Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “spectral prediction”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 343 records · Page 19

Ion cyclotron waves observed near the plasmapause

Pc2 electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves at 0.1 Hz, near the oxygen cyclotron frequency, have been observed by ISEE-1 and -2 between L = 7.6 - 5.8 on an inbound near equatorial pass in the dusk sector. The waves occurred in a thick plasmapause of width about 1 earth radius and penetrated about 1 earth radius into the plasmasphere. Wave onset was accompanied by significant increases in the thermal (0-100 eV) He(+) and the warm (0.1-16 keV/e) O(+) and He(+) heavy ion populations. Wave polarization is predominantly left-handed with propagation almost parallel to the ambient magnetic field, and the spectral slot and polarization reversal predicted by multicomponent cold plasma propagation theory are identified in the wave data. The results are considered as an example of wave-particle interactions occurring during the outer plasmasphere refilling process at the time of the substorm recovery phase.

Fraser, B. J.↗

Rotor noise measurement using a directional microphone array

A directional array of microphones was used to measure the noise from a 40 percent scale model rotor in a large aeroacoustic wind tunnel. The development and design of this directional array is described. A design goal was that the array focus on a constant sensing area over a broad frequency range. The implementation of the array design is presented, followed by sample results for several different rotor test conditions. The directional array spectral results are compared with predictions of broadband self noise, and with total rotor noise measurements obtained from individual microphones of the array. The directional array is demonstrated to be a useful tool in examining noise source distributions.

Marcolini, Michael A.↗

The cosmic microwave background radiation

A review the implications of the spectrum and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background for cosmology. Thermalization and processes generating spectral distortions are discussed. Anisotropy predictions are described and compared with observational constraints. If the evidence for large-scale power in the galaxy distribution in excess of that predicted by the cold dark matter model is vindicated, and the observed structure originated via gravitational instabilities of primordial density fluctuations, the predicted amplitude of microwave background anisotropies on angular scales of a degree and larger must be at least several parts in 10 exp 6.

Silk, Joseph↗

Acceleration of solar wind ions by oblique interplanetary shocks

This paper compares observations of proton distributions made by the Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer (SWICS) ion mass spectrometer on Ulysses at nearly interplanetary shocks with Monte Carlo simulations of particle acceleration at oblique collisionless shocks. The shock parameters are obtained from upstream measurements of the solar wind and magnetic field, and the input particles are drawn from convected Maxwellians, representing solar wind particles. Good agreement between downstream spectral measurements and the simulation predictions are obtained by allowing the parameter lambda/r(sub g), the ratio of the mean-free scattering length to the ionic gyroradius, to vary in an optimization of the fit to the data. Generally lambda/r(sub g) is found to be less than about 20, which corresponds to the case of strong scattering.

Baring, M. G.↗

Absorbed Dose Determination Using Experimental and Analytical Predictions of X-Ray Spectra

Electron beam welding in a vacuum is a technology that NASA is investigating as a joining technique for manufacture of space structures. This investigation characterizes the x-ray environment due to operation of an in-vacuum electron beam welding tool and provides recommendations for adequate shielding for astronauts performing the in-vacuum electron beam welding. NASA, in a joint venture with the Russian Space Agency, was scheduled to perform a series of welding in space experiments on board the U.S. Space Shuttle. This series of experiments was named the international space welding experiment (ISWE). The hardware associated with the ISWE was leased to NASA by the Paton Welding Institute (PWI) in Ukraine for ground-based welding experiments in preparation for flight. Two ground tests were scheduled, using the ISWE electron beam welding tool, to characterize the radiation exposure to an astronaut during the operation of the ISWE. These radiation exposure tests used thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD's) shielded with material currently used by astronauts during extravehicular activities to measure the radiation dose. The TLD's were exposed to x-ray radiation generated by operation of the ISWE in-vacuum electron beam welding tool. This investigation was the first known application of TLD's to measure absorbed dose from x rays of energy less than 10 keV. The ISWE hardware was returned to Ukraine before the issue of adequate shielding for the astronauts was completely verified. Therefore, alternate experimental and analytical methods were developed to measure and predict the x-ray spectral and intensity distribution generated by ISWE electron beam impact with metal. These x-ray spectra were normalized to an equivalent ISWE exposure, then used to calculate the absorbed radiation dose to astronauts. These absorbed dose values were compared to TLD measurements obtained during actual operation of the ISWE in-vacuum electron beam welding tool. The calculated absorbed dose values were found to be in agreement with the measured TLD values.

