Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “atomic ordering”

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.

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

At least 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Photochemical modeling of Titan's atmosphere

We have developed a new photochemical model of Titan's atmosphere which includes all the important compounds and reactions in spherical geometry from the surface to 1240 km. Compared to the previous model of Yung et al. (1984), the most significant recent change in the reactions used is the updated methane dissociation scheme (Mordaunt et al. 1993). Moreover, the transfer of the solar radiation in the atmosphere and the photolysis rates have been calculated by using a Monte Carlo code. Finally, the eddy diffusion coefficient profile is adjusted in order to fit the mean vertical distribution of HCN retrieved from millimeter groundbased observations of Tanguy et al. (1990); using new values for the boundary flux of atomic nitrogen (Strobel et al. 1992). We have run the model in both steady-state and diurnal modes, with 62 species involved in 249 reactions. There is little difference between diurnal and steady-state results. Overall our results are in a closer agreement with the abundances inferred from the Voyager infrared measurements at the equator than the Yung et al. results. We find that the catalytic scheme for H recombination invoked by Yung et al. only slightly improves the model results and we conclude that this scheme is not essential to fit observations.

Toublanc, D.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Zr-Containing 4,4'-ODA/PMDA Polyimide Composites

The objective of this research is to improve the atomic oxygen resistance of Kapton(TM), a polyimide (PI) made from pyromellitic acid dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4'-oxydianiline (ODA), while retaining or enhancing the desirable properties of the pure polymer. Toward this end, zirconium-containing complexes and polymers were used to make composites and blends. Tetra(acetylacetonato)zirconium(IV), Zr(acac)4, which is commercially available, was identified as the best zirconium-containing complex for enhancing the atomic oxygen resistance of polyimide composites of the 10 complexes screened. Films prepared from the commercially available polyamic acid (PAA) of PMDA-ODA (DuPont) have good uniformity, flexibility, and tensile strength. A 24-layer 10% (mol) Zr(acac)4/PI composite film showed significant improvement (ca. 20 fold) of atomic oxygen resistance over the pure polyimide. However, 10% (mol) Zr(acac)4 represents an upper concentration limit, above which films undergo cracking upon thermal imidization. In order to increase the Zr complex concentration in PMDA-ODA PI films, while retaining good film properties, [Zr(adsp)2-PMDA]n coordination polymer [bis(4-amino-N,N'-disalicylidene- 1,2-phenylenediamino)zirconium(IV)-pyromellitic dianhydride] and [Zr(adsp)2-PMDA-ODA-PMDA]n terpolymer were synthesized and blended with commercial PAA, respectively. Several techniques were used to characterize the films made from the polymer containing Zr(acac)4. Plasma studies of films having 2% (mol) incremental concentrations of Zr in the Kapton up to 10% (mol) show that the overall rate of erosion is reduced about 75 percent.

Illingsworth, M. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Are large concentration of atomic H storable in tritium-impregnated solid in H2 below 0.10 K

The storage and release of atomic hydrogen produced by the beta decay of tritium contained in a crystalline solid H2 matrix at concentrations greater than 2% and temperatures below 0.80 K are investigated. The temperature of a sample chamber containing tritium-impregnated H2 and placed in the mixing chamber of a dilution refrigerator was measured as the chamber was heated and cooled in order to determine the rates of energy storage and release. It is found that for samples containing 1.2 wt.% tritium, after storage at 0.054 K for 40 h, an increase in sample temperature to a trigger point of 0.17 K leads to an energy release due to the destabilization of atomic H in H2 as predicted by the phenomenological rate process theory. For a tritium weight fraction of 2.5%, energy releases were triggered at 0.54 and 0.82 K after storage at 0.080 K, indicating the trapping of H atoms at the sites of T2 and HT molecules in the sample. The application of a 15 kG magnetic field is shown to increase the storage capacity of T2 traps while reducing that of HT traps, and to lower the trigger temperatures of both. Results suggest that the direct conversion of nuclear energy to chemical energy may become technically feasible in the future.

