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At least 91 records · Page 5

Virtual Machine Language

Virtual Machine Language (VML) is a mission-independent, reusable software system for programming for spacecraft operations. Features of VML include a rich set of data types, named functions, parameters, IF and WHILE control structures, polymorphism, and on-the-fly creation of spacecraft commands from calculated values. Spacecraft functions can be abstracted into named blocks that reside in files aboard the spacecraft. These named blocks accept parameters and execute in a repeatable fashion. The sizes of uplink products are minimized by the ability to call blocks that implement most of the command steps. This block approach also enables some autonomous operations aboard the spacecraft, such as aerobraking, telemetry conditional monitoring, and anomaly response, without developing autonomous flight software. Operators on the ground write blocks and command sequences in a concise, high-level, human-readable programming language (also called VML ). A compiler translates the human-readable blocks and command sequences into binary files (the operations products). The flight portion of VML interprets the uplinked binary files. The ground subsystem of VML also includes an interactive sequence- execution tool hosted on workstations, which runs sequences at several thousand times real-time speed, affords debugging, and generates reports. This tool enables iterative development of blocks and sequences within times of the order of seconds.

Grasso, Christopher↗

Fortran Program for X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Data Reformatting

A FORTRAN program has been written for use on an IBM PC/XT or AT or compatible microcomputer (personal computer, PC) that converts a column of ASCII-format numbers into a binary-format file suitable for interactive analysis on a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) computer running the VGS-5000 Enhanced Data Processing (EDP) software package. The incompatible floating-point number representations of the two computers were compared, and a subroutine was created to correctly store floating-point numbers on the IBM PC, which can be directly read by the DEC computer. Any file transfer protocol having provision for binary data can be used to transmit the resulting file from the PC to the DEC machine. The data file header required by the EDP programs for an x ray photoelectron spectrum is also written to the file. The user is prompted for the relevant experimental parameters, which are then properly coded into the format used internally by all of the VGS-5000 series EDP packages.

Abel, Phillip B.↗

Data-driven approach to parameterize SCAN + U for an accurate description of 3 d transition metal oxide thermochemistry

Semilocal density-functional theory (DFT) methods exhibit significant errors for the phase diagrams of transition-metal oxides that are caused by an incorrect description of molecular oxygen and the large self-interaction error in materials with strongly localized electronic orbitals. Empirical and semiempirical corrections based on the DFT + U method can reduce these errors, but the parameterization and validation of the correction terms remains an on-going challenge. Here we develop a systematic methodology to determine the parameters and to statistically assess the results by considering interlinked thermochemical data across a set of transition metal compounds. We consider three interconnected levels of correction terms: (1) a constant oxygen binding correction, (2) Hubbard-U correction, and (3) DFT/DFT + U compatibility correction. The parameterization is expressed as a unified optimization problem. We demonstrate this approach for 3d transition metal oxides, considering a target set of binary and ternary oxides. With a total of 37 measured formation enthalpies taken from the literature, the dataset is augmented by the reaction energies of 1710 unique reactions that were derived from the formation energies by systematic enumeration. To ensure a balanced dataset across the available data, the reactions were grouped by their similarity using clustering and suitably weighted. The parameterization is validated using leave-one-out cross validation (CV), a standard technique for the validation of statistical models. We apply the methodology to the strongly constrained and appropriately normed (SCAN) density functional. Based on the CV score, the error of binary (ternary) oxide formation energies is reduced by 40% (75%) to 0.10 (0.03) eV/atom. A simplified correction scheme that does not involve SCAN/SCAN + U compatibility terms still achieves an error reduction of 30% (25%). The method and tools demonstrated here can be applied to other classes of materials or to parameterize the corrections to optimize DFT + U performance for other target physical properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Kepler Light Curves of V1504 Cygni and V344 Lyrae: A Study of the Outburst Properties

