The earth Resources Technology Satellites - ERTS-A and -B
Earth Resources Technology Satellites /ERTS/ A and B providing one year high resolution multispectral imagery, noting data processing and distribution functions
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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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Earth Resources Technology Satellites /ERTS/ A and B providing one year high resolution multispectral imagery, noting data processing and distribution functions
In vivo green soybean and corn leaves bidirectional IR reflection and transmission distribution functions
Weakly turbulent plasmas static electric conductivity derivation from kinetic equation for linear response to one-particle distribution function
Bidirectional reflectance model for randomly rough surface, using distribution function for macroscopic probability of microscopic surface roughness elements with specific slopes
Structural dynamic responses as nonstationary narrow band random process, establishing peak values distribution functions with frequency interpretation
Plasma ion and electron distribution functions measurement on outer planet missions
Steady slow free molecule flow past sphere, obtaining distribution function and surface boundary conditions
Spectra of modulated galactic cosmic rays are expressed in terms of the Compton-Getting coefficient C. This parameter can reveal the energy range over which the force field approximation is valid, and the range where convection effects dominate those of diffusion. A value of C near zero over an extended low energy range implies that the radial gradient at low energies can not be large. This small gradient may imply that the diffusion coefficient increases beyond 1 AU less rapidly than proportionally to heliocentric radial distance, and/or there is essentially no scattering for a sizeable distance from the Sun to earth. The behavior of C with rigidity (or energy) is discussed in terms of the omnidirectional distribution function f sub zero. Contours of constant f sub zero in the heliocentric distance vs rigidity plane are useful for illustrating the mean rigidity loss experienced by cosmic rays in the interplanetary medium.
A model is presented for calculating the paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum of vanadyl acetylacetonate (VAAC) dissolved in either a liquid crystal or isotropic solvent. It employs density matrix formulation in the rotating reference frame. The molecules occupy several discrete angles with respect to the magnetic field and can relax to neighboring positions in a characteristic time tau(theta). The form of tau(theta) is found from a diffusion approach, and the magnitude of tau(theta) is a measure of how freely the VAAC probe tumbles in the solvent. Spectra are predicted for values of tau between 10 to the minus 11th power sec and 10 to the minus 7th power sec. The EPR spectrum, in the isotropic case, is obtained be summing the contributions from the allowed angles weighted by the polar volume element, sin theta. When applying the model to the nematic liquid crystal case it is also necessary to multiply by the Saupe distribution function. For this case tau(theta) is obtained from the diffusion approach in which two diffusion constants are employed to reflect the difference in the parallel and perpendicular components of the viscosity.
Several aerospace problems are solved using various reliability methods. The problems considered are associated with distribution functions, sampling, accelerated life testing, and accept/reject decisions with sequential testing. In addition, two reliability case histories are described in detail. They include the second space Electric Rocket Test (SERT II), and the Microthruster Power Conditioner (MTPC) life test, both conducted by the Lewis Research Center.
The model neutral exosphere with a uniformly rotating exobase is generalized by allowing variations in exobase density and temperature which characterize the thermosphere just below the base. The corresponding velocity distribution function, satisfying the collisionless Boltzmann equation, is constructed and used to form a general expression for the velocity moments. Resulting density profiles of rotating exospheres with nonuniform densities and temperatures on the exobase are compared with corresponding nonrotating exospheres. Density enhancements due to rotation are found to be greatest above regions of exobase density or temperature minima. Equatorial density enhancements of terrestrial hydrogen, resulting from rotation, are estimated to be 15%-17% at altitudes of 10-20 earth radii. Corresponding increases in terrestrial helium are 30%-50% on the equator at altitudes of 0.7 to 1 earth radii even when there is a polar density bulge in the barosphere.