Rosen, G.↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the linearity of fast atomic oxygen effects

The effect of bombardment of 8 km per second atomic oxygen (AO) experienced by exposed surfaces of satellites in low Earth orbit must be considered in the selection of materials to be used in instruments and functional systems on these satellites. The degree of importance of the effects varies widely depending on the material, the application, and the exposure (fluence of atoms) to which it is to be subjected. Some highly erodible thin polymer film materials might be considered unacceptable on a long-lived space station, but may be perfectly serviceable on a normal shuttle flight. In order to determine the acceptability of a material for a particular environment, a designer must know the relationship between the magnitude of the effect (for example, mass-loss) and the magnitude of the fluence. To determine this relationship, we need data over a useful range of fluence. Until the return of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), the bulk of the data on materials effects was obtained from a few shuttle flights, and the bulk of that data from the flight of experiment Evaluation of Oxygen Interaction with Materials (EOIM-2) on STS-8 in 1983. EOIM-2 obtained a fluence of 3.5 x 10(exp 20) atoms cm(exp -2), while the LDEF fluence approached 10(exp 22) atoms cm(exp -2), or about 30 times greater. Although other flight exposures had been obtained with lower fluences, considerable uncertainty was attached to these results because of the possibility of large relative systematic errors and of other factors such as sweeping angle of attack. In the future, it is hoped that simulation facilities in the laboratory will allow testing of materials without the necessity of flying them in space. In addition, if the relationship of effect with oxygen fluence is well determined, it should not be necessary to expose a material for an entire mission fluence. In this paper, we shall avoid a comparison of flight data with results from simulators, though that comparison is important for the materials community. The present discussion is limited to flight data only.

Gregory, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS2018

GMI-IPS: Python Processing Software for Aircraft Campaigns

NASA's Atmospheric Tomography Mission (ATom) seeks to understand the impact of anthropogenic air pollution on gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Four flight campaigns are being deployed on a seasonal basis to establish a continuous global-scale data set intended to improve the representation of chemically reactive gases in global atmospheric chemistry models. The Global Modeling Initiative (GMI), is creating chemical transport simulations on a global scale for each of the ATom flight campaigns. To meet the computational demands required to translate the GMI simulation data to grids associated with the flights from the ATom campaigns, the GMI ICARTT Processing Software (GMI-IPS) has been developed and is providing key functionality for data processing and analysis in this ongoing effort. The GMI-IPS is written in Python and provides computational kernels for data interpolation and visualization tasks on GMI simulation data. A key feature of the GMI-IPS, is its ability to read ICARTT files, a text-based file format for airborne instrument data, and extract the required flight information that defines regional and temporal grid parameters associated with an ATom flight. Perhaps most importantly, the GMI-IPS creates ICARTT files containing GMI simulated data, which are used in collaboration with ATom instrument teams and other modeling groups. The initial main task of the GMI-IPS is to interpolate GMI model data to the finer temporal resolution (1-10 seconds) of a given flight. The model data includes basic fields such as temperature and pressure, but the main focus of this effort is to provide species concentrations of chemical gases for ATom flights. The software, which uses parallel computation techniques for data intensive tasks, linearly interpolates each of the model fields to the time resolution of the flight. The temporally interpolated data is then saved to disk, and is used to create additional derived quantities. In order to translate the GMI model data to the spatial grid of the flight path as defined by the pressure, latitude, and longitude points at each flight time record, a weighted average is then calculated from the nearest neighbors in two dimensions (latitude, longitude). Using SciPya's Regular Grid Interpolator, interpolation functions are generated for the GMI model grid and the calculated weighted averages. The flight path points are then extracted from the ATom ICARTT instrument file, and are sent to the multi-dimensional interpolating functions to generate GMI field quantities along the spatial path of the flight. The interpolated field quantities are then written to a ICARTT data file, which is stored for further manipulation. The GMI-IPS is aware of a generic ATom ICARTT header format, containing basic information for all flight campaigns. The GMI-IPS includes logic to edit metadata for the derived field quantities, as well as modify the generic header data such as processing dates and associated instrument files. The ICARTT interpolated data is then appended to the modified header data, and the ICARTT processing is complete for the given flight and ready for collaboration. The output ICARTT data adheres to the ICARTT file format standards V1.1. The visualization component of the GMI-IPS uses Matplotlib extensively and has several functions ranging in complexity. First, it creates a model background curtain for the flight (time versus model eta levels) with the interpolated flight data superimposed on the curtain. Secondly, it creates a time-series plot of the interpolated flight data. Lastly, the visualization component creates averaged 2D model slices (longitude versus latitude) with overlaid flight track circles at key pressure levels. The GMI-IPS consists of a handful of classes and supporting functionality that have been generalized to be compatible with any ICARTT file that adheres to the base class definition. The base class represents a generic ICARTT entry, only defining a single time entry and 3D spatial positioning parameters. Other classes inherit from this base class; several classes for input ICARTT instrument files, which contain the necessary flight positioning information as a basis for data processing, as well as other classes for output ICARTT files, which contain the interpolated model data. Utility classes provide functionality for routine procedures such as: comparing field names among ICARTT files, reading ICARTT entries from a data file and storing them in data structures, and returning a reduced spatial grid based on a collection of ICARTT entries. Although the GMI-IPS is compatible with GMI model data, it can be adapted with reasonable effort for any simulation that creates Hierarchical Data Format (HDF) files. The same can be said of its adaptability to ICARTT files outside of the context of the ATom mission. The GMI-IPS contains just under 30,000 lines of code, eight classes, and a dozen drivers and utility programs. It is maintained with GIT source code management and has been used to deliver processed GMI model data for the ATom campaigns that have taken place to date.

