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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Microwave remote sensing: Active and passive. Volume 3 - From theory to applications

Aspects of volume scattering and emission theory are discussed, taking into account a weakly scattering medium, the Born approximation, first-order renormalization, the radiative transfer method, and the matrix-doubling method. Other topics explored are related to scatterometers and probing systems, the passive microwave sensing of the atmosphere, the passive microwave sensing of the ocean, the passive microwave sensing of land, the active microwave sensing of land, and radar remote sensing applications. Attention is given to inversion techniques, atmospheric attenuation and emission, a temperature profile retrieval from ground-based observations, mapping rainfall rates, the apparent temperature of the sea, the emission behavior of bare soil surfaces, the emission behavior of vegetation canopies, the emission behavior of snow, wind-vector radar scatterometry, radar measurements of sea ice, and the back-scattering behavior of cultural vegetation canopies.

Ulaby, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1986

High-temperature oxidation of a rapidly solidified amorphous Ta-Ir alloy

The oxidation products formed at 500 and 700 C on an amorphous Ta-44.5 at. pct Ir alloy in an Ar-0.1 percent O2 gas mixture were characterized using SEM, XRD, EPMA, TEM, STEM, AES, and XPS. Initially, a thin (3-4 nm) layer of Ta2O5 formed at the surface of the alloy. Continued growth of the Ta2O5, which occurred very rapidly, involved diffusion of oxygen anions from the Ta2O5/gas interface to the alloy/Ta2O5 interface, where tantalum was selectively oxidized. Because the oxide grew more quickly than iridium could diffuse back into the alloy, the iridium coalesced into platelets of crystalline iridium-rich alloy that were oriented approximately parallel to the oxide/alloy interface, and which became embedded in a matrix of Ta2O5. The unoxidized core remained in the glassy state. The oxidation process and/or the dissolution of oxygen into the unoxidized alloy caused the alloy to become embrittled.

Cotell, Catherine M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Infrared response from metallic particles embedded in a single-crystal Si matrix - The layered internal photoemission sensor

Infrared radiation at wavelengths of 1-2 microns has been detected in a new device labeled the layered internal photoemission sensor. The device structure, which is grown by molecular beam epitaxy, incorporates epitaxial CoSi2 particles with dimensions of 10-50 nm. Radiation absorbed by these particles photoexcites carriers into a surrounding single-crystal silicon matrix. A peak quantum efficiency of 1.3 percent is measured, which is approximately six times higher than in planar CoSi2 Schottky diodes with 5-nm silicide thickness.

Fathauer, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Upper bounds for convergence rates of vector extrapolation methods on linear systems with initial iterations

The application of the minimal polynomial extrapolation (MPE) and the reduced rank extrapolation (RRE) to a vector sequence obtained by the linear iterative technique x(sub j) + 1 = Ax(sub j) = b,j = 1,2,..., is considered. Both methods produce a two dimensional array of approximations s(sub n,k) to the solution of the system (I - A)x = b. Here, s(sub n,k) is obtained from the vectors x(sub j), n is less than or equal to j is less than or equal to n + k + 1. It was observed in an earlier publication by the first author that the sequence s(sub n,k), k = 1,2,..., for n greater than 0, but fixed, possesses better convergence properties than the sequence s(sub 0,k), k = 1,2,.... A detailed theoretical explanation for this phenomenon is provided in the present work. This explanation is heavily based on approximations by incomplete polynomials. It is demonstrated by numerical examples when the matrix A is sparse that cycling with s(sub n,k) for n greater than 0, but fixed, produces better convergence rates and costs less computationally than cycling with s(sub 0,k). It is also illustrated numerically with a convection-diffusion problem that the former may produce excellent results where the latter may fail completely. As has been shown in an earlier publication, the results produced by s(sub 0,k) are identical to the corresponding results obtained by applying the Arnoldi method or generalized minimal residual scheme (GMRES) to the system (I - A)x = b.

