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NASA NTRS1987

Meteor velocity distribution and an optimum monitoring mathematical model

At present, there are a great number of radio meteor, ionosphere and rocket observation data for the altitude range of 80 to 100 km which indicate the existence of large scale circulation systems in the mesopause to low thermosphere range which change regularly with season and latitude. But the existing observation network and observation programs are not optimal for revealing the main factors forming the circulation mode at these altitudes. A generalized optimum monitoring mathematical model is offered for consideration. The model input data are distribution density, response function, individual measurement root mean square uncertainty and detection effectiveness function. The model makes it possible to obtain the observation distribution density, the minimal possible dispersion and optimized system effectiveness.

Volkov, N. G.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Velocities and rotational excitation of interstellar H2 toward Pi Scorpii

A spectrum of Pi Sco showing numerous atomic lines and 70 absorption features from the Lyman and Werner transitions of interstellar H2 in rotational level J from zero to five is presented. Their shapes of the composite column density profiles are very nearly Gaussian with a one-dimensional rms velocity dispersion of 3 km/s. The behavior of shifts in the inferred N(H2) as a function of velocity are consistent with the overall profiles being composed of nearly symmetrical, tightly paced assemblies of about seven unresolved components. The relative overall column densities in the higher J levels of H2 are consistent with a model where these states are populated by optical pumping through the Lyman and Werner transitions, powered by UV radiation from nearby stars. The slight narrowing of the high-J profiles may be due to small clumps of H2 at radial velocities some 5-8 km/s from the core of the profile are exposed to a pumping flux about 10 times lower than that for the material near the profile's center.

Jenkins, Edward B.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Scattered light in the echelle modes of the Goddard high-resolution spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. I - Analysis of prelaunch calibration data

A study of scattered light in the echelle mode of the Goddard high-resolution spectrograph (GHRS), one of the first-generation science instruments aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, is reported. The data analyzed are from the GHRS ground-based test program and include observations with the 500 channel Digicon detectors through the small science aperture of UV emission-line sources, continuum sources, and continuum sources viewed through molecular absorption cells. The two largest contributors to scattered light are the echelle and cross-disperser, the effects of which have been quantified. A computer simulation using the derived scattering functions demonstrates that the combined effects of these sources of scattered light adequately explain the observed level of interorder light when viewing UV continuum sources. Observing strategies and data reduction algorithms for measuring and removing the effects of the scattered light are discussed.

Cardelli, Jason A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Numerical studies of dilute and dense spray characteristics

Several issues involving the improvement of physical submodels and the computational efficiency in modeling dilute and dense spray combustion are discussed. First, the implementations of a dispersion width approach accounting for turbulent dispersion within each computational parcel is discussed. This is essentially a statistical transport model and the testings of this model confirm the capability of accurately representing dispersion in nearly-homogeneous and inhomogeneous turbulent flows with improved efficiency over the delta function stochastic separated flow model. To account for the dense spray effects, an existing drop collision and coalescence model and a Taylor analogy breakup (TAB) model were employed. These models were incorporated into a state-of-the-art multiphase all-speed transient flow solution procedure. Several examples including nonevaporating, evaporating, and burning dense spray cases were studied. The numerical results show reasonably good comparisons with available experimental data in terms of spray penetration, drop sizes, and overall configuration of a spray flame.

Kim, Y. M.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The mirror and ion cyclotron anisotropy instabilities

The linear dispersion equation for fully electromagnetic waves and instabilities at arbitrary directions of propagation relative to a background magnetic field B(0) in a homogeneous Vlasov plasma is solved numerically for bi-Maxwellian particle distributions. For isotropic plasmas the dispersion and damping of the three modes below the proton cyclotron frequency are studied as functions of Beta(i) and T(e)/T(i). The transport ratios of helicity, cross-helicity, Alfven ratio, compressibility, and parallel compressibility are defined. Under the condition that the proton temperature perpendicular to B(0) is greater than the parallel temperature, the growth rates and transport ratios of the mirror instability and the ion cyclotron anisotropy instability are examined and compared. Both the proton parallel compressibility and the proton Alfven ratio are significantly different for the two growing modes.

