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At least 721 records · Page 40

Demonstration of rapid-scan two-dimensional laser velocimetry in the Langley Vortex Research Facility for research in aerial applications

Tests were conducted to demonstrate a rapid scan two dimensional laser velocimeter (LV) measurement technique for aerial applications research. The LV system is capable of simultaneously measuring both vertical and axial flow velocity components in a near or far field vortex system. Velocity profiles were successfully measured in the wake vortex of a representative agricultural aircraft model, with the vortex system rapidly transporting in ground effect. Results indicate that the laser velocimetry technique can provide quantitative information of wake vortex characteristics in ground effect.

Gartrell, L. R.↗

Determination of the line shapes of atomic nitrogen resonance lines by magnetic scans

A technique is given for calibrating an atomic nitrogen resonance lamp for use in determining column densities of atoms in specific states. A discharge lamp emitting the NI multiplets at 1200 A and 1493 A is studied by obtaining absorption by atoms in a magnetic field (0-2.5 T). This magnetic scanning technique enables the determination of the absorbing atom column density, and an empirical curve of growth is obtained because the atomic f-value is known. Thus, the calibrated lamp can be used in the determination of atomic column densities.

Lawrence, G. M.↗

Photoelectron counting with an image intensifier tube and a self-scanned photodiode array

A self-scanned photodiode array was fiber-optically coupled to an ITT proximity-focused image intensifier tube. It was determined that a single photoelectron event produces 34,000 charge carriers in a photodiode. This charge is only a factor of 2.8 above the rms noise level of the preamplifier used in the tests, but standard charge-sensitive techniques are at least a factor of 12 better. The image tube and photodiode array combination can be packaged in a disk 5.1 cm in diameter and 2.6 cm thick.

Sandel, B. R.↗

Slow scan SEC vidicon system

A slow scan SEC vidicon system is described here. This system is coupled to the 152.4-cm (60-in) McMath telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. An anamorphic lens system is used to couple optically the vertical spectrograph to the vidicon system. The resolutin of the over-all system is 55 mA, while the resolution of the spectrograph alone is 50 mA. Actual observational results are used to evaluate the system performance.

Chiu, H.-Y.↗

The Mount Wilson solar magnetograph - Scanning and data system

The paper describes a computer-operated image-scanning and data-collection system for the magnetograph at the Mt. Wilson 150-foot Tower telescope. The system is based on a minicomputer with a 32K word core memory and a generalized interface unit for controlling image motion, a keyboard, and an associated television screen. Operation of the solar image guider and the data-collection assembly is outlined along with the observation and data-reduction procedures. Advantages of the system include the ability to move the image in almost any conceivable fashion, a wide choice of integration times, and increased accuracy in magnetic and Doppler calibrations as well as in setting of the magnetic zero level.

Howard, R.↗

The HEAO-A Scanning Modulation Collimator instrument

The Scanning Modulation Collimator X-ray instrument for the HEAO-A satellite was designed to measure celestial radiation in the range between 1 and 15 KeV and to resolve, and correlate, the position of X-ray sources with visible light sources on the celestial sphere to within 5 arc seconds. The positional accuracy is made possible by mechanical collimation of the X-ray sources viewed by the instrument. High sensitivity is provided from two systems each containing four gas filled proportional counters followed by preamplification, signal summing, pulse height analysis, pulse shape discrimination, X-ray event accumulators and telemetry processing electronics.

Roy, A.↗

Electronic imaging and scanning system

Frequency-variable illumination has been used previously to provide high resolution imaging in one dimension. The paper extends the results on this imaging by frequency scanning to derive the expression for a two-dimensional image. This is the Fourier transformation, with respect to the angle and frequency of illumination, of the electric field detected in the far-field region of the object. The case is considered of a rough object and it is shown that for roughness finer than the resolution of the imaging system, the image has a granular appearance corresponding to the classical speckle effect. Large scale phase perturbations lead to the elevation displacement effect.

