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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 865 records · Page 48
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

An Acoustic Quench Detection Method for CICC Conductor Operating in Gas or Liquid

A method using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) acoustic sensor technology to detect a quench and abnormal behavior of a superconductor is discussed. MEMS of microphone chips are installed along the coolant space of a superconducting conductor to monitor the coolant condition. By arranging the acoustic sensor array in a coolant flow channel, it is possible to quickly detect a change in the local condition of the coolant with precise spatial resolution. This method is useful for monitoring superconducting magnets and power cables, especially those made with a cable-in-conduit-conductor (CICC) configuration. The methodology described in this work will also be very useful for a high temperature superconducting (HTS) conductor, such as REBCO tape conductors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS1974

Michigan experimental multispectral mapping system: A description of the M7 airborne sensor and its performance

The development and characteristics of a multispectral band scanner for an airborne mapping system are discussed. The sensor operates in the ultraviolet, visual, and infrared frequencies. Any twelve of the bands may be selected for simultaneous, optically registered recording on a 14-track analog tape recorder. Multispectral imagery recorded on magnetic tape in the aircraft can be laboratory reproduced on film strips for visual analysis or optionally machine processed in analog and/or digital computers before display. The airborne system performance is analyzed.

Hasell, P. G., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Specific spacecraft evaluation: Special report

Charged and neutral particle transport from an 8 cm mercury ion thruster to the surfaces of the P 80-1 spacecraft and to the Teal Ruby sensor and the ECOM-501 sensor of that spacecraft were investigated. Laboratory measurements and analyses were used to examine line-of-sight and nonline-of sight particle transport modes. The recirculation of Hg(+) ions in the magnetic field of the earth was analyzed for spacecraft velocity and Earth magnetic field vector configurations which are expected to occur in near Earth, circular, high inclination orbits. For these magnetic field and orbit conditions and for expected ion release distribution functions, in both angles and energies, the recirculation/re-interception of ions on spacecraft surfaces was evaluated. The refraction of weakly energetic ions in the electric fields of the thruster plasma plume and in the electric fields between this plasma plume and the material boundaries of the thruster, the thruster sputter shield, and the various spacecraft surfaces were examined. The neutral particle transport modes of interest were identified as sputtered metal atoms from the thruster beam shield. Results, conclusions, and future considerations are presented.

Sellen, J. M., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Actuator design for rotor control

Active control of dynamical behavior of rotor systems involves the following modeling of the rotor system including active elements as a control process, positioning of actuators and sensors, implementation of problem-adapted control concepts. The key to attaining the desired influence on the dynamic behavior of rotor systems lies in the presence of suitable actuators. Some types of actuators (magnetic, electrohydraulic and piezoelectric) will be discussed and their respective drawbacks indicated. Their design will be outlined and functional correlations will be presented. Theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that an improvement of the system dynamics by the use of control forces is always possible.

Ulbrich, H.↗
NASA NTRS1990

High Tc superconducting materials and devices

The high Tc Y1Ba2Cu3O(7-x) ceramic materials, initially developed in 1987, are now being extensively investigated for a variety of engineering applications. The superconductor applications which are presently identified as of most interest to NASA-LaRC are low-noise, low thermal conductivity grounding links; large-area linear Meissner-effect bearings; and sensitive, low-noise sensors and leads. Devices designed for these applications require the development of a number of processing and fabrication technologies. Included among the technologies most specific to the present needs are tapecasting, melt texturing, magnetic field grain alignment, superconductor/polymer composite fabrication, thin film MOD (metal-organic decomposition) processing, screen printing of thick films, and photolithography of thin films. The overall objective of the program was to establish a high Tc superconductivity laboratory capability at NASA-LaRC and demonstrate this capability by fabricating superconducting 123 material via bulk and thin film processes. Specific objectives include: order equipment and set up laboratory; prepare 1 kg batches of 123 material via oxide raw material; construct tapecaster and tapecaster 123 material; fabricate 123 grounding link; fabricate 123 composite for Meissner linear bearing; develop 123 thin film processes (nitrates, acetates); establish Tc and Jc measurement capability; and set up a commercial use of space program in superconductivity at LaRC. In general, most of the objectives of the program were met. Finally, efforts to implement a commercial use of space program in superconductivity at LaRC were completed and at least two industrial companies have indicated their interest in participating.