Damon, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Polyimide-Clay Composite Materials for Space Application

The introduction of nanometer-sized clay particles into a polyimide matrix has been shown to enhance the physical properties of specific polymer systems. The clay comprises large stacked platelets of the oxides of aluminum and silicon. These sheets have long dimensions on the order of tenths of a micrometer and thicknesses of several nanometers. Homogeneous dispersion of the clay platelets in the polymer matrix is necessary to achieve those enhancements in polymer properties. Natural montmorillonite with the empirical formula Na0.33Mg0.33Al1.67(OH)2(Si4O10) contains exchangeable inorganic cations. The clay lamellae stack together with the positive sodium ions situated between the surfaces of the individual sheets to balance negatively charged oxygen atoms that are on the surfaces of the sheets. These surface charges contribute to strong electrostatic forces which hold the sheets together tightly. Exfoliation can be accomplished only with unusual measures. In preparing clay nanocomposites, we have taken two steps to try to reduce these interlamellar forces in order to promote the separation (exfoliation) of the sheets and the dispersion of the individual clay particles throughout the organic polymer matrix. In the first step, some of the surface Na(+) ions are replaced with Li(+) ions. Unlike sodium cations, the lithium cations migrate into the interior of the lamellae when the system is heated. Their departure from the surface reduces the surface charge and therefore the attractive forces between the sheets. The loss of alkali metal cations from the surface can be measured as the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the clay. For example, we found that the CEC of montmorillonite clay was reduced by almost two thirds by treating it with lithium ions and heating to 250 C for 24 hr. Lesser heating has a smaller effect on the CEC. X-ray diffraction measurements show that the d-spacing decreased from ca. 1.34 to 0.97 nm, apparently a consequence of a collapse of the clay layers. We observed that the d-spacing can be varied by altering the heat treatment. In the second part of our effort to reduce the interlamellar forces, the remaining inorganic surface cations were replaced by the trimethylphenylammonium ion (TMPA), the biphenyltrimethylammonium ion (BTMA), or the tetraphenylphosphonium ion (TPP).

