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At least 343 records · Page 19

Isotopic anomalies and proton irradiation in the early solar system

Nuclear cross sections relevant to the various isotopic-abundance anomalies found in solar-system objects are evaluated in an attempt to set constraints on the hypothesized mechanism of irradiation of forming planetesimals by energetic protons from the young sun. A power-law proton spectrum is adopted, attention is restricted to proton energies less than about 20 MeV, and average cross sections are calculated for several reactions that might be expected to lead to the observed anomalies. The following specific anomalies are examined in detail: Al-26, Na-22, Xe-126, I-129, Kr-80, V-50, Nb-92, La-138, Ta-180, Hg-196, K-40, Ar-36, O-17, O-18, N-15, C-13, Li, Be, and B. It is suggested that the picture of presolar-grain carriers accounts for the facts more naturally than do irradiation models.

Clayton, D. D.↗

Performance evaluation of electrochemical concentration cell ozonesondes

Laboratory calibrations of more than a hundred electrochemical concentration cell (ECC) ozonesondes were determined relative to UV-photometry. The average intercept and slope, 0 plus or minus 5 nb and 0.96 plus or minus 0.06, respectively, indicate reasonable agreement with UV photometry, but with considerable variation from one ECC ozonesonde to another. The time required to reach 85% of the final reaction to a step-change in ozone concentration was found to average 51 seconds. Application of the individual calibrations to 20 sets of 1976 flight data reduced the average of the differences between ozonesonde and Dobson spectrophotometric measurements of total ozone from 3.9 to 1.3%. A similar treatment of a set of 10 1977 flight records improved the average ECC-Dobson agreement from -8.5 to -1.4%. Although systematic differences were reduced, no significant effect on the random variations was evident.

Torres, A. L.↗

Effects of heat treating PM Rene' 95 slightly below the gamma-prime solvus

An investigation was performed on As-HIP Rene' 95 to obtain additional information on the variation of the amount of gamma-prime with solutioning temperatures near the gamma-prime solvus temperature and the resulting effects on tensile and stress rupture strengths of As-HIP Rene' 95. The amount of gamma-prime phase was found to increase at a rate of about 0.5% per degree Celsius as the temperature decreased from the solvus temperature to about 50 C below the gamma-prime solvus temperature. The change in the amount of gamma-prime phase with decreasing solutioning temperature was observed to be primarily associated with decreasing solubilities of Al+Ti+Nb and increasing solubility of Cr in the gamma phase. For As-HIP Rene' 95 solutioned at either 1107 or 1135 C and subsequently water-quenched and double aged for 4 hours at 815 C followed by 24 hours at 650 C, the higher solution temperature resulted in significantly greater yield strengths at room temperature and 650 C as well as a greater room-temperature ultimate strength. Also, longer stress rupture lives at 650 C were associated with the higher solution temperature.

Dreshfield, R. L.↗

Low-noise Josephson mixers at 115 GHz using recyclable point contacts

Thermally recyclable Nb point-contact Josephson junctions are investigated as low-noise mixers with an external local oscillator at 115 GHz. The best single sideband mixer noise temperature achieved is 140 (+ or - 20) K with a single sideband conversion loss of 2.4 (+ or - 0.5) dB. Such rugged junctions are suitable for use in practical receivers and should give unprecedented sensitivity at the shorter millimeter wavelengths.

Taur, Y.↗

Evolution of the lunar highland crust

The evolution of three distinct element associations in the lunar highland crust is discussed in terms of the Taylor-Jakes model which involves melting of most of the moon during accretion. Sources for (1) high Ca, Al, Sr, Eu, (2) high Mg and Cr, and (3) high K, REE, Zr, Hf, Nb are suggested. Bombardment by large projectiles during the differentiation process causes melting and mixing, which produces a wide range of compositions in the crust. The formation of dunite, troctolite, high-, medium-, and low-K Fra Mauro basalts, and rocks close to the olivine-spinel-plagioclase peritectic point is considered.

Taylor, S. R.↗

Chemical vapor deposition of high T sub c superconductors

The results are reported of an investigation into the synthesis and properties of high temperature superconducting materials. A chemical vapor deposition apparatus was designed and built which is suitable for the preparation of multicomponent metal films This apparatus was used to prepare a series of high T sub c A-15 structure superconducting films in the binary system Nb-Ge. The effect on T sub c of a variety of substrate materials was investigated. An extensive series of ternary alloys were also prepared. Conditions allowing the brittle high T sub c (approximately 18 K) A-15 structure superconductor Nb3A1 to be prepared in a low T sub c but ductile form were found. Some of the ways that the ductile (bcc) form can be cold worked or machined are described. Measurements of rate of transformation of cold worked bcc material to the high T sub c A-15 structure with low temperature annealing are given. Preliminary measurements indicate that this material has attractive high field critical current densities.

