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At least 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1978

Lifetime and diffusion length measurements on silicon material and solar cells

Experimental methods were evaluated for the determination of lifetime and diffusion length in silicon intentionally doped with potentially lifetime-degrading impurities found in metallurgical grade silicon, impurities which may be residual in low-cost silicon intended for use in terrestrial flat-plate arrays. Lifetime measurements were made using a steady-state photoconductivity method. Diffusion length determinations were made using short-circuit current measurements under penetrating illumination. Mutual consistency among all experimental methods was verified, but steady-state photoconductivity was found preferable to photoconductivity decay at short lifetimes and in the presence of traps. The effects of a number of impurities on lifetime in bulk material, and on diffusion length in cells fabricated from this material, were determined. Results are compared with those obtained using different techniques. General agreement was found in terms of the hierarchy of impurities which degrade the lifetime.

Othmer, S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The extension of the concept of the cosmic-ray path-length distribution to nonrelativistic energies

The concept of the cosmic-ray path-length distribution is examined. The corresponding cosmic-ray propagation calculational procedure has been justified theoretically at relativistic energies (Ginzburg and Syrovatskii, 1964) where the effects of ionization energy loss are negligible. The present paper extends the use of the path-length distribution concept in cosmic-ray propagation calculations to nonrelativistic energies. Sufficient constraints to effect this extension are presented. The solution of the cosmic-ray propagation equations in terms of a Green's function approach is also investigated and is used to provide a formulation of the path-length distribution at nonrelativistic as well as relativistic energies in terms of the cosmic-ray source distribution and the propagation characteristics of the interstellar medium. The leaky-box model of cosmic-ray propagation is also examined.

Lezniak, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The effect of catalyst length and downstream reactor distance on catalytic combustor performance

A study was made to determine the effects on catalytic combustor performance which resulted from independently varying the length of a catalytic reactor and the length available for gas-phase reactions downstream of the catalyst. Monolithic combustion catalysts from three manufacturers were tested in a combustion test rig with no. 2 diesel fuel. Catalytic reactor lengths of 2.5 and 5.4 cm, and downstream gas-phase reaction distances of 7.3, 12.4, 17.5, and 22.5 cm were evaluated. Measurements of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and pressure drop were made. The catalytic-reactor pressure drop was less than 1 percent of the upstream total pressure for all test configurations and test conditions. Nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons emissions were less than 0.25 g NO2/kg fuel and 0.6 g HC/kg fuel, respectively. The minimum operating temperature (defined as the adiabatic combustion temperature required to obtain carbon monoxide emissions below a reference level of 13.6 g CO/kg fuel) ranged from 1230 K to 1500 K for the various conditions and configurations tested. The minimum operating temperature decreased with increasing total (catalytic-reactor-plus-downstream-gas-phase-reactor-zone) residence time but was independent of the relative times spent in each region when the catalytic-reactor residence time was greater than or equal to 1.4 ms.

Anderson, D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Interpretation of cosmic ray composition - The path length distribution

The chemical composition of cosmic ray nuclei, the value of Z varying between 3 and 28, and being between a few hundred MeV/nucleon and a few hundred GeV/nucleon, is compared with a consistent set of propagation calculations. These include the effects of spallation (energy-dependent cross sections are used), escape, ionization loss in the interstellar medium, and deceleration in the solar cavity. The amount of matter traversed by cosmic rays is found to be approximately 7 g/sq cm, independent of energy between 100 MeV/nucleon and 2 GeV/nucleon. Above 2 GeV/nucleon, the escape length varies as the -0.4 + or 0.1 power of the energy. In addition, a procedure has been developed to measure the shape of the cosmic ray path length distribution. Utilizing the ratio of Fe secondaries to Fe in the cosmic rays, presently available data are found to be consistent with an exponential distribution and they eliminate models in which the path length distribution is severely truncated. To tie down the shape of the distribution more precisely, new measurements of the cosmic ray composition, presently becoming available from experiments on the HEAO 3 satellite, will have to be coupled with improved measurements of the energy dependence of partial and total cross sections.

Protheroe, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A parallel VLSI architecture for a digital filter of arbitrary length using Fermat number transforms

A parallel architecture for computation of the linear convolution of two sequences of arbitrary lengths using the Fermat number transform (FNT) is described. In particular a pipeline structure is designed to compute a 128-point FNT. In this FNT, only additions and bit rotations are required. A standard barrel shifter circuit is modified so that it performs the required bit rotation operation. The overlap-save method is generalized for the FNT to compute a linear convolution of arbitrary length. A parallel architecture is developed to realize this type of overlap-save method using one FNT and several inverse FNTs of 128 points. The generalized overlap save method alleviates the usual dynamic range limitation in FNTs of long transform lengths. Its architecture is regular, simple, and expandable, and therefore naturally suitable for VLSI implementation.

