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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 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Diurnal Variation of the Planetary Boundary Layer Height Observed from GNSS Radio Occultation and Radiosonde Soundings over the Southern Great Plains

>The planetary boundary layer (PBL) height (PBLH) is a key physical parameter of the PBL affected by numerous physical processes within the boundary layer. Specifically, the PBLH over land exhibits large spatial and temporal variation across different geographical regions. In this study, the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) radio occultation (RO) profiles and high-resolution radiosonde profiles from 2007 to 2013 were analyzed to estimate the diurnal cycle of the PBLH over the Southern Great Plains (SGP) in the United States. Large variations in PBLH derived from radiosonde temperature, moisture, and refractivity are observed on seasonal scales. COSMIC RO is capable of observing diurnal and seasonal variations in the terrestrial PBLH over the SGP region. Annual mean diurnal amplitude of approximately 250 m in the terrestrial PBLH was observed, with maxima occurring at around 1500 local solar time (LST) in both the collocated radiosondes and COSMIC RO profiles. Seasonal changes in the PBLH diurnal cycles ranging from approximately 100 to 400 m were also observed. Such PBL diurnal and seasonal changes can be further incorporated into PBL parameterizations to help improve weather and climate model prediction. Significance Statement. The atmospheric planetary boundary layer (PBL) and its height (PBLH) control many atmospheric processes that affect our everyday lives. Observations of the PBL are usually limited to radiosondes at limited time intervals. GNSS radio occultation (RO) provide high-vertical-resolution atmospheric observations that are ideal for PBL study. This study demonstrates that the GNSS RO is capable of capturing the diurnal and seasonal variations of the PBLH over the southern Great Plains (SGP) well as compared to the collocated radiosonde observations.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

OrganiCam: a lightweight time-resolved laser-induced luminescence imager and Raman spectrometer for planetary organic material characterization

OrganiCam is a laser-induced luminescence imager and spectrometer designed for standoff organic and biosignature detection on planetary bodies. OrganiCam uses a diffused laser beam (12° cone) to cover a large area at several meters distance and records luminescence on half of its intensified detector. The diffuser can be removed to record Raman and fluorescence spectra from a small spot from 2 m standoff distance. OrganiCam’s small size and light weight makes it ideal for surveying organics on planetary surfaces. Here, we have designed and built a brassboard version of the OrganiCam instrument and performed initial tests of the system.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2016

Analysis of a planetary-rotation system for evaporated optical coatings

The impact of planetary-design considerations for optical coating deposition is analyzed, including the ideal number of planets, variations in system performance, and the deviation of planet motion from the ideal. System capacity is maximized for four planets, although substrate size can significantly influence this result. Guidance is provided in the design of high-performance deposition systems based on the relative impact of different error modes. As a result, errors in planet mounting such that the planet surface is not perpendicular to its axis of rotation are particularly problematic, suggesting planetary design modifications would be appropriate.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

ZFSP Proposal: Understanding the Physics and Chemistry of Iron Alloys relevant to the Conditions of Planetary Cores