Edwards, D. L.↗

The Effects of Water Vapor and Clouds on the Spectral Distribution of Solar Radiation at the...

During the Subsonic Contrail and Cloud Effect Special Study (SUCCESS) a Solar Spectral Flux Radiometer was deployed at the surface in a zenith observing position. The instrument measured the solar spectral downwelling irradiance between 350 and 2500 nm with 10 nm resolution. From April 12 through April 29 approximately 18000 spectra were acquired, under a variety of meteorological conditions including cloud free, cirrus, Stearns, and cumulonimbus clouds. This study focuses on the effect of cirrus and cirrus contrails on the spectral distribution of solar irradiance at the surface and on inferring cirrus properties from their spectral transmittance. The observations have also proven to be useful for comparing the solar spectral irradiance measurements with model predictions, and in particular, for inferring the amount of solar radiation absorbed in the clear and cloudy atmosphere.

Pilewskie, P.↗

Production Rates of Noble Gases in the Near-Surface Layers of Europa by Energetic Charged Particles and the Potential for Determining Exposure Ages

The surface of Europa is expected to be extremely active, undergoing tectonic and/or tidal geological activity and sputtering/ deposition, as well as impact cratering. Determination of the actual age of the surface at one or more places would greatly simplify trying to sort out what processes are occurring, and at what rate. If there is K present, as the spectral and compositional modeling discussed predict, it should be possible, in principle, to determine K-Ar crystallization ages. Whether or not there is K present, a consideration of the environment suggests we can determine an energetic particle exposure age if we can make in situ measurements of the abundances of major elements and of noble gas isotopes. This requires instrumentation that is within reach of current technology. In this paper, we calculate production rates for noble-gas isotopes in a simplified Europan surface, to quantify the amount of light noble gases produced by exposure to energetic particles.

Swindle, T. D.↗

Jet Noise Scaling in Dual Stream Nozzles

Power spectral laws in dual stream jets are studied by considering such flows a superposition of appropriate single-stream coaxial jets. Noise generation in each mixing region is modeled using spectral power laws developed earlier for single stream jets as a function of jet temperature and observer angle. Similarity arguments indicate that jet noise in dual stream nozzles may be considered as a composite of four single stream jets representing primary/secondary, secondary/ambient, transition, and fully mixed zones. Frequency filter are designed to highlight spectral contribution from each jet. Predictions are provided at an area ratio of 2.0--bypass ratio from 0.80 to 3.40, and are compared with measurements within a wide range of velocity and temperature ratios. These models suggest that the low frequency noise in unheated jets is dominated by the fully mixed region at all velocity ratios, while the high frequency noise is dominated by the secondary when the velocity ratio is larger than 0.80. Transition and fully mixed jets equally dominate the low frequency noise in heated jets. At velocity ratios less than 0.50, the high frequency noise from primary/bypass becomes a significant contributing factor similar to that in the secondary/ambient jet.

Khavaran, Abbas↗

Power-Law Template for IR Point Source Clustering

We perform a combined fit to angular power spectra of unresolved infrared (IR) point sources from the Planck satellite (at 217,353,545 and 857 GHz, over angular scales 100 < I < 2200), the Balloonborne Large-Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST; 250, 350 and 500 microns; 1000 < I < 9000), and from correlating BLAST and Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT; 148 and 218 GHz) maps. We find that the clustered power over the range of angular scales and frequencies considered is well fit by a simple power law of the form C_l\propto I(sup -n) with n = 1.25 +/- 0.06. While the IR sources are understood to lie at a range of redshifts, with a variety of dust properties, we find that the frequency dependence of the clustering power can be described by the square of a modified blackbody, nu(sup beta) B(nu,T_eff), with a single emissivity index beta = 2.20 +/- 0.07 and effective temperature T_eff= 9.7 K. Our predictions for the clustering amplitude are consistent with existing ACT and South Pole Telescope results at around 150 and 220 GHz, as is our prediction for the effective dust spectral index, which we find to be alpha_150-220 = 3.68 +/- 0.07 between 150 and 220 GHz. Our constraints on the clustering shape and frequency dependence can be used to model the IR clustering as a contaminant in Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropy measurements. The combined Planck and BLAST data also rule out a linear bias clustering model.