Orwoll, Robert A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Copernicus observations of C I and CO in diffuse interstellar clouds

Copernicus was used to observe absorption lines of C I in its ground state and excited fine structure levels and CO toward 29 stars. We use the C I data to infer densities and pressures within the observed clouds, and because our results are of higher precision than previous work, much more precise estimates of the physical conditions in clouds are obtained. In agreement with previous work, the interstellar thermal pressure appears to be variable, with most clouds having values of p/k between 1000/cu cm K and 10,000/cu cm K, but there are some clouds with p/k as high as 100,000/cu cm K. Our results are consistent with the view that the interstellar thermal pressure is so variable that the gas undergoes continuous dynamic evolution. Our observations provide useful constraints on the physical processes on the surfaces of grains. In particular, we find that grains are efficient catalysts of interstellar H2 in the sense that at least half of the hydrogen atoms that strike grains come off as part of H2. Results place strong constraints on models for the formation and destruction of interstellar CO. In many clouds, an order of magnitude less CO than predicted in some models was found.

Jenkins, E. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Temperature dependence of the reaction O/3P/ + OH/2 Pi/ yields O2 + H

Measurements of the absolute rate and temperature dependence of the rate constant for the reaction of ground state atomic oxygen with hydroxyl radicals to yield molecular oxygen and hydrogen atoms over the temperature range 211-499 K are presented. The reaction was monitored in a low-pressure discharge flow resonance fluorescence apparatus under pseudo-first-order conditions in which the oxygen concentration was greater than the hydroxyl concentration. An expression for the temperature dependence of the rate constant is derived from a least-squares fit to the observed bimolecular rate constants, which were found to range from 3.21 to 2.77 x 10 to the -11th cu cm/molecule per sec for temperatures from 211 to 499 K, indicative of a slight negative temperature dependence. Results are compared with those of previous workers, and the significance of the lower value of the rate constant obtained in the present study to models of HO(x) in the upper stratosphere is indicated.

Lewis, R. S.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A potential-energy scaling model to simulate the initial stages of thin-film growth

A solid on solid (SOS) Monte Carlo computer simulation employing a potential energy scaling technique was used to model the initial stages of thin film growth. The model monitors variations in the vertical interaction potential that occur due to the arrival or departure of selected adatoms or impurities at all sites in the 400 sq. ft. array. Boltzmann ordered statistics are used to simulate fluctuations in vibrational energy at each site in the array, and the resulting site energy is compared with threshold levels of possible atomic events. In addition to adsorption, desorption, and surface migration, adatom incorporation and diffusion of a substrate atom to the surface are also included. The lateral interaction of nearest, second nearest, and third nearest neighbors is also considered. A series of computer experiments are conducted to illustrate the behavior of the model.

Heinbockel, J. H.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Measurements of the E region neutral wind field

The neutral E-region wind field was measured at Calgary, Canada (51 N, 114 N) during 75 nights in 1982. Observations of the Doppler shift of the 5577-A emission line of atomic oxygen using a Fabry-Perot interferometer were converted to horizontal wind vectors. From the analysis of the data, four categories of wind characteristics were identified. In order of increasing magnetic activity these categories are: (1) wind field mostly variable in space and time; (2) predominantly equatorward flow throughout the night, (3) predominantly poleward flow throughout the night and (4) north-westward flow before midnight and southward after midnight. The wind magnitude was also variable and on some disturbed days exceeded 200 m/s.

Cogger, L. L.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Highly conducting ZnSe films by reactive magnetron sputtering

This paper presents the results of an effort to deposit high-conductivity ZnSe on glass and conducting SnO2-coated glass substrates by reactive magnetron sputter deposition, using pure metal sputter targets of Zn and dopants such as In, Ga, and Al. Clear yellow ZnSe films were successfully obtained. By using substrate temperatures as low as 150 C, cosputtered dopants, and sputter parameters and H2Se injection rates which maximize the Zn-to-Se ratio in the films, ZnSe bulk resistivities have been lowered by up to seven orders of magnitude, reaching values as low as 20 ohm cm. The most effective dopant to data has been In, cosputtered with Zn in amounts leading to In atomic concentrations as high as 1.4 percent. Atomic-absorption measurements show an average 49.9/48.9 ratio of Zn to Se.

