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At least 235 records · Page 13

A time domain, weighted residual formulation of Maxwell's equations

A finite element model is developed and used to simulate two-dimensional electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering. The spatial discretization of the time-domain electrodynamic equations is accomplished by a Galerkin approach. The semi-discrete equations are solved explicitly using a second-order Runge-Kutta scheme. Both the electric and magnetic fields are discretized using a single grid, with the divergence-free conditions satisfied through a correction approach. Examples depicting the scattering of plane waves in 2D geometries are given to demonstrate the validity of the methodology.

Young, Jeffrey L.↗

Diffusion model for lightning radiative transfer

A one-speed Boltzmann transport theory, with diffusion approximations, is applied to study the radiative transfer properties of lightning in optically thick thunderclouds. Near-infrared (lambda = 0.7774 micrometers) photons associated with a prominent oxygen emission triplet in the lightning spectrum are considered. Transient and spatially complex lightning radiation sources are placed inside a rectangular parallelepiped thundercloud geometry and the effects of multiple scattering are studied. The cloud is assumed to be composed of a homogeneous collection of identical spherical water droplets, each droplet a nearly conservative, anisotropic scatterer. Conceptually, we treat the thundercloud like a nuclear reactor, with photons replaced by neutrons, and utilize standard one-speed neutron diffusion techniques common in nuclear reactor analyses. Valid analytic results for the intensity distribution (expanded in spherical harmonics) are obtained for regions sufficiently far from sources. Model estimates of the arrival-time delay and pulse width broadening of lightning signals radiated from within the cloud are determined and the results are in good agreement with both experimental data and previous Monte Carlo estimates. Additional model studies of this kind will be used to study the general information content of cloud top lightning radiation signatures.

Koshak, William J.↗

Towards a 3D Space Radiation Transport Code

High-speed computational procedures for space radiation shielding have relied on asymptotic expansions in terms of the off-axis scatter and replacement of the general geometry problem by a collection of flat plates. This type of solution was derived for application to human rated systems in which the radius of the shielded volume is large compared to the off-axis diffusion limiting leakage at lateral boundaries. Over the decades these computational codes are relatively complete and lateral diffusion effects are now being added. The analysis for developing a practical full 3D space shielding code is presented.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Fast Scattering Code (FSC) User's Manual: Version 2

The Fast Scattering Code (version 2.0) is a computer program for predicting the three-dimensional scattered acoustic field produced by the interaction of known, time-harmonic, incident sound with aerostructures in the presence of potential background flow. The FSC has been developed for use as an aeroacoustic analysis tool for assessing global effects on noise radiation and scattering caused by changes in configuration (geometry, component placement) and operating conditions (background flow, excitation frequency).

Tinetti, Ana F.↗

Modeling Optical Properties of Mineral Aerosol Particles by Using Nonsymmetric Hexahedra

We explore the use of nonsymmetric geometries to simulate the single-scattering properties of airborne dust particles with complicated morphologies. Specifically, the shapes of irregular dust particles are assumed to be nonsymmetric hexahedra defined by using the Monte Carlo method. A combination of the discrete dipole approximation method and an improved geometric optics method is employed to compute the single-scattering properties of dust particles for size parameters ranging from 0.5 to 3000. The primary optical effect of eliminating the geometric symmetry of regular hexahedra is to smooth the scattering features in the phase function and to decrease the backscatter. The optical properties of the nonsymmetric hexahedra are used to mimic the laboratory measurements. It is demonstrated that a relatively close agreement can be achieved by using only one shape of nonsymmetric hexahedra. The agreement between the theoretical results and their measurement counterparts can be further improved by using a mixture of nonsymmetric hexahedra. It is also shown that the hexahedron model is much more appropriate than the "equivalent sphere" model for simulating the optical properties of dust particles, particularly, in the case of the elements of the phase matrix that associated with the polarization state of scattered light.