Recent research results by the deep-Earth geoscience and astronomy communities have revealed a wealth of interesting and outstanding fundamental science questions about the interiors of terrestrial planets and exoplanets including the origin of the magnetic field in the iron core and its impact on the evolution of life, the alloying of light elements on physics and chemistry of the planet’s dynamic processes, and the discovery of super-rotation and heterogeneous behavior of the inner core. Resolving these questions requires a first-hand experimental database at relevant pressure-temperature (P-T) conditions, but is technically challenging using static diamond anvil cell (DAC) and dynamic shock wave efforts alone, due to their limited P-T conditions and analytical capabilities. However, the recent advent of new capabilities of Sandia’s Z-Machine, coupled with our recent developments in in-situ ellipsometry at the UT Austin and Sandia National Laboratory and first-principles calculations and geodynamic modelling capabilities at UC Berkeley, motivates the joint collaborative effort presented here. In this collaborative research, we will use the capabilities of Sandia’s Z-Machine to investigate the elastic, thermal transport and melting properties of material relevant to both Earth and exoplanets at their relative P-T conditions. Our long-term research goal is to better understand the physics and dynamics of planetary interiors through interdisciplinary collaborations between physicists, mineral physicists, theorists, geodynamicists, and astrophysicists. The conditions in the Earth and super-Earth can range up to ~300-500 GPa and ~5000-8000 K. We will couple these experiments with a unique set of diagnostics, to include a new ellipsometry capability, in order to sensitively measure conductivity of these materials, and phase changes, including melting. Specifically, the newly demonstrated capability of Z to shock materials to a given P-T along the Hugoniot, and then to apply a pressure ramp taking the material along an isentrope, provides a unique opportunity to obtain P-T conditions not accessible by traditional DAC technology, or through shocks simply along the Hugoniot. Our physics team will perform experiments and analyze results to determine the physics underlying iron alloys as high-energy planetary impactors, classic transition metal alloys, and iron-bearing periclase relevant to the interiors of rocky planets, including exoplanets. The experimental results so analyzed will provide data that our collaborative team of mineral physicists, geodynamics, seismologists, and astrophysicists will apply toward obtaining a fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical states of the terrestrial planets and exoplanets, including their chemical compositions, thermal transport behavior, origin of magnetic fields, and dynamic evolution of the planet.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Machine Learns to Predict the Stability of Highly Diverse Multi-planetary Systems

Machine learning has proven to be an invaluable tool for characterizing the stability of planets in simplified planetary systems. In this work, we investigate the performance of a machine learning classifier on tightlypacked systems containing a rich diversity of planets, from Earths to Jupiters. Using information derived from short numerical simulations about a planet’s early orbital evolution and its relationship with the most massive planets in the system, we train a random forest classifier to predict instability with a > 88 percent accuracy. Our classifier relies on relative planet masses and the standard deviation of eccentricity for much of its predictive power. Most misclassified planets lie along a multi-dimensional boundary between stable and unstable planets, indicating that their early orbital evolution is ambiguous. The major reason for misclassification in this work is timescale: because our classifier uses information from only the first 137 years of simulation data, it is blind to late time interactions that cause or prevent instability. Machine learning methods like those utilized in this work provide powerful tools to complement numerical simulations across a wide range of planetary architectures.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

A Machine Learns to Predict the Stability of Highly Diverse Multi-planetary Systems [Slides]

We’ve discovered over 4,000 exoplanets in more than 500 systems. Why do none of these systems resemble our Solar System? How do planetary systems organize themselves? How do planets’ orbits evolve over time? What causes orbital instability? What are indicators of instability? Evolution of high multiplicity planetary systems is an analytically unsolved problem. Assessing the stability of these systems is usually done through computationally expensive N-body simulations. The report provides further details about the author's research, methods and conclusions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Inferring Water Content from Neutron Die-away Curves for Planetary Science Applications

Signatures of liquid water on planetary bodies may provide evidence for past, present, or future life elsewhere in the solar system. Multiple current and upcoming planetary science missions are prioritizing the search for water, using innovative technologies and creative algorithms. For this project, we explore the capabilities of an instrument similar to the Dragonfly spacecraft to map water content on the surface of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn. We simulate Dragonfly’s neutron observations for a variety of soil compositions and develop multiple techniques to extract water content from the resultant neutron data. Additionally, we supplement neutron observations with gamma spectroscopy in an attempt to further refine water content estimates. This work is part of a larger study to employ Gaussian process regression to estimate a map of water content along the surface of Titan. Using the estimated map, an algorithm based on prediction difference mapping is employed to optimally move multiple Dragonfly detectors around the surface of Titan, fully autonomously.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2019

Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context

Prokaryotic life has dominated most of the evolutionary history of our planet, evolving to occupy virtually all available environmental niches. Extremophiles, especially those thriving under multiple extremes, represent a key area of research for multiple disciplines, spanning from the study of adaptations to harsh conditions, to the biogeochemical cycling of elements. Extremophile research also has implications for origin of life studies and the search for life on other planetary and celestial bodies. In this article, we will review the current state of knowledge for the biospace in which life operates on Earth and will discuss it in a planetary context, highlighting knowledge gaps and areas of opportunity.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