Webb, G. W.↗

Lines in the 2736-3303 A spectrum of Arcturus

Results are reported for a study of the near-UV spectrum of Arcturus as recorded with a balloon-borne echelle spectrograph-vidicon detector system in the spectral region from 2700 to 3300 A at 0.1-A resolution. A condensed version of the Arcturus spectrum is provided along with profile descriptions and identifications for 383 absorption features detected in the near-UV. Elements definitely present include Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zr, and La. Elements with spectral features indicating possible presence include Be, O, S, K, Ga, Ge, Nb, Sn, Gd, and Bi. Line blocking is shown to be extensive in the spectral region studied, and eight possible continuum 'windows' are found in the near-UV. Emission lines of chromospheric origin due to Mg II, Fe I, Fe II, and possibly Cr II are also identified in the region from 2736 to 3303 A. It is noted that the Fe I emission lines at 2823 and 2844 A are optically pumped.

Stencel, R. E.↗

Fatigue crack propagation behaviour of unidirectionally solidified gamma/gamma-prime-delta eutectic alloys

Fatigue crack propagation studies were carried out on unidirectionally solidified gamma/gamma-prime-delta (Ni-Nb-Al) alloys over an aluminum content range of 1.5-2.5% by weight. The variation of Al content of as-grown alloys did not significantly affect the crack growth behavior of these eutectic composites. The results indicate that the addition of Al to the eutectic dramatically improved the FCP behavior. The gamma/gamma-prime-delta alloy exhibited crack growth rates for a given stress intensity range that are an order of magnitude lower than those for the gamma-delta alloy. It is suggested that this difference in FCP behavior can be explained on the basis of stacking fault energy considerations. Extensive delaminations at the crack tip were also revealed, which contributed to the superior fatigue response. Delamination was predominantly intergranular in nature.

Bretz, P. E.↗

Magnetic shielding in a low temperature torsion pendulum experiment

A new type of ether drift experiment searches for anomalous torques on a permanent magnet. A torsion pendulum is used at liquid helium temperature, so that superconducting cylinders can be used to shield magnetic fields. Lead shields attenuate the earth's field, while Nb-Sn shields fastened to the pendulum contain the fields of the magnet. The paper describes the technique by which the earth's field can be reduced below 0.0001 G while simultaneously the moment of the magnet can be reduced by a factor 7 x 10 to the 4th.

Phillips, P. R.↗

Progress on millimeter wave Josephson junction mixers

Preset, recyclable Nb point contacts are tested as low-noise Josephson mixers at a signal frequency of 115 GHz. The best result achieved is a mixer noise temperature (single sideband) of 120 K with unity conversion efficiency (SSB) for a junction at 6 K. Variation of mixer properties with temperature and other parameters is presented.

Taur, Y.↗

Muon spin rotation research program

Data from cyclotron experiments and room temperature studies of dilute iron alloys and iron crystals under strain were analyzed. The Fe(Mo) data indicate that the effect upon the contact hyperfine field in Fe due to the introduction of Mo is considerably less than that expected from pure dilution, and the muon (+) are attracted to the Mo impurity sites. There is a significant change in the interstitial magnetic field with Nb concentration. The Fe(Ti) data, for which precession could clearly be observed early only at 468K and above, show that the Ti impurities are attractive to muon (+), and the magnitude of B(hf) is reduced far beyond the amount expected from pure dilution. Changes in the intersitital magnetic field with the introduction of Cr, W, Ge, and Si are also discussed. When strained to the elastic limit, the interstitial magnetic field in Fe crystals is reduced by 33 gauss, and the relaxation rate of the precession signal increases by 47%.

