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At least 289 records · Page 16

Theoretical studies of molecular collisions

The following subject areas are covered: (1) total integral reactive cross sections and vibrationally resolved reaction probabilities for F + H2 = HF + H; (2) a theoretical study of inelastic O + N2 collisions; (3) body frame close coupling wave packet approach to gas phase atom-rigit rotor inelastic collisions; (4) wave packet study of gas phase atom-rigit motor scattering; (5) the application of optical potentials for reactive scattering; (6) time dependent, three dimensional body frame quantal wave packet treatment of the H + H2 exchange reaction; (7) a time dependent wave packet approach to atom-diatom reactive collision probabilities; (8) time dependent wave packet for the complete determination of s-matrix elements for reactive molecular collisions in three dimensions; (9) a comparison of three time dependent wave packet methods for calculating electron-atom elastic scattering cross sections; and (10) a numerically exact full wave packet approach to molecule-surface scattering.

Kouri, Donald J.↗

Velocity distributions of hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl radicals produced through solar photodissociation of water

The velocity distributions of H and OH fragments produced through solar photodissociation of gaseous H2O molecules under collisionless conditions are presented. The calculations are carried out using: the most recently available absolute partial cross sections for the production of H and OH through photodissociation of H2O from its absorption onset at 1860 A down to 500 A; the newly available vibrational and rotational energy distributions of both the excited and ground state OH photofragments; the calculated cross sections for the total dissociation processes; and the integrated solar flux in 10 A increments from 500 to 1860 A in the continuum regions and the specific wavelength and flux at the bright solar lines. The calculated results show that the H atoms and the OH radicals produced exhibit multiple velocity groups. Since most current cometary modeling uses a single velocity of 20 km/sec associated with the photodissociation of H2O, the present results may be useful in interpreting the many peaks observed in the velocity distributions of the H Lyman alpha and H alpha of comets.

Wu, C. Y. R.↗

Comparison of exact solution with Eikonal approximation for elastic heavy ion scattering

A first-order optical potential is used to calculate the total and absorption cross sections for nucleus-nucleus scattering. The differential cross section is calculated by using a partial-wave expansion of the Lippmann-Schwinger equation in momentum space. The results are compared with solutions in the Eikonal approximation for the equivalent potential and with experimental data in the energy range from 25A to 1000A MeV.

Dubey, Rajendra R.↗

Neutron yields from 435 MeV/nucleon Nb stopping in Nb and 272 MeV/nucleon Nb stopping in Nb and Al

Neutron fluences were measured from 435 MeV/nucleon Nb ions stopping in a Nb target and 272 MeV/nucleon Nb ions stopping in targets of Nb and Al for neutrons above 20 MeV and at laboratory angles between 3 degrees and 80 degrees. The resultant spectra were integrated over angles to produce neutron energy distributions and over energy to produce neutron angular distributions. The total neutron yields for each system were obtained by integrating over the angular distributions. The angular distributions from all three systems are peaked forward, and the energy distributions from all three systems show an appreciable yield of neutrons with velocities greater than the beam velocity. Comparison of the total neutron yields from the two Nb + Nb systems suggests that the average neutron multiplicity decreases with decreasing projectile energy. Comparison of the total yields from the two 272 MeV/nucleon systems suggests that the total yields show the same dependence on projectile and target mass number as do total inclusive neutron cross sections. The data are compared with Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck model calculations.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

Inversion of Moisture Content of Forest Canopy and Floor from SAR Data

Several scattering mechanisms contribute to the total radar backscatter cross section measured by the synthetic aperture radar. These are volume scattering, trunk-ground double-bounce scattering, branch-ground double-bounce scattering, and surface scattering. All of these mechanisms are directly related to the dielectric constant of forest components responsible for that mechanism and their moisture.

sensing↗

Estimation of Moisture Content of Forest Canopy and Floor from SAR Data Part II: Trunk-Ground Double-Bounce Case

Several scattering mechanisms contribute to the total radar backscatter cross section measured by the synthetic aperture radar. These are volume scattering, trunk-ground double-bounce scattering, branch-ground double-bounce scattering, and surface scattering. All of these mechanisms are directly related to the dielectric constant of forest components responsible for that mechanism and their moisture.

