Engineering topics

Pifer, A. E.

Publications and source records attributed to Pifer, A. E..

5 records

NASA NTRS1980

An automatic locating system for cloud-to-ground lightning

Automatic locating systems which respond to cloud to ground lightning and which discriminate against cloud discharges and background noise are described. Subsystems of the locating system, which include the direction finder and the position analyzer, are discussed. The direction finder senses the electromagnetic fields radiated by lightning on two orthogonal magnetic loop antennas and on a flat plate electric antenna. The position analyzer is a preprogrammed microcomputer system which automatically computes, maps, and records lightning locations in real time using data inputs from the direction finder. The use of the locating systems for wildfire management and fire weather forecasting is discussed.

Krider, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Wavelength-shifted Cherenkov radiators

The scintillation and Cherenkov responses of plastic Cherenkov radiators containing different wavelength-shifting fluors in varying concentrations have been studied in beams of low energy protons and pions. For cosmic ray applications, where large Cherenkov to scintillation ratios are desired, the optimum fluor concentrations are 0.000025 by weight or less.

Krider, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Magnetic mass spectrometer search at 2750 m. for hypothetical massive particles

A search was conducted for hypothetical singly charged massive particles which might be produced in collisions of very highly energetic cosmic ray particles with nuclei in the upper atmosphere. If such particles have sufficiently long lifetime and small cross section for interaction, they could survive to mountain altitude. A cosmic ray spectrometer consisting of superconducting magnet, wire spark chambers and time-of-flight scintillation counters was used to search for these particles at mountain altitude (2750 m). For any choice of hypothetical mass in the 5 to 10 GeV/c-squared range the upper limit to the vertical intensity of the particle was observed to be less than or roughly equal to 10 to the -6th/sq. cm/s/(GeV/c).

Barber, H. B.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Cosmic ray mass and momentum spectra at mountain altitude

A cosmic ray mass spectrometer using a superconducting magnet, digitized wire spark chambers, and a scintillation counter time of flight system, has been operated at an altitude of 2750 meters. The apparatus is most sensitive to charged particles with momentum to mass ratios between 0.2 and 2.0. Results for the momentum spectra of protons and deuterons are presented, as well as upper limits for H-3 and He-3. The reaction nucleon + nucleon yields deuteron + pion accounts for part of the observed deuteron spectrum in the 0.9 to 3 GeV/c region.-

Barber, H. B.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Performance of and planned improvements to a mountain altitude cosmic ray mass spectrometer

A cosmic ray mass spectrometer with superconducting magnet, wire spark chambers, and time-of-flight scintillation counters has been operated at an altitude of 2750 meters. Various specifications of the spectrometer are presented and the method of event analysis described. Corrections to the data, resolutions and efficiencies of the spark chambers, and momentum resolution are discussed. Recent and planned improvements of the apparatus are indicated.

Jones, J. J.↗