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At least 379 records · Page 21

Investigation of Synthetic Mg(1.3)V(1.7)O4 Spinel with MgO Inclusions: Case Study of a Spinel with an Apparently occupied Interstitial Site

A magnesium vanadate spinel crystal, ideally MgV2O4, synthesized at 1 bar, 1200 C and equilibrated under FMQ + 1.3 log f(sub o2) condition, was investigated using single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe, and electron backscatter (EBSD). The initial X-ray structure refinements gave tetrahedral and octahedral site occupancies, along with the presence of 0.053 apfu Mg at an interstitial octahedral site . Back-scattered electron (BSE) images and electron microprobe analyses revealed the existence of an Mg-rich phase in the spinel matrix, which was too small (less than or equal to 3microns) for an accurate chemical determination. The EBSD analysis combined with X-ray energy dispersive spectroscop[y (XEDS) suggested that the Mg-rich inclusions are periclase oriented coherently with the spinel matrix. The final structure refinements were optimized by subtracting the X-ray intensity contributions (approx. 9%) of periclase reflections, which eliminated the interstitial Mg. This study provides insight into possible origins of refined interstitial cations reported in the the literature for spinel, and points to the difficulty of using only X-ray diffraction data to distinguish a spinel with interstitial cations from one with coherently oriented MgO inclusions.

Uchida, Hinako↗

Persistent Doppler Shift Oscillations Observed with HINODE-EIS in the Solar Corona: Spectroscopic Signatures of Alfvenic Waves and Recurring Upflows

Using data obtained by the EUV Imaging Spectrometer on board Hinode, we have performed a survey of obvious and persistent (without significant damping) Doppler shift oscillations in the corona. We have found mainly two types of oscillations from February to April in 2007. One type is found at loop footpoint regions, with a dominant period around 10 minutes. They are characterized by coherent behavior of all line parameters (line intensity, Doppler shift, line width, and profile asymmetry), and apparent blueshift and blueward asymmetry throughout almost the entire duration. Such oscillations are likely to be signatures of quasi-periodic upflows (small-scale jets, or coronal counterpart of type-II spicules), which may play an important role in the supply of mass and energy to the hot corona. The other type of oscillation is usually associated with the upper part of loops. They are most clearly seen in the Doppler shift of coronal lines with formation temperatures between one and two million degrees. The global wavelets of these oscillations usually peak sharply around a period in the range of three to six minutes. No obvious profile asymmetry is found and the variation of the line width is typically very small. The intensity variation is often less than 2%. These oscillations are more likely to be signatures of kink/Alfv´en waves rather than flows. In a few cases, there seems to be a π/2 phase shift between the intensity and Doppler shift oscillations, which may suggest the presence of slow-mode standing waves according to wave theories. However, we demonstrate that such a phase shift could also be produced by loops moving into and out of a spatial pixel as a result of Alfv´enic oscillations. In this scenario, the intensity oscillations associated with Alfv´enic waves are caused by loop displacement rather than density change. These coronal waves may be used to investigate properties of the coronal plasma and magnetic field.

Solar Corona↗

Experimental Verification of Buffet Calculation Procedure Using Unsteady PSP

Typically a limited number of dynamic pressure sensors are employed to determine the unsteady aerodynamic forces on large, slender aerospace structures. The estimated forces are known to be very sensitive to the number of the dynamic pressure sensors and the details of the integration scheme. This report describes a robust calculation procedure, based on frequency-specific correlation lengths, that is found to produce good estimation of fluctuating forces from a few dynamic pressure sensors. The validation test was conducted on a flat panel, placed on the floor of a wind tunnel, and was subjected to vortex shedding from a rectangular bluff-body. The panel was coated with fast response Pressure Sensitive Paint (PSP), which allowed time-resolved measurements of unsteady pressure fluctuations on a dense grid of spatial points. The first part of the report describes the detail procedure used to analyze the high-speed, PSP camera images. The procedure includes steps to reduce contamination by electronic shot noise, correction for spatial non-uniformities, and lamp brightness variation, and finally conversion of fluctuating light intensity to fluctuating pressure. The latter involved applying calibration constants from a few dynamic pressure sensors placed at selective points on the plate. Excellent comparison in the spectra, coherence and phase, calculated via PSP and dynamic pressure sensors validated the PSP processing steps. The second part of the report describes the buffet validation process, for which the first step was to use pressure histories from all PSP points to determine the "true" force fluctuations. In the next step only a selected number of pixels were chosen as "virtual sensors" and a correlation-length based buffet calculation procedure was applied to determine "modeled" force fluctuations. By progressively decreasing the number of virtual sensors it was observed that the present calculation procedure was able to make a close estimate of the "true" unsteady forces only from four sensors. It is believed that the present work provides the first validation of the buffet calculation procedure which has been used for the development of many space vehicles.