Forest Canopy moisture content forest floor synthe↗

Interactions of heavy nuclei, Kr, Xe and Ho, in light targets

Over the past few years, the HEAO-3 measurements of the abundances of ultra-heavy cosmic ray nuclei (Z 26) at earth have been analyzed. In order to interpret these abundances in terms of a source composition, allowance must be made for the propagation of the nuclei in the interstellar medium. Vital to any calculation of the propagation is a knowlege of the total and partial interaction cross sections for these heavy nuclei on hydrogen. Until recently, data on such reactions have been scarce. However, now that relativistic heavy ion beams are available at the LBL Bevalac, some of the cross sections of interest can be measured at energies close to those of the cosmic ray nuclei being observed. During a recent calibration at the Bevalac of an array similar to the HEAO-C3 UH-nuclei detector, targets of raphite (C), polyethylene (CH2), and aluminum were exposed to five heavy ion beams ranging in charge (Z) from 36 to 92. Total and partial charge changing cross sections for the various beam nuclei on hydrogen can be determined from the measured cross sections on C and CH2, and will be applied to the propagation problem. The cross sections on Al can be used to correct the abundances of UH cosmic rays observed in the HEAO C-3 detector for interactions in the detector itself.

Kertzman, M. P.↗

Fragmentation cross sections of 28Si at 14.5 GeV/nucleon

We used CR39 plastic nuclear track detectors (C12H18O7) in combination with automatic track measurement techniques to determine total charge changing and partial cross sections for the production of fragments of charge ZF = 6 to ZF = 13 in collisions of 28Si beam nuclei at 14.5 GeV/nucleon in targets H, C, CR39, (C18H38O), Al, Cu, Ag, and Pb. By application of factorization rules, measured partial cross sections are separated into pure nuclear and electromagnetic components. The cross sections for electromagnetic dissociation agree with theoretical models. The results are consistent with a Z2 dependence of virtual photon spectra.

NASA Discipline Number 04-10↗

Rotational Energy Transfer Cross Sections in N2-N2 Collisions

Rotational inelastic transitions of N2 have been studied in the coupled state (CS, also called centrifugal sudden) and infinite-order-sudden (IOS) approximations, using the N2-N2 rigid-rotor potential of van der Avoird et al. For benchmarking purposes, close coupling (CC) calculations have also been carried out over a limited energy range and for even j - even j collisions only. Both the CC and CS cross sections have been obtained with and without exchange symmetry, whereas exchange is neglected in the IOS calculations. The CS results track the CC cross sections rather well. At total energies between 113 to 219 cm(exp -1) the average deviation is 14%. The deviation decrease with increasing energy, indicating that the CS approximation can be used as a substitute at higher energies when the CC calculations become impractical. Comparison between the CS and IOS cross sections at the high energy end of the CS calculation, 500 - 680 cm(exp-1), shows significant differences between the two. In addition, the IOS results exhibits sensitivity to the amount of inelasticity and the results for large DELTA J transitions are subjected to bigger errors. At total energy 113 cm(exp -1) and above, the average deviation between state-to-state cross sections calculated with even and odd exchange symmetries is 1.5%.

Huo, Winifred M.↗

A simple theoretical model for calculating and parameterizing the ionospheric photoelectron flux

A method for calculating the ionospheric photoelectron flux is developed which uses the concept of average electron energy loss to simplify the calculation of the degraded electron spectrum. This method requires only a knowledge of the total inelastic electron impact cross sections and can be used for the calculation of all secondary ion and excited state production rates. The simple calculation reduces the computing time by a factor of 10 and considerably reduces storage requirements. It is found that the ionospheric photoelectron flux in the local equilibrium region is directly proportional to the attenuated solar EUV flux, which is a function only of the total neutral column density, and is independent of the neutral density composition. Thus, it is shown that electron impact cross section can be chosen so that this method may also be used to parameterize the measured ionospheric photoelectron fluxes.

