Engineering Papers⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Smith, P. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Smith, P. L..

At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1982

Curve fitting and modeling with splines using statistical variable selection techniques

The successful application of statistical variable selection techniques to fit splines is demonstrated. Major emphasis is given to knot selection, but order determination is also discussed. Two FORTRAN backward elimination programs, using the B-spline basis, were developed. The program for knot elimination is compared in detail with two other spline-fitting methods and several statistical software packages. An example is also given for the two-variable case using a tensor product basis, with a theoretical discussion of the difficulties of their use.

Smith, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Fitting multidimensional splines using statistical variable selection techniques

This report demonstrates the successful application of statistical variable selection techniques to fit splines. Major emphasis is given to knot selection, but order determination is also discussed. Two FORTRAN backward elimination programs using the B-spline basis were developed, and the one for knot elimination is compared in detail with two other spline-fitting methods and several statistical software packages. An example is also given for the two-variable case using a tensor product basis, with a theoretical discussion of the difficulties of their use.

Smith, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Laser-excitation technique for the measurement of absolute transition probabilities of weak atomic lines

A new technique is presented for the measurement of transition probabilities for weak allowed, intersystem, and forbidden lines. The method exploits the fact that oscillator strength is proportional to the number of stimulated absorptions and emissions produced by a narrow-band laser pulse of known energy which is in resonance with an atomic transition. The method is tested for a particular transition of Mg I with a known oscillator strength value and of appropriate magnitude. The number densities are measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and the hook method for the lower level population and by measuring an absorption-equivalent width for the other. The apparatus consisted of a high-power tunable laser and a magnesium oven to produce excited Mg vapor, and a laser-plasma background continuum. The results are in good agreement with theoretical and other experimental data.

Kwong, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Ultraviolet absorption studies of H2O and other species in comet comae with satellite telescope-spectrometers

It is noted that ultraviolet absorption by H2O and other species in the comae of comets could be detected by studying, with satellite telescope-spectrometers, the occultation of hot stars by comets. Observations of this type could produce the first detection of H2O, the fundamental parent molecule in comet comae, and give measures of molecular level populations. The capabilities of the High Resolution Spectrograph on Space Telescope, the first instrument suitable for such observations, are discussed. A Haser model is used to estimate the molecular column densities and to predict equivalent widths for lines of H2O, OH, CO, C, and O as functions of time and angular distance from a comet with a high H2O production rate. The minimum detectable equivalent widths are determined, thereby giving the maximum angular separation from such a comet at which H2O, OH, and CO could be studied. Estimated equivalent widths for CO, OH, and the resonance lines of C and O suggest that these species may also be detected.

Smith, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Vacuum ultraviolet Mach-Zehnder interferometer with CaF2 optics

CaF2 beam splitters and compensation and test cell windows have been installed in a VUV Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Results of an evaluation of their performance in the VUV, namely, a measurement of the oscillator strength (f value) of the resonance transition at atomic xenon at 146.9610 nm are reported.

Smith, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Chlorine chemistry in diffuse interstellar clouds

The results of recent observations of the column densities of chlorine species in diffuse interstellar clouds are inconsistent with the column densities predicted by model calculations. The use of new atomic and molecular data fails to decrease the discrepancy. It is speculated that the exothermic reaction Cl(+) yields HCl(+) + H may not be rapid at the low temperatures prevailing in diffuse interstellar clouds.

Black, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

New method for determining relative oscillator strengths of atoms through combined absorption and emission measurements - Application to titanium /Ti I/

The paper introduces a procedure that combines measurements of absorption and emission by atoms to obtain relative oscillator strengths that are independent of temperature determination in the sources and of assumptions regarding local thermodynamic equilibrium. The experimental observations are formed into sets of transitions and required to satisfy defined ratios. The procedure is illustrated with the published data of Whaling et al. and Smith and Kuehne for 16 transitions in Ti I. It is shown that the relative oscillator strengths resulting from this procedure have calculated uncertainties between 5 and 17% (about 95% confidence level). Evidence is presented to suggest that these uncertainties have been overestimated.

