Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “nuclear interactions”

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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1976

Gamma-ray astronomy: Nuclear transition region

This monograph reviews the major theoretical and experimental efforts made during the past 12 years in gamma-ray astronomy over the energy range from 10 keV to about 100 MeV, where nuclear-transition lines are expected. Early attempts to detect celestial gamma rays are recounted, mechanisms of gamma-ray line and continuum production are examined, and formulas giving the various possible differential gamma-ray spectral shapes are provided. Predicted fluxes are discussed for solar gamma rays as well as for gamma emission from supernova remnants, supernovae, neutron stars, flare stars, the galactic core and disk, black holes, and diffuse sources. Gamma-ray interactions with matter are analyzed, particularly the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering from free electrons, and pair production in nuclear fields. Significant results are summarized for observations of gamma rays from the sun as well as from point and extended sources within and beyond the Galaxy, including diffuse fluxes and transient gamma-ray bursts. Factors pertaining to the design of gamma-ray astronomy experiments are considered, especially detector background limitations, gamma-ray production within instruments, and present-day detection methods.

Chupp, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Nuclear gamma rays from 720-MeV alpha-induced reactions on Al-27 and Si-28

Prompt gamma rays from the interaction of 720-MeV alpha particles with Al-27 and Si-28 were detected and analyzed to identify residual nuclei and to determine cross sections for production of specific levels. No gamma-ray transitions were detected from nuclei heavier than the target. From Doppler broadening, the momentum of the residual nuclei was estimated. The results are compared with previous results for 140- and 1600-MeV alphas on Al-27 and approximately 200-MeV positive or negative pions on Al-27 and Si-28 and fitted to a spallation-yield formula.

Lieb, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Basic and Applied Materials Science Research Efforts at MSFC Germane to NASA Goals

Presently, a number of investigations are ongoing that blend basic research with engineering applications in support of NASA goals. These include (1) "Pore Formation and Mobility (PFMI) " An ISS Glovebox Investigation" NASA Selected Project - 400-34-3D; (2) "Interactions Between Rotating Bodies" Center Director's Discretionary Fund (CDDF) Project - 279-62-00-16; (3) "Molybdenum - Rhenium (Mo-Re) Alloys for Nuclear Fuel Containment" TD Collaboration - 800-11-02; (4) "Fabrication of Alumina - Metal Composites for Propulsion Components" ED Collaboration - 090-50-10; (5) "Radiation Shielding for Deep-Space Missions" SD Effort; (6) "Other Research". In brief, "Pore Formation and Mobility" is an experiment to be conducted in the ISS Microgravity Science Glovebox that will systematically investigate the development, movement, and interactions of bubbles (porosity) during the controlled directional solidification of a transparent material. In addition to promoting our general knowledge of porosity physics, this work will serve as a guide to future ISS experiments utilizing metal alloys. "Interactions Between Rotating Bodies" is a CDDF sponsored project that is critically examining, through theory and experiment, claims of "new" physics relating to gravity modification and electric field effects. "Molybdenum - Rhenium Alloys for Nuclear Fuel Containment" is a TD collaboration in support of nuclear propulsion. Mo-Re alloys are being evaluated and developed for nuclear fuel containment. "Fabrication of Alumina - Metal Composites for Propulsion Components" is an ED collaboration with the intent of increasing strength and decreasing weight of metal engine components through the incorporation of nanometer-sized alumina fibers. "Radiation Shielding for Deep-Space Missions" is an SD effort aimed at minimizing the health risk from radiation to human space voyagers; work to date has been primarily programmatic but experiments to develop hydrogen-rich materials for shielding are planned. "Other Research" includes: BUNDLE (Bridgman Unidirectional Dendrite in a Liquid Experiment) activities (primarily crucible development), vibrational float-zone processing (with Vanderbilt University), use of ultrasonics in materials processing (with UAH), rotational effects on microstructural development, and application of magnetic fields for mixing.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1985

Elemental abundance differences between nuclei acclerated in CIR shocks and solar flares

Measurement of the ratios of nuclear abundances H/He, CNO/Fe-group and the Fe-group/HE for 51 passages of Corotating Interaction Regions (CIRs) at 1 AU, and measurement of these ratios from 620 solar flares in the energy range 0.6 to 4 MeV per nucleon, show that CIR shock acceleration alone does not change significantly these ratios from the values they have for solar system abundances or the solar wind. The solar flare ratios continue to reflect strong biases in the abundances, consistent with requirements for multistage acceleration rpocesses at the Sun.

