Investigation of the Optical Properties of Silicon Solar Cell Component Materials
Optical constants of silicon solar cell materials determined using Kramers-Kronig analysis of normal reflectance
Vedam, K.↗
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The Lyman-alpha/H-alpha ratio in solar flares and quasars
Constant temperature and density solar flare models are constructed with temperature and hydrogen density values that reflect reasonable nonlinear averages of those parameters in the depth dependent solar flare chromosphere models of Lites and Cook (1979). Acceptable values of the intensity ratios L-alpha/H-alpha and H-beta/H-alpha correspond to temperatures from about 9000 to 13,000 K, and hydrogen densities from 10 to the 11th to 10 to the 15th cu cm. The H-alpha and Ly-alpha source functions are thermalized at depths consistent with those inferred from independent studies, although the observed Ly-alpha/H-alpha ratio does not necessarily imply an electron temperature appropriate to the Planck function ratio. It is also shown that the value of Ly-alpha/H-alpha depends on the temperature, hydrogen density, and the optical depth of the emitting chromospheric layer.
Canfield, R. C.↗
The solar-terrestrial observatory as a major module of a space station
The solar-terrestrial environment is a dynamic, tightly coupled system in which variable solar energy is transmitted through electromagnetic radiation and the solar wind to the earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere. The constantly changing solar input and the continuous redistribution of energy near the earth combine to determine the characteristics of our global environment. An understanding and subsequent management of this environment will require a coordinated set of observations of solar processes and the accompanying magnetospheric and atmospheric responses. A major element in this observational plan should be a Solar-Terrestrial Observatory module of a manned Space Station in which instruments and experimental techniques developed during short-duration Spacelab flights will be applied to extended missions in both low-altitude and geosynchronous orbits.
Chappell, C. R.↗
Limit on the secular change of the gravitational constant based on studies of solar evolution
The past and present observable properties of the sun have been theoretically calculated on the assumption that the gravitational constant G increases or decreases with time. Consideration of Davis's experimental upper limit on the present solar neutrino flux and of terrestrial paleontological data sets a limit on the absolute rate of change of G, namely, the absolute value of the quotient of the change in the gravitational constant and the gravitational constant is less than 1/10 billion/yr, if other standard constants do not also change with time.
Chin, C.-W.↗
Lunar nitrogen: Secular variation or mixing?
The two current models to explain the nearly 40% variation of the lunar nitrogen isotopic composition are: (1) secular variation of solar wind nitrogen; and (2) a two component mixing model having a constant, heavy solar wind admixed with varying amounts of indigenous light lunar N (LLN). Both models are needed to explain the step pyrolysis extraction profile. The secular variation model proposes that the low temperature release is modern day solar wind implanted into grain surfaces, the 900 C to 1100 C release is from grain surfaces which were once exposed to the ancient solar wind but which are now trapped inside agglutinates, and the >1100 C release as spallogenic N produced by cosmic rays. The mixing model ascribes the components to solar wind, indigenous lunar N and spallogenic N respectively. An extension of either interpretation is that the light N seen in lunar breccias or deep drill cores represent conditions when more N-14 was available to the lunar surface.
Norris, S. J.↗
The Global Infrared Energy Budget of the Thermosphere from 1947 to 2016 and Implications for Solar Variability
We present an empirical model of the global infrared energy budget of the thermosphere over the past 70 years. The F(sub 10.7), Ap, and Dst indices are used in linear regression fits to the 14.5 year time series of radiative cooling by carbon dioxide and nitric oxide measured by the Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) instrument on the TIMED satellite. Databases of these indices are used to develop the radiative cooling time series from 1947. No consistent relation between the occurrence of peak sunspot number and peak infrared cooling is found over the past six solar cycles. The total infrared energy radiated by the thermosphere, integrated over a solar cycle, is nearly constant over five complete solar cycles studied. This is a direct consequence of the geoeffective solar energy also being nearly constant over the same intervals. These results provide a new metric for assessing the terrestrial context of the long‐term record of solar‐related indices.
Mlynczak, Martin G.↗
Solar modulation and the energy density of galactic cosmic rays.
Interstellar gas dynamics suggests that energy density of galactic cosmic rays places firm upper limit on undetermined constant of solar modulation
SOLAR COSMIC RAY↗
Ionosphere-thermosphere momentum coupling at solar maximum and solar minimum from DE-2 and AE-C data
DE-2 and AE-C measurements of plasma and neutral densities were used to derive time constants for momentum transfer (MT) to neutrals from ions in the high-latitude thermosphere. The MT time constants for solar cycle maximum (DE-2) and for solar cycle minimum (AE-C) were averaged and binned according to geomagnetic latitude and LT to provide a quantitative measure for the tightness of ion-neutral momentum coupling (MC) in the 250-350-km altitude range. Comparisons with results obtained using the Chiu and MSIS-83 empirical models have provided an indication of the accuracy with which thermospheric general circulation models quantitatively reproduce the MC between ions and neutrals in the high-latitude F-region.
Ponthieu, J. J.↗
A New Way that Planets can Affect the Sun
As planets orbit the Sun, the Sun also has to move to keep the total momentum of the solar system constant. The Sun's small orbital motion plus its 25 day rotation about its axis combine to invigorate some solar instabilities. Occasional convection cells at the proper phase in their short life can be strengthened by factors of two or more. This local burst of extra kinetic energy eventually reaches the surface where it can increase the intensity of solar activity. It might explain some reports in the last century of how planetary positions correlate with solar activity. This is the first effect of planets that is large enough to cause a significant response on the Sun.