Gary, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A dynamic study of fragmentation and energy loss during high velocity impact

Research conducted under this contract can be divided into two main areas: hypervelocity (in the range up to 7 km/s) and high velocity (less than 1 km/s). Work in the former was performed at NASA-MSFC using the Light Gas Gun Facility. The lower velocity studies were conducted at Auburn University using the ballistic gun. The emphasis of the project was on the hypervelocity phenomenon especially in the characterization of the debris cloud formed by the primary impact events. Special devices were made to determine the angular distributions of momentum and energy of the debris cloud as a function of impact conditions. After several iteration processes, it was decided to concentrate on the momentum effort. Prototype devices were designed, fabricated, and tested. These devices were based on the conservation of momentum. Distributions of the debris cloud formed were measured by determining the amount of momentum transferred from the debris cloud to strategically placed pendulum measurement devices. The motion of the pendula was monitored using itegrated opto-interrupters. The distribution of momentum in the debris cloud was found to be a strong function of the impact condition. Small projectiles at high velocities were observed to produce finely dispersed debris whereas large projectiles generated discrete particles in the debris. Results also show that the momentum in the forward direction was enhanced due to the impact. This phenomenon of momentum multiplication was also observed in other studies and in computer simulations. It was initially planned to determine the energy distribution using deformation energy in a rod with strain gauges. Results from preliminary studies show that this technique is acceptable but too tedious. A new technique was explored based on measuring the heating effect of the debris cloud using an IR camera. The feasibility and sensitivity was established at Auburn University. This type of energy distribution measurement method can easily be adapted to the gas gun facility at MSFC. The objective of the lower velocity studies at Auburn was to simulate the damage produced in advanced materials by the lower energy debris cloud.

Zee, Ralph H.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Oxidation of ZrB2-SiC

In this paper the oxidation behavior of ZrB2-20 vol% SiC is examined. Samples were exposed in stagnant air in a zirconia furnace (Deltech, Inc.) at temperatures of 1327, 1627, and 1927 C for ten ten-minute cycles. Samples were removed from the furnace after one, five, and ten cycles. Oxidized material was characterized by mass change when possible, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Oxidation kinetics, oxide scale development, and matrix recession were monitored as a function of time and temperature. Oxidation and recession rates of ZrB2 - 20 vol% SiC were adequately modeled by parabolic kinetics. Oxidation rates of this material are rapid, allowing only very short-term application in air or other high oxygen partial pressure environments.

Opila, Elizabeth J.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Formation of Brown Dwarfs LTSA 2001

The goals of the work funded by this grant are: 1) The measurement of the mass function and minimum mass of free-floating brown dwarfs down to the mass of Jupiter; 2) The measurement of the frequency of wide brown dwarf and planetary companions down to the mass of Jupiter as function of primary mass (0.02-2 Msun), age (1-10 Myr), and environment (clusters vs. dispersed regions). For the first objective, we have completed the design of guaranteed SIRTF observations of nearby star-forming regions. With the successful launch of the SIRTF mission in August of 2003, we now await the execution of these observations, which should begin in early 2004. In support of these upcoming observations, in the fall of 2002 and spring of 2003 we obtained optical spectroscopy at the MMT, the 1.5 meter telescope at Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, and Magellan Observatory for several hundred candidate young low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the IC348, Taurus, and Chamaeleon star-forming regions. All of these data have been published in three papers in The Astrophysical Journal. We also recently used the MMT to obtain deep near-IR images of IC348 to accompany the SIRTF images and have time in the next month at the IRTF and Keck for spectroscopy of candidate brown dwarfs in IC348 and Taurus. We have submitted proposals for deep optical and near-IR imaging of the SIRTF fields in Chamaeleon and Ophiuchus for spring 2004 with Magellan and the AAT. Results from this research have been presented in invited talks at UU Symposium 221 (July 2003) and at the SIRTF Galactic Science Workshop (August 2003). For the second objective, we have used deep HST WFPC2 images to search for young giant planets and brown dwarfs around approx. 100 low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the nearby cluster IC348. We have completed all data reduction and have checked these data for candidate companions. We expect to submit the paper describing these observations to The Astrophysical Journal by the end of the year. In addition, in SIRTF guaranteed time observations we plan to search for wide substellar companions (>10 sec) around the youngest nearby field stars (ages of 30-100 Myr, d<30 pc). We have submitted a proposal to use Keck adaptive optics imaging to search these same stars for close-in planets and brown dwarfs at 0.1-10 sec, which will perfectly complement our SIRTF observations.

