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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

An improved lambda-scheme for one-dimensional flows

A code for the calculation of one-dimensional flows is presented, which combines a simple and efficient version of the lambda-scheme with tracking of discontinuities. The latter is needed to identify points where minor departures from the basic integration scheme are applied to prevent infiltration of numerical errors. Such a tracking is obtained via a systematic application of Boolean algebra. It is, therefore, very efficient. Fifteen examples are presented and discussed in detail. The results are exceptionally good. All discontinuites are captured within one mesh interval.

Moretti, G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Airborne 20-65 micron spectrophotometry of Comet Halley

Observations of Comet Halley with a grating spectrometer on board the Kuiper Airborne Observatory on four nights in Dec. 1985 to Apr. 1986 are reported. Low resolution 20 to 65 micrometer spectra of the nucleus with a 40 arcsec FWHM beam was obtained on 17 Dec. 1985, and on 15 and 17 Apr. 1986. On 20 Dec. 1985, only a 20 to 35 micrometer spectrum was obtained. Most of the data have been discussed in a paper where the continuum was dealt with. In that paper, models were fit to the continuum that showed that more micron sized particles of grain similar to amorphous carbon were needed to fit the spectrum than were allowed by the Vega SP-2 mass distribution, or that a fraction of the grains had to be made out of a material whose absorption efficiency fell steeper than lambda sup -1 for lambda greater than 20 micrometers. Spectra was also presented taken at several points on the coma on 15 Apr. which showed that the overall shape to the spectrum is the same in the coma. Tabulated values of the data and calibration curves are available. The spectral features are discussed.

Glaccum, William↗
NASA NTRS1993

Optical communications and a comparison of optical technologies for a high data rate return link from Mars

The important principles of direct- and heterodyne-detection optical free-space communications are reviewed. Signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and bit-error-rate (BER) expressions are derived for both the direct-detection and heterodyne-detection optical receivers. For the heterodyne system, performance degradation resulting from received-signal and local oscillator-beam misalignment and laser phase noise is analyzed. Determination of interfering background power from local and extended background sources is discussed. The BER performance of direct- and heterodyne-detection optical links in the presence of Rayleigh-distributed random pointing and tracking errors is described. Finally, several optical systems employing Nd:YAG, GaAs, and CO2 laser sources are evaluated and compared to assess their feasibility in providing high-data-rate (10- to 1000-Mbps) Mars-to-Earth communications. It is shown that the root mean square (rms) pointing and tracking accuracy is a critical factor in defining the system transmitting laser-power requirements and telescope size and that, for a given rms error, there is an optimum telescope aperture size that minimizes the required power. The results of the analysis conducted indicate that, barring the achievement of extremely small rms pointing and tracking errors (less than 0.2 microrad), the two most promising types of optical systems are those that use an Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 1.064 microns) and high-order pulse position modulator (PPM) and direct detection, and those that use a CO2 laser (lambda = 10.6 microns) and phase shifting keying homodyne modulation and coherent detection. For example, for a PPM order of M = 64 and an rms pointing accuracy of 0.4 microrad, an Nd:YAG system can be used to implement a 100-Mbps Mars link with a 40-cm transmitting telescope, a 20-W laser, and a 10-m receiving photon bucket. Under the same conditions, a CO2 system would require 3-m transmitting and receiving telescopes and a 32-W laser to implement such a link. Other types of optical systems, such as a semiconductor laser systems, are impractical in the presence of large rms pointing errors because of the high power requirements of the 100-Mbps Mars link, even when optimal-size telescopes are used.

Spence, Rodney L.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Systematic study of projection biases in the weak lensing analysis of cosmic shear and the combination of galaxy clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing

This paper presents the results of a systematic study of projection biases in the weak lensing analysis of cosmic shear and the combination of galaxy clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing using data collected during the first year of running the Dark Energy Survey experiment. The study uses Lambda cold dark matter ( Λ CDM ) as the cosmological model and two-point correlation functions for the weak lensing (WL) analysis. The results in this paper show that, independent of the WL analysis, projection biases of more than 1 σ exist and are a function of the position of the true values of the parameters h , n s , Ω b , and Ω ν h 2 with respect to their prior probabilities. For cosmic shear, and the combination of galaxy clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing, this study shows that the coverage probability of the 68.27% credible intervals ranges from as high as 93% to as low as 16% and that these credible intervals are inflated, on average, by 29% for cosmic shear and 20% for the combination of galaxy clustering and galaxy-galaxy lensing. The results of the study also show that, in six out of nine tested cases, the reduction in error bars obtained by transforming credible intervals into confidence intervals is equivalent to an increase in the amount of data by a factor of 3.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1983

