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NASA NTRS2016

Spiral Structure and Differential Dust Size Distribution in the LkH(alpha) 330 Disk

Dust trapping accelerates the coagulation of dust particles, and, thus, it represents an initial step toward the formation of planetesimals. We report H-band (1.6 microns) linear polarimetric observations and 0.87 mm interferometric continuum observations toward a transitional disk around LkH(alpha) 330. As a result, a pair of spiral arms were detected in the H-band emission, and an asymmetric (potentially arm-like) structure was detected in the 0.87 mm continuum emission. We discuss the origin of the spiral arm and the asymmetric structure and suggest that a massive unseen planet is the most plausible explanation. The possibility of dust trapping and grain growth causing the asymmetric structure was also investigated through the opacity index (beta) by plotting the observed spectral energy distribution slope between 0.87 mm from our Submillimeter Array observation and1.3 mm from literature. The results imply that grains are indistinguishable from interstellar medium-like dust in the east side (beta = 2.0 +/- 0.5) but are much smaller in the west side beta = 0.7+0.5 -0.4, indicating differential dust size distribution between the two sides of the disk. Combining the results of near-infrared and submillimeter observations, we conjecture that the spiral arms exist at the upper surface and an asymmetric structure resides in the disk interior. Future observations at centimeter wavelengths and differential polarization imaging in other bands (Y-K) with extreme AO imagers are required to understand how large dust grains form and to further explore the dust distribution in the disk.

polarimetric observations↗

NASA NTRS1972

Plasma heating and acceleration due to Landau damping of hydromagnetic waves.

We analyze energy and momentum exchange associated with Landau damping of hydromagnetic waves, from a macroscopic viewpoint, and compare the conclusions with those of the resonant quasi-linear theory. It is found that the heating of protons and electrons is correctly given by the resonant theory, but that the momentum exchange is not correctly described by the resonant theory.

Barnes, A.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Fundamental space radiobiology

The unique feature of the space radiation environment is the dominance of high-energy charged particles (HZE or high LET radiation) emitted by the Sun and galactic sources, or trapped in the Van Allen radiation belts. These charged particles present a significant hazard to space flight crews, and accelerator-based experiments are underway to quantify the health risks due to unavoidable radiation exposure. There are three principal properties of charged particles that distinguish them from conventional radiation, i.e. gamma rays and x-rays. First, they have a defined range in matter rather than an exponential absorption profile. Second, they undergo nuclear reactions to produce secondary particles. Third, and most important, they deposit their energy along well-defined linear paths or tracks rather than diffuse fields. The structured energy deposition pattern interacts on multiple scales with the biological structures of DNA, cells and tissues to produce correlated patterns of damage that evade repair systems. Traditional concepts of dose and its associated normalization parameter, RBE (relative biological effectiveness), break down under experimental scrutiny, and probabilistic models of risk based on the number of particle traversals per cell may be more appropriate. Unique patterns of DNA damage, gene expression, mobilization of repair proteins, activation of cytokines and remodeling of cellular microenvironment are observed following exposure to high LET radiation. At low levels of exposure the communication of bioactive substances from irradiated to unirradiated "bystander" cells can amplify the damage and cause a significant deviation from linearity in dose vs. response relations. Under some circumstances, there is even a multigenerational delay in the expression of radiation-induced genetic damage (genomic instability) which is not strictly dose dependent. These issues and the experimental evidence derived from ground based experiments at particle accelerators are presented along with speculation about how modified inertial conditions might perturb homeostatic responses to radiation to further complicate risk assessment for space flight.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

NASA NTRS1975

Unified nonlinear approach to both weak and strong-interaction problems

The numerical results are obtained for heat transfer, skin-friction, and viscous interaction induced pressure for a step-wise accelerated flat plate in hypersonic flow. In the unified approach here the results are presented for both weak and strong-interaction problems without employing any linearization scheme. With the help of the numerical method used in this work an accurate prediction of wall shear can be made for the problems with plate velocity changes of 1% or larger. The obtained results indicate that the transient contribution to the induced pressure for helium is greater than that for air.