Sidi, Avram↗
NASA NTRS1996

Flight data results of estimate fusion for spacecraft rendezvous navigation from shuttle mission STS-69

A recently developed rendezvous navigation fusion filter that optimally exploits existing distributed filters for rendezvous and GPS navigation to achieve the relative and inertial state accuracies of both in a global solution is utilized here to process actual flight data. Space Shuttle Mission STS-69 was the first mission to date which gathered data from both the rendezvous and Global Positioning System filters allowing, for the first time, a test of the fusion algorithm with real flight data. Furthermore, a precise best estimate of trajectory is available for portions of STS-69, making possible a check on the performance of the fusion filter. In order to successfully carry out this experiment with flight data, two extensions to the existing scheme were necessary: a fusion edit test based on differences between the filter state vectors, and an underweighting scheme to accommodate the suboptimal perfect target assumption made by the Shuttle rendezvous filter. With these innovations, the flight data was successfully fused from playbacks of downlinked and/or recorded measurement data through ground analysis versions of the Shuttle rendezvous filter and a GPS filter developed for another experiment. The fusion results agree with the best estimate of trajectory at approximately the levels of uncertainty expected from the fusion filter's covariance matrix.

Carpenter, J. Russell↗
NASA NTRS1996

Collision Strengths for Electron Impact Excitation of Inelastic Transitions in Ar II

We have calculated collision strengths for electron impact excitation of inelastic transitions in Ar II using the R-matrix method in two independent nine- and 19-state close-coupling approximations. In the nine-state calculation the 3s(sup 2)3p(sup 5)2p(sup 0), 3S(sup 3)p(sup 6)S-2, 3p(sup 4)(P-3)4s(sup 2)P, 3p(sup 4)(P-3)3d(sup 2)P, 3p(sup 4)(D-1)4s(sup 2)D, 3p(sup 4)(P-3)3d(sup 2)D, 3p(sup 4)(S-1)4s(sup 2)S, 3p(sup 4)(D-1)3d(sup 2)S and 3p(sup 4)(D-1)4d(sup 2)S states are included, while in the 19-state calculation these states plus an additional ten states 3p(sup 4)(P-3)3d(sup 2)F, 3p(sup 4)(P-3)4p(sup 2)D(sup 0), 2p(sup 0), 2S(sup 0), 3p(sup 4)(D-1)4p(sup 2)P(sup 0), 2D(sup O), 2F(sup 0), 3p(sup 4)(D-1)3d(sup 2)D, p-2 and 3p(sup 4)(S-1)4p(sup 2)P(sup 0) are considered. These target states are represented by fairly extensive configuration-interaction wavefunctions which yield excitation energies and oscillator strengths that are generally in good agreement with the available most accurate calculations and the experimental values. Rydberg series of resonances converging to the excited state thresholds are included in the calculation. The effective collision strengths are obtained assuming a Maxwellian distribution of electron energies which are tabulated over the temperature range (0.5-20) x 10(exp 4) K.

Tayal, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Hot Structure Control Surface Progress for X-37 Technology Development Program

