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At least 505 records · Page 28

Reference standard for carbonaceous impurity measurements in carbon nanotubes

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a convenient tool for measuring nanotube / carbonaceous impurities ratios in carbon nanotube samples. These measurements are based on separation of contributions from nanotubes and impurities to the near-infrared absorption of samples dispersed in DMF, and sample purity is expressed relative to some reference sample. In the current work we produced a reference standard for NIR measurements using purified laser nanotubes. The sample was oxidized slowly using a Temperature Programmed Oxidation (TPO) setup in 2% oxygen / 98 % helium atmosphere. In these conditions, the sample oxidized in several steps, which were attributed to carbonaceous impurities, nanotubes and graphitic shells based on TEM and Raman observations. Stopping oxidation at 625 C (this temperature is sample-specific) allowed us to produce a sample with no carbonaceous impurities and well-defined ratio of nanotubes, graphite and metal catalyst. Since carbonaceous impurities no longer hold nanotubes and particles together, further centrifuging allowed us to remove particles and use this sample as a reference standard in NIR measurements.

Nikolaev, Pavel↗

Reference standard for carbonaceous impurity measurements in carbon nanotubes.

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a convenient tool for measuring nanotube/carbonaceous impurities ratios in carbon nanotube samples. These measurements are based on separation of contributions from nanotubes and impurities to the near-infrared absorption of samples dispersed in DMF, and sample purity is expressed relative to some reference sample. In the current work we produced a reference standard for NIR measurements using purified laser nanotubes. The sample was oxidized slowly using a Temperature Programmed Oxidation (TPO) setup in 2% oxygen/98% helium atmosphere. In these conditions, the sample oxidized in several steps, which were attributed to carbonaceous impurities, nanotubes and graphitic shells based on TEM and Raman observations. Stopping oxidation at 625 C (this temperature is sample-specific) allowed us to produce a sample with no carbonaceous impurities and well-defined ratio of nanotubes, graphite and metal catalyst. Since carbonaceous impurities no longer hold nanotubes and particles together, further centrifuging allowed us to remove particles and use this sample as a reference standard in NIR measurements.

Nikolaev, Pavel↗

Dispersion of Sound in Dilute Suspensions with Nonlinear Particle Relaxation

The theory accounting for nonlinear particle relaxation (viscous and thermal) has been applied to the prediction of dispersion of sound in dilute suspensions. The results suggest that significant deviations exist for sound dispersion between the linear and nonlinear theories at large values of Omega(Tau)(sub d), where Omega is the circular frequency, and Tau(sub d) is the Stokesian particle relaxation time. It is revealed that the nonlinear effect on the dispersion coefficient due to viscous contribution is larger relative to that of thermal conduction

Kandula, Max↗

A broad-band VLF-burst associated with ring-current electrons

Frequency band broadening takes place just outside of the nighttime plasmasphere, where the density of cold plasma is known to be very low during the later phase of a geomagnetic storm. Instead of the gradual broadening of several hours duration, a burst type broadening of VLF emission lasting less than ten minutes was observed by Explorer 45 in a similar location. The magnetic field component of this emission is very weak and the frequency spreads below the local half electron cyclotron frequency. Corresponding enhancement of the anisotropic ring current electrons is also very sudden and limited below the order of 10 keV without significant velocity dispersion, in contrast to the gradual broadening events. The cause of this type of emission band spreading can be attributed to the generation of the quasielectrostatic whistler mode emission of short wavelength by hot bimaxwellian electrons surging into the domain of relatively low density magnetized cold plasma. The lack of energy dispersion in the enhanced electrons indicates that the inner edge of the plasma sheet, the source of these hot electrons, is not far from the location of this event.

Maeda, K.↗

Fundamental parameters of brightest cluster galaxies

Photometry and spectroscopy of a sample of the brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) are presented, and the relationships between scale length, surface brightness, velocity dispersion, and line strength are determined and compared with the relations determined for lower luminosity ellipticals (LLEs). It is found that the relation between log r(e), log sigma, and mean surface brightness reported by Dressler et al. for LLEs also describes the relation for BCGs fairly well. Fundamental plane solutions for BCGs are derived which can be used as distance indicators with a predicted error of about 21 percent per galaxy. Only a weak correlation is found between the Na D 5893 line strength and velocity dispersion for BCGs, in contrast to the significant correlation between these quantities reported for LLEs. It is found that the mean mass-to-light ratio for BCGs is a factor of about two greater than for the LLEs in the Virgo and Coma sample of Dressler et al.