We examine the Kepler light curves of V1504 Cyg and V344 Lyr, encompassing approximately 460 d at 1 min cadence. During this span each system exhibited approximately 40 outbursts, including four superoutbursts. We find that, in both systems, the normal outbursts lying between two superoutbursts increase in duration by a factor approximately 1.2 - 1.7, and then reset to a small value after the following superoutburst. In V344 Lyr the trend of quiescent intervals between normal outbursts is to increase to a local maximum about half way through the supercycle the interval from one superoutburst to the next - and then to decrease back to a small value by the time of the next superoutburst, whereas for V1504 Cyg the quiescent intervals are relatively constant during the supercycle. Both of these trends are inconsistent with the Osaki's thermal-tidal model, which robustly predicts a secular increase in the quiescent intervals between normal outbursts during a supercycle. Also, most of the normal outbursts have an asymmetric, fast-rise/slower-decline shape, which would be consistent with outbursts triggered at large radii. The exponential rate of decay of the plateau phase of the superoutbursts is 8 d mag(sup -1) for approximately 1504 Cyg and 12 d mag(sup -1) for V344 Lyr. This time scale gives a direct measure of the VISCOUS time scale III the outer accretion disk given the expectation that the entire disk is in the hot, viscous state during superoutburst. The resulting constraint on the Shakura-Sunyaev parameter, alpha(sub hot) approximately equal to 0.1, is consistent with the value inferred from the fast dwarf nova decays. By looking at the slow decay rate for superoutbursts, which occur in systems below the period gap, in combination with the slow decay rate in one long outburst above the period gap (in U Gem), we infer a steep dependence of the decay rate on orbital period for long outbursts. We argue that this relation implies a steep dependence of alpha(sub cold) on orbital period, which may be consistent with recent findings of Patterson, and is consistent with tidal torquing as being the dominant angular momentum transport mechanism in quiescent disks in interacting binary systems.

Cannizzo, John K.↗

Optical pattern recognition; Proceedings of the Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 17, 18, 1989

Papers on optical pattern recognition are presented, covering topics such as the estimation of satellite pose and motion parameters using a neural net tracker, associative memory, optical implmentation of programmable neural networks, optoelectronic neural networks, dynamic autoassociative neural memory, heteroassociative memory, bilinear pattern recognition processors, optical processing of optical correlation plane data, and a synthetic discriminant function-based nonlinear optical correlator. Other topics include an interactive optical-digital image processor, geometric transformations for video compression and human teleoperator display, quasiconformal remapping for compensation of human visual field defects, hybrid vision for automated spacecraft landing, advanced symbolic and inference optical correlation filters, and a rotationally invariant holographic tracking system. Additional topics include the detection of rotational and scale-varying objects with a programmable joint transform correlator, a single spatial light modulator binary nonlinear optical correlator, optical joint transform correlation, linear phase coefficient composite filters, and binary phase-only filters.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗

Modeling of Multicomponent Trace Contaminant Adsorption on Activated Carbon

Modeling of multicomponent trace contaminant adsorption on activated carbon for spacecraft life support applications presents challenges due to the very low contaminant concentrations in cabin air coupled with very strong adsorption of heavier components such as cyclic polydimethylsiloxanes. Both gas-phase and solid-phase micropore mass transfer resistances can be important, and competitive interactions between adsorbed components can result in behavior such as roll-up where lighter components displaced by heavier components have a higher concentration at the outlet than at the inlet. This paper describes the further development of a dynamic trace contaminant adsorption model based on Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST). Alternative 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional versions of the model are described with different mass transfer resistance and driving force assumptions. Optimization of solution methods for speed and stability is also described. Mass balance equations are scaled to provide sensitivity over the wide range of component concentrations in cabin air. Model parameters are estimated from isotherm and breakthrough test data on single adsorbate and binary adsorbate systems. Multicomponent results are compared against predictions of a heritage model used extensively by NASA for trace contaminant control system (TCCS) carbon bed sizing. Finally, efforts to implement the model in a second software platform for wider access are described.