Richards, P. G.↗

Cross-sections for electron impact ionization of O2

Using a crossed electron beam-molecular beam collision geometry and the relative flow technique measurements have been made to generate a uniform set of electron impact ionization cross-section data for O2 for electron impact energies from threshold to 1000 eV. Present values of total, partial and dissociative ionization cross-sections are compared with previously published data. Cross-sections for the formation of O2(+) from O2 have been measured for the first time.

Krishnakumar, E.↗

K-Shell Photoabsorption and Photoionisation of Trace Elements I. Isoelectronic Sequences With Electron Number 3< or = N < or = 11

Context. With the recent launching of the Hitomi X-ray space observatory, K lines and edges of chemical elements with low cosmic abundances, namely F, Na, P, Cl, K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu and Zn, can be resolved and used to determine important properties of supernova remnants, galaxy clusters and accreting black holes and neutron stars.Aims. The second stage of the present ongoing project involves the computation of the accurate photoabsorption and photoionisation cross sections required to interpret the X-ray spectra of such trace elements.Methods. Depending on target complexity and computer tractability, ground-state cross sections are computed either with the close-coupling Breit-Pauli R-matrix method or with the autostructure atomic structure code in the isolated-resonance approximation. The intermediate-coupling scheme is used whenever possible. In order to determine a realistic K-edge behaviour for each species, both radiative and Auger dampings are taken into account, the latter being included in the R-matrix formalism by means of an optical potential.Results. Photoabsorption and total and partial photoionisation cross sections are reported for isoelectronic sequences with electron numbers 3< or = N< or = 11. The Na sequence (N=11) is used to estimate the contributions from configurations with a 2s hole (i.e. [2s]) and those containing 3d orbitals, which will be crucial when considering sequences with N 11.Conclusions. It is found that the [2s/u] configurations must be included in the target representations of species with N> 11 as they contribute significantly to the monotonic background of the cross section between the L and K edges. Configurations with 3d orbitals are important in rendering an accurate L edge, but they can be practically neglected in the K-edge region.

atomic data / X-rays: general↗

Flow visualization study in high aspect ratio cooling channels for rocket engines

The structural integrity of high pressure liquid propellant rocket engine thrust chambers is typically maintained through regenerative cooling. The coolant flows through passages formed either by constructing the chamber liner from tubes or by milling channels in a solid liner. Recently, Carlile and Quentmeyer showed life extending advantages (by lowering hot gas wall temperatures) of milling channels with larger height to width aspect ratios (AR is greater than 4) than the traditional, approximately square cross section, passages. Further, the total coolant pressure drop in the thrust chamber could also be reduced, resulting in lower turbomachinery power requirements. High aspect ratio cooling channels could offer many benefits to designers developing new high performance engines, such as the European Vulcain engine (which uses an aspect ratio up to 9). With platelet manufacturing technology, channel aspect ratios up to 15 could be formed offering potentially greater benefits. Some issues still exist with the high aspect ratio coolant channels. In a coolant passage of circular or square cross section, strong secondary vortices develop as the fluid passes through the curved throat region. These vortices mix the fluid and bring lower temperature coolant to the hot wall. Typically, the circulation enhances the heat transfer at the hot gas wall by about 40 percent over a straight channel. The effect that increasing channel aspect ratio has on the curvature heat transfer enhancement has not been sufficiently studied. If the increase in aspect ratio degrades the secondary flow, the fluid mixing will be reduced. Analysis has shown that reduced coolant mixing will result in significantly higher wall temperatures, due to thermal stratification in the coolant, thus decreasing the benefits of the high aspect ratio geometry. A better understanding of the fundamental flow phenomena in high aspect ratio channels with curvature is needed to fully evaluate the benefits of this geometry. The fluid dynamic and conjugate heat transfer problem of high aspect ratio rocket engine coolant channels are being investigated numerically, but these efforts have been hampered by a lack of validating data. Wall temperature data is available for the conjugate problem for channels without curvature and aspect ratio = 5.0, and unheated fluid dynamic data are available for square and circular cross section channels with curvature at Reynold's numbers up to 40,000. But the effects of aspect ratio on secondary flow development have not been experimentally studied. To provide some insight into the effects of channel aspect ratio on secondary flow and to qualitatively provide anchoring for the numerical codes, a flow visualization experiment was initiated at the NASA Lewis Research Center.

