Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “electron beams”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11

Practicality of electronic beam steering for MST/ST radars, part 6.2A

Electronic beam steering is described as complex and expensive. The Sunset implementation of electronic steering is described, and it is demonstrated that such systems are cost effective, versatile, and no more complex than fixed beam alternatives, provided three or more beams are needed. The problem of determining accurate meteorological wind components in the presence of spatial variation is considered. A cost comparison of steerable and fixed systems allowing solution of this problem is given. The concepts and relations involved in phase steering are given, followed by the description of the Sunset ST radar steering system. The implications are discussed, references to the competing SAD method are provided, and a recommendation concerning the design of the future Doppler ST/MST systems is made.

Clark, W. L.↗

Soft X-ray emission from electron-beam-heated solar flares

Using time-dependent numerical simulations and Solar Maximum Mission observations of a solar flare on 1985 January 23, a study is conducted of the ability of an electron-beam-heating model to reproduce the rise phase of a flare as observed in soft X-ray lines of Ca XIX. The electron beam is parameterized by a peak flux, a low-energy cutoff, and a spectral index, and has a time dependence similar to the observed hard X-ray burst. For a spectral index of 6, only models with a low-energy cutoff of 20 keV reproduce the observed peak emission in the Ca XIX line complex. All models with a low-energy cutoff of 15 keV produce too much emission, while all models with a 25-keV cutoff too little emission. None of the models reproduces the temporal behavior of the soft X-ray emission. The electron-beam-heated component is theorized to only represent a small fraction of the energy released in the impulsive phase of this flare.

Mariska, John T.↗

Apparatus and technique for pulsed electron beam annealing for solar cell production

Many of the demands of high-throughput processing of solar cells can be satisfied by transient methods using pulsed electron beams. A prototype pulsed electron beam processor for solar cell production has been built, and is intended for automated annealing of solar cell junction ion implantation at a rate of 1200-1800 silicon wafers per hour. Other applications include solar cell junctions by pulse diffusion, annealing of ion-implanted back surface fields, and pulse sintering of cell metallization.

Landis, G. A.↗

Hot Forming With Electron-Beam Welder

Hot forming to restore size and shape of thin metal parts done with electron-beam welder. Work-piece heated in scanning defocused electron beam rather than conventional heat-treating furnace. Technique proved successful in straightening some thin flanges of nickel alloy and titanium.

Dobson, R. K.↗

Determination of deep level capture cross sections in wide band-gap semiconductors by means of an electron beam

The paper presents a general theory for the determination of the short circuit current generated by a sinusoidally amplitude-modulated electron beam in the presence of recombination centers with an arbitrary number of charge states. It is shown that a measurement of the coherent phase shift with respect to the incident beam as a function of the modulation frequency of the beam ascertains the magnitudes of electron and hole capture cross sections. The surface exposed to the electron beam must have a negligible surface recombination velocity for the measurements to be unambiguous.

Von Roos, O.↗

Suppressor plate eliminates undesired arcing during electron beam welding

Suppressor grid eliminates undesired arcing during electron beam welding in one of two ways. A grid at ground potential collects secondary emission of ions and electrons produced by the beam as it strikes the workpiece, or a negatively energized grid repels the plasma arc back to the workpiece. This eliminates ground screens used to cover view ports.

Hanchey, K. K.↗

Electron-Beam Diagnostic Methods for Hypersonic Flow Diagnostics

The purpose of this work was the evaluation of the use of electron-bean fluorescence for flow measurements during hypersonic flight. Both analytical and numerical models were developed in this investigation to evaluate quantitatively flow field imaging concepts based upon the electron beam fluorescence technique for use in flight research and wind tunnel applications. Specific models were developed for: (1) fluorescence excitation/emission for nitrogen, (2) rotational fluorescence spectrum for nitrogen, (3) single and multiple scattering of electrons in a variable density medium, (4) spatial and spectral distribution of fluorescence, (5) measurement of rotational temperature and density, (6) optical filter design for fluorescence imaging, and (7) temperature accuracy and signal acquisition time requirements. Application of these models to a typical hypersonic wind tunnel flow is presented. In particular, the capability of simulating the fluorescence resulting from electron impact ionization in a variable density nitrogen or air flow provides the capability to evaluate the design of imaging instruments for flow field mapping. The result of this analysis is a recommendation that quantitative measurements of hypersonic flow fields using electron-bean fluorescence is a tractable method with electron beam energies of 100 keV. With lower electron energies, electron scattering increases with significant beam divergence which makes quantitative imaging difficult. The potential application of the analytical and numerical models developed in this work is in the design of a flow field imaging instrument for use in hypersonic wind tunnels or onboard a flight research vehicle.

