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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.

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At least 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2004

Hard X-Ray Emission and the Ionizing Source in LINERs

We report X-ray luminosities of 21 LINERs (low-ionization nuclear emission-line regions) and 17 low-luminosity Seyferts obtained with ASCA and discuss the ionizing source in LINERs. Most LINERs with broad H-alpha emission in their optical spectra (LINER 1s) have a compact hard X-ray source and their 2-10 keV X-ray luminosities (LX) are proportional to their H alpha luminosities (L-H-alpha). This correlation strongly supports the hypothesis that the dominant ionizing source in LINER 1s is photoionization by hard photons from low-luminosity AGNs. Although some LINERs without broad H-alpha emission (LINER 2s) have X-ray properties similar to LINER 1s, the X-ray luminosities of many LINER 2s in our sample are lower than LINER 1s at a given H-alpha luminosity. The observed X-ray luminosities in these objects are insufficient to power their H-alpha luminosities, suggesting that their primary ionizing source is something other than an AGN, or that an AGN, if present, is obscured even at energies above 2 keV. LINER 2s having small LX/LH-alpha occupy a localized region with small [OI]/H-alpha on the excitation diagram. Such LINER spectra can be reproduced by photoionization by very hot stars.

Terashima, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2004

The Properties and the Evolution of the Highly Ionized Gas in MR 2251-178

We present the first XMM-Newton observations of the radio-quiet quasar MR 2251-178 obtained in 2000 and 2002. The EPIC-pn spectra show a power-law continuum with a slope of Gamma = 1.6 at high energies absorbed by at least two warm absorbers (WAs) intrinsic to the source. The underlying continuum in the earlier observation shows a soft excess at low X-ray energies which can be modeled as an additional power-law with Gamma = 2.9. The spectra also show a weak narrow iron K alpha emission line. The high-resolution grating spectrum obtained in 2002 shows emission lines from N VI, O VII, O VIII, Ne IX, and Ne X, as well as absorption lines from the low-ionization ions of O III, O IV, and O V, and other confirmed and suspected weaker absorption lines. The O III - O V lines are consistent with the properties of the emission line gas observed as extended optical (O III) emission in this source. The signal-to-noise of the 2000 grating data is too low to detect any lines. We suggest a model for the high-resolution spectrum which consist of two or three warm-absorber (WA) components. The two-components model has a high-ionization WA with a column density of 10(exp 21.5)-10 (exp 21.8) sq cm and a low-ionization absorber with a column density of 10(exp 20.3) sq cm. In the three-components model we add a lower ionization component that produces the observed iron M-shell absorption lines. We investigate the spectral variations in MR 2251-178 over a period of 8.5 years using data from ASCA, BeppoSAX, and XMM-Newton. All X-ray observations can be fitted with the above two power laws and the two absorbers. The observed luminosity variations seems to correlate with variations in the soft X-ray continuum. The 8.5 year history of the source suggests a changing X-ray absorber due to material that enters and disappears from the line-of-sight on timescales of several months. We also present, for the first time, the entire FUSE spectrum of MR 2251-178. We detect emission from N III, C III, and O VI and at least 4 absorption systems in C III, H I, and O VI, one at -580 km/s and at least 3 others which are blended together and form a wide trough covering the velocity range of 0 to -500 km/s. The general characteristics of the UV and X-ray absorbers are consistent with an origin in the same gas.

Kaspi, Shai↗
NASA NTRS2004

Density, Velocity and Ionization Structure in Accretion-Disc Winds

This was a project to exploit the unique capabilities of FUSE to monitor variations in the wind- formed spectral lines of the luminous, low-inclination, cataclysmic variables(CV) -- RW Sex. (The original proposal contained two additional objects but these were not approved.) These observations were intended to allow us to determine the relative roles of density and ionization state changes in the outflow and to search for spectroscopic signatures of stochastic small-scale structure and shocked gas. By monitoring the temporal behavior of blue-ward extended absorption lines with a wide range of ionization potentials and excitation energies, we proposed to track the changing physical conditions in the outflow. We planned to use a new Monte Carlo code to calculate the ionization structure of and radiative transfer through the CV wind. The analysis therefore was intended to establish the wind geometry, kinematics and ionization state, both in a time-averaged sense and as a function of time.