Kevin E Lange↗

Interface pinning causes the hysteresis of the hydride transformation in binary metal hydrides

Hydriding and dehydriding transitions in bulk and nanocrystalline binary metal hydrides were studied using the Pd-H model system by measuring pressure-composition isotherms with in situ x-ray diffractometry. Nanocrystalline Pd showed a smaller pressure hysteresis, solvus hysteresis, and hysteresis in lattice parameter, compared to bulk Pd. The time-dependence of pressure equilibration was measured after dosing with aliquots of hydrogen, giving equilibration times that were much faster in the single-phase regions than in the two-phase plateaus. In the broad two-phase plateaus, the pressure relaxations were exponential functions of time. An explanation of hysteresis is developed that is based on a dissipative potential barrier that impedes the motion of the interface due to interactions between lattice defects and the two-phase interface. The exponential pressure relaxations and hysteresis are consistent for this mechanism. For a simple model of the pinning potential, the potential barrier maximum is an order of magnitude less than typical grain boundary energies. These pinning effects are substantially different in the nanocrystalline Pd, suggesting differences in the hydriding mechanism.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Thermodynamic Modeling of the Al-Ce-Cu-Mg-Si System and Its Application to Aluminum-Cerium Alloy Design

Recently discovered AlCe alloys have shown promise in a number of applications, but the propensity of Ce to react with Al and other alloying elements can complicate the phase equilibria and design approach. To solve this, the CALPHAD method is used to explore an alloy within the quinary Al-Ce-Cu-Mg-Si system by developing a thermodynamic database with self-consistent parameters. The database includes a description of all 10 binary systems and 8 ternary systems consisting of: (i) 6 Al-containing ternaries (Al-Ce-Cu, Al-Ce-Mg, Al-Ce-Si, Al-Cu-Mg, Al-Cu-Si and Al-Mg-Si); and (ii) 2 additional ternaries that include Mg and Si (i.e., Ce-Mg-Si and Cu-Mg-Si). The thermodynamic description for the Al-Ce-Mg and Al-Mg-Si systems were reassessed to ensure consistency with the binary systems and the Ce-Mg-Si system is presented for the first time and compared to theoretical data from DFT (Density Functional Theory). In addition to the ternary interactions, the quaternary compound Al3Cu2Mg9Si7 and solid solution extending from the ternary Al2CuMg phase (Al,Si)2CuMg are incorporated. The CALPHAD method is employed and leveraged through the use of a Materials Design Simulator (MDS) to accelerate the design of novel aluminum-cerium-based alloys. The combination of a CALPHAD-based framework with experimental efforts and industrial insight permits the development of three new Al-Ce alloys: Al-3.5Ce-0.4Mg-7Si (Ce-modified A356), Al-5Ce-1Cu-0.5Mg-10Si and Al-19Ce-0.9Mg-1.1Si.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Companions to peculiar red giants: HR 363 and HR 1105

Recent IUE observations of two Tc-deficient S-type peculiar red giants that are also spectroscopic binaries, HR 363 and HR 1105 are reported. A 675 min SWP exposure of HR 363 shows emission lines of O I 1304 and Si II 1812 and a trace of continuum. Compared to the M giants, the far UV flux may be relatively larger, indicating a possible contribution from a white dwarf companion, but no high temperature emission lines are seen to indicate that this is an interacting system where mass-transfer recently occurred. However, HR 1105 appears to have a highly variable UV companion. In 1982, no UV flux was discerned for this system, but by 1986 C IV was strong, increasing by a factor of 3 in 1987 with prominent lines of Si III, C III, O III, Si IV, and N V. Using orbital parameters, these observations are consistent with high activity occuring when the side of the S-star primary illuminated by the companion faces the Earth, but since the IUE data were taken over 3 orbits, a secular change in the UV component cannot be excluded.

