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At least 649 records · Page 36

A simple inertial model for Neptune's zonal circulation

Voyager imaging observations of zonal cloud-tracked winds on Neptune revealed a strongly subrotational equatorial jet with a speed approaching 500 m/s and generally decreasing retrograde motion toward the poles. The wind data are interpreted with a speculative but revealingly simple model based on steady gradient flow balance and an assumed global homogenization of potential vorticity for shallow layer motion. The prescribed model flow profile relates the equatorial velocity to the mid-latitude shear, in reasonable agreement with the available data, and implies a global horizontal deformation scale L(D) of about 3000 km.

Allison, Michael↗

Constraints on Saturn's Tropospheric General Circulation from Cassini ISS Images

An automated cloud tracking algorithm is applied to Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem high-resolution apoapsis images of Saturn from 2005 and 2007 and moderate resolution images from 2011 and 2012 to define the near-global distribution of zonal winds and eddy momentum fluxes at the middle troposphere cloud level and in the upper troposphere haze. Improvements in the tracking algorithm combined with the greater feature contrast in the northern hemisphere during the approach to spring equinox allow for better rejection of erroneous wind vectors, a more objective assessment at any latitude of the quality of the mean zonal wind, and a population of winds comparable in size to that available for the much higher contrast atmosphere of Jupiter. Zonal winds at cloud level changed little between 2005 and 2007 at all latitudes sampled. Upper troposphere zonal winds derived from methane band images are approx. 10 m/s weaker than cloud level winds in the cores of eastward jets and approx. 5 m/s stronger on either side of the jet core, i.e., eastward jets appear to broaden with increasing altitude. In westward jet regions winds are approximately the same at both altitudes. Lateral eddy momentum fluxes are directed into eastward jet cores, including the strong equatorial jet, and away from westward jet cores and weaken with increasing altitude on the flanks of the eastward jets, consistent with the upward broadening of these jets. The conversion rate of eddy to mean zonal kinetic energy at the visible cloud level is larger in eastward jet regions (5.2x10(exp -5) sq m/s) and smaller in westward jet regions (1.6x10(exp -5) sqm/s) than the global mean value (4.1x10(ep -5) sq m/s). Overall the results are consistent with theories that suggest that the jets and the overturning meridional circulation at cloud level on Saturn are maintained at least in part by eddies due to instabilities of the large-scale flow near and/or below the cloud level.

DelGenio, Anthony D.↗

The Acoustic Air-Jet Generator

This paper describes the development history, operation, and working principle of an acoustic air-jet generator, which can be used to produce high intensity, high frequency acoustic waves. Flow imaging experiments of the system are shown, and applications of the system for various fluid flows are presented. While previous articles on this system have been written in English by the author, this article provides the only documented explanation and implementation of the focusing schlieren system used for flow imaging of the system. This paper has been cited in early works on focusing schlieren as one of the first implementations of such a system, but has not been widely cited in the bulk of the literature on the focusing schlieren method (aside from a more recent M.S. thesis), perhaps due to the difficulty of accessing the paper or that no translation was available. The purpose of this translation is to provide an English version of the article for researchers interested in this work of Dr. Hartmann, and in particular the description of his focusing schlieren system and its application.

Julius Hartmann↗

Simultaneous 10 kHz three-dimensional CH 2 O and tomographic PIV measurements in a lifted partially-premixed jet flame

High-speed, three-dimensional (3D) scalar-velocity field measurements are demonstrated in a lifted partially-premixed dimethyl-ether/air jet flame using simultaneous laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) of formaldehyde (CH 2 O) and tomographic particle image velocimetry (TPIV). The 3D LIF measurements are performed by raster scanning the laser beam from a 100 kHz pulse-burst laser across the probe volume using an acousto-optic deflector. The volumetric reconstruction of the LIF signal from ten parallel planes provides quasi-instantaneous 3D LIF measurements that are synchronized with 10 kHz TPIV measurements. Here, the temporally resolved CH 2 O-LIF and velocity field data are used to analyze Lagrangian particle trajectories and displacement speeds at the base of the lifted flame. The particle trajectories reveal flow structures that are difficult to observe in an Eulerian reference frame. Positive and negative displacement speeds are observed at the CH 2 O-LIF surfaces at the inner and outer regions of the jet flame with a maximum displacement speed of approximately eight times the laminar flame speed of a stoichiometric dimethyl-ether/air mixture. The observations in present study support formation of lean premixed flames near the flame base whose role in flame stabilization should be investigated in more detail.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Tropopause and lower stratosphere winds and eddy fluxes on Saturn as seen by Cassini imaging