New observations of plasma vortices and insights into their interpretation

Two- and three-dimensional plasma measurements and three-dimensional magnetic field measurements made with the ISEE 1 and 2 satellites during sixteen plasma vortex occurrences in the magnetotail plasma sheet are used to develop a fuller description of the vortex phenomenon than has existed heretofore. The phase and energy propagation properties of the vortex waves was studied in particular. The rotation period of the vortices (T = 10 + or - 5 minutes) is apparently independent of location, while the wavelength (lambda not less than several Re) increases with increasing distance down the tail, pointing to a global mode of propagation in which effects of inhomogeneous equilibrium are important. The flow rotation can be explained by propagation of surface waves or resonant waves in a uniform medium. Other observed features, however, require a nonuniform model: nonuniform propagation properties and differences of the phase propagation speed calculated from different components of velocity or magnetic field.

Hones, E. W., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Results from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) mapped the distribution of temperature and polarization over the entire sky in five microwave frequency bands. These full-sky maps were used to obtain measurements of temperature and polarization anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background with the unprecedented accuracy and precision. The analysis of two-point correlation functions of temperature and polarization data gives determinations of the fundamental cosmological parameters such as the age and composition of the universe, as well as the key parameters describing the physics of inflation, which is further constrained by three-point correlation functions. WMAP observations alone reduced the flat Λ cold dark matter (Lambda Cold Dark Matter) cosmological model (six) parameter volume by a factor of > 68, 000 compared with pre-WMAP measurements. The WMAP observations (sometimes in combination with other astrophysical probes) convincingly show the existence of non-baryonic dark matter, the cosmic neutrino background, flatness of spatial geometry of the universe, a deviation from a scale-invariant spectrum of initial scalar fluctuations, and that the current universe is undergoing an accelerated expansion. The WMAP observations provide the strongest ever support for inflation; namely, the structures we see in the universe originate from quantum fluctuations generated during inflation.

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)↗
NASA NTRS1998

Rubidium-Strontium Formation Age of Allan Hills 84001 Carbonates

Our preferred age for the formation of carbonates in the martian meteorite ALH 84001 is 3.90 plus or minus 0.04 Ga for Lambda (Rubidium 87) equals 0.01402 Ga (exp -1), or 3.85 plus or minus 0.04 Ga for Lambda (Rubidium 87) = 0.0142 Ga(exponent -1). This age is determined by a three-point Rb-Sr isochron defined by leachates of high-graded carbonate-rich material. Major cation and especially phosphorous analyses of the leachates permit contributions from igneous whitlockite to be recognized for low-acidity leachates, and the corresponding data are omitted from the isochron. Data for the two highest acidity leachates plot close to the preferred isochron, but are omitted because we believe they contain contributions leached from the pyroxene substrate on which most of the carbonates are found. Nevertheless, the isochron age for all five highest-acidity leachates is 3.94 plus or minus 0.04 Ga, and is within error of the age obtained for the more restricted data set. All leachates used to define the isochron have major cation compositions that are singular to those obtained by microprobe analyses of the carbonate rosettes and are consistent with progressive digestion of the carbonates according to their composition. The age thus obtained for the carbonates is about 600 m.y. younger than the crystalization age of ALH 84001 determined by Sm-Nd analyses but is within error limits of the age of impact metamorphism inferred from the Rb-Sr and Ar-Ar systematics of silicates. which yield ages of 3.85 plus or minus 0.05 Ga and 4.05- 3.80 Ga to 4.3-3.8 Ga, respectively. Similarities between the carbonate crystallization age and the age of impact metamorphism as determined by Ar-Ar and Rb-Sr suggest that the carbonate formation is impact-related. Nevertheless, both high and low- temperature scenarios for the origin of the carbonates are possible.