Luhman, Kevin L.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Formation of Brown Dwarfs LTSA 2001

The goals of the work funded by this grant are: 1) The measurement of the mass function and minimum mass of free-floating brown dwarfs down to the mass of Jupiter. 2) The measurement of the frequency of wide brown dwarf and planetary companions down to the mass of Jupiter as function of primary mass (0.02-2 Msun), age (1-10 Myr), and environment (clusters vs. dispersed regions).

Oliversen, Ronald J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Ionic conductivity and thermoelectric power of pure and Al2O3-dispersed AgI

Ionic and electronic conductivities, and thermoelectric power have been measured for AgI and AgI containing a dispersion of submicron size Al2O3 particles. While the dispersion of Al2O3 enhances the ionic conductivity significantly, it does not affect the electronic properties of the matrix. The enhancement is a strong function of the size and concentration of the dispersoid. Various models have been tested to account for the enhanced conduction. However, the complex behavior of the present results points out the need for more sophisticated theoretical models. Ionic conduction and thermoelectric power data suggest that the dispersed Al2O3 generates an excess of cation vacancies and thereby enhances the conductivity and suppresses the thermoelectric power of the matrix. The individual heats of transport of cation interstitials and vacancies have been estimated and compared to their respective migration energies.

Shahi, K.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Radar Observation of Insects - Mosquitoes

Tests were conducted at several sites over the coastal lowlands of New Jersey and over a region of high plains and low mountains in Oklahoma. In one area, a salt marsh in New Jersey, extensive ground tests were combined with laboratory data on expected insect backscatter to arrive at an extremely convincing model of the insect origin of most Dot Angels. A great deal of insight was studied from radar on the buildup and dispersal of insect swarms, since radar can follow where other means of trapping and observation cannot. Data on large-scale behavior as a function of wind and topography are presented. Displayed techniques which show individual or small swarm motion within some larger cloud or mass, or which can show the overall motion over great distances were developed. The influence of wind and terrain on insect motion and dispersal is determined from radar data.

Frost, E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Evaluation of an efficient statistical transport model for turbulent droplet dispersion in dilute combusting sprays

Evaluation of an efficient statistical transport model for turbulent droplet dispersion is made for a dilute spray of methanol droplets injected into a turbulent, axisymmnetric methane-fuelled diffusion flame burning in stagnant air. In the dispersion model, a computational parcel representing a group of physical particles (droplets) is considered to have a normal probability density function (pdf) in space. The mean is determined by Lagrangian tracking through a sequence of stochastically generated turbulent eddies and the variance is evaluated from a statistical formulation based on the linearized particle equations of motion. The basic validity of this model is established through comparison with available experimental data and with theoretical predictions using a conventional stochastic direct modeling approach. The conclusion of the evaluation is that the proposed dispersion model compares favorably with experimental data and provides a valid technique for simulating turbulent combusting sprays with significant computational savings over conventional methods.

