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NASA NTRS1991

The Cepheid distance scale

Developments concerning the period-luminosity (PL) relation for classical Cepheids are discussed with particular emphasis on the fact that Cepheids continue to provide the most homogeneous and reliable set of distances to many nearby galaxies. Observational programs relating to extragalactic Cepheids are also reviewed, and new distances and reddenings to individual galaxies are determined from these data using multiwavelength PL relations, based for the first time on self-consistent calibrating data sets. Three recent promising secondary extragalactic distance indicators (Tully-Fisher, planetary nebula luminosity functions, and surface-brightness fluctuations) tie their zero points to the Cepheid distance scale and give globally consistent values for the Hubble constant of about 80 km/sec/Mpc. Tying the Faber-Jackson relation and the supernova distance scales to the Leo and Virgo clusters yields similar results. Such a value for the Hubble constant is marginally inconsistent with new estimates of the ages of globular clusters, and it may prove to be a serious problem for standard cold-dark-matter models of the universe.

Madore, Barry F.↗

NASA NTRS1992

New Cepheid distances to nearby galaxies based on BVRI CCD photometry. III - NGC 300

A true distance modulus of (m - M) sub 0 = 26.66 +/- 0.10 mag (corresponding to 2.1 +/- 0.1 Mpc) has been determined for the Sculptor Group spiral galaxy NGC 300. New CCD data have been obtained for a sample of known Cepheids in this galaxy from which apparent distance moduli at B, V, R, and I wavelengths are determined. Combining the data available at different wavelenghts, and assuming a true distance modulus to the LMC of 18.5 mag, a true distance modulus is obtained for NGC 300, corrected for the effects of interstellar reddening. The availability of a new distance to NGC 300 brings to five the total number of galaxies with new CCD photometry of Cepheids, useful for calibration of the Hubble constant.

Freedman, Wendy L.↗

NASA NTRS1993

On the distance to Galactic planetary nebulae

The distances are determined for 145 Galactic PNe using two methods. The distances for a sample of 131 PNe are determined using method A, based on the stellar mass and surface gravity. Method B, making use of the stellar luminosity, is applied to another sample of 61 PNe, of which 47 are in common with those in the sample for method A. The properties of the central star, such as the core mass, luminosity, and surface gravity, are inferred from the modeling of the distance-independent parameters. The results from the two methods used in this paper are consistent with each other. A distance of 11.3 kpc is found for K648 using method A of this work. This is in good agreement with the distance of 10 kpc of its hosting globular cluster M15.

Zhang, C. Y.↗

NASA NTRS1995

ACTS for distance education in developing countries

The need for electrical energy supply in the rural communities of developing countries has been well documented. Equally well known is the potential for photovoltaic in cost effectively meeting this need. A major impediment to fulfilling the need is the lack of indigenous personnel with a knowledgeof photovoltaic systems, and the associated infrastructure required to implement project. Various delivery schemes for providing the needed training to developing countries personnel have been investigated. Various train methods and programs that have been employed to remedy the problem have had significant drawbacks in terms of cost, consistency, impact, reach, and sustainability. The hypothesis to be tested in this project posits that satellite-based distance education using ACTS technologies can overcome these impediments. The purpose of the project is to investigate the applicability of the ACTS satellite in providing distance education in photovoltaic systems to developing countries and rural communities. An evaluation of the cost effectiveness of using ACTS unique technologies to overcome identified problems shall be done. The limitations of ACTS in surmounting distance education problems in developing countries shall be investigated. This project will, furthermore, provide training to Savannah State College faculty in photovoltaic (PV) systems and in distance education configurations and models. It will also produce training materials adequate for use in PV training programs via distance education. Savannah State College will, as a consequence become well equipped to play a leading role in the training of minority populations in photovoltaic systems and other renewables through its Center for Advanced Water Technology and Energy Systems. This communication provides the project outline including the specific issues that will be investigated during the project. Also presented i the project design which covers the participations of the various components of a network of institutions that is formed for optimal project execution. The expected results and project output, including plans for potential leverages and linkages to be derived, are also discussed. Finally, we point out possible extensions from this project and other related projects that could be initiated based on the experiences gained from the project.

