SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “beams”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 793 records · Page 44

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS1979

A preliminary model of ion beam neutralization

A theoretical model of neutralized thruster ion beam plasmas has been developed. The basic premise is that the beam forms an electrostatic trap for the neutralizing electrons. A Maxwellian spectrum of electron energies is maintained by collisions between trapped electrons and by collective randomization of velocities of electrons injected from the neutralizer into the surrounding plasma. The theory contains the observed barometric law relationship between electron density and electron temperatures and ion beam spreading in good agreement with measured results.

Parks, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1979

On the multiplicity of solutions of the inverse problem for a vibrating beam

The paper considers a specific inverse problem for a vibrating beam with three nonsympathetic spectra. More specifically, the spectral data consist of the natural frequencies of vibration of the beam in the following three configurations: (1) clamped-clamped, (2) clamped-supported, and (3) clamped-free. The basic equations for an inhomogeneous discrete beam are derived, where this simple mechanical system provides valuable insight into the inverse problem. All the necessary ingredients for a consideration of the inverse problem are given. Attention is given to an analysis of the particular inverse problem for which the spectral data are associated with the natural frequencies of vibrations in the above configurations. It is shown that with such data, the inverse problem has a 2exp(N-1)-fold multiplicity of solutions.

Barcilon, V.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Buckling of rotating beams

The stability of a beam subjected to compressive centrifugal forces arising from steady rotation about an axis which does not pass through the clamped end of the beam is analyzed to determine the critical rotational speeds for buckling in the inplane and out-of-plane directions. The differential equations of motion are solved numerically using an integrating matrix method in combination with an eigenanalysis to determine the eigenvalues from which stability is assessed. The results clarify several differences which have been identified in the literature relating to the proper behavior of the critical rotational speed for buckling as the radius of rotation of the clamped end of the beam is reduced.

White, W. F., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Homogeneous alignment of nematic liquid crystals by ion beam etched surfaces

A wide range of the ion beam etch parameters are capable of producing uniform homogeneous alignment of nematic liquid crystals on SiO2 films. The alignment surfaces were generated by obliquely incident argon ions; a smaller range of ion beam parameters was also investigated with ZrO2 films and found suitable for homogeneous alignment. Extinction ratios were very high, and twist and tilt-bias angles were very small. The SEM results indicate a parallel oriented surface structure on the ion beam etched surfaces which may determine alignment.

Wintucky, E. G.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Strongly turbulent stabilization of electron beam-plasma interactions

The stabilization of electron beam interactions due to strongly turbulent nonlinearities is studied analytically and numerically for a wide range of plasma parameters. A fluid mode coupling code is described in which the effects of electron and ion Landau damping and linear growth due to the energetic electron beam are included in a phenomenological manner. Stabilization of the instability is found to occur when the amplitudes of the unstable modes exceed the threshold of the oscillating two-stream instability. The coordinate space structure of the turbulent spectrum which results clearly shows that soliton-like structures are formed by this process. Phenomenological models of both the initial stabilization and the asymptotic states are developed. Scaling laws between the beam-plasma growth rate and the fluctuations in the fields and plasma density are found in both cases, and shown to be in good agreement with the results of the simulation.

Freund, H. P.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Absolute line strengths in nu4, /C-12/H4 - A dual-beam diode laser spectrometer with sweep integration

A tunable diode laser spectrometer with several unique features has been developed for use in the middle IR. The all-reflective optical system has a dual-beam configuration before the dispersive mode selector to eliminate transit-angle errors at the calibration etalon. By maintaining separated beams through the mode selector, beam combiner losses are avoided. Averaging successive sweeps of the current-modulated laser permits stable reproducible spectral integrations, eliminating etalon thermal errors and producing high photometric sensitivity. Line strengths have been measured using this instrument for eleven transitions in nu4 of (C-12)H4. These include R0 and R1 and nine P-branch transitions in the 1202-1263-per cm range. Techniques for measuring strengths with a diode laser are discussed.

Jennings, D. E.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Ion beams from laser-generated plasmas

The paper describes the space-charge-limited beams produced by the plasma blowoffs generated by 20-MW bursts of 1.06-micron radiation from an active Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Laser power densities near 10 to the 11th/sq cm on solid targets generate thermalized plasma plumes which drift to a 15-kV gridded extraction gap where the ions are extracted, accelerated, and electrostatically focused; the spatially defined ion beams are then magnetically analyzed to determine the charge state content in the beams formed from carbon, aluminum, copper, and lead targets. This technique preserves time-of-flight (TOF) information in the plasma drift region, which permits plasma ion temperatures and mass flow velocities to be determined from the Maxwellian ion curve TOF shapes for the individual charge species.

Hughes, R. H.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Beam Splitter Intensities Are Preselected

New beam splitter is a block of optically clear material with two parallel polish faces. Some of area of one surface is coated with totally reflecting layer, which may be metal or dielectric. On opposite surface, a metal coating of stepped thickness offers a different reflectivity at each step. Width and spacing of reflecting zones are chosen to accommodate angle of spacing of incidence of input beam and desired spacing of ouput beams.

Campbell, W.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Walking-Beam Solar-Cell Conveyor

Microprocessor-controlled walking-beam conveyor moves cells between work stations in automated assembly line. Conveyor has arm at each work station. In unison arms pick up all solar cells and advance them one station; then beam retracks to be in position for next step. Microprocessor sets beam stroke, speed, and position.

