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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.

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At least 433 records · Page 24
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

On the possibility of the determining the average mass composition near 10 to the 14th power eV through the solar magnetic field

The discovery of primary ultrahigh energy (UHE) gamma-rays has spawned plans for a new generation of air shower experiments with unprecedented directional resolution. Such accuracy permits observation of a cosmic ray shadow due to the solar disc. Particle trajectory simulations through models of the large scale solar magnetic field were performed. The shadow is apparent above 10 to the 15th power eV for all cosmic ray charges /Z/ 26; at lower energies, trajectories close to the Sun are bent sufficiently for this shadow to be lost. The onset of the shadow is rigidity dependent, and occurs at an energy per nucleus of approx. Z x 10 to the 13th power eV. The possibility of determining the average mass composition near 10 to the 14th power eV from 1 year's observation at a mountain altitude array is investigated.

Lloyd-Evans, J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The Pioneer Venus Orbiter Gamma Burst Detector

The Orbiter Gamma Burst Detector was designed to record the temporal and spectral characteristics of cosmic gamma-ray bursts. The primary mission of the experiment is the accurate determination of the directions to the sources of such bursts through a technique of triangulation as a member of a widely spaced array of similar instruments. The system consists of a pair of scintillation spectrometers sensitive in the range of energies between 100 and 2000 keV, together with logic and data storage to provide a capability for recording these events. Nineteen events which have been verified as cosmic gamma-ray bursts were recorded within the first year's operation.

Klebesadel, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The heavy ions in space experiment

The Heavy Ions in Space (HIIS) experiment was developed and is currently in orbit onboard the long duration facility (LDEF). The HIIS will record relativistic cosmic ray nuclei heavier than magnesium and stopping nuclei down to helium. The experiment uses plastic track detectors that have a charge resolution of 0.15 charge units at krypton and 0.10 charge units, or better, for nuclei lighter than cobalt. The HIIS has a collecting power of 2 square meter steradians and it has already collected more than a year's data.

Adams, J. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Reference earth orbital research and applications investigations (blue book). Volume 3: Physics

The definition of physics experiments to be conducted aboard the space station is presented. The four functional program elements are: (1) space physics research laboratory, (2) plasma physics and environmental perturbation laboratory, (3) cosmic ray physics laboratory, and (4) physics and chemistry laboratory. The experiments to be conducted by each facility are defined and the crew member requirements to accomplish the experiments are presented.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Cosmic ray induced errors in I2L microprocessors and logic devices

Large-scale integrated (LSI) devices fabricated with integrated injection logic (I2L) were studied by both heavy ion experiments and device analysis to determine the upset threshold, the charge collection volumes and ultimately the probability for upset in the galactic cosmic ray spectrum. The devices studied, the SEP9900A, the SBP9989 and the P-Code generator were fabricated by Texas Instruments, Inc.

Price, W. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Studies on penetration of antibiotic in bacterial cells in space conditions (7-IML-1)

The Cytos 2 experiment was performed aboard Salyut 7 in order to test the antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria cultivated in vitro in space. An increase of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) in the inflight cultures (i.e., an increase of the antibiotic resistance) was observed. Complementary studies of the ultrastructure showed a thickening of the cell envelope. In order to confirm the results of the Cytos 2 experiment, we performed the ANTIBIO experiment during the D1 mission to try to differentiate, by means of the 1 g centrifuge in the Biorack, between the biological effects of cosmic rays and those caused by microgravity conditions. The originality of this experiment was in the fact that it was designed to test the antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria cultivated in vitro during the orbital phase of the flight. The results show an increase in resistance to Colistin in in-flight bacteria. The MIC is practically double in the in-flight cultures. A cell count of living bacteria in the cultures containing the different Colistin concentrations showed a significant difference between the cultures developed during space flight and the ground based cultures. The comparison between the 1 g and 0 g in-flight cultures show similar behavior for the two sets. Nevertheless, a small difference between the two sets of ground based control cultures was noted. The cultures developed on the ground centrifuge (1.4 g) present a slight decrease in comparison with the cultures developed in the static rack (1 g). In order to approach the mechanisms of the increase of antibiotic resistance on bacteria cultivated in vitro in space, we have proposed the study on penetration of antibiotics in bacterial cells in space conditions. This experiment was selected for the International Microgravity Laboratory 1 (IML-1) mission.

