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At least 325 records · Page 18

A survey of electrostatic waves in Saturn's magnetosphere

The Voyager 1 and 2 plasma wave instruments have provided initial observations of electrostatic waves in Saturn's magnetosphere. In general, the emissions at Saturn are similar to those found at earth and Jupiter, although there are significant differences in some of the detailed characteristics. In this paper an overview is presented of the various types of electrostatic waves in the Saturnian magnetosphere, including Langmuir waves and electron cyclotron harmonic emissions. The temporal and spectral character, amplitude, and regions of occurrence for the various classes of emissions are summarized. These characteristics are compared with those of the terrestrial and Jovian counterparts with the goal of understanding how major differences in the magnetospheric configuration might contribute to the observed differences. Finally, the theory of electron cyclotron harmonic emissions is used to gain an insight into the electron distributions and possible wave-particle interactions in Saturn's magnetosphere.

Kurth, W. S.↗

A simple model of space radiation damage in GaAs solar cells

A simple model is derived for the radiation damage of shallow junction gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells. Reasonable agreement is found between the model and specific experimental studies of radiation effects with electron and proton beams. In particular, the extreme sensitivity of the cell to protons stopping near the cell junction is predicted by the model. The equivalent fluence concept is of questionable validity for monoenergetic proton beams. Angular factors are quite important in establishing the cell sensitivity to incident particle types and energies. A fluence of isotropic incidence 1 MeV electrons (assuming infinite backing) is equivalent to four times the fluence of normal incidence 1 MeV electrons. Spectral factors common to the space radiations are considered, and cover glass thickness required to minimize the initial damage for a typical cell configuration is calculated. Rough equivalence between the geosynchronous environment and an equivalent 1 MeV electron fluence (normal incidence) is established.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Further atomic calculations for Fe XXIII

Electron collision strengths for Fe XXIII have been obtained using the 'distorted wave' approximation. Previous results (Bhatia and Mason, 1981) were obtained including the configurations 2s(2), 2s2p, 2p(2), 2s3s, 2s3p, and 2s3d. In this paper, the correlation configurations 2p3s, 2p3p and 2p3d have also been included in the solution of the electron scattering problem.

Bhatia, A. K.↗

Intensified charge coupled devices for ultra low light level imaging

Development of a sensor incorporating a CCD and photocathode for operation in the electron bombarded mode in both a magnetic and an electrostatic focussed, gated configuration is described. Initial format size is 100 x 160 pixels with eventual growth to 400 x 400 pixels. The sensor is part of a digital camera system which includes the low level video conditioning electronics, a camera controller, a high speed buffer memory, and digital recording and display electronics. The memory uses CMOS/SOS and has a capacity of 1.6 Mbits with operating rates of 48 Mbits/sec. Individual frames are co-added to provide wide dynamic range and photometric precision better than 1%. A 4-bit video quantization is used to increase the photon counting detection rate before coincidence losses become serious.

Sobieski, S.↗

Relationship of dusk sector radial electric field to energy dispersion at the inner edge of the electron plasma sheet

It is shown that, by assuming that the magnetospheric particle boundaries are the result of steady state convection, the electron boundaries in the dusk sector are essentially sensitive to the local, not the global, electric field configuration. A simple, direct relationship is obtained between the dusk sector radial electric field and the inner edge of electron boundaries at various energies.

Horwitz, J. L.↗

Effect of electron-nuclear spin interactions for electron-spin qubits localized in InGaAs self-assembled quantum dots

The effect of electron-nuclear spin interactions on qubit operations is investigated for a qubit represented by the spin of an electron localized in an InGaAs self-assembled quantum dot. The localized electron wave function is evaluated within the atomistic tight-binding model. The electron Zeeman splitting induced by the electron-nuclear spin interaction is estimated in the presence of an inhomogeneous environment characterized by a random nuclear spin configuration, by the dot-size distribution, alloy disorder, and interface disorder. Due to these inhomogeneities, the electron Zeeman splitting varies from one qubit to another by the order of 10(-6), 10(-6), 10(-7), and 10(-9) eV, respectively. Such fluctuations cause errors in exchange operations due to the inequality of the Zeeman splitting between two qubits. However, the error can be made lower than the quantum error threshold if an exchange energy larger than 10(-4) eV is used for the operation. This result shows that the electron-nuclear spin interaction does not hinder quantum-dot based quantum computer architectures from being scalable even in the presence of inhomogeneous environments.