Dietrich, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Meson multiplicity versus energy in relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions

A systematic study of meson multiplicity as a function of energy at energies up to 100 GeV/u in nucleus-nucleus collisions has been made, using cosmic-ray data in nuclear emulsion. The data are consistent with simple nucleon-nucleon superposition models. Multiplicity per interacting nucleon in AA collisions does not appear to differ significantly from pp collisions.

Atwater, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Radiation Monitoring Equipment Dosimeter Experiment

Spacecraft crews risk exposure to relatively high levels of ionizing radiation. This radiation may come from charged particles trapped in the Earth's magnetic fields, charged particles released by solar flare activity, galactic cosmic radiation, energetic photons and neutrons generated by interaction of these primary radiations with spacecraft and crew, and man-made sources (e.g., nuclear power generators). As missions are directed to higher radiation level orbits, viz., higher altitudes and inclinations, longer durations, and increased flight frequency, radiation exposure could well become a major factor for crew stay time and career lengths. To more accurately define the radiological exposure and risk to the crew, real-time radiation monitoring instrumentation, which is capable of identifying and measuring the various radiation components, must be flown. This presentation describes a radiation dosimeter instrument which was successfully flown on the Space Shuttle, the RME-3.

Hardy, Kenneth A.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Cross Section Sensitivity and Propagated Errors in HZE Exposures

It has long been recognized that galactic cosmic rays are of such high energy that they tend to pass through available shielding materials resulting in exposure of astronauts and equipment within space vehicles and habitats. Any protection provided by shielding materials result not so much from stopping such particles but by changing their physical character in interaction with shielding material nuclei forming, hopefully, less dangerous species. Clearly, the fidelity of the nuclear cross-sections is essential to correct specification of shield design and sensitivity to cross-section error is important in guiding experimental validation of cross-section models and database. We examine the Boltzmann transport equation which is used to calculate dose equivalent during solar minimum, with units (cSv/yr), associated with various depths of shielding materials. The dose equivalent is a weighted sum of contributions from neutrons, protons, light ions, medium ions and heavy ions. We investigate the sensitivity of dose equivalent calculations due to errors in nuclear fragmentation cross-sections. We do this error analysis for all possible projectile-fragment combinations (14,365 such combinations) to estimate the sensitivity of the shielding calculations to errors in the nuclear fragmentation cross-sections. Numerical differentiation with respect to the cross-sections will be evaluated in a broad class of materials including polyethylene, aluminum and copper. We will identify the most important cross-sections for further experimental study and evaluate their impact on propagated errors in shielding estimates.

Heinbockel, John H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Search for important weak interaction nuclei in presupernova evolution

A search is made for the most important electron captures and beta-decays after core silicon burning in massive stars. A nuclear statistical equilibrium code is used to compute isotopic abundances. Electron capture and beta-decay rates are estimated for the 150 most abundant isotopes in a simplified fashion which generally includes the strongest transitions. These estimates are made for nuclei in the fp-shell and use techniques similar to Fuller, Fowler, & Newman (1982a), and are compared to them. The general behavior of the rate of change of Y(sub e) is examined. These methods are then used to follow a typical stellar trajectory, seeking the most important weak interactions during the formation of the iron core. Ranked lists of nuclei are given, to prioritize more detailed studies on individual nuclei. Beta-decays are found to ben an important modification to the evolution below the rate of change of Y(sub e) approx. = 0.46 as the core approaches a state of dynamic equilibrium between electron captures and beta-decays.

Aufderheide, Maurice B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Deformed Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculations

The renormalized Brueckner-Hartree-Fock (RBHF) theory for many-body nuclear systems is generalized to permit calculations for intrinsic states having permanent deformation. Both Hartree-Fock and Brueckner self-consistencies are satisfied, and details of the numerical techniques are discussed. The Hamada-Johnston interaction is used in a study of deformations, binding, size, and separation energies for several nuclei. Electromagnetic transition rates, moments, and electron scattering form factors are calculated using nuclear wave functions obtained by angular momentum projection. Comparison is made to experiment as well as to predictions of ordinary and density-dependent Hartree-Fock Theory.

Ford, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Deformed Brueckner-Hartree-Fock calculations.

The renormalized Brueckner-Hartree-Fock (RBHF) theory for many-body nuclear systems has been generalized to permit calculations for intrinsic states having permanent deformation. Both Hartree-Fock and Brueckner self-consistencies are satisfied, and details of the numerical techniques are discussed. The Hamada-Johnston interaction is used in a study of deformations, binding, size, and separation energies for several nuclei. Electromagnetic transition rates, moments, and electron scattering form factors are calculated using nuclear wave functions obtained by angular momentum projection. Comparison is made to experiment as well as to predictions of ordinary and density-dependent Hartree-Fock theory.