Truong, T. K.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Atmospheric angular momentum and the length of day - A common fluctuation with a period near 50 days

Four astronomical measures of changes in the length of day obtained in 1979 have been shown to exhibit the same, approximately 50-day fluctuation. To find whether this fluctuation was persistent, and of meteorological origin, lunar laser ranging observations and wind data deduced from sources distributed over the globe were analyzed. A high degree of correlation was found between the two sets of data. It is implied that the 50-day period fluctuations in length of day are real and related to meteorological effects. Observed changes in length of day can provide a constraint for models for atmospheric flow, and a partial check for global analyses of such motions.

Langley, R. B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Effects of random member length errors on the accuracy and internal loads of truss antennas

The effects of random member length errors on the surface accuracy, the defocus, and the residual, internal loads of tetrahedral truss antenna reflectors have been studied analytically. The analytical procedure involves performing multiple, deterministic finite element structural analyses for a particular truss. For each analysis, the normally distributed, random member length errors are selected by random number generator. A best fit paraboloid analysis is used to determine a root mean square error and defocus from each analysis. The statistical properties of these quantities as well as the internal loads are calculated from the results of many independent analyses. Results indicate that the number of members in a tetrahedral truss antenna of a given diameter has a significant effect on surface accuracy, defocus and internal loads. It was also found that the member axial stiffnesses and antenna focal length have a very small effect on reflector surface accuracy.

Greene, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A mixing-length model for the prediction of convex curvature effects on turbulent boundary layers

A mixing-length model is developed for the prediction of turbulent boundary layers with convex streamwise curvature. For large layer thickness ratio, delta/R greater than 0.05, the model scales mixing length on the wall radius of curvature, R. For small delta/R, ordinary flat wall modeling is used for the mixing-length profile with curvature corrections, following the recommendations of Eide and Johnston (1976). Effects of streamwise change of curvature are considered; a strong lag from equilibrium is required when R increases downstream. Fifteen separate data sets were compared, including both hydrodynamic and heat transfer results. Six of these computations are presented and compared to experiment.

Adams, E. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Martian crater dark streak lengths - Explanation from wind tunnel experiments

The mechanism determining the length of dark erosional (type-Id) streaks near craters and hills on the surface of Mars is investigated using Mariner-9 images and the results of wind-tunnel studies (Greeley et al., 1974; Iversen et al., 1975 and 1976). An empirical model of time-dependent growth of crater-wake streaks in the downwind direction involving deflation by sand-grain saltation is developed and shown to give relatively good agreement with streak growth rates observed over a 38-day period of Mariner observations and with the streak-length/crater-diameter and streak-length/crater-height ratios analyzed statistically by Lee (1984). This time-dependent mechanism is thus considered a reasonable alternative (for dark streaks) to the blocking model proposed by Lee for both bright and dark streaks. Preliminary analysis of further wind-tunnel experiments (Iversen et al., 1982) supports the blocking model of bright-streak formation.

Iversen, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Design of a variable-focal-length optical system

Requirements to place an entire optical system with a variable focal length ranging from 20 to 200 cm within a overall length somewhat less than 100 cm placed severe restrictions on the design of a zoom lens suitable for use on a comet explorer. The requirements of a wavelength range of 0.4 to 1.0 microns produced even greater limitations on the possibilities for a design that included a catadioptric (using mirrors and glass) front and followed by a zooming refractive portion. Capabilities available commercial zoom lenses as well as patents of optical systems are reviewed. Preliminary designs of the refractive optics zoom lens and the catadioptric system are presented and evaluated. Of the two, the latter probably has the best chance of success, so long as the shortest focal lengths are not really needed.

Ricks, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Controlling Arc Length in Plasma Welding

Circuit maintains arc length on irregularly shaped workpieces. Length of plasma arc continuously adjusted by control circuit to maintain commanded value. After pilot arc is established, contactor closed and transfers arc to workpiece. Control circuit then half-wave rectifies ac arc voltage to produce dc control signal proportional to arc length. Circuit added to plasma arc welding machines with few wiring changes. Welds made with circuit cleaner and require less rework than welds made without it. Beads smooth and free of inclusions.