Study of the behavior of weak electrostatic waves in a collisionless magnetoplasma supporting a steady large amplitude whistler wave. All waves are assumed to propagate parallel to a uniform background magnetic field B sub zero. In the presence of the whistler wave fields each particle executes an oscillatory motion parallel to B sub zero, in addition to a translation along B sub zero and transverse motions. This oscillation causes the Landau resonance to be replaced by a series of new resonances between particles and the electrostatic modes. A distribution function for the perturbed plasma is constructed by solving the Vlasov equation, linearized in the electrostatic wave amplitudes. A dispersion relation is obtained and solved approximately for the growth/damping rate of the perturbations. Growing electrostatic modes are found to be approximately uncoupled. Trapped particles have a strong influence on the stability of the system.
The dispersion curves have been computed for a wide range of wavelengths from electromagnetic waves to electrostatic waves in a magnetoactive warm plasma with a Maxwellian velocity distribution function. The computation was carried out mainly for the perpendicular propagation mode. The upper hybrid resonance is the connection point of the electrostatic waves and the electromagnetic waves. The electrostatic waves not associated with the upper hybrid resonance are subjected to electron cyclotron damping when the wavelength becomes long. Oblique propagation is allowed for the electrostatic waves in a frequency range from the plasma frequency to the upper hybrid resonance frequency in the long-wavelength region where Landau damping can be neglected and where the electrostatic mode smoothly connects to the electromagnetic X-mode. In a slightly inhomogeneous plasma, the Bernstein-mode electrostatic wave can escape by being converted into the O-mode electromagnetic wave; two reflections take place during this escape process.
The essential feature underlying abundance analysis is the assumption that local thermodynamic equilibrium prevails in a stellar atmosphere - i.e., that all relevant distribution functions, except that for the photons themselves, are thermal and determined by the local temperature. It is pointed out that the blanket assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium in stellar atmospheres is a fundamental weakness. The assumption can only be valid if collisional processes are dominant in bringing about transitions between the excitation states of an atom. It has, however, been shown that the density in a stellar atmosphere is so low that, on the contrary, radiative processes are predominant.
Results of recent measurements of the distribution function of wind shear and the associated third and fourth standardized moments. Emphasis is placed on the vertical variation of the longitudinal component of turbulence, i.e., the component of turbulence along the mean wind vector. The data source consists of 11 sets of longitudinal turbulent velocity fluctuation time histories digitized at 0.2-sec intervals with approximately 18,000 data points per history.
The film condensation of low pressure metal vapors on isothermal vertical flat plates or tubes is considered. The liquid film is treated as a thin layer in which the acceleration and pressure forces are negligible and across which the temperature distribution is linear. The average behavior of the vapor is found from the linearized one-dimensional vapor flow equations. In order to calculate the rate of condensation, a consistent distribution function for the vapor particles at the liquid-vapor interface is necessary and is determined. The result of the analysis is a set of algebraic equations from which one can predict the condensation rate of low pressure metal vapors. A large but continuous temperature decrease in the vapor is predicted and calculated.
A model of the solar wind is presented which divides the interplanetary space into two regions. It assumes that the solar wind is one-fluid in an 'inner region' of radius less than 0.4 A, and two-fluid and collisionless in an 'outer region' of radius greater than 0.4 A. The second and third moment equations of the Vlasov equation together with conservation equations are used to govern the solar wind flow in the outer region. The model produces solutions for all macroscopic quantities as well as for the microscopic proton distribution function, both as functions of heliocentric distances up to 50 A. Calculated results at 1 A include the solar wind velocity, electron temperature, proton temperature, proton thermal anisotropy and magnetic field magnitude. They are in good agreement with observations.
We have assumed that the decameter radiation from Jupiter is produced near the local electron gyrofrequency and is amplified as it propagates out of the Jovian magnetosphere. We have derived the growth rate for radiation that propagates almost perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field. When the electrons are described by a loss-cone distribution function, the growth rate is large enough to lead to a large amplification factor over a source of 100-4000 km, depending on the choice of parameters. Because we expect low-energy electrons to be trapped in the Jovian dipole field regardless of the position of the satellite Io, we maintain that this model provides a plausible mechanism for the decametric radiation not associated with Io.