Gupta, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Analytical aspects of Randomdec analysis

Relationships between Randomdec analysis and conventional methods of analysis such as Fourier and modal analysis are shown. The Randomdec signature is described in terms of the Fourier amplitude coefficients. Using this result, the effect of filtering the time history is shown. For a linear, two mode model, signatures are compared to the free response of the system subjected to different initial conditions to show the relationship of displacement and acceleration signatures to the physical system. Detection and location of flaws is also discussed.

Reed, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Interstellar clouds in high-speed, supersonic flows: Two-dimensional simulations

We present a series of gasdynamical simulations of the interaction of a dense, cool interstellar cloud with a high-speed, supersonic wind that confines and accelerates the embedded cloud. Our goal is to attempt to determine if such clouds can survive various potentially disruptive instabilities, that occur at their peripheries, long enough to be accelerated to speeds which are comparable to the wind velocity. These simulations are performed using two-dimensional, Eulerian gas dynamics on both an axisymmetric (about the cloud axis) and 'slab' geometric grid. The spatial and temporal resolutions of the simulations are varied over a wide range to investigate the effects of small-scale instabilities on the overall acceleration of clouds and the development of large-scale, disruptive instabilities. Also, we study the effects of wind/cloud Mach number variations by changing the wind speed constant at about 12 km/s (which corresponds to a cloud temperature of 10,000 K). The current simulations track the evolution of clouds as they are accelerated to speeds approximately 4-5 times greater than their internal sound speeds. Furthermore, the models with the highest resolution were extended far beyond quasi-linear Rayleigh-Taylor growth times reaching 6-7 Rayleigh-Taylor growth times for the largest scale instabilities before being terminated because of the accumulation of errors at the rear grid boundary.

Schiano, A. V. R.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Physical and biological studies with protons and HZE particles in a NASA supported research center in radiation health

NASA has established and supports a specialized center for research and training (NSCORT) to specifically address the potential deleterious effects of HZE particles on human health. The NSCORT in radiation health is a joint effort between Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Colorado State University (CSU). The overall scope of research encompasses a broad range of subjects from microdosimetric studies to cellular and tissue responses to initial damage produced by highly energetic protons and heavy charged particles of the type found in galactic cosmic rays (GCR) spectrum. The objectives of the microdosimetry studies are to determine the response of Tissue Equivalent Proportional Counter (TEPC) to cosmic rays using ground based accelerators. This includes evaluation of energy loss due to the escape of high-energy delta rays and increased energy deposition due to the enhanced delta ray production in the wall of the detector. In this report major results are presented for 56Fe at 1000, 740, 600 and 400 MeV/nucleon. An assessment of DNA repair and early development of related chromosomal changes is extremely important to our overall understanding of enhanced biological effectiveness of high LET particle radiation. Results are presented with respect to the fidelity of the rejoining of double strand breaks and the implications of misrejoining. The relationship between molecular and cytogenetic measurements is presented by studying damage processing in highly heterochromatic supernumerary (correction of sypernumerary) X chromosomes and the active X-chromosome. One of the important consequences of cell's inability to handle DNA damage can be evaluated through mutation studies. Part of our goal is the assessment of potential radioprotectors to reduce the mutation yield following HZE exposures, and some promising results are presented on one compound. A second goal is the integration of DNA repair and mutation studies. Results are presented on a direct comparison of initial double strand breaks induction, the time course and fidelity of double strand break rejoining, cell killing and mutation induction in the same human model system. In order to understand the carcinogenic potential of protons and HZE particles, the role of damaged microenvironment in this process must be understood. In this project it has been postulated that radiation affects the microenvironment, which then modifies cell interactions in a manner conducive to neoplastic progression. Both TGF-beta and FGF-2 are important components of microenvironment. A recent result on the assessment of the role of FGF-2 and its cross-talk with TGF-beta as a function of radiation quality is presented. Theoretical modeling has so far played a central role in analyzing and integrating experimental data on repair and mutation studies and predicting new phenomena. The integrated NSCORT program also provides a broad training experience for students and postdoctoral fellows in space radiation health.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