Iceland, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Geodesy by radio interferometry - Effects of atmospheric modeling errors on estimates of baseline length

Analysis of very long baseline interferometry data indicates that systematic errors in prior estimates of baseline length, of order 5 cm for approximately 8000-km baselines, were due primarily to mismodeling of the electrical path length of the troposphere and mesosphere ('atmospheric delay'). Here observational evidence for the existence of such errors in the previously used models for the atmospheric delay is discussed, and a new 'mapping' function for the elevation angle dependence of this delay is developed. The delay predicted by this new mapping function differs from ray trace results by less than approximately 5 mm, at all elevations down to 5 deg elevation, and introduces errors into the estimates of baseline length of less than about 1 cm, for the multistation intercontinental experiment analyzed here.

Davis, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Measurements of Siple transmitter signals on the DE 1 satellite - Wave normal direction and antenna effective length

A new experimental technique is developed to simultaneously measure the wave propagation direction and the effective length of a small (L value much smaller than wavelength) electric dipole antenna on a spin-stabilized satellite in the magnetosphere. The technique relies on the near simultaneous measurement of single components of the electric and magnetic fields of a coherent VLF signal injected into the medium from a ground-based source. The spin fading characteristics of the signal received by the electric dipole and the magnetic loop antenna permit the measurement of the wave normal direction assuming whistler-mode propagation. In-situ and remote measurements of the local cold plasma density are used to determine the refractive index. The wave electric field is then inferred from the wave magnetic field as measured on the loop antenna, the refractive index and the direction of propagation. Comparing this electric field with the measured voltage across the dipole antenna leads to the determination of the effective length of the receiving electric dipole. The technique is applied to data from the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite observations of whistler mode signals injected into the magnetosphere from the Siple, Antarctica, VLF transmitter. In one case, with the measured background cold plasma density being 15 el/cu cm, the effective length of the 200 m-long electric dipole antenna is found to be 222 + or - 56 m, i.e., about twice the conventional value.

Sonwalker, V. S.↗
NASA NTRS1986

On the number of multiplications necessary to compute a length-2 exp n DFT

The number of multiplications necessary and sufficient to compute a length-2 exp n DFT is determined. The method of derivation is shown to apply to the multiplicative complexity results of Winograd (1980, 1981) for a length-p exp n DFT, for p an odd prime number. The multiplicative complexity of the one-dimensional DFT is summarized for many possible lengths.

Heideman, M. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

On the inception lengths of swept shock-wave/turbulent boundary-layer interactions

Experimental data are shown for the inception lengths of swept compression corner-generated and fin-generated shock/boundary layer interactions at Mach 2.95. These results are found to correlate on the basis of three different flow regimes. The inception lengths of these flows are dominated by a singularity at the cylindrical/conical boundary for swept corners and by an elongation due to shock wave sweepback for fin interactions. Similarity rules for both Re(delta)and shock generator geometry effects on inception lengths are demonstrated.

Settles, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1988

VLBI geodesy - 2 parts-per-billion precision in length determinations for transcontinental baselines

VLBI was to make twenty-two independent measurements, between September 1984 and December 1986, of the length of the 3900-km baseline between the Mojave site in California and the Haystack/Westford site in Massachusetts. These experiments differ from the typical geodetic VLBI experiments in that a large fraction of observations is obtained at elevation angles between 4 and 10 deg. Data from these low elevation angles allow the vertical coordinate of site position, and hence the baseline length, to be estimated with greater precision. For the sixteen experiments processed thus far, the weighted root-mean-square scatter of the estimates of the baseline length is 8 mm.

Davis, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Revised scale lengths for cometary NH

New values for the Haser model scale lengths of NH are derived from extensive narrow-band photometry of comet P/Halley. The observations require a parent scale length which is 5-10 times larger than previously published values. It is shown that the newly determined scale lengths also give better agreement with recent observations of two other comets: P/Borrelly and Liller. When combined with fluorescence efficiency calculations by others, the present results indicate that NH production in typical comets, relative to that of other molecular species, is about 20 times greater than previously believed.

Schleicher, David G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

The effect of length and diameter on the resistivity of bromine intercalated graphite fibers

The resistivity of bromine intercalated graphite fibers has been shown to vary with both the diameter and the length of the fibers. This is due to bromine depletion from the fiber surface. Model calculations assuming a 1.0 micron bromine depletion zone for P-100, and 3.0 microns for vapor-grown graphite fibers fit the respective diameter dependence of their resistivities quite well. Length dependence data imply a bromine depletion zone along the length of P-100 fibers which is also a few microns, but that of vapor grown fibers appears to be as large as 300 microns. Despite these values, microfilaments, which are much smaller than the expected depletion zones, do form residual bromine intercalation compounds with resistivities about one-half of their pristine value.

Gaier, James R.↗