Ford, W. F.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Nuclear quadrupole resonance studies in semi-metallic structures

Both experimental and theoretical studies are presented on spectrum analysis of nuclear quadrupole resonance of antimony and arsenic tellurides. Numerical solutions for secular equations of the quadrupole interaction energy are also discussed.

Murty, A. N.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Lunar radionuclide records of average solar-cosmic-ray fluxes over the last ten million years

The use of cosmogenic radionuclides in lunar materials as indicators of solar cosmic ray fluxes and thus solar activity over the past 10 million years is discussed. The nature of solar and galactic cosmic ray particles and their interactions with matter are reviewed, with particular emphasis on nuclide production by cosmic-ray-induced nuclear reactions. Evidence of galactic cosmic ray flux variations from measurements of radionuclide activities in meteorites is considered which has indicated changes of less than about 25-50% over the last few million years. Measurements of radionuclide activities in lunar materials which are used to determine solar cosmic ray fluxes are then examined together with direct proton measurements indicating variations in solar fluxes with different solar cycles. It is noted that whereas average solar proton fluxes determined for the last 1-10 million years from Al-26 and Mn-53 data show little variation and are similar to recent values, lunar C-14 and Kr-81 activities indicate average solar proton fluxes several times greater over the past 10,000 to 100,000 years.

Reedy, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Nineteenth International Cosmic Ray Conference. HE Sessions, Volume 6

Papers contributed to the 19th International Cosmic Ray Conference which address high energy interactions and related phenomena are compiled. Particular topic areas include cross sections; particle production; nuclei and nuclear matter; nucleus-nucleus collisions; gamma ray and hadron spectra; C-jets, a-jets, and super families; and emulsion chamber simulations.

Jones, F. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The dynamic interstellar medium in NGC 4438

We present multiwavelength observations of the interstellar medium in the disturbed galaxy NGC 4438. We find extended emission-line filaments, which are kinematically unrelated to the galaxy disk. For one of these features, an extended loop, we propose a scheme in which the 'bubble' seen at radio wavelengths has swept a clear path for outflowing material from the nucleus to ionize more distant material. Another radial emission-line feature might represent shocks in the disk along a gravitationally-defined caustic produced during a tidal encounter, or a 'searchlight beam' escaping the inner dusty regions of the galaxy. Energy-balance arguments favor the shock picture, but further study will be important in understanding this feature. Emission-line ratios indicate that shocks may be important in the energetics of the interstellar medium (ISM) through much of the disk of NGC 4438; the alternative is star formation in a uniformly very dense ISM. We use K-band data to locate the stellar peak of the galaxy, which is just outside the prominent radio-continuum loop or shell feature. The nucleus itself is at most a very weak radio source. However, the more extended radio structure shows that energetic events have taken place in the innermost few hundred parsees of NGC 4438. The interstellar medium of NGC 4438 may show at once the impact of nuclear energy input (from an AGN or cocooned starburst), perturbation by the companion NGC 4435, and interaction with the dense intergalactic medium in the Virgo core.

Keel, William C.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Abrasion-ablation model for neutron production in heavy ion collisions

In intermediate energy nucleus-nucleus collisions, neutron production at forward angles is observed to occur with a Gaussian shape that is centered near the beam energy and extends to energies well above that of the beam. This paper presents an abrasion-ablation model for making quantitative predictions of the neutron spectrum. To describe neutrons produced from the abrasion step of the reaction where the projectile and target overlap, we use the Glauber model and include effects of final-state interactions. We then use the prefragment mass distribution from abrasion with a statistical evaporation model to estimate the neutron spectrum resulting from ablation. Measurements of neutron production from Ne and Nb beams are compared with calculations, and good agreement is found.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗
NASA NTRS1985

Search for anomalous fragments produced in collisions with heavy target nuclei and in delta Z = 1 peripheral interactions

We exposed a stack of CR39 track detectors containing Ag foils to a 1.7-GeV/nucleon 56Fe beam and investigated the anomalous mean-free-path effect. Neither the whole set of 7517 nor a subset of 2542 interacting fragments produced probably in the Ag target show an effect. By combining the data of this and an earlier experiment we can also exclude an effect for 3219 interacting fragments produced in delta Z = 1 collisions.

Polyethylene Glycols↗