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At least 649 records · Page 36

Experiments with phase transitions at very high pressure

Diamond cells were constructed for use to 1 Mbar. A refrigerator for cooling diamond cells was adapted for studies between 15 and 300 K. A cryostat for superconductivity studies between 1.5 to 300 K was constructed. Optical equipment was constructed for fluorescence, transmission, and reflectance studies. X-ray equipment was adapted for use with diamond cells. Experimental techniques were developed for X-ray diffraction studies using synchrotron radiation. AC susceptibility techniques were developed for detecting superconducting transitions. The following materials were studied: compressed solidified gases (Xe, Ar), semiconductors (Ge, Si, GaAs), superconductors (Nb3Ge, Nb3Si, Nb3As, CuCl), molecular crystals (I).

Spain, I. L.↗

Observations of the infrared fine-structure lines of S III at 18.71 and 33.47 microns in four H II regions

Infrared fine-structure lines provide a particularly useful probe of ionized nebulae. The present investigation is concerned with measurements of the forbidden S III lines at 18.71 and 33.47 micrometers for four H II regions, S158A, S158G, G75.84+0.4, and W3 IRS 1. These lines are used to estimate densities, and comparisons are made with rms densities determined from radio observations to evaluate the importance of clumping. For the case of the optical H II region S158A, comparisons are made with both optical and forbidden O III line determinations of the density. The reported observations were made using a dual-grating, liquid-helium-cooled spectrometer containing a three-element Si:Sb detector array and a three-element Ge:Ga detector array. It is found that clumping is important in the cases of G75.84+0.4, W3 IRS 1, and M42. These three H II regions have filling factors of 0.024, 0.09, and 0.03, respectively.

Herter, T.↗

The effects of C, P, and S on trace element partitioning during solidification in Fe-Ni alloys

Trace and minor element distributions in the iron meteorites are generally ascribed to partitioning during solidification of the parent body core or to partial melting within the parent body. A model involving fractional crystallization is considered. The model cannot account for differences between the measured values for the slopes on the log Ir-log Ni plots and the slopes predicted using experimentally determined distribution coefficients obtained in an investigation conducted by Goldstein and Friel (1978). The model has also other weaknesses. Part of the answer concerning the existing problems was provided by Narayan and Goldstein (1981, 1982). The present investigation is concerned with a further clarification of the effect of the minor elements P, S, and C on the distribution behavior of trace elements. Attention is given to measurements of the distribution coefficients for various elements (Ir, Ge, Ga, Au, Cu, Cr) in the presence of these minor elements.

Willis, J.↗

Integrated infrared detector arrays for low-background applications

Advanced infrared detector and detector array technology is being developed and characterized for future NASA space astronomy applications. Si:Bi charge-injection-device arrays have been obtained, and low-background sensitivities comparable to that of good discrete detectors have been measured. Intrinsic arrays are being assessed, and laboratory and telescope data have been collected on a monolithic InSb CCD array. For wavelengths longer than 30 microns, improved Ge:Ga detectors have been produced, and steps have been taken to prove the feasibility of an integrated extrinsic germanium array. Other integrated arrays and cryogenic components are also under investigation.

Mccreight, C. R.↗

Thermophysical properties of germanium for thermal analysis of growth from the melt

The thermal diffusivity of Ge has been measured over a temperature range from 300 C to 1010 C which includes values for the melt. Specific heat has been measured from room temperature to 727 C. Thermal conductivity has been calculated over the same temperature range as the diffusivity measurements. These data are reported along with the best values from the literature for the other parameters which are required to calculate the temperature and convective fields for the growth of germanium by the Bridgman method. These parameters include the specific heat, the viscosity, the emissivity, and the density as a function of temperature.

Crouch, R. K.↗

Improved fabrication techniques for infrared bolometers

Ion implantation and sputter metallization are used to produce ohmic electrical contacts to Ge:Ga chips. The method is shown to give a high yield of small monolithic bolometers with very little low-frequency noise. It is noted that when one of the chips is used as the thermometric element of a composite bolometer it must be bonded to a dielectric substrate. The thermal resistance of the conventional epoxy bond is measured and found to be undesirably large. A procedure for soldering the chip to a metallized portion of the substrate in such a way as to reduce this resistance is outlined. An evaluation is made of the contribution of the metal film absorber to the heat capacity of a composite bolometer. It is found that the heat capacity of a NiCr absorber at 1.3 K can dominate the bolometer performance. A Bi absorber possesses significantly lower heat capacity. A low-temperature blackbody calibrator is built to measure the optical responsivity of bolometers. A composite bolometer system with a throughput of approximately 0.1 sr sq cm is constructed using the new techniques. The noise in this bolometer is white above 2.5 Hz and is slightly below the value predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium theory.