An automated cloud feature tracking algorithm is applied to 2004 Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem images of Saturn's southern hemisphere and equatorial region (5°N-70°S) in continuum, methane band, and ultraviolet filters to derive zonal wind profiles and eddy momentum fluxes from the middle troposphere cloud tops to the lower stratosphere. Zonal winds in the eastward and westward jets decrease in strength from the cloud tops (≳ 1 bar) to the upper troposphere (~60–600 mb), but do not measurably change in strength from the upper troposphere to the tropopause (~60 mb) to the lower stratosphere (≲ 60 mb). A narrow (~3°N-3°S) equatorial jet is detected at the cloud tops, but a previously reported strengthening of this jet from the cloud top level to the upper troposphere/tropopause region cannot be verified due to an absence of easily trackable features at the equator and conflicting results for the few features available. Eddy momentum fluxes on either side of the jet cores outside the tropics (poleward of ~20°S) converge into the eastward jets and diverge from the westward jets. Whether the flux convergence into the eastward jets weakens from the visible cloud level to the upper troposphere cannot be determined for this limited time period, but the eddy convergence appears to increase from the troposphere to the lower stratosphere. The divergence of the eddy flux from the westward jets seems to more clearly increase from the middle to the upper troposphere to the stratosphere, but this does not explain the slight weakening of the westward jets with height.

Saturn↗

Prediction of Turbulent Temperature Fluctuations in Hot Jets

Large-eddy simulations were used to investigate turbulent temperature fluctuations and turbulent heat flux in hot jets. A high-resolution finite-difference Navier-Stokes solver, WRLES, was used to compute the flow from a 2-inch round nozzle. Several different flow conditions, consisting of different jet Mach numbers and temperature ratios, were examined. Predictions of mean and fluctuating velocities were compared to previously obtained particle image velocimetry data. Predictions of mean and fluctuating temperature were compared to new data obtained using Raman spectroscopy. Based on the good agreement with experimental data for the individual quantities, the combined quantity turbulent heat flux was examined.

hot jets↗

Multiple jets from the young star IRAS 21334 + 5039

The source IRAS 21334 + 5039, a young stellar object (YSO) with broad CO outflow velocity profiles, was imaged in the 1-2 micron region with broad-band J, H, and K filters, and with a Fabry-Perot set to the molecular hydorgen v = 1-0 S(1) line, the hydrogen Br-gamma recombination line, and the neighboring continua. At 2 microns the source has an elongated continuum emission structure centered on the star. The structure has very blue tips, with a weak VLA 6 cm continuum source coincident with one of them. Strong molecular hydrogen emission appears as bow-shaped arcs oriented along an axis perpendicular to the continuum emission, and as a weaker structure aligned with it. Both the continuum and the molecular hydrogen emission are most likely produced by jets, possibly emanating in multiple directions from the central source at large angles to each other. While jets are a common feature of young stars, this source provides solid evidence for multiple jet structures.

Smith, Howard A.↗

Experimental Study of Cross-Stream Mixing in a Rectangular Duct

An experimental investigation of non-reacting cross-stream jet injection and mixing in a rectangular duct was conducted for application in a low emissions combustor. Planar digital imaging was used to measure concentration distributions in planes perpendicular to the duct axis. Mixing rate was measured for 45 deg slanted slot and round orifice injectors. Five areas of inquiry are discussed: (1) mixing improves continuously with increasing momentum-flux ratio; (2) given a momentum-flux ratio, there is an optimum, orifice spacing; (3) mixing is more dependent on injector geometry than mass flow ratio; (4) mixing is influenced by relative slot orientation; and (5) jet structure is different for round holes and slanted slots injectors. The utility of acquiring multipoint fluctuating properties of the flow field is also demonstrated.

Liscinsky, D. S.↗

Experimental study of cross-stream mixing in a rectangular duct

An experimental investigation of non-reacting cross-stream jet injection and mixing in a rectangular duct was conducted for application in a low emissions combustor. Planar digital imaging was used to measure concentration distributions in planes perpendicular to the duct axis. Mixing rate was measured for 45 deg slanted slot and round orifice injectors. Five areas of inquiry are discussed: (1) mixing improves continuously with increasing momentum-flux ratio; (2) given a momentum-flux ratio, there is an optimum, orifice spacing; (3) mixing is more dependent on injector geometry than mass flow ratio; (4) mixing is influenced by relative slot orientation; and (5) jet structure is different for round holes and slanted slots injectors. The utility of acquiring multipoint fluctuating properties of the flow field is also demonstrated.

