Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “ENERGY SPECTRA”

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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Search for brief celestial X-ray bursts

The occurrence of intense bursts of 0.1- to 1.5-MeV photons from space has been confirmed with observations from IMP-6. This is the first positive result of an extensive data comparison, in which a search was made of OGO and IMP records for time coincidences between brief X- or gamma-ray increases and a variety of other transient phenomena. The IMP-6 measurements provided the first differential energy spectra of these events, the shapes of which indicate that photons predominantly in the gamma-ray domain are released into space. Whether these bursts originate in distant supernovae or in some new class of relatively nearby gamma-ray flare stars, they reveal a process which is new to high-energy astrophysics, not only because of the unusual spectrum, but also because of the brief time scales involved and because of the intense fluxes observed.

Cline, T. L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Galactic cosmic ray observations in the distant heliosphere

The energy spectra and radial gradient of galactic cosmic ray hydrogen and helium have been measured between 1 and 15 AU for two time intervals in 1977 using Pioneers 10, 11 and Helios I, II. The observed gradients decrease with increasing heliocentric distance. Above 1 GV the observations are consistent with conventional modulation theory. At low energies the apparent energy loss for low rigidity hydrogen and helium appears to be appreciably smaller than expected. Alternate approaches are discussed.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Erosion of frozen sulfur dioxide by ion bombardment - Applications to Io

The erosion of frozen SO2 due to bombardment by both light and heavy ions (He and F) was measured for bombarding energies of 0.08 to 1.3 MeV/amu. The number of SO2 molecules ejected from the target per incident ion (i.e., the sputtering yield) was 50 for 1.5 MeV He ions and 7300 for 6 MeV F ions. Ion bombardment followed by heating produced an oxygen/sulfur residue which was much more stable against subsequent ion bombardment than the initial frozen SO2. The erosion rate of SO2 frost on Jupiter's moon Io depends strongly on the elemental composition and energy spectra of the magnetospheric ion flux which bombards the surface. The combined effects of ion bombardment and heating which produced residues on the target substrates may also occur on Io from magnetospheric ion bombardment and heating by volcanism. The experimental results compare favorably with a new model of the sputtering process which considers the energy loss of the incident ion to electronic excitation in the target.

Melcher, C. L.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Understanding Solar Energetic Particles With STEREO HET

The project evaluates solar energetic particles (SEPs) in the Heliosphere utilizing in situ data from the STEREO mission. More specifically, raw data from the High Energy Telescope (HET) corresponding to the abundances and energy spectra of electrons, protons, He, and heavier nuclei was extracted. C codes were modified and written to analyze Pulse heights and fluxes in a readable format. Plots of the data were formulated in Python. Low fluxes of heavier elements prompted a revaluation of the onboard binning process. New selection criteria will be generated to orient the particle energy loss in the detectors with the expected locations of the energy tracks corresponding to each element.

Energetic Particles↗
NASA NTRS2021

Comparative Analysis of the 2020 November 29 Solar Energetic Particle Event Observed by Parker Solar Probe

We analyze two specific features of the intense solar energetic particle (SEP) event observed by Parker Solar Probe (PSP) between 2020 November 29 and 2020 December 2. The interplanetary counterpart of the coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2020 November 29 that generated the SEP event (hereafter ICME-2) arrived at PSP (located at 0.8 au from the Sun) on 2020 December 1. ICME-225 was preceded by the passage of an interplanetary shock at 18:35 UT on 2020 November 30 (hereafter26S2), that in turn was preceded by another ICME (i.e., ICME-1) observed in situ on 2020 November 30. The two interesting features of this SEP event at PSP are: First, the presence of the intervening ICME-1 affected the evolution of the.8 MeV proton intensity time profiles resulting in the observation of inverted energy spectra throughout the passage of ICME-1. Second, the sheath region preceding ICME-2 was characterized by weak magnetic fields compared to those measured immediately after the passage of the shock S2 and during the passage of ICME-2. Comparison with prior SEP events measured at 1 au but with similar characteristics indicates that (1) low-energy particles accelerated by S2 were excluded from propagating throughout ICME-1, and (2) the low magnetic fields measured in the sheath of ICME-2 resulted from the properties of the upstream solar wind encountered by ICME-2 that was propagated into the sheath; whereas the high energetic particle energy density in the sheath did not play a dominant role in the formation of these low magnetic fields.

