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NASA NTRS1992

On radial oscillations in viscous accretion discs surrounding neutron stars

Radial oscillations resulting from axisymmetric perturbations in viscous accretion disks surrounding neutron stars in X-ray binary systems have been investigated. Within the framework of the alpha-viscosity model a series of hydrodynamic calculations demonstrates that the oscillations are global for alpha of about 1. On the other hand, for alpha of 0.4 or less, the oscillations are local and confined to the disk boundaries. If viscous stresses acting in the radial direction are included, however, it is found that the disk can be stabilized. The application of such instabilities in accretion disks, without reference to the boundary layer region between the neutron star (or magnetosphere) and the inner edge of the disk, to the phenomenology of quasi-periodic oscillations is brought into question.

Chen, Xingming↗

NASA NTRS1992

Light curves of rotating, oscillating neutron stars

A technique has been developed for computing the light curve produced by a rotating, oscillating neutron star that emits radiation from circular polar cap regions, as are thought to exist in pulsars, X-ray binaries, and perhaps X-ray bursters. Several examples of light curves produced by single, low-order (l = 1, 2) oscillation modes are given. A Gaussian beaming function is used to simulate typical radio pulsar beam widths in order to investigate a neutron star oscillation model for subpulse drift in pulsars. X-ray bursts and X-ray pulsars have also been simulated to assess the possibility of detecting such oscillations in these sources with XTE and AXAF.

Strohmayer, T. E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Energy dependence of normal branch quasi-periodic intensity oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries

The properties of the approximately 6 Hz quasi-periodic X-ray intensity oscillations observed in the low-mass X-ray binary Cyg X-2 when it is on the normal spectral branch are shown to be consistent with a model in which photons from a central source with a fixed spectrum are Comptonized by an oscillating radial inflow. As the electron scattering optical depth of the flow varies, the spectrum of the escaping X-rays appears to rotate about a pivot energy that depends mainly on the electron temperature in the flow. The temperature derived from the observed energy dependence of the Cyg X-2 normal branch oscillations is approximately 1 keV, in good agreement with the estimated Compton temperature of its X-ray spectrum. The mean optical depth tau of the Comptonizing flow is inferred to be about 10, while the change in tau over an oscillation is estimated to be about 1; both values are in good agreement with radiation hydrodcode simulations of the radial flow.

Miller, Guy S.↗

NASA NTRS1990

An evaluation of the structure of tropical intraseasonal oscillations in three general circulation models

The attributes for the simulation of tropical intraseasonal oscillations in the 30 to 60 day range by three GCMs are compared with analyses of the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. Models under consideration include the Goddard Laboratory of Atmospheric sciences (GLAS), Goddard Laboratory for Atmospheres (GLA), and UCLA GCMs. They are characterized by the same resolutions of four degrees latitude by five degrees longitude with 9 levels. Observations reveal that the eastward traveling planetary scale structure becomes more stationary over the Indonesian region and accelerates over the Central Pacific. In the tropics a Kelvin wave-type structure is found to be dominant near the center of the oscillation. The simulated winds are realistic although the meridional component is too strong, especially in the GLA GCM. The differences in the structure of the oscillation in the GLAS GCM and GLA GCM are considered to be a consequence of the different numerical schemes used. The GCMs are characterized by preferred zones for diabatic heating, with a turn-on heating occurring when the rising branch of the intraseasonal oscillation passes over these convective regions.

Park, Chung-Kyu↗

NASA NTRS1990

Submillimeter sources for radiometry using high power Indium Phosphide Gunn diode oscillators

A study aimed at developing high frequency millimeter wave and submillimeter wave local oscillator sources in the 60-600 GHz range was conducted. Sources involved both fundamental and harmonic-extraction type Indium Phosphide Gunn diode oscillators as well as varactor multipliers. In particular, a high power balanced-doubler using varactor diodes was developed for 166 GHz. It is capable of handling 100 mW input power, and typically produced 25 mW output power. A high frequency tripler operating at 500 GHz output frequency was also developed and cascaded with the balanced-doubler. A dual-diode InP Gunn diode combiner was used to pump this cascaded multiplier to produce on the order of 0.5 mW at 500 GHz. In addition, considerable development and characterization work on InP Gunn diode oscillators was carried out. Design data and operating characteristics were documented for a very wide range of oscillators. The reliability of InP devices was examined, and packaging techniques to enhance the performance were analyzed. A theoretical study of a new class of high power multipliers was conducted for future applications. The sources developed here find many commercial applications for radio astronomy and remote sensing.