Liscinsky, D. S.↗

Focused Schlieren flow visualization studies of multiple venturi fuel injectors in a high pressure combustor

Multiple venturi fuel injectors were used to obtain uniform fuel distributions, better atomization and vaporization in the premixing/prevaporizing section of a lean premixed/prevaporized flame tube combustor. A focused Schlieren system was used to investigate the fuel/air mixing effectiveness of various fuel injection configurations. The Schlieren system was focused to a plane within the flow field of a test section equipped with optical windows. The focused image plane was parallel to the axial direction of the flow and normal to the optical axis. Images from that focused plane, formed by refracted light due to density gradients within the flow field, were filmed with a high-speed movie camera at framing rates of 8,000 frames per second (fps). Three fuel injection concepts were investigated by taking high-speed movies of the mixture flows at various operating conditions. The inlet air temperature was varied from 600 F to 1000 F, and inlet pressures from 80 psia to 150 psia. Jet-A fuel was used typically at an equivalence ratio of 0.5. The intensity variations of the digitized Schlieren images were analytically correlated to spatial density gradients of the mixture flows. Qualitative measurements for degree of mixedness, intensity of mixing, and mixing completion time are shown. Various mixing performance patterns are presented with different configurations of fuel injection points and operating conditions.

Chun, K. S.↗

Shock layer vacuum UV spectroscopy in an arc-jet wind tunnel

An experimental program is being developed to obtain measurements of the incident surface radiation in the 1000 A to 2000 A range from the shock stagnation region of a blunt model in the Ames 20 MW Arc-Jet Wind Tunnel. The setup consists of a water-cooled blunt model, with a magnesium fluoride forward-viewing window. Radiation incident on the window is optically imaged via an evacuated system and reflective optical elements onto the entrance slit of a spectrograph. The model will be exposed to the supersonic plasma stream from the exit nozzle of the arc-jet tunnel. The resulting bow shock radiation will be measured. It is expected that this experiment will help evaluate the importance of atomic N and O lines to the radiative heating of future Aeroassist Space Transfer Vehicles (ASTVs).

Palumbo, G.↗

Influence of temperature gradients on the measurement accuracy of IR imaging systems

Implementing a new experimental aerodynamic technique, a long electrically heated wire was placed across flows with general velocity distributions (wakes, jets). By measuring the temperature distribution along the wire with an IR camera, the flow behavior was identified. Furthermore, it is suggested that by using Nusselt number correlations, the velocity distributions can be deduced. Comparing the results with predictions based on heat transfer correlations, it was found that the IR camera cannot accurately track high gradient temperature fields. A correction procedure is outlined to account for the errors found in the measured results.

Gartenberg, Ehud↗

Origin of the ring ellipticity in the black hole images of M87*

We investigate the origin of the elliptical ring structure observed in the images of the supermassive black hole M87*, aiming to disentangle contributions from gravitational, astrophysical, and imaging effects. Leveraging the enhanced capabilities of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)'s 2018 array, including improved (u,v)-coverage from the Greenland Telescope, we measured the ring's ellipticity using five independent imaging methods, obtaining a consistent average value of τ = 0.08−0.02+0.03 with a position angle of ξ = 50.1−7.6+6.2 degrees. To interpret this measurement, we compared it to general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic (GRMHD) simulations spanning a wide range of physical parameters including the thermal or nonthermal electron distribution function, spins, and ion-to-electron temperature ratios in both low- and high-density regions. We find no statistically significant correlation between spin and ellipticity in GRMHD images. Instead, we identify a correlation between ellipticity and the fraction of non-ring emission, particularly in nonthermal models and models with higher jet emission. These results indicate that the ellipticity measured from the M87* emission structure is consistent with that expected from simulations of turbulent accretion flows around black holes, where it is dominated by astrophysical effects rather than gravitational ones. Future high-resolution imaging, including space very long baseline interferometry and long-term monitoring, will be essential to isolate gravitational signatures from astrophysical effects.Key words: accretion, accretion disks / black hole physics / gravitation / galaxies: active** These authors have contributed equally to this work.*** NASA Hubble Fellowship Program, Einstein Fellow.† Deceased.