The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has been leading the development of technologies that will enable the development, fabrication, and flight of the automated X-37 Orbital Vehicle (OV). With the Administration s recent announcement of the Vision for Space Exploration, NASA placed the X-37 OV design on hold while developing detailed requirements for a Crew Exploration Vehicle, but has continued funding the development of high-risk, critical technologies for potential future space exploration vehicle applications. Hot Structure Control Surfaces (HSCS) technology development is one of the high-priority areas being funded at this time. The goal of HSCS research is to mitigate risk by qualifying the lightest possible components that meet the stringent X-37 OV weight and performance requirements, including Shuttle-type reen- try environments with peak temperatures of 2800 OF. The small size of the X-37 OV (25.7-feet long and 14.9-foot wingspan) drives the need for advanced HSCS because the vehicle's two primary aerodynamic surfaces, the flaperons and ruddervators, have thicknesses ranging from approximately 5 in. down to 1 in. Traditional metallic or polymer-matrix composites covered with tile or blanket thermal protection system (TPS) materials cannot be used as there is insufficient volume to fabricate such multi-component structures. Therefore, carbon-carbon (C-C) and carbodsilicon-carbide (C-SiC) composite HSCS structures are being developed in parallel by two teams supporting the X-37 prime contractor (The Boeing Company). The Science Applications International Coy. (SAIC) and Carbon-Carbon Advanced Technologies, Inc. (C-CAT) team is developing the C-C HSCS, while the General Electric Energy Power Systems Composites (GE-PSC) and Materials Research and Design (MRD) team is developing the C-SiC HSCS. These two teams were selected to reduce the high level of risk associated with developing advanced control surface components. They have continued HSCS development work as part of the X-37 critical technology development contract. The SAIC/C-CAT team is using Advanced Carbon-Carbon (ACC) because its fabrication is very similar to the process used for Space Shuttle Reinforced Carbon-Carbon fabrication, including the Sic-based pack cementation conversion coating systems using with both materials. ACC was selected over RCC because it has much higher tension and compressions strengths, and because T-300 fiber is readily available, whereas RCC rayon fiber is no longer manufactured. The GE-PSC/MRD team is using a T-300 fiber-reinforced Sic matrix composite material densified by chemical vapor infiltration. The C-Sic material has an Sic-based environmental barrier coating. Major accomplishments have been made over the past year by both HSCS teams. C-C and C- SiC flaperon subcomponents, which are truncated full-scale versions of flight hardware, have been fabricated and are undergoing testing at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, NASA Langley Research Center, and U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. By the end of 2004, ruddervator subcomponents also will be delivered and tested. As NASA moves forward in realizing the Vision for Space Exploration, it will continue to invest in advanced research and development aimed at making new generations of spacecraft safer, more reliable, and more affordable. The X-37 HSCS effort ultimately will benefit the Agency's vision and mission.

Valentine, P. G.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Simulation of Aerosols and Chemistry with a Unified Global Model

This project is to continue the development of the global simulation capabilities of tropospheric and stratospheric chemistry and aerosols in a unified global model. This is a part of our overall investigation of aerosol-chemistry-climate interaction. In the past year, we have enabled the tropospheric chemistry simulations based on the GEOS-CHEM model, and added stratospheric chemical reactions into the GEOS-CHEM such that a globally unified troposphere-stratosphere chemistry and transport can be simulated consistently without any simplifications. The tropospheric chemical mechanism in the GEOS-CHEM includes 80 species and 150 reactions. 24 tracers are transported, including O3, NOx, total nitrogen (NOy), H2O2, CO, and several types of hydrocarbon. The chemical solver used in the GEOS-CHEM model is a highly accurate sparse-matrix vectorized Gear solver (SMVGEAR). The stratospheric chemical mechanism includes an additional approximately 100 reactions and photolysis processes. Because of the large number of total chemical reactions and photolysis processes and very different photochemical regimes involved in the unified simulation, the model demands significant computer resources that are currently not practical. Therefore, several improvements will be taken, such as massive parallelization, code optimization, or selecting a faster solver. We have also continued aerosol simulation (including sulfate, dust, black carbon, organic carbon, and sea-salt) in the global model to cover most of year 2002. These results have been made available to many groups worldwide and accessible from the website http://code916.gsfc.nasa.gov/People/Chin/aot.html.