Ake, Thomas B., III↗

The Santa Barbara Binary-disk Code Comparison

We have performed numerical calculations of a binary interacting with a gas disk, using 11 different numerical methods and a standard binary-disk setup. The goal of this study is to determine whether all codes agree on a numerically converged solution and to determine the necessary resolution for convergence and the number of binary orbits that must be computed to reach an agreed-upon relaxed state of the binary-disk system. We find that all codes can agree on a converged solution (depending on the diagnostic being measured). The zone spacing required for most codes to reach a converged measurement of the torques applied to the binary by the disk is roughly 1% of the binary separation in the vicinity of the binary components. For our disk model to reach a relaxed state, codes must be run for at least 200 binary orbits, corresponding to about a viscous time for our parameters, 0.2(a 2 Ω B /v) is the kinematic viscosity. The largest discrepancies between codes resulted from the dimensionality of the setup (3D vs. 2D disks). We find good agreement in the total torque on the binary between codes, although the partition of this torque between the gravitational torque, orbital accretion torque, and spin accretion torque depends sensitively on the sink prescriptions employed. In agreement with previous studies, we find a modest difference in torques and accretion variability between 2D and 3D disk models. We find cavity precession rates to be appreciably faster in 3D than in 2D.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The protoplanetary disc around HD 169142: circumstellar or circumbinary?

ABSTRACT Stellar binaries represent a substantial fraction of stellar systems, especially among young stellar objects. Accordingly, binaries play an important role in setting the architecture of a large number of protoplanetary discs. Binaries in coplanar and polar orientations with respect to the circumbinary disc are stable configurations and could induce non-axisymmetric structures in the dust and gas distributions. In this work, we suggest that the structures shown in the central region of the protoplanetary disc HD 169142 are produced by the presence of an inner stellar binary and a circumbinary (P-type) planet. We find that a companion with a mass ratio of 0.1, semimajor axis of 9.9 au, eccentricity of 0.2, and inclination of 90°, together with a 2 MJ coplanar planet on a circular orbit at 45 au reproduce the structures at the innermost ring observed at 1.3 mm and the shape of spiral features in scattered light observations. The model predicts changes in the disc’s dust structure, and star’s astrometric parameters, which would allow testing its veracity by monitoring this system over the next 20 yr.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Imaging with HST the Time Evolution of Eta Carinae's Colliding Winds

We report new HST/STIS observations that map the high-ionization forbidden line emission in the inner arcsecond of Eta Car, the first that fully image the extended wind-wind interaction region of the massive colliding wind binary. These observations were obtained after the 2009.0 periastron at orbital phases 0.084, 0.163, and 0.323 of the 5.54-year spectroscopic cycle. We analyze the variations in brightness and morphology of the emission, and find that blue-shifted emission (-400 to -200 km/s is symmetric and elongated along the northeast-southwest axis, while the red-shifted emission (+ 100 to +200 km/s) is asymmetric and extends to the north-northwest. Comparison to synthetic images generated from a 3-D dynamical model strengthens the 3-D orbital orientation found by Madura et al. (2011), with an inclination i approx. 138deg, argument of periapsis omega approx. 270deg, and an orbital axis that is aligned at the same PA on the sky as the symmetry axis of the Homunculus, 312deg. We discuss the potential that these and future mappings have for constraining the stellar parameters of the companion star and the long-term variability of the system.