Tixador, R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Equatorial X-rays and their effect on the lower mesosphere

On the night of May 23/24, 1975, a sequence of rocket and balloon experiments was launched from Chilca Base, Peru (12.5 deg S, 76.8 deg W, magnetic dip = - 0.7 deg). Detailed analysis and comparisons of the data yielded the first direct measurement of lower mesospheric response to a galactic X-ray source. This result could only have been determined at the equator, where cosmic ray background effects are minimal. The objective of the experiments was to seek out the equatorial energetic electron belt, sporadically reported to contain fluxes near auroral levels, measure the bremsstrahlung radiation produced by this particle belt, and determine the influence of this radiation on the middle atmosphere. High altitude rocket payloads (Nike Tomahawk 18.170 and 18.171) were launched to probe the thermosphere during and following the anticipated downward drift period. Each carried an on-axis X-ray scintillation detector and Geiger Mueller energetic electron detectors. Magnetometers and lunar sensors were used to determine payload aspect.

Goldberg, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The survival of heavy nuclei in cosmic ray source environments

Results from the Goddard balloon spectrometer and the results reported by Soviet scientists using the Proton series of satellites are summarized. The important experimental results from the balloon spectrometer experiment are as follows: (1) On a total-energy scale, protons constitute only a minor proportion of the cosmic rays, only 20 percent. The rest of the cosmic rays are complex nuclei. (2) All the nuclei have the same power low spectrum in total energy and so the composition seems to be independent of energy.

Balasubrahmanyan, V. K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Cosmic physics data analysis program

A data analysis program was carried out to investigate the intensity, propagation, and origin of primary Cosmic Ray Galactic electrons. Scanning was carried out on two new balloon flight experiments as well as the border area of previous experiments. The identification and evaluation of the energies of the primary electrons were carried out. A new analysis of these data were incorporated into an overall evaluation of the roll of electrons in the problem of the origin of cosmic rays. Recent measurements indicate that the earth may be within the expanding Geminga supernova shock wave which is expected to have a major effect upon the propagation and the energy spectrum of galactic electrons. Calculations with the Geminga model indicate that the cut-off energy may be very close to the observed highest energy electrons in our analysis.

Wilkes, R. Jeffrey↗
NASA NTRS1965

Solar proton experiments.

Experiments on solar particles noting abundance of solar cosmic rays, energy region, spectrum of solar protons, sudden commencement, etc

PARTICLE FLUX↗
NASA NTRS1974

Anisotropies of galactic cosmic rays outside the orbit of earth measured on Pioneer 10

Preliminary results of observations of the directional distribution of cosmic rays being conducted by the University of Chicago experiment on the Pioneer 10 spacecraft are presented. The unusual geometry of the directional scan is described and some features of the response of a bidirectional coincidence telescope are discussed. Selected periods free from the presence of low-energy solar particles exhibit transient deviations from uniform directional distributions for the bidirectional flux of nuclei greater than 67 MeV/nucleon. These deviations are typically 2 to 4 (plus or minus 1) percent and are oriented very roughly in a N-S direction. Such nonuniformities observed with a bidirectional detector can only be due to even order terms in the angular distribution function.

Lentz, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Neoplastic cell transformation by energetic heavy ions and its modification with chemical agents

One of the major deleterious late effects of ionizing radiation is related to the induction of neoplasms. In the present report recent experimental results on neoplastic cell transformation by heavy ions are presented, and possible means to circumvent the carcinogenic effect of space radiation are discussed. Biological effects observed in experiments involving the use of energetic heavy ions accelerated at the Bevalac suggest that many of the biological effects observed in earlier space flight experiments may be due to space radiation, particularly cosmic rays. It is found that the effect of radiation on cell transformation is dose-rate dependent. The frequency of neoplastic transformation for a given dose decreases with a decrease of dose rate of Co-60 gamma rays. It is found that various chemical agents give radiation protection, including DMSO.

Yang, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Balloon observations of Galactic cosmic ray helium before and during a Forbush decrease

The energy spectrum of Galactic cosmic ray helium was measured in two different balloon experiments launched four days apart from Canada: SMILI-I on Sept 1, 1989 and MASS on Sept 5, 1989. A slow Forbush decrease began on Sept 4, 1989 and had not reached its maximum at the time of the MASS flight. Comparison of the balloon measurements shows a fractional decrease of 0.37 to 0.15 in the Helium flux between 200 and 450 MeV/nucleon (1.2-2.0 GV). The rigidity dependence is analyzed in two models and found to be steeper than previous observations. Interplanetary particle data and ground-based Neutron Monitor results are consistent with the balloon observations. Probable sources for this Forbush decrease are discussed.