Nouhi, A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Neutral atomic absorption lines and far-UV extinction: Possible implications for depletions and grain parameters

Researchers examine nine lines of sight within the Galaxy and one in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) for which data on both neutral atomic absorption lines (Snow 1984; White 1986; Welty, Hobbs, and York 1989) and far UV extinction (Bless and Savage 1972; Jenkins, Savage, and Spitzer 1986) are available, in order to test the assumption that variations in gamma/alpha will cancel in taking ratios of the ionization balance equation, and to try to determine to what extent that assumption has affected the aforementioned studies of depletions and grain properties.

Welty, Daniel E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

The influence of interstitial Ga and interfacial Au2P3 on the electrical and metallurgical behavior of Au-contacted III-V semiconductors

The effect of introducing a very small amount of Ga into Au-contacted InP on the behavior of that contact system was investigated. It was found that Ga affected both the metallurgical and the electrical behavior of the system. It is shown that Ga atoms in the interstices of the Au lattice prevent the solid-state reactions that normally take place between Au and InP during contact sintering and cause an order of magnitude reduction in the specific contact resistivity. It is also shown that the presence of Ga affects the reactions of GaP and GaAs with Au contacts.

Weizer, Victor G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Scientific Assessment of Stratospheric Ozone: 1989, volume 2. Appendix: AFEAS Report

The results are presented of the Alternative Fluorocarbon Environmental Acceptability Study (AFEAS), which was organized to evaluate the potential effects on the environment of alternate compounds targeted to replace fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). All relevant current scientific information to determine the environmental acceptability of the alternative fluorocarbons. Special emphasis was placed on: the potential of the compounds to affect stratospheric ozone; their potential to affect tropospheric ozone; their potential to contribute to model calculated global warming; the atmospheric degradation mechanisms of the compounds, in order to identify their products; and the potential environmental effects of the decomposition products. The alternative compounds to be studied were hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with one or two carbon atoms and one or more each of fluorine and hydrogen.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1992

Changes in oxidation state of chromium during LDEF exposure

The solar collector used for the McDonnell-Douglas Cascade Variable Heat Pipe, Experiment A0076 (Michael Grote - Principal Investigator) was finished with black chromium plating as a thermal control coating. The coating is metallic for low emittance, and is finely microcrystalline to a dimension which yields its high absorptivity. An underplate of nickel was applied to the aluminum absorber plate in order to achieve optimal absorptance characteristics from the black chromium plate surface. Experiment A0076 was located at tray position F9, receiving a projected 8.7 x 10 exp 21 atomic oxygen atoms/sq cm and 11,200 ESH solar radiation. During retrieval, it was observed that the aluminized kapton thermal blankets covering most of the tray were severely eroded by atomic oxygen, and that a 'flap' of aluminum foil was overlaying a roughly triangular shaped portion of the absorber panel. The aluminum foil 'flap' was lost sometime between the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) retrieval and deintegration. At deintegration, the black chromium was observed to have discolored where it had been covered by the foil 'flap'. A summary of the investigation into the cause of the discoloration is presented.