Oegerle, William R.↗

Photonic Switching Devices Using Light Bullets

The present invention is directed toward a unique ultra-fast, all-optical switching device or switch made with readily available, relatively inexpensive, highly nonlinear photonic glasses. These photonic glasses have a sufficiently negative group velocity dispersion and high nonlinear index of refraction to support stable light bullets. The light bullets counterpropagate through, and interact within the waveguide to selectively change each others' directions of propagation into predetermined channels. In one embodiment, the switch utilizes a rectangularly planar slab waveguide, and further includes two central channels and a plurality of lateral channels for guiding the light bullets into and out of the waveguide. One advantage presented by the present all-optical switching device lies in its practical use of light bullets, thus preventing the degeneration of the pulses due to dispersion and diffraction at the front and back of the pulses. Another feature of the switching device is the relative insensitivity of the collision process to the time difference in which the counter-propagating pulses enter the waveguide. since. contrary to conventional co-propagating spatial solitons, the relative phase of the colliding pulses does not affect the interaction of these pulses. Yet another feature of the present all-optical switching device is the selection of the light pulse parameters which enables the generation of light bullets in highly nonlinear glasses.

Goorjian, Peter M.↗

The interstellar line spectra of zeta Ophiuchi and zeta Persei and their relation to the short wavelength microwave background radiation

Thirty-one high dispersion Coude spectrograms of zeta Ophiuchi and seven of zeta Persei were numerically synthesized to produce high resolution, low noise spectra in the interval 3650 A to 4350 that yield data on atomic and molecular absorption in well-defined regions of the interstellar medium. The detection threshold is improved by as much as a factor 5 over single plates. Several interstellar lines were discovered in the zeta Oph - 15km/sec cloud and the zeta Per + 13 km/sec cloud.

Bortolot, V. J., Jr.↗

Stability of H(+) beams in the polar wind

The effect of energetic H(+) beams on the stability of the polar wind in the classical model is studied with regard to the excitation of electrostatic waves. Consideration is given to cases covering a wide range of electron-to-background temperature ratios and beam-to-background ion density ratios, assuming a relatively cold beam. The minimum beam drift velocity required to destabilize the plasma is determined by a combination of the Nyquist technique and a direct solution of the plasma dispersion equation. It is found that the plasma can be destabilized for relative drift energies less than about 1 eV. Also, it is shown that the plasma is less stable for large electron temperatures and for comparable ion and beam densities.

Barakat, A. R.↗

Frequency shifts of ionospheric nfH resonances.

New observational data are analyzed to interpret mechanisms responsible for large positive frequency shifts of Alouette II plasma resonances (corresponding to the first and second electron cyclotron harmonics) relative to frequency values expected from model magnetic field calculations. It is shown that the frequency shifts can be consistently explained by plasma wave dispersion effects combined with sounder transmitter frequency deviation (positive offset of several kilohertz) and a negative offset (several tens of gammas) in the geomagnetic field relative to the model field. Plasma wave dispersion effects are observed on the electron cyclotron second harmonic resonance when it is in the vicinity of the resonance observed near the upper hybrid frequency. The observations suggest that an oblique echo model may be required for interpretation of the electron cyclotron second harmonic resonance.

Benson, R. F.↗

Substorm-injected protons and electrons and the injection boundary model

Analysis of observations of substorm-associated enhancements of proton and electron fluxes: (1) makes a strong case for the existence of a boundary limiting the regional particle injection associated with substorms, (2) supports the hypothesis that the injection process is almost instantaneous (less than approximately 5 min), and (3) indicates that the injection takes place within a large region extending at least several earth radii tailward of the injection boundary. The injection boundary model is superior to others in that it simultaneously explains: (1) the drift and energy dispersion of substorm-injected protons between 1 and 30 keV, (2) the relative behavior of protons with 81 deg and 27 deg pitch angles, (3) the absence of observed electrons below 30 keV, and (4) the time dispersion of impulsively injected electrons seen outside the plasmapause.

Konradi, A.↗

The mirror and ion cyclotron anisotropy instabilities

The linear dispersion equation for fully electromagnetic waves and instabilities at arbitrary directions of propagation relative to a background magnetic field B(0) in a homogeneous Vlasov plasma is solved numerically for bi-Maxwellian particle distributions. For isotropic plasmas the dispersion and damping of the three modes below the proton cyclotron frequency are studied as functions of Beta(i) and T(e)/T(i). The transport ratios of helicity, cross-helicity, Alfven ratio, compressibility, and parallel compressibility are defined. Under the condition that the proton temperature perpendicular to B(0) is greater than the parallel temperature, the growth rates and transport ratios of the mirror instability and the ion cyclotron anisotropy instability are examined and compared. Both the proton parallel compressibility and the proton Alfven ratio are significantly different for the two growing modes.