Sonneborn, George↗
NASA NTRS2005

Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled Neutral and Ionized PAHs: Implications for Interstellar Dust

We present the gas-phase spectroscopy of neutral and ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured in the W-Visible-NIR range in an astrophysically relevant environment. These measurements provide data on PAHs and nanometer sized particles that can now be directly compared to astronomical observations. The harsh physical conditions of the IS medium - characterized by a low temperature, an absence of collisions and strong VUV radiation fields - are simulated in the laborat'ory by associating a molecular beam with an ionizing discharge to generate a cold plasma expansion. PAH ions are formed from the neutral precursors in an isolated environment at low temperature ($\sim lOO$-K). The spectra of neutral and ionized PAHs are measured using the high sensitivity methods of cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) and multiplex integrated cavity output spectroscopy (MICOS). These experiments provide unique information on the spectra of free, cold large carbon molecules and ions in the gas phase. The electronic bands measured for ionized PAH are found to be intrinsically broad ($\geq$20 cm$^{-l}$) while the bands associated with the neutral precursors are narrower (of the order of 2 - 10 cm$^{-l}$). The laboratory data are discussed and compared with recent astronomical spectra of large and narrow DIBs and with the spectra of circumstellar environments of selected carbon stars (see contribution of Cami et al.) and the implications for the interstellar PAH population are derived. Preliminary results also show that carbon nanoparticles are formed during the short residence time of the precursors in the plasma. This finding holds great potential for understanding the formation process of interstellar grains.

Salama, F.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Electron-impact total ionization cross sections of DNA sugar-phosphate backbone and an additivity principle

The improved binary-encounter dipole (iBED) model [W.M. Huo, Phys. Rev. A64, 042719-1 (2001)l is used to study the total ionization cross sections of the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone by electron impact. Calculations using neutral fragments found that the total ionization cross sections of C3' - and C5', -deoxyribose-phospate, two conformers of the sugar-phosphate backbone, are close to each other. Furthermore, the sum of the ionization cross sections of the separate deoxyribose and phosphate fragments is in close agreement with the C3' - and C5" -deoxyribose-phospate cross sections, differing by less than 10%. The result implies that certain properties of the-DNA, like the total singly ionization cross section, are localized properties and a building-up or additivity principle may apply. This allows us to obtain accurate properties of larger molecular systems built up from the results of smaller subsystem fragments. Calculations are underway using a negatively charged sugar-phosphate backbone with a metal counter-ion.

Huo, Winifred M.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Collisional Ionization Equilibrium for Optically Thin Plasmas

Reliably interpreting spectra from electron-ionized cosmic plasmas requires accurate ionization balance calculations for the plasma in question. However, much of the atomic data needed for these calculations have not been generated using modern theoretical methods and their reliability are often highly suspect. We have utilized state-of-the-art calculations of dielectronic recombination (DR) rate coefficients for the hydrogenic through Na-like ions of all elements from He to Zn. We have also utilized state-of-the-art radiative recombination (RR) rate coefficient calculations for the bare through Na-like ions of all elements from H to Zn. Using our data and the recommended electron impact ionization data of Mazzotta et al. (1998), we have calculated improved collisional ionization equilibrium calculations. We compare our calculated fractional ionic abundances using these data with those presented by Mazzotta et al. (1998) for all elements from H to Ni, and with the fractional abundances derived from the modern DR and RR calculations of Gu (2003a,b, 2004) for Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe, and Ni.

Bryans, P.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Space Weather Nowcasting of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation for Aviation Safety

There is a growing concern for the health and safety of commercial aircrew and passengers due to their exposure to ionizing radiation with high linear energy transfer (LET), particularly at high latitudes. The International Commission of Radiobiological Protection (ICRP), the EPA, and the FAA consider the crews of commercial aircraft as radiation workers. During solar energetic particle (SEP) events, radiation exposure can exceed annual limits, and the number of serious health effects is expected to be quite high if precautions are not taken. There is a need for a capability to monitor the real-time, global background radiations levels, from galactic cosmic rays (GCR), at commercial airline altitudes and to provide analytical input for airline operations decisions for altering flight paths and altitudes for the mitigation and reduction of radiation exposure levels during a SEP event. The Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation for Aviation Safety (NAIRAS) model is new initiative to provide a global, real-time radiation dosimetry package for archiving and assessing the biologically harmful radiation exposure levels at commercial airline altitudes. The NAIRAS model brings to bear the best available suite of Sun-Earth observations and models for simulating the atmospheric ionizing radiation environment. Observations are utilized from ground (neutron monitors), from the atmosphere (the METO analysis), and from space (NASA/ACE and NOAA/GOES). Atmospheric observations provide the overhead shielding information and the ground- and space-based observations provide boundary conditions on the GCR and SEP energy flux distributions for transport and dosimetry simulations. Dose rates are calculated using the parametric AIR (Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation) model and the physics-based HZETRN (High Charge and Energy Transport) code. Empirical models of the near-Earth radiation environment (GCR/SEP energy flux distributions and geomagnetic cut-off rigidity) are benchmarked against the physics-based CMIT (Coupled Magnetosphere- Ionosphere-Thermosphere) and SEP-trajectory models.

