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At least 775 records · Page 43

Noninvasive THz-TDS measurements of plasma bounded and optically shielded by Hall thruster wall material

We experimentally demonstrate the capability of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to noninvasively measure the electron density and collision frequency of plasma bounded and optically shielded by Hall thruster wall material. This paper augments the standard THz-TDS plasma diagnostic theory to account for plasma boundaries, presents THz optical property measurements of three different wall materials (grades M, M26, and HP boron nitride composite), and provides electron density and collision frequency measurements of an inductively coupled plasma bounded and optically shielded by each wall material. We find that the electron density measurement capability is weakly impacted by the boundaries, whereas the electron collision frequency measurement capability is strongly reduced by the boundaries. Here, the bounded plasma electron density trends deviate substantially from those of the unbounded plasma.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Acoustic Treatment Design Scaling Methods: Analytical and Experimental Data Correlation - Volume 5

The primary purpose of the study presented in this volume is to present the results and data analysis of in-duct transmission loss measurements. Transmission loss testing was performed on full-scale, 1/2-scale, and 115-scale treatment panel samples. The objective of the study was to compare predicted and measured transmission loss for full-scale and subscale panels in an attempt to evaluate the variations in suppression between full- and subscale panels which were ostensibly of equivalent design. Generally, the results indicated an unsatisfactory agreement between measurement and prediction, even for full-scale. This was attributable to difficulties encountered in obtaining sufficiently accurate test results, even with extraordinary care in calibrating the instrumentation and performing the test. Test difficulties precluded the ability to make measurements at frequencies high enough to be representative of subscale liners. It is concluded that transmission loss measurements without ducts and data acquisition facilities specifically designed to operate with the precision and complexity required for high subscale frequency ranges are inadequate for evaluation of subscale treatment effects.

Chien, W. E.↗

Shake test of rotor test apparatus in the 40- by 80-foot wind tunnel

A shake test was conducted to determine the dynamic characteristics of a rotor test apparatus on strut systems. The rotor-off hub transfer function (acceleration per unit force as a function of frequency) was measured in the longitudinal and lateral directions, using a combination of broadband and discrete frequency excitation techniques. The dynamic data is summarized for the configurations tested, giving the following properties for each mode identified: the natural frequency, the hub response at resonance, and the fixed system damping. The complete transfer functions are presented, and the detailed test results are included as an appendix. Data analysis techniques developed to obtain on-line measurements of the system modal properties, including the damping coefficient and the damping ratio are discussed.

Johnson, W.↗

Project 8 apparatus for cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy with 83m Kr and tritium

Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy (CRES) is a novel technique for the precise measurement of relativistic electron energy. This technique is being employed by the Project 8 collaboration for measuring a high-precision tritium beta decay spectrum to perform a frequency-based measurement of the neutrino mass. In this work, we describe the Project 8 Phase II apparatus, used for the detection of the CRES signal from the conversion electrons of 83m Kr and the first CRES measurement of the beta-decay spectrum of molecular tritium.

Neutrino detectors↗

Effect of Measurement Temperature on Electrical Cable Frequency Domain Reflectometry Response

In nuclear power plants, electrical cables are exposed to stressors, such as elevated temperature and radiation. Evaluation of the effect of stressors on the lifetime of electrical cables can be conducted using offline electrical reflectometry techniques, such as frequency domain reflectometry (FDR). However, recent work has raised the concern that FDR measurements at temperatures higher than ambient may diminish or reduce the response due to stressors, potentially leading to incorrect predictions of electrical cable damage and lifetime. In this work, we explore the FDR response of an electrical cable exposed to an oven-based thermal stressor up to 140°C, including both ramping up and ramping down temperature. It was observed that, for both the oven entrance and exit, an increase in the FDR measurement temperature led to a decrease in the FDR reflection coefficient. In particular, it was found that the reflection coefficient at the oven entrance decreased from the ambient measurement by approximately 7%, 22%, and 36% at a temperature of 60°C, 100°C, and 140°C, respectively.

