Engineering topics

Rayborn, G. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Rayborn, G. H..

7 records

NASA NTRS1986

Set-up and demonstration of a Low Energy Electron Magnetometer (LEEM)

Described are the design, construction and test results of a Low Energy Electron Magnetometer (LEEM). The electron source is a commercial electron gun capable of providing several microamperes of electron beam. These electrons, after acceleration through a selected potential difference of 100-300 volts, are sent through two 30 degree second-order focussing parallel plate electrostatic analyzers. The first analyzer acts as a monochromator located in the field-free space. It is capable of providing energy resolution of better than 10 to the -3 power. The second analyzer, located in the test field region, acts as the detector for electrons deflected by the test field. The entire magnetometer system is expected to have a resolution of 1 part in 1000 or better.

Rayborn, G. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Low energy electron magnetometer using a monoenergetic electron beam

A low energy electron beam magnetometer utilizes near-monoenergetic electrons thereby reducing errors due to electron energy spread and electron nonuniform angular distribution. In a first embodiment, atoms in an atomic beam of an inert gas are excited to a Rydberg state and then electrons of near zero energy are detached from the Rydberg atoms. The near zero energy electrons are then accelerated by an electric field V(acc) to form the electron beam. In a second embodiment, a filament emits electrons into an electrostatic analyzer which selects electrons at a predetermined energy level within a very narrow range. These selected electrons make up the electron beam that is subjected to the magnetic field being measured.

Singh, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Improved LEEM ranges over four decades

Low-energy electron magnetometer is suitable for terrestrial and aerial applications. Electron beam strikes tantalum collector plates in device, amplifying current and converting it to frequency. Current difference increases with beam deflection, providing measure of local field strength. LEEM operation requires no liquid helium unlike superconducting quantum interference device. LEEM sensitivity compares favorably with that of optical absorption magnetometers, and microsecond response range makes analyzing fast magnetic transients and signatures possible.

Singh, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Data enhancement and analysis through mathematical deconvolution of signals from scientific measuring instruments

Mathematical deconvolution of digitized analog signals from scientific measuring instruments is shown to be a means of extracting important information which is otherwise hidden due to time-constant and other broadening or distortion effects caused by the experiment. Three different approaches to deconvolution and their subsequent application to recorded data from three analytical instruments are considered. To demonstrate the efficacy of deconvolution, the use of these approaches to solve the convolution integral for the gas chromatograph, magnetic mass spectrometer, and the time-of-flight mass spectrometer are described. Other possible applications of these types of numerical treatment of data to yield superior results from analog signals of the physical parameters normally measured in aerospace simulation facilities are suggested and briefly discussed.

Wood, G. M.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Deconvolution of gas chromatographic data

The use of deconvolution methods on gas chromatographic data to obtain an accurate determination of the relative amounts of each material present by mathematically separating the merged peaks is discussed. Data were obtained on a gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector. Chromatograms of five xylenes with differing degrees of separation were generated by varying the column temperature at selected rates. The merged peaks were then successfully separated by deconvolution. The concept of function continuation in the frequency domain was introduced in striving to reach the theoretical limit of accuracy, but proved to be only partially successful.

Howard, S.↗

NASA NTRS1979

A low energy electron magnetometer

The concept of a highly sensitive magnetometer based on the deflection of low energy electron beams in magnetic fields is analyzed. Because of its extremely low mass and consequently high e/m ratio, a low energy electron is easily deflected in a magnetic field, thus providing a basis for very low field measurement. Calculations for a specific instrument design indicate that a low energy electron magnetometer (LEEM) can measure magnetic fields as low as 1000 nT. The anticipated performance of LEEM is compared with that of the existing high resolution magnetometers in selected applications. The fast response time of LEEM makes it especially attractive as a potential instrument for magnetic signature analysis in large engineering systems.

Singh, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Correction of instrumental distortion by analytical deconvolution of data

A general analytical theorem developed by van de Hulst (1946) for inverting the convolution integral is reviewed and illustrated both with synthetic data and with experimental data from time-of-flight measurements. If the undesired influence of an instrument used in an experimental measurement can be represented by the convolution integral, the original undistorted or true distribution may sometimes be recovered in postprocessing the data by means of deconvolution. Analytical deconvolution is achieved by using the coefficients from a power series representation of the distorted output distribution and a set of 'solving polynomials' which may be readily derived from the response function of the instrument.

Morton, D. C.↗