Addison, Graeme E.↗

Power-Law Template for Infrared Point-Source Clustering

We perform a combined fit to angular power spectra of unresolved infrared (IR) point sources from the Planck satellite (at 217, 353, 545, and 857 GHz, over angular scales 100 approx < l approx < 2200), the Balloon-borne Large-Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (BLAST; 250, 350, and 500 micron; 1000 approx < l approx < 9000), and from correlating BLAST and Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT; 148 and 218 GHz) maps. We find that the clustered power over the range of angular scales and frequencies considered is well fitted by a simple power law of the form C(sup clust)(sub l) varies as l (sub −n) with n = 1.25 +/- 0.06. While the IR sources are understood to lie at a range of redshifts, with a variety of dust properties, we find that the frequency dependence of the clustering power can be described by the square of a modified blackbody, ν(sup Beta)B(ν, T(sub eff) ), with a single emissivity index Beta = 2.20 +/- 0.07 and effective temperature T(sub eff) = 9.7 K. Our predictions for the clustering amplitude are consistent with existing ACT and South Pole Telescope results at around 150 and 220 GHz, as is our prediction for the effective dust spectral index, which we find to be alpha(sub 150-220) = 3.68 +/- 0.07 between 150 and 220 GHz. Our constraints on the clustering shape and frequency dependence can be used to model the IR clustering as a contaminant in cosmic microwave background anisotropy measurements. The combined Planck and BLAST data also rule out a linear bias clustering model.

cosmic background radiation↗

The Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES): Preliminary Results

The Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) is being developed as part of the risk reduction activities associated with the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI). HyspIRI is one of the Tier 2 Decadal Survey Missions. HyTES will provide information on how to place the filters on the HyspIRI Thermal Infrared Instrument (TIR) as well as provide antecedent science data. The pushbroom design has 512 spatial pixels over a 50-degree field of view and 256 spectral channels between 7.5 micrometers to 12 micrometers. HyTES includes many key enabling state-of-the-art technologies including a high performance convex diffraction grating, a quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal plane array, and a compact Dyson-inspired optical design. The Dyson optical design allows for a very compact and optically fast system (F/1.6). It also minimizes cooling requirements due to the fact it has a single monolithic prism-like grating design which allows baffling for stray light suppression. The monolithic configuration eases mechanical tolerancing requirements which are a concern since the complete optical assembly is operated at cryogenic temperatures ((is) approximately 100K). The QWIP allows for optimum spatial and spectral uniformity and provides adequate responsivity or D-star to allow 200mK noise equivalent temperature difference (NEDT) operation across the LWIR passband. Assembly of the system is nearly complete. After completion, alignment results will be presented which show low keystone and smile distortion. This is required to minimize spatial-spectral mixing between adjacent spectral channels and spatial positions. Predictions show the system will have adequate signal to noise for laboratory calibration targets.

Moon Mineralogical Mapper (M3).↗

A New Compton-Thick AGN in Our Cosmic Backyard: Unveiling the Buried Nucleus in NGC 1448 with NuSTAR