Spencer, Mychal P.↗

Microbalance

A reed is vibrated by the minute vibrations of a base frame which, in turn, is vibrated by a driver mechanism. The vibration of the reed is picked off and fed back to the driver means, causing the base frame to be vibrated at the resonant frequency of the reed. A counter is connected to the feedback loop to measure the frequency of the reed oscillations. By adding the mass to be weighed to the reed, the resonant frequency of the reed will be changed, which will in turn change the reading at the counter by an amount which is proportional to the added mass.

Heflinger, L. O.↗

The laboratory millimeter- and submillimeter-wave spectrum of C-13 methanol

A comprehensive millimeter- and submillimeter-wave study of the rotational spectrum of (C-13)H3OH is presented. Approximately 300 new transitions of this species were measured at frequencies up to 650 GHz, and the transitions were analyzed along with previously measured spectra using the internal axis method of Herbst et al. (1984). The resulting spectral constants allow prediction of an additional large number of transitions which should allow astronomers to identify many strong rotational lines of C-13 methanol throughout much of the submillimeter region.

Anderson, Todd↗

Frequency‐Locked Wireless Multifunctional Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors

Abstract Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) have shown great potential for developing sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) and lab‐on‐a‐chip (LOC) applications. Existing SAW sensors mainly rely on measuring the frequency shifts of high‐frequency (e.g., >0.1 GHz) resonance peaks. This study presents frequency‐locked wireless multifunctional SAW sensors that enable multiple wireless sensing functions, including strain sensing, temperature measurement, water presence detection, and vibration sensing. These sensors leverage SAW resonators on piezoelectric chips, inductive coupling‐based wireless power transmission, and, particularly, a frequency‐locked wireless sensing mechanism that works at low frequencies (e.g., <0.1 GHz). This mechanism locks the input frequency on the slope of a sensor's reflection spectrum and monitors the reflection signal's amplitude change induced by the changes of sensing parameters. The proof‐of‐concept experiments show that these wireless sensors can operate in a low‐power active mode for on‐demand wireless strain measurement, temperature sensing, and water presence detection. Moreover, these sensors can operate in a power‐free passive mode for vibration sensing, with results that agree well with laser vibrometer measurements. It is anticipated that the designs and mechanisms of the frequency‐locked wireless SAW sensors will inspire researchers to develop future wireless multifunctional sensors for SHM and LOC applications.

Bo, Luyu↗

Ion acoustic waves in the solar wind

Plasma wave measurements on the Helios 1 and 2 spacecraft have revealed the occurrence of electric field turbulence in the solar wind at frequencies between the electron and ion plasma frequencies. Wavelength measurements with the Imp 6 spacecraft now provide strong evidence that these waves are shortwavelength ion acoustic waves which are Doppler-shifted upward in frequency by the motion of the solar wind. Comparison of the Helios results with measurements from the earth-orbiting Imp 6 and 8 spacecraft shows that the ion acoustic wave turbulence detected in interplanetary space has characteristics essentially identical to those of bursts of electrostatic turbulence generated by protons streaming into the solar wind from the earth's bow shock. In a few cases, enhanced ion acoustic wave intensities have been observed in direct association with abrupt increases in the anisotropy of the solar wind electron distribution. This relationship strongly suggests that the ion acoustic waves detected by Helios far from the earth are produced by an electron heat flux instability, as was suggested by Forslund. Possible related mechanisms which could explain the generation of ion acoustic waves by protons streaming into the solar wind from the earth's bow shock are also considered.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Frequencies of solar p-mode oscillations

A list is presented of frequencies that can be used as a basis for helioseismic investigations of the average structure of the solar interior as a function of depth. The list includes measurements of frequencies of p-mode multiplets covering the l range from 4 to 99. Two different data sets are employed: one based on Doppler shift measurements made in 1985 at the Big Bear Solar Observatory and another based on intensity measurements made in 1981 at the geographic South Pole. Frequencies from the two data sets are compared, and systematic frequency differences are found that range from less than 0.1 microHz at low values of l to about 0.6 microHz at l = 99; the uncertainty is + or - 0.1 microHz.