On the connection between microbursts and nonlinear electronic structures in planetary radiation belts

Using a dynamical-system approach, we have investigated the efficiency of large-amplitude whistler waves for causing microburst precipitation in planetary radiation belts by modeling the microburst energy and particle fluxes produced as a result of nonlinear wave–particle interactions. We show that wave parameters, consistent with large-amplitude oblique whistlers, can commonly generate microbursts of electrons with hundreds of keV-energies as a result of Landau trapping. Relativistic microbursts (>1 MeV) can also be generated by a similar mechanism, but require waves with large propagation angles θ{sub kB}>50{sup ∘} and phase-speeds v{sub Φ}⩾c/9. Using our result for precipitating density and energy fluxes, we argue that holes in the distribution function of electrons near the magnetic mirror point can result in the generation of double layers and electron solitary holes consistent in scales (of the order of Debye lengths) to nonlinear structures observed in the radiation belts by the Van Allen Probes. Our results indicate a relationship between nonlinear electrostatic and electromagnetic structures in the dynamics of planetary radiation belts and their role in the cyclical production of energetic electrons (E⩾100 keV) on kinetic timescales, which is much faster than previously inferred.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Discovery of rotational modulations in the planetary-mass companion 2M1207b: Intermediate rotation period and heterogeneous clouds in a low gravity atmosphere

Rotational modulations of brown dwarfs have recently provided powerful constraints on the properties of ultra-cool atmospheres, including longitudinal and vertical cloud structures and cloud evolution. Furthermore, periodic light curves directly probe the rotational periods of ultra-cool objects. We present here, for the first time, time-resolved high-precision photometric measurements of a planetary-mass companion, 2M1207b. We observed the binary system with Hubble Space Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 in two bands and with two spacecraft roll angles. Using point-spread function-based photometry, we reach a nearly photon-noise limited accuracy for both the primary and the secondary. While the primary is consistent with a flat light curve, the secondary shows modulations that are clearly detected in the combined light curve as well as in different subsets of the data. The amplitudes are 1.36% in the F125W and 0.78% in the F160W filters, respectively. By fitting sine waves to the light curves, we find a consistent period of 10.7{sub −0.6}{sup +1.2} hr and similar phases in both bands. The J- and H-band amplitude ratio of 2M1207b is very similar to a field brown dwarf that has identical spectral type but different J–H color. Importantly, our study also measures, for the first time, the rotation period for a directly imaged extra-solar planetary-mass companion.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Planetary signatures in the SAO 206462 (HD 135344B) disk: A spiral arm passing through vortex?

The disk surrounding SAO 206462, an 8 Myr old Herbig Ae star, has recently been reported to exhibit spiral arms, an asymmetric dust continuum, and a dust-depleted inner cavity. By carrying out two-dimensional, two-fluid hydrodynamic calculations, we find that a planetary-mass companion located at the outer disk could be responsible for these observed structures. In this model, the planet excites primary and secondary arms interior to its orbit. It also carves a gap and generates a local pressure bump at the inner gap edge where a vortex forms through Rossby wave instability. The vortex traps radially drifting dust particles, forming a dust-depleted cavity in the inner disk. We propose that the vortex is responsible for the brightest southwestern peak seen in infrared scattered light and sub-millimeter dust continuum emission. In particular, it is possible that the scattered light is boosted as one of the spiral arms passes through the high density vortex region, although the vortex alone may be able to explain the peak. We suggest that a planetary companion with a mass of 10–15 M{sub J} is orbiting SAO 206462 at 100–120 au. Monitoring of the brightest peak over the next few years will help reveal its origin because the spiral arms and vortex will show distinguishable displacement.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

PLANETARY CANDIDATES FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF THE K2 MISSION