NASA NTRS1993

Lower hybrid turbulence at cometary bow wave and acceleration of cometary protons

The wave measurements at the spacecraft encounters with Comet Halley have shown intense wave activity at the lower hybrid frequency. The excitation of the lower hybrid instability by the pickup cometary ions (protons and water group) in the bow wave region and the quasi-linear diffusion of the ions in these fluctuations are discussed. The quasi-linear diffusion of the pickup protons takes place over a scale length shorter than that of the heavier water group ions. This enhances damping of the waves by protons, and when the pickup proton density is large enough, it can result in the saturation of the instability as this damping balances the heavy ion driven growth. The observed electric field amplitude and the scale length of proton relaxation are in agreement with the theory. For small pickup proton density the instability can saturate due to the wave energy cascade arising from the modulation instability of the large-amplitude lower hybrid waves. This saturation mechanism leads to electron acceleration and suprathermal tail formation.

Shapiro, V. D.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Theoretical calculations of ion acceleration in the vicinity of comet Giacobini-Zinner

Ionization of cometary neutral molecules produces ions which are picked up by the solar wind. The cometary ion pickup process for comet Giacobini-Zinner is studied in two ways: (1) with a test particle method in which trajectories are numerically calculated for several thousand ions whose initial locations were chosen randomly with probability proportional to the neutral density and (2) with a quasi-linear diffusion model. The cometary ion distribution function was calculated with the test particle model at several locations upstream of the bow shock and for several types of magnetic fluctuations (or waves). These waves were allowed to propagate in both directions along the magnetic field at the Alfven speed. Both pitch angle scattering and energy diffusion are evident in the derived ion distributions. The monochromatic waves result in less ion acceleration than turbulent fluctuations with about the same amplitude. The calculated ion distribution functions are in reasonable agreement with the distributions measured in the vicinity of comet Giacobini-Zinner in 1985 by particle detectors on the ICE spacecraft when the ratio of power in sunward propagating Alfven waves to the power in antisunward propagating waves is assumed to lie between about 20% and 50%. However, the quasi-linear diffusion model results agree best with the measured distribution functions when the power ratio is only about 3 percent.

Mckenzie, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Concepts for a theoretical and experimental study of lifting rotor random loads and vibrations (identification of lifting rotor system parameters from transient response data), Phase 7-B

System identification methods have been applied to rotorcraft to estimate stability derivatives from transient flight control response data. While these applications assumed a linear constant coefficient representation of the rotorcraft, the computer experiments used transient responses in flap-bending and torsion of a rotor blade at high advance ratio which is a rapidly time varying periodic system. It was found that a simple system identification method applying a linear sequential estimator also called least square estimator or equation of motion estimator, is suitable for this periodic system and can be used directly if only the acceleration data are noise polluted. In the case of noise being present also in the state variable data the direct application of the estimator gave poor results.

Hohenemser, K. H.↗

NASA NTRS1975

An application of modern control theory to jet propulsion systems

The control of an airbreathing turbojet engine by an onboard digital computer is studied. The approach taken is to model the turbojet engine as a linear, multivariable system whose parameters vary with engine operating environment. From this model adaptive closed-loop or feedback control laws are designed and applied to the acceleration of the turbojet engine.

Merrill, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Determination of natural and cosmic ray induced radionuclides in Apollo 17 lunar samples

Natural and cosmic ray induced radionuclides have been determined in 15 rocks and 7 soils from the Apollo 17 mission by nondestructive gamma-ray spectroscopy. The Th and K contents of these rocks and soils are shown to be linear functions of the U contents. Large amounts of Co-56, Sc-46, and Mn-54 were found in these samples due to the large proton-accelerating flares which occurred between August 2 and 6, 1972. The behavior of the Co-56 activity as a function of the Mn-54 activity seems to be the result of variation in surface to volume ratios among the samples and exposure angle. It is not necessary to invoke an asymetric solar flare flux to explain this behavior.