NGC 1448 is one of the nearest luminous galaxies [L(sub 8) - 1000 micrometers is greater than 10(exp. 9) Solar Luminosity] to ours (z = 0.00390), and yet the active galactic nucleus (AGN) it hosts was only recently discovered, in 2009. In this paper, we present an analysis of the nuclear source across three wavebands: mid-infrared (MIR) continuum, optical, and X-rays. We observed the source with the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), and combined these data with archival Chandra data to perform broadband X-ray spectral fitting ( approx. equals 0.5 - 40 keV) of the AGN for the first time. Our X-ray spectral analysis reveals that the AGN is buried under a Compton-thick (CT) column of obscuring gas along our line of sight, with a column density of N(sub H)(los) approx. greater than 2.5 x 10(exp. 24) cm(exp. -2). The best-fitting torus models measured an intrinsic 2-10 keV luminosity of L(sub 2)-10,int = (3.5 - 7.6) x 10(exp. 40) erg s(exp. -1), making NGC 1448 one of the lowest luminosity CTAGNs known. In addition to the NuSTAR observation, we also performed optical spectroscopy for the nucleus in this edge-on galaxy using the European Southern Observatory New Technology Telescope. We reclassify the optical nuclear spectrum as a Seyfert on the basis of the Baldwin- Philips-Terlevich diagnostic diagrams, thus identifying the AGN at optical wavelengths for the first time. We also present high spatial resolution MIR observations of NGC 1448 with Gemini/T-ReCS, in which a compact nucleus is clearly detected. The absorption-corrected 2-10 keV luminosity measured from our X-ray spectral analysis agrees with that predicted from the optical [O III] Lamda 5007 A emission line and the MIR 12 micrometer continuum, further supporting the CT nature ofthe AGN.

galaxies: active – galaxies: nuclei – techniqu↗

Improved Prediction of Losses with Large Eddy Simulation in a Low Pressure Turbine

We will present the wake profiles resulting from our previous computations for a range of FSTs. We will address key questions such as how the numerics, mesh density in addition to the FST level affect the wake prediction. We will utilize the spectral analysis and investigate the dynamic behavior of the wake as influenced by the flow variations in locations upstream.

LES↗

Closure Relations of Gamma-Ray Bursts in High Energy Emission

The synchrotron external shock model predicts the evolution of the spectral (β) and temporal (α) indices during the gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow for different environmental density profiles, electron spectral indices, electron cooling regimes, and regions of the spectrum. We study the relationship between α and β, the so-called “closure relations” with GRBs detected by Fermi Large Area Telescope (Fermi-LAT) from 2008 August to 2018 August. The spectral and temporal indices for the >100 MeV emission from the Fermi-LAT as determined in the Second Fermi-LAT Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog (2FLGC) are used in this work. We select GRBs whose spectral and temporal indices are well constrained (58 long-duration GRBs and 1 short-duration GRBs) and classify each GRB into the best-matched relation. As a result, we found that a number of GRBs require a very small fraction of the total energy density contained in the magnetic field (òB <~10−7). The estimated mean and standard deviation of electron spectral index p are 2.40 and 0.44, respectively. The GRBs satisfying a closure relation of the slow cooling tend to have a softer p value compared to those of the fast cooling. Moreover, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test of the two p distributions from the fast and slow coolings rejects a hypothesis that the two distributions are drawn from the single reference distribution with a significance of 3.2σ. Lastly, the uniform density medium is preferred over the medium that decreases like the inverse of distance squared for long-duration GRBs.

Gamma-ray bursts↗

Leveraging ­ CPF Spectral Information for Effective Angular Corrections in Sensor Inter-calibration Studies

The Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory Pathfinder (CPF) mission will provide a high-accuracy (0.3% radiometric uncertainty at k=1) SI-traceable on-orbit calibration reference for sensor intercalibration in reflective solar spectral region. CPF inter-calibration algorithms have been developed to address various sampling differences between CPF and target sensors, particularly in spectral, angular, spatial and temporal domains. CPF provides unique hyper-spectral measurements that allow the utilization of rich spectral information for critical inter-calibration procedures including angular correction and spectral-gap filling. The angular correction scheme of CPF mission has been constructed based on the spectral correlation relationship between CPF observed spectra and the spectra to be measured at the viewing/sun geometry angles of target sensors. The angular correction relationship is both angular and scene dependent. The scene variability issue can impose undesired uncertainties that complicates the correction for those errors. We have demonstrated that hyper-spectral radiance information can be well utilized to identify different scene types associated with CPF observations. Using spectral radiances-based scene clustering analysis can greatly reduce the uncertainty associated with the angular correction algorithm. Additionally, a reliable quality control scheme has been established, utilizing spectral similarity and regression-prediction error analyses, to ensure the successful and efficient implementation of the angular correction method.

