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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 235 records · Page 13
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Line formation in the solar chromosphere. II - An optically thick region of the chromosphere-corona transition region observed with OSO 8

The University of Colorado ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the Orbiting Solar Observatory 8(OSO 8) has measured self-reversed profiles of the resonance line of C IV lamda 1548.2 at the limb passage of an active region. The degree of the self-reversal together with the absolute intensity of the line profile determine the electron density in the active region at 10 to the 10th/cu cm at temperatures where the C IV line is formed. The nonthermal component of the broadening velocity is no more than 14km/s, and the physical thickness of an equivalent plane-parallel slab in hydrostatic equilibrium that would give rise to the observed line profiles is about 430 km.

Lites, B. W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A solar encounter mission - Starprobe

Accurate measurements of the internal mass distribution and dynamics of the sun as well as in situ observations of its environs are proposed through a JPL-designed satellite, STARPROBE. Scheduled for launch in 1988 under NASA's five-year plan, the probe will conduct radiometric experiments to determine the solar quadrupole moment (J2), fields-and-particles experiments (evaluating such phenomena as heating, acceleration, and peak random velocity of solar wind), and optical experiments potentially superior to those of the Earth-orbiting Solar Optical Telescope (SOT). With flight times ranging from 2.7 to 5.9 years, present delivery options comprise planetary gravity-assist trajectories that will give the spacecraft a perihelion of four solar radii at a 90 deg-inclination. Owing to science- and mission requirements, the thermal shield of the craft should tolerate a solar flux 3000 times greater than that at earth, radioisotope thermoelectric generators supplying 700 watts of power, and a three-axis stabilization system with reaction wheels providing control torque. Implementation concepts now under study may change some of the details of the design.

Randolph, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Super Smooth Optics for Extra-Solar Planet Detection

The goal of imaging planets around the nearby stars has important scientific significance but requires the use of advanced methods of controlling diffracted and scattered light. Over the last three years we have undertaken a study of coronagraphic methods of controlling diffracted light and of figuring hyper-contrast optics. Progress in these two general areas have led to a proposed space-based, 1.9 meter diameter coronagraphic telescope designed specifically for very high performance in the imaging of faint objects near bright sources. This instrument, called the Circumstellar Imaging Telescope (CIT), relies on a new high efficiency coronagraph design and the careful control of scattered light by extremely smooth optics. The high efficiency coronagraph uses focal plane apodization in order to concentrate diffracted light more efficiently in the pupil. This allows convenient removal of the diffracted light by masking off parts of the telescope pupil while not sacrificing the center of the field. Reductions of diffracted light by factors exceeding 1000 are not only possible but are required in order to detect extra-solar planets. Laboratory experiments with this new design have confirmed the theoretical diffraction reductions to the limits of the optics used (factors of about 300) . The extremely high efficiency of this coronagraph puts strong constraints on the narrow angle scattered light due to figure errors in the telescope mirror. Since planets orbiting nearby stars are expected at angular distances of about 1 arcsecond, it is in this small angular range in which scattering must be controlled. The figure errors responsible for scattering in this range come from mid-spatial frequencies corresponding to correlation lengths of about 10 cm on the primary mirror. A primary mirror about 15 times smoother than the Hubble Space Telescope mirror is required for the CIT. Laboratory experiments indicate that small test mirrors can be fabricated with existing technology which come within a factor of two of this requirement.

Terrile, Richard J.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Path Generation for Image Collection to Assist Heliostat Field Optical Characterization

This paper focuses on applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for measuring optical error of heliostats in concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. In CSP, there is a need to measure solar-field optical errors, which is critical for future production improvement as well as for operations and maintenance of a heliostat field. This latter need is particularly challenging because of the large number of heliostats (over 10,000 for a utility-scale power plant) that individually track the sun in the field. To address this issue, a camera-equipped UAV, with an optimized drone flight path developed and uploaded to it, collects images of a precise reflection of the tower on each heliostat to evaluate optical error sources without interrupting plant operation. Generation of the drone path for capturing the reflected images is affected by a number technical and realistic constraints, which include the camera angle used to capture the image, the blocking of the camera view due to surrounding heliostats, the location of the camera in reference to the target heliostat, and the target heliostat position with reference to the tower. The effect of these constraints on calculating the camera position will be discussed in detail in this article. An effective drone-path algorithm is generated to fulfil the need of image collection under various constraints.

concentrated solar power↗
NASA NTRS2000

Comparison of Aerosol Optical Depth from Four Solar Radiometers During the Fall 1997 ARM Intensive Observation Period

In the Fall of 1997 the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program conducted an Intensive Observation Period (IOP) to study aerosols. Five sun-tracking radiometers were present to measure the total column aerosol optical depth. This comparison performed on the Southern Great Plains (SGP) demonstrates the capabilities and limitations of modern tracking sunphotometers at a location typical of where aerosol measurements are required. The key result was agreement in aerosol optical depth measured by 4 of the 5 instruments within 0.015 (rms). The key to this level of agreement was meticulous care in the calibrations of the instruments.