Gull, Theodore R.↗

Physical Properties of the Star-forming Regions in the Interacting Galaxies NGC 3395/NGC 3396

We report long-slit spectroscopy of the early major merger galaxies NGC 3395/NGC 3396. The spectra are consistent with those for star-forming galaxies, but there is some indication of LINER-like active galactic nucleus activity in the center of NGC 3396. The total star formation rate in the regions observed is 2.83 M {sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}, consistent with estimates for the entire galaxies. The highest abundances are in the centers of the galaxies, with the abundances decreasing with distance. There is a correlation between high abundance and high ionization parameter, both of which can be attributed to the presence of massive stars. Modeling with SB 99 indicates the star-forming regions are younger than 10 Myr. There are 1000–2000 WNL stars in the system, along with several thousand O stars, consistent with the ages of the star-forming regions. The highest electron densities are found in young regions with high star formation rates. The electron temperatures are higher than results for non-interacting galaxies, which is probably due to shock waves produced by the galaxy–galaxy interaction, the outflow of gas from massive stars, and/or collisions between gas clouds in the galaxies. There is star formation in the bridge of material between the galaxies. These regions are among the youngest in the system and have low abundances, suggesting the gas was pulled from the outer parts of the galaxies. X-ray point sources, probably high-mass X-ray binaries, are associated with several star-forming regions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Discovery of Orbital Decay in SMC X-1

We report on the results of three observations of the binary X-ray pulsar SMC X-1 with the Ginga satellite. Timing analyses of the 0.71 s X-ray pulsations yield Doppler delay curves which, in turn, enable the most accurate determination of the SMC X-1 orbital parameters available to date. Epochs of phase zero for the 3.9 day orbit were determined for 1987 May, 1988 August, and 1989 August with accuracies of 13, 0.6, and 3 s, respectively. These epochs are combined with two previous determinations of the orbital epoch to yield the rate of change in the orbital period dot-P(orb)/P(orb) = ( 3.36 +/- 0.02) x 10(exp -6) yr(exp -1). An interpretation of the orbital decay is made in the context of tidal evolution, with consideration of the influence of the increasing moment of inertia of the companion star due to its nuclear evolution. We find that, while the orbital decay is probably driven by tidal interactions, the asynchronism between the orbit and the rotation of the companion star is most likely maintained by the evolutionary expansion of the companion star (Sk 160) rather than via the Darwin instability. In this case Sk 160 is likely to be in the hydrogen shell burning phase of its evolution. Finally, a discussion is presented of the relation among the time scales for stellar evolution (less than 10(exp 7) yr), orbital decay (3 x 10(exp 5) yr), and neutron-star spin-up in the SMC X-1 system (2000 yr). In particular, we present the result of a self-consistent calculation for the histories of the spin of the neutron star and the mass transfer in this system. A plausible case can be made for the spin-up time scale being directly related to the lifetime of the luminous X-ray phase which will end in a common-envelope phase within a time of less than approx. 10(exp 4) yr.

Levine, A.↗

Redistribution in astrophysically important hydrogen lines

Under typical solar chromospheric conditions for hydrogen radiators, strong collisions due to both electrons and ions are well separated in time, so that a binary collision theory for collisional redistribution is applicable. However, a simple impact approximation may not be used, but rather a unified type theory is required in which frequency dependent line shape parameters are used to describe both impact and quasi-static regions of the spectrum. In addition, correlated terms which describe absorption and emission during a collision are important, and, in fact, without correlated terms describing both transfer of excitation and emission during the same collision unphysical predictions (such as negative intensities) would be obtained. In this paper theory is specifically developed for the coupled Lyman-alpha, Lyman-beta, Hydrogen-alpha system, and equations of statistical equilibrium and absorption and emission coefficients are given. All correlated events are examined and emission during a collision is found to be important in the line wings. Stimulated emission and absorption is also included within a broadband approximation. The major approximation is to ignore lower state interaction. It is found that for Lyman-beta Raman-coupling with Hydrogen-alpha occurs and the overall scattering of radiation in the line wings is mostly coherent. In contrast, for Hydrogen-alpha, incoherent redistribution due to lower state radiative decay (which occurs even in the absence of collisions) is found to dominate the coherent scattering. Finally, in the Lyman series the dominant incoherent contribution is associated with cascade transitions and inelastic collisions between different principal quantum states.