Buffet↗

Using Sentinel-1 and GRACE Satellite Data to Monitor the Hydrological Variations Within the Tulare Basin, California

Subsidence induced by groundwater depletion is a grave problem in many regions around the world, leading to a permanent loss of groundwater storage within an aquifer and even producing structural damage at the Earth’s surface. California’s Tulare Basin is no exception, experiencing about a meter of subsidence between 2015 and 2020. However, understanding the relationship between changes in groundwater volumes and ground deformation has proven difficult. We employ surface displacement measurements from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) and gravimetric estimates of terrestrial water storage from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite pair to characterize the hydrological dynamics within the Tulare basin. The removal of the long-term aquifer compaction from the InSAR time series reveals coherent short-term variations that correlate with hydrological features. For example, in the winter of 2018–2019 uplift is observed at the confluence of several rivers and streams that drain into the southeastern edge of the basin. These observations, combined with estimates of mass changes obtained from the orbiting GRACE satellites, form the basis for imaging the monthly spatial variations in water volumes. This approach facilitates the quick and effective synthesis of InSAR and gravimetric datasets and will aid efforts to improve our understanding and management of groundwater resources around the world.

Donald W. Vasco↗

Wave patterns across the North Atlantic on September 28, 1974, from airborne radar imagery

Airborne coherent radar imagery taken during a cross-Atlantic flight was used to determine the two-dimensional wave pattern of waves on a path across the North Atlantic on September 28, 1974. The radar imagery was compared with ship reports and photographs taken during the part of the flight when no clouds were present. The wave images were related to the presence of two major storm areas in the North Atlantic just before flight time.

Elachi, C.↗

The application of nonintrusive optical methods for physical measurements in combustion

Laser optical diagnostic techniques have proven to be effective for making physical measurements in hostile combustion environments. Two major and complementary approaches have been applied; namely, single event imaging and multi-signal detection methods. Single event imaging methods (e.g., pulsed laser holography) can provide the essentially instantaneous observation of physical events, e.g., fuel atomization, droplet breakup, particle and surface combustion, condensed phase formation, and flow field visualization. Multi-signal detection methods, which involve the processing of signals produced by the light scattered from the interaction of particles and/or droplets with an incident coherent ray, can provide information on flow velocity, turbulence, fluid shear stresses, and particle/droplet size and velocity. Recent results using both approaches are presented.

Wuerer, J. E.↗

Fiber-Optic Coupler And Dynamic-Range Enhancer For CARS

Simpler equipment yields higher coupling efficiency with fewer adjustments. In improved scheme for coupling coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) signal from measurement volume to monochromator, optical fiber and two lenses used in place of previous system. Cylindrical lenses focus light from optical fiber into beam of approximately rectangular cross section at input plane of monochromator. Optical wedge diverts part of beam in monochromator to produce less-intense secondary image.

Cutler, Andrew D.↗

SeaWiFS Technical Report Series. Volume 7: Cloud screening for polar orbiting visible and infrared (IR) satellite sensors

Methods for detecting and screening cloud contamination from satellite derived visible and infrared data are reviewed in this document. The methods are applicable to past, present, and future polar orbiting satellite radiometers. Such instruments include the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS), operational from 1978 through 1986; the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR); the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS), scheduled for launch in August 1993; and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (IMODIS). Constant threshold methods are the least demanding computationally, and often provide adequate results. An improvement to these methods are the least demanding computationally, and often provide adequate results. An improvement to these methods is to determine the thresholds dynamically by adjusting them according to the areal and temporal distributions of the surrounding pixels. Spatial coherence methods set thresholds based on the expected spatial variability of the data. Other statistically derived methods and various combinations of basic methods are also reviewed. The complexity of the methods is ultimately limited by the computing resources. Finally, some criteria for evaluating cloud screening methods are discussed.