Bi, Lei↗

Turbine Engine Disk Rotor Health Monitoring Assessment Using Spin Tests Data

Detecting rotating engine component malfunctions and structural anomalies is increasingly becoming a crucial key feature that will help boost safety and lower maintenance cost. However, achievement of such technology, which can be referred to as a health monitoring remains somewhat challenging to implement. This is mostly due to presence of scattered loading conditions, crack sizes, component geometry and material properties that hinders the simplicity of imposing such application. Different approaches are being considered to assist in developing other means of health monitoring or nondestructive techniques to detect hidden flaws and mini cracks before any catastrophic events occur. These methods extend further to assess material discontinuities and other defects that have matured to the level where a failure is very likely. This paper is focused on presenting data obtained from spin test experiments of a turbine engine like rotor disk and their correlation to the development of a structural health monitoring and fault detection system. The data collected includes blade tip clearance, blade tip timing measurements and shaft displacements. The experimental results are collected at rotational speeds up to 10,000 Rpm and tests are conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center s Rotordynamics Laboratory via a high precision spin system. Additionally, this study offers a closer glance at a selective online evaluation of a rotating disk using advanced capacitive, microwave and eddy current sensor technology.

Abdul-Aziz, Ali↗

Anomaly Detection Techniques with Real Test Data from a Spinning Turbine Engine-Like Rotor

Online detection techniques to monitor the health of rotating engine components are becoming increasingly attractive to aircraft engine manufacturers in order to increase safety of operation and lower maintenance costs. Health monitoring remains a challenge to easily implement, especially in the presence of scattered loading conditions, crack size, component geometry, and materials properties. The current trend, however, is to utilize noninvasive types of health monitoring or nondestructive techniques to detect hidden flaws and mini-cracks before any catastrophic event occurs. These techniques go further to evaluate material discontinuities and other anomalies that have grown to the level of critical defects that can lead to failure. Generally, health monitoring is highly dependent on sensor systems capable of performing in various engine environmental conditions and able to transmit a signal upon a predetermined crack length, while acting in a neutral form upon the overall performance of the engine system.

Abdul-Aziz, Ali↗

Simulation of Sound Absorption by Scattering Bodies Treated with Acoustic Liners Using a Time-Domain Boundary Element Method

Reducing aircraft noise is a major objective in the field of computational aeroacoustics. When designing next generation quiet aircraft, it is important to be able to accurately and efficiently predict the acoustic scattering by an aircraft body from a given noise source. Acoustic liners are an effective tool for aircraft noise reduction, and are characterized by a complex valued frequency-dependent impedance, Z(w). Converted into the time-domain using Fourier transforms, an impedance boundary condition can be used to simulate the acoustic wave scattering of geometric bodies treated with acoustic liners. This work uses an admittance boundary condition where the admittance, Y(w), is defined to be the inverse of impedance, i.e., Y(w) = 1/Z(w). An admittance boundary condition will be derived and coupled with a time domain boundary integral equation. The solution will be obtained iteratively using spatial and temporal basis functions and will allow for acoustic scattering problems to be modeled with geometries consisting of both unlined and soft surfaces. Stability will be demonstrated through eigenvalue analysis.

Pizzo, Michelle E.↗

Laboratory simulation of diffuse reflectivity from a cloudy planetary atmosphere.

For the first time measurements in the multiple scattering regime of the diffuse reflectivity as a function of single scattering albedo have been made in a geometry that may be simulated by a plane parallel atmosphere of large optical depth. A comparison between the measurements and a theoretical computation of the diffuse reflectivity is presented. The measurements are within 1% agreement with the theoretical calculations for two different sizes of scattering particles which are larger than and smaller than the wavelength of the incident light, corresponding to the Mie and Rayleigh regimes, respectively.

Margolis, J. S.↗

Fermion geometry and the renormalization of the Standard Model Effective Field Theory

The geometry of field space governs on-shell scattering amplitudes. We formulate a geometric description of effective field theories which extends previous results for scalars and gauge fields to fermions. The field-space geometry reorganizes and simplifies the computation of quantum loop corrections. Using this geometric framework, we calculate the fermion loop contributions to the renormalization group equations for bosonic operators in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory up to mass dimension eight.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The origin of optical polarization in NGC 1068

The polarization of emission lines in the nucleus of NGC 1068 has been measured with a digicon, a single-channel scanner, and interference filters. It is found that the permitted lines of H and probably also He II are polarized at nearly the same position angle and by the same amount as the neighboring continuum. This argues strongly that a common dust scattering mechanism is responsible for all the polarization. The forbidden lines are weakly polarized at a position angle quite different from the continuum, indicating an origin outside the nuclear scattering region. The continuum radiation has been found to be circularly polarized with ellipticity of the order of 5 percent in the red. Such high ellipticity is very unlikely to be of nonthermal origin. We take it as evidence that the nuclear dust is in the form of clouds in an asymmetric skew geometry; the polarization then arises from multiple scattering within these clouds.

