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At least 559 records · Page 31

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NASA NTRS1978

Phobos: Photometry and origin of dark markings on crater floors

High resolution photographs of Phobos taken during close flybys of Viking Orbiter 1 reveal many dark patches on the floors of several craters. The apparently dark material is only prominent at large phase angles. Analysis of the photometric properties indicates that the dark patches represent areas of unusually rough textures whose reflectance near zero phase is similar to that of the mean surface (approximately 6 percent in the visible), but whose phase curve is much steeper. The contrast of such areas is less than 10 percent zero phase but approaches 100 percent near phase angles of 90 degrees. It is proposed that these intricately textured deposits represent patches of vesticular impact melt.

Goguen, J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Automated Array Assembly, Phase 2

The solar cell module process development activities in the areas of surface preparation are presented. The process step development was carried out on texture etching including the evolution of a conceptual process model for the texturing process; plasma etching; and diffusion studies that focused on doped polymer diffusion sources. Cell processing was carried out to test process steps and a simplified diode solar cell process was developed. Cell processing was also run to fabricate square cells to populate sample minimodules. Module fabrication featured the demonstration of a porcelainized steel glass structure that should exceed the 20 year life goal of the low cost silicon array program. High efficiency cell development was carried out in the development of the tandem junction cell and a modification of the TJC called the front surface field cell. Cell efficiencies in excess of 16 percent at AM1 have been attained with only modest fill factors. The transistor-like model was proposed that fits the cell performance and provides a guideline for future improvements in cell performance.

Carbajal, B. G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Process Development for Automated Solar Cell and Module Production. Task 4: Automated Array Assembly

A baseline sequence for the manufacture of solar cell modules was specified. Starting with silicon wafers, the process goes through damage etching, texture etching, junction formation, plasma edge etch, aluminum back surface field formation, and screen printed metallization to produce finished solar cells. The cells were then series connected on a ribbon and bonded into a finished glass tedlar module. A number of steps required additional developmental effort to verify technical and economic feasibility. These steps include texture etching, plasma edge etch, aluminum back surface field formation, array layup and interconnect, and module edge sealing and framing.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1979

The Shaw meteorite - History of a chondrite consisting of impact-melted and metamorphic lithologies

Three intermingled lithologies are identified in the Shaw L-group chondrite: a light-colored lithology with a poikilitic texture, consisting of olivine and augite crystals surrounded by larger orthopyroxene grains; a dark-colored lithology containing remnant chondrules and exhibiting a microgranular texture; and a gray lithology which appears to be intermediate between the other two. Contrary to published opinions, the Shaw meteorite contains normal L-group chondrite abundances of metal and troilite, though these phases are irregularly distributed. The lithological analyses suggest that 4.52 Byr ago an impact took place on the L-group chondrite parent object of Shaw.

Taylor, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Green glass vitrophyre 78526 - An impact of very low-Ti mare basalt composition

Rake sample 78526 is an 8.77 g rock consisting primarily of vitrophyric pale green glass with subordinate mineral and lithic relics. Petrographic and compositional evidence leads to the following conclusions: (1) the bulk composition represents that of a mixture formed by impact melting of at least two different textural and compositional varieties of VLT mare basalt that are now present in the rock as lithic relics and a poorly defined low-Ti mare basalt component observed in thin section only in the form of isolated mineral relics; (2) the admixed VLT mare basalts had REE abundances lower than those found in other mare basalts (but probably higher than emerald green glass) and REE patterns showing significant enrichment of the heavy relative to light REE's, suggesting that they were derived by comparatively high degrees of partial melting of a clinopyroxene-rich source region; and (3) the impact melt supercooled to produce the vitrophyre, with rather sharply contrasting textural domains present in the vitrophyre resulting from differences in nucleation kinetics and degrees of supercooling in various portions of the sample.

Warner, R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Dynamic crystallization and kinetic melting of the lunar soil

Dynamic crystallization and kinetic melting tests have been conducted for a lunar soil that resembles the bulk composition of the matrices of melt-rock breccias. The melting tests indicate that plagioclase and olivine can exist for finite times above their equilibrium liquidus temperatures; within 20-30 C below its liquidus temperature the sample is choked with crystals. A range of textures from radiate to porphyritic pyroxene-plagioclase granophyric to subophitic to intergranular to intersertal to very fine-grained poikilitic is found in the dynamic crystallization experiments. The number of nuclei, as deduced from the textures, increases as the melting temperature deceases from above the liquidus to below.

