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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4

Evaluation of nondestructive testing techniques for the space shuttle nonmetallic thermal protection system

A program was conducted to evaluate nondestructive analysis techniques for the detection of defects in rigidized surface insulation (a candidate material for the Space Shuttle thermal protection system). Uncoated, coated, and coated and bonded samples with internal defects (voids, cracks, delaminations, density variations, and moisture content), coating defects (holes, cracks, thickness variations, and loss of adhesion), and bondline defects (voids and unbonds) were inspected by X-ray radiography, acoustic, microwave, high-frequency ultrasonic, beta backscatter, thermal, holographic, and visual techniques. The detectability of each type of defect was determined for each technique (when applicable). A possible relationship between microwave reflection measurements (or X-ray-radiography density measurements) and the tensile strength was established. A possible approach for in-process inspection using a combination of X-ray radiography, acoustic, microwave, and holographic techniques was recommended.

Tiede, D. A.↗

Readings in technology assessment

Papers are presented which reflect research in the following areas: development of the concept of technology assessment; institutionalization of technology assessment; the interface between law and technology assessment; and assessment case studies. Case studies include hazards of the medical use of X-rays, environmental noise effects in transportation planning, genetic technology, impact of underground coal mining, and aircraft/airport noise abatement.

Source record↗

Elastohydrodynamic film thickness model for heavily loaded contacts

An empirical elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness formula for predicting the minimum film thickness occurring within heavily loaded contacts (maximum Hertz stresses above 150,000 psi) was developed. The formula was based upon X-ray film thickness measurements made with synthetic paraffinic, fluorocarbon, Type II ester and polyphenyl ether fluids covering a wide range of test conditions. Comparisons were made between predictions from an isothermal EHD theory and the test data. The deduced relationship was found to adequately reflect the high-load dependence exhibited by the measured data. The effects of contact geometry, material and lubricant properties on the form of the empirical model are also discussed.

Loewenthal, S. H.↗

Elastohydrodynamic film thickness model for heavily loaded contacts

An empirical elastohydrodynamic (EHD) film thickness formula for predicting the minimum film thickness occurring within heavily loaded contacts (maximum Hertz stresses above 1.04 GN/sq m (150,000 psi)) was developed. The formula was based upon X-ray film thickness measurements made with synthetic paraffinic, fluorocarbon, Type II ester, and polyphenyl ether fluids covering a wide range of test conditions. Comparisons were made between predictions from an isothermal EHD theory and the test data. The deduced relationship was found to adequately reflect the high-load dependence exhibited by the measured data. The effects of contact geometry, material, and lubricant properties on the form of the empirical model are also discussed.

Loewenthal, S. H.↗

X-Ray Polarization From the Atoll 4U 1735−44 Suggests a Low Inclination

X-ray polarimetry is a new tool capable of probing the geometry of accretion onto weakly magnetized neutron stars. Here we present the first X-ray spectro-polarimetric results from coordinated observations of the atoll source 4U 1735−44, conducted with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), NICER, and NuSTAR . Over the 2–8 keV energy range, we obtained a marginal detection of polarization with the polarization degree of 1.4% ± 0.7% and polarization angle of −29◦ ± 14◦, corresponding to a 3σ upper limit on the polarization degree of 3.5%. The best-fit model to describe the spectrum comprises a thermal component associated with the accretion disk, a Comptonized black body component, and a relativistic reflection component. From the reflection model, we infer a disk inclination of ∼40◦. The spectroscopic and polarimetric properties of 4U 1735−44 are consistent with those observed in other atoll sources studied by IXPE, with its low polarization likely due to its low inclination

X-rays: binaries↗

A versatile Mossbauer spectrometer and its applications in vibration measurement

A Fe-57 Mossbauer spectrometer, equally efficient in transmission and reflection geometries, is described. The radiation detector consists of a 1.524- by 5.08 by 5.08-cm rectangular NaI(Tl) crystal with a hole 1.524 cm in diameter. The front and back faces of the crystal are covered with beryllium windows 0.0127 cm thick and 3.81 cm in diameter. The energy of the radiation accepted for counting ranges from 6.3 keV conversion X-rays to the 14.4 keV reemitted gamma rays. The spectrometer was used to measure various types of low frequency (10 Hz) and low amplitude (0.254 mm) periodic motion of steel specimens.

Singh, J. J.↗

A focusing collector for long wavelength X-ray astronomy.

Rocket studies of the low-energy X-ray sky conducted so far suffer from serious experimental problems. Therefore, an apparatus was design ed to overcome the outstanding experimental problems. The instrument developed was successfully flown in an Aerobee-170 rocket. The new device utilizes a grazing incidence paraboloid as an energy concentrator and low-pass filter. The effective bandpass of the instrument from 100 to 280 eV is determined by the combination of the counter window transmission and the mirror reflectivity.

Yentis, D. J.↗

Imaging slitless spectrometer for X-ray astronomy

Imaging slitless spectrometer, a combination of an X ray transmission /or reflection/ grating and image-forming X ray telescope, is capable of obtaining simultaneous spatial and spectral information about celestial X ray sources.

