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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

High-resolution spectra of the 3.29 micron interstellar emission feature - A summary

High spectral resolution observations of the 3.29-micron interstellar emission feature show two types of profiles. Type 1 has a central wavelength of 3.289-micron and is observed in extended objects such as planetary nebulae and H II regions. Type 2 has a central wavelength of 3.296 microns and is observed around a small number of stellar sources. Type 2 has a full width at half-maximum of 0.020 micron; Type 1 has a broader FWHM, perhaps as much as 0.042 micron, but this is uncertain because of contamination by Pf(delta) emission. These profiles are tabulated for comparison to laboratory data. It is found that no proposed identification for the 3.29-micron emission feature definitely matches the observational spectra, although amorphous aromatic materials and heated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons tend to fit the best.

Tokunaga, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Role of artesian groundwater in forming Martian permafrost features

Various landforms possibly related to formation (growth), movement, or decay of ground ice have been identified on Mars, including fretted terrain (ft) and associated lobate debris aprons (lda), the chaotic terrain, concentric crater fills (ccf), polygonal ground, softened terrain, small domes that are possibly pingos, and curvilinear (fingerprint) features (cuf). Glaciers may also have been present. Some of these may involve ice derived from artesian groundwater. Topical areas of discussion are: Mars groundwater and the location of permafrost features; the ft, lda, ccf, and cuf; role of artesian groundwater in formation of fretted terrain, lobate debris blankets, and concentric crater fills; sources of glacial ice; and pingos and other pseudovolcanic structures.

Howard, Alan D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Ion microprobe elemental analyses of impact features on interplanetary dust experiment sensor surfaces

Hypervelocity impact features from very small particles (less than 3 microns in diameter) on several of the electro-active dust sensors used in the Interplanetary Dust Experiment (IDE) were subjected to elemental analysis using an ion microscope. The same analytical techniques were applied to impact and containment features on a set of ultra-pure, highly polished single crystal germanium wafer witness plates that were mounted on tray B12. Very little unambiguously identifiable impactor debris was found in the central craters or shatter zones of small impacts in this crystalline surface. The surface contamination, ubiquitous on the surface of the Long Duration Exposure Facility, has greatly complicated data collection and interpretation from microparticle impacts on all surfaces.

Simon, Charles G.↗
NASA NTRS1991

An evaluation of techniques for the extraction of mineral absorption features from high spectral resolution remote sensing data

Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer data covering the wavelength range between 2000 and 2400 nm are examined for their ability to display the diagnostic mineral absorption features of certain alteration minerals, employing various data processing techniques. The techniques may be separated into two broad categories: scene based techniques that use parameters derived from the data themselves, and correction techniques utilizing external information such as solar/atmospheric models. Results indicate that the data corrected utilizing the LOWTRAN 7 atmospheric transfer code constrained with local weather station data are the most effective at showing the diagnostic absorption features of the regions of known mineralogy and introduce the least number of artifacts into the data.

Rast, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1992

Imaging the 3.4-micron feature in Comet Levy (1990c)

The IRTF's ProtoCAM has been used to observe the organic emission feature peaking near 3.36 microns in Comet Levy. 2D images of the spatial distribution of the 3.4-micron organic emission exhibit brightness profiles statistically indistinguishable from that of the dust continuum, within 1225 of the cometary nucleus; this suggests a progenitor for the emission feature which is not a photodissociation fragment of some other species.

Klavetter, James J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Features on Venus generated by plate boundary processes

Various observations suggest that there are processes on Venus that produce features similar to those associated with plate boundaries on earth. Synthetic aperture radar images of Venus, taken with a radar whose wavelength is 12.6 cm, are compared with GLORIA images of active plate boundaries, obtained with a sound source whose wavelength is 23 cm. Features similar to transform faults and to abyssal hills on slow and fast spreading ridges can be recognized within the Artemis region of Venus but are not clearly visible elsewhere. The composition of the basalts measured by the Venera 13 and 14 and the Vega 2 spacecraft corresponds to that expected from adiabatic decompression, like that which occurs beneath spreading ridges on earth. Structures that resemble trenches are widespread on Venus and show the same curvature and asymmetry as they do on earth. These observations suggest that the same simple geophysical models that have been so successfully used to understand the tectonics of earth can also be applied to Venus.