Wolff, Charles↗
Comparative radiation resistance calculation for graded- and constant-composition n Al/x/Ga/1-x/As-p Al/z/Ga/1-z/As solar cells
The performance and radiation resistance of a new double-graded-band-gap solar cell are theoretically determined. The performance of this device is similar to that of the single-graded-band-gap cell. The power-conversion efficiencies of both graded-band-gap structures are shown to be less sensitive to minority-carrier lifetime degradation than a similar constant-composition heteroface cell.
Hutchby, J. A.↗
Solar zenith angle dependence of ionospheric ion and electron temperatures and density on Venus
The measurements taken during the first year of the Pioneer Venus orbiter retarding potential analyzer indicate the changes of ion and electron temperatures with solar zenith angles. The ion density decreases by an order of magnitude from dayside to nightside; median ion temperatures above 300 km are constant with the solar zenith angle below 150 deg and reach 2300 K at the ionopause. The ion temperatures below 300 km are almost constant with solar zenith angles during the dayside, but increase with the angles on the nightside. The electron temperatures suggest a constant heat flux into the electron gas at the ionopause which may be supplied by dissipation of energy by the whistler mode plasma waves at the ionopause and/or conduction of heat from the ionosheath through the mantle.
Miller, K. L.↗
On the high correlation between long-term averages of solar wind speed and geomagnetic activity
Six-month and yearly averages of solar-wind speed from 1962 to 1975 are shown to be highly correlated with geomagnetic activity as measured by averages of the Ap index. On the same time scale the correlation between the southward component of the interplanetary magnetic field and geomagnetic activity is poor. Previous studies with hourly averages gave opposite results. The better correlation with the southward component on an hourly time scale is explained by its large variation compared with the relatively constant solar-wind speed. However, on a yearly time scale the magnitude of the variations in both parameters are about the same. This problem can be solved by invoking an energy transfer mechanism which is proportional to the first power of the southward component and a higher power of the solar-wind speed.
Crooker, N. U.↗
CTRAMER: An open-source software package for correlating interfacial charge transfer rate constants with donor/acceptor geometries in organic photovoltaic materials
In this paper, we present CTRAMER (Charge-Transfer RAtes from Molecular dynamics, Electronic structure, and Rate theory)—an opensource software package for calculating interfacial charge-transfer (CT) rate constants in organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials based on ab initio calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The software is based on identifying representative donor/acceptor geometries within interfacial structures obtained from molecular dynamics simulation of donor/acceptor blends and calculating the corresponding Fermi’s golden rule CT rate constants within the framework of the linearized-semiclassical approximation. While the methods used are well established, the integration of these state-of-the-art tools originating from different disciplines to study photoinduced CT processes with explicit treatment of the environment, in our opinion, makes this package unique and innovative. The software also provides tools for investigating other observables of interest. After outlining the features and implementation details, the usage and performance of the software are demonstrated with results from an example OPV system.
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
A model of equatorial flow, appendix 7
Model of equatorial flow - motion of bands of fluid with constant vorticity - solar activity effect
VORTEX↗
Constrained low-thrust guidance.
Constrained low thrust guidance algorithms for three axis and spin-stabilized, constant power, solar electric propelled spacecraft on fixed time rendezvous missions are developed. A 'bang-bang' type of minimum-propellant thrust program is used. Control constraints arise from the specification that the thrust vector must remain fixed relative to the solar panels. The guidance law is derived from deterministic linear perturbation theory and is controllable to first order on trajectories containing at least two thrust arcs. The number and timing of guidance updates and the effectiveness of the guidance law in compensating for state and control estimation biases and uncertainties are discussed. Numerical comparisons between the optimal control and the restricted control case are presented on a Encke comet rendezvous.
Ungs, M. J.↗
Viking radio science data analysis and synthesis
Viking radio data analysis and synthesis was used for the following: (1) Solar System Model and Data Set; (2) Rotation of Mars; and (3) Solar System Constants and Tests of Relativity.
Shapiro, I. I.↗
The AMPTE program's contribution to studies of the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction
The Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers (AMPTE) program provided important information on the behavior of clouds of plasma artificially injected into the solar wind and the earth's magnetosphere. Now that the releases are over, data from the satellites are being analyzed to investigate the processes by which the ambient solar wind mass, momentum, and energy are transferred to the magnetosphere. Work in progress at APL indicates that the solar wind is much more inhomogeneous than previously believed, that the solar wind constantly buffets the magnetosphere, and that ground observers may remotely sense these interactions as geomagnetic pulsations.
Sibeck, David G.↗
Latitude dependence of solar wind velocity observed at not less than 1 AU
The large-scale solar wind velocity structure in the outer heliosphere has been systematically analyzed for Carrington rotations 1587-1541 (March 1972 to April 1976). Spacecraft data were taken from Imp 7/8 at earth, Pioneer 6, 8, and 9 near 1 AU, and Pioneer 10 and 11 between 1.6 and 5 AU. Using the constant radial velocity solar wind approximation to map all of the velocity data to its high coronal emission heliolongitude, the velocity structure observed at different spacecraft was examined for latitudinal dependence and compared with coronal structure in soft X-rays and H-alpha absorption features. The constant radial velocity approximation usually remains self-consistent in decreasing or constant velocity solar wind out to 5 AU, enabling us to separate radial from latitudinal propagation effects. Several examples of sharp nonmeridional stream boundaries in interplanetary space (about 5 deg latitude in width), often directly associated with features in coronal X-rays and H-alpha were found.
Mitchell, D. G.↗