Deo, Naresh C.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Ultra-stable, low phase noise dielectric resonator stabilized oscillators for military and commercial systems

EPSD has designed, fabricated and tested, ultra-stable, low phase noise microwave dielectric resonator oscillators (DRO's) at S, X, Ku, and K-bands, for potential application to high dynamic range and low radar cross section target detection radar systems. The phase noise and the temperature stability surpass commercially available DROs. Low phase noise signals are critical for CW Doppler radars, at both very close-in and large offset frequencies from the carrier. The oscillators were built without any temperature compensation techniques and exhibited a temperature stability of 25 parts per million (ppm) over an extended temperature range. The oscillators are lightweight, small and low cost compared to BAW & SAW oscillators, and can impact commercial systems such as telecommunications, built-in-test equipment, cellular phone and satellite communications systems. The key to obtaining this performance was a high Q factor resonant structure (RS) and careful circuit design techniques. The high Q RS consists of a dielectric resonator (DR) supported by a low loss spacer inside a metal cavity. The S and the X-band resonant structures demonstrated loaded Q values of 20,300 and 12,700, respectively.

Mizan, Muhammad↗

NASA NTRS1993

Symmetries of coupled harmonic oscillators

It is shown that the system of two coupled harmonic oscillators possesses many interesting symmetries. It is noted that the symmetry of a single oscillator is that of the three-parameter group Sp(2). Thus two uncoupled oscillator exhibits a direct product of two Sp(2) groups, with six parameters. The coupling can be achieved through a rotation in the two-dimensional space of two oscillator coordinates. The closure of the commutation relations for the generators leads to the ten-parameter group Sp(4) which is locally isomorphic to the deSitter group O(3,2).

Han, D.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Wigner expansions for partition functions of nonrelativistic and relativistic oscillator systems

The equilibrium quantum statistics of various anharmonic oscillator systems including relativistic systems is considered within the Wigner phase space formalism. For this purpose the Wigner series expansion for the partition function is generalized to include relativistic corrections. The new series for partition functions and all thermodynamic potentials yield quantum corrections in terms of powers of h(sup 2) and relativistic corrections given by Kelvin functions (modified Hankel functions) K(sub nu)(mc(sup 2)/kT). As applications, the symmetric Toda oscillator, isotonic and singular anharmonic oscillators, and hindered rotators, i.e. oscillators with cosine potential, are addressed.

Zylka, Christian↗

NASA NTRS1993

Transonic shock oscillations calculated with a new interactive boundary layer coupling method

A new viscous-inviscid interactive coupling method is described with the aim of allowing time-accurate computation of unsteady transonic flows involving separation and reattachment. A lag-entrainment integral boundary layer method is used in conjunction with a transonic small disturbance potential code. The solutions are coupled with a novel variable gain, integral control method for the boundary layer displacement thickness. Efficient and robust computations of steady and unsteady separated flows, including steady separation bubbles and self-excited shock-induced oscillations, are presented. The buffet onset boundary for the NACA 0012 airfoil is accurately predicted and shown computationally to be a Hopf bifurcation. Shock-induced oscillations are also presented for the 18 percent thick circular arc airfoil. The oscillation onset boundaries and frequencies are accurately predicted, as is the experimentally observed hysteresis of the oscillations with Mach number; this latter stability boundary is identified as a jump phenomenon.

Edwards, John W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Laminar/turbulent oscillating flow in circular pipes

A two-dimensional oscillating flow analysis was conducted simulating the gas flow inside Stirling engine heat exchangers. Both laminar and turbulent oscillating pipe flow were investigated numerically for Re(max) = 1920 (Va = 80), 10,800 (Va = 272), 19,300 (Va = 272), and 60,800 (Va = 126). The results are compared with experimental results of previous investigators. Predictions of the flow regime are also checked by comparing velocity amplitudes and phase difference with those from laminar theory and quasi-steady profile. A high Reynolds number k-epsilon turbulence model was used for turbulent oscillating pipe flow. Finally, the performance of the k-epsilon model was evaluated to explore the applicability of quasi-steady turbulent models to unsteady oscillating flow analysis.

Ahn, Kyung H.↗

NASA NTRS1993

On the structure of the Southern Oscillation

A realistic oceanic general circulation model is forced with winds observed over the tropical Pacific between 1967 and 1979. The structure of the simulated Southern Oscillation is strikingly different in the western and eastern sides of the basin, because the principal interannual zonal-wind fluctuations are confined to the west and are in the form of an equatorial jet. This causes thermocline displacements to have maxima off the equator in the west (where the curl of the wind is large) but on the equator in the east. Zonal phase propagation, both on and off the equator, is at different speeds in the west and east. The phase pattern is complex, and there is, on interannual time scale, no explicit evidence of individual equatorial waves. These results lead to a modification of the 'delayed oscillator' mechanism originally proposed by Schopf and Suarez to explain a continual Southern Oscillation. The results also permit an evaluation of the various coupled ocean-atmosphere models that simulate the Southern Oscillation and indicate which measurements are necessary to determine which models are most relevant to reality.

