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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.

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NASA NTRS1984

X-ray synchrotron nebulae and the origin of neutron stars

Einstein Observatory (EO) X ray data on supernova remnants (SNR) and radio pulsars are examined for evidence supporting the concept that neutron stars arise after supernova (SN) events. Recent data reviews have revealed that only 13 of the 140 known galactic SNR exhibit characteristics, e.g., radio pulsars, X ray binaries or synchrotron nebulae, that link neutron stars with SNR. An EO survey of radio pulsars 1 kyr-1 Myr old found eight objects, all embedded in X ray emitting nebulae. The data indicated that all the SNR and pulsar objects had about 1 percent of their spin down energy converted into synchrotron X rays. The majority of SNRs did not have X ray emitting nebulae. It is therefore concluded that only some SN events result in a neutron star, while the event may leave no remnant at all.

Helfand, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The electron spectra in the synchrotron nebula of the supernova remnant G 29.7-0.3

EXOSAT results obtained with the imaging instrument (CMA) and the medium energy proportional counters (ME) are discussed. Assuming that the featureless power-law spectrum obtained in the 2 to 10 keV range is synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons, one derives constraints on magnetic field strength and age of the nebula. The energy spectra of the electrons responsible for the emission in the radio and X-ray ranges are discussed. The great similarity of the physical properties of G 29.7-0.3 and of three synchrotron nebulae containing a compact object observed to pulse in X-rays makes G 29.7 - 0.3 a very promising candidate for further search for pulsed emission. Further observations at infrared wavelengths might reveal the break(s) in the emitted spectrum expected from the radio and X-ray power-law indices and give us more information on the production of the electron populations responsible for the emission of the nebula.

Koch-Miramond, L.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Nonthermal synchrotron radiation in a strong magnetic field

A synchrotron source model is presented for the origin of gamma-ray bursts from neutron stars. The field strength and length of time needed for electrons to lose sufficient energy in emitting the gamma rays are calculated, together with the efficiency of the process, limiting frequencies, and the energy output. A Monte Carlo simulation of the synchrotron radiation spectrum of an electron undergoing a self-consistent energy loss demonstrates that a process involving thermalized electrons can be sufficiently efficient to produce 30 keV gamma rays. Problems expected in using the current capabilities of detectors to scan for the projected energy spectra from fields of at least 3 x 10 to the 12th Gauss are discussed.

Bussard, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Energy dispersive X-ray diffraction in the diamond anvil, high-pressure apparatus - Comparison of synchrotron and conventional X-ray sources

The use of both conventional fixed-anode X-ray sources and synchrotron radiation to carry out energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction experiments at high pressure in a diamond anvil cell, is discussed. The photon flux at the sample and at the detector for the two cases are compared and the results are presented in graphs. It is shown that synchrotron radiation experiments can be performed with nearly two orders of magnitude increase in data rate if superior detectors and detector electronics are available.

Spain, I. L.↗

NASA NTRS1985

High-energy thermal synchrotron emission

It is shown how the thermal synchrotron emission spectrum is modified when the photon energy is greater than the mean energy of the radiating particles. The effect if applying this energy conservation constraint is to produce spectra which have less high-energy photon emission than had been previously estimated. The thermal synchrotron spectra provide satisfactory fits to recently observed very high energy gamma ray spectra of certain burst sources.

Imamura, J. N.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The synchrotron-self-Compton process in spherical geometries. I - Theoretical framework

Both spatial and spectral accuracies are stressed in the present method for the calculation of the synchrotron-self-Compton model in spherical geometries, especially in the partially opaque regime of the synchrotron spectrum of inhomogeneous sources that can span a few frequency decades and contribute a significant portion of the scattered flux. A formalism is developed that permits accurate calculation of incident photon density throughout an optically thin sphere. An approximation to the Klein-Nishina cross section is used to model the effects of variable electron and incident photon cutoffs, as well as the decrease in the cross section at high energies. General results are derived for the case of inhomogeneous sources with power law profiles in both electron density and magnetic field.

