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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Small grains and IRAS colors

The paper studies how infrared colors of dust emission from the interstellar medium vary with the energy density of the radiation field on the basis of IRAS observation of the California Nebula. The data suggest that color variations result from a combinatin of equilibrium emission from large grains, and nonequilibrium emission from small grains, with destruction of the small grains emitting at 12 microns at high energy density; it is estimated that 80 percent of these small particles are destroyed for an energy density in ultraviolet photons larger than 50 times that of the average interstellar radiation field in the solar neighborhood. In a color-color diagram, I(v)(60 microns)/I(v)(100 microns) versus I(v)(12 microns)/I(v)(25 microns), the California Nebula measurements at various distances to the ionizing star Zeta Per follow a sequence similar to that of galaxies. This result shows that the position of a galaxy along this sequence is a measure of the intensity of the radiation field in the regions responsible for the infrared emission.

Boulanger, F.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Coastal Zone Color Scanner

The Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) spacecraft ocean color instrument is capable of measuring and mapping global ocean surface chlorophyll concentration. It is a scanning radiometer with multiband capability. With new electronics and some mechanical, and optical re-work, it probably can be made flight worthy. Some additional components of a second flight model are also available. An engineering study and further tests are necessary to determine exactly what effort is required to properly prepare the instrument for spaceflight and the nature of interfaces to prospective spacecraft. The CZCS provides operational instrument capability for monitoring of ocean productivity and currents. It could be a simple, low cost alternative to developing new instruments for ocean color imaging. Researchers have determined that with global ocean color data they can: specify quantitatively the role of oceans in the global carbon cycle and other major biogeochemical cycles; determine the magnitude and variability of annual primary production by marine phytoplankton on a global scale; understand the fate of fluvial nutrients and their possible affect on carbon budgets; elucidate the coupling mechanism between upwelling and large scale patterns in ocean basins; answer questions concerning the large scale distribution and timing of spring blooms in the global ocean; acquire a better understanding of the processes associated with mixing along the edge of eddies, coastal currents, western boundary currents, etc., and acquire global data on marine optical properties.

Johnson, B.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The intensity dependent spread model and color constancy

Odetics is investigating the use of the intensity dependent spread (IDS) model for determining color constancy. Object segmentation is performed effortlessly by the human visual systems, but creating computer vision that takes an image as input and performs object identification on the basis of color has some difficulties. The unknown aspects of the light illuminating a scene in space or anywhere can seriously interfere with the use of color for object identification. The color of an image depends not only on the physical characteristics of the object, but also on the wavelength composition of the incident illumination. IDS processing provides the extraction of edges and of reflectance changes across edges, independent of variations in scene illumination. IDS depends solely on the ratio of the reflectances on the two sides of the edge. Researchers are in the process of using IDS to recover the reflectance image.

Kurrasch, Ellie↗
NASA NTRS1990

Task-dependent color discrimination

When color video displays are used in time-critical applications (e.g., head-up displays, video control panels), the observer must discriminate among briefly presented targets seen within a complex spatial scene. Color-discrimination threshold are compared by using two tasks. In one task the observer makes color matches between two halves of a continuously displayed bipartite field. In a second task the observer detects a color target in a set of briefly presented objects. The data from both tasks are well summarized by ellipsoidal isosensitivity contours. The fitted ellipsoids differ both in their size, which indicates an absolute sensitivity difference, and orientation, which indicates a relative sensitivity difference.

Poirson, Allen B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Single layer multi-color luminescent display

The invention is a multi-color luminescent display comprising an insulator substrate and a single layer of host material which may be a phosphor deposited thereon that hosts one or more differential impurities, therein forming a pattern of selected and distinctly colored phosphors such as blue, green, and red phosphors in a single layer of host material. Transparent electrical conductor means may be provided for subjecting selected portions of the pattern of colored phosphors to an electric field thereby forming a multi-color, single layer electroluminescent display.

Robertson, James B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Expected color variations of the gravitationally microlensed QSO 2237 + 0305

Typical light curves and the corresponding color curves are shown for the present model of QSO 2237 + 0305 A, the image that has been reported to vary. Probabilities are presented for color changes of certain amplitudes as functions of the observed magnitude changes for different intervals between the two observational epochs, different source sizes, and different source size ratios. It may be possible to find the ratio of the continuum source sizes in the two color bands, once a color change correlated with a continuum change is found.

Wambsganss, J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Encoding Television Signals For Better Color

Coding scheme for transmission of color-television pictures reduces crosstalk between chrominance and luminance. Picture elements arranged in zigzag pattern to accommodate scanning. Resulting chrominance signal combined with horizontally and vertically interlaced output of luminance scan converter to form composite color signal. Applicable to color-video cameras with solid-state image-sensing devices using National Television System Committee (NTSC) standard color-television system, or other systems.

