Engineering topics

Ramsey, B. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Ramsey, B. D..

At least 37 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS2004

X-MIME: An Imaging X-ray Spectrometer for Detailed Study of Jupiter's Icy Moons and the Planet's X-ray Aurora

Remote observations with the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the XMM-Newton Observatory have shown that the Jovian system is a source of x-rays with a rich and complicated structure. The planet's polar auroral zones and its disk are powerful sources of x-ray emission. Chandra observations revealed x-ray emission from the Io Plasma Torus and from the Galilean moons Io, Europa, and possibly Ganymede. The emission from these moons is certainly due to bombardment of their surfaces of highly energetic protons, oxygen and sulfur ions from the region near the Torus exciting atoms in their surfaces and leading to fluorescent x-ray emission lines. Although the x-ray emission from the Galilean moons is faint when observed from Earth orbit, an imaging x-ray spectrometer in orbit around these moons, operating at 200 eV and above with 150 eV energy resolution, would provide a detailed mapping (down to 40 m spatial resolution) of the elemental composition in their surfaces. Such maps would provide important constraints on formation and evolution scenarios for the surfaces of these moons. Here we describe the characteristics of X-MIME, an imaging x-ray spectrometer under going a feasibility study for the JIMO mission, with the ultimate goal of providing unprecedented x-ray studies of the elemental composition of the surfaces of Jupiter's icy moons and Io, as well as of Jupiter's auroral x-ray emission.

Elsner, R. F.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Development of a Prototype Nickel Optic for the Constellation-X Hard-X-Ray Telescope

The Constellation-X mission, planned for launch in 2011, will feature an array of hard-x ray telescopes with a total collecting area goal of 1500 square centimeters at 40 keV. Various technologies are currently being investigated for the optics of these telescopes including multilayer-coated Eletroformed-Nickel-Replicated (ENR) shells. The attraction of the ENR process is that the resulting full-shell optics are inherently stable and offer the promise of good angular resolution and enhanced instrument sensitivity. The challenge for this process is to meet a relatively tight weight budget with a relatively dense material (rho nickel = 9 grams per cubic centimeters.) To demonstrate the viability of the ENR process we are fabricating a prototype HXT mirror module to be tested against a competing segmented-glass-shell optic. The ENR prototype will consist of 5 shells of diameters from 150 mm to 280 mm and of 426 mm total length. To meet the stringent weight budget for Con-X, the shells will be only 150 micron thick. The innermost of these will be coated with Iridium, while the remainder will be coated with graded-density multilayers. Mandrels for these shells are currently under fabrication (Jan 03), with the first shells scheduled for production in February 03. A tentative date of late Summer has been set for prototype testing. Issues currently being addressed are the control of stresses in the multiplayer coating and ways of mitigating their effects on the figure of the necessarily thin shells. Also, the fabrication, handling and mounting of these shells without inducing permanent figure distortions. A full status report on the prototype optic will be presented along with test results as available.

Basso, S.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Optical Microvariability of Blazars

We present the results of optical differential photometry of five blazers [PKS0219+428 (3C66A), PKS 0235+164 (AO 0235+16), H0414+019, PKS 0851+202 (OJ 187) and QSO 1807+698 (3C 371)] that were observed on 7 nights between November 05, 1997 and December 29, 1998, using the B and the V band filters. We have detected microvariations in four blazers (3C66A, AO 0235+16, H0414+019, and OJ 287). In addition, the light curve of AO 0235+16 has displayed a mini-flare when the brightness of this source was decreasing. Night-to-night variations have also been detected in 3C66A, H0414+019, and OJ 287. The results of our observations are discussed in the framework of accretion disk phenomena (magnetic flares or hot spots in accretion disks) and jet phenomena (plasma instabilities in jets).