Borg, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Coronal structures deduced from photospheric magnetic field and He I lambda 10830 observations

The National Solar Observatory synoptic program provides an extensive and unique data base of high-resolution full-disk observations of the line-of-sight photospheric magnetic fields and of the He I lambda 10830 equivalent width. These data have been taken nearly daily for more than 21 years since 1974 and provide the opportunity to investigate the behavior of the magnetic fields in the photosphere and those inferred for the corona spanning on the time scales of a day to that of a solar cycle. The intensity of structures observed in He I lambda 10830 are strongly modulated by overlying coronal radiation; areas with low coronal emission are generally brighter in He I lambda 10830, while areas with high coronal emission are darker. For this reason, He I lambda 10830 was selected in the mid-1970's as way to identify and monitor coronal holes, magnetic fields with an open configuration, and the sources of high-speed solar wind streams. The He I lambda 10830 spectroheliograms also show a wide variety of other structures from small-scale, short-lived dark points (less than 30 arc-sec, hours) to the large-scale, long-lived two 'ribbon' flare events that follow the filament eruptions (1000 arc-sec, days). Such structures provide clues about the connections and changes in the large-scale coronal magnetic fields that are rooted in concentrations of magnetic network and active regions in the photosphere. In this paper, what observations of the photospheric magnetic field and He I lambda 10830 can tell us about the short- and long-term evolution of the coronal magnetic fields will be discussed, focussing on the quiet Sun and coronal holes. These data and what we infer from them will be compared with direct observations of the coronal structure from the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope.

Harvey, Karen L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Theoretical characterization of the potential energy surface for NH + NO

The potential energy surface (PES) for NH + NO was characterized using complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) gradient calculations to determine the stationary point geometries and frequencies followed by CASSCF/internally contracted configuration interaction (CCI) calculations to refine the energetics. The present results are in qualitative accord with the BAC-MP4 calculations, but there are differences as large as 8 kcal/mol in the detailed energetics. Addition of NH to NO on a (2)A' surface, which correlated with N2 + OH or H + N2O products, involves barriers of 3.2 kcal/mol (trans) and 6.3 kcal/mol (cis). Experimental evidence for these barriers is found in earlier works. The (2)A' surface has no barrier to addition, but does not correlate with products. Surface crossings between the barrierless (2)A' surface and the (2)A' surface may be important. Production of N2 + OH products is predicted to occur via a planar saddle point of (2)A' symmetry. This is in accord with the preferential formation of II(A') lambda doublet levels of OH in earlier experiments. Addition of NH (1)delta to NO is found to occur on an excited state surface and is predicted to lead to N2O product as observed in earlier works.

Walch, Stephen P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Quiet sun observations of the Al I autoionization lines lambda 1932 and lambda 1936

Quet sun observations obtained during a rocket flight of the Al I autoionization lines 1932 A and 1936 A at solar pointings ranging from mu = 0.73 out to the visible limb. Absolute intensities are estimated to be accurate to about + or - 20%. These lines weaken progressively with decreasing mu but never go into emission before finally disappearing with the continuum just beyond the visible solar limb. The observations are then compared with LTE line profiles computed through the quiet sun atmosphere of Vernazza et al. (1976). Several areas of disagreement between the synthetic and observed profiles are discussed.

Cook, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The effect of dissipative inhomogeneous medium on the statistics of the wave intensity

One of the main theoretical points in the theory of wave propagation in random medium is the derivation of closed form equations to describe the statistics of the propagating waves. In particular, in one dimensional problems, the closed form representation of the multiple scattering effects is important since it contributes in understanding such problems like wave localization, backscattering enhancement, and intensity fluctuations. In this the propagation of plane waves in a layer of one-dimensional dissipative random medium is considered. The medium is modeled by a complex permittivity whose real part is a constant representing the absorption. The one dimensional problem is mathematically equivalent to the analysis of a transmission line with randomly perturbed distributed parameters and a single mode lossy waveguide and the results can be used to study the propagation of radio waves through atmosphere and the remote sensing of geophysical media. It is assumed the scattering medium consists of an ensemble of one-dimensional point scatterers randomly positioned in a layer of thickness L with diffuse boundaries. A Poisson impulse process with density lambda is used to model the position of scatterers in the medium. By employing the Markov properties of this process an exact closed form equation of Kolmogorov-Feller type was obtained for the probability density of the reflection coefficient. This equation was solved by combining two limiting cases: (1) when the density of scatterers is small; and (2) when the medium is weakly dissipative. A two variable perturbation method for small lambda was used to obtain solutions valid for thick layers. These solutions are then asymptotically evaluated for small dissipation. To show the effect of dissipation, the mean and fluctuations of the reflected power are obtained. The results were compared with a lossy homogeneous medium and with a lossless inhomogeneous medium and the regions where the effect of absorption is not essential were discussed.