Source record↗

Analysis of the electron-beam-induced current of a polycrystalline p-n junction when the diffusion lengths of the material on either side of a grain boundary differ

The short circuit current generated by the electron beam of a scanning electron microscope in p-n junctions is reduced by enhanced recombination at grain boundaries in polycrystalline material. Frequently, grain boundaries separate the semiconductor into regions possessing different minority carrier life times. This markedly affects the short circuit current I(sc) as a function of scanning distance from the grain boundary. It will be shown theoretically that (1) the minimum of the I(sc) in crossing the grain boundary with the scanning electron beam is shifted away from the grain boundary toward the region with smaller life time (shorter diffusion length), (2) the magnitude of the minimum differs markedly from those calculated under the assumption of equal diffusion lengths on either side of the grain boundary, and (3) the minimum disappears altogether for small surface recombination velocities (s less than 10,000 cm/s). These effects become negligible, however, for large recombination velocities s at grain boundaries. For p-type silicon this happens for s not less than 100,000 cm/s.

Von Roos, O.↗

Laser-electron beam interaction applied to optical amplifiers and oscillators

Momentum modulation of a relativistic electron beam by a Nd:YAG laser is demonstrated. The electrons, at 100 MeV energy, interact with the laser light in helium gas at standard temperature and pressure. At an angle of 6.55 mrad between the two wavevectors, corresponding to the Cerenkov angle, a given electron remains in a field of constant phase as it passes through the light beam. The experimental arrangement is illustrated showing the trajectories of the electron and light. The particle momentum is measured by a mass spectrometer, and the angle between the wavevectors is controlled by a rotatable mirror. Experimental results indicate that momentum modulation of an electron beam may be used for amplification. A possible configuration for an optical klystron is illustrated.

Pantell, R. H.↗

Closed-Loop Process Control for Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication and Deposition Processes

A closed-loop control method for an electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF(sup 3)) process includes detecting a feature of interest during the process using a sensor(s), continuously evaluating the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein, and automatically modifying control parameters to control the EBF(sup 3) process. An apparatus provides closed-loop control method of the process, and includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam, a wire feeder for feeding a wire toward a substrate, wherein the wire is melted and progressively deposited in layers onto the substrate, a sensor(s), and a host machine. The sensor(s) measure the feature of interest during the process, and the host machine continuously evaluates the feature of interest to determine, in real time, a change occurring therein. The host machine automatically modifies control parameters to the EBF(sup 3) apparatus to control the EBF(sup 3) process in a closed-loop manner.

Taminger, Karen M.↗

Pulsed-electron-beam annealing of ion-implantation damage

Short-duration high-intensity pulsed electron beams have been used to anneal ion-implantation damage in silicon and to electrically activate the dopant species. Lattice regrowth and dopant activation were determined using He(+)-4 backscattering, SEM, TEM, and device performance characteristics as diagnostic techniques. The annealing mechanism is believed to be liquid-phase epitaxial regrowth initiating from the substrate. The high-temperature transient pulse produced by the electron beam causes the dopant to diffuse rapidly in the region where the liquid state is achieved.

Greenwald, A. C.↗

Limitations on millimeter-wave power generation with spiraling electron beams.

A study is made of the suitability of the interaction between a thin, solid, spiraling electron beam of 5-15-kV energy and a microwave cavity, for the purpose of generating watts of CW millimeter-wave power. The effect of finite energy spread in the electron beam is considered both theoretically and experimentally. Measured results are given for a prototype device operating at 9.4 GHz. Power outputs of 5 W and electronic efficiencies near 2% have been obtained. The data agree well with the theory, subject to some ambiguity in the energy-distribution parameters. The performance is strongly limited by the energy spread in the beam.

Kulke, B.↗

Understanding the Impact of Field-Emitter Characteristics on Electron Beam Focusing in the VAPoR Time-of-Fight Mass Spectrometer

Simulations of field emission of electrons from an electron gun are used to determine the angular distribution of the emitted electron beam and the percentage of charge transmitted through the grid. The simulations are a first step towards understanding the spherical aberration present after focusing the electron beam. The effect of offset of the cathode with respect to the grid and the separation between cathode and grid on the angular distributions of emitted electrons and transmission of the grid are explored.

electron gun↗

Observations of waves artificially stimulated by an electron beam inside a region with auroral precipitation

Observations of waves stimulated by artificial injection inside an auroral arc by an electron accelerator mounted on the POLAR 5 sounding rocket are presented. The accelerator produced a pulsed electron beam with currents up to 130 mA and energies up to 10 keV; emissions after the end of beam injection were generated by perturbations in the ambient plasma near the accelerator during beam injection. These emissions were independent of the electron beam direction along the geomagnetic field. The high frequency emission observed after beam injection correlated with the passage through an auroral arc; the low frequency emissions after beam injection were concentrated in two bands below the lower hybrid frequency.

Grandal, B.↗

Effect of electron beam pulse width on time-of-flight spectra

A simple but useful formula describing the effect of electron gun pulse width on the time of flight (TOF) spectra measured in translational spectroscopy experiments is developed. An approximately monoenergetic pulsed electrostatically focused electron beam traverses a scattering cell filled with a Maxwellian gas. Inelastic electron collisions with the gas produce metastable particles, ions, scattered electrons, and photons which then pass through a collimating slit system at right angles to the electron beam. TOF techniques are used to separate the photon signal from the metastable particle signal and to measure the TOF distribution of the metastable species.

Misakian, M.↗