Lofgren, G. E.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Metamorphic effects in experimentally heated Krymka /L3/ chondrite

Experimental charges of the Krymka unequilibrated ordinary chondrite heated from 500-1000 C have been examined petrographically for evidence of metamorphism. Of the petrologic criteria commonly used to distinguish types 4-6 chondrites, only changes in opaque mineral compositions are observed. Chemical and textural observations indicate development of a fine-grained intergrowth of taenite + troilite beginning at 700 C due to melting within the metal-rich portion of the Fe-Ni-S system, and minor reduction of troilite to metal, possibly through sulfur loss at higher temperatures. Overall textural integration, glass devitrification, and significant Fe-enrichment of ferromagnesian minerals are not observed because the short duration of these experiments was not sufficient for the development of other changes normally attributed to metamorphism in ordinary chondritic meteorites.

Mcsween, H. Y., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Effect of multiblade slurry saw induced damage on silicon solar cells

A correlation between the optimum etch loss and the depth of damage is established using wafers produced by the Multiblade Slurry (MBS) and the Internal Diameter (ID) saws. The observations are based on the measurement of the performance of solar cells fabricated on these wafers. Sample preparation and test results are described and the following conclusions are made: (1) the amount of silicon removal necessary for optimum solar cell performance coincides with the depth of saw-induced damage; (2) optimization of cell performance is not affected by the method of silicon removal; (3) sawing conditions should be optimized to minimize the extent of saw-induced damage; (4) the MBS saw is found to induce damage to a lesser extent; (5) since the extent of damage in MBS-sawn wafers is in the limit of etch loss required in texture etching, it is possible to achieve optimum improvement in cell performance by merely texture etching the surface of as-sawn wafers.

Daud, T.↗

NASA NTRS1979

High efficiency ultrathin silicon solar cells

This paper summarizes developments in ultrathin, (50 micron), silicon solar cells for high power-to-weight ratio space power systems. The fabrication technology developments included uniformly thinning oriented silicon slices, enhancement of internal reflection, optimizing high-temperature processes, surface texturing and back surface field enhancement. The best textured-surface ultrathin cells have achieved 14.3% AMO efficiency, while pilot-manufacturing quantities of smooth-surfaced cells have been fabricated with efficiencies of 12%. Data are presented on cell structure, fabrication collection efficiencies and optical properties.

Storti, G.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The unique nature of Apollo 17 VLT mare basalts

Three very low-Ti (VLT) basalt fragments (two with granular texture and one with granular to subophitic texture) were found during a study of light-colored lithic fragments hand-picked from the Apollo-17 deep drill core. In the present paper, some unique features of these fragments are revealed.

Wentworth, S.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Colorimetry and magnitudes of asteroids

In the present paper, 1500 UBV observations are analyzed by a new rather general multiple scattering theory which provided clear insight into previously poorly-recognized optical nature of asteroid surfaces. Thus, phase curves are shown to consist of a surface-texture controlled component, due to singly scattered light, and a component due to multiple scattering. Phase curve shapes can be characterized by a single parameter, the multiple scattering factor, Q. As Q increases, the relative importance of the opposition effect diminishes. Asteroid surfaces are particulate and strikingly similar to texture, being moderately porous and moderately rough on a scale greater than the wavelength of light. In concequence, Q (and also the phase coefficient) correlate well with geometric albedo, and there exists a purely photometric means of determining albedos and diameters.

Bowell, E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Olivines and olivine coronas in mesosiderites

The paper presents a study of olivines and their surrounding coronas in mesosiderites texturally and compositionally using optical and microprobe methods. Olivine composition ranges from Fo(58-92) and shows no consistent pattern of distribution within and between mesosiderites; olivine occurs as large single crystals or as partially recrystallized mineral clasts, except for two lithic clasts. These are Emery and Vaca Muerta, and both are shock-modified olivine orthopyroxenites. Fine-grained coronas surround olivine, except for those in impact-melt group mesosiderites and those without tridymite in their matrices. Coronas consist largely of orthopyroxene, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, chromite, merillite, and ilmenite, and are similar to the matrix, but lack metal and tridymite. Texturally the innermost parts of the corona can be divided into three stages of development: (1) radiating acicular, (2) intermediate, and (3) granular.

Nehru, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

An improved evaluation of surface finish with a three dimensional tester

The design and programming of an automated three dimensional surface finish tester is described. The device produces a three dimensional image of the microscopic texture of the examined surface. The surface finish tester presents the following advantages over conventional profilometry: (1) more complete exploration of surface texture by successive probe sweeps; (2) automation of measuring and calculating; (3) more accurate representation of the derived parameters; (4) analysis of the degree of homogeneity of the surface; (5) three dimensional graphic representation accurately depicting the state of the surface; (6) detection of local imperfections; and (7) detection of scoring that occurred during machining.