Schmid, B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Some Results from Studies on Relationships Between the Optical-meteorological Parameters and Solar Activity. Part 2: Development of the Problem of Solar Forcing

A set of complex spectral, actinometric and meteorological data obtained in the periods of heightened solar activity (1981 and 1988) has been considered in order to reveal the atmospheric component affected by solar emissions in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. For the first time, it has been found out that water vapor molecules can be transformed, under the impact of corpuscular and microwave solar emissions, from the free state to the bound one (association into clusters), and vice versa. The transition of water vapor molecules into the bound state results in a decrease of spectral optical thickness in the visible, near IR and IR spectral regions, and an appearance and deepening of the cluster absorption bands at wavelengths 330 to 340, 365, 380 to 390, and 480 nm.

Kondratyev, K. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Determination of the scaled optical thickness of clouds from reflected solar radiation measurements

A method for determination of scaled optical thickness from reflected solar radiation measurements is described in which measurements of the reflected function are compared with asymptotic expressions for the reflection function of optically thick layers. Analytic formulas are derived which show the dependence of the reflection and transmission functions of nonabsorbing atmospheres on cloud optical thickness, ground albedo, and the asymmetry factor. An expression is derived which shows that the ground albedo produces a constant bias in the derived optical thickness, regardless of the value of the measured reflection function. Results from an analysis of high-resolution images, obtained in Oklahoma, of the reflection function of clouds shows the impact of details of the single scattering phase function on the derived optical thickness.

King, Michael D.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Optical Designs for a Solar Orbiter EUV Imager

An EUV Imager is baselined as one of the remote sensing instruments onboard the Solar Orbiter mission now being planned by ESA. The performance goals for this instrument may be achieved by a specialized 'slitless spectrograph' design, which could offer EUV spectroscopic information as an added bonus. I will discuss my studies of such a design, tailored for the Solar Orbiter scientific objectives and scaled to the available payload envelope. Some of the trade-offs required in terms of sensitivity, field-of-view, and spatial resolution will be described, so that the science team can make optimized choices from the full range of possible optical-design solutions.

Thomas, Roger J.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Optical performance of exposed solar cell covers

The characterization results of samples flown on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) are discussed. These samples included both coated and uncoated fused silica and ceria glass substrates used in the manufacture of solar cell covers. The coatings comprised a single-layer magnesium fluoride antireflection coating and an all-dielectric high-reflector multilayer coating centered at 350 nm. Samples were mounted on both the leading and trailing surfaces of the LDEF for exposure to the environment of space. The optical properties of the coatings will be compared to control samples which were stored on the ground during the LDEF Mission. Results of Auger Electron Spectroscopy and Rutherford Backscatter Spectroscopy measurements made on several of the coatings are presented to explain the effects of space on the chemical composition of the coatings.

Hichwa, Bryant P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Optical performance of exposed solar cell covers

This paper discusses the characterization results of samples flown on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). These samples included both coated and uncoated fused silica and ceria glass substrates used in the manufacture of solar cell covers. The coatings comprised a single-layer magnesium fluoride antireflection coating and an all-dielectric high-reflector multilayer coating centered at 350 nm. Samples were mounted on both the leading and trailing surfaces of the LDEF for exposure to the environment of space. The optical properties of the coatings will be compared to control samples which were stored on the ground during the LDEF Mission. Results of Auger Electron Spectroscopy and Rutherford Backscatter Spectroscopy measurements made on several of the coatings will be presented to explain the effects of space on the chemical composition of the coatings.

Thomas H Allen↗
NASA NTRS1975

Application of solar energy; Proceedings of the First Southeastern Conference, Huntsville, Ala., March 24-26, 1975

Topics related to architectural and institutional considerations are discussed along with studies of components and subsystems. Subjects in the area of system design and analysis are also explored. Residential and commercial applications are considered, taking into account hot-water usage in a typical single-family residence, solar heating and cooling of mobile homes, aspects of design and performance in the case of a solar heating system using a reflective pyramid optical condenser, solar heating in a Boston school, a performance analysis of solar service hot water systems, comparative performance analyses of three solar heated and cooled buildings, and the use of solar energy in a soybeam processing operation. Applications related to power generation are also examined, giving attention to solar thermal electric power systems and photovoltaic research. Individual items are announced in this issue.

Wu, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Determination of the optical thickness of clouds from reflected solar radiation measurements

A procedure is presented for inferring cloud optical thickness from reflected solar radiation measurements. Asymptotic expressions are defined for the reflection and transmission functions of optically thick atmospheres, noting that the reflection function sensitivity to cloud optical thickness is highest with minimal surface albedo. Attention is also given to the dependence of the optical thickness on the cloud asymmetry factor. Sample results are provided from several high altitude aircraft flights to determine the reflection function of clouds.

King, M. D.↗