Mckenzie, Dan↗
NASA NTRS1992

A strong 3.4 micron emission feature in comet Austin 1989c1

High resolution 2.8-4.0 micron spectra of the 'new' comet Austin 1989c1, taken on 15-16 May 1990 confirm the presence of the broad emission features around 3.4 and 3.52 micron seen in a number of bright comets and ascribed to organic material. Both the 3.4 micron band strength and the 3.52/3.36 micron flux ratios are among the largest so far observed. The data are consistent with the relationship between band strength and water production rate that was recently derived. Excess emission at 3.28 and 3.6 micron cannot be unambiguously identified as features due to the poor signal-to-noise ratio.

Green, S. F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

A comparison of the near-infrared spectral features of early-type galaxies in the Coma Cluster, the Virgo cluster and the field

Earlier researchers derived the relative distance between the Coma and Virgo clusters from color-magnitude relations of the early-type galaxies in each cluster. They found that the derived distance was color-dependent and concluded that the galaxies of similar luminosity in the two clusters differ in their red stellar populations. More recently, the color-dependence of the Coma-Virgo distance modulus has been called into question. However, because these two clusters differ so dramatically in their morphologies and kinematics, it is plausible that the star formation histories of the member galaxies also differed. If the conclusions of earlier researchers are indeed correct, then some signature of the resulting stellar population differences should appear in the near-infrared and/or infrared light of the respective galaxies. We have collected near-infrared spectra of 17 Virgo and 10 Coma early-type galaxies; this sample spans about four magnitudes in luminosity in each cluster. Seven field E/S0 galaxies have been observed for comparison. Pseudo-equivalent widths have been measured for all of the field galaxies, all but one of the Virgo members, and five of the Coma galaxies. The features examined are sensitive to the temperature, metallicity, and surface gravity of the reddest stars. A preliminary analysis of these spectral features has been performed, and, with a few notable exceptions, the measured pseudo-equivalent widths agree well with previously published values.

Houdashelt, Mark L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Preliminary design features of the RASCAL - A NASA/Army rotorcraft in-flight simulator

Salient design features of a new NASA/Army research rotorcraft - the Rotorcraft Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL) - are described. Using a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter as a baseline vehicle, the RASCAL will be a flying laboratory capable of supporting the research requirements of major NASA and Army guidance, control, and display research programs. The paper describes the research facility requirements of these programs together with other critical constraints on the design of the research system, including safety-of-flight. Research program schedules demand a phased development approach, wherein specific research capability milestones are met and flight research projects are flown throughout the complete development cycle of the RASCAL. This development approach is summarized, and selected features of the research system are described. The research system includes a full-authority, programmable, fault-tolerant/fail-safe, fly-by-wire flight control system and a real-time obstacle detection and avoidance system which will generate low-latitude guidance commands to the pilot on a wide field-of-view, color helmet-mounted display.

Aiken, Edwin W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Model atmospheres - Tool for identifying interstellar features

Model atmosphere parameters are derived for 14 early A stars with rotation velocities, from optical spectra, in excess of 80 km/s. The models are compared with IUE observations of the stars in regions where interstellar lines are expected. In general, with the assumption of solar abundances, excellent fits are obtained in regions longward of 2580 A, and accurate interstellar equivalent widths can be derived using models to establish the continuum. The fits are poorer at shorter wavelengths, particularly at 2026-2062 A, where the stellar model parameters seem inadequate. Features indicating mass flows are evident in stars with known infrared excesses. In gamma TrA, variability in the Mg II lines is seen over the 5-year interval of these data, and also over timescales as short as 26 days. The present technique should be useful in systematic studies of episodic mass flows in A stars and for stellar abundance studies, as well as interstellar features.

Frisch, P. C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Martian aeolian processes, sediments, and features

In this review of the aeolian regime on Mars, consideration is given to the sources and characteristics of the particles that are involved in aeolian processes and the winds that are required to set grains into motion. Dust storms are reviewed and previous observations and the mechanisms of dust-storm generation are assessed. Various aeolian features, including dunes and albedo features, as well as windblown mantle deposits are discussed. In planning for future missions to Mars, aeolian processes must be taken into account. Surface modifications by the wind and windblown deposits can influence remote-sensing observations, affect sampling strategies, and have detrimental effects on manned and unmanned spacecraft on the surface.

