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At least 667 records · Page 37
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

A Preliminary Assessment of Cognition and Fatigue During Simulated Lunar Surface Extravehicular Activities

Introduction: Artemis astronauts will be required to complete more rigorous Extravehicular Activity (EVA) schedules than during ever before. While new spacesuits are designed to sustain high physical workloads during exploration EVAs (xEVA), crewmembers must also sustain cognitive performance throughout xEVA timelines. It is therefore necessary to characterize the effects of surface xEVA tasks and timelines on cognition and fatigue. Methods: This study utilized NASA Johnson Space Center’s Active Response Gravity Offload System (ARGOS) to simulate lunar gravity and assess xEVA tasks and cognitive performance. Two subjects completed two ~5-hour EVAs in a pressurized Mark III spacesuit, completing simulated lander operations, cable routing, crew rescue, geology, payload relocation, and traverses. Subjects completed two cognitive assessments (Digit-Symbol Substitution Task (DSST) and Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT)) before the first and after the second simulated EVA to assess effects of xEVA tasks on processing speed and vigilant attention. Additionally, sleep (e.g., quality, duration, and efficiency) was monitored (Oura Ring) for ≥7 days prior to the simulated EVAs, as well as between each EVA, to account for possible effects of sleep decrements on cognitive metrics. Results: Cognitive performance changed minimally from pre to post EVA for both DSST (response time (RT): S1 Δ129.1ms, S2 Δ40.7ms; Accuracy: S1 preEVA = 1.0, S1 postEVA = 0.98, S2 preEVA = 1.0, S2 postEVA = 1.0) and PVT (S1 PVT RT Δ17.7 ms, S2 PVT RT Δ-2.7 ms). Subjects’ sleep duration immediately prior to EVA showed minimal deviation from baseline (Δhrs; S1 preEVA1= + 0.67, S1 preEVA2 = -.03, S2 preEVA1 = - 1.1, S2 preEVA2 = -1.39) and efficiency (Δ%; S1 preEVA1 = 0.09, S1 preEVA2 = 9.54, S2 preEVA1 = 0, S2 preEVA2= 12). Notably, sleep waketime shifted earlier for one subject by ~1 hr which may have impacted performance. Conclusion: Understanding the impacts of xEVA workloads on cognitive performance will be instrumental to future exploration mission planning and success. Future work will expand the subject pool and test new spacesuit designs to better characterize cognitive performance and impacts of sleep during simulated xEVA and inform modeling and prediction capabilities for future Artemis xEVA planning.

Taylor E. Schlotman↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Plans for Ice Crystal Icing Tests Using a 3D Heated Test Article at the NASA Icing Research Tunnel

This presentation describes the plans for ice crystal icing and supercooled water icing tests to be conducted in Fall/Winter 2021 at the NASA Icing Research Tunnel. A test article, whose geometry is representative of an inter-compressor duct and strut region of a turbofan engine, has been designed and fabricated for the study of ice crystal icing physics tests. The Simulated Inter-compressor Duct Research Model (SIDRM) will have the ability to heat surfaces to simulate the warm surfaces of the inter-compressor duct within an engine. The test article is instrumented with heaters, heat flux gauges, thermocouples, and pressure taps to measure icing behavior. The aim of these tests is to generate ice shapes on the SIDRM test article under well-characterized conditions. The results of the testing with the SIDRM model will be used to provide icing physics and validation data for development of the engine icing simulation capabilities in GlennICE, the 3D ice prediction tool. This is intended to be a presentation only, and does not have an accompanying paper.

ice-crystal icing↗
NASA NTRS1994

First Year PIDDP Report on gamma-ray and x-ray spectroscopy: X-ray remote sensing and in situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions and gamma-ray remote sensing and in situ spectroscopy for planetary exploration missions

