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At least 199 records · Page 11

NASA Tech Briefs, July 2009

Topics covered include: Dual Cryogenic Capacitive Density Sensor; Hail Monitor Sensor; Miniature Six-Axis Load Sensor for Robotic Fingertip; Improved Blackbody Temperature Sensors for a Vacuum Furnace; Wrap-Around Out-the-Window Sensor Fusion System; Wide-Range Temperature Sensors with High-Level Pulse Train Output; Terminal Descent Sensor Simulation; A Robust Mechanical Sensing System for Unmanned Sea Surface Vehicles; Additive for Low-Temperature Operation of Li-(CF)n Cells; Li/CFx Cells Optimized for Low-Temperature Operation; Number Codes Readable by Magnetic-Field-Response Recorders; Determining Locations by Use of Networks of Passive Beacons; Superconducting Hot-Electron Submillimeter-Wave Detector; Large-Aperture Membrane Active Phased-Array Antennas; Optical Injection Locking of a VCSEL in an OEO; Measuring Multiple Resistances Using Single-Point Excitation; Improved-Bandwidth Transimpedance Amplifier; Inter-Symbol Guard Time for Synchronizing Optical PPM; Novel Materials Containing Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes Wrapped in Polymer Molecules; Light-Curing Adhesive Repair Tapes; Thin-Film Solid Oxide Fuel Cells; Zinc Alloys for the Fabrication of Semiconductor Devices; Small, Lightweight, Collapsible Glove Box; Radial Halbach Magnetic Bearings; Aerial Deployment and Inflation System for Mars Helium Balloons; Steel Primer Chamber Assemblies for Dual Initiated Pyrovalves; Voice Coil Percussive Mechanism Concept for Hammer Drill; Inherently Ducted Propfans and Bi-Props; Silicon Nanowire Growth at Chosen Positions and Orientations; Detecting Airborne Mercury by Use of Gold Nanowires; Detecting Airborne Mercury by Use of Palladium Chloride; Micro Electron MicroProbe and Sample Analyzer; Nanowire Electron Scattering Spectroscopy; Electron-Spin Filters Would Offer Spin Polarization Greater than 1; Subcritical-Water Extraction of Organics from Solid Matrices; A Model for Predicting Thermoelectric Properties of Bi2Te3; Integrated Miniature Arrays of Optical Biomolecule Detectors; A Software Rejuvenation Framework for Distributed Computing; Kurtosis Approach to Solution of a Nonlinear ICA Problem; Robust Software Architecture for Robots; R4SA for Controlling Robots; Bio-Inspired Neural Model for Learning Dynamic Models; Evolutionary Computing Methods for Spectral Retrieval; Monitoring Disasters by Use of Instrumented Robotic Aircraft; Complexity for Survival of Living Systems; Using Drained Spacecraft Propellant Tanks for Habitation; Connecting Node; and Electrolytes for Low-Temperature Operation of Li-CFx Cells.

Source record↗

Melt Infiltration Studies of 2D Tyranno SA3(R) Ceramic Matrix Composite Preforms with CrSi2 Intermetallic Alloy

The present paper reports the results of melt infiltrating 2D Tyranno SA3@ fiber woven preforms with molten CrSi2 between 1768 and 1896 K under a vacuum of 1.3 x 10-4 Pa (10-6 torr). The infiltration times varied between 1800 and 7200 s, which did not have any significant effect on the volume fraction of voids filled with the metal. Optical and scanning electron microscopy, back scattered electron imaging, energy dispersion spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the infiltrated preforms. A plot of the volume fraction of open voids infiltrated against the absolute melt infiltration temperature showed a sharp peak at 1773 K with almost complete infiltration of the voids at this temperature. The extent of silicide infiltration of the preforms dropped steeply above 1773 K with increasing melt infiltration temperature irrespective of the amount of infiltration time. Above 1805 K, the volume fraction of voids infiltrated with the melt was nearly 0%. It is demonstrated that CrSi2 did not show evidence of a reaction with the SiC fibers. The possibility that a resisting force due to contact angle hysteresis (CAH) may have influenced the diminishing amount of voids filled with increasing temperature above 1773 K was examined. The resistance force was estimated to be extremely small to be consequential. Another possibility that the CrSi2 may have decomposed into Cr(g) and Si(g) in the vacuum melt infiltration furnace appeared to be more plausible based on thermodynamic analyses. An empirical equation is proposed to calculate the amount of remaining charge left to infiltrate the preforms at the infiltration temperature. It is shown that an initial charge of 10 g would rationalize the present observations. While the decomposition of the CrSi2 appeared to mostly explain the present results, some discrepancies were observed, which were inconsistent with the decomposition model.

CrSi2, chromium silicide, ceramic matrix composite↗

Boltzmann equation for the electron gas of a nondegenerate plasma

The collision terms in the Boltzmann equation associated with various processes are derived. For processes having a Fokker-Planck (F-P) limit, the associated F-P operator is derived by means of physical arguments to determine the form of the operator; its multiplying constant is fixed by calculating the total energy exchange rate and comparing with the rate computed by other means. In this manner, the F-P operator is derived for electron-ion scattering, electron-electron scattering in the high-velocity limit, electron-atom elastic scattering, Compton scattering, and the high-velocity limit for inelastic scattering. Other processes considered are bremsstrahlung, radiative-recombination, photoionization, collisional ionization of atoms, and suprathermal-particle ionization of atoms.