Stronach, C. E.↗

Repetitively Q-switched Nd:BeL lasers

The thermal and mechanical characteristics which will ultimately limit the performance of Nd:BeL at high average power levels were investigated. The output beam characteristics (pulse width, peak power, beam dimensions and collimation) were determined at high repetition rates for both Nd:BeL and Nd:YAG. The output of Nd:BeL was shown to exceed that of Nd:YAG by a factor of 2.7 at low Q-switched repetition rates (1 Hz). This result follows from the smaller stimulated emission cross section of x-axis Nb:BeL compared to that of NdYAG by the same factor. At high repetition rates (10 Hz) the output of Nd:Bel falls to a level of three-fifths of its low repetition rate value while under similar tests the output of Nd:YAG remains essentially constant. A comparison of the measured values of the elasto-optic coefficients, the dn/dT values and the linear expansion coefficients for BeL and YAG failed to provide an explanation for the performance of BeL; however, thermal lensing was observed in Nd:BeL. Results imply that the output of a high repetition rate Q-switched Nd:BeL laser (high thermal loading) could be dramatically increased by utilization of a resonator design to compensate for the thermal lensing effects.

Degnan, J.↗

Moderate temperature sodium cells. I - Transition metal disulfide cathodes

TiS2, VS2, and Nb(1.1)S2 transition metal disulfides were evaluated as cathode materials for a moderate temperature rechargeable Na cell operating at 130 C. The 1st discharge of TiS2 results in a capacity of 0.85 eq/mole; approximately half of the Na in the 1st phase spanning the Na range from zero to 0.30 and almost all the Na in the 2nd phase spanning the 0.37 to 0.80 range are rechargeable. VS2 intercalates up to one mole of Na/mole of VS2 in the 1st discharge; the resulting Na(x)VS2 ternary consists of 3 phases in the 3 ranges of Na from zero to 1. Niobium disulfide undergoes a phase change in the 1st discharge; the average rechargeable capacity in extended cycling of this cathode is 0.50 eq/mole.

Abraham, K. M.↗

Energy-selective SESD imaging utilizing a CMA

A particularly simple conversion of a scanning Auger system for ESD ion energy distributions and scanning ESD has been developed. This approach combines the advantages of the small spot-size electron guns and mapping systems developed for SAM with the capability of ESD for the detection of hydrogen. Our intended use for the device is detection and mapping of surface concentrations of hydrogen on metals. The characteristics of SESD are illustrated with the preliminary results of an investigation into the ESD properties of hydrogenic adsorbates on Nb. It is shown that the ESDIED exhibit distinct differences indicative of the surface preparation, and that the ESD ion angular distributions have an effect on the observed contrast relationships in SESD.

Larson, L. A.↗

Oxidation-Strengthened High-Temperature Rivets

Shear strength of titanium-niobium rivets improves with oxidation. Ti-Nb rivets developed for fastening parts of Space Shuttle thrustors may be suitable also for other high-temperature applications in oxidizing environments--for example, in burner cans of commercial jet engines and boilers and retorts for coal gasification systems.

Mclemore, R. L.↗

Amorphous metallizations for high-temperature semiconductor device applications

The initial results of work on a class of semiconductor metallizations which appear to hold promise as primary metallizations and diffusion barriers for high temperature device applications are presented. These metallizations consist of sputter-deposited films of high T sub g amorphous-metal alloys which (primarily because of the absence of grain boundaries) exhibit exceptionally good corrosion-resistance and low diffusion coefficients. Amorphous films of the alloys Ni-Nb, Ni-Mo, W-Si, and Mo-Si were deposited on Si, GaAs, GaP, and various insulating substrates. The films adhere extremely well to the substrates and remain amorphous during thermal cycling to at least 500 C. Rutherford backscattering and Auger electron spectroscopy measurements indicate atomic diffussivities in the 10 to the -19th power sq cm/S range at 450 C.

Wiley, J. D.↗

Petrology and petrogenesis of lunar breccia 12013

Sample 12013 is extremely rich in incompatible elements (K, P, U, Th, Pb, Ba, Rb, Zr, Nb, and rare earths) relative to other lunar samples, and it contains abundant granitic material composed of silica minerals and K-feldspar. The present investigation provides detailed petrologic and mineralogic descriptions of the rock and a discussion of its genesis and history. The sample is made up of two lithologies, including a mottled gray and white lithology, and a black lithology. A detailed petrology of the gray breccia is presented, taking into account lithic clasts, mineral clasts, deformation textures in clasts, the matrix, and felsite. A detailed petrology of the black breccia is also provided. Attention is given to a model for the formation of the breccia, an evaluation of the possible genetic relationships between the various components, and some constraints on the nature of the source area.

Quick, J. E.↗