Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Diodes”

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.

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

At least 901 records · Page 50
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

The Cryogenic Test Bed experiments: Cryogenic heat pipe flight experiment CRYOHP (STS-53). Cryogenic two phase flight experiment CRYOTP (STS-62). Cryogenic flexible diode flight experiment CRYOFD

This paper presents an overview of the Cryogenic Test Bed (CTB) experiments including experiment results, integration techniques used, and lessons learned during integration, test and flight phases of the Cryogenic Heat Pipe Flight Experiment (STS-53) and the Cryogenic Two Phase Flight Experiment (OAST-2, STS-62). We will also discuss the Cryogenic Flexible Diode Heat Pipe (CRYOFD) experiment which will fly in the 1996/97 time frame and the fourth flight of the CTB which will fly in the 1997/98 time frame. The two missions tested two oxygen axially grooved heat pipes, a nitrogen fibrous wick heat pipe and a 2-methylpentane phase change material thermal storage unit. Techniques were found for solving problems with vibration from the cryo-collers transmitted through the compressors and the cold heads, and mounting the heat pipe without introducing parasitic heat leaks. A thermally conductive interface material was selected that would meet the requirements and perform over the temperature range of 55 to 300 K. Problems are discussed with the bi-metallic thermostats used for heater circuit protection and the S-Glass suspension straps originally used to secure the BETSU PCM in the CRYOTP mission. Flight results will be compared to 1-g test results and differences will be discussed.

Thienel, Lee↗
NASA NTRS1995

Tunable CW diode-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF4 laser operating at or near room temperature

A conversion efficiency of 42% and slope efficiency of 60% relative to absorbed pump power are obtained from a continuous wave diode-pumped Tm,Ho:YLiF4 laser at 2 microns with output power of 84 mW at a crystal temperature of 275 K. The emission spectrum is etalon tunable over a range of7 nm (16.3/cm) centered on 2.067 microns with fine tuning capability of the transition frequency with crystal temperature at a measured rate of -0.03/(cm)K. The effective emission cross-section is measured to be 5 x 10(exp -21) cm squared. These and other aspects of the laser performance are disclosed in the context of calculated atmospheric absorption characteristics in this spectral region and potential use in remote sensing applications. Single frequency output and frequency stabilization are achieved using an intracavity etalon in conjunction with an external reference etalon.

Mcguckin, Brendan T.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Seed-to-seed growth of superdwarf wheat and arabidopsis using red light-emitting diodes (LED's): A report on baseline tests conducted for NASA's proposed Plant Research Unit (PRU)

To determine the influence of narrow-spectrum red light-emitting diodes (LED's) on plant growth and seed production, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.cv Superdwarf) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh, race Columbia) plants were grown under red LED's (peak emission 660 nm) and compared to plants grown under daylight fluorescent (white) light and red LED's supplemented with either 1 percent or 10 percent blue fluorescent (BF) light. Wheat growth under red LED's alone appeared normal, whereas Arabidopsis under red LED's alone developed curled leaf margins and a spiraling growth pattern. Both wheat and Arabidopsis under red LED's alone or red LED's + 1 percent BF light had significantly lower seed yield than plants grown under white light. However, the addition of 10 percent BF light to red LED's partially alleviated the adverse effect of red LED's on yield. Irrespective of the light treatment, viable seeds were produced by wheat(75-92 percent germination rate) and Arabidopsis (85-100 percent germination rate). These results indicate that wheat, and to a lesser extent Arabidopsis, can be successfully grown under red LED's alone, but supplemental blue light is required with red LED's to sufficiently match the growth characteristics and seed yield associated with plants grown under white light.

Goins, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Fast Risetime Reverse Bias Pulse Failures in SiC PN Junction Diodes

SiC-based high temperature power devices are being developed for aerospace systems which will require high reliability. One behavior crucial to power device reliability. To date, it has necessarily been assumed to date is that the breakdown behavior of SiC pn junctions will be similar to highly reliable silicon-based pn junctions. Challenging this assumption, we report the observation of anomalous unreliable reverse breakdown behavior in moderately doped (2-3 x 10(exp 17) cm(exp -3)) small-area 4H- and 6H-SiC pn junction diodes at temperatures ranging from 298 K (25 C) to 873 K (600 C). We propose a mechanism in which carrier emission from un-ionized dopants and deep level defects leads to this unstable behavior. The fundamental instability mechanism is applicable to all wide bandgap semiconductors whose dopants are significantly un-ionized at typical device operating temperatures.

Neudeck, Philip G.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Design of a power management and distribution system for a thermionic-diode powered spacecraft

The Electrical Systems Development Branch of the Power Technology Division at the NASA Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio is designing a Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) System for the Air Force's Integrated Solar Upper Stage (ISUS) Engine Ground Test Demonstration (EGD). The ISUS program uses solar-thermal propulsion to perform orbit transfers from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) and from LEO to Molnya. The ISUS uses the same energy conversion receiver to perform the LEO to High Earth Orbit (HEO) transfer and to generate on-orbit electric power for the payloads. On-orbit power generation is accomplished via two solar concentrators heating a dual-cavity graphite-core which has Thermionic Diodes (TMD's) encircling each cavity. The graphite core and concentrators together are called the Receiver and Concentrator (RAC). The TDM-emitters reach peak temperatures of approximately 2200K, and the TID-collectors are run at approximately 1000K. Because of the high Specific Impulse (I(sup sp)) of solar thermal propulsion relative to chemical propulsion, and because a common