Detectors that will be used for planetary missions must have their responses calibrated in a reproducible manner. In addition, it is important to characterize a detector system at uneven portions of its life cycle, for example after exposure to different amounts of radiation. A calibration and response characterization facility has been constructed at Schlumberger-Doll Research for all types of gamma- and x-ray detectors that may be used for planetary measurement. This facility is currently being tested. Initial use is expected for the MARS 94 detectors. The facility will then also be available for calibrating other detectors as well as arrays of detectors such as the NEAR detector with its central Nal(TI) crystal surrounded with a large BGO crystal. Cadmium telluride detectors are investigated for applications in space explorations. These detectors show an energy resolution of 5 keV for the 122 keV 57Co line. Earlier reported polarization effects are not observed. The detectors can be used at temperatures up to 100 C, although with reduced energy resolution. The thickness of standard detectors is limited to 2 mm. These detectors become fully efficient at bias voltages above 200 V. Initial results for a 1 cm thick detector show that the quality of the material is inferior to the thinner standard detectors and hole trapping affects the pulse height. A detailed characterization of the detector is in progress. Prototypes of photomultipliers based on a Channel Electron Multiplier (CEM) are being built to study their performance. Such photomultipliers promise better timing characteristics and a higher dynamic range while being more compact and of lower in weight.

Mahdavi, M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

A study of thermal transitions in a new semicrystalline thermoplastic polyimide

A polyimide derive from 4,4'-isophthaloyl diphthalic anhydride (IDPA) and 1,3-bis (4-aminophenoxy 4'-benzoyl) benzene (1,3-BABB) having semicrystalline behavior was prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Thus a poly(amic acid) film cured in air for one hour each at 100 and 200 C displayed an endotherm at 286 C, followed by a crystallization exotherm at 317 C, and a second melting transition at 350 C. The 286 C melting point appeared to result from earlier solvent-induced crystallization. Films cast from DMAc, air dried, and soaked in methylene chloride could not be induced into semicrystallinity. The fully cured polyimide has a Tg of 216 C. Films heated to temperatures as high as 100 C for one hour in air were transparent and light yellow in color. Those films heated to or above 125 C were translucent. Polarized light microscopy revealed the presence of spherulites 608 micrometers in diameter in a sample cured to 275 C in air. Two film samples, one cured to 275 and the other to 325 C, were evaluated for tensile and ultimate strength, modulus, and percent elongation at 25 and 200 C. These values remained essentially constant at each test temperature.

Pratt, J. Richard↗
NASA NTRS2010

Study of Fabry-Perot Etalon Stability and Tuning for Spectroscopic Rayleigh Scattering

The Fabry-Perot interferometer is a commonly employed instrument for resolving the spectrum of molecular Rayleigh scattered light for the purpose of evaluating flow properties such as gas velocity and temperature. Rayleigh scattered light from a focused laser beam can be directly imaged through a solid Fabry-Perot etalon onto a CCD detector to provide the spectral content of the scattered light. The spatial resolution of the measurements is governed by the locations of interference fringes. The location of the fringes can be changed by altering the etalon?s physical characteristics, such as thickness and index of refraction. For a fused silica solid etalon the physical properties can be adjusted by changing the etalon temperature; hence changing the order of the interference pattern and the physical fringe locations. Controlling the temperature of the etalon can provide for a slow time-response spatial scanning method for this type of etalon system. A custom designed liquid crystal Fabry-Perot (LCFP) can provide for a fast time-response method of scanning the etalon system. Voltage applied to the liquid crystal interface sets the etalon?s properties allowing Rayleigh measurements to be acquired at varying spatial locations across the image of the laser beam over a very short time period. A standard fused silica etalon and a tunable LCFP etalon are characterized to select the system that is best suited for Rayleigh scattering measurements in subsonic and supersonic flow regimes. A frequency-stabilized laser is used to investigate the apparent frequency stability and temperature sensitivity of the etalon systems. Frequency stability and temperature sensitivity data of the fused silica and LCFP etalon systems are presented in this paper, along with measurements of the LCFP etalon?s tuning capabilities. Rayleigh scattering velocity measurements with both etalon systems are presented, in an effort to determine which etalon is better suited to provide optical flow measurements of velocity, temperature, and density.