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Charge Sharing and Charge Loss in a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Fine-Pixel Detector Array

Because of its high atomic number, room temperature operation, low noise, and high spatial resolution a Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) multi-pixel detector is ideal for hard x-ray astrophysical observation. As part of on-going research at MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) to develop multi-pixel CdZnTe detectors for this purpose, we have measured charge sharing and charge loss for a 4x4 (750micron pitch), lmm thick pixel array and modeled these results using a Monte-Carlo simulation. This model was then used to predict the amount of charge sharing for a much finer pixel array (with a 300micron pitch). Future work will enable us to compare the simulated results for the finer array to measured values.

Gaskin, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS2001

A Realistic Accretion Disk Model for AGNs

We present a new relativistic accretion disk model of AGNs, based on alpha modified accretion disk theory, where alpha is a parameter that characterizes the efficiency of the mechanism of angular momentum transport. In this model we have considered a geometrically-thin, high-luminosity (alpha-accretion disk, around a supermassive black hole. The geometrically thin limit assumes a local energy balance within the accretion disk, which has been used to derive the plasma temperature of the disk. The energy balance equation has three solutions: low, medium and high temperature, depending on the heating rate of the accretion disk. We predict that the inner part of a high luminosity accretion disk is in the high- temperature (10(exp 7) to 10(exp 9) K) state and for this we obtain the high temperature solution of the energy balance equation using a Comptonization process. We find the local spectrum of each ring of the disk (we have divided the high temperature region of the disk into 50 rings) to be a diluted Wien spectrum. However, the emergent integral spectrum of the high temperature region is a power-law with a high-energy cutoff that depends on the basic parameters of AGNs (the accretion rate, the incidence angle, and the mass and the angular momentum of the central black hole). We have fitted the observed spectra of 28 AGNs using the present model and have derived the values of the basic parameters of these AGNs. Results of these spectral fittings have been discussed in the framework of the unification model of AGNs.

Suleimanov, V.↗

NASA NTRS2001

HERO: Program Status and Fist Images from a Balloon-Borne Focusing Hard-X-ray Telescope

HERO is a balloon payload featuring shallow-graze angle replicated optics for hard-x-ray imaging. When completed, the instrument will offer unprecedented sensitivity in the hard-x-ray region, giving thousands of sources to choose from for detailed study on long flights. A recent proof-of-concept flight captured the first hard-x-ray focused images of the Crab Nebula, Cygnus X-1 and GRS 1915+105. Full details of the HERO program are presented, including the design and performance of the optics, the detectors and the gondola. Results from the recent proving flight are discussed together with expected future performance when the full science payload is completed.

Ramsey, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Optical Variability of BL Lacertae During the Major Outburst of 1997

We have undertaken an investigation of recent flux variability in BL Lac. We present optical observations taken over 22 nights documenting major as well as minor outbursts. This has been combined, for purposes of multifrequency analysis, with published X-ray and T-ray data taken for an additional single night, On two nights in particular, including the night of the X-ray observations, a major outburst of about a full magnitude of variation was recorded. All the data have been analyzed with theoretical models. Attempts were made to use synchrotron self-Compton and external Comptonization models to explain the data; however, both classes of models were found lacking. More satisfactory results were obtained using an analytical model proposed by Wang et al. that involves the evolution of synchrotron spectra in a homogeneous jet due to the injection of relativistic electrons, taking into account radiation losses during the outbursts. It is hoped that the results of this study of BL Lac, an archetype for the class of blazars in general, represent a more generic phenomenon applicable to the entire class.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Optical Variability of Blazars

In this paper we show the results of our monitoring the flux variability of 15 blazars, within the redshift range of 0.07 - 2.06, all with a visual magnitude range between 14 and 20 mag. Because blazars have displayed variability on diverse timescales, we have chosen to study them over both short and long timescales, ranging from minutes to years. These blazars were observed on 58 nights between 1995 March and 1998 June. Individual sources are discussed in detail. For example, one of our sources, Mrk 501, showed microvariability of as much as 0.13 mag change within 12 minutes. The usual parameters for size, mass, and luminosity are calculated. Relativistic beaming is implied by the data. We also searched for correlations between amplitude of variability, redshift, and luminosity. We found few, if any, such correlations. Discussion and conclusions are given for these and other results as implied by the data.