Litchford, Ron J.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Functionalizing CNTs for Making Epoxy/CNT Composites

Functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with linear molecular side chains of polyphenylene ether (PPE) has been shown to be effective in solubilizing the CNTs in the solvent components of solutions that are cast to make epoxy/CNT composite films. (In the absence of solubilization, the CNTs tend to clump together instead of becoming dispersed in solution as needed to impart, to the films, the desired CNT properties of electrical conductivity and mechanical strength.) Because the PPE functionalizes the CNTs in a noncovalent manner, the functionalization does not damage the CNTs. The functionalization can also be exploited to improve the interactions between CNTs and epoxy matrices to enhance the properties of the resulting composite films. In addition to the CNTs, solvent, epoxy resin, epoxy hardener, and PPE, a properly formulated solution also includes a small amount of polycarbonate, which serves to fill voids that, if allowed to remain, would degrade the performance of the film. To form the film, the solution is drop-cast or spin-cast, then the solvent is allowed to evaporate.

Chen, Jian↗

NASA NTRS1971

Ion acoustic waves in a multi-ion plasma.

An exact treatment of the multispecies ion acoustic dispersion relation is given for an argon/helium plasma. Phase velocity and damping are obtained as a function of ion-electron temperature ratio and relative densities of the two species. There are two important modes in the plasma, with quite different phase velocities, which are referred to as principal heavy ion mode and principal light ion mode. Which of these is dominant depends on the relative densities of the two components, but, in general, the light ion mode becomes important for surprisingly small light ion contamination. Approximate analytic expressions are derived from damping rates and phase velocities and their domains of validity are investigated. Relevance of the results for the investigation of collisionless shocks is discussed.

Fried, B. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Two-boundary grid generation for the solution of the three dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes equations

A grid generation technique called the two boundary technique is developed and applied for the solution of the three dimensional Navier-Stokes equations. The Navier-Stokes equations are transformed from a cartesian coordinate system to a computational coordinate system, and the grid generation technique provides the Jacobian matrix describing the transformation. The two boundary technique is based on algebraically defining two distinct boundaries of a flow domain and the distribution of the grid is achieved by applying functions to the uniform computational grid which redistribute the computational independent variables and consequently concentrate or disperse the grid points in the physical domain. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved using a MacCormack time-split technique. Grids and supersonic laminar flow solutions are obtained for a family of three dimensional corners and two spike-nosed bodies.

Smith, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Avalanche Photodiode Statistics in Triggered-avalanche Detection Mode

The output of a triggered avalanche mode avalanche photodiode is modeled as Poisson distributed primary avalanche events plus conditionally Poisson distributed trapped carrier induced secondary events. The moment generating function as well as the mean and variance of the diode output statistics are derived. The dispersion of the output statistics is shown to always exceed that of the Poisson distribution. Several examples are considered in detail.

Tan, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Propagation and stability of wavelike solutions of finite difference equations with variable coefficients

The propagation and dissipation of wavelike solutions to finite difference equations is analyzed on the basis of an asymptotic approach in which a wave solution is expressed as a product of a complex amplitude and an oscillatory phase function whose frequency and wavenumber may also be complex. An asymptotic expansion leads to a local dispersion relation for wavenumber and frequency; the first-order terms produce an equation for the amplitude in which the local group velocity appears as the convection velocity of the amplitude. Equations for the motion of wavepackets and their interaction at boundaries are derived, and a global stability analysis is carried out.

Giles, M. B.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Turbulent motion in galactic H II regions

An investigation of radial velocities across the face of NGC 1499, NGC 7000, and S252 reveals that the fine-scale (turbulent) motions are well ordered from the limit of spatial resolution to the full size of the nebulae. As in higher spatial resolution studies of S142 and M17, analysis of the dispersion relation reveals that there is agreement with Kolmogorov theory (1941). However, study of the structure function reveals the same result as found by Roy and Joncas (1985), that the structure function increases with separation much more slowly than theoretically expected, calling into question the application of Kolmogorov theory. The Roy-Joncas result that the fine-scale motion seems to begin at about the sonic velocity are confirmed. It is shown that a condition exists of near equipartition of energies between fine-scale mass motion and thermal gas motion, which raises the question of a possible link.

Odell, C. R.↗