Gould, R. J.↗

Shifts of the spectral lines of He(+) produced by electron collisions

The shifts of the Ly-alpha, Ly-beta, and H-alpha lines of He(+) in a plasma, produced by electron scattering from radiating ions are calculated. Electron densities in the neighborhood of 10 to the 17th/cu cm and plasma temperatures from 1 to 6 eV are considered. The calculation is made in the impact approximation, and is based on a six-state close-coupling computation of the scattering matrices, into which an optical potential has been inserted. Small red shifts of the lines are obtained. The contribution of electron scattering to the linewidths is also considered.

Unnikrishnan, K.↗

The FEM-R-Matrix Approach: Use of Mixed Finite Element and Gaussian Basis Sets for Electron Molecule Collisions

For the calculation of electron molecule collision cross sections R-matrix methods automatically take advantage of the division of configuration space into an inner region (I) bounded by radius tau b, where the scattered electron is within the molecular charge cloud and the system is described by an correlated Configuration Interaction (CI) treatment in close analogy to bound state calculations, and an outer region (II) where the scattered electron moves in the long-range multipole potential of the target and efficient analytic methods can be used for solving the asymptotic Schroedinger equation plus boundary conditions.

Thuemmel, Helmar T.↗

Coincidence measurement of the fully differential cross section for atomic-field bremsstrahlung

A coincidence measurement was made of the absolute cross section for electron-atomic-field bremsstrahlung, differential in photon energy, photon-emission angle, and electron scattering angle. The incident electron energy was 140 keV and the scattering materials were thin films of aluminum and gold. The data are compared to the theoretical calculations of Elwert and Haug and of Bethe and Heitler. Both theories give generally satisfactory agreement for aluminum. The Elwert-Haug theory is somewhat more accurate for gold.

Faulk, J. D.↗

On the wind geometry of the Wolf-Rayet star EZ Canis Majoris

Recent models of Wolf-Rayet star winds have been tailored to EZ CMa, and make predictions of the envelope structure and location of line-emitting regions. It is discussed how the wind structure of EZ CMa can be probed observationally through electron distribution integrals as measured by spectropolarimetry, and then present, analyze, and interpret a time-dependent spectropolarimetric data set of EZ CMa. The observations further the view of an electron-scattering wind that is axisymmetric, rotating, and expanding, with a variable mass-loss rate being responsible for the quasi-periodic polarimetric variability. It is demonstrated that the emission lines of EZ CMa are partially polarized, indicating that line photons are electron-scattered in the wind. The polarization in N V lambda 4945 and N IV lambda 4058 is observed to be larger than that of He II lambda 4686 and He I lambda 5876, as expected from ionization stratification.

Schulte-Ladbeck, R. E.↗

The Spectropolarimetric Evolution of V838 Monocerotis

I review photo-polarimetric and spectropolarimetric observations of V838 Mon, which revealed that it had an asymmetrical inner circumstellar envelope following its 2nd photometric outburst. Electron scattering, modified by pre- or post-scattering H absorption, is the polarizing mechanism in V838 Mon's envelope. The simplest geometry implied by these observations is that of a spheroidal shell, flattened by at least 10% and having a projected position angle on the sky of approx.37deg. Analysis of V838 Mon's polarized flux reveals that this electron scattering shell lies interior to the envelope region in which Ha and Ca I1 triplet emission originates. To date, none of the theoretical models proposed for V838 Mon have demonstrated that they can reproduce the evolution of V838 Mon's inner circumstellar environment, as probed by spectropolarimetry.

Wisniewski, John P.↗

Electron Excitation Cross Sections for the S II Transitions: 3s(exp 2)3p(exp 3) 4S(exp o) approaches 3s(exp 2)3p(exp 3) 2D(exp o), 2P(exp o), and 3s3p(exp 4) 4P

Experimental and theoretical collisional excitation cross sections are reported for the transitions 3s(exp 2)3p(exp 3)4S(exp o) approaches 3s(exp 2)3p(exp 3) 2D(exp o), 2P(exp o), and 3s3P(exp 4) 4P in S II. The transition wavelengths (energies) are 6716 A (1.85 eV), 4069 A (3.05 eV), and 1256 A (9.87 eV), respectively. In the experiments, use is made of the energy-loss merged-beams method. The metastable fraction of the S II beam was assessed and minimized. The contribution of elastically scattered electrons was reduced by the use of a lowered solenoidal magnetic field and a modulated radio-frequency voltage on the analyzing plates and by retarding grids to reject the elastically scattered electrons with larger Larmor radii. For each transition, comparisons are made among experiments, the new 19 state R-matrix calculation, and three other close-coupling calculations.