Chin, Mian↗
DOE OSTI2022

Processing Compressed Expanded Natural Graphite for Phase Change Material Composites

Phase change materials (PCMs) are used in various thermal energy storage applications but are limited by their low thermal conductivity. One method to increase conductivity involves impregnating organic PCMs into highly porous conductive matrix materials. Of these materials, compressed expanded natural graphite (CENG) matrices have received the most attention. Despite this attention, the effect that CENG processing has on PCM saturation and overall matrix thermal conductivity has not been fully investigated. Therefore, the effect of the heat treatment process used to expand intercalated graphite flakes is evaluated here. Higher heat treatment temperatures yielded higher saturation rates and overall saturation at similar matrix porosities. For example, increasing temperature from 300 °C to 700 °C resulted in approximately 60%-70% increase in pore saturation after 100 minutes of soaking. The exposure time to heat treatment had less of an effect on PCM saturation. The exposure time had negligible effect above 30 min and above 500 °C heating temperatures. However, because the expanded graphite was found to oxidize around 700 °C, the use of longer exposure time in manufacturing applications can be beneficial if a shortened impregnation time is needed. Heat treatment conditions did not impact thermal conductivity. The composite latent heat of fusion was also reduced approximately proportionally to the PCM mass fraction. A local maximum in axial thermal conductivity was observed at around 83% porosity, which is similar to previous studies. The observed conductivity at this maximum was a factor of 81 times greater than the conductivity of the PCM.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1992

Spatial orientation of the vestibular system

1. A simplified three-dimensional state space model of visual vestibular interaction was formulated. Matrix and dynamical system operators representing coupling from the semicircular canals and the visual system to the velocity storage integrator were incorporated into the model. 2. It was postulated that the system matrix for a tilted position was a composition of two linear transformations of the system matrix for the upright position. One transformation modifies the eigenvalues of the system matrix while another rotates the pitch and roll eigenvectors with the head, while maintaining the yaw axis eigenvector approximately spatially invariant. Using this representation, the response characteristics of the pitch, roll, and yaw eye velocity were obtained in terms of the eigenvalues and associated eigenvectors. 3. Using OKAN data obtained from monkeys and comparing to the model predictions, the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the system matrix were identified as a function of tilt to the side or of tilt to the prone positions, using a modification of the Marquardt algorithm. The yaw eigenvector for right-side-down tilt and for downward pitch cross-coupling was approximately 30 degrees from the spatial vertical. For the prone position, the eigenvector was computed to be approximately 20 degrees relative to the spatial vertical. For both side-down and prone positions, oblique OKN induced along eigenvector directions generated OKAN which decayed to zero along a straight line with approximately a single time constant. This was verified by a spectral analysis of the residual sequence about the straight line fit to the decaying data. The residual sequence was associated with a narrow autocorrelation function and a wide power spectrum. 4. Parameters found using the Marquardt algorithm were incorporated into the model. Diagonal matrices in a head coordinate frame were introduced to represent the direct pathway and the coupling of the visual system to the integrator. Model simulations predicted the behavior of yaw and pitch OKN and OKAN when the animal was upright, as well as the cross-coupling in the tilted position. The trajectories in velocity space were also accurately simulated. 5. There were similarities between the monkey eigenvectors and human perception of the spatial vertical. For side-down tilts and downward eye velocity cross-coupling, there was only an Aubert (A) effect. For upward eye velocity cross-coupling there were both Muller (E) and Aubert (A) effects. The mean of the eigenvectors for upward and downward eye velocities overlay human 1 x g perceptual data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS).

NASA Discipline Neuroscience↗
DOE OSTI2020

BCS-BEC crossover in a (t 2g ) 4 excitonic magnet

The condensation of spin-orbit-induced excitons in t 2 g 4 electronic systems is attracting considerable attention. At large Hubbard U , antiferromagnetism was proposed to emerge from the Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC) of triplons ( J eff = 1 ). Furthermore, we show that even at intermediate U regimes, the spin-orbit exciton condensation is possible leading also to staggered magnetic order. The canonical electron-hole excitations (excitons) transform into local triplon excitations at large U , and this BEC strong coupling regime is smoothly connected to the intermediate U excitonic insulator region. We solved the degenerate three-orbital Hubbard model with spin-orbit coupling ( λ ) in one dimension using the density matrix renormalization group, while in two dimensions we use the Hartree-Fock approximation (HFA). Employing these techniques, we provide the full λ versus U phase diagrams for both one- and two-dimensional lattices. Our main result is that at intermediate Hubbard U , increasing λ at fixed U the system transitions from an incommensurate spin-density-wave metal to a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) excitonic insulator, with coherence length r coh of O ( a ) and O ( 10 a ) in 1 d and 2 d , respectively, with a being the lattice spacing. Further increasing λ , the system eventually crosses over to the BEC limit (with r coh ≪ a ).