Clem, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Heavy fragment production cross sections from 1.05 GeV/nucleon 56Fe in C, Al, Cu, Pb, and CH2 targets

We have obtained charge-changing cross sections and partial cross sections for fragmentation of 1.05 GeV/nucleon Fe projectiles incident on H, C, Al, Cu, and Pb nuclei. The energy region covered by this experiment is critical for an understanding of galactic cosmic ray propagation and space radiation biophysics. Surviving primary beam particles and fragments with charges from 12 to 25 produced within a forward cone of half-angle 61 mrad were detected using a silicon detector telescope to identify their charge and the cross sections were calculated after correction of the measured yields for finite target thickness effects. The cross sections are compared to model calculations and to previous measurements. Cross sections for the production of fragments with even-numbered nuclear charges are seen to be enhanced in almost all cases.

NASA Center HQS↗
NASA NTRS1990

Gamma-Ray Observatory - The next great observatory in space

The Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO) which is part of NASA's Great Observatories space program is presented. The GRO is equipped with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (which detects low-energy gamma-ray photons from 20 keV to 600 keV and locates sources of gamma-ray bursts), the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (which detects celestial gamma rays from 100 keV to 10 MeV and identifies the elements producing these rays by measuring the ray's spectra and time variability), the Imaging Compton Telescope (which images gamma rays with energies from 1 to 30 MeV created when cosmic rays interact with interstellar matter), and the Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment Telescope (which detects high-energy photons associated with the most energetic processes occurring in nature). After the energies of photons from each source are classified, the gamma-ray mechanisms can be modelled. Nuclei, radioactive isotopes, and nuclear reactions can be identified, and the physical conditions at the radiation's source can also be modelled. From these models, theories can be developed about the creation of elements in the explosion and collapse of giant stars, the acceleration of charged particles to velocities approaching the speed of light, and the destruction of matter and antimatter.

Neal, Valerie↗
NASA NTRS1990

On the performance of the scattering and crystal polarimeters for the Spectrum-X-Gamma mission

X-ray scattering from a lithium disk and Bragg reflection from a mosaic graphite crystal can be exploited to measure the linear polarization of radiation emitted from cosmic X-ray sources. The sensitivity is enhanced if the polarimeters are placed at the focus of an X-ray telescope. Such devices form two of the components of the Stellar X-ray Polarimeter experiment scheduled to fly on the Spectrum-X-Gamma mission. The expected on-axis performance of the two components is described based on detailed Monte Carlo simulations. The polarimetry experiment is expected to provide sensitive measurements of linear polarization for many cosmic X-ray sources. The nature and utility of such observations is described for pulsing X-ray sources such as the Crab pulsar and Her X-1.

Elsner, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Abundances of cosmic ray nuclei heavier than 50 Sn

Preliminary results are reported from 430 days of exposure of the heavy nuclei experiment on the HEAO-3 spacecraft. These results are confined to the heavy nuclei with Z equal to or greater than 50 and emphasize the conclusions obtained on the relative numbers of actinides and heavy stable elements in the lead-platinum region. The extreme paucity of actinides found is inconsistent with the predictions of a cosmic ray source that is highly enriched in r-process material, but quite consistent with a source whose composition is similar to that of normal solar system material. An upper limit, at the 95 percent confidence level, is placed in the ratio of nuclei with Z equal to or greater than 88/(Z in the range from 74 to 87) of 0.03.

Waddington, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Studies of the ionization states of solar and galactic cosmic ray heavy nuclei

Enhancement of abundances of heavy nuclei (e.g., Mg, Si, and Fe) at low energies relative to solar photospheric abundances and anomalously high abundances of iron relative to oxygen nuclei at low energies were recently discovered in solar energetic particles studied at low energy. These phenomena are not understood at present. The proposed experiment is designed to study the recently discovered anomalous component of low energy galactic cosmic ray ions of C, N, O, Ne, and Ca to Fe of energy 5- to 10-million electron volts per atomic mass unit in regard to their ionization states, composition, and intensity, and to study the ionization states of heavy elements from oxygen to iron in energetic solar particles emitted during flare events. The same detector system will serve for both studies, with the second objective being given priority if there are any solar particle events during the mission.

Biswas, S.↗