Band, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Resonant electron diffusion as a saturation process of the synchrotron maser instability

The theory of resonant electron diffusion as an effective saturation process of the auroral kilometric radiation has been formulated. The auroral kilometric radiation is assumed to be amplified by the synchrotron maser instability that is driven by an electron distribution of the loss-cone type. The calculated intensity of the saturated radiation is found to have a significantly lower value in comparison with that caused by the quasi-linear diffusion process as an alternative saturation process. This indicates that resonant electron diffusion dominates over quasi-linear diffusion in saturating the synchrotron maser instability.

Lee, M. C.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The synchrotron-self-Compton process in spherical geometries. II - Application to active galactic nuclei

Observational implications and constraints on spherical nonthermal synchrotron self-Compton models with applications to AGNs are discussed. The Compton optical depth of the source and the synchrotron optical depth are considered, and plausible electron distributions are discussed. The alpha(0x), alpha(rx), and alpha(0r) system of comparing the fluxes in different energy bands is related to the nonthermal models, and sample spectra are presented that show the spectral features the models can produce. The models are applied to radio-quiet AGNs. It is shown that the infrared and X-ray continua of the AGNs can be produced by nonthermal processes.

Band, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Synchrotron emission and gamma-ray bursts

The parameter space within which synchrotron emission models for gamma-ray burst spectra are valid is evaluated in the cases of thermal and power-law particle distributions. The spectra emitted by noncooling and cooling thermal and power-law particle distributions are modeled numerically over relativistic and nonrelativistic regimes. The structure of the radiation is defined near the fundamental and the continuum up to the 1000th harmonic. Comparisons are made with burst event data collected during the Apollo 16, Venera, SMM, Pioneer Venus Orbiter and Hackucho missions. A two-component synchrotron model is proposed for gamma-ray burst events. The electron-positron distribution is projected to have a thermal component and a nonthermal power-law tail.

Brainerd, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Applications of synchrotron radiation to materials science: Diffraction imaging (topography) and microradiography

Synchrotron radiation sources are now available throughout the world. The use of hard X-ray radiation from these sources for materials science is described with emphasis on diffraction imaging for material characterization. With the availability of synchrotron radiation, real-time in situ measurements of dynamic microstructural phenomena have been started. This is a new area where traditional application of X-rays has been superseded. Examples are chosen from limited areas and are by no means exhaustive. The new emerging information will, no doubt, have great impact on materials science and engineering.

Kuriyama, Masao↗

NASA NTRS1987

Analytic and numerical calculations of quantum synchrotron spectra from relativistic electron distributions

Calculations are performed numerically and analytically of synchrotron spectra for thermal and power-law electron distributions using the single-particle synchrotron power spectrum derived from quantum electrodynamics. It is found that the photon energy at which quantum effects appear is proportional to temperature and independent of field strength for thermal spectra; quantum effects introduce an exponential roll-off away from the classical spectra. For power law spectra, the photon energy at which quantum effects appear is inversely proportional to the magnetic field strength; quantum effects produce a steeper power law than is found classically. The results are compared with spectra derived from the classical power spectrum with an energy cutoff ensuring conservation of energy. It is found that an energy cutoff is generally an inadequate approximation of quantum effects for low photon energies and for thermal spectra, but gives reasonable results for high-energy emission from power-law electron distributions.

Brainerd, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Quantum synchrotron spectra from semirelativistic electrons in teragauss magnetic fields

Synchrotron spectra are calculated from quantum electrodynamic transition rates for thermal and power-law electron distributions. It is shown that quantum effects appear in thermal spectra when the photon energy is greater than the electron temperature, and in power-law spectra when the electron energy in units of the electron rest mass times the magnetic field strength in units of the critical field strength is of order unity. These spectra are compared with spectra calculated from the ultrarelativistic approximation for synchrotron emission. It is found that the approximation for the power-law spectra is good, and the approximation for thermal spectra produces the shape of the spectrum accurately but fails to give the correct normalization. Single photon pair creation masks the quantum effects for power-law distributions, so only modifications to thermal spectra are important for gamma-ray bursts.

