SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Beam Forming”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 523 records · Page 29

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1983

Collisionless electron shocks in electron-beam-plasma systems

One-dimensional Vlasov simulations show that when an electron beam is suddenly injected into a plasma, a fast-moving monotonic shock forms during the early stage of the transient plasma response. In the shock, the ions are nearly immobile. The shock appears to be an electrostatic electron-beam-plasma mode. The shock evolves from an initial positive potential perturbation, which is supported by an ion burst. The steepening of the perturbation into a shock is characterized by an electron-beam-plasma mode.

Singh, N.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) Phase 2 Preliminary Laser Design

The requirements for the Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) were determined from system considerations and are summarized in tabular form. The laser subsystem provides for the generation and frequency control of two beams, the transmit high power and local oscillator beams, which are delivered to the optical and receiver subsystems, respectively. In our baseline approach, the excitation of the gain section is achieved by a self-sustaining uv-(corona) preionized discharge. Gas is recirculated within the laser loop using a transverse flow fan. An intra-flow-loop heat exchanger, catalyst monolith, and acoustic attenuators condition the gas to ensure uniform energy output and high beam quality during high pulse repetition rate operation. The baseline LAWS laser pulse temporal profile as calculated by in-house laser codes is given in graphical form.

Lawrence, T. Rhidian↗

NASA NTRS1979

On the controllability of a long flexible beam in orbit

The equations of planar motion for a long, flexible free-free beam in orbit are developed and include the effects of gravity-gradient torques and control torques resulting from actuators assumed to be located at specific points along the beam. The control devices are used to control both the orientation as well as the shape of the beam. Application of two classes of theorems to the linearized form of these equations is used to establish necessary and sufficient conditions for controllability for different combinations of number/location of actuators with the number of modes contained in the mathematical model. It is seen that the number of actuators, if properly located, can be less than the number of modes in the system model. A numerical example illustrates the controlled response to an initial perturbation in both pitch angle as well as beam shape.

Bainum, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Design Procedures for Fiber Composite Box Beams

Step-by-step procedures are described which can be used for the preliminary design of fiber composite box beams subjected to combined loadings. These procedures include a collection of approximate closed-form equations so that all the required calculations can be performed using pocket calculators. Included is an illustrated example of a tapered cantilever box beam subjected to combined loads. The box beam is designed to satisfy strength, displacement, buckling, and frequency requirements.

Chamis, Christos C.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Design procedures for fiber composite box beams

Step-by-step procedures are described which can be used for the preliminary design of fiber composite box beams subjected to combined loadings. These procedures include a collection of approximate closed-form equations so that all the required calculations can be performed using pocket calculators. Included is an illustrative example of a tapered cantilever box beam subjected to combined loads. The box beam is designed to satisfy strength, displacement, buckling, and frequency requirements.

Chamis, Cristos C.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Solar electric propulsion thrust beam interactive effects

Interactive effects between ion engine thrust beams and an SEP spacecraft and its science payload have been examined. AC electric contamination from thrust beam potential fluctuations of both 'common mode' and 'point-to-point' forms has been evaluated. Quenching of point-to-point E-fields by both thrust ion and charge exchange ion plasmas is expected. Reduction methods for AC electric contamination from common mode thrust beam potential fluctuations have been developed. Charged particle contamination of ambient space and plasma wave contamination may result from density magnitude and spatial extent of charge exchange plasma plumes. Reduction methods for cone of directions of high angle charge exchange ions have been examined.

Sellen, J. M., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Information Retrieval from SAGE II and MFRSR Multi-Spectral Extinction Measurements