Saatchi, Sasan S.↗
NASA NTRS1999

0.4 Microns Spatial Resolution with 1 GHz (lambda = 30 cm) Evanescent Microwave Probe

In this article we describe evanescent field imaging of material nonuniformities with a record resolution of 0.4 microns at 1 GHz (lambda(sub g)/750000), using a resonant stripline scanning microwave probe. A chemically etched tip is used as a point-like evanescent field emitter and a probe-sample distance modulation is employed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Images obtained by evanescent microwave probe, by optical microscope, and by scanning tunneling microscope are presented for comparison. Probe was calibrated to perform quantitative conductivity measurements. The principal factors affecting the ultimate resolution of evanescent microwave probe are also discussed.

Tabib-Azar, M.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Critical Phenomena in Microgravity: Past, Present, and Future

This review provides an overview of the progress in using the low-gravity environment of space to explore critical phenomena and test modern theoretical predictions. Gravity-induced variations in the hydrostatic pressure and the resulting density gradients adversely affect ground-based measurements near fluid critical points. Performing measurements in a low-gravity environment can significantly reduce these difficulties. A number of significant experiments have been performed in low-Earth orbit. Experiments near the lambda transition in liquid helium explored the regime of large correlation lengths and tested the theoretical predictions to a level of precision that could not be obtained on Earth. Other studies have validated theoretical predictions for the divergence in the viscosity as well as the unexpected critical speeding up of the thermal equilibrium process in pure fluids near the liquid-gas critical point. We describe the scientific content of previously flown low-gravity investigations of critical phenomena as well as those in the development stage, and associated ground-based work.

renormalization-group theory↗
NASA NTRS1990

MIT's interferometer CST testbed

The MIT Space Engineering Research Center (SERC) has developed a controlled structures technology (CST) testbed based on one design for a space-based optical interferometer. The role of the testbed is to provide a versatile platform for experimental investigation and discovery of CST approaches. In particular, it will serve as the focus for experimental verification of CSI methodologies and control strategies at SERC. The testbed program has an emphasis on experimental CST--incorporating a broad suite of actuators and sensors, active struts, system identification, passive damping, active mirror mounts, and precision component characterization. The SERC testbed represents a one-tenth scaled version of an optical interferometer concept based on an inherently rigid tetrahedral configuration with collecting apertures on one face. The testbed consists of six 3.5 meter long truss legs joined at four vertices and is suspended with attachment points at three vertices. Each aluminum leg has a 0.2 m by 0.2 m by 0.25 m triangular cross-section. The structure has a first flexible mode at 31 Hz and has over 50 global modes below 200 Hz. The stiff tetrahedral design differs from similar testbeds (such as the JPL Phase B) in that the structural topology is closed. The tetrahedral design minimizes structural deflections at the vertices (site of optical components for maximum baseline) resulting in reduced stroke requirements for isolation and pointing of optics. Typical total light path length stability goals are on the order of lambda/20, with a wavelength of light, lambda, of roughly 500 nanometers. It is expected that active structural control will be necessary to achieve this goal in the presence of disturbances.

Hyde, Tupper↗
NASA NTRS1982

Transient phenomena of shock-induced turbulent separation for a spikebody and stalling airfoil at transonic and supersonic speeds

The time-dependent, compressible, Reynolds-averaged, full Navier-Stokes equations are applied to solve an axisymmetric flow around a forward-facing stepbody (spikebody) at supersonic speeds and a stalling airfoil at transonic speeds. Important transient and unsteady phenomena, not yet well understood, are examined, and significant new findings of the present solution to the phenomena are discussed. The phenomena described in detail are as follows: The evolution of the shock wave pressure built up by the impact of the pressure waves, one from the trailing edge; the separation of the flow as influenced by the shock wave; the location of the reversed flow, the separation point, and the reattachment point; and the transient (or unsteady) phenomena of the flow pulsation, oscillation, and stalling of the body and airfoil wake flow. The numerical results show that the transient flow instability is caused by a supersonic jet induced in the separation bubble by the shock-bifurcation (lambda shock) mechanism between the separation shock and the reflected shock. Pulsation and stall phenomena are caused by a sudden increase in the leading-edge pressure due to the jet and the separation bubble interacting along the stagnation point flow.