Darzi, Michael↗

Laser Light Scattering by Shock Waves

Scattering of coherent light as it propagates parallel to a shock wave, formed in front of a bluff cylindrical body placed in a supersonic stream, is studied experimentally and numerically. Two incident optical fields are considered. First, a large diameter collimated beam is allowed to pass through the shock containing flow. The light intensity distribution in the resultant shadowgraph image, measured by a low light CCD camera, shows well-defined fringes upstream and downstream of the shadow cast by the shock. In the second situation, a narrow laser beam is brought to a grazing incidence on the shock and the scattered light, which appears as a diverging sheet from the point of interaction, is visualized and measured on a screen placed normal to the laser path. Experiments are conducted on shocks formed at various free-stream Mach numbers, M, and total pressures, P(sub 0). It is found that the widths of the shock shadows in a shadowgraph image become independent of M and P(sub 0) when plotted against the jump in the refractive index, (Delta)n, created across the shock. The total scattered light measured from the narrow laser beam and shock interaction also follows the same trend. In the numerical part of the study, the shock is assumed to be a 'phase object', which introduces phase difference between the upstream and downstream propagating parts of the light disturbances. For a given shape and (Delta)n of the bow shock the phase and amplitude modulations are first calculated by ray tracing. The wave front is then propagated to the screen using the Fresnet diffraction equation. The calculated intensity distribution, for both of the incident optical fields, shows good agreement with the experimental data.

Panda, J.↗

Study of spectral/radiometric characteristics of the Thematic Mapper for land use applications

Progress during the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan-ERIM's and 5 image data quality assessment program for the thematic mapper is described. Analyses of LANDSAT 5 TM radiometric characteristics were performed. Effects which had earlier been found in LANDSAT 4 TM data were found to be present in LANDSAT 5 data as well, including: (1) scan direction related signal droop; (2) scan correlated level shifts; and (3) low frequency coherent noise. Coincident LANDSAT 4 and 5 raw TM data were analyzed, and band by band relationships between the two sensors were derived. Earlier efforts which developed an information theoretic measure of multispectral information content were continued, comparing TM and MSS information content.

Malila, W. A.↗

Coherent Doppler lidar for automated space vehicle rendezvous, stationkeeping and capture

The inherent spatial resolution of laser radar makes ladar or lidar an attractive candidate for Automated Rendezvous and Capture application. Previous applications were based on incoherent lidar techniques, requiring retro-reflectors on the target vehicle. Technology improvements (reduced size, no cryogenic cooling requirement) have greatly enhanced the construction of coherent lidar systems. Coherent lidar permits the acquisition of non-cooperative targets at ranges that are limited by the detection capability rather than by the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements. The sensor can provide translational state information (range, velocity, and angle) by direct measurement and, when used with any array detector, also can provide attitude information by Doppler imaging techniques. Identification of the target is accomplished by scanning with a high pulse repetition frequency (dependent on the SNR). The system performance is independent of range and should not be constrained by sun angle. An initial effort to characterize a multi-element detection system has resulted in a system that is expected to work to a minimum range of 1 meter. The system size, weight and power requirements are dependent on the operating range; 10 km range requires a diameter of 3 centimeters with overall size at 3 x 3 x 15 to 30 cm, while 100 km range requires a 30 cm diameter.

Bilbro, James A.↗

A true-field magnetogram in a solar plage region

The Near-Infrared Magnetograph is used to make the first 2D image of true magnetic field strength in the solar photosphere. The magnitude of the magnetic field vector is derived with a typical formal precision of + or - 75 G (2 sigma) from circularly polarized spectra of a highly Zeeman-sensitive iron line at 6388.6/cm. The true-field map demonstrates that the properties of 'kilogauss' flux tubes vary coherently on a variety of spatial scales within the 1-arcmin field of view. The measured fields span the range 1000-1700 G. The amplitude of the polarized signal implies that the spatial filling factor of the flux tubes can approach 0.3 at the seeing-limited resolution of 2 arcsec. Magnetic field strength and magnetic flux are statistically related in the sense that weak-field areas are weak-flux areas, but strong fields are present in both strong-flux and weak-flux areas. This implies a degree of independence in the relationship between the filling factor of flux tubes and their individual properties, such as field strength, pressure, and temperature.