Clem, Michelle M.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Characterizing Thermal Properties of Melting Te Semiconductor: Thermal Diffusivity Measurements and Simulation

Tellurium is an element for many II-VI and I-III-VI(sub 2) compounds that are useful materials for fabricating many devices. In the melt growth techniques, the thermal properties of the molten phase are important parameter for controlling growth process to improve semiconducting crystal quality. In this study, thermal diffusivity of molten tellurium has been measured by a laser flash method in the temperature range from 500 C to 900 C. A pulsed laser with 1064 nm wavelength is focused on one side of the measured sample. The thermal diffusivity can be estimated from the temperature transient at the other side of the sample. A numerical simulation based on the thermal transport process has been also performed. By numerically fitting the experimental results, both the thermal conductivity and heat capacity can be derived. A relaxation phenomenon, which shows a slow drift of the measured thermal conductivity toward the equilibrium value after cooling of the sample, was observed for the first time. The error analysis and the comparison of the results to published data measured by other techniques will be discussed.

Zhu, Shen↗
NASA NTRS2002

Characterizing Thermal Properties of Melting Te Semiconductor: Thermal Diffusivity Measurements and Simulation

Tellurium is an element for many II-VI and I-III-VI(sub 2) compounds that are useful materials for fabricating many devises. In the melt growth techniques, the thermal properties of the molten phase are important parameter for controlling growth process to improve semiconducting crystal quality. In this study, thermal diffusivity of molten tellurium has been measured by a laser flash method in the temperature range from 500 C to 900 C. A pulsed laser with 1064 nm wavelength is focused on one side of the measured sample. The thermal diffusivity can be estimated from the temperature transient at the other side of the sample. A numerical simulation based on the thermal transport process has been also performed. By numerically fitting the experimental results, both the thermal conductivity and heat capacity can be derived. A relaxation phenomenon, which shows a slow drift of the measured thermal conductivity toward the equilibrium value after cooling of the sample, was observed for the first time. The error analysis and the comparison of the results to published data measured by other techniques will be discussed in the presentation.

Zhu, Shen↗
NASA NTRS1988

Molecular beam epitaxial growth and structural characterization of ZnS on (001) GaAs

The effect of surface nucleation processes on the quality of ZnS layers grown on (001) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy is reported. Reflection high energy electron diffraction indicated that nucleation at high temperatures produced more planar surfaces than nucleation at low temperatures, but the crystalline quality as assessed by X-ray double crystal diffractometry is relatively independent of nucleation temperature. A critical factor in layer quality was the initial roughness of the GaAs surfaces.

Benz, R. G., II↗
NASA NTRS2002

Microphysics and Radiative Properties of Cirrus: Instrumentation and Analysis

Work under this grant has involved further development of a new aircraft instrument (the cloudscope) for real time characterization of atmospheric particulates together with field observations of such particulates, both in the form of ice and also as nuclei responsible for nucleation of both ice and water cloud particles. Part of the work involving assessment of the frequency of ice crystal shapes has been carried out in collaboration with the Meteorological Service of Canada; part of the work in a field program with the NCAR C-130. Part of the work has been interpreted in terms of laboratory simulation of ice crystal growth under a wide variety of conditions carried out under a grant from Physical Meteorology Program, National Science Foundation.

Hallett, John↗
NASA NTRS2005

Electrical Characterization of Defects in SiC Schottky Barriers

We have been investigating the effect of screw dislocation and other structural defects on the electrical properties of SiC. SiC is a wide-bandgap semiconductor that is currently received much attention due to its favorable high temperature behavior and high electric field breakdown strength. Unfortunately, the current state-of-the-art crystal growth and device processing methods produce material with high defect densities, resulting in a limited commercial viability

Schnabel, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Gamma ray polarimetry