Cooper, J.↗

The ROSAT All-Sky Survey of active binary coronae. I - Quiescent fluxes for the RS Canum Venaticorum systems

One hundred and thirty-six RS CV(n) active binary systems were observed with the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) during the All-Sky Survey component of the mission. The entire sky was surveyed, which represents the largest sample of RS CV(n) systems observed to date at any wavelength, including X-rays. X-ray surface fluxes for the RS CV(n) systems are found to lie in the range 10 exp 4 to 10 exp 8 ergs/sq cm seconds. Surface flux as a function of (B - V) color is reported. A decrease in surface flux with increasing rotation period for the entire sample is observed. The rotation period provides the best stellar or orbital parameter to predict the X-ray surface flux level. The absence of correlation of F(x) or L(x) with Gamma is noted due to the fact that the coronal heating mechanism for these active stars must be magnetic in character, and the magnetic field depends on the interaction between convection and differential rotation inside the star. X-ray properties of the RS CV(n) systems with 6 cm radio and C IV UV emission systems is compared.

Dempsey, Robert C.↗

On the inconsistency of [C/Fe] abundances and the fractions of carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars among various stellar surveys

Carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars are a unique resource for Galactic archaeology because they probe the properties of the First Stars, early chemical evolution, and binary interactions at very low metallicity. Comparing the fractions and properties of CEMP stars in different Galactic environments can provide us with unique insights into the formation and evolution of the Milky Way halo and its building blocks. In this work, we investigate whether directly comparing fractions of CEMP stars from different literature samples of very metal-poor [Fe/H] < -2.0 stars is valid. We compiled published CEMP fractions and samples of Galactic halo stars from the past 25 years, and find that they are not all consistent with each other. Focusing on giant stars, we find significant differences between various surveys when comparing their trends of [Fe/H] versus [C/Fe] and their distributions of CEMP stars. To test the role of the analysis pipelines for low-resolution spectroscopic samples, we re-analysed giant stars from various surveys with the sspp and ferre pipelines. We found systematic differences in [C/Fe] of ~0.1-0.4 dex, partly independent of degeneracies with the stellar atmospheric parameters. These systematics are likely due to the different pipeline approaches, different assumptions in the employed synthetic grids, and/or the comparison of different evolutionary phases. We conclude that current biases in (the analysis of) very metal-poor samples limit the conclusions one can draw from comparing different surveys. We provide some recommendations and suggestions that will hopefully aid the community to unlock the full potential of CEMP stars for Galactic archaeology.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Stellar multiplicity and stellar rotation: insights from APOGEE

ABSTRACT We measure rotational broadening in spectra taken by the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey to characterize the relationship between stellar multiplicity and rotation. We create a sample of 2786 giants and 24 496 dwarfs with stellar parameters and multiple radial velocities from the APOGEE pipeline, projected rotation speeds vsin i determined from our own pipeline, and distances, masses, and ages measured by Sanders & Das. We use the statistical distribution of the maximum shift in the radial velocities, ΔRVmax, as a proxy for the close binary fraction to explore the interplay between stellar evolution, rotation, and multiplicity. Assuming that the minimum orbital period allowed is the critical period for Roche Lobe overflow and rotational synchronization, we calculate theoretical upper limits on expected vsin i and ΔRVmax values. These expectations agree with the positive correlation between the maximum ΔRVmax and vsin i values observed in our sample as a function of log(g). We find that the fast rotators in our sample have a high occurrence of short-period [log(P/d) ≲ 4] companions. We also find that old, rapidly rotating main-sequence stars have larger completeness-corrected close binary fractions than their younger peers. Furthermore, rapidly rotating stars with large ΔRVmax consistently show differences of 1–10 Gyr between the predicted gyrochronological and measured isochronal ages. These results point towards a link between rapid rotation and close binarity through tidal interactions. We conclude that stellar rotation is strongly correlated with stellar multiplicity in the field, and caution should be taken in the application of gyrochronology relations to cool stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