Ghosh, K. K.↗

NASA NTRS2000

The Fabrication of Replicated Optics for Hard X-Ray Astronomy

We describe the fabrication process for producing shallow-graze-angle mirrors for hard x-ray astronomy. This presentation includes the generation of the necessary super-polished mandrels, their metrology, and the subsequent mirror shell electroforming and testing.

Speegle, C. O.↗

NASA NTRS2000

The Fabrication of Replicated Optics for Hard X-Ray Astronomy

Speegle, C. O.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Development of Constellation-X Optics Technologies at MSFC

One of the major technological challenges for the Constellation X-ray Mission is the development of light-weight, high-resolution, grazing-incidence optics. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is developing and evaluating candidate technologies, based upon full-shell replication off precision mandrels. Here we report on recent progress in meeting the weight and imaging-performance requirements, using very thin, high- strength electroformed nickel alloys, In addition, we briefly describe MSFC's optics fabrication, metrology, and x-ray test facilities.

Ramsey, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Background Simulation of the MSFC GSPC Balloon Payload

Numerical simulations are used to predict the cosmic-ray induced background in a passively shielded gas scintillation proportional counter to be used as the focal plane instrument of a balloon-borne hard x-ray telescope system. The predicted background in the 20-75 keV operating range of the detector shows a spectral shape characteristic of a power law photoelectrically absorbed by the stainless steel pressure vessel walls. It is found that the dominant background radiation component is simply cosmic diffuse and atmospheric gamma-ray leakage though there is a contribution from nuclear interactions of energetic particles in the walls and nearby payload structures. The correlation between shielding properties and background flux is examined parametrically using one-dimensional slab models, within material and weight constraints, in order to optimize predicted sensitivity. The addition of a few mm thick Sn passive shielding reduces the primary photon contribution by up to 50% at the spectral peak, E 150 keV, and adds only negligibly to the flux due to photon production within the high-Z shields at lower energies.

Swartz, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS2000

New Alloys for Electroformed Replicated X-Ray Optics

The process of electroforming x-ray mirror shells off a superpolished mandrel has been widely used. The recently launched XMM mission is a good example of this, containing 174 such mirror shells of diameters ranging from 0.3-0.7 m and thicknesses of 0.47-1.07 mm. To continue to utilize this technique for the next generation of x-ray observatories, where ever-larger collecting areas will be required within the constraints of tight weight budgets, demands that new alloys be developed that can withstand the large stresses imposed on very thin shells by the replication and handling processes. Towards this end, we began a development program in late 1997 to produce a high-strength alloy suitable for electroforming very thin high-resolution x-ray optics. The requirements for this task are quite severe; not only must the electroformed deposit be very strong, it must also have extremely low residual stresses to prevent serious figure distortions in large thin-walled shells. Further, the electroforming must be performed at near room temperature, as large temperature changes will modify the figure of the mandrel, in an environment that is not corrosive for the mandrel. The figure of merit for the strength of the electroformed deposit is its Precision Elastic Limit (PEL). This is a measure of permanent strain, at the few parts per million level, under applied stress. Pure nickel is very ductile and will permanently deform, at the parts-per-million level under loads of a few x 10(exp 7) Pa. These stresses are easily exceeded when thin-walled shells (150 micron thick) are replicated. Our goal was to develop an alloy an order of magnitude stronger than this. We will present the results of our development program, showing the evolution of our plating baths through to our present 'glassy' nickel alloy that satisfies the goals above. For each we will show the electroforming characteristics of the bath and the PEL measurements for the resulting alloys. We estimate the ultimate limit on shell thickness and mass for x-ray mirrors produced in these baths.