Gary, S. P.↗

Ceramic composition

Novel transformation toughened ceramic compositions comprising finely divided Zr0 2 -Hf0 2 solid solution particles dispersed in a Al 2 0 3 -Cr 2 0 3 (alumina) or 3Al 2 0 3 .2Si0 2 -3Cr 2 0 3 .2Si0 2 (mullite) solid solution matrix phase. It is found that increased hardness and modulus associated with higher relative Cr 2 0 3 content (e.g. 20 mole % ) in the matrix phase and increased fracture toughness associated with higher relative Hf0 2 content ( e.g. 10 to 20 mole % ) in the disperse phase represent viable and improved ceramic compositions. Such transformation toughened ceramic compositions are considered useful in superhot light diesel engine applications, high temperature gas turbines and ultrahigh temperature ceramic heat exchangers.

Tseng-Ying Tien↗

Cost analysis of advanced turbine blade manufacturing processes

A rigorous analysis was conducted to estimate relative manufacturing costs for high technology gas turbine blades prepared by three candidate materials process systems. The manufacturing costs for the same turbine blade configuration of directionally solidified eutectic alloy, an oxide dispersion strengthened superalloy, and a fiber reinforced superalloy were compared on a relative basis to the costs of the same blade currently in production utilizing the directional solidification process. An analytical process cost model was developed to quantitatively perform the cost comparisons. The impact of individual process yield factors on costs was also assessed as well as effects of process parameters, raw materials, labor rates and consumable items.

Barth, C. F.↗

Ionized interstellar froth in irregular galaxies

The warm interstellar medium of galaxies is a complicated place. It is often full of holes, neutral and ionized loops and shells, and diffuse ionized gas. Deep H alpha images of Magellanic-type irregular galaxies also reveal complex spatial structures consisting of loops and filaments in the interstellar gas outside of the boundaries of traditional HII regions. Researchers refer to these ionized structures as froth. Such structures could mark paths over which newly produced heavy elements are dispersed in irregular galaxies, and they could be the signatures of a feedback process related to star formation. In order to investigate the physical nature of the froth, researchers obtained narrow-band images and high and low dispersion spectra from Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) and deep blue-passband plates from the Canada-France-Hawaii Observatory (CFHO).

Hunter, Deidre A.↗

A focussing iron line crystal spectrometer for Spacelab

A crystal spectrometer system is described which employs conical focusing of 12 curved LiF crystal panels to minimize the detector size and reduce the background counting rate. The wavelength range from 1.70 to 1.98 A is covered, including the resonance lines of Fe XXV and Fe XXVI as well as the Fe I K-alpha line and absorption edge. Operation of the spectrometer is discussed, noting that diffracted X-rays are registered in one-dimensional position-sensitive detectors and that the arrival position of a photon in a detector is related to its wavelength due to the fixed curvature of the crystal panels in the dispersion plane. Some characteristics of the multianode position-sensitive detectors are reviewed along with the crystal arrangement and mounting. The instrument sensitivity is evaluated in relation to the strengths of 6.7-keV emission features detected by the Ariel 5 and OSO 8 proportional-counter spectrometers.

Catura, R. C.↗

Hopkinson Bar Impact Force Measurement for Application to Development of an Artificial Bird

A test method has been published for measuring forces from bird cadavers and artificial birds to demonstrate equivalency to support the use of artificial birds in aircraft certification testing. The test method involves a large diameter Hopkinson bar as the technique for measuring and comparing forces. The method involves the assumption that a force on one end of the bar results in a one-dimensional plane wave that travels down the bar. To avoid reflected waves from the end of the bar overlapping the input pulse, and due to practical limitations on the length of the bar, strain transducers are located relatively close to the impacted face of the bar, raising questions about the validity of the assumption of one-dimensional wave propagation. In addition, the large diameter of the bar can introduce dispersion effects in the propagated pulse. These must be assessed to determine the impact on the accuracy of impact force measurements and, if significant, dispersion correction techniques must be used. In this study analytical, experimental, and computational methods are used to analyze the wave propagation characteristics for impact forces expected from realistic bird impacts. While wave dispersion and effects of non-concentric impacts are present, the resulting errors are relatively small. For the response we expect to see in bird impacts up to velocities of approximately 300 m/sec the large diameter Hopkinson bar test appears to be an acceptable method for measuring the impact forces and comparing the response of real and proposed artificial birds.

Birdstrike↗

A simulation of air pollution model parameter estimation using data from a ground-based LIDAR remote sensor

One way to obtain estimates of the unknown parameters in a pollution dispersion model is to compare the model predictions with remotely sensed air quality data. A ground-based LIDAR sensor provides relative pollution concentration measurements as a function of space and time. The measured sensor data are compared with the dispersion model output through a numerical estimation procedure to yield parameter estimates which best fit the data. This overall process is tested in a computer simulation to study the effects of various measurement strategies. Such a simulation is useful prior to a field measurement exercise to maximize the information content in the collected data. Parametric studies of simulated data matched to a Gaussian plume dispersion model indicate the trade offs available between estimation accuracy and data acquisition strategy.

Kibler, J. F.↗