation and dynamic structural analysis.

Kuo, K. K.

Evaluation of aerothermal modeling computer programs

Various computer programs based upon the SIMPLE or SIMPLER algorithm were studied and compared for numerical accuracy, efficiency, and grid dependency. Four two-dimensional and one three-dimensional code originally developed by a number of research groups were considered. In general, the accuracy and computational efficieny of these TEACH type programs were improved by modifying the differencing schemes and their solvers. A brief description of each program is given. Error reduction, spline flux and second upwind differencing programs are covered.

Hsieh, K. C.

Comet Halley neutral gas density profile along the Vega 1 trajectory measured by NGE

Data from the Vega 1 permitted the determination of the total neutral gas density profile along the spacecraft trajectory. Discounting small fluctuations, the field ionization source instrument measured a density profile which varied approximately as the inverse radial distance squared. Data from the electron impact ionization instrument yielded a series of calibration points; e.g., the neutral density at 100,000 km is 10,000/cc. The combined data provide a calibrated total density profile, and imply a neutral production rate of 10 to the 30th power molecules/sec.

Curtis, C. C.

Anisotropy of the neutral gas distribution of Comet Halley deduced from NGE/Vega 1 measurements

The neutral gas density profile of comet Halley measured by the Neutral Gas Experiment on Vega 1 showed an asymmetry between the inbound and the outbound legs during the fly-by on 6 March 1986. The implications of this asymmetry are discussed, and it is shown how the asymmetry detected by NGE on Vega 1 can be traced back to regions on or near the nucleus to obtain their relative gas production activities at specific times of emission.

Hsieh, K. C.

Spacecraft mass spectrometer ion source employing field emission cathodes

An ion source that utilizes a pair of thin-film field emission cathodes to provide current for electric impact ionization is studied. The field emission cathodes are composed of microscopically small needle tips and an extraction electrode; the cathodes generate a 200-eV, 0.1-mA electron beam. The multistep process for the manufacturing of the field emission cathodes is examined. The operation of the ion source, which ionizes atoms and molecules that enter the mass spectrometer with a ram velocity of about 80 km/sec, is described.

Curtis, C. C.

Acceleration mechanisms for energetic particles in the earth's magnetosphere

By analyzing data on energetic particle fluxes measured simultaneously with detector systems on several earth satellites, signatures of different acceleration mechanisms for these particles were searched for. One of the samples is an event observed on ATS-6 and IMP-7. IMP-7 was in the dusk quarter at 38 earth radii while ATS-6 was located at local midnight at a distance of 6.6 earth radii. Although the flux variations as observed on the two spacecraft both showed 1.5 min periodicity, there was a 40-second time lag with IMP-7 behind. The results indicate that the particles are accelerated by magnetic field line annihilation, with the x-point located at about 10 earth radii.

Schiferl, S.

Energetic particles at interplanetary shock waves - The April 29, 1978 event

On April 29, 1978 a low-energetic particle event originating from a 3B flare at N22 E38 was observed by HELIOS 1 at 0.31 AU and W 38 and by HELIOS 2 at 0.29 AU and W 67 simultaneously with an interplanetary shock wave. Using plasma and magnetic field data these shocks were classified; the time variations were examined along with the angular and spectral distributions in the ecliptic plane of the intensities of 80 or more keV ions.

Richter, A. K.

Time-of-flight technique for particle identification at energies from 2 to 400 keV/nucleon

The time of flight technique for particle identification was extended to 2 keV/nucleon and the size of the start-time detector was reduced considerably by the use of carbon foils of few micrograms/cm square in thickness combined with microchannel plates for detecting secondary electrons. Time of flight telescopes incorporating this start-time device were used to measure the stopping power of a number of low energy heavy ions in thin carbon foils and the charge states of these ions emerging from such foils. Applications for the detection and identification of low energy interplanetary and magnetospheric particles are suggested.

Gloeckler, G.

Field ionization device used for measuring the pulse height defect of He/+/ in silicon

A neutral particle detector using field ionization and liquid-nitrogen-cooled solid state detectors has been developed to investigate the pulse height defect of low energy He(+) ions in silicon. The field ionization tip is fabricated from a short length of tungsten wire; a typical detector is of the surface-barrier Si type with a thin Au window and low capacitance (about 15 pF); the assembly is mounted in a cylindrical vacuum chamber which is pumped to about 10 to the -6th torr. As an example, pulse height distributions for He(+) and H(+) taken at tip bias of 25.7 kV are presented. The detected energy of the H and He ions are studied as a function of the actual energies of accelerated ions, for a detector having a gold front conducting surface layer of 32 micrograms/sq cm.

Curtis, C. C.

A field-ionization neutral detector - FIND

The field ionization neutral detector FIND operates according to the following principle: Neutral atoms are attracted toward the field ionization tips since they are polarized by the electric field of the tips. The atoms are singly ionized and repelled by the positive potential of the tips toward the detector situated behind a grid at ground potential. The ions deposit in the detector their kinetic energies, typically 26 keV, corresponding to the potential difference between the ionization region and the detector. Laboratory results show that FIND can have the resolution, sensitivities and durability required to perform in situ measurements of neutral H and He fluxes in interplanetary space, cometary halos and exospheres.

Curtis, C. C.

A field-ionization neutral-particle mass spectrometer

Description of laboratory model of a neutral-particle mass spectrometer that could make localized direct measurements of the neutral densities at 1 AU. Using a magnet that has a circular pole face 2.54 cm in diameter and a gap flux density of 8.0 kG, the following sensitivities were obtained for the various species: 10 to the 10th power counts per second per Torr for H2, 3 times 10 to the eighth power counts per second per Torr for He, and 2 times 10 to the 9th power counts per second per Torr for N2. Overall sensitivity may be increased through the use of electrostatic focusing elements between the ion source and the magnetic analyzer.

Curtis, C. C.

Cosmic-ray source and local interstellar spectra deduced from the isotopes of hydrogen and helium.

A self-consistent model for cosmic-ray hydrogen and helium propagation from the sources in the Galaxy to the orbit of earth is obtained, taking into account experimental information now available on the isotopes H-1, H-2, He-3, and He-4. The only adjustable parameters include the shape of the energy spectra of H-1 and He-4 at the time of source injection, the distribution of particle path lengths in interstellar space, and the solar modulation parameters. It is found that the allowed form of the source differential spectra of the H-1 and He-4 nuclei is dominated by a power law in total energy.

Comstock, G. M.