Jain, A.↗

The imaging photopolarimeter - The first extraterrestrial spin-scan imager

The paper describes the imaging photopolarimeter used to take close-ups of Jupiter from Pioneers 10 and 11. The instrument operates in a steerable spin-scan mode of operation, contains a 1 in. diameter, f/3.4 Maksutov telescope with a focal plane aperture whose size is selectable. The paper examines those aspects of the design that are substantially influenced by the unusual design constraints, such as choice of detector and method of steering the telescope, and demonstrates the image processing and display techniques used to create the images from the telemetry and correct them for distortion and other defects.

Swindell, W.↗

A scanning multichannel microwave radiometer for Nimbus-G and SeaSat-A

A scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) has been designed for the Nimbus-G spacecraft and incorporated also into the SeaSat-A payload for the primary purpose of determining sea surface temperatures and wind stress on a nearly all-weather basis. Observations of microwave polarization components will be made at wavelengths of 0.8, 1.4, 1.7, 2.8, and 4.6 cm over a swath 822 km wide below the Nimbus-G and 595 km wide below the SeaSat-A spacecraft. The smallest spatial resolution cell is about 20 km at a wavelength of 0.8 cm, and proportionately larger at the other wavelengths. Using algorithms based on a combination of experimental data and physical models for converting the observed brightness temperatures, the indicated accuracy of the results (excluding conditions of significant rainfall) are within 1 K for sea surface temperature and 2 m/s for surface wind speeds, over a range from 0-50 m/s.

Gloersen, P.↗

Self-scanned anode array with a microchannel plate electron multiplier - The SSANACON

A photoelectron counting detector utilizing a 128-element linear self-scanned anode array to collect the output of a dual microchannel plate electron multiplier is described. The operation of the detector, its spatial resolution and detection efficiency, and radiation behavior are discussed. The low-noise detector was developed for the Mariner Jupiter/Saturn mission UV spectrometer, and offers a large dynamic range and count rate of 0.003 per anode-sec. It can measure simultaneously two spatially separated signals differing by more than six orders of magnitude in count rate.

Broadfoot, A. L.↗

Far-infrared scans of the Galactic plane

Results are reported for balloon-borne scans of the Galactic plane between longitudes of 348 and 32.5 deg, which were made in two broad spectral bands from 60 to 300 microns and from 150 to 300 microns. These results indicate that there are many bright H II regions embedded in a diffuse underlying band of emission in the examined longitude range, that the color temperatures range from 30 to 90 K, and that the width of the plane is at least 2 deg of arc in both spectral bands. A lower-limit IR luminosity of the order of 1 billion suns is computed for both the bright complex of sources at the nucleus and the underlying diffuse emission out to about + or -15 deg of arc from the nucleus. The strong relationship between far-IR emission and radio continuum expected for discrete sources is illustrated, and the results are compared with those of previous studies. It is concluded that the total far-IR luminosity of the central part of the Galaxy is understandable solely in terms of known distributions of stars and dust.

Low, F. J.↗

Energy conservation, using remote thermal scanning

Airborne thermal infrared scans and thermal maps utilized in NASA's energy conservation program have proven to be efficient cost-effective method for identifying heat losses from building roofs and heating system distribution lines. Method employs commercially available equipment in highly developed way.

Bowman, R. L.↗

A low-cost system for reception and processing of line-scan data from LANDSAT and other sources

A low-cost transportable earth resources ground station was built in Canada and installed to operational status at Shoe Cove, Newfoundland. The system concepts developed for this station provide timely availability of data in both photographic and digital form. The system was designed with several objectives in mind: (1) to provide a system which could receive, store and process line-scan image data from a wide variety of satellites, most especially the LANDSAT and NOAA (VHRR) series, as well as aircraft scanner data, and data from future remote sensing and meteorological satellites; (2) the system has been designed to be operated by a small staff and to produce black and white images and computer-compatible tapes (CCT's) of all relevant data; (3) the system is compact in its physical design so that it is possible to configure it as a self-contained ground station, housed in a 3 x 12 meter trailer; (4) the system is designed to process all data at real-time rates or better and is designed in a modular fashion so that it can be easily upgraded to do further processing of the data, and/or to handle new satellites and sensors.