Engelhaupt, D.↗

NASA NTRS2000

Development of Constellation-X Optics Technologies at MSFC

One of the major technological challenges for the Constellation X-ray Mission is the development of light-weight, high-resolution, grazing-incidence optics. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is developing and evaluating candidate technologies, based upon full-shell replication off precision mandrels. Here we report on recent progress in meeting the weight and imaging-performance requirements, using very thin, high-strength electroformed nickel alloys. In addition, we briefly describe MSFC's optics fabrication, metrology, and x-ray test facilities.

ODell, S. L.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Near-Simultaneous Spectroscopic and Broadband Polarimetric Observations of Be Stars

Near simultaneous optical spectroscopic (on four nights) and broadband linear continuum (B, V, R, and I bands) polarimetric (on seven nights) observations of 29 Be stars were carried out during 1993 November-December. The program Be stars displayed wavelength dependence of intrinsic polarizations with no frequency dependence of polarimetric position angles. Some of the Be stars displayed long-term polarization variability. The Be and Be-shell stars could not be distinguished from one another solely on the basis of their polarization values. Full widths at half-maximum of the H.alpha profiles and the intrinsic linear continuum polarizations are closely correlated with the projected rotational velocities of the program stars. Photospheric-absorption-corrected equivalent widths of H.alpha profiles [W(alpha)] and the radii of H.alpha-emitting or -absorbing envelopes (R(sub e) or R(sub a)) are nonlinearly correlated with the intrinsic continuum polarizations of these stars. However, W(alpha) and R(sub e) are linearly correlated. With large uncertainties, there is a trend of spectral dependence of polarization. Detailed discussion of these results is presented in this paper.

Ghosh, K.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Breakdown Limit Studies in High-Rate Gaseous Detectors

We report results from a systematic study of breakdown limits for novel high-rate gaseous detectors: MICROMEGAS, CAT and GEM, together with more conventional devices such as thin-gap parallel-mesh chambers and high-rate wire chambers. It was found that for all these detectors, the maximum achievable pin, before breakdown appears, drops dramatically with incident flux, and is sometimes inversely proportional to it. Further, in the presence of alpha particles, typical of the breakgrounds in high-energy experiments, additional gain drops of 1-2 orders of magnitude were observed for many detectors. It was found that breakdowns at high rates occur through what we have termed an "accumulative" mechanism, which does not seem to have been previously reported in the literature. Results of these studies may help in choosing the optimum detector for given experimental conditions.

Ivaniouchenkov, Yu↗

NASA NTRS1999

A High-Energy Focal-Plane Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter

We have developed a high-pressure Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter (GSPC) for the focus of a hard-x-ray telescope. It features an absorption region 50 mm in diameter and 50 mm deep, filled with Xenon + 4% He at 10(exp 6) Pa total pressure, which gives useful response (greater than 75% efficiency) up to the mirror cut-off of 70 keV. Tests with a prototype unit show an energy resolution of 3.5% at 60 keV and a spatial resolution of 0.35 mm from 30-50 keV. Two flight units are currently under construction for a balloon flight in September 1999. Full details of their design and performance will be presented together with available quick-look background data from the flight.

Ramsey, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Optical Variability of Blazars

In this paper we show the results of our monitoring the flux variability of 15 blazars, within the redshift range of 0.07 to 2.06, all with a visual magnitude range between 14 and 20 mag. Because blazars have displayed variability on diverse timescales, we have chosen to study them over both short and long timescales, ranging from minutes to years. These blazars were observed on 58 nights between March 1995 and June 1998. Individual sources are discussed in detail. For example, one of our sources, Mkn5Ol showed microvariability of as much as 0.13 mag change within 12 minutes. The usual parameters for size, mass, and luminosity are calculated. Relativistic beaming is implied by the data. We also searched for correlations between amplitude of variability, redshift, and luminosity. We found few if any such correlations. Discussion and conclusions are given for these and other results as implied by the data.

Ghosh, K. K.↗