Direct beam spectral extinction measurements of solar radiation contain important information on atmospheric composition in a form that is essentially free from multiple scattering contributions that otherwise tend to complicate the data analysis and information retrieval. Such direct beam extinction measurements are available from the solar occultation satellite-based measurements made by the Stratospheric and Aerosol Gas Experiment (SAGE II) instrument and by ground-based Multi-Filter Shadowband Radiometers (MFRSRs). The SAGE II data provide cross-sectional slices of the atmosphere twice per orbit at seven wavelengths between 385 and 1020 nm with approximately 1 km vertical resolution, while the MFRSR data provide atmospheric column measurements at six wavelengths between 415 and 940 nm but at one minute time intervals. We apply the same retrieval technique of simultaneous least-squares fit to the observed spectral extinctions to retrieve aerosol optical depth, effective radius and variance, and ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and water vapor amounts from the SAGE II and MFRSR measurements. The retrieval technique utilizes a physical model approach based on laboratory measurements of ozone and nitrogen dioxide extinction, line-by-line and numerical k-distribution calculations for water vapor absorption, and Mie scattering constraints on aerosol spectral extinction properties. The SAGE II measurements have the advantage of being self-calibrating in that deep space provides an effective zero point for the relative spectral extinctions. The MFRSR measurements require periodic clear-day Langley regression calibration events to maintain accurate knowledge of instrument calibration.

Lacis, Andrew A.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Coherent Detector for Near-Angle Scattering and Polarization Characterization of Telescope Mirror Coatings

A report discusses the difficulty of measuring scattering properties of coated mirrors extremely close to the specular reflection peak. A prototype Optical Hetero dyne Near-angle Scatterometer (OHNS) was developed. Light from a long-coherence-length (>150 m) 532-nm laser is split into two arms. Acousto-optic modulators frequency shift the sample and reference beams, establishing a fixed beat frequency between the beams. The sample beam is directed at very high f/# onto a mirror sample, and the point spread function (PSF) formed after the mirror sample is scanned with a pinhole. This light is recombined by a non-polarizing beam splitter and measured through heterodyne detection with a spectrum analyzer. Polarizers control the illuminated and analyzed polarization states, allowing the polarization dependent scatter to be measured. The bidirectional reflective or scattering distribution function is normally measured through use of a scattering goniometer instrument. The instrumental beam width (collection angle span) over which the scatterometer responds is typically many degrees. The OHNS enables measurement at angles as small as the first Airy disk diameter.

Macenka, Steven A.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Solution of the radiative transfer theory problems by the Monte Carlo method

The Monte Carlo method is used for two types of problems. First, there are interpretation problems of optical observations from meteorological satellites in the short wave part of the spectrum. The sphericity of the atmosphere, the propagation function, and light polarization are considered. Second, problems dealt with the theory of spreading narrow light beams. Direct simulation of light scattering and the mathematical form of medium radiation model representation are discussed, and general integral transfer equations are calculated. The dependent tests method, derivative estimates, and solution to the inverse problem are also considered.

Marchuk, G. I.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Gregorian all-reflective optical system

An optical heterodyne receiver comprises a system of reflectors forming a folded Gregorian configuration for collecting a signal beam, and an optical detector located at the focus of the system. A paraboloidal primary reflector and an elipsoidal secondary reflector face each other on an optical axis with the focus of the secondary reflector coinciding with the focus of the primary reflector. An auxiliary laser generates a local oscillator beam that is combined with the signal beam after the signal beam emerges from the exit pupil (which is also the aperture stop) of the system, and the resultant is impinged on the detector. A pair of image motion compensators is located as close to the exit pupil as possible for aligning off-axis inputs to the detector.

King, W. L.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Pulse-shaping circuit for laser excitation

Narrower, impedence-matched pulses initiate stabler electric discharges for gas lasers. Discharges are more efficient, more compact, capable of high repetition rate, and less expensive than conventional electron-beam apparatus, but gas tends to break down and form localized arcs. Pulse-shaping circuit compresses width of high-voltage pulses from relatively-slow rise-time voltage generator and gradually grades circuit impedance from inherent high impedance of generator to low impedence of gas.

Laudenslager, J. B.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Laser processing of silicon solar cells

Results of a study to utilize an Nd:glass laser for production line annealing of ion implantation induced damage in solar cells are reported. Czochralski-grown and sawn Si wafers 7.6 cm in diam, 0.35 mm thick, were implanted with phosphorus junctions and boron BSFs. Annealing with electron beam, laser, and firing of an Al paste to form the BSFs in different cells was compared. The laser was employed at 1.06 and 0.53 micron and in combination of both, with a 20-50 nsec pulsewidth, and energy densities of 1.2, 1.5, 1.9, and 2.1 J/sq cm. Best optical coupling was observed with the combined wavelengths and a 20 nsec pulse, using energy densities less than 1.5 J/sq cm. Although the Al sintered cells displayed the best characteristics, laser annealing is concluded to offer electrically active, defect-free, shallow junction Si substrates for high efficiency cells.