Greeley, Ronald↗
NASA NTRS1992

Automatic target recognition using a feature-based optical neural network

An optical neural network based upon the Neocognitron paradigm (K. Fukushima et al. 1983) is introduced. A novel aspect of the architectural design is shift-invariant multichannel Fourier optical correlation within each processing layer. Multilayer processing is achieved by iteratively feeding back the output of the feature correlator to the input spatial light modulator and updating the Fourier filters. By training the neural net with characteristic features extracted from the target images, successful pattern recognition with intra-class fault tolerance and inter-class discrimination is achieved. A detailed system description is provided. Experimental demonstration of a two-layer neural network for space objects discrimination is also presented.

Chao, Tien-Hsin↗
NASA NTRS1993

Optical implementation of a feature-based neural network with application to automatic target recognition

An optical neural network based on the neocognitron paradigm is introduced. A novel aspect of the architecture design is shift-invariant multichannel Fourier optical correlation within each processing layer. Multilayer processing is achieved by feeding back the ouput of the feature correlator interatively to the input spatial light modulator and by updating the Fourier filters. By training the neural net with characteristic features extracted from the target images, successful pattern recognition with intraclass fault tolerance and interclass discrimination is achieved. A detailed system description is provided. Experimental demonstrations of a two-layer neural network for space-object discrimination is also presented.

Chao, Tien-Hsin↗
NASA NTRS1992

Upper tropospheric water vapor features observed in the 1980's using the 6.7 and 7.2 micron TOVS channels

The NOAA has been preprocessing the TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) IR and microwave channels to correct for cloud amount, spot size, and viewing angle. An examination is now being conducted of the 6-7 micron water vapor band; a preliminary evaluation is here presented of the regional and global features of this large data base on daily, monthly, annual, and decadal time scales. The TOVS archives allow large-scale climatological features to be established.

Chesters, Dennis↗
NASA NTRS1993

The correspondence between X-ray bright points and evolving magnetic features in the quiet sun

The results of a study of X-ray bright points (XBPs) and small-scale evolving magnetic structures are presented. X-ray images obtained during rocket flights, full-disk magnetograms, and time-lapse magnetograms of multiple fields make up the coordinated data set. XBPs were found to be more frequently associated with pre-existing magnetic features of opposite polarity which appeared to be cancelling than with new or emerging flux regions. Most of the XBPs appeared to correspond to opposite polarity magnetic features which were converging towards each other, and some of which had not yet begun cancelling. It is suggested that most XBPs are created when converging flow brings together oppositely directed field lines. This leads to reconnection and heating in the low corona of the newly-formed loops.

Webb, D. F.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Polarized and specular reflectance variation with leaf surface features

The linearly polarized reflectance from a leaf depends on the characteristics of the leaf surface. In the present study the leaf reflectance of a number of plant species with varying surface characteristics was measured at the Brewster angle with a polarization photometer having 5 visible and near-infrared wavelength bands. We found that all leaf surfaces polarized incident light. Differences among species could be explained by variation in surface features. The results support our hypothesis that the polarized light is reflected by the leaf surface, not by its interior. Two mechanisms appeared responsible for the linearly polarized reflectance: (1) specular reflectance and (2) surface particle scattering. In most cases, large values of linearly polarized reflectance could be attributed to specular reflectance from the leaf surface. Attribution required knowledge of the optical dimensions of features on the leaf surface.

Grant, Lois↗
NASA NTRS1993

Waves and mesoscale features in the marginal ice zone

Ocean-ice interaction processes in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) by waves and mesoscale features, such as upwelling and eddies, are studied using ERS-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery and wave-ice interaction models. Satellite observations of mesoscale features can play a crucial role in ocean-ice interaction study.

Liu, Antony K.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Preliminary design features of the RASCAL: A NASA /Army rotorcraft in-flight simulator

Salient design features of a new NASA/Army research rotorcraft - the Rotorcraft-Aircrew Systems Concepts Airborne Laboratory (RASCAL) - are described. Using a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter as a baseline vehicle, the RASCAL will be a flying laboratory capable of supporting the research requirements of major NASA and Army guidance, control, and display research programs. The paper describes the research facility requirements of these programs together with other critical constraints on the design of the research system, including safety-of-flight. Research program schedules demand a phased development approach, wherein specific research capability milestones are met and flight research projects are flown throughout the complete development cycle of the RASCAL. This development approach is summarized, and selected features of the research system are described. The research system includes a full-authority, programmable, fault-tolerant/fail-safe, fly-by-wire flight control system and a real-time obstacle detection and avoidance system which will generate low-altitude guidance commands to the pilot on a wide field-of-view, color helmet-mounted display.

Aiken, Edwin W.↗