Duvall, T. L., Jr.↗

An improved dual-frequency technique for the remote sensing of ocean currents and wave spectra

A two frequency microwave radar technique for the remote sensing of directional ocean wave spectra and surface currents is investigated. This technique is conceptually attractive because its operational physical principle involves a spatial electromagnetic scattering resonance with a single, but selectable, long gravity wave. Multiplexing of signals having different spacing of the two transmitted frequencies allows measurements of the entire long wave ocean spectrum to be carried out. A new scatterometer is developed and experimentally tested which is capable of making measurements having much larger signal/background values than previously possible. This instrument couples the resonance technique with coherent, frequency agility radar capabilities. This scatterometer is presently configured for supporting a program of surface current measurements.

Schuler, D. L.↗

The submillimeter-wave spectrum of (O-16)(O-18)

In order to aid in the interstellar identification of molecular oxygen via its (O-16)(O-18) isotopic species, the frequencies of four rotational fine-structure lines of (O-16)(O-18) have been measured at frequencies ranging from 298 to 464 GHz. The line with the highest intensity and consequent best chance of astronomical detection lies at 401739.823 MHz. Its magnetic dipole strength is somewhat more than half that of the previously measured strong line at 233946.179 MHz.

Crownover, Richard L.↗

RXTE Observation of Cygnus X-1: TIming Analysis - Report 2

We present timing analysis for a Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observation of Cygnus X-1 in its hard/low state. This was the first RXTE observation of Cyg X-1 taken after it transited back to this state from its soft/high state. RXTE's large effective area, superior timing capabilities, and ability to obtain long, uninterrupted observations have allowed us to obtain measurements of the power spectral density (PSD), coherence function, and Fourier time lags to a decade lower in frequency and half a decade higher in frequency than typically was achieved with previous instruments. Notable aspects of our observations include a weak 0.005 Hz feature in the PSD coincident with a coherence recovery; a 'hardening' of the high-frequency PSD with increasing energy; a broad frequency range measurement of the coherence function, revealing rollovers from unity coherence at both low and high frequency; and an accurate determination of the Fourier time lags over two and a half decades in frequency. As has been noted in previous similar observations, the time delay is approximately proportional to f(exp -0.7), and at a fixed Fourier frequency the time delay of the hard X-rays compared to the softest energy channel tends to increase logarithmically with energy. Curiously, the 0.01-0.2 Hz coherence between the highest and lowest energy bands is actually slightly greater than the coherence between the second highest and lowest energy bands. We carefully describe all of the analysis techniques used in this paper, and we make comparisons of the data to general theoretical expectations. In a companion paper, we make specific comparisons to a Compton corona model that we have successfully used to describe the energy spectral data from this observation.

Nowak, Michael A.↗

Stability of the translocation frequency following whole-body irradiation measured in rhesus monkeys

Chromosome translocations are persistent indicators of prior exposure to ionizing radiation and the development of 'chromosome painting' to efficiently detect translocations has resulted in a powerful biological dosimetry tool for radiation dose reconstruction. However, the actual stability of the translocation frequency with time after exposure must be measured before it can be used reliably to obtain doses for individuals exposed years or decades previously. Human chromosome painting probes were used here to measure reciprocal translocation frequencies in cells from two tissues of 8 rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) irradiated almost three decades previously. Six of the monkeys were exposed in 1965 to whole-body (fully penetrating) radiation and two were unexposed controls. The primates were irradiated as juveniles to single doses of 0.56, 1.13, 2.00, or 2.25 Gy. Blood lymphocytes (and skin fibroblasts from one individual) were obtained for cytogenetic analysis in 1993, near the end of the animals' lifespans. Results show identical dose-response relationships 28 y after exposure in vivo and immediately after exposure in vitro. Because chromosome aberrations are induced with identical frequencies in vivo and in vitro, these results demonstrate that the translocation frequencies induced in 1965 have not changed significantly during the almost three decades since exposure. Finally, our emerging biodosimetry data for individual radiation workers are now confirming the utility of reciprocal translocations measured by FISH in radiation dose reconstruction.