Liao, C.↗

The Spectropolarimetric Evolution of V838 Mon

I review photo-polarimetric and spectropolarimetric observations of V838 Mon, which revealed that it had an asymmetrical inner circumstellar envelope following its 2nd photometric outburst. Electron scattering, modified by preor post-scattering H absorption, is the polarizing mechanism in V838 Mon's envelope. The simplest geometry implied by these observations is that of a spheroidal shell, flattened by at least 20% and having a projected position angle on the sky of approx. 37 degrees. Analysis of V838 Mon's polarized flux reveals that this electron scattering shell lies interior to the envelope region in which Halpha and Ca II triplet emission originates. To date, none of the theoretical models proposed for V838 Mon have demonstrated that they can reproduce the evolution of V838 Mon's inner circumstellar environment, as probed by spectropolarimetry.

Wisniewski, John P.↗

Polarization of Line Emission from an Accretion Disk and Application to ARP 102B

We model the polarization properties of line emission from an accretion disk under a range of assumptions about the source function and electron-scattering optical depth tau(sub es). For small values of tau(sub es) and modest viewing angles, polarization can be in excess of the Chandrasekhar result for tau(sub es) = infinity. The polarization vector can be either parallel or perpendicular to the projected direction of the disk axis. The polarization properties of the double-peaked H-alpha emission line of the broad-line radio galaxy Arp 102B observed by Antonucci, Hurt, and Agol can be understood in terms of electron scattering and line broadening within the line-emitting region if tau(sub es) is of order unity, and if the position angle of polarization is parallel to the projected disk axis. The required small tau(sub es) is consistent with the hypothesis that the Balmer lines in Arp 102B are produced by photoionization of the disk atmosphere.

Chen, Kaiyou↗

An X-ray heated wind in NGC 1068

Recent work published by Antonucci and Miller in 1985 has demonstrated the existence of a type 1 Seyfert nucleus inside the archetypical type 2 Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068. This nucleus is surrounded by an obscuring torus and is visible only by reflection from a warm electron scattering region on the torus's axis. Here it is shown that the warm region must be in a dynamic state and out of radiative equilibrium with the nuclear continuum. It is suggested that the source of this moving gas is the cold obscuring torus itself, and that the warm region is part of a wind driven by heating due to the central continuum. The obscuring torus may be an inner extension of the starburst region already known in NGC 1068. This model gives estimates of the temperature and optical depth of the electron scattering region consistent with the observed values. Variations in viewing angle and optical thickness in the torus may account for the range of observed properties in active galactic nuclei.

Krolik, J. H.↗

Dip Spectroscopy of the Low Mass X-Ray Binary XB 1254-690

We observed the low mass X-ray binary XB 1254-690 with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer in 2001 May and December. During the first observation strong dipping on the 3.9-hr orbital period and a high degree of variability were observed, along with "shoulders" approx. 15% deep during extended intervals on each side of the main dips. The first observation also included pronounced flaring activity. The non-dip spectrum obtained using the PCA instrument was well-described by a two-component model consisting of a blackbody with kT = 1.30 +/- 0.10 keV plus a cut-off power law representation of Comptonized emission with power law photon index 1.10 +/- 0.46 and a cut-off energy of 5.9(sup +3.0, sub -1.4) keV. The intensity decrease in the shoulders of dipping is energy-independent, consistent with electron scattering in the outer ionized regions of the absorber. In deep dipping the depth of dipping reached 100%, in the energy band below 5 keV, indicating that all emitting regions were covered by absorber. Intensity-selected dip spectra were well-fit by a model in which the point-like blackbody is rapidly covered, while the extended Comptonized emission is progressively overlapped by the absorber, with the, covering fraction rising to 95% in the deepest portion of the dip. The intensity of this component in the dip spectra could be modeled by a combination of electron scattering and photoelectric absorption. Dipping did not occur during the 2001 December observation, but remarkably, both bursting and flaring were observed contemporaneously.

Smale, Alan P.↗

Wave-wave interactions due to scattering by electrons.

The kinetic wave equation which describes the nonlinear wave-particle interaction in a plasma is considered, and a method which uses the picture of quantized plasmons interacting with particles for the description of nonlinear wave-particle interactions is briefly described. In this method an assumption is made of the Markoffian character of the equation. It is shown that the Markoffian assumption can be justified at least for the case when the plasma is close to a stable stationary state. The diagram method developed by Nishikawa (1966) is used to derive an explicit expression for the kinetic equation. The application of the result to the case of interaction between an electron-wave and an ion-wave is discussed.

Nishikawa, K.↗

Rotational-vibrational coupling in the theory of electron-molecule scattering

The adiabatic-nuclei approximation of vibrational-rotational excitation of homonuclear diatomic molecules can be simply augmented to describe the vibrational-rotational coupling by including the dependence of the vibrational wave function on j. Appropriate formulas are given, and the theory, is applied to e-H2 excitation, whereby it is shown that deviations from the simple Born-Oppenheimer approximation measured by Wong and Schultz can be explained. More important, it can be seen that the inclusion of the j-dependent centrifugal term is essential for transitions involving high-rotational quantum numbers.

Temkin, A.↗