Mertens, Christopher J.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Shock Structure Analysis and Aerodynamics in a Weakly Ionized Gas Flow

The structure of a shock wave propagating through a weakly ionized gas is analyzed using an electrofluid dynamics model composed of classical conservation laws and Gauss Law. A viscosity model is included to correctly model the spatial scale of the shock structure, and quasi-neutrality is not assumed. A detailed analysis of the structure of a shock wave propagating in a weakly ionized gas is presented, together with a discussion of the physics underlying the key features of the shock structure. A model for the flow behind a shock wave propagating through a weakly ionized gas is developed and used to analyze the effect of the ionization on the aerodynamics and performance of a two-dimensional hypersonic lifting body.

Saeks, R.↗
NASA NTRS2001

High-efficiency electron ionizer for a mass spectrometer array

The present invention provides an improved electron ionizer for use in a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The improved electron ionizer includes a repeller plate that ejects sample atoms or molecules, an ionizer chamber, a cathode that emits an electron beam into the ionizer chamber, an exit opening for excess electrons to escape, at least one shim plate to collimate said electron beam, extraction apertures, and a plurality of lens elements for focusing the extracted ions onto entrance apertures.

Chutjian, Ara↗
NASA NTRS2004

Soft ionization device with characterization systems and methods of manufacture

Various configurations of characterization systems such as ion mobility spectrometers and mass spectrometers are disclosed that are coupled to an ionization device. The ionization device is formed of a membrane that houses electrodes therein that are located closer to one another than the mean free path of the gas being ionized. Small voltages across the electrodes generate large electric fields which act to ionize substantially all molecules passing therethrough without fracture. Methods to manufacture the mass spectrometer and ion mobility spectrometer systems are also described.

Hartley, Frank T.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Efficient Ionization Investigation for Flow Control and Energy Extraction

Nonequilibrium ionization of air by nonthermal means is explored for hypersonic vehicle applications. The method selected for evaluation generates a weakly ionized plasma using pulsed nanosecond, high-voltage discharges sustained by a lower dc voltage. These discharges promise to provide a means of energizing and sustaining electrons in the air while maintaining a nearly constant ion/neutral molecule temperature. This paper explores the use of short approx.5 nsec, high-voltage approx.12 to 22 kV, repetitive (40 to 100 kHz) discharges in generating a weakly ionized gas sustained by a 1 kV dc voltage in dry air at pressures from 10 to 80 torr. Demonstrated lifetimes of the sustainer discharge current approx.10 to 25 msec are over three orders of magnitude longer than the 5 nsec pulse that generates the electrons. This life is adequate for many high speed flows, enabling the possibility of exploiting weakly ionized plasma phenomena in flow-fields such as those in hypersonic inlets, combustors, and nozzles. Results to date are obtained in a volume of plasma between electrodes in a bell jar. The buildup and decay of the visible emission from the pulser excited air is photographed on an ICCD camera with nanosecond resolution and the time constants for visible emission decay are observed to be between 10 to 15 nsec decreasing as pressure increases. The application of the sustainer voltage does not change the visible emission decay time constant. Energy consumption as indicated by power output from the power supplies is 194 to 669 W depending on pulse repetition rate.