Non-NASA Center↗

Shake test of rotor test apparatus with balance dampers in the 40 by 80 foot wind tunnel

A shake test was conducted to determine the dynamic characteristics of a rotor test apparatus on two strut systems with balance dampers in the Ames 40- by 80-ft wind tunnel. The rotor-off hub transfer function (acceleration per unit force as a function of frequency) was measured in the longitudinal and lateral directions, using a combination of broadband and discrete frequency excitation techniques. The dynamic data are summarized for the configurations tested, giving the following properties for each mode identified: the natural frequency, the hub response at resonance, the fixed system damping, the damping ratio, and the modal mass. The complete transfer functions are presented, and the detailed test results are included as an appendix.

Johnson, W.↗

Resonant Acoustic Determination of Complex Elastic Moduli

A simple, inexpensive, yet accurate method for measuring the dynamic complex modulus of elasticity is described. Using a 'free-free' bar selectively excited in three independent vibrational modes, the shear modulus is obtained by measuring the frequency of the torsional resonant mode and the Young's modulus is determined from measurement of either the longitudinal or flexural mode. The damping properties are obtained by measuring the quality factor (Q) for each mode. The Q is inversely proportional to the loss tangent. The viscoelastic behavior of the sample can be obtained by tracking a particular resonant mode (and thus a particular modulus) using a phase locked loop (PLL) and by changing the temperature of the sample. The change in the damping properties is obtained by measuring the in-phase amplitude of the PLL which is proportional to the Q of the material. The real and imaginary parts or the complex modulus can be obtained continuously as a function of parameters such as temperature, pressure, or humidity. For homogeneous and isotropic samples only two independent moduli are needed in order to characterize the complete set of elastic constants, thus, values can be obtained for the dynamic Poisson's ratio, bulk modulus, Lame constants, etc.

Brown, David A.↗

Nuclear quadrupole resonance studies project

The participation of undergraduates in nuclear quadrupole resonance research at Grambling University was made possible by NASA grants. Expanded laboratory capabilities include (1) facilities for high and low temperature generation and measurement; (2) facilities for radio frequency generation and measurement with the modern spectrum analyzers, precision frequency counters and standard signal generators; (3) vacuum and glass blowing facilities; and (4) miscellaneous electronic and machine shop facilities. Experiments carried out over a five year period are described and their results analyzed. Theoretical studies on solid state crystalline electrostatic fields, field gradients, and antishielding factors are included.

Murty, A. N.↗

Behavior of an inversion-based precipitation retrieval algorithm with high-resolution AMPR measurements including a low-frequency 10.7-GHz channel

A microwave-based, profile-type precipitation retrieval algorithm has been used to analyze high-resolution passsive microwave measurements over an ocean background, obtained by the Advanced Microwave Precipitation Radiometer (AMPR) flown on a NASA ER-2 aircraft. The analysis is designed to first determine the improvements that can be gained by adding brightness temperature information from the AMPR low-frequency channel (10.7 GHz) to a multispectral retrieval algorithm nominally run with satellite information at 19, 37, and 85 GHz. The impact of spatial resolution degradation of the high-resolution brightness temperature information on the retrieved rain/cloud liquid water contents and ice water contents is then quantified in order to assess the possible biases inherent to satellite-based retrieval. Careful inspection of the high-resolution aircraft dataset reveals five distinctive brightness temperature features associated with cloud structure and scattering effects that are not generally detectable in current passive microwave satellite measurements. Results suggest that the inclusion of 10.7-GHz information overcomes two basic problems associated with three-channel retrieval. Intercomparisons of retrievals carried out at high-resolution and then averaged to a characteristic satellite scale to the corresponding retrievals in which the brightness temperatures are first convolved down to the satellite scale suggest that with the addition of the 10.7-GHz channel, the rain liquid water contents will not be negatively impacted by special resolution degradation. That is not the case with the ice water contents as they appear ti be quite sensitive to the imposed scale, the implication being that as spatial resolution is reduced, ice water contents will become increasingly underestimated.

Smith, E. A.↗