Whaley, K. Birgitta↗

An Empirical Model of Radiation Belt Electron Pitch Angle Distributions Based On Van Allen Probes Measurements

Based on over 4 years of Van Allen Probes measurements, an empirical model of radiation belt electron equatorial pitch angle distribution (PAD) is constructed. The model, developed by fitting electron PADs with Legendre polynomials, provides the statistical PADs as a function of L-shell (L = 1-6), magnetic local time, electron energy (~30 keV to 5.2 MeV), and geomagnetic activity (represented by the Dst index) and is also the first empirical PAD model in the inner belt and slot region. For megaelectron volt electrons, model results show more significant day-night PAD asymmetry of electrons with higher energies and during disturbed times, which is caused by geomagnetic field configuration and flux radial gradient changes. Steeper PADs with higher fluxes around 90° pitch angle and lower fluxes at lower pitch angles for higher energy electrons and during active times are also present, which could be due to electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave scattering. For hundreds of kiloelectron volt electrons, cap PADs are generally present in the slot region during quiet times and their energy-dependent features are consistent with hiss wave scattering, while during active times, cap PADs are less significant especially at outer part of slot region, which could be due to the complex energizing and transport processes. The 90°-minimum PADs are persistently present in the inner belt and appear in the slot region during active times, and minima at 90° pitch angle are more significant for electrons with higher energies, which could be a critical evidence in identifying the underlying physical processes responsible for the formation of 90°-minimum PADs.

Zhao, H.↗

Star sensor/mapper with a self deployable, high-attenuation light shade for SAS-B

A star sensor/mapper to determine positional data for the small astronomy satellites was tested to detect stars of plus 4 visual magnitude. It utilizes two information channels with memory so that it can be used with a low-data-rate telemetry system. One channel yields star amplitude information; the other yields the time of star occurrence as the star passes across an N-slit reticle/photomultiplier detector system. Some of the features of the star sensor/mapper are its low weight of 6.5 pounds, low power consumption of 0.4 watt, bandwidth switching to match the satellite spin rate, optical equalization of sensitivity over the 5-by-10 deg field of view, and self-deployable sunshade. The attitude determination accuracy is 3 arc minutes. This is determined by such parameters as the reticle configuration, optical train, and telemetry readout. The optical and electronic design of the star sensor/mapper, its expansion capabilities, and its features are discussed.

Schenkel, F. W.↗

Laser-electron beam interaction applied to optical amplifiers and oscillators

Momentum modulation of a relativistic electron beam by a Nd:YAG laser is demonstrated. The electrons, at 100 MeV energy, interact with the laser light in helium gas at standard temperature and pressure. At an angle of 6.55 mrad between the two wavevectors, corresponding to the Cerenkov angle, a given electron remains in a field of constant phase as it passes through the light beam. The experimental arrangement is illustrated showing the trajectories of the electron and light. The particle momentum is measured by a mass spectrometer, and the angle between the wavevectors is controlled by a rotatable mirror. Experimental results indicate that momentum modulation of an electron beam may be used for amplification. A possible configuration for an optical klystron is illustrated.

Pantell, R. H.↗

Simulation study of traffic-sensor noise effects on utilization of traffic situation display for self-spacing task

The effect of traffic sensor noise on the ability of a pilot to perform an intrail spacing task was determined. The tests were conducted in a fixed base cockpit simulator configured as a current generation transport aircraft, with an electronic traffic display provided in the weather radarscope location. The true positions of the traffic were perturbed in both relative range and azimuth by random errors to simulate traffic sensor noise associated with an onboard sensor. The evaluation task involved simulated instrument approaches into a terminal area while maintaining self separation on a lead aircraft. Separation performance data and pilot subjective ratings and comments were obtained. The results of the separation data indicate that displayed traffic position errors, having standard deviation values up to 0.3-n.mi. range and 8 deg azimuth, had negligible effect on the spacing performance achieved by the pilots. Speed profiles of the lead aircraft, display of the lead aircraft groundspeed, and individual pilot techniques were found to significantly affect the mean spacing performance.