D Lario↗
NASA NTRS1981

Low-energy charged particle observations in the 5-20 Jupiter-radius region of the Jovian magnetosphere

Ion (greater than 0.5 MeV) and electron (greater than 30 keV) measurements made by the low-energy charged particle instrument during the Voyager 1 and 2 traversals of the 5-20 Jupiter-radius region of the Jovian magnetosphere are presented. The spatial morphology of particle intensities, energy spectra, and composition is emphasized. Diffusive radial transport is also discussed. The Jovian magnetosphere seemed to be much more disturbed during the Voyager 2 passage than during that of Voyager 1. Significant inbound-outbound asymmetries of the radial profiles of intensities are observed; an appropriate magnetic field model to provide closure has not been found. Low-energy electrons are not enhanced or depleted in the Io torus region except at the inner edge, about 5.2 Jupiter-radius, where they sharply decrease. This may be due to enhanced electron loss associated with a region of increased plasma density.

Armstrong, T. P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Measurement of the degree of anisotropy of the cosmic radiation using the IMP space vehicle

The detector and data reduction techniques used in connection with the cosmic ray experiments designed for and flown on Explorer 34 and 41 satellites are described. A history of the program development and the present status of data processing are briefly summarized. The instrument to measure the anisotropy and energy spectra of cosmic ray electrons and protons, and X-rays of solar and galactic origin is discussed. The main characteristics of the detectors and the stability during 23 months of operation are described. The method of analysis of the angular distribution of solar cosmic ray particles in the ecliptic plane is given. It is shown that the anisotropy of low energy particles of solar origin decreases sharply to a very small value when the satellite penetrates the magnetosphere.

Palmeira, R. A. R.↗
NASA NTRS1995

OSSE observations of GX 339-4

The Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO) observed the Galactic black hole candidate GX 339-4 as a target of oppurtunity in 1991 September, in response to the outburst reported by Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE). We report here on energy spectra in the 50 keV-10 MeV range obtained by OSSE. The source was detected from 50 to 400 keV at a level relative to the Crab Nebula of approximately 30%. The observed spectrum was prescribed reasonably well by a power law with an exponential cutoff; a least-squares fit yielded a photon index of 0.88 +/- 0.05 and a cutoff energy of 68 +/- 2 keV. The addition of a Compton reflection component did not significantly improve the overall fit. An optically thin thermal bremsstrahlung spectrum also provides a good fit, and the thermal Comptonization model of Sunyaev & Titarchuk, while deficient in describing the data above approximately 200 keV, cannot formally be ruled out. A pure power law with reflection does not fit the observed spectrum. During a follow-up observation made in 1991 November the intensity of the source below 100 keV had dropped by more than a factor of 40, and it was no longer detected above approximately 100 keV. The energy spectrum during the November observation could be characterized by a power law with a photon index of 2.3 +/- 0.3; the spectrum was fitted equally well with the same exponentially cutoff power-law model applied to the September observation, reduced in intensity by a factor of approximately 40. During the 1991 September observation, the luminosity in the 50-400 keV band was approximately 2 x 10(exp 37) ergs/s (assuming a distance of 4 kpc), no more than a factor of 5 below the soft X-ray luminosity of GX 339-4 observed in its X-ray high state. The luminosity during the 1991 November observation was approximately 5 x 10(exp 35) ergs/s. Extrapolations of both the exponentially cutoff power-law and Sunyaev-Titarchuk models to the approximately 5-20 keV X-ray band yield flux levels very close to that observed by Ginga during an overlapping interval in 1991 September, when GX 339-4 was reported to be in its low state. This may be one of the strongest indications to date of a direct correspondence between the low X-ray state and gamma-ray outbursts of GX 339-4.

Grabelsky, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Measurement of the fluxes of galactic cosmic-ray H-2 and He-3 in 1972-1973

This paper reports measurements of the fluxes of cosmic-ray H-2 and He-3 during 1972-1973, carried out by instruments on board the IMP-7 and Pioneer 10 spacecraft. Energy spectra are generally consistent with a positive slope of unity, as would be expected for modulated secondary components. A self-consistent data set is proposed spanning the period from 1965 to 1973 wherein all spectra have the same kinematic behavior. The measured spectra for 1972-1973 are compared with calculated interstellar spectra, and it is concluded that only very broad limits can be placed on the amount of modulation. Ratios of the form H-2/He-4 and He-3/He-4 are examined and compared with calculated values based on an assumed exponential path-length distribution for galactic propagation. It is concluded that unless extreme assumptions are made about the modulation (e.g., no energy loss), it is impossible to reconcile the simple theory and observation. A nearby source is apparently required to supply enough low-energy He-4 to account for the low values of the H-2/He-4 and He-3/He-4 ratios. The possible relationship between this source and the recently discovered enhancements of cosmic-ray N and O is discussed.