Kalu, A↗

NASA NTRS1998

Distance Learning With NASA Lewis Research Center's Learning Technologies Project

The NASA Lewis Research Center's Learning Technologies Project (LTP) has responded to requests from local school district technology coordinators to provide content for videoconferencing workshops. Over the past year we have offered three teacher professional development workshops that showcase NASA Lewis-developed educational products and NASA educational Internet sites. In order to determine the direction of our involvement with distance learning, the LTP staff conducted a survey of 500 U.S. schools. We received responses from 72 schools that either currently use distance learning or will be using distance learning in 98-99 school year. The results of the survey are summarized in the article. In addition, the article provides information on distance learners, distance learning technologies, and the NASA Lewis LTP videoconferencing workshops. The LTP staff will continue to offer teacher development workshops through videoconferencing during the 98-99 school year. We hope to add workshops on new educational products as they are developed at NASA Lewis.

Petersen, Ruth↗

NASA NTRS1999

Phase Time and Envelope Time in Time-Distance Analysis and Acoustic Imaging

Time-distance analysis and acoustic imaging are two related techniques to probe the local properties of solar interior. In this study, we discuss the relation of phase time and envelope time between the two techniques. The location of the envelope peak of the cross correlation function in time-distance analysis is identified as the travel time of the wave packet formed by modes with the same w/l. The phase time of the cross correlation function provides information of the phase change accumulated along the wave path, including the phase change at the boundaries of the mode cavity. The acoustic signals constructed with the technique of acoustic imaging contain both phase and intensity information. The phase of constructed signals can be studied by computing the cross correlation function between time series constructed with ingoing and outgoing waves. In this study, we use the data taken with the Taiwan Oscillation Network (TON) instrument and the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument. The analysis is carried out for the quiet Sun. We use the relation of envelope time versus distance measured in time-distance analyses to construct the acoustic signals in acoustic imaging analyses. The phase time of the cross correlation function of constructed ingoing and outgoing time series is twice the difference between the phase time and envelope time in time-distance analyses as predicted. The envelope peak of the cross correlation function between constructed ingoing and outgoing time series is located at zero time as predicted for results of one-bounce at 3 mHz for all four data sets and two-bounce at 3 mHz for two TON data sets. But it is different from zero for other cases. The cause of the deviation of the envelope peak from zero is not known.

Chou, Dean-Yi↗

NASA NTRS2003

Transport Equation Based Wall Distance Computations Aimed at Flows With Time-Dependent Geometry

Eikonal, Hamilton-Jacobi and Poisson equations can be used for economical nearest wall distance computation and modification. Economical computations may be especially useful for aeroelastic and adaptive grid problems for which the grid deforms, and the nearest wall distance needs to be repeatedly computed. Modifications are directed at remedying turbulence model defects. For complex grid structures, implementation of the Eikonal and Hamilton-Jacobi approaches is not straightforward. This prohibits their use in industrial CFD solvers. However, both the Eikonal and Hamilton-Jacobi equations can be written in advection and advection-diffusion forms, respectively. These, like the Poisson s Laplacian, are commonly occurring industrial CFD solver elements. Use of the NASA CFL3D code to solve the Eikonal and Hamilton-Jacobi equations in advective-based forms is explored. The advection-based distance equations are found to have robust convergence. Geometries studied include single and two element airfoils, wing body and double delta configurations along with a complex electronics system. It is shown that for Eikonal accuracy, upwind metric differences are required. The Poisson approach is found effective and, since it does not require offset metric evaluations, easiest to implement. The sensitivity of flow solutions to wall distance assumptions is explored. Generally, results are not greatly affected by wall distance traits.

Tucker, Paul G.↗

NASA NTRS2003

Transport Equation Based Wall Distance Computations Aimed at Flows With Time-Dependent Geometry

Eikonal, Hamilton-Jacobi and Poisson equations can be used for economical nearest wall distance computation and modification. Economical computations may be especially useful for aeroelastic and adaptive grid problems for which the grid deforms, and the nearest wall distance needs to be repeatedly computed. Modifications are directed at remedying turbulence model defects. For complex grid structures, implementation of the Eikonal and Hamilton-Jacobi approaches is not straightforward. This prohibits their use in industrial CFD solvers. However, both the Eikonal and Hamilton-Jacobi equations can be written in advection and advection-diffusion forms, respectively. These, like the Poisson's Laplacian, are commonly occurring industrial CFD solver elements. Use of the NASA CFL3D code to solve the Eikonal and Hamilton-Jacobi equations in advective-based forms is explored. The advection-based distance equations are found to have robust convergence. Geometries studied include single and two element airfoils, wing body and double delta configurations along with a complex electronics system. It is shown that for Eikonal accuracy, upwind metric differences are required. The Poisson approach is found effective and, since it does not require offset metric evaluations, easiest to implement. The sensitivity of flow solutions to wall distance assumptions is explored. Generally, results are not greatly affected by wall distance traits.