Spectroscopic instruments currently being proposed may possess polarimetric capabilities which sould be nurtured and enhanced to permit characterization of basic emission mechanisms which are impossible using other techniques. Compton scattering and pair production detected the polarization of high energy (E is greater than 50 keV) protons in laboratory experiments. The polarization properties of a detection system consisting of 19 germanium crystals in a closed packed array are examined and the advantages of such a detector over Thompson scattering are discussed. The possiblity of using pair production to detect polarization of high energy gamma rays, and the associated modulation factors are discussed. The central difficulty involved in using pair production polarimeters in astrophysical applications is that the typical opening of the electron or positron direction with respect to the incident photon aircitron is small, of order E/sq mc. Multiple scattering in the material used to convert the photons to an electron positron pair causes deviations in the direction of the electron and positron.

Long, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Study of indium tin oxide films exposed to atomic axygen

A qualitative simulation of the effects of atomic oxygen has been conducted on indium tin oxide (ITO) films prepared by dc sputtering onto room-temperature substrates, by exposing them to an RF-excited oxygen plasma and characterizing the resulting changes in optical, electrical, and structural properties as functions of exposure time with ellipsometry, spectrophotometry, resistivity, and X-ray measurements. While the films thus exposed exhibit reduced resistivity and optical transmission; both of these effects, as well as partial crystallization of the films, may be due to sample heating by the plasma. Film resistivity is found to stabilize after a period of exposure.

Snyder, Paul G.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Experimental Investigation of Jet Impingement Heat Transfer Using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals

Jet impingement cooling of a hypersonic airfoil leading edge is experimentally investigated using thermochromic liquid crystals (TLCS) to measure surface temperature. The experiment uses computer data acquisition with digital imaging of the TLCs to determine heat transfer coefficients during a transient experiment. The data reduction relies on analysis of a coupled transient conduction - convection heat transfer problem that characterizes the experiment. The recovery temperature of the jet is accounted for by running two experiments with different heating rates, thereby generating a second equation that is used to solve for the recovery temperature. The resulting solution requires a complicated numerical iteration that is handled by a computer. Because the computational data reduction method is complex, special attention is paid to error assessment. The error analysis considers random and systematic errors generated by the instrumentation along with errors generated by the approximate nature of the numerical methods. Results of the error analysis show that the experimentally determined heat transfer coefficients are accurate to within 15%. The error analysis also shows that the recovery temperature data may be in error by more than 50%. The results show that the recovery temperature data is only reliable when the recovery temperature of the jet is greater than 5 C, i.e. the jet velocity is in excess of 100 m/s. Parameters that were investigated include nozzle width, distance from the nozzle exit to the airfoil surface, and jet velocity. Heat transfer data is presented in graphical and tabular forms. An engineering analysis of hypersonic airfoil leading edge cooling is performed using the results from these experiments. Several suggestions for the improvement of the experimental technique are discussed.

Dempsey, Brian Paul↗
NASA NTRS2015

Scintillating Quantum Dots for Imaging X-Rays (SQDIX) for Aircraft Inspection

Scintillation is the process currently employed by conventional X-ray detectors to create X-ray images. Scintillating quantum dots (StQDs) or nano-crystals are novel, nanometer-scale materials that upon excitation by X-rays, re-emit the absorbed energy as visible light. StQDs theoretically have higher output efficiency than conventional scintillating materials and are more environmentally friendly. This paper will present the characterization of several critical elements in the use of StQDs that have been performed along a path to the use of this technology in wide spread X-ray imaging. Initial work on the scintillating quantum dots for imaging X-rays (SQDIX) system has shown great promise to create state-of-the-art sensors using StQDs as a sensor material. In addition, this work also demonstrates a high degree of promise using StQDs in microstructured fiber optics. Using the microstructured fiber as a light guide could greatly increase the capture efficiency of a StQDs based imaging sensor.