The Kepler Space Telescope is currently searching for planets transiting stars along the ecliptic plane as part of its extended K2 mission. We processed the publicly released data from the first year of K2 observations (Campaigns 0, 1, 2, and 3) and searched for periodic eclipse signals consistent with planetary transits. Out of the 59,174 targets that we searched, we detect 234 planetary candidates around 208 stars. These candidates range in size from gas giants to smaller than the Earth, and range in orbital periods from hours to over a month. We conducted initial reconnaissance spectroscopy of 68 of the brighter candidate host stars, and present high-resolution optical spectra for these stars. We make all of our data products, including light curves, spectra, and vetting diagnostics available to users online.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

ROBO-AO KEPLER PLANETARY CANDIDATE SURVEY. III. ADAPTIVE OPTICS IMAGING OF 1629 KEPLER EXOPLANET CANDIDATE HOST STARS

The Robo-AO Kepler Planetary Candidate Survey is observing every Kepler planet candidate host star with laser adaptive optics imaging to search for blended nearby stars, which may be physically associated companions and/or responsible for transit false positives. In this paper, we present the results of our search for stars nearby 1629 Kepler planet candidate hosts. With survey sensitivity to objects as close as ∼0.″15, and magnitude differences Δm ⩽6, we find 223 stars in the vicinity of 206 target KOIs; 209 of these nearby stars have not been previously imaged in high resolution. We measure an overall nearby-star probability for Kepler planet candidates of 12.6%±0.9% at separations between 0.″15 and 4.″0. Particularly interesting KOI systems are discussed, including 26 stars with detected companions that host rocky, habitable zone candidates and five new candidate planet-hosting quadruple star systems. We explore the broad correlations between planetary systems and stellar binarity, using the combined data set of Baranec et al. and this paper. Our previous 2σ result of a low detected nearby star fraction of KOIs hosting close-in giant planets is less apparent in this larger data set. We also find a significant correlation between detected nearby star fraction and KOI number, suggesting possible variation between early and late Kepler data releases.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Planetary Torque in 3D Isentropic Disks

Planetary migration is inherently a three-dimensional (3D) problem, because Earth-size planetary cores are deeply embedded in protoplanetary disks. Simulations of these 3D disks remain challenging due to the steep resolution requirements. Using two different hydrodynamics codes, FARGO3D and PEnGUIn, we simulate disk–planet interaction for a one to five Earth-mass planet embedded in an isentropic disk. We measure the torque on the planet and ensure that the measurements are converged both in resolution and between the two codes. We find that the torque is independent of the smoothing length of the planet’s potential ( r {sub s}), and that it has a weak dependence on the adiabatic index of the gaseous disk ( γ ). The torque values correspond to an inward migration rate qualitatively similar to previous linear calculations. We perform additional simulations with explicit radiative transfer using FARGOCA, and again find agreement between 3D simulations and existing torque formulae. We also present the flow pattern around the planets that show active flow is present within the planet’s Hill sphere, and meridional vortices are shed downstream. The vertical flow speed near the planet is faster for a smaller r {sub s} or γ , up to supersonic speeds for the smallest r {sub s} and γ in our study.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2017

A Search for Photometric Variability in the Young T3.5 Planetary-mass Companion GU Psc b

We present a photometric J-band variability study of GU Psc b, a T3.5 co-moving planetary-mass companion (9–13 M{sub Jup}) to a young (∼150 Myr) M3 member of the AB Doradus Moving Group. The large separation between GU Psc b and its host star (42″) provides a rare opportunity to study the photometric variability of a planetary-mass companion. The study presented here is based on observations obtained from 2013 to 2014 over three nights with durations of 5–6 hr each with the WIRCam imager at Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope. Photometric variability with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 4 ± 1% at a timescale of ∼6 hr was marginally detected on 2014 October 11. No high-significance variability was detected on 2013 December 22 and 2014 October 10. The amplitude and timescale of the variability seen here, as well as its evolving nature, is comparable to what was observed for a variety of field T dwarfs and suggests that mechanisms invoked to explain brown dwarf variability may be applicable to low-gravity objects such as GU Psc b. Rotation-induced photometric variability due to the formation and dissipation of atmospheric features such as clouds is a plausible hypothesis for the tentative variation detected here. Additional photometric measurements, particularly on longer timescales, will be required to confirm and characterize the variability of GU Psc b, determine its periodicity and to potentially measure its rotation period.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