1-dimensional systems↗
NASA NTRS1993

A new flux conserving Newton's method scheme for the two-dimensional, steady Navier-Stokes equations

A new numerical method is developed for the solution of the two-dimensional, steady Navier-Stokes equations. The method that is presented differs in significant ways from the established numerical methods for solving the Navier-Stokes equations. The major differences are described. First, the focus of the present method is on satisfying flux conservation in an integral formulation, rather than on simulating conservation laws in their differential form. Second, the present approach provides a unified treatment of the dependent variables and their unknown derivatives. All are treated as unknowns together to be solved for through simulating local and global flux conservation. Third, fluxes are balanced at cell interfaces without the use of interpolation or flux limiters. Fourth, flux conservation is achieved through the use of discrete regions known as conservation elements and solution elements. These elements are not the same as the standard control volumes used in the finite volume method. Fifth, the discrete approximation obtained on each solution element is a functional solution of both the integral and differential form of the Navier-Stokes equations. Finally, the method that is presented is a highly localized approach in which the coupling to nearby cells is only in one direction for each spatial coordinate, and involves only the immediately adjacent cells. A general third-order formulation for the steady, compressible Navier-Stokes equations is presented, and then a Newton's method scheme is developed for the solution of incompressible, low Reynolds number channel flow. It is shown that the Jacobian matrix is nearly block diagonal if the nonlinear system of discrete equations is arranged approximately and a proper pivoting strategy is used. Numerical results are presented for Reynolds numbers of 100, 1000, and 2000. Finally, it is shown that the present scheme can resolve the developing channel flow boundary layer using as few as six to ten cells per channel width, depending on the Reynolds number.

Scott, James R.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A linear surrogate for optimising functions of an orthogonal matrix with applications in wave function theory

The technique of surrogate optimisation is to use a simpler function to approximate a complex function that is time-consuming to evaluate. Here we show that the maximum of a special type of surrogate function f(U)=Tr(AU),UϵO(n) is at A T (AA T ) 1/2 , and that there is one and only one local maximum both in SO(n) and O(n)–SO(n). This function f(U) has been found to be useful in various aspects of electronic structure theory, including proving the Carlson-Keller theorem, and localising orbitals. As one other example, we apply it here to optimise the ground state of molecules using the Generalised Valence Bond wavefunction.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1975

Sparse matrix techniques applied to modal analysis of multi-section duct liners

A simplified procedure is presented for analysis of ducts with discretely nonuniform properties. The analysis uses basis functions as the generalized coordinates. The duct eigenfunctions are approximated by finite series of these functions. The emphasis is on solution of the resulting large sparse set of linear equations. Characteristics of sparse matrix algorithms are outlined and some criteria for application are established. Analogies with structural methods are used to illustrate variations which can increase efficiency in generating values for design optimization routines. The effects of basis function selection, number of eigenfunctions and identification and ordering of equations on the sparsity and solution stability are included.