Burke, E. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Fabrication and surface characterization of composite refractory compounds suitable for thermionic converters

Thermal faceting was observed for the high index planes of LaB6. The (100), (110), and (111) planes were found to be the most thermodynamically stable faces in vacuum in a study of electrode materials for thermionic emitters. The properties of adsorbed carbon, cesium, and cesium-oxygen layers were investigated on LaB6 single crystal surfaces as well as on Zr/0/W(100) and W(100). Cesium was found to increase electron reflection near the collision threshold on LaB6(100) and W(100) and to decrease the reflection on Zr/0/W(100). This difference may be explained by the unusually high threshold reflection coefficient of Zr/0/W without adsorbed cesium.

Davis, P. R.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Methods of measurement for semiconductor materials, process control, and devices

Activities directed toward the development of methods of measurement for semiconductor materials, process control, and devices are described. Accomplishments include the determination of the reasons for differences in measurements of transistor delay time, identification of an energy level model for gold-doped silicon, and the finding of evidence that it does not appear to be necessary for an ultrasonic bonding tool to grip the wire and move it across the substrate metallization to make the bond. Work is continuing on measurement of resistivity of semiconductor crystals; study of gold-doped silicon; development of the infrared response technique; evaluation of wire bonds and die attachment; measurement of thermal properties of semiconductor devices, delay time, and related carrier transport properties in junction devices, and noise properties of microwave diodes; and characterization of silicon nuclear radiation detectors.

Bullis, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The Kara and Ust-Kara impact structures (USSR) and their relevance to the K/T boundary event

The Kara and Ust-Kara craters are twin impact structures situated at about 69 deg 10 min N; 65 deg 00 min E at the Kara Sea. For Kara a diameter of about 55 km would be a very conservative estimate, and field observations indicate a maximum current diameter of about 60 km. The diameter of Ust-Kara has to be larger than 16 km. A better estimate might be 25 km but in all likelihood it is even larger. Suevites and impactites from the Kara area have been known since the beginning of the century, but had been misidentified as glacial deposits. Only about 15 years ago the impact origin of the two structures was demonstrated, following the recognition of shock metamorphism in the area. The composition of the target rocks is mirrored by the composition of the clasts within the suevites. In the southern part of Kara, Permian shales and limestones are sometimes accompanied by diabasic dykes, similar to in the central uplift. Due to the high degree of shock metamorphism the shocked magmatic rocks are not easily identified, although most of them seem to be of diabasic or dioritic composition. The impact melts (tagamites) are grey to dark grey fine grained crystallized rocks showing very fine mineral components and are the product of shock-melting with later recrystallization. The impact glasses show a layered structure, inclusions, and vesicles, and have colors ranging from translucent white over brown and grey to black. A complete geochemical characterization of the Kara and Ust-Kara impact craters was attempted by analyzing more than 40 samples of target rocks, shocked rocks, suevites, impact melts, and impact glasses for major and trace elements.

Koeberl, Christian↗
NASA NTRS1994

Dynamics of hard sphere colloidal dispersions

Our objective is to perform on homogeneous, fully equilibrated dispersions the full set of experiments characterizing the transition from fluid to solid and the properties of the crystalline and glassy solid. These include measurements quantifying the nucleation and growth of crystallites, the structure of the initial fluid and the fully crystalline solid, and Brownian motion of particles within the crystal, and the elasticity of the crystal and the glass. Experiments are being built and tested for ideal microgravity environment. Here we describe the ground based effort, which exploits a fluidized bed to create a homogeneous, steady dispersion for the studies. The differences between the microgravity environment and the fluidized bed is gauged by the Peclet number Pe, which measures the rate of convection/sedimentation relative to Brownian motion. We have designed our experiment to accomplish three types of measurements on hard sphere suspensions in a fluidized bed: the static scattering intensity as a function of angle to determine the structure factor, the temporal autocorrelation function at all scattering angles to probe the dynamics, and the amplitude of the response to an oscillatory forcing to deduce the low frequency viscoelasticity. Thus the scattering instrument and the colloidal dispersion were chosen such as that the important features of each physical property lie within the detectable range for each measurement.

Zhu, J. X.↗