A Rotation Rate for the Planetary-mass Companion DH Tau b

DH Tau b is a young planetary-mass companion orbiting at a projected separation of 320 au from its ∼2 Myr old host star DH Tau. With an estimated mass of 8–22 M{sub Jup} this object straddles the deuterium-burning limit, and might have formed via core or pebble accretion, disk instability, or molecular cloud fragmentation. To shed light on the formation history of DH Tau b, we obtain the first measurement of rotational line broadening for this object using high-resolution (R ∼ 25,000) near-infrared spectroscopy from Keck/NIRSPEC. We measure a projected rotational velocity (v sin i) of 9.6 ± 0.7 km s{sup −1}, corresponding to a rotation rate that is between 9% and 15% of DH Tau b’s predicted breakup speed. This low rotation rate is in good agreement with scenarios in which magnetic coupling between the companion and its circumplanetary disk during the late stages of accretion reduces angular momentum and regulates spin. We compare the rotation rate of DH Tau b to published values for other planetary-mass objects with masses between 0.3 and 20 M{sub Jup} and find no evidence of a correlation between mass and rotation rate in this mass regime. Finally, we search for evidence of individual molecules in DH Tau b’s spectrum and find that it is dominated by CO and H{sub 2}O, with no evidence of the presence of CH{sub 4}. This agrees with expectations given DH Tau b’s relatively high effective temperature (∼2300 K).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nature Versus Nurture: A Bayesian Framework for Assessing Apparent Correlations between Planetary Orbital Properties and Stellar Ages

Many exoplanets have orbital characteristics quite different from those seen in our own solar system, including planets locked in orbital resonances and planets on orbits that are elliptical or highly inclined from their host star’s spin axis. It is debated whether the wide variety in system architecture is primarily due to differences in formation conditions (nature) or due to evolution over time (nurture). Identifying trends between planetary and stellar properties, including stellar age, can help distinguish between these competing theories and offer insights as to how planets form and evolve. However, it can be challenging to determine whether observed trends between planetary properties and stellar age are driven by the age of the system—pointing to evolution over time being an important factor—or other parameters to which the age may be related, such as stellar mass or stellar temperature. The situation is complicated further by the possibilities of selection biases, small number statistics, uncertainties in stellar age, and orbital evolution timescales that are typically much shorter than the range of observed ages. Here, we develop a Bayesian statistical framework to assess the robustness of such observed correlations and to determine whether they are indeed due to evolutionary processes, are more likely to reflect different formation scenarios, or are merely coincidental. We apply this framework to reported trends between stellar age and 2:1 orbital resonances, spin–orbit misalignments, and hot Jupiters’ orbital eccentricities. We find strong support for the nurture hypothesis only in the final case.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Lyapunov and Clearing Timescales in Planetary Chaotic Zones

Debris disks in planetary systems are known to possess gaps “opened” by planets in their close-to-coorbital neighborhoods; the gaps are free from low-mass material such as planetesimals. We consider the escape process of the initially zero-eccentric particles from the gap zone in a scenario consisting of two basic consequent stages: (1) the particle orbit's eccentricity is inflated, while its specific energy is relatively constant, and (2) the particle orbit's semimajor axis is inflated, while its specific angular momentum is relatively constant. During the first stage, the chaotic transport (diffusion) proceeds along the “staircase” of (p + 1):p (with integer p ≫ 1) overlapping particle–planet resonances, and during the second stage, it proceeds along the p:1 particle–planet resonance staircase. A specialized two-dimensional area-preserving map (a “tokamap” version) is derived to describe the first stage, while a multiharmonic Kepler map theory is used to describe the second stage. We derive the μ (mass parameter) scaling for the clearing timescale in the planetary chaotic zone. At small μ, it turns out to be inverse-quadratic in μ. The μ scaling for the Lyapunov timescale inside the gap is also derived. The derived scalings are in qualitative agreement with available numerical-experimental data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