Schneider, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Neutral Atom Diffusion in a Partially Ionized Prominence Plasma

The support of solar prominences is normally described in terms of a magnetic force on the prominence plasma that balances the solar gravitational force. Because the prominence plasma is only partially ionized. it is necessary to consider in addition the support of the neutral component of the prominence plasma. This support is accomplished through a frictional interaction between the neutral and ionized components of the plasma, and its efficacy depends strongly on the degree of ionization of the plasma. More specifically, the frictional force is proportional to the relative flow of neutral and ion species, and for a sufficiently weakly ionized plasma, this flow must be relatively large to produce a frictional force that balances gravity. A large relative flow, of course, implies significant draining of neutral particles from the prominence. We evaluate the importance of this draining effect for a hydrogen-helium plasma, and consider the observational evidence for cross-field diffusion of neutral prominence material,

Gilbert, Holly↗
NASA NTRS2014

Influence of Dust Loading on Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation on Mars

Measuring the radiation environment at the surface of Mars is the primary goal of the Radiation Assessment Detector on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover. One of the conditions that Curiosity will likely encounter is a dust storm. The objective of this paper is to compute the cosmic ray ionization in different conditions, including dust storms, as these various conditions are likely to be encountered by Curiosity at some point. In the present work, the Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation for Aviation Safety model, recently modified for Mars, was used along with the Badhwar & O'Neill 2010 galactic cosmic ray model. In addition to galactic cosmic rays, five different solar energetic particle event spectra were considered. For all input radiation environments, radiation dose throughout the atmosphere and at the surface was investigated as a function of atmospheric dust loading. It is demonstrated that for galactic cosmic rays, the ionization depends strongly on the atmosphere profile. Moreover, it is shown that solar energetic particle events strongly increase the ionization throughout the atmosphere, including ground level, and can account for the radio blackout conditions observed by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding instrument on the Mars Express spacecraft. These results demonstrate that the cosmic rays' influence on the Martian surface chemistry is strongly dependent on solar and atmospheric conditions that should be taken into account for future studies.

Norman, Ryan B.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Influence of Triply-Charged Ions and Ionization Cross-Sections in a Hybrid-PIC Model of a Hall Thruster Discharge

The sensitivity of xenon ionization rates to collision cross-sections is studied within the framework of a hybrid-PIC model of a Hall thruster discharge. A revised curve fit based on the Drawin form is proposed and is shown to better reproduce the measured crosssections at high electron energies, with differences in the integrated rate coefficients being on the order of 10% for electron temperatures between 20 eV and 30 eV. The revised fit is implemented into HPHall and the updated model is used to simulate NASA's HiVHAc EDU2 Hall thruster at discharge voltages of 300, 400, and 500 V. For all three operating points, the revised cross-sections result in an increase in the predicted thrust and anode efficiency, reducing the error relative to experimental performance measurements. Electron temperature and ionization reaction rates are shown to follow the trends expected based on the integrated rate coefficients. The effects of triply-charged xenon are also assessed. The predicted thruster performance is found to have little or no dependence on the presence of triply-charged ions. The fraction of ion current carried by triply-charged ions is found to be on the order of 1% and increases slightly with increasing discharge voltage. The reaction rates for the 0→III, I→III, and II→III ionization reactions are found to be of similar order of magnitude and are about one order of magnitude smaller than the rate of 0→II ionization in the discharge channel.

Hall Thrusters↗
NASA NTRS2018

Ionizing Radiation from Ex Vivo Sterilization Diminishes Collagen Integrity and Vertebral Body Mechanics

Clinical exposure to ionizing radiation could put cancer radiotherapy or bone allograft patients at an increased risk of fracture. In these applications, ionizing radiation levels can range from accumulative 50 Gy for radiotherapy cancer treatment, to acute 35,000 Gy for allograft sterilization. Ionizing radiation has been shown to decrease bon equality through reduced strength and post-yield properties and degrade collagen integrity through either increased crosslinks (advanced glycation end products, AGEs)or fragmentation. It is unclear which collagen structural change accounts for reduced strength. The dose-dependent effect of ionizing radiation on mechanical and biochemical properties of whole bones are not well understood, particularly for ex vivo doses ranging from 50 to 35,000 Gy.