Arnold, W. R.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Statistics of Green's functions on a disordered Cayley tree and the validity of forward scattering approximation

The accuracy of the forward scattering approximation for two-point Green's functions of the Anderson localization model on the Cayley tree is studied. A relationship between the moments of the Green's function and the largest eigenvalue of the linearized transfer-matrix equation is proved in the framework of the supersymmetric functional-integral method. The new large-disorder approximation for this eigenvalue is derived and its accuracy is established. Using this approximation the probability distribution of the two-point Green's function is found and compared with that in the forward scattering approximation (FSA). It is shown that FSA overestimates the role of resonances and thus the probability for the Green's function to be significantly larger than its typical value. The error of FSA increases with increasing the distance between points in a two-point Green's function.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS2002

Knowledge of Pest Resistance in SiC/BN/SiC Composites Improved

Ceramic-matrix composites (CMC's) consisting of a silicon carbide matrix reinforced with boron-nitride- (BN-) coated silicon carbide (SiC) fibers are strong contenders for commercial and aerospace applications (in particular, the hot sections of high-performance turbine engines in advanced aircraft and generators). They have very good mechanical properties below approximately 600 C and above approximately 1000 C. Between those temperatures, however, the BN coating oxidizes easily, and the oxidation of the SiC matrix is too sluggish to seal off the composite with a protective layer of silica. In that temperature interval, the preferential oxidation of the BN weakens and embrittles the composite. That phenomenon, referred to as "pest" degradation, is the focus of this work, which aims to identify the causes of and remedies for pesting. Previous work established that pesting in Hi-Nicalon (Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd., Japan)/SiC composites was caused by a layer of free carbon that undermined the oxidation resistance of the BN. New work suggests that composites containing a source of carbon are prone to severe pesting and that those that are free of elemental carbon are resistant pesting. Pest resistance was assessed by exposing machined samples for 100 to 150 hr in an atmospheric burner rig at 600 to 1100 C, followed by a tensile fracture test to measure residual mechanical properties and by characterization of the interphase microstructure. Whether the elemental carbon came from intrinsic or extrinsic sources, its presence induced the tensile strength to drop by over 50 percent in the burner rig, with an even more severe loss of fracture strain. A likely mechanism by which burnoff of the carbon layer exposes the BN to accelerated flank attack by ambient oxidants is shown. The BN is replaced with borosilicates that attack the fiber, and ultimately with silica that embrittles the composites by rigidly bonding components. Thus, the study has shown that pesting can be prevented in SiC/BN/SiC, or at least reduced, by simply excluding free carbon. These studies continue, and plans for future work include investigating the role that carbon may play elsewhere in the interphase region.

Thomas-Ogbuji, Linus U.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Uncertainty quantification of an empirical shell-model interaction using principal component analysis

Recent investigations have emphasized the importance of uncertainty quantification (UQ) in nuclear theory. Here, we carry out UQ for configuration-interaction shell-model calculations in the 1$\textit{s}$–0$\textit{d}$ valence space, investigating the sensitivity of observables to perturbations in the 66 parameters (matrix elements) of a high-quality empirical interaction. The large parameter space makes computing the corresponding Hessian numerically costly, so we compare a cost-effective approximation, using the Feynman-Hellmann theorem, to the full Hessian and find it works well. Diagonalizing the Hessian yields the principal components of the interaction: linear combinations of parameters ordered by sensitivity. This approximately decoupled distribution of parameters facilitates theoretical uncertainty propagation onto structure observables: electromagnetic transitions, Gamow-Teller decays, and dark matter-nucleus scattering matrix elements.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1975

Stochastic process approximation for recursive estimation with guaranteed bound on the error covariance

An approach, is proposed for the design of approximate, fixed order, discrete time realizations of stochastic processes from the output covariance over a finite time interval, was proposed. No restrictive assumptions are imposed on the process; it can be nonstationary and lead to a high dimension realization. Classes of fixed order models are defined, having the joint covariance matrix of the combined vector of the outputs in the interval of definition greater or equal than the process covariance; (the difference matrix is nonnegative definite). The design is achieved by minimizing, in one of those classes, a measure of the approximation between the model and the process evaluated by the trace of the difference of the respective covariance matrices. Models belonging to these classes have the notable property that, under the same measurement system and estimator structure, the output estimation error covariance matrix computed on the model is an upper bound of the corresponding covariance on the real process. An application of the approach is illustrated by the modeling of random meteorological wind profiles from the statistical analysis of historical data.

Menga, G.↗