Gursky, H.↗

Noncontacting device to indicate deflection of turbopump internal rotating parts

Phase 2 (development) which was concluded for the ultrasonic Doppler device and the light-pipe-reflectance device is reported. An ultrasonic Doppler breadboard system was assembled which accurately measured runout in the J-2 LOX pump impeller during operation. The transducer was mounted on the outside of the pump volute using a C-clamp. Vibration was measured by conducting the ultrasonic wave through the volute housing and through the fluid in the volute to the impeller surface. The impeller vibration was also measured accurately using the light-pipe probe mounted in an elastomeric-gland fitting in the pump case. A special epoxy resin developed for cryogenic applications was forced into the end of the fiber-optic probe to retain the fibers. Subsequently, the probe suffered no damage after simultaneous exposure to 2150 psi and 77 F. Preliminary flash X-radiographs were taken of the turbine wheel and the shaft-bearing-seal assembly, using a 2-megavolt X-ray unit. Reasonable resolution and contrast was obtained. A fast-neutron detector was fabricated and sensitivity was measured. The results demonstrated that the technique is feasible for integrated-time measurements requiring, perhaps, 240 revolutions to obtain sufficient exposure at 35,000 rpm. The experimental verification plans are included.

Hamilton, D. B.↗

A Bragg spectrometer for stellar X-ray astronomy.

Poor energy resolution and the steeply varying continuum spectrum make it impossible to obtain with proportional counters an unambiguous identification of certain emission features of Sco X-1. For this reason a Bragg crystal spectrometer was constructed. The instrument, flown successfully aboard an Aerobee-170 rocket, scanned the spectral range from 2.4 to 2.9 keV. The spectrometer consists of two large reflecting crystals of synthetic graphite. The results obtained during the flight of the instrument clearly indicate that the Bragg method can yield much higher sensitivity to line emission than can proportional counter methods.

Kestenbaum, H.↗

Three mirror glancing incidence system for X-ray telescope

A telescope suitable for soft X-ray astronomical observations consists of a paraboloid section for receiving rays at a grazing angle and a hyperboloid section which receives reflections from the paraboloid at a grazing angle and directs them to a predetermined point of focus. A second hyperboloid section is centrally located from the other two surfaces and positioned to reflect from its outer surface radiation which was not first reflected by the paraboloid. A shutter is included to assist in calibration.

Hoover, R. B.↗

Conical focusing crystal spectrometers for cosmic X-ray astronomy

A crystal spectrometer for rocket and satellite experiments is described. Parallel X rays from a stellar object are reflected at constant angle by Bragg crystals arranged around the sector of a cone so that a single wavelength is brought to a focus onto the axis of the cone. The aberrations produced when this array is tilted to change the wavelength are considered. It is shown that these are minimized by moving cone and detector in a nearly theta to two-theta motion and by using a small-angle sector. In a specific design for a satellite instrument using LiF crystal to observe a spectral region including the iron lines at 1.9 A, a spectral resolution of 3 mA over a spectral range of 1.6-2.1 A can be obtained, with the cosmic-ray background rate, and hence the time to detect a weak line decreased by a factor 80 compared to a flat crystal spectrometer. Examples of performance for a low energy rocket experiment are also given.

Woodgate, B. E.↗

Stellar and solar X-ray polarimetry

Astronomical stellar and solar studies involving X-ray polarimetry are discussed along with the statistical limitations inherent in polarimeter measurements and the design principles of a number of polarimeter types. Attention is given to photoelectric polarimeters, secondary fluorescence X-ray polarimeters, Borrmann-effect polarimeters, circular polarization analyzers, gamma-ray polarimeters, and multilayer reflection polarimeters. Bragg crystal polarimeters are considered, taking into account the theory of the polarimeter operation, aspects of instrument design, and the occurrence of systematic errors. The design and the performance of a rocket and a satellite Thomson-scattering polarimeter are also examined.

Novick, R.↗

Observations of the Circinus X-1 region

The X-ray telescope on board the OSO-7 satellite has provided observations of the Cir X-1 region for over 110 days between December 1971 and March 1973. Although statistically significant fluctuations in the 7- to 11-keV flux were measured, no periodicities in the range between 5 hours and 100 days were found to an upper limit of about 40 percent amplitude. Intensities in the 7- to 57-keV range show variability by a factor of approximately 25 and changes in the spectral shape reflected by a number spectral index varying from about 1.1 to about 3.0. There is a positive correlation between intensity and spectral shape, with a steeper spectrum at times of peak intensity. Although power-law, exponential, and blackbody spectral shapes are equally good fits to these data alone, examination of all the available data appears to rule out a simple blackbody spectrum, at least at times of maximum intensity.

Baity, W. A.↗

Mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry of the lunar samples

The geochemistry of the bulk moon is considered, taking into account the large-scale chemical view of the lunar surface which has been obtained with the aid of three remote sensing experiments utilizing X-ray fluorescence, a gamma-ray spectrometer, and visible and near infrared reflectance measurements. Attention is also given to the regolith, the mare basins, and the lunar highlands and crust.

Warner, J.↗

Molecular hydrogen in the Galaxy and galactic gamma rays

Recent surveys of 2.6-cm CO emission and 100-MeV gamma-radiation in the galactic plane reveal a striking correlation suggesting that both emissions may be primarily proportional to the line-of-sight column density of H2 in the inner Galaxy. Both the gamma-ray and CO data suggest a prominent ring or arm consisting of cool clouds of H2 at a galactocentric distance of about 5 kpc with a mean total hydrogen density equivalent to approximately 5 atoms per cu cm. Estimates are made of column densities of H2 at 0 deg galactic longitude and are compared with estimates from infrared and X-ray absorption measurements. These estimates are all consistent, indicating that H2 is far more abundant than H I in the inner Galaxy and is the key to a more satisfactory explanation of the gamma-ray observations than previous suggestions. The importance of H2 in understanding galactic gamma-ray observations is also reflected in the correlation of galactic-latitude distribution of gamma-rays and dense dust clouds. The deduced cosmic-ray distribution inferred from the calculations is similar to that of galactic supernova remnants, suggesting a galactic origin for most cosmic rays.

Stecker, F. W.↗