Williams, D. H.↗

Experimental modelling of satellite wakes in auroral arcs

Preliminary measurements have been made in a large laboratory discharge device configured to simulate plasma wake phenomena. A large relative electron drift impinging on a nonconducting disc gives rise to a perturbed density struture downstream, as well as a reflected beam of electrons upstream. Velocity distribution measurements were made using a novel energy analyzer with angular resolution.

Wild, N.↗

An ab initio investigation of possible intermediates in the reaction of the hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals

Ab initio quantum chemical techniques have been used to investigate covalently-bonded and hydrogen-bonded species that may be important intermediates in the reaction of hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals. Stable structures of both types were identified. Basic sets of polarized double-zeta quality and large scale configuration interaction wave functions have been utilized. Based upon electronic energies, the covalently-bonded HOOOH species is found to be 26.4 kcal/mol more stable than the OH and HO2 radicals. Similarly, the hydrogen-bonded HO-HO2 species is found to have an electronic energy 4.7 kcal/mol below that of the component radicals, after correction is made for the basis set superposition error. The hydrogen-bonded form is found to be planar, to possess one relatively 'normal' hydrogen bond, and to have lowest energy 3A-prime and 1A-prime states that are essentially degenerate. The 1A-double prime and 3A-double prime excited states produced by rotation of the unpaired OH electron into the molecular plane are found to be very slightly bound.

Jackels, C. F.↗

Theoretical studies of diatomic and triatomic systems containing the group IB atoms Cu, Ag, and Au

Selected portions of the ground state potential energy surfaces of the Cu3, Ag3, AgCu2, and AuCu2 trimers are studied at the single-reference singles plus doubles configuration interaction and couple pair functional levels correlating 33 electrons. The calculations use the effective core potentials of Hay and Wadt (1985) to replace the deep core levels. The Cu3 and Ag3 molecules are found to have 2B2 obtuse-angled ground states, with low-lying 2A1 acute-angled excited states. The AgCu2 and AuCu2 molecules have 2A1 acute-angled ground states. The Cu3 molecule has a smaller 3d population than Ag3, and Cu3 has a smaller s electron density in the open-shell orbital than does Ag3, in agreement with recent ESR experiments.

Walch, Stephen P.↗

Theoretical spectroscopic parameters for the low-lying states of the second-row transition metal hydrides

A systematic analysis of the low-lying states of all of the second-row transition metal (TM) hydrides except CdH is reported. The calculations included the dominant relativistic contributions through the use of the relativistic effective core potentials of Hay and Wadt (1985). Electron correlation was incorporated, using single-plus-double configuration interaction, the coupled pair functional (CPF) formalism of Ahlrichs et al. (1985), and the Chong and Langhoff (1986) modified version of the CPF method. The spectroscopic parameters D(e), r(e), and mu(e) determined for the low-lying states are compared with the available experimental data and previous theoretical results. In contrast to the first-row TM hydrides studied earlier (Chong et al., 1986), the spectroscopic constants for the second-row TM hydrides were found to be much less sensitive to the level of correlation treatment.

Langhoff, Stephen R.↗

SCOLE dynamic analysis and frequency response using DISTEL software

The distributed element dynamic analysis package DISTEL is used to analyze the NASA/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE). In this configuration, the Space Shuttle motion is coupled to the motion of a large dish antenna through a Shuttle-deployed flexible mast of 40 m long. Due to the high asymmetry of the system, the motions about the different axes (roll, pitch, yaw) are severely coupled. A general purpose software like DISTEL is especially suited for this kind of analysis. Modal frequencies of the complete spacecraft and impulse response (modal gains) to excitations at different locations are obtained. Mode-shape plots of the deformations of the entire system are given. Finally, results obtained at NASA and at Purdue University are compared to those found by the European space technology center, ESTEC.

Poelaert, D.↗