Golden, Johnny L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

A Study of Flame Propagation on Water-Mist Laden Gas Mixtures in Microgravity

The use of water mists (very fine water sprays) for fire suppression is currently receiving increased attention as a replacement technology for halogen-based chemical agents-such as Halon 1301 (CF3Br)--the manufacturing of which has been banned by the Montreal Protocol due to their high ozone depletion potential. Water mist technology has been found effective for a wide range of applications such as Class B pool fires, shipboard machinery, aircraft cabins, computers, and electronic equipment. There are five distinct mechanisms by which water droplets may interact with a flame. First, the high enthalpy of vaporization of water (2450 kJ/kg) leads to heat removal from the flame front as the liquid droplets turn to steam. Second, as water vaporizes its volume increases approximately three orders of magnitude, which leads to the dilution of the oxygen and vaporized fuel required to maintain the flame. The third effect is the recombination of H-atoms and other radicals on the droplet surface. A fourth effect of water mists in fires is the retardation of surface propagation rates due to the wetting of walls and surfaces. The last potential impact of fine water mists affects the radiative propagation of the fire by forming an optically thick barrier to infrared radiation which prevents ignition of the unburned regions. Unfortunately, little fundamental information exists on the interaction of a flame with a water mist. To date, there is no widely accepted interpretation of the critical concentration of droplets required to suppress a flame or of the fundamental mechanisms involved in flame extinguishment by water mists. One of the main obstacles to obtaining such understanding is the difficulty of providing a simple, well-defined experimental setup for the flame front/water mist interaction. Some of the difficulty stems from the problem of generating, distributing and maintaining a homogeneous concentration of droplets throughout a chamber while gravity depletes the concentration and alters the droplet size by coalescence and agglomeration mechanisms. Experiments conducted in the absence of gravity provide an ideal environment to study the interaction of water mists and flames by eliminating these distorting effects. In addition, microgravity eliminates the complex flow patterns induced between the flame front and the water droplets. The long duration and quality of microgravity in space flights provide the required conditions to perform the setup and monitoring of flame suppression experiments. Consequently, a series of experiments have been identified to be performed on the Combustion Module (CM-2) in the Space Shuttle. These consist of measuring the extinguishing capability of a water mist on a premixed flame propagating along a tube. These experiments should provide the necessary data to obtain further understanding of the water mist suppression phenomena that can be later used to design and manufacture appropriate fire suppression systems. In preparation for the orbital flights, experiments have been conducted on low-gravity ground facilities to obtain the preliminary data necessary to define the scientific objectives and technical issues of the spacecraft experiments.

Abbud-Madrid, A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Interstellar X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy of the Crab Pulsar with the LETGS

We study the interstellar X-ray absorption along the line of sight to the Crab Pulsar. The Crab was observed with the Low Energy Transmission Grating Spectrometer on the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and the pulsar, a point source, produces a full resolution spectrum. The continuum spectrum appears smooth, and we compare its parameters with other measurements of the pulsar spectrum. The spectrum clearly shows absorption edges due to interstellar Ne, Fe, and O. The O edge shows spectral structure that is probably due to O bound in molecules or dust. We search for near-edge structure (EXAFS) in the O absorption spectrum. The Fe L absorption spectrum is largely due to a set of unresolved discrete n=2-3 transitions in neutral or near-neutral Fe, and we analyze it using a new set of dedicated atomic structure calculations, which provide absolute cross sections. In addition to being interesting in its own right, the ISM absorption needs to be understood in quantitative detail in order to derive spectroscopic constraints on possible soft thermal radiation from the pulsar.

Paerels, Frits↗
NASA NTRS2005

Co-Investigator for the Planet B NMS

This is the final report. The effort under this contract consisted mainly with meetings and discussions with our NASA/GSFC and ISAS partners of the neutral mass spectrometer team of the Nozomi mission. The activities were to serve the purpose to prepare and co-ordinate our activities in preparation for the anticipated data analysis and science interpretation of the data after Mars orbit insertion. Given the unfortunate initial delays this effort included a number of visits to ISAS in Tokyo and participation in co-ordination and science workshops. We participated in a paper describing the instrument, which was published. We also worked on certain theoretical calculations in order to evaluate measurement opportunities for the mass spectrometer at Mars. The major aspect of this effort was a series of calculations on the feasibility of measuring hot atoms in the upper atmosphere. We calculated the densities of hot oxygen and carbon. Although this work established that their abundance is probably below the sensitivity of the mass spectrometer, it was of scientific importance and the results were presented at scientific meetings and published in the open literature.

Nagy, Andrew↗