Dahale, Rohan [Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.↗

Periodic Eruptive Variability of the Isolated Pre-main-sequence Star V347 Aurigae

V347 Aurigae is associated with the small dark cloud L1438 and appears to be an isolated pre-main-sequence star located at distance d ≈ 200 pc. Multi-epoch, archival photometry reveals periodic brightness variations with amplitude V ≈ 2.0 mag occurring on timescales of ~160 days that have persisted for decades. Regular-cadence, optical imaging of the source with the Zwicky Transient Facility shows that a small reflection nebula illuminated by V347 Aur also fluctuates in brightness, at times fading completely. Multi-epoch, Keck/HIRES data suggests the presence of two distinct spectral components: a prominent emission-line-dominated spectrum with a heavily veiled continuum correlated with the bright photometric state, and an M-type absorption line spectrum associated with quiescence. All spectra exhibit strong Balmer and He i line emission, consistent with accretion, as well as high velocity emission arising from the forbidden transitions of [O i], [N ii], and [S ii] that are generally associated with collimated jets and disk winds. There is no evidence in existing high-dispersion spectroscopy or high-resolution imaging for binarity of V347 Aur. The repeating outburst events are possibly linked to accretion instabilities induced by an undetected companion or a structure within the circumstellar disk that periodically increases the mass accretion rate. V347 Aur is perhaps analogous to an EXor-type variable, though more regularly recurring.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Fighting Forest Fires

Firefly is an airborne system for imaging forest fires. It uses satellite-based navigation for greater positioning accuracy and offers timeliness in fire location data delivery with on board data processing and a direct aircraft-to-fire camp communications link. Developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the USFS, it has an infrared line scanner to identify fire boundaries and an infrared sensor system that can penetrate smoke to image the ground. Firefly is an outgrowth of a previous collaboration that produced FLAME, an airborne fire mapping instrument. Further refinements are anticipated by NASA and the United States Forest Service (USFS).

Source record↗

A Miniaturized Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope (MVP-SEM) for the Surface of Mars: An Instrument for the Planetary Science Community

The Miniaturized Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscope(MVP-SEM) project, funded by the NASA Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations (PICASSO) Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES), will build upon previous miniaturized SEM designs for lunar and International Space Station (ISS) applications and recent advancements in variable pressure SEM's to design and build a SEM to complete analyses of samples on the surface of Mars using the atmosphere as an imaging medium. By the end of the PICASSO work, a prototype of the primary proof-of-concept components (i.e., the electron gun, focusing optics and scanning system)will be assembled and preliminary testing in a Mars analog chamber at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will be completed to partially fulfill Technology Readiness Level to 5 requirements for those components. The team plans to have Secondary Electron Imaging(SEI), Backscattered Electron (BSE) detection, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) capabilities through the MVP-SEM.

Mars↗

Liquid jet breakup and atomization in rocket chambers under dense spray conditions

Two advanced diagnostic techniques were established and employed in this project. The first technique involves the use of a real-time x ray radiography system along with a high-speed CCD Xybion camera and an advanced digital image processor to investigate the breakup processes of the liquid core. The focus of this part of the project is to determine the inner structure of the liquid jet and via thin sheets of laser light, with the scatters light being photographed by a Xybion electronic camera synchronized to the laser pulse. This technique, which is capable of recording the breakup event occurring within 25 nano-seconds, enables us to freeze the motions of the jet and liquid droplets. The focus of this part of the project is to determine the outer structure of the liquid jet and to discover the configuration of the surface waves, the spray pattern, and the droplet size distribution in the non-dilute region. Results obtained by these two advanced diagnostic techniques will provide the much needed database for model development and accurate prediction of engine performance. The present work also represents a breakthrough in the area of advanced diagnostics of dense sprays.

Kuo, Kenneth K.↗

Prediction of Turbulent Temperature Fluctuations in Hot Jets

Large-eddy simulations were used to investigate turbulent temperature fluctuations and turbulent heat flux in hot jets. A high-resolution finite-difference Navier-Stokes solver, WRLES, was used to compute the flow from a 2-inch round nozzle. Several different flow conditions, consisting of different jet Mach numbers and temperature ratios, were examined. Predictions of mean and fluctuating velocities were compared to previously obtained particle image velocimetry data. Predictions of mean and fluctuating temperature were compared to new data obtained using Raman spectroscopy. Based on the good agreement with experimental data for the individual quantities, the combined quantity turbulent heat flux was examined.

large-eddy simulations↗