Marchman, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Transformation products of submicron-sized aluminum-substituted magnetite: Color and reductant solubility

Magnetite, when present as fine particles, is soluble in acid ammonium oxalate (pH equals 3). However, the commonly used extractant for free iron oxides (i.e., citrate dithionite-bicarbonate (CDB) is not very effective in dissolving magnetite in soils and geologic materials. Upon oxidation, magnetite transforms to maghemite; at elevated temperatures, maghemite inverts to hematite. This transformation causes a change in color from black to red and may affect the reductant solubility as well. The objectives here were to examine the color and reflectance spectral characteristics of products during the transformation of magnetite to maghemite to hematite and to study the effect of Al-substitution in magnetite on the above process. Reductant solubility of Al-substituted magnetite, maghemite, and hematite was also studied. In summary, the transformation of magnetite to maghemite was accompanied by a change in color from black to red because of the oxidation of Fe2(+) to Fe3(+). The phase change maghemite to hematite had a relatively minor effect on the color and the reflectance spectra.

Golden, D. C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Progressive transmission of pseudo-color images. Appendix 1: Item 4

The transmission of digital images can require considerable channel bandwidth. The cost of obtaining such a channel can be prohibitive, or the channel might simply not be available. In this case, progressive transmission (PT) can be useful. PT presents the user with a coarse initial image approximation, and then proceeds to refine it. In this way, the user tends to receive information about the content of the image sooner than if a sequential transmission method is used. PT finds application in image data base browsing, teleconferencing, medical and other applications. A PT scheme is developed for use with a particular type of image data, the pseudo-color or color mapped image. Such images consist of a table of colors called a colormap, plus a 2-D array of index values which indicate which colormap entry is to be used to display a given pixel. This type of image presents some unique problems for a PT coder, and techniques for overcoming these problems are developed. A computer simulation of the color mapped PT scheme is developed to evaluate its performance. Results of simulation using several test images are presented.

Hadenfeldt, Andrew C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Further evidence for a color gradient in M15

Using data obtained at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) in subarcsecond seeing color maps are constructed in B - V and H-alpha - R of the central regions of the globular cluster M15. Comparison in B - V of the region within 0.31 pc of the cluster center with a coadded sample taken from the surrounding region demonstrates a color gradient, in the sense that the central region is bluer than the surrounding region at a high level of statistical significance. Analysis of the H-alpha - R color map indicates that the central region is 'H-alpha deficient', i.e., has a stronger H-alpha absorption line on average than the coadded region. This result argues against the possibility that the excess blue light from the central region is due to cataclysmic variables. Instead, two possible causes of the color gradient are (1) it may be due to a centrally concentrated population of faint blue stars, possibly resulting from binary-single star interactions, and (2) it may result from a central deficit of low-mass main-sequence stars.

Cederbloom, S. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Compression of color-mapped images

In a standard image coding scenario, pixel-to-pixel correlation nearly always exists in the data, especially if the image is a natural scene. This correlation is what allows predictive coding schemes (e.g., DPCM) to perform efficient compression. In a color-mapped image, the values stored in the pixel array are no longer directly related to the pixel intensity. Two color indices which are numerically adjacent (close) may point to two very different colors. The correlation still exists, but only via the colormap. This fact can be exploited by sorting the color map to reintroduce the structure. The sorting of colormaps is studied and it is shown how the resulting structure can be used in both lossless and lossy compression of images.

Hadenfeldt, A. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Advanced technology development multi-color holography

This is the final report of the Multi-color Holography project. The comprehensive study considers some strategic aspects of multi-color holography. First, various methods of available techniques for accurate fringe counting are reviewed. These are heterodyne interferometry, quasi-heterodyne interferometry, and phase-shifting interferometry. Phase-shifting interferometry was found to be the most suitable for multi-color holography. Details of experimentation with a sugar solution are also reported where better than 1/200 of a fringe order measurement capability was established. Rotating plate glass phase shifter was used for the experimentation. The report then describes the possible role of using more than two wavelengths with special reference-to-object beam intensity ratio needs in multicolor holography. Some specific two- and three-color cases are also described in detail. Then some new analysis methods of the reconstructed wavefront are considered. These are deflectometry, speckle metrology, confocal optical signal processing, and phase shifting technique related applications. Finally, design aspects of an experimental breadboard are presented.

Vikram, Chandra S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Large infrared and optical color gradients in the Cartwheel ring galaxy - Evidence for the first epoch of star formation in the wake of an expanding ring

Substantial near-infrared and optical color gradients have been observed within the disk of the classical ring galaxy A0035-324 (the 'Cartwheel'). The slope of the radial B-V, V-K color gradient coincides with starburst color evolution predictions, indicating that the age of the disk population is a function of radius. Observations indicate that the youngest stars are on the leading edge of the outer ring, and the stellar population grows increasingly older toward the nucleus. The radial color gradient, taken together with other evidence, strongly support the collisional picture for the formation of ring galaxies. Strong IR emission observed in the outer ring appears to be directly associated with the young star-forming regions rather than an evolved stellar population. We conclude that star formation is occurring in a mainly gaseous expanding density wave and that the Cartwheel is undergoing its first epoch of star formation since its formation.