Tucker, Paul G.↗

NASA NTRS1986

An improved approach to the analysis of drug-protein binding by distance geometry

The calculation of side chain centers of coordinates and the subsequent generation of side chain-side chain and side chain-backbone distance matrices is suggested as an improved method for viewing interactions inside proteins and for the comparison of protein structures. The use of side chain distance matrices is demonstrated with free PTI, and the use of difference distance matrices for side chains is shown for free and trypsin-bound PTI as well as for the X-ray structures of trypsin complexes with PTI and with benzamidine. It is found that conformational variations are reflected in the side chain distance matrices much more than in the standard C-C distance representations.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

NASA NTRS1994

Distance to the Virgo Cluster Galaxy M100 from Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Cepheids

Accurate distances to galaxies are critical to determining the present expansion rate of the Universe or Hubble Constant (H(sub 0)). An important step in resolving the current uncertainty in H(sub 0) is the measurement of the distance to the Virgo cluster of galaxies. New observations using the Hubble Space Telescope yield a distance of 17.1 +/- 1.8 Mpc to the Virgo cluster galaxy M100. This distance leads to a value of H(sub 0) = 17 km/sec/Mpc. A comparable value of H(sub 0) is also derived from the Coma cluster using independent estimates of its distance ratio relative to the Virgo cluster.

cluster expansion rate↗

NASA NTRS2007

Effects of Speed and Visual-Target Distance on Toe Trajectory During the Swing Phase of Treadmill Walking

Toe trajectory during swing phase is a precise motor control task that can provide insights into the sensorimotor control of the legs. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in vertical toe trajectory during treadmill walking due to changes in walking speed and target distance. For each trial, subjects walked on a treadmill at one of five speeds while performing a dynamic visual acuity task at either a far or near target distance (five speeds two targets distances = ten trials). Toe clearance decreased with increasing speed, and the vertical toe peak just before heel strike increased with increasing speed, regardless of target distance. The vertical toe peak just after toe-off was lower during near-target visual acuity tasks than during far-target tasks, but was not affected by speed. The ankle of the swing leg appeared to be the main joint angle that significantly affected all three toe trajectory events. The foot angle of the swing leg significantly affected toe clearance and the toe peak just before heel strike. These results will be used to enhance the analysis of lower limb kinematics during the sensorimotor treadmill testing, where differing speeds and/or visual target distances may be used.

Miller, Christopher A.↗

NASA NTRS1952

Time Variation of the Distance Separating Bomb and Dive Bomber Subsequent to Bomb Release

A study has been made of the variation of the distance separating bomb and aircraft with time after release as applied to dive-bombing operations, Separation distances determined from this study are presented in terms of two variables only, dive angle and maximum airplane accelerometer reading; the values of separation distance include the effects of delay in initiation of the pull-out and lag in attainment of the maximum normal acceleration.Contains analysis and calculations of the separation distances between bomb and dive bomber following bomb release, Separation distances as determined by the dive angle and the maximum airplane accelerometer reading are presented in a single chart.