Haertling, Gene H.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Flywheel Magnetic Suspension Developments

The paper provides an overview of many areas of the flywheel magnetic suspension (MS) R&D being performed at the Texas A&M Vibration Control and Electromechanics Lab (TAMU-VCEL). This includes system response prediction, actuator optimization and redundancy, controller realizations and stages, sensor enhancements and backup bearing reliability.

Palazzolo, Alan↗
DOE OSTI2026

Searching for axion dark matter with array-scalable single magnon detectors

We introduce an array-scalable, magnon-based detector to search for the spin-dependent interactions of electron-coupled axion dark matter with mass in the 1−100 μ⁢eV range. These axions can excite single magnons in magnetic targets, such as yttrium iron garnet (YIG) spheres, which are subsequently sensed by the detector. In our concept, this sensing is implemented by coupling the magnons in the YIG spheres to magnetic-field-resilient single-electron charge-qubits, whose state is then interrogated with a quantum nondemolition measurement. Using standard superconducting fabrication techniques, it is possible to integrate many YIG sphere-qubit sensors, forming a large detector array. We outline the detector design and operation for our concept, and determine its sensitivity to axion dark matter. We find that using available technology can already exceed the sensitivity of previous ferromagnetic haloscopes, and further improvements in performance would search for electron-coupled axion dark matter in unexplored parameter space.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1976

Grad E x B effects on heavy ions in the magnetosphere

Following a theory briefing on the currents in a plasma of mixed species caused by the motion of charged particles, the paper presents a report on the observations of regions of the magnetosphere in which significant values of grad E (E being the electric field) can be inferred from measurements of E made on board the IMP 6 satellite using two pairs of long (91.5 m and 45.7 m) unfurlable antenna sensors. Electric fields were measured by applying double floating probe techniques to the antenna sensors, and grad E values of up to 1.4/1000 emu were inferred from the fluctuations in E along the orbit. The critical values of grad E for various ions, in a range of magnetic fields are compared, and the difference in the behavior of Ba+ ions which cause Ba+ currents in the subcritical and supercritical regions is discussed. The results show that the electric currents flowing in the E x B direction may cause secondary polarization fields on the barium cloud. The possible significance of these effects to natural geophysical phenomena is also pointed out.

Cole, K. D.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Preliminary calibration plan for the Advanced Particles and Field Observatory (APAFO) magnetometer experiment

Prelaunch and postlaunch calibration plans for the APAFO magnetometer experiment are presented. A study of tradeoffs between boom length and spacecraft field is described; the results are summarized. The prelaunch plan includes: calibration of the Vector Fluxgate Magnetometer (VFM), Star Sensors, and Scalar Helium Magnetometer (SHM); optical bench integration; and acquisition of basic spacecraft field data. Postlaunch calibration has two phases. In phase one, SHM data are used to calibrate the VFM, total vector magnetic field data are used to calibrate a physical model of the spacecraft field, and both calibrations are refined by iteration. In phase two, corrected vector data are transformed into geocentric coordinates, previously undetected spacecraft fields are isolated, and initial geomagnetic field models are computed. Provided the SHM is accurate to the required 1.0 nT and can be used to calibrate the VFM to the required 3.0- nT accuracy, the tradeoff study indicates that a 12 m boom and a spacecraft field model uncertainty of 5 percent together allow the 1.0 nT spacecraft field error requirement to be met.