Teegarden, B. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The penetration of soft electrons into the ionosphere

Calculations are presented of energy spectra and angular and spatial distributions of electron fluxes in the ionosphere resulting from precipitation of monoenergetic (E = 25, 50, and 100 eV) electrons. The incident electrons are assumed to be isotropic over the downward direction. It is found that the resulting steady-state electron fluxes above ca. 300 km are highly anisotropic and that the pitch-angle distribution is energy dependent. About 15% of the incident electrons are backscattered elastically to the protonosphere. A much larger number of electrons escapes after they have deposited part of their energy in the atmosphere. The mean energy of the escaping electrons is about half that of the incident electrons. About 50% of the incident energy is absorbed in the atmosphere, the remainder being returned to the protonosphere. The rate of energy absorption is a maximum at heights between 300 and 400 km. Most of the energy is absorbed in ionization and excitation of atomic oxygen; an appreciable amount is absorbed as heat by the ambient electron gas. Altitude profiles are presented for the rates of ionization, excitation, and electron heating caused by soft-electron precipitation.

Mantas, G. P.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Cosmic Ray Nuclei (CRN) detector investigation

The Cosmic Ray Nuclei (CRN) detector was designed to measure elemental composition and energy spectra of cosmic radiation nuclei ranging from lithium to iron. CRN was flown as part of Spacelab 2 in 1985, and consisted of three basic components: a gas Cerenkov counter, a transition radiation detector, and plastic scintillators. The results of the experiment indicate that the relative abundance of elements in this range, traveling at near relativistic velocities, is similar to those reported at lower energy.

Meyer, Peter↗
NASA NTRS1984

Solar hard X-ray microflares

Using balloon-borne instrumentation of very high sensitivity, approximately 25 hard X-ray bursts with peak fluxes of above 7 x 10 to the -3rd/(sq cm s keV) at 20 keV have been detected, in 141 minutes of observation of the sun on June 27, 1980. These hard X-ray microflares last from a few seconds to several tens of seconds and have power-law energy spectra. They are generally accompanied by small soft X-ray bursts, but H-alpha flares and solar radio bursts are reported for only a few of these hard X-ray bursts. The integral number of events varies approximately as the inverse of the peak flux, down to the limits of the measurements. These observations suggest that even very small transient releases of energy by the sun may be primarily nonthermal in character. It is speculated that the energy released in accelerated electrons for these microflares, averaged over time, may contribute significantly to the heating of the active corona.

Lin, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Observations related to the acceleration, injection, and interplanetary propagation of energetic protons during the solar cosmic ray event on February 16, 1984

This paper presents an analysis of data collected by the worldwide network of neutron monitors and from IMP-8 cosmic-ray telescopes, as well as by particle detectors on the GOES 5 and 6 and ICE satellites, on the solar cosmic ray event that took place on February 16, 1984. Using these data, the intensity-time (IT) profiles, the anisotropy-time profiles, the energy spectra, and the pitch angle distributions of the solar protons near earth were deduced. It was found that the solar protons propagated essentially scatter-free from the sun to the earth. The solar protons had easy access to the IMF lines to earth; the time from the onset to maximum intensity and the shape of the IT profiles at earth as a function of energy could be explained by the diffusion of the flare protons near the acceleration region. The energy spectrum of the solar flare protons injected into the undisturbed IMF at the sun was changing with time in both amplitude and shape. The observations suggest a shock acceleration process.

Debrunner, H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Energetic helium particles trapped in the magnetosphere

High energy (approximately 40-100 MeV/nucleon) geomagnetically trapped helium nuclei have been measured, for the first time, by the ONR-604 instrument during the 1990/1991 Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) mission. The helium events observed at L less than 2.3 have a pitch angle distribution peaking perpendicular to the local magnetic field and are contained in peaks located at L = 1.2 and 1.9. The events in each peak can be characterized by power law energy spectra with indices of 10.0 +/- 0.7 for L = 1.9-2.3 and 6.8 +/- 1.0 for L = 1.15-1.3, before the large storm of 24 March 1991. CRRES was active during solar maximum when the anomalous component is excluded from the inner heliosphere, making it unlikely that the observed events derived from the anomalous component. The trapped helium counting rates decrease gradually with time indicating that these high energy ions were not injected by flares during the 1990/91 mission. Flare injection prior to mid-1990 may account for the highest energy particles, while solar wind injection during magnetic storms and subsequent acceleration could account for the helium at lower energies.

Chen, Jiasheng↗
NASA NTRS1993

Overview of the first results from EGRET

An overview of the early results of EGRET, one of four instruments carried on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, is presented with regard to observations of pulsars, bursts, galactic diffuse radiation, and active galaxies. The June 11, 1992 solar flare was observed in gamma rays with energies from the threshold of detection to energies over 1 GeV. Detailed time histories and energy spectra were obtained for the Crab and Vela pulsars, with one of the Vela pulses being quite sharp, approximately 2 percent of the total period. Several gamma-ray bursts were recorded. The one on May 3, 1991 was seen in EGRET's spark chamber system, which made it possible to determine a position. The quasars 3C 279, which has a redshift of 0.538, was seen in high energy gamma rays in both June and October 1992.

Fichtel, C. E.↗