Angel, J. R. P.↗

Observation of pressure ridges in SAR images of sea ice: Scattering theory and comparison with observations

Ridges and keels (hummocks and bummocks) in sea ice flows are important in sea ice research for both scientific and practical reasons. Sea ice movement and deformation is driven by internal and external stresses on the ice. Ridges and keels play important roles in both cases because they determine the external wind and current stresses via drag coefficients. For example, the drag coefficient over sea ice can vary by a factor of several depending on the fluid mechanical roughness length of the surface. This roughness length is thought to be strongly dependent on the ridge structures present. Thus, variations in ridge and keel structure can cause gradients in external stresses which must be balanced by internal stresses and possibly fracture of the ice. Ridging in sea ice is also a sign of fracture. In a practical sense, large ridges form the biggest impediment to surface travel over the ice or penetration through sea ice by ice-strengthened ships. Ridges also play an important role in the damage caused by sea ice to off-shore structures. Hence, observation and measurement of sea ice ridges is an important component of sea ice remote sensing. The research reported here builds on previous work, estimating the characteristics of ridges and leads in sea ice from SAR images. Our objective is to develop methods for quantitative measurement of sea ice ridges from SAR images. To make further progress, in particular, to estimate ridge height, a scattering model for ridges is needed. Our research approach for a ridge scattering model begins with a survey of the geometrical properties of ridges and a comparison with the characteristics of the surrounding ice. For this purpose we have used airborne optical laser (AOL) data collected during the 1987 Greenland Sea Experiment. These data were used to generate a spatial wavenumber spectrum for height variance for a typical ridge - the typical ridge is the average over 10 large ridges. Our first-order model radar scattering includes both the quasi-specular and Bragg resonant scatter mechanisms. This model is extended to include contributions from volume scatter and scatter from discrete objects. Geometrical characteristics from the AOL survey and model calculations imply that for radar wavelengths and observation geometries that are dominated by the quasi-specular scattering mechanism radar backscatter from a ridge is a measure of peak ridge height. We present scattering model results and compare them with ridges observed during the LEADEX experiment of March-April 1992 when both X, C, and L-band aircraft SAR and the ERS-1 satellite SAR observed a region in the Beaufort Sea near 86 deg N, 10 deg W. Data were also collected documenting ridge characteristics on the surface. The surface data are used to generate a SAR signature via the scattering model described above. The predicted SAR signatures compare well with the SAR observations.

Vesecky, J. F.↗

All-order splits and multi-soft limits for particle and string amplitudes

The most important aspects of scattering amplitudes have long been thought to be associated with their poles. But recently a very different sort of “split” factorizations for a wide range of particle and string tree amplitudes have been discovered away from poles. In this paper, we give a simple, conceptual origin for these splits arising from natural properties of the binary geometry of the curve integral formulation for scattering amplitudes for Tr(Φ 3 ) theory. The most natural way of “joining” smaller surfaces to build larger ones directly produces a choice of kinematics for which higher amplitudes factor into lower ones. This gives a generalization of splits to all orders in the topological expansion. These splits allow us to access and compute loop-integrated multi-soft limits for particle and string amplitudes, at all loop orders. This includes split factorizations and multisoft limits for pion and gluon amplitudes, that are related to Tr(Φ 3 ) theory by a simple kinematical shift.

Bosonic Strings↗

Effects of Bifurcations on Aft-Fan Engine Nacelle Noise

Aft-fan engine nacelle noise is a significant factor in the increasingly important issue of aircraft community noise. The ability to predict such noise within complex duct geometries is a valuable tool in studying possible noise attenuation methods. A recent example of code development for such predictions is the ducted fan noise propagation and radiation code CDUCT-LaRC. This work focuses on predicting the effects of geometry changes (i.e. bifurcations, pylons) on aft fan noise propagation. Beginning with simplified geometries, calculations show that bifurcations lead to scattering of acoustic energy into higher order modes. In addition, when circumferential mode number and the number of bifurcations are properly commensurate, bifurcations increase the relative importance of the plane wave mode near the exhaust plane of the bypass duct. This is particularly evident when the bypass duct surfaces include acoustic treatment. Calculations involving more complex geometries further illustrate that bifurcations and pylons clearly affect modal content, in both propagation and radiation calculations. Additionally, results show that consideration of acoustic radiation results may provide further insight into acoustic treatment effectiveness for situations in which modal decomposition may not be straightforward. The ability of CDUCT-LaRC to handle complex (non-axisymmetric) multi-block geometries, as well as axially and circumferentially segmented liners, allows investigation into the effects of geometric elements (bifurcations, pylons).

