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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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At least 595 records · Page 33
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Observations of variable X-ray sources in globular clusters

The discovery is reported of a variable X-ray source at midgalactic latitude in the globular cluster NGC 1851, and observations are reported which confirm the existence of variable X-ray sources in NGC 7078 and NGC 6441. The new source, designated MX 0513-40, was found to vary in intensity by a factor of at least 5 over a sixteen-day period and to have a hard spectrum as compared to that of the Crab Nebula in the energy range from 1 to 10 keV. The source in NGC 7078 (3U 2131+11) was found to vary by more than a factor of 2 over a 500-day period. Strong evidence of variability is presented for the source in NGC 6441 (3U 1746-37). It is concluded that both MX 0513-40 and 3U 2131+11 are probably stellar objects and are no more than about 160 kpc distant.

Clark, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Prototype ultrasonic instrument for quantitative testing

Ultrasonic instrument has been developed for use in quantitative nondestructive evaluation of material defects such as cracks, voids, inclusions, and unbonds. Instrument is provided with standard pulse source and transducer for each frequency range selected and includes integral aids that allow calibration to prescribed standards.

Lynworth, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Long-term X-ray observations of Scorpius X-1 by OSO-III.

Review of the observations of Scorpius X-1 in the energy range 7.7-22 keV provided by the X-ray telescope on the OSO-III satellite over the period from May 19 to June 13, 1967. Optical observations representative of the full range of temporal behavior of the source are available on 10 nights during this period. Sco X-1, in spite of being the most extensively observed X-ray source, remains one of the least understood. Coordinated observations in various wavelength bands, although inconclusive so far, represent potentially the most fruitful approach.

Pelling, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1974

A new approach to mass spectrometer measurements of thermospheric density

The gas sampling problem in satellite and high velocity probes was investigated by applying the theory of a drifting Maxwellian gas. A lens system using a free stream ion source was developed and experimentally evaluated over the pressure range of 0.00001 to 0.01 N/m sq (approx. 10 to the minus 7th power to 0.0001 torr). The source has high beam transparency, which minimizes gas-surface collisions within, or near, the ionization volume. It is shown that for high ion energy (60 eV), the extracted ion beam has an on-axis energy spread of less than 4 eV, and that 90 percent of the ions are within 2.5 deg of the beam axis. It is concluded that the molecular beam mass spectrometer concept, developed for gas density measurements in the upper atmosphere, substantially reduces gas-surface scattering and gas-surface reactions in the sample, and preserves the integrity of the gas sample during the analysis process. Studies show that both the Scout and Delta launch vehicles have adequate volume, control, velocity, and data acquisition capability necessary to obtain thermospheric number density in real time.

Melfi, L. T., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1974

High-frequency lunar teleseismic events

A small number of seismic signals, including some of the strongest observed to date, have been identified as representing a fourth principal category of natural lunar seismic events with characteristics distinct from those produced by normal meteoroid impacts, deep moonquakes, and thermal moonquakes. These signals are much richer in high frequencies than other events observed at comparable distances, and display relatively impulsive P- and S-wave beginnings, indicating negligible seismic-wave scattering near the source. Source depths of these events may range between 0 and perhaps 300 km. These and other characteristics could represent either (1) meteoroids impacting upon outcrops of competent lunar crystal rock, (2) rare impacting objects that penetrate to competent rock below a scattering zone, or (3) shallow tectonic moonquakes.

Nakamura, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Characteristics of fragments

Methods used to estimate initial fragment velocities from various types of accidental explosions, geometry of vessel, or explosion source are reported. In addition, fragmentation ranges and impact conditions, using initial velocities as inputs, are discussed. Several classes of accidental explosions and fragment mass distribution predicted by statistical methods are included. Computer program techniques are summarized.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1975

Neutron-rich isotopes of cosmic rays with Z between 9 and 16

Data are reported on the isotopic composition of cosmic rays with charges between 9 and 16 at a temperature of 450 MeV per amu. The data show the presence of a considerable neutron-rich component of Mg and Ne, the measured mean masses being 24.3 plus or minus 0.1 and 20.8 plus or minus 0.1, respectively. Coupled with a calculation of the evolution of cosmic-ray isotopic abundances during propagation, these masses indicate that there is probably some neutron-rich material in this charge range at the cosmic-ray source. To explain the Ne mass requires more neutron-rich Ne at the source than is observed in solar-system material. This result is discussed in light of recent theories of nucleosynthesis and cosmic-ray propagation.

Maehl, R. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Infrared observations of ices and silicates in molecular clouds

Spectrophotometric observations from 2 to 4 microns and from 8 to 13 microns of several infrared sources associated with molecular clouds are reported. Narrow absorption features at 3.08 microns, attributed to interstellar ices, appear in all sources with a molecular cloud in the intervening line of sight. All sources showing ice absorptions also show broad absorption features, attributed to cold silicates, from 8 to 13 microns. The observed ice absorption profiles are all quite similar; however, they do not fit in detail Mie theory predictions of extinction for pure H2O or NH3 ices. The ratio of ice-to-silicate optical depths is found to vary, with most sources showing a ratio in the range 0.1-0.4. The ratio of visual extinction to ice absorption is found to increase rapidly from inside to outside the molecular cloud in NGC 2024.

Merrill, K. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Survey of intensity variability of strong galactic X-ray sources from Uhuru

X-ray observations made with the Uhuru satellite have been used to study the characteristics of the intensity of 19 strong galactic sources. On a time scale of 0.1-1.0 s, all but two these sources showed variability at a significance level greater than 3 sigmas. On longer time scales - minutes to hours - all but three sources showed variations above the 3-sigma level. In addition to characterizing in a systematic way the broad range of variability of the galactic X-ray sources, the results are applied to specific models of Cygnus X-1 and Cygnus X-3. Comments are also made on the similar nature of the strong galactic-center X-ray sources and the globular-cluster sources.