GRANDADAM↗

NASA NTRS1980

An empirical model for the complex dielectric permittivity of soils as a function of water content

Recent measurements on the dielectric properties of soils have shown that the variation of dielectric constant with moisture content depends on soil types. The observed dielectric constant increases only slowly with moisture content up to a transition point. Beyond the transition it increases rapidly with moisture content. The moisture value at transition region was found to be higher for high clay content soils than for sandy soils. Many mixing formulas reported in the literature were compared with, and were found incompatible with, the measured dielectric variations of soil-water mixtures. A simple empirical model was proposed to describe the dielectric behavior of the soil-water mixtures. This model employs the mixing of either the dielectric constants or the refraction indices of ice, water, rock, and air, and treats the transition moisture value as an adjustable parameter. The calculated mixture dielectric constants from the model were found to be in reasonable agreement with the measured results over the entire moisture range of 0-0.5 cu cm/cu cm. The transition moistures derived from the model range from 0.16 to 0.33 and are strongly correlated with the wilting points of the soils estimated from their textures. This relationship between transition moisture and wilting point provides a means of estimating soil dielectric properties on the basis of texture information.

Wang, J. R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Metallic minerals, thermal histories and parent bodies of some xenolithic, ordinary chondrite meteorites

The metal grains were investigated in the hosts and lithic fragments of various petrologic types in four xenolithic chondrites using reflected-light microscopy and electron-probe analysis. The kamacite, taenite, tetrataenite, and troilite in Weston and Fayetteville have many textures; on a Wood plot of the central Ni content vs dimensions, the taenite content shows scatter if metal grains had cooled at rates of 10-1000 and 1-100 K/Myr through 700 K. In contrast, metallic minerals in Bhola and Mezo-Madaras have uniform textures and plot coherently, indicating cooling rates of 0.1 and 1 K/Myr, respectively, in the 700-600 K range. It is concluded that the host and xenoliths in these chondrites were cooled slowly after compaction; their clasts underwent peak metamorphic temperatures and slow cooling through 700 K in different environments.

Scott, E. R. D.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A once-molten, coarse-grained, Ca-rich inclusion in Allende

A compact, spheroidal Type B inclusion in Allende contains melilite laths that project radially inward from the inclusion edge which show interference growth textures. The combined textural and chemical features of this object cannot be explained by independent vapor-solid condensation of grains in space, followed by random aggregation of these grains into an inclusion. Instead, it probably formed from a once-molten droplet that crystallized in response to radiative cooling from its outer surface. The crystallization sequence in this and another similar inclusion in which oxygen isotopes have been measured is melilite-spinel-anorthite-fassaite; this sequence shows that oxygen isotopic heterogeneities in coarse-grained inclusions were formed after complete solidification of these objects by partial exchange with a less O-16-rich gas, and not during or before a melting event.

Macpherson, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Soil moisture sensing with microwave techniques

Microwave approaches for the remote sensing of soil moisture are discussed, with the advantages described as follows: (1) the all-weather capability, (2) the greater penetration depth into the soil and through vegetation than with optical or infrared sensors, and (3) the large changes in the dielectric properties of soil produced by changes in water content. Both active and passive microwave approaches are discussed. The dependence of the relationship between microwave response and soil moisture on such things as soil texture, surface roughness, vegetative cover and nonuniform moisture and temperature profiles is analyzed from both the experimental and theoretical viewpoints. The dielectric properties of the soil are analyzed quantitatively, as these control the reflective and emissive properties of the soil surface, and a model for estimating a soil's dielectric properties from its texture and moisture content is also presented. Emissivity is calculated using the Fresnel equation of electromagnetic theory, and reflectivity is shown to be decreased by surface roughness, while the backscatter coefficient increases. It is demonstrated, that microwave radiometers are sensitive to soil moisture for a wide range of surface conditions, and that the longer wavelengths are best for soil moisture sensing.

Schmugge, T.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Metal and associated phases in Bishunpur, a highly unequilibrated ordinary chondrite

Bishunpur is one of the most unequilibrated ordinary chondrites, and preserves a relatively unaltered record of solar nebular processes. A survey of three polished thin sections of Bishunpur revealed that metal occurs in three textural domains: (1) in the matrix, (2) within chondrules and (3) in coatings on chondrules. A table provides a textural classification of the various metal types found in Bishunpur and their composition. Electron-microprobe analyses are discussed, and similarities between Bishunpur metal and opaques and those in carbonaceous chondrites are considered. Attention is given to low-Ni kamacite grains in chondrule olivine, Si-bearing chondrule metal, spheroidal metal in chondrules, metal and sulfide-bearing rims, coarse matrix metal, and fine matrix metal formation.

Rambaldi, E. R.↗