Meyer, Michael L.↗

Collision cross sections and diffusion parameters for H and D in atomic oxygen

Modeling the behavior of H and D in planetary exospheres requires detailed knowledge of the differential scattering cross sections for all of the important neutral-neutral and ion-neutral collision processes affecting these species over their entire ranges of interaction energies. In the upper atmospheres of Earth, Venus, and other planets as well, the interactions of H and D with atomic oxygen determine the rates of diffusion of escaping hydrogen isotopes through the thermosphere, the velocity distributions of exospheric atoms that encounter the upper thermosphere, the lifetimes of exospheric orbiters with periapsides near the exobase, and the transfer of momentum in collisions with hot O. The nature of H-O and D-O collisions and the derivation of a data base consisting of phase shifts and the differential, total, and momentum transfer cross sections for these interactions in the energy range 0.001 - 10 eV are discussed. Coefficients of mutual diffusion and thermal diffusion factors are calculated for temperatures of planetary interest.

Hodges, R. R., Jr.↗

Validity of approximate methods in molecular scattering - Thermal HCl-He collisions

Accurate close coupling scattering calculations are presented for thermal energy HCl-He collisions. The interaction potential is obtained from the Gordon-Kim electron gas model, adjusted to have the correct long-range multipole form. A variety of phenomenological cross sections are computed from the close coupling S matrix, and these are compared with results from several commonly employed approximate methods. In particular, it is found that the total integral, total differential, and gas kinetic cross sections are accurately predicted by the central field approximation which retains just the spherical average of the interaction. Integral inelastic cross sections are represented quite accurately by the coupled states approximation of McGuire and Kouri, but only qualitatively by the effective potential method of Rabitz.

Green, S.↗

Hybrid theory and calculation of e-N2 scattering

A theory of electron-molecule scattering was developed which was a synthesis of close coupling and adiabatic-nuclei theories. The theory is shown to be a close coupling theory with respect to vibrational degrees of freedom but is a adiabatic-nuclei theory with respect to rotation. It can be applied to any number of partial waves required, and the remaining ones can be calculated purely in one or the other approximation. A theoretical criterion based on fixed-nuclei calculations and not on experiment can be given as to which partial waves and energy domains require the various approximations. The theory allows all cross sections (i.e., pure rotational, vibrational, simultaneous vibration-rotation, differential and total) to be calculated. Explicit formulae for all the cross sections are presented.

Chandra, N.↗

Hybrid theory and calculation of e-N2 scattering

A theory of electron-molecule scattering is developed which is a synthesis of close-coupling and adiabatic-nuclei theories. Specifically, the theory is close-coupling with respect to vibrational degrees of freedom and adiabatic-nuclei with respect to rotation. It can be applied to any number of partial waves required; the remaining ones can be calculated purely in one or the other approximation. A theoretical criterion based on fixed-nuclei calculations is given which indicates those partial waves and energy domains requiring the various approximations. The theory allows all cross sections (pure rotational, vibrational, simultaneous vibration-rotation, differential, and total) to be calculated, and explicit formulas for all these cross sections are given. The theory is applied to low-energy e-N2 scattering. The fixed-nuclei results are such that the criterion shows clearly that vibrational close coupling is necessary, but only for the Pi sub g partial wave. It is found that the close-coupling calculation for this wave gives rise to the substructure as well as the gross structure of the 2.4-eV resonance and that vibrational excitation cross sections are about twice as large as previously inferred.

Chandra, N.↗