Feder, H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Active retrodirective arrays for SPS beam pointing

The basic requirement of the SPS beam pointing system is that it deliver a certain amount of S-band (lambda = 12.5 cm) power to a 9.6 km diameter receiving rectenna on the ground. The power is transmitted from a 1.0 km diameter antenna array on the SPS, which is, for a rectenna at about plus or minus 40 deg. latitude, some 37.5x10 to the 6th power km distant. At the present time ARA's appear to be the best bet to realize this very stringent beam pointing requirement. An active retrodirective array (ARA) transmits a beam towards the apparent source of an illuminating signal called the pilot. The array produces, not merely reflects, RF power. Retrodirectivity is achieved by retransmitting from each element of the array a signal whose phase is the "conjugate" of that received by the element. Phase conjugate circuits and pointing errors in ARA's are described. Results obtained using a 2-element X-band ARA and an 8-element S-band ARA are included.

Chernoff, R.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Double-beam optical method and apparatus for measuring thermal diffusivity and other molecular dynamic processes in utilizing the transient thermal lens effect

A sample material was irradiated by relatively high power, short pulses from a dye laser. Energy from the pulses was absorbed by the sample material, thereby forming a thermal lens in the area of absorption. The pulse repetition rate was chosen so that the thermal lens is substantially dissipated by the time the next pulse reaches the sample material. A probe light beam, which in a specific embodiment is a relatively low power, continuous wave (cw) laser beam, irradiated the thermal lens formed in the sample material. The intensity characteristics of the probe light beam subsequent to irradiation of the thermal lens is related to changes in the refractive index of the sample material as the thermal lens is formed and dissipated.

Moacanin, J.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Sonic simulation of the SPS power beam

A Satellite Power System Microwave Transmission Simulator is described. The simulator generates and transmits a beam audible sound energy which is mathematically similar to the microwave beam which would transmit energy to Earth from a Solar Power Satellite. This allows areas such as power beam formation to be studied in a laboratory environment.

Ott, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Beam shapes in a three-frequency upconverter

The transverse beam shape of the signal output from a three-frequency parametric upconverter was investigated both theoretically and experimentally. A Green's function approach was used to predict the near- and far-field signal profiles in an upconverter where Poynting vector walkoff is significant. The measured output beam profiles from a lithium iodate-argon intracavity upconverter agreed well with those predicted. In the near field, walkoff caused an elongation of the beam profile. In the far field, walkoff was observed to limit the angular acceptance of the upconversion process.

Guha, S.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Laser beam manifold and particle photography system for use in fluid velocity measurements

A laser beam manifold and particle photography system has been developed for use in fluid velocity measurements. The laser manifold is a device which transforms a single laser beam into several uniform parallel beams. By orienting two manifolds mutually perpendicular, an optical grid can be formed which acts as a reference for fluid velocity measurements. This optical grid is for all practical purposes totally nonperturbing to the flow. Tracer particles moving in the plane of the grid are then photographed to yield fluid velocities that can be measured relative to the optical grid. System construction and theory are presented.

Owen, R. B.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The electromagnetic ion beam instability upstream of the earth's bow shock

The linear theory of the electromagnetic ion beam instability for arbitrary angles of propagation has been studied. The parameters considered in the theory are typical of the solar wind upstream of the earth's bow shock when a 'reflected' proton beam is present. Maximum growth occurs for propagation parallel to the ambient magnetic field B, but this instability also displays significant growth at wave-vectors oblique to B. Oblique, unstable modes seem to be the likely source of the compressive magnetic fluctuations recently observed in conjunction with the 'diffuse' ion population. An energetic ion beam does not directly give rise to linear growth of either ion acoustic or whistler mode instabilities.

Gary, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1981

An evaluation of the sandwich beam compression test method for composites

The sandwich beam in a four-point bending compressive test method for advanced composites is evaluated. Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio were obtained for graphite/polyimide beam specimens tested at 117 K, room temperature, and 589 K. Tensile elastic properties obtained from the specimens were assumed to be equal to the compressive elastic properties and were used in the analysis. Strain gages were used to record strain data. A three-dimensional finite-element model was used to examine the effects of the honeycomb core on measured composite mechanical properties. Results of the analysis led to the following conclusions: (1) a near uniaxial compressive stress state existed in the top cover and essentially all the compressive load was carried by the top cover; (2) laminate orientation, test temperature, and type of honeycomb core material were shown to affect the type of beam failure; and (3) the test method can be used to obtain compressive elastic constants over the temperature range 117 to 589 K.

Shuart, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Laser power beaming for rocket propulsion and airbreathing propulsion

The developing technology of laser power beaming is introduced, and two systems are used as examples of the capabilities of the laser for beamed energy. In the first system, the potential of the laser to power flight systems ranging from hypersonic air-breathing launch vehicles to commercial jet transports is examined. Attention is given to the possibility of an air-breathing propulsion which offers the promise of a global air transportation network independent of kerosene and powered by solar energy. In addition, consideration is given to a new type of rocket propulsion based on the laser's ability to concentrate coherent laser energy to high power densities. Focused laser beams would heat the propellants directly to produce specific impulses approaching ion and MHD rocket levels, and would do so without the burden of a heavy electrical power supply.

Hertzberg, A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

P78-2 satellite and payload responses to electron beam operations on March 30, 1979

The operating modes of the SC4-1 payload, the resultant charging of the spacecraft frame and sample materials on the spacecraft exterior and recorded transient pulses are reported. Arcing was detected by pulse monitors in several electron beam modes of operation. The ejection of a beam of 6 mA of 3 keV electrons caused three distinct payload failures and created a transient problem in the telemetry system. The exact time, nature, and cause of these failures was determined and component failure and why they failed was identified. Analytical and modeling techniques are used to examine possible spacecraft and payload responses to the electron beam ejection which might have contributed to the arcing and payload failures.

Cohen, H. A.↗