Wan Wu↗

Enabling the Assimilation of CrIS Shortwave Infrared Observations in Global NWP at NOAA. Part I: Background and Methods

Radiance observations from Earth-observing satellites have a significant positive impact on numerical weather prediction (NWP) forecasts, but some spectral regions are not fully exploited. Observations from hyperspectral infrared (IR) sounders in the longwave region (650-1100 cm -1 ), for instance, are routinely assimilated in many NWP models, but observations in the shortwave region (2155-2550 cm -1 ) are not. Each of these regions provides information on the temperature structure of the atmosphere, but the shortwave IR (SWIR) region is considered challenging to assimilate due to noise equivalent delta temperature (NEDT) that is highly variable depending on scene brightness temperature and to phenomena that are difficult to model, like non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) and solar reflectance. With recent advances in small-satellite technology, SWIR temperature sounders may provide an agile and cost-effective complement to the current constellation of IR sounders. Therefore, a better understanding of the use and impact of SWIR observations in data assimilation for NWP is warranted. In part one of this study, as presented here, the amount of unique information (as determined by Empirical Orthogonal Decomposition (EOD)) made available to a data assimilation system by Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) SWIR observations is reviewed, recent advancements to the Community Radiative Transfer Model (CRTM) for the simulation of CrIS shortwave radiances are tested, and enhancements to NOAA’s Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) for the assimilation of CrIS SWIR observations are implemented and evaluated. Part two of this study, which seeks to assess the value of assimilating shortwave IR observations in global NWP, is also introduced.

Erin Jones↗

Bayesian retrieval of optically relevant properties from hyperspectral water-leaving reflectances

Current methods to retrieve optically relevant properties from ocean color observations do not explicitly make use of prior knowledge about property distributions. Here we implement a simplified Bayesian approach that takes into account prior probability distributions on two sets of five optically relevant parameters, and conduct a retrieval of these parameters using hyperspectral simulated water-leaving reflectances. We focus specifically on the ability of the model to distinguish between two optically similar phytoplankton taxa, diatoms and Noctiluca scintillans. The inversion retrieval gives most-likely concentrations and uncertainty estimates, and we find that the model is able to probabilistically predict the occurrence of Noctiluca scintillans blooms using these metrics. We discuss how this method can be expanded to include a priori covariances between different parameters, and show the effect of varying measurement uncertainty and spectral resolution on Noctiluca scintillans bloom predictions.

Zachary K Erickson↗

Rapid screening of secondary aromatic metabolites in Populus trichocarpa leaves

Abstract Background High-throughput metabolomics analytical methodology is needed for population-scale studies of bioenergy-relevant feedstocks such as poplar ( Populus sp.). Here, the authors report the relative abundance of extractable aromatic metabolites in Populus trichocarpa leaves rapidly estimated using pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry (py-MBMS). Poplar leaves were analyzed in conjunction with and validated by GC/MS analysis of extracts to determine key spectral features used to build PLS models to predict the relative composition of extractable aromatic metabolites in whole poplar leaves. Results The Pearson correlation coefficient for the relative abundance of extractable aromatic metabolites based on ranking between GC/MS analysis and py-MBMS analysis of the Boardman leaf set was 0.86 with R 2 = 0.76 using a simplified prediction approach from select ions in MBMS spectra. Metabolites most influential to py-MBMS spectral features in the Clatskanie set included the following compounds: catechol, salicortin, salicyloyl-coumaroyl-glucoside conjugates, α-salicyloylsalicin, tremulacin, as well as other salicylates, trichocarpin, salicylic acid, and various tremuloidin conjugates. Ions in py-MBMS spectra with the highest correlation to the abundance of extractable aromatic metabolites as determined by GC/MS analysis of extracts, included m/z 68, 71, 77, 91, 94, 105, 107, 108, and 122, and were used to develop the simplified prediction approach without PLS models or a priori measurements. Conclusions The simplified py-MBMS method is capable of rapidly screening leaf tissue for relative abundance of extractable aromatic secondary metabolites to enable prioritization of samples in large populations requiring comprehensive metabolomics that will ultimately inform plant systems biology models and advance the development of optimized biomass feedstocks for renewable fuels and chemicals.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