Marcum, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The ultraviolet color gradient in the late-type spiral galaxy M33

The ultraviolet surface brightness and color distributions for the late-type spiral galaxy M33 are derived from images at 1520 and 2490 A that were obtained by the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) on the Astro Spacelab mission. Although the surface brightness shows a general decline with radius, the dominant spiral arms cause significant deviations from an exponential fit. Colors in elliptical annuli become 0.2-0.3 mag bluer with increasing radius. Our measures of individual H II regions and sections of spiral arms follow this same trend. Interarm regions are redder than the arms. A metallicity gradient affecting only the colors of stars is inadequate in accounting for the observed color gradient. A plausible explanation invokes a combination of an LMC-type reddening curve and a radial gradient in the internal reddening in M33.

Landsman, Wayne B.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Deep imaging of high redshift QSO fields below the Lyman limit. II - Number counts and colors of field galaxies

We present an analysis of the number counts and colors of faint galaxies to about 26.5 mag in the fields of two high Galactic latitude, very-high-redshift QSOs. We concentrate on the general properties of the field galaxies at faint magnitudes. In particular, we readdress the faint galaxy number counts and colors as a function of apparent magnitude and we reexamine the possible contribution of very-high-redshift galaxies to the faint samples. We find that the number counts to R = 26 are well fitted by the relation log N(m) = 0.31R + C. The G-band counts for the same galaxies are consistent with the same slope fainter than G about 23.5, but exhibit a much steeper slope at brighter magnitudes. At R = 25.5, the differential number counts have reached about 1.2 x 10 exp 5/sq deg; the same surface density of galaxies is reached at G = 26.5. We confirm the existence of a gradual 'blueing' trend of the field galaxies toward fainter apparent magnitude; however, the blueing trend appears to extend only as faint as G about 24, fainter than which both the (G-R) and (U sub n-G) colors appear to level off. The mean colors of faint galaxies are considerably redder than flat spectrum. There are essentially no objects to R = 26 which have spectral energy distributions which are bluer than flat spectrum. The potential contribution of very-high-redshift galaxies may have been underestimated in previous analyses; the current data are consistent with the same population of relatively luminous galaxies at z about 3 as exist at z about 0.7.

Steidel, Charles C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

First results of the seven-color asteroid survey

The new Seven-Color infrared filter system (SCAS), designed specifically to capture the essential mineralogical information present in asteroid spectra, is composed of seven broad-band filters which allow for IR observations of objects as faint as 17th magnitude. The first test of the SCAS system occurred in Jul. 1992. In four nights at the IRTF on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, over 67 objects were observed. Five of the observations were to test the new system for accuracy relative to previous observations with the high-resolution 52 Color Infrared Survey and with the Eight-Color Asteroid Survey (ECAS). In three cases, the match with previous data was good. In two cases, the match to previous observations was not as good. In addition, sixty S-Type asteroids were measured with the SCAS system. Forty of those asteroids were also observed with the ECAS system. Among the new observations is infrared data of 371 Bohemia, a main belt asteroid which was classified 'QSV' according to its UBV colors in the taxonomic system of D.J. Tholen. There are no corresponding ECAS data for 371. Q-type asteroids are of special interest as they are proposed to be the elusive parent bodies of the ordinary chondrite meteorites. Most Q-types are Earth-crossing asteroids and have not yet been observed in the infrared (except, perhaps, 371). Positive identification of a large main belt Q-type would be of major importance in the scheme of the geological structure of the asteroid belt. Without visible wavelength data, however, the classification of 371 Bohemia remains ambiguous. An attempt to conjoin Bohemia SCAS data with ECAS data of both a typical Q-Type asteroid and an average S-Type asteroid is shown. This figure thus illustrates the importance of visible wavelength data to the SCAS system. In other words, without ECAS data of 371 Bohemia we cannot use its spectral characteristics to identify it as a possible parent body of ordinary chondrite meteorites.

Clark, Beth E.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Advanced technology development multi-color holography

Several key aspects of multi-color holography and some non-conventional ways to study the holographic reconstructions are considered. The error analysis of three-color holography is considered in detail with particular example of a typical triglycine sulfate crystal growth situation. For the numerical analysis of the fringe patterns, a new algorithm is introduced with experimental verification using sugar-water solution. The role of the phase difference among component holograms is also critically considered with examples of several two- and three-color situations. The status of experimentation on two-color holography and fabrication of a small breadboard system is also reported. Finally, some successful demonstrations of unconventional ways to study holographic reconstructions are described. These methods are deflectometry and confocal optical processing using some Spacelab III holograms.

Vikram, Chandra S.↗
NASA NTRS1994

SeaWiFS technical report series. Volume 17: Ocean color in the 21st century. A strategy for a 20-year time series

Beginning with the upcoming launch of the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), there should be almost continuous measurements of ocean color for nearly 20 years if all of the presently planned national and international missions are implemented. This data set will present a unique opportunity to understand the coupling of physical and biological processes in the world ocean. The presence of multiple ocean color sensors will allow the eventual development of an ocean color observing system that is both cost effective and scientifically based. This report discusses the issues involved and makes recommendations intended to ensure the maximum scientific return from this unique set of planned ocean color missions. An executive summary is included with this document which briefly discusses the primary issues and suggested actions to be considered.

Abbott, Mark R.↗