Voorhies, C. V.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bioinspired aligned magnetic features in aerogels for humidity sensing

Many natural plant tissues, such as pinecones, utilize structures to transduce changes in humidity into movement or strain. These often employ layered structures with aligned features in order to create differential stress across the material as different portions swell at different rates. Here, by replicating these types of structures in synthetic materials we can create structures that respond to humidity in a similar manner. Taking these aligned features as inspiration, silica aerogels with tailored humidity reactive properties were created. This behavior was achieved by creating aligned features in these aerogels using a Helmholtz coil to produce a uniform magnetic field that aligned ferrofluid droplets into chains and needle like features. These magnetite-based structures were shown to retain their superparamagnetic properties, allowing them to easily be removed from the aerogels, leaving a large number of aligned channels. Aerogels with the removed needles experienced significantly different strains than both unmodified aerogels and aerogels with the aligned features still in place. Aerogels with these tunable aligned features could be used in humidity sensors that can transduce changes in humidity into strain and could be used in applications such as volatile organic compound capture.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1981

Magnetic Field Investigation for ISEE mother and daughter spacecraft

Highlights of the design and fabrication of fluxgate magnetometers for the ISEE A and B satellites which were launched from a single launch vehicle into the same highly elliptical orbit are presented. The instrument consisted of four basic assemblies: the sensors, the drive and sense electronics, the data handling unit; and the flipper. The digital handling data handling assembly contained a digital filter that mantained a uniform transfer function for all three axes of both spacecraft. Initial studies centered on the bow shock and the magnetopause and show that both boundaries are in rapid motion. The bow shock was found to be very thin, close to an ion inertial length in thickness, but the magnetopause was much thicker than expected, about 400 to 1000 km on average. The magnetometers have each logged over 3 2/3 years of continuous operation.

Russell, C. T.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Entanglement-enhanced ac magnetometry in the presence of Markovian noise

Entanglement is a resource to improve the sensitivity of quantum sensors. In an ideal case, using an entangled state as a probe to detect target fields, we can beat the standard quantum limit by which all classical sensors are bounded. However, since entanglement is fragile against decoherence, it is unclear whether entanglement-enhanced metrology is useful in a noisy environment. Its benefit is indeed limited when estimating the amplitude of dc magnetic fields under the effect of parallel Markovian decoherence, where the noise operator is parallel to the target field. In this paper, on the contrary, we show an advantage to using an entanglement over the classical strategy under the effect of parallel Markovian decoherence when we try to detect ac magnetic fields. We consider a scenario to induce a Rabi oscillation of the qubits with the target ac magnetic fields. Although we can, in principle, estimate the amplitude of the ac magnetic fields from the Rabi oscillation, the signal becomes weak if the qubit frequency is significantly detuned from the frequency of the ac magnetic field. We show that, by using the Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states, we can significantly enhance the signal of the detuned Rabi oscillation even under the effect of parallel Markovian decoherence. Further, our method is based on the fact that the interaction time between the GHZ states and ac magnetic fields scales as 1/L to mitigate the decoherence effect, where L is the number of qubits, which contributes to improving the bandwidth of the detectable frequencies of the ac magnetic fields. Our results pave the way for new applications of entanglement-enhanced ac magnetometry.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
NASA NTRS1971

Recent developments and applications of the SEC vidicon for astronomy

The engineering development of the SEC vidicon as an astronomical sensor has continued in parallel with its operational use. One scientific application was the six hour exposure of the quasar PHL-957 at the Coude spectrograph of the 200-inch Hale telescope. The developmental effort includes both the enhancement of the basic attributes that make the SEC an appropriate sensor, namely, high quantum efficiency, low threshold, and long integration; as well as work to broaden its scientific usefulness, such as the development of a MgF2 photocathode window for vacuum ultraviolet sensitivity, and a permanent magnet focus design for thermal compatibility with proposed large space telescopes. Additional details on the characteristics of the SEC tube are discussed, as well as plans to make a larger and higher resolution version.

Zucchino, P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Vector magnetometer as an attitude determining instrument

The solid state vector magnetometer sensor system is presented for the accuracy and reliability of existing systems, and for providing independent measures of attitude. Since a large number of aircraft heading reference systems depend on measurement of the earth's magnetic field, it can be shown that by substituting a 3-axis magnetometer for the remote sensing unit, both heading and attitude measurement functions can be derived using common elements. Sample calculations are made using the earth's magnetic field data acquired during actual flight conditions.