Rabin, Douglas↗

Seasonal and spatial variations in phytoplanktonic chlorophyll in eutrophic Mono Lake, California, measured with the Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

The principal problem with application of airborne imaging spectrometers to lakes is the weak upwelling signal, especially when narrow spectral bands with high spatial resolution are sought. Furthermore, atmospheric path radiance dominates the signal received from dark targets such as lakes. Once atmospheric effects have been removed from the radiance received at the sensor, semi-empirical relationships can be developed to extract information about phytoplankton pigment concentrations for different underwater optical conditions. In lakes where concentrations of dissolved organics and suspended detritus may not co-vary with phytoplankton pigments, the many spectral channels of an imaging spectrometer such as AVIRIS are likely to be required to distinguish the various aquasols. The objectives of our study are to: (1) estimate the chlorophyll content of a lake with hundred-fold seasonal ranges in chlorophyll concentration using atmospherically corrected upwelling radiances derived from AVIRIS imagery, and (2) to examine spatial patterns in chlorophyll after reduction of the coherent noise in the imagery by filtering techniques.

Melack, John M.↗

Common path point diffraction interferometer using liquid crystal phase shifting

A common path point diffraction interferometer uses dyed, parallel nematic liquid crystals which surround an optically transparent microsphere. Coherent, collimated and polarized light is focused on the microsphere at a diameter larger than that of the microsphere. A portion of the focused light passes through the microsphere to form a spherical wavefront reference beam and the rest of the light is attenuated by the dyed liquid crystals to form an object beam. The two beams form an interferogram which is imaged by a lens onto an electronic array sensor and into a computer which determines the wavefront of the object beam. The computer phase shifts the interferogram by stepping up an AC voltage applied across the liquid crystals without affecting the reference beam.

Mercer, Carolyn R.↗

Brief Communication: Mapping Greenland’s Perennial Firn Aquifers Using Enhanced-Resolution L-Band Brightness Temperature Image Time Series

Enhanced-resolution L-band brightness temperature (TB) image time series generated from observations collected over the Greenland Ice Sheet by NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite are used to map Greenland’s perennial firn aquifers from space. Exponentially decreasing L-band T(sub B) signatures are correlated with perennial firn aquifer areas identified via the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) Multi-Channel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder (MCoRDS) that was flown by NASA’s Operation IceBridge (OIB) campaign. An empirical algorithm to map extent is developed by fitting these signatures to a set of sigmoidal curves. During the spring of 2016, perennial firn aquifer areas are found to extend over ~ 66 000 km(exp 2).

Julie Z Miller↗

Magellan mapping update - A matter of gravity

In order to obtain gravity data for Venus, the Magellan spacecraft will furnish an unmodulated downlink carrier signal which is coherent with a highly stable uplink from the NASA-JPL Deep Space Network. After the removal of gross Doppler shifts induced by planetary motions and Magellan's primary orbital motion, residual Doppler shifts will indicate miniscule gravity variations in the mass distributions at, and below, the Venusian surface. These gravity measurements are valuable for understanding the nature and origin of features identifiable with imaging data.

Doody, Dave↗

Fundamental Mixing and Combustion Experiments for Propelled Hypersonic Flight

Two experiments have been conducted to acquire data for the validation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes used in the design of supersonic combustors. The first experiment is a study of a supersonic coaxial jet into stagnant air in which the center jet is of a light gas, the coflow jet is of air, and the mixing layer between them is compressible. The jet flow field is characterized using schlieren imaging, surveys with Pitot, total temperature and gas sampling probes, and RELIEF velocimetry. VULCAN, a structured grid CFD code, is used to solve for the nozzle and jet flow. The second experiment is a study of a supersonic combustor consisting of a diverging duct with single downstream-angled wall injector. Entrance Mach number is 2 and enthalpy is nominally that of Mach 7 flight. Coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) has been used to obtain nitrogen temperature in planes of the flow, and surface pressures and temperatures have also been acquired. Modern-design-of-experiment techniques have been used to maximize the quality of the data set.

Cutler, A. D.↗

Discriminating semiarid vegetation using airborne imaging spectrometer data - A preliminary assessment

A preliminary assessment was made of Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (AIS) data for discriminating and characterizing vegetation in a semiarid environment. May and October AIS data sets were acquired over a large alluvial fan in eastern California, on which were found Great Basin desert shrub communities. Maximum likelihood classification of a principal components representation of the May AIS data enabled discrimination of subtle spatial detail in images relating to vegetation and soil characteristics. The spatial patterns in the May AIS classification were, however, too detailed for complete interpretation with existing ground data. A similar analysis of the October AIS data yielded poor results. Comparison of AIS results with a similar analysis of May Landsat Thematic Mapper data showed that the May AIS data contained approximately three to four times as much spectrally coherent information. When only two shortwave infrared TM bands were used, results were similar to those from AIS data acquired in October.

Thomas, Randall W.↗