Forman, W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Gamma rays from the de-excitation of C-12 resonance 15.11 MeV and C-12 resonance 4.44 MeV as probes of energetic particle spectra

The flux of 15.11 MeV gamma rays relative to the flux 4.44 MeV gamma rays was calculated from measured cross sections for excitation of the corresponding states of C-12 and from experimental determinations of the branching ratios for direct de-excitation of these states to the ground state. Because of the difference in threshold energies for excitation of these two levels, the relative intensities in the two lines are particularly sensitive to the spectral distribution of energetic particles which excite the corresponding nuclear levels. For both solar and cosmic emission, the observability of the 15.11 MeV line is expected to be enhances by low source-background continuum in this energy range.

Crannell, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Dispersed fluorescence observations of the CO/A 1Pi to X 1Sigma+/ transitions from photodissociation of CO2

The spectra of vacuum ultraviolet (vuv) fluorescence resulting from the excitation of CO2 by photons from an intense line emission source at 15 wavelengths in the range 449-955 A were obtained. The vibrational population distributions for the v = 0, 1, and 2 levels of the CO(A 1Pi) fragments were obtained at several incident photon wavelengths from 700 to 923 A. At incident photon wavelengths of 901 and 923, the relative intensities of the CO(A to X) bands were determined, permitting examination of the variation of the electronic transition moment with the r centroid.

Phillips, E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Hydrogen production from coal using a nuclear heat source

A strong candidate for hydrogen production in the intermediate time frame of 1985 to 1995 is a coal-based process using a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) as a heat source. Expected process efficiencies in the range of 60 to 70% are considerably higher than all other hydrogen production processes except steam reforming of a natural gas. The process involves the preparation of a coal liquid, hydrogasification of that liquid, and steam reforming of the resulting gaseous or light liquid product. A study showing process efficiency and cost of hydrogen vs nuclear reactor core outlet temperature has been completed, and shows diminishing returns at process temperatures above about 1500 F. A possible scenario combining the relatively abundant and low-cost Western coal deposits with the Gulf Coast hydrogen users is presented which provides high-energy density transportation utilizing coal liquids and uranium.

Quade, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Gamma-rays from the de-excitation of 12C*(15.11 MeV) and 12C*(4.44 MeV) as probes of energetic particle spectra

The flux of 15.11 MeV gamma-rays relative to the flux 4.44 MeV gamma-rays was calculated from measured cross sections for excitation of the corresponding states of 12C and from experimental determinations of the branching ratios for direct de-excitation of these states to the ground state. Because of the difference in threshold energies for excitation of these two levels, the relative intensities in the two lines are particularly sensitive to the spectral distribution of energetic particles which excite the corresponding nuclear levels. For both solar and cosmic emission, the observability of the 15.11 MeV line is expected to be enhanced by low-source background continuum in this energy range.

Crannell, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The high energy X-ray detector on the Ariel-5 satellite

The Imperial College hard X-ray detector which is used to make spectral measurements in the 26 keV to 1.2 MeV energy range on celestial X-ray sources from the Ariel-5 satellite is described. Details are given of the design, calibration and in-orbit performance of the detector. A modulation process is used to detect weak signals against a background and we give details of the spectrum unfolding techniques used to convert the measured spectra into corrected incident spectra.

Engel, A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Observation of 2A1415+255 /NGC 5548/ by OSO-7

Results are reported for OSO 7 X-ray observations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548, which has been positively identified with the X-ray source 2A1415+255, over the energy range from 5 to 350 keV. The best-fit power-law spectrum is found to have an index of 1.78 + or - 0.25 for the data from 5.4 to 100 keV. This best-fit model is used to calculate a 2-10-keV flux of (4.2 + or - 2.1) x 10 to the -10th erg/sq cm-sec on the assumption of no low-energy absorption. The observed variability is shown to imply an active region whose extent is of the order of a light year. This, in turn, implies that the bulk of the emission originates at the core of the galaxy, which would support a synchrotron self-Compton model.

Rothschild, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Experimental study of cluster formation in binary mixture of H2O and H2SO4 vapors in the presence of an ionizing radiation source

Molecular clusters formed in pure nitrogen containing H2O and H2SO4 vapors and exposed to a 3 mCi Ni63 beta source were studied in the mass range 50 to 780 amu using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Measurements were made under several combinations of relative humidity and relative acidity ranging from 0.7 to 7.5 percent and 0.00047 to 0.06333 percent, respectively. The number of H2SO4 molecules in the clusters observed ranged from 1 to 7 whereas the number of H2O molecules ranged from 1 to 16. The experimental cluster spectra differ considerably from those calculated using the classical nucleation theory. First order calculations using modified surface tension values and including the effects of multipole moments of the nucleating molecules indicate that these effects may be enough to explain the difference between the measured and the calculated spectra.

Singh, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The dependence of upstream wave periods on the interplanetary magnetic field strength

It has long been known that the periods of Pc 3, 4 pulsations on the ground correlate with the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field. This fact has been used to argue for an exogenic source for these pulsations. Particularly attractive candidates for the source of pulsations in this frequency range are the upstream waves of similar frequencies which are associated with populations of ions reflected from the bow shock. However, the dependence of the period of these waves on the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field has never been checked. This paper performs such a check and confirms that the upstream waves have the proper functional relationship.

Russell, C. T.↗