Pietila, R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Accurate attitude determination of the LACE satellite

The Low-power Atmospheric Compensation Experiment (LACE) satellite, launched in February 1990 by the Naval Research Laboratory, uses a magnetic damper on a gravity gradient boom and a momentum wheel with its axis perpendicular to the plane of the orbit to stabilize and maintain its attitude. Satellite attitude is determined using three types of sensors: a conical Earth scanner, a set of sun sensors, and a magnetometer. The Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI), on board LACE, consists of two intensified CCD cameras and a gimbal led pointing mirror. The primary purpose of the UVPI is to image rocket plumes from space in the ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. Secondary objectives include imaging stars, atmospheric phenomena, and ground targets. The problem facing the UVPI experimenters is that the sensitivity of the LACF satellite attitude sensors is not always adequate to correctly point the UVPI cameras. Our solution is to point the UVPI cameras at known targets and use the information thus gained to improve attitude measurements. This paper describes the three methods developed to determine improved attitude values using the UVPI for both real-time operations and post observation analysis.

Miglin, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Actively suspended counter-rotating machine

A counter-rotating machine, such as a positive displacement pump having a pair of meshed, non-contacting helical screws (10,12), subjects its rotating members to axial and radial thrust forces when used for such purposes as compression of liquid or gaseous phase fluids while transporting them through a pump cavity (11,13). Each helical screw (10,12) has a shaft (17,17') which is actively suspended at opposite ends (11a,11b) of the pump cavity by a servo-controlled magnetic bearing assembly (19) and a servo-controlled rotary drive motor (20). Both bearing assemblies and drive motors are mounted on the outside of the pump cavity (11,13). Opto-electric angular position sensors (250) provide synchronization between radial orientation of the drive motors. The bearing assemblies and drive motors conjugately provide axial stabilization and radial centering of the helical screws during volumetric compression of aspirated liquid or gaseous phase fluids.

Studer, Philip A.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Magnetic Tunnel Junction-Based On-Chip Microwave Phase and Spectrum Analyzer

A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ)-based microwave detector is proposed and investigated. When the MTJ is excited by microwave magnetic fields, the relative angle between the free layer and pinned layer alternates, giving rise to an average resistance change. By measuring the average resistance change, the MTJ can be utilized as a microwave power sensor. Due to the nature of ferromagnetic resonance, the frequency of an incident microwave is directly determined. In addition, by integrating a mixer circuit, the MTJ-based microwave detector can also determine the relative phase between two microwave signals. Thus, the MTJbased microwave detector can be used as an on-chip microwave phase and spectrum analyzer.

Fan, Xin↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Toward Large Field-of-view X-ray Spectrometers with Magnetic Microcalorimeters

A future X-ray telescope mission like Lynx, a X-ray flagship mission concept, requires a large field of view, high energy resolution, and high spatial resolution. The Magnetic Microcalorimeter (MMC) detectors we are developing for such a mission feature a 5-arcminute field of view, approximately 100,000 pixels, each spanning 0.5–1 arcsecond. These detectors require the readout of 8,000 sensors. Three different array types have been designed to meet scientific goals, two of which utilize thermal multiplexing to reduce the number of readout channels in a scheme called “Hydra.” We are currently fabricating detectors on a recently completed buried wiring wafer with connections to every sensor. The sensors are read out using a microwave multiplexer (μMUX) with flux ramp modulation. A single μMUX can read out approximately 1,000 sensors with only two feed lines. We will report on the test of the first two-dimensional μMUX chip, consisting of 78 resonators. μMUX chips that pass screening will be directly bonded to MMC array chips using indium bump bonding. In parallel, we have tested a kinetic inductance traveling wave parametric amplifier (KI-TWPA) to amplify signals at low temperatures. The KI-TWPA exhibits extremely low internal noise, approaching the standard quantum limit. Since the energy resolution of an MMC is primarily limited by the readout system, the KI-TWPA is an ideal amplifier for MMCs with μMUX readout. We recently measured the readout noise of a μMUX with a KI-TWPA, demonstrating its capability for reading out MMC arrays. We present the design and fabrication of the latest MMC detectors, along with its readout performance.

Magntic Microcalorimeters↗