Katzeff, J. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Multiband Selector for Linear Photodetector Array

Line image observed simultaneously in two or more spectral bands. Incoming light focused through beam splitter onto two linear arrays of photodetectors to form line images. Array of band-pass filters above each detector array positioned to select spectral band of line image. These capabilities are valuable in such multispectral-imaging applications as spaceborne and airborne visible and infrared observation of Earth for geology, oil and mineral exploration, biomass distribution, forestry, agriculture, and urban and rural development.

Richard, H. L.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Transonic aeroelastic analysis of launch vehicle configurations

A numerical study of the aeroelastic stability of typical launch vehicle configurations in transonic flight is performed. Recent computational fluid dynamics techniques are used to simulate the transonic aerodynamic flow fields, as opposed to relying on experimental data for the unsteady aerodynamic pressures. The flow solver is coupled to an appropriate structural representation of the vehicle. The aerodynamic formulation is based on the thin layer approximation to the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations, where the account for turbulent mixing is done by the two-layer Baldwin and Lomax algebraic eddy viscosity model. The structural-dynamic equations are developed considering free-free flexural vibration of an elongated beam with variable properties and are cast in modal form. Aeroelastic analyses are performed by integrating simultaneously in the two sets of equations. By tracing the growth or decay of a perturbed oscillation, the aeroelastic stability of a given constant configuration can be ascertained. The method is described in detail, and results that indicate its application are presented. Applications include some validation cases for the algorithm developed, as well as the study of configurations known to have presented flutter programs in the past.

Filgueirasdeazevedo, Joao Luiz↗

NASA NTRS1990

A numerical simulation of the flow in the diffuser of the NASA Lewis icing research tunnel

The flow in the diffuser section of the Icing Research Tunnel at the NASA Lewis Research Center is numerically investigated. To accomplish this, an existing computer code is utilized. The code, known as PARC3D, is based on the Beam-Warming algorithm applied to the strong conservation law form of the complete Navier-Stokes equations. The first portion of the paper consists of a brief description of the diffuser and its current flow characteristics. A brief discussion of the code work follows. Predicted velocity patterns are then compared with the measured values.

Addy, Harold E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Pulsed, high-current, in-line reversal electron attachment detector

A new, pulsed, high-current, in-line reversal electron attachment ionizer/detector is described. The ionizer is capable of delivering a beam of electrons into an electrostatic mirror field to form a planar wall of electrons having zero kinetic energy. Electron attachment to a molecular target at the reversal point produces either parent or fragment negative ions through a zero-energy (s-wave) state. The atomic or molecular ion is pulsed out of the attachment region approximately 2 microsec after the electrons are pulsed off, and focused onto the entrance plane of a quadrupole mass analyzer. The sensitivity of the apparatus is preliminarily assessed, and its higher-energy behavior with regard to molecular attachment and ionization is described.

Bernius, Mark T.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A numerical simulation of the flow in the diffuser of the NASA Lewis Icing Research Tunnel

Addy, Harold E., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1992

New class of Si-based superlattices - Alternating layers of crystalline Si and porous amorphous Si(1-x)Ge(x) alloys

Superlattices consisting of alternating layers of crystalline Si and porous amorphous Si(1-x)Ge(x) have been fabricated. This is accomplished by first growing a Si/Si(0.7)Ge(0.3) superlattice by molecular beam epitaxy, followed by Ar-ion milling to form mesa structures, and finally by immersion in HF:HNO3:H2O. This solution creates a porous structure similar to that created by anodic etching, and a high selectivity is observed for the conversion of the alloy layers relative to the Si layers. The degree of selectivity is found to depend on alloy-layer thickness and strain. Superlattices have been fabricated from 1-micron wide mesas with Si(0.7)Ge(0.3) layers fully converted to 5-nm thick porous amorphous material.

Fathauer, R. W.↗