Cardon, B. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

High current hollow cathode tube as a source of metastable atoms

A source for the continuous production of neutral metastable atoms is described. A hollow cathode discharge tube was used to produce densities of 3.5 times 10 to the 13th per cu cm and column densities of 1.6 times 10 to the 15th per sq cm in the 4s(2)2D metastable term of neutral copper. The accuracy of these density determinations (+ or - 30 to + or - 66%) is limited by the oscillator strengths required for the analysis. The usefulness of the source was demonstrated by measurements of relative oscillator strengths of some Cu I lines in the 2200 A wavelength region. These data are compared with those obtained by other methods.

Lombardi, G. G.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Oscillator strengths of neutral titanium from hook method measurements in a furnace. I - Lines from the a 3F2, 3 and 4 levels at 0, 0.021, and 0.048 eV

Oscillator strengths for 134 lines from the ground term of neutral titanium have been measured by the hook method. The data, which are normalized to those of Bell, Kalman and Tubbs, agree well with most previously measured data but indicate that there is a line strength dependent error in the National Bureau of Standards compilation of TiIf-values by Wiese and Fuhr.

Smith, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Rheology of composite solid propellants during motor casting

In a study conducted to evaluate flow parameters of uncured solid composite propellants during motor casting, two motors (1.8M-lb grain wt) were cast with a PBAN propellant exhibiting good flow characteristics in a 260-in. dia solid rocket motor. Attention is given to the effects of propellant compositional and processing variables on apparent viscosity as they pertain to rheological behavior and grain defect formation during casting. It is noted that optimized flow behavior is impaired with solid propellant loading. Non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flow is observed, which is dependent upon applied shear stress and the age of the uncured propellant.

Rogers, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Rheology of composite solid propellants during motor casting

Results of casting studies are reviewed so as to define the viscosity criteria insuring the fabrication of defect-free grains. The rheology of uncured propellants is analyzed showing that a realistic assessment of a propellant's flow properties must include measurement of viscosity as a function of shear stress and time after curing agent. Methods for measuring propellant viscosity are discussed, with particular attention given to the Haake-Rotovisko rotational viscometer. The effects of propellant compositional and processing variables on apparent viscosity are examined, as are results relating rheological behavior to grain defect formation during casting.

Klager, K.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Absolute oscillator strengths for the iron group - A correction to the data of Warner for the second spectra and a comment on some of the semiempirical results of Kurucz and Peytremann

It has already been shown that the Fe II absolute oscillator strengths (f-values) measured by Warner (1967) contain a systematic error, the magnitude of which depends on the energy of the transition's upper level. The present paper demonstrates that this error affects all of Warner's oscillator strengths for the second spectra of the iron group and develops a correction formula for Warner's results. A comparison of the corrected f-values with other measured f-values for Ti II, V II, and Fe II indicates that the correction improves the usefulness of Warner's data and that the corrected f-values have no large systematic dependence on wavelength, level energy, or line strength. Solar abundances for iron-group elements computed using the original and corrected f-values are compared with recently suggested abundances, and it is found that the corrected f-values yield more consistent results. Semiempirical oscillator strengths calculated by Kurucz and Peytremann (1975) for Fe I, Ti II, and V II are also compared with measured data to evaluate the accuracy of the calculations. It is found that the absolute scales of these results are roughly correct, but some of them are subject to very large errors.

Smith, P. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Refractivities of H2, He, O2, CO, and Kr for 168-288 nm wavelength range

Precision measurements of the refractivities of H2, He, O2, CO, and Kr were made in the wavelength range 168-288 nm. By using a 1.2-m-long test cell and by keeping the test gas at accurately determined conditions near atmospheric pressure and room temperature, accuracies (90% confidence limit) were achieved for the absolute refractivities that ranged from plus or minus 0.1% to plus or minus 1.0% depending upon the gas and wavelength range. For a given gas, the ratio of refractivities at any two wavelengths has a smaller uncertainty. For H2, CO, and O2, results are for wavelengths shorter than those of previous measurements and, for He and Kr, the uncertainties are less than those of other measurements. For He refractivities agree with the theoretical ones, but in the case of H2 results are about 1% larger than the theoretical values. At the upper end of the wavelength range studied, the data are in agreement with previous measurements on H2, CO, and Kr. For O2 results indicate that the hitherto available data are too large by amounts ranging from 0.8% to 10%.

Smith, P. L.↗