Chao, YI↗

NASA NTRS1993

Resonant tunnelling diode oscillator as an alternative LO for SIS receiver applications

The resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) oscillator has been demonstrated for the first time as a local oscillator (LO) in a heterodyne receiver. Noise measurements made on a sensitive 200 GHz superconductor-insulator-superconductor receiver using both a multiplied Gunn diode and an RTD oscillator as the LO revealed no difference in receiver noise as a function of oscillator type.

Blundell, R.↗

NASA NTRS1943

A theoretical investigation of the lateral oscillations of an airplane with free rudder with special reference to the effect of friction

Charts showing the variation in dynamic stability with the rudder hinge-moment characteristics are presented. A stabilizing rudder floating tendency combined with a high degree of aerodynamic balance is shown to lead to oscillations of increasing amplitude. This dynamic instability is increased by viscous-friction in the rudder control system. The presence of solid friction in the rudder control system will cause steady oscillations of constant amplitude if the floating angle of the rudder per unit angle of sideslip is stabilizing and greater than a certain critical value that depends on other airplane parameters, such as vertical-tail area and airplane moment of inertia about the vertical axis. The amplitude of the steady oscillation is proportional to the amount of friction and is generally quite small but increases as the condition of dynamic instability is approached. An approximate method of calculating the amplitudes of the steady oscillation is explained and is illustrated by a numerical example. A more accurate step-by-step calculation of the motion is also made and it is shown that the agreement with the approximate method is good.

Greenberg, Harry↗

NASA NTRS1948

Laminar-Boundary-Layer Oscillations and Transition on a Flat Plate

This is an account of an investigation in which oscillations were discovered in the laminar boundary layer along a flat plate. These oscillations were found during the course of an experiment in which transition from laminar to turbulent flow was being studied on the plate as the turbulence in the wind stream was being reduced to unusually low values by means of damping screens. The first part of the paper deals with experimental methods and apparatus, measurements of turbulence and sound, and studies of transition. A description is then given of the manner in which oscillations were discovered and how they were found to be related to transition, and then how controlled oscillations were produced and studied in detail.

Schubauer, G B↗

NASA NTRS1994

Hydrogen-Maser/Ruby-Maser/Quartz-Crystal Oscillator

Highly stable oscillator suitable for use as 100-MHz frequency standard consists of 100-MHz hydrogen maser combined with double-phase-locked-loop receiver. Generates 100-MHz signal with reduced noise. Contains 100-MHz voltage-controlled quartz-crystal oscillator (VCO) locked in phase to superconducting-cavity maser oscillator (SCMO). SCMO, locks in phase to hydrogen maser, phase-locking receiver and its SCMO/ VCO combination to hydrogen maser. Aspects of SCMO described in previous reports, including "Performance of Superconducting-Cavity Maser" (NPO-18175), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 15, No. 6. Performances of component oscillators complement each other.

Wang, Rabi T.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Master-Oscillator/Power-Amplifier Laser System

Master-oscillator/power-amplifier (MOPA) laser system operates in continuous-wave mode or in amplitude-modulation (e.g., pulse) mode by modulation of oscillator current. Power amplifier is laser-diode-pumped neodymium:yttrium lithium fluoride (Nd:YLF) laser; oscillator is laser diode. Offers relatively high efficiency and power. Because drive current to oscillator modulated, external electro-optical modulator not needed. Potential uses include free-space optical communications, coded laser ranging, and generation of high-power, mode-locked pulses.

Yu, Anthony W.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Relation of squeezed states between damped harmonic and simple harmonic oscillators

The minimum uncertainty and other relations are evaluated in the framework of the coherent states of the damped harmonic oscillator. It is shown that the coherent states of the damped harmonic oscillator are the squeezed coherent states of the simple harmonic oscillator. The unitary operator is also constructed, and this connects coherent states with damped harmonic and simple harmonic oscillators.

Um, Chung-In↗

NASA NTRS1993

Heat exchanger with oscillating flow

Various heat exchange apparatuses are described in which an oscillating flow of primary coolant is used to dissipate an incident heat flux. The oscillating flow may be imparted by a reciprocating piston, a double action twin reciprocating piston, fluidic oscillators or electromagnetic pumps. The oscillating fluid flows through at least one conduit in either an open loop or a closed loop. A secondary flow of coolant may be used to flow over the outer walls of at least one conduit to remove heat transferred from the primary coolant to the walls of the conduit.

Scotti, Stephen J.↗