Nark, Douglas M.↗

Interpretation of Spectral LiDAR Backscattering off the Florida Coast

A multispectral backscattering LiDAR (Light detection and range) system (hereafter Oculus) was integrated into a wave glider and used to estimate the scattering order (i.e., single vs multiple collisions), inherent optical properties (IOPs) and characteristics of particulate scatterers (i.e., relative size, composition and motion) on shelf waters of South East Florida. Oculus has a dual-wavelength configuration (473 and 532 nm) and two detection geometries (off- and on-axis). Characteristics of scatterers were investigated based on two complementary LiDAR-derived proxies (the Structural Dissimilarity Index and the spectral slope of LiDAR backscattering). In March 2017, field measurements showed a covariation between direct and diffuse backscattering contributions during morning hours and away from shore. LiDAR attenuation coefficients explained up to 57% of IOPs variability. The analysis of LiDAR-derived proxies suggested higher turbidity and larger particulates near the coast.

LiDAR↗

T-Matrix Computations of Light Scattering by Nonspherical Particles: A Review

We review the current status of Waterman's T-matrix approach which is one of the most powerful and widely used tools for accurately computing light scattering by nonspherical particles, both single and composite, based on directly solving Maxwell's equations. Specifically, we discuss the analytical method for computing orientationally-averaged light-scattering characteristics for ensembles of nonspherical particles, the methods for overcoming the numerical instability in calculating the T matrix for single nonspherical particles with large size parameters and/or extreme geometries, and the superposition approach for computing light scattering by composite/aggregated particles. Our discussion is accompanies by multiple numerical examples demonstrating the capabilities of the T-matrix approach and showing effects of nonsphericity of simple convex particles (spheroids) on light scattering.

Mischenko, Michael I.↗

Constraints on Mars Aphelion Cloud Belt phase function and ice crystal geometries

This study constrains the lower bound of the scattering phase function of Martian water ice clouds (WICs) throughthe implementation of a new observation aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). The Phase Function SkySurvey (PFSS) was a multiple pointing all-sky observation taken with the navigation cameras (Navcam) aboardMSL. The PFSS was executed 35 times during the Aphelion Cloud Belt (ACB) season of Mars Year 34 over a solarlongitude range of Ls = 61:4 156:5. Twenty observations occurred in the morning hours between 06:00 and 09:30 LTST, and 15 runs occurred in the evening hours between 14:30 and 18:00 LTST, with an operationallyrequired 2.5 h gap on either side of local noon due the sun being located near zenith. The resultant WIC phasefunction was derived over an observed scattering angle range of 18.3-152.61, normalized, and compared with 9modeled phase functions: seven ice crystal habits and two Martian WIC phase functions currently being implementedin models. Through statistical chi-squared probability tests, the five most probable ice crystal geometriesobserved in the ACB WICs were aggregates, hexagonal solid columns, hollow columns, plates, and bullet rosetteswith p-values greater than or equal to 0.60, 0.57,0.56,0.56, and 0.55, respectively. Droxtals and spheres had pvaluesof 0.35, and 0.2, making them less probable components of Martian WICs, but still statistically possibleones. Having a better understanding of the ice crystal habit and phase function of Martian water ice cloudsdirectly benefits Martian climate models which currently assume spherical and cylindrical particles.

Cooper, Brittney↗

Anisotropic Resonant X-ray Diffraction of a Conjugated Polymer at the Sulfur K-Edge

The planar, aromatic nature of the backbone of conjugated polymers endows them with anisotropic properties. Here we show that the resonant X-ray diffraction of a sulfur-containing semicrystalline conjugated polymer at the sulfur K-edge is highly anisotropic, with strong modulation of diffracted intensity depending upon the relative orientation of the polarization of the incident beam with respect to the diffracting crystal planes. Through determination of the anisotropic resonant scattering factors, we can spectroscopically reproduce the observed resonant anisotropic scattering effects based on a proposed unit cell geometry for the polymer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