Lange, A. E.↗

Status report - DARPA/NASA convertible turbofan/turboshaft engine program

A development status report is presented for the NASA/Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency convertible turbofan-turboshaft engine, which can power a high speed rotorcraft in vertical flight, as well as in horizontal flight up to speeds of Mach 0.85. The basis for this development program is a modified TF34-GE-400 engine. Program objectives include both the demonstration of dual output mode (jet thrust and shaft horsepower) capability and the development of a control system which will operate the engine in either mode and convert operation between the modes.

Bellin, A. I.↗

Containerless electromagnetic levitation melting of Cu-Fe and Ag-Ni alloys

The feasibility of producing silver or copper alloys containing finely dispersed nickel or iron particles, respectively, by utilizing containerless electromagnetic levitation casting techniques was investigated. A levitation coil was designed to successfully levitate and melt a variety of alloys including Nb-Ge, Cu-Fe, Fe-C, and Ag-Ni. Samples of 70 Cu-30 Fe and 80 Ag-20 Ni (atomic %), prepared by mechanical pressing of the constituent powders, were levitated and heated either to the solid plus liquid range of the alloys or to the fully liquid region. The samples were then solidified by passing helium gas into the bell jar or they were dropped into a quenching oil. The structure of the samples which were heated to the solid plus liquid range consists of uniform distribution of Fe or Ni particle in their respective matrices. A considerable amount of entrapped gas bubbles were contained. Upon heating for longer periods or to higher temperatures, the bubbles coalesced and burst, causing the samples to become fragmented and usually fall out of the coil.

Abbaschian, G. J.↗

A mercuric detector system for X-ray astronomy. 2. Results from flight tests of a balloon borne instrument

To establish the expected sensitivity of a new hard X-ray telescope design, an experiment was conducted to measure the background counting rate at balloon altitudes (40 km) of mercuric iodide, a room temperature solid state X-ray detector. The prototype detector consisted of two thin mercuric iodide (HgI2) detectors surrounded by a large bismuth germanate (Bi4Ge3O12) scintillator operated in anticoincidence. The bismuth germanate shield vetoed most of the background counting rate induced by atmospheric gamma-rays, neutrons and cosmic rays. A balloon-borne gondola containing a prototype detector assembly was designed, constructed and flown twice in the spring of 1982 from Palestine, Texas. The second flight of this instrument established a differential background counting rate of 4.2 O.7 x 10-5 counts/sec cm keV over the energy range of 40 to 80 keV. This measurement was within 50% of the predicted value. The measured rate is approx 5 times lower than previously achieved in shielded NaI/CsI or Ge systems operating in the same energy range. The prediction was based on a Monte Carlo simulation of the detector assembly in the radiation environment at float altitude.

Vallerga, J.↗

Breadboard stellar tracker system test report

BASD has, in the past, developed several unique position tracking algorithms for charge transfer device (CTD) sensors. These algorithms provide an interpixel transfer function with the following characteristics: (1) high linearity; (2) simplified track logic; (3) high gain; and (4) high noise rejection. A previous test program using the GE charge injection device (CID) showed that accuracy for BASD's breadboard was limited to approximately 2% of a pixel (1 sigma) whereas analysis and simulation indicated the limit should be less than 0.5% of a pixel, assuming the limit to be detector response and dark current noise. The test program was conducted under NASA contract No. NAS8-34263. The test approach for that program did not provide sufficient data to identify the sources of error and left open the amount of contribution from parameters such as image distribution, geometric distortion and system alignment errors.

Kollodge, J. C.↗

Bulk formation of metallic glasses and amorphous silicon from the melt

Procedures and compositions for producing metallic glasses in bulk at slow cooling rates were investigated. An attempt was made to form the amorphous phase of the tetrahedrally coordinated elements (Si or Ge) by undercooling the melt. The crystal nucleation behavior of pure liquids and glass formers were examined.

Spaepen, F.↗

Interaction of atomic oxygen with solid surfaces at orbital altitudes (A0114)

The basic approach to this experiment is to expose a wide variety of material surfaces to the atomic flux in orbit. The experiment is passive and depends on preflight and postflight measurements of the test surfaces in the laboratory. The experiment will also include a reflectometer device to measure atomic beam reflection angles and thus momentum accommodations, and a unique passive spacecraft attitude sensor. Samples consisting of solid disks or thin film coatings on substrate disks will be mounted in a panel. The face of this panel will be flown on Long Duration Exposure Facility normal to the incident stream of oxygen atoms. Each disk will have part of its front surface masked so exposure to the atomic-oxygen reaction will be limited to selected areas, the shadowed areas being used as control surfaces in the measurements. A typical sample is an optically flat quartz disk overcoated with a film of the material of interest. These include Ag, Au, Pt, Nb, Ni, Al, C, Si, Ge, LiF, and a few engineering materials. Some materials for which the expected removal rate is high, such as carbon, will be solid disks rather than thin films.