Mathews, Charles W.↗

NASA NTRS2022

Constraints on Axions from Cosmic Distance Measurements

Axion couplings to photons could induce photon-axion conversion in the presence of magnetic fields in the Universe. This conversion could impact various cosmic distance measurements, such as luminosity distances to type Ia supernovae and angular distances to galaxy clusters, in different ways. In this paper we consider different combinations of the most up-to-date distance measurements to constrain the axion-photon coupling. Employing the conservative cell magnetic field model for the magnetic fields in the intergalactic medium (IGM) and ignoring the conversion in the intracluster medium (ICM), we find the upper bounds on axion-photon couplings to be around 5 × 10^(−12) (nG/B) √(Mpc/s) Ge/V for axion masses m(a) below 10^(−13) eV, where B is the strength of the IGM magnetic field, and s is the comoving size of the magnetic domains. When including the conversion in the ICM, the upper bound is lowered and could reach 5 × 10^(−13) Ge/V for m(a) < 5 × 10^(−12) eV. While this stronger bound depends on the ICM modeling, it is independent of the strength of the IGM magnetic field, for which there is no direct evidence yet. These constraints could be placed on firmer footing with an enhanced understanding and control of the astrophysical uncertainties associated with the IGM and ICM. All the bounds are determined by the shape of the Hubble rate as a function of redshift reconstructable from various distance measurements, and insensitive to today’s Hubble rate, of which there is a tension between early and late cosmological measurements. As an appendix, we discuss the model building challenges of the use of photon-axion conversion to make type Ia supernovae brighter to alleviate the Hubble problem/crisis.

Cosmology of Theories beyond the SM↗

NASA NTRS2003

Absolute Distance Measurement with the MSTAR Sensor

The MSTAR sensor (Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Ranging) is a new system for measuring absolute distance, capable of resolving the integer cycle ambiguity of standard interferometers, and making it possible to measure distance with sub-nanometer accuracy. The sensor uses a single laser in conjunction with fast phase modulators and low frequency detectors. We describe the design of the system - the principle of operation, the metrology source, beamlaunching optics, and signal processing - and show results for target distances up to 1 meter. We then demonstrate how the system can be scaled to kilometer-scale distances.

modulation sideband technology for absolute rangin↗

NASA NTRS1975

A noise study of the A-6 airplane and techniques for reducing its aural detection distance

A study was undertaken to determine the noise reduction potential of the A-6 airplane in order to reduce its aural detection distance. Static and flyby noise measurements were taken to document the basic airplane signature. The low-frequency noise which is generally most critical for aural detection was found to be broad-band in nature from this airplane, and its source is the turbojet engine exhaust. High-frequency compressor noise, which is characteristic of turbojet powerplants, and which is prominent at close range for this airplane, has no measurable effect on aural detection distance. The use of fluted-engine exhaust nozzles to change the far-field noise spectra is suggested as a possible means for reducing the aural detection distances. Detection distances associated with eight-lobe and four-lobe nozzles are estimated for a 1,000-foot altitude and grassy terrain to decrease from 4 miles to about 3 miles, and from 3 miles to about 2 miles for a 300-foot altitude and grassy terrain.

Hilton, D. A.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Cool flame quench distances

The results of a brief experimental investigation are presented which confirm the expectation that cool flame quenching distances should be larger than hot flame quenching distances. It is also discovered that whereas quenching distances for hot flames reach their minimum values near stoichiometric conditions, cool flame quenching distances are least under rich conditions. Rich conditions are well known to favor cool flame formation.

Ryason, P. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Heliocentric distance dependence of the interplanetary magnetic field

Numerous spacecraft measurements bearing on the heliocentric distance dependencies of both large- and small-scale properties of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) are assembled and compared. These data tend to indicate that the average of the radial field component varies as the inverse square of distance. However, the azimuthal component is rather strongly a function of time, being influenced by both the time-dependent solar wind speed and the evolution of the source field at the sun. Thus, unless the solar wind speed dependence is taken into account, individual sets of measurements by a single spacecraft give an azimuthal component gradient which is steeper than the inverse distance dependence predicted from the Parker spiral model. A least squares fit to the composite (five spacecraft) solar rotation average data set gives a result close to the inverse distance dependence. Preliminary Helios results suggest general consistency with the spiral model.

Behannon, K. W.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Preliminary evaluation of time and distance spacing cues using a cockpit displayed target

A simulator evaluation was conducted to compare time and distance selfspacing cues wherein a pilot establishes and maintains separation from a cockpit displayed target. Langley's terminal configured vehicle simulator which represents an advanced aircraft employing cathode ray tubes for primary flight displays and highly augmented flight control modes was used. Three tasks, two in trail rendezvous tasks (target straight and level and target turning) and one merge task were utilized. Three pilots flew each task twice, once with a time predictor cue and once with a distance predictor. Both time and distance spacing methods are operationally acceptable to the pilots. A slight preference was indicated by the pilots for the distance based predictor in performing rendezvous and merging tasks. Analysis of the recorded data showed the spacing performance with both predictors was essentially the same.

Kelly, J. R.↗