Yoshikawa, K. K.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Issues and Methods Concerning the Evaluation of Hypersingular and Near-Hypersingular Integrals in BEM Formulations

It is known that higher order modeling of the sources and the geometry in Boundary Element Modeling (BEM) formulations is essential to highly efficient computational electromagnetics. However, in order to achieve the benefits of hIgher order basis and geometry modeling, the singular and near-singular terms arising in BEM formulations must be integrated accurately. In particular, the accurate integration of near-singular terms, which occur when observation points are near but not on source regions of the scattering object, has been considered one of the remaining limitations on the computational efficiency of integral equation methods. The method of singularity subtraction has been used extensively for the evaluation of singular and near-singular terms. Piecewise integration of the source terms in this manner, while manageable for bases of constant and linear orders, becomes unwieldy and prone to error for bases of higher order. Furthermore, we find that the singularity subtraction method is not conducive to object-oriented programming practices, particularly in the context of multiple operators. To extend the capabilities, accuracy, and maintainability of general-purpose codes, the subtraction method is being replaced in favor of the purely numerical quadrature schemes. These schemes employ singularity cancellation methods in which a change of variables is chosen such that the Jacobian of the transformation cancels the singularity. An example of the sin,oularity cancellation approach is the Duffy method, which has two major drawbacks: 1) In the resulting integrand, it produces an angular variation about the singular point that becomes nearly-singular for observation points close to an edge of the parent element, and 2) it appears not to work well when applied to nearly-singular integrals. Recently, the authors have introduced the transformation u(x(prime))= sinh (exp -1) x(prime)/Square root of ((y prime (exp 2))+ z(exp 2) for integrating functions of the form I = Integral of (lambda(r(prime))((e(exp -jkR))/(4 pi R) d D where A (r (prime)) is a vector or scalar basis function and R = Square root of( (x(prime)(exp2) + (y(prime)(exp2) + z(exp 2)) is the distance between source and observation points. This scheme has all of the advantages of the Duffy method while avoiding the disadvantages listed above. In this presentation we will survey similar approaches for handling singular and near-singular terms for kernels with 1/R(exp 2) type behavior, addressing potential pitfalls and offering techniques to efficiently handle special cases.

Fink, P. W.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Numerical studies of 2-dimensional flows

A formulation of the lambda scheme for the analysis of two dimensional inviscid, compressible, unsteady transonic flows is presented. The scheme uses generalized Riemann variables to determine the appropriate two point, one sided finite difference approximation for each derivative in the unsteady Euler equations. These finite differences are applied at the predictor and corrector levels with shock updating at each level. The weaker oblique shocks are captured, but strong near normal shocks are fitted into the flow using the Rankine-Hugoniot relations. This code is demonstrated with a numerical example of a duct flow problem with developing normal and oblique shock waves. The technique is implemented in a code which has been made efficient by streamlining to a minimal number of operations and by eliminating branch statements. The scheme is shown to provide an accurate analysis of the flow, including formation, motions, and interactions of shocks; the results obtained on a relatively coarse mesh are comparable to those obtained by other methods on much finer meshes.

Moretti, G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Investigating a hybrid perturbation-Galerkin technique using computer algebra

A two-step hybrid perturbation-Galerkin method is presented for the solution of a variety of differential equations type problems which involve a scalar parameter. The resulting (approximate) solution has the form of a sum where each term consists of the product of two functions. The first function is a function of the independent field variable(s) x, and the second is a function of the parameter lambda. In step one the functions of x are determined by forming a perturbation expansion in lambda. In step two the functions of lambda are determined through the use of the classical Bubnov-Gelerkin method. The resulting hybrid method has the potential of overcoming some of the drawbacks of the perturbation and Bubnov-Galerkin methods applied separately, while combining some of the good features of each. In particular, the results can be useful well beyond the radius of convergence associated with the perturbation expansion. The hybrid method is applied with the aid of computer algebra to a simple two-point boundary value problem where the radius of convergence is finite and to a quantum eigenvalue problem where the radius of convergence is zero. For both problems the hybrid method apparently converges for an infinite range of the parameter lambda. The results obtained from the hybrid method are compared with approximate solutions obtained by other methods, and the applicability of the hybrid method to broader problem areas is discussed.

Andersen, Carl M.↗