Gregory, J. C.↗

Principal components technique analysis for vegetation and land use discrimination

Automatic pre-processing technique called Principal Components (PRINCO) in analyzing LANDSAT digitized data, for land use and vegetation cover, on the Brazilian cerrados was evaluated. The chosen pilot area, 223/67 of MSS/LANDSAT 3, was classified on a GE Image-100 System, through a maximum-likehood algorithm (MAXVER). The same procedure was applied to the PRINCO treated image. PRINCO consists of a linear transformation performed on the original bands, in order to eliminate the information redundancy of the LANDSAT channels. After PRINCO only two channels were used thus reducing computer effort. The original channels and the PRINCO channels grey levels for the five identified classes (grassland, "cerrado", burned areas, anthropic areas, and gallery forest) were obtained through the MAXVER algorithm. This algorithm also presented the average performance for both cases. In order to evaluate the results, the Jeffreys-Matusita distance (JM-distance) between classes was computed. The classification matrix, obtained through MAXVER, after a PRINCO pre-processing, showed approximately the same average performance in the classes separability.

Parada, N. D. J.↗

Long wavelength photoconductive detectors for airborne and orbital infrared astronomy

Seven gallium doped germanium (Ge:Ga) photoconductive infrared detectors were fabricated and mounted in integrating cavities. In addition, a cold preamplifier package consisting of J230 junction field effect transistors (JFETs) was produced. Tests of the system under low photon background conditions indicated that sensitivity was limited by the Johnson noise of the load resistor. The detectors were mounted in the Ames cooled grating spectrometer, and flown on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory. Good quality astronomical data were obtained during the flight of 7 July 1983.

Houck, J. R.↗

Study of proton and neutron activation of metal samples in low Earth orbit

Progress in the following activities has been made: the analysis of the gamma ray spectra taken from samples flown in Spacelab 2; the search for and review of neutron and proton activation cross sections needed to analyze the results of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) activation measurements; the consideration given to data analysis of the LDEF and Spacelab 2 samples; the plan to measure relevant cross sections with nuclear accelerator measurements; and the preparation of an extended gamma ray calibration sources continues through planning and direct measurement of gamma ray efficiency for a Ge(Li) as a function of position along the surface of the detector housing.

Laird, C. E.↗

Geochemical constraints on the origin of the moon

Hypothesis for the origin of the moon involve variants on capture, double-planet, and fission processes. Double-planet and fission hypotheses are examined in the light of siderophile trace elements. The siderophile trace elements chosen (W, Re, Mo, P, Ga, Ge) have well understood geochemical behavior such that appropriate metal/silicate partition coefficients are available and their abundances in the lunar and terrestrial mantles 4.4-4.5 Gyr ago may be reasonably inferred. The fission hypothesis of Ringwood (1979) is not consistent with the behavior of Re, Mo, and P. The hybrid fission hypothesis of Wanke et al. (1983) overcomes many of the deficiencies of Ringwood's hypothesis, but is not readily reconcilable with the behavior of Re and Ir. The double-planet hypothesis as most recently advanced by Newsom and Drake (1982, 1983) appears to be consistent with siderophile-element behavior in the moon.

Drake, M. J.↗

Enstatite chondrites - Trace element clues to their origin

Three EH and three EL chondrites have been subjected to RNAA analysis for 20 trace elements, and interelement correlations were examined in order to assess the effects of nebular fractionation and metamorphism. The refractory siderophiles Ir, Os, and Re correlate with the normal siderophiles Ni, Pd, Au, Sb, and Ge, in ELs but not in EHs. The two element groups presumably condensed on separate phases at first, but concentrated in metal during metabolism. Volatiles are consistently more depleted in ELs than EHs. Strong correlations are found for In-Tl, Tl-Bi, and Zn-Cd-In, which are equally consistent with predicted condensation curves for the solar nebula and with volatilization curves for artificially heated Abee. The three factors accounting for 93 percent of variance reflect volatile, siderophile, and chalcophile behavior.

Hertogen, J.↗

Optimal design of high-efficiency tandem cells

Computer analysis indicates that a substantial increase in solar cell conversion efficiencies can be achieved by using two-cell, multi-bandgap tandem structures instead of single-junction cells. Practical AM1 efficiencies of about 30 percent at one sun and over 30 percent at multiple suns are to be expected. The further increases in efficiency calculated for a three-cell tandem structure are much smaller and may not justify the added complexity. For inexpensive two-cell tandem modules, Si is preferred for the bottom cell, and the top-cell material should have a bandgap of 1.75 to 1.80 eV. The GaAs-AlAs and GaAs-GaP systems are very attractive candidates for the top cell. Significant advances have been achieved in growing GaAs on Ge-coated Si substrates (for the two-terminal, two-cell structure) and in growing free-standing ultrathin GaAs layers (for the two-terminal or four-terminal structures). These advances should be transferable to the GaAs-AlAs and GaAs-GaP systems.

Fan, J. C. C.↗