Keith, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

A numerical algorithm for optimal feedback gains in high dimensional linear quadratic regulator problems

A hybrid method for computing the feedback gains in linear quadratic regulator problem is proposed. The method, which combines use of a Chandrasekhar type system with an iteration of the Newton-Kleinman form with variable acceleration parameter Smith schemes, is formulated to efficiently compute directly the feedback gains rather than solutions of an associated Riccati equation. The hybrid method is particularly appropriate when used with large dimensional systems such as those arising in approximating infinite-dimensional (distributed parameter) control systems (e.g., those governed by delay-differential and partial differential equations). Computational advantages of the proposed algorithm over the standard eigenvector (Potter, Laub-Schur) based techniques are discussed, and numerical evidence of the efficacy of these ideas is presented.

Banks, H. T.↗

NASA NTRS1981

A nonparametric identification method for a class of non-linear systems

A relatively simple nonparametric method for the identification of a class of close-coupled nonlinear multi-degree-of-freedom systems has been developed. The identification of arbitrary memoryless nonlinearities is possible through knowledge of the accelerations, velocities, and displacements of the various masses. These quantities are used to obtain the surfaces of the restoring forces as functions of the intermass displacements and velocities. The method was demonstrated by application to a four-degree-of-freedom system to identify the restoring forces. It is found that the identification results are relatively insensitive to measurement noise.

Udwadia, F. E.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Numerical solution of nonlinear partial differential equations of mixed type

A review is presented of some recently developed numerical methods for the solution of nonlinear equations of mixed type. The methods considered use finite difference approximations to the differential equation. Central difference formulas are employed in the subsonic zone and upwind difference formulas are used in the supersonic zone. The relaxation method for the small disturbance equation is discussed and a description is given of difference schemes for the potential flow equation in quasi-linear form. Attention is also given to difference schemes for the potential flow equation in conservation form, the analysis of relaxation schemes by the time dependent analogy, the accelerated iterative method, and three-dimensional calculations.

Jameson, A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Newton like: Minimal residual methods applied to transonic flow calculations

A computational technique for the solution of the full potential equation is presented. The method consists of outer and inner iterations. The outer iterate is based on a Newton like algorithm, and a preconditioned Minimal Residual method is used to seek an approximate solution of the system of linear equations arising at each inner iterate. The present iterative scheme is formulated so that the uncertainties and difficulties associated with many iterative techniques, namely the requirements of acceleration parameters and the treatment of additional boundary conditions for the intermediate variables, are eliminated. Numerical experiments based on the new method for transonic potential flows around the NACA 0012 airfoil at different Mach numbers and different angles of attack are presented, and these results are compared with those obtained by the Approximate Factorization technique. Extention to three dimensional flow calculations and application in finite element methods for fluid dynamics problems by the present method are also discussed. The Inexact Newton like method produces a smoother reduction in the residual norm, and the number of supersonic points and circulations are rapidly established as the number of iterations is increased.

Wong, Y. S.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Newton-like minimal residual methods applied to transonic flow calculations

Wong, Y. S.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A numerical algorithm for optimal feedback gains in high dimensional LQR problems

A hybrid method for computing the feedback gains in linear quadratic regulator problems is proposed. The method, which combines the use of a Chandrasekhar type system with an iteration of the Newton-Kleinman form with variable acceleration parameter Smith schemes, is formulated so as to efficiently compute directly the feedback gains rather than solutions of an associated Riccati equation. The hybrid method is particularly appropriate when used with large dimensional systems such as those arising in approximating infinite dimensional (distributed parameter) control systems (e.g., those governed by delay-differential and partial differential equations). Computational advantage of the proposed algorithm over the standard eigenvector (Potter, Laub-Schur) based techniques are discussed and numerical evidence of the efficacy of our ideas presented.

Banks, H. T.↗