Brainerd, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Structural anomalies in undoped Gallium Arsenide observed in high resolution diffraction imaging with monochromatic synchrotron radiation

Novel, streak-like disruption features restricted to the plane of diffraction have recently been observed in images obtained by synchrotron radiation diffraction from undoped, semi-insulating gallium arsenide crystals. These features were identified as ensembles of very thin platelets or interfaces lying in (110) planes, and a structural model consisting of antiphase domain boundaries was proposed. We report here the other principal features observed in high resolution monochromatic synchrotron radiation diffraction images: (quasi) cellular structure; linear, very low-angle subgrain boundaries in (110) directions, and surface stripes in a (110) direction. In addition, we report systematic differences in the acceptance angle for images involving various diffraction vectors. When these observations are considered together, a unifying picture emerges. The presence of ensembles of thin (110) antiphase platelet regions or boundaries is generally consistent not only with the streak-like diffraction features but with the other features reported here as well. For the formation of such regions we propose two mechanisms, operating in parallel, that appear to be consistent with the various defect features observed by a variety of techniques.

Steiner, B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Structural anomalies in undoped gallium arsenide observed in high-resolution diffraction imaging with monochromatic synchrotron radiation

Steiner, B.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Trace element abundance determinations by Synchrotron X Ray Fluorescence (SXRF) on returned comet nucleus mineral grains

Trace element analyses were performed on bulk cosmic dust particles by Proton Induced X Ray Emission (PIXE) and Synchrotron X Ray Fluorescence (SXRF). When present at or near chondritic abundances the trace elements K, Ti, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, and Br are presently detectable by SXRF in particles of 20 micron diameter. Improvements to the SXRF analysis facility at the National Synchrotron Light Source presently underway should increase the range of detectable elements and permit the analysis of smaller samples. In addition the Advanced Photon Source will be commissioned at Argonne National Laboratory in 1995. This 7 to 8 GeV positron storage ring, specifically designed for high-energy undulator and wiggler insertion devices, will be an ideal source for an x ray microprobe with one micron spatial resolution and better than 100 ppb elemental sensitivity for most elements. Thus trace element analysis of individual micron-sized grains should be possible by the time of the comet nucleus sample return mission.

Flynn, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1989

Dynamical diffraction imaging (topography) with X-ray synchrotron radiation

By contrast to electron microscopy, which yields information on the location of features in small regions of materials, X-ray diffraction imaging can portray minute deviations from perfect crystalline order over larger areas. Synchrotron radiation-based X-ray optics technology uses a highly parallel incident beam to eliminate ambiguities in the interpretation of image details; scattering phenomena previously unobserved are now readily detected. Synchrotron diffraction imaging renders high-resolution, real-time, in situ observations of materials under pertinent environmental conditions possible.

Kuriyama, M.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Radial diffusion models of energetic electrons and Jupiter's synchrotron radiation. I - Steady state solution

The results of a computer code modeling of the radial diffusion of equatorially confined energetic electrons in Jupiter's inner magnetosphere are compared with spacecraft as well as ground-based radio (synchrotron radiation) data. It is found that the synchrotron radiation spectrum cannot be reproduced without a significant hardening of the electron spectrum between L = 3 and L = 1.5. This hardening may be due to energy degradation by Jupiter's ring particles. The calculations also suggest that there may be larger-sized material outside Jupiter's ring up to L of about 4 or Io's orbit.

De Pater, Imke↗

NASA NTRS1990

Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence analyses of stratospheric cosmic dust - New results for chondritic and low-nickel particles

Trace element abundance determinations were performed using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence on nine particles collected from the stratosphere and classified as cosmic. Improvements to the Synchrotron Light Source allowed the detection of all elements between Cr and Mo, with the exceptions of Co and As, in our largest particle. The minor and trace element abundance patterns of three Ni-depleted particles were remarkably similar to those of extraterrestrial igneous rocks. Fe/Ni and Fe/Mn ratios suggest that one of these may be of lunar origin. All nine particles exhibited an enrichment in Br, ranging from 1.3 to 38 times the C1 concentration. Br concentrations were uncorrelated with particle size, as would be expected for a surface correlated component acquires from the stratosphere.

Flynn, G. J.↗