Sloan, D. S.↗

Differential scanning calorimetry of coal

Differential scanning calorimetry studies performed during the first year of this project demonstrated the occurrence of exothermic reactions associated with the production of volatile matter in or near the plastic region. The temperature and magnitude of the exothermic peak were observed to be strongly affected by the heating rate, sample mass and, to a lesser extent, by sample particle size. Thermal properties also were found to be influenced by oxidation of the coal sample due to weathering effects.

Gold, P. I.↗

Airline pilot scanning behavior during approaches and landing in a Boeing 737 simulator

A series of approaches using airline-rated Boeing 737 pilots in an FAA qualified simulator was conducted. The test matrices include both manual and coupled approaches for VFR, Category 1 and Category 2 conditions. A nonintrusive oculometer system was used to track the pilot's eye-point-of-regard throughout the approach. The results indicate that, in general, the pilots use a different scan technique for the manual and coupled (auto-pilot with manual throttle) conditions. For the manual approach 73 percent of the time was spent on the Flight Director and 13 percent on airspeed as opposed to 50 percent on Flight Director and 23 percent on airspeed for the coupled approaches. For the visual portion of approach from less than 100m to touchdown or when the touchdown point came into view, the pilots tend to fixate on their aim or touchdown area until the flare initiation, at which time they let their eye-point-of-regard move up the runway to use the centerline lights for rollout guidance.

Spady, A. A., Jr.↗

Elevation scanning laser/multi-sensor hazard detection system controller and mirror/mast speed control components

The electro-mechanical and electronic systems involved with pointing a laser beam from a roving vehicle along a desired vector are described. A rotating 8 sided mirror, driven by a phase-locked dc motor servo system, and monitored by a precision optical shaft encoder is used. This upper assembly is then rotated about an orthogonal axis to allow scanning into all 360 deg around the vehicle. This axis is also driven by a phase locked dc motor servo-system, and monitored with an optical shaft encoder. The electronics are realized in standard TTL integrated circuits with UV-erasable proms used to store desired coordinates of laser fire. Related topics such as the interface to the existing test vehicle are discussed.

Craig, J.↗

Magnetometer with a miniature transducer and automatic scanning

The magnetometer is based on the time variation of the magnetic permeability in the magnetic material of its transducer; however, its operation is substantially different from the ordinary flux-gate magnetometer. The transducer uses 0.05 mm diameter plated magnetic wire and is made flat enabling it to make measurements of transverse magnetic fields as close as 0.08 mm from the surface, and it has very good spatial resolution because of its small active region of approximately 0.64 mm by 0.76 mm. The magnetometer uses an inexpensive clip-on millimeter for driving and processing the electrical signals and readout. It also utilizes an automatic scanning technique which is made possible by a specially designed transducer holding mechanism that replaces the ink pen on an X-Y recorder.

Debnam, W. J. J.↗

The Seasat-A Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer

A Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer has been designed for the Nimbus-G Spacecraft and incorporated also into the Seasat-A payload for the primary purpose of determining sea surface temperatures and wind stress on a nearly all-weather basis. Observations of microwave polarization components will be made at wavelengths of 0.8, 1.4, 1.7, 2.8, and 4.6 cm over a swath 577 km wide below the Seasat-A spacecraft. The smallest spatial resolution cell is 15 x 23 km at a wavelength of 0.8 cm, and proportionately larger at the other wavelengths. Using experimentally determined algorithms for converting the observed brightness temperatures, the indicated accuracies of the results (excluding conditions of significant rainfall) are within 1 K for sea surface temperature and 2 m/sec for surface wind speeds, over a range from 0-50 m/sec.

Gloersen, P.↗