Radiation↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Developing High-Throughput Organ-on-a-Chip Models to Investigate the Effects of Ionizing Radiation on the Central Nervous System

One of the main health risks in human space exploration is central nervous system (CNS) damage by ionizing radiation due to exposure to the galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). In animal models, irradiation with simulated GCRs or their components has been shown to cause neuronal damage and neuroinflammation associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction. In general, the extent of CNS damage is partially regulated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which enables immune cells to enter the CNS. The main cellular regulators of BBB permeability are astrocytes, which also modulate neuronal death, immune responses and oxidative stress, and thus could serve as a robust CNS-specific target for countermeasure development. However, studies on BBB permeability and astrocyte functions in regulating CNS responses to ionizing radiation have been limited, especially in human tissue/organ analogs. Therefore, we established a high-throughput 3D organ-on-a-chip system to study human CNS and BBB impairments in response to ionizing radiation, based on commercially available OrganoPlates (Mimetas, Inc.) seeded with primary or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human cells. We investigated both immediate and delayed CNS responses to major GCR components: 0.15-0.5 Gy 250MeV/n 4-He, and 0.3-0.8 Gy 600 MeV/n 56-Fe; as well as to 0.5-1 Gy X-rays. We observed ionizing radiation-mediated increases in BBB permeability that was exacerbated by astrocyte presence and accompanied by morphological changes in endothelial cells and tight junctions, altered cytokine profile including TNFa upregulation, and increased oxidative stress. We also quantified irradiation-mediated changes in astrocyte activation and neuronal functions, revealing major astrocyte damage mediated by 600MeV/n 56-Fe particles. Thus, we demonstrate that deep space radiation may contribute to CNS damage by disrupting both astrocyte and endothelial cell components of the blood-brain barrier. Our next steps include mapping and validating the transcriptomic changes induced by simulated GCRs and their components in human CNS models. Ultimately, we aim to uncover potential novel targets for countermeasure developments to mitigate CNS damage in long duration spaceflight.

Radiation↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Individual Variability and Predictive Biomarkers of Human Sensitivity to Ionizing Radiation

High-linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation is a major health hazard for astronauts who will be exposed to galactic cosmic rays during upcoming lunar and Mars missions. Predicting and mitigating personalized health risks from space radiation exposure requires understanding the factors underlying individual radiation sensitivity, which currently remain unknown. We started to address this challenge by identifying the genomic and demographic associations with sensitivity to low and high-LET ionizing radiation in the largest human sample cohort to date and by evaluating baseline DNA damage as a potential predictor of radiation responses. We have collected and irradiated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 768 healthy donors of matched ethnicity, 50/50 male/female, 18-70 years old. We have analyzed the responses of 576 donor PBMCs to irradiation with simulated galactic cosmic ray components: 350MeV/n 28Si, 350MeV/n 40Ar and 600MeV/n 56Fe, at 1.1 and 3 particles/100μm2 fluences, as well as 0.1Gy and 1Gy doses of gamma rays, at 4 and 24 hours post irradiation. We quantified post-irradiation DNA repair based on radiation-induced 53BP1+ foci formation, together with oxidative stress and cell death using a flow cytometry-based assay. We also assessed baseline levels of DNA repair in PBMCs at the time of sample collection prior to irradiation experiments. We observed a wide variability of subject- and LET-dependent radiation responses, with radiation-induced DNA repair foci increasing with LET, though oxidative stress being notably reduced by high-LET irradiation, potentially due to a switch between hydrogen peroxide and oxygen radical-based mechanisms. We also identified a relationship between few DNA repair foci at baseline and increased DNA repair after irradiation, accompanied by an alteration in immunoregulatory cytokine secretion, which might be adapted as biomarkers to predict ionizing radiation sensitivity. Among demographic variables, baseline foci levels were positively associated with age and latent cytomegalovirus infection. Finally, we have performed low-throughput whole genome sequencing of all samples and are currently in process of identifying the genes and pathways associated with low and high-LET ionizing radiation sensitivity in humans.

Space radiation, human spaceflight, DNA damage↗
DOE OSTI2025

Active Humidity Control Chamber for Desorption Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Imaging Applications

Ambient ionization techniques enable mass spectrometry (MS) to expand into broader experimental contexts, although it is increasingly clear that results are influenced by the environmental conditions at the site of sampling. Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI), in particular, is affected by variations in relative humidity (RH) levels. Here we describe the design, development, and construction of an environmental control chassis that can actively modulate RH within ± 3% of user-defined set points across a broad humidity range (15%–70% RH). Preliminary characterization demonstrated differential analyte responses across a range of set points, with observed enhancement of leucine-enkephalin, sulfadimethoxine (negative mode), and maltose (positive mode) in response to increased humidity. The measurable differences in analyte signals across discrete humidity set points underscore the importance of environmental control in ambient ionization strategies. The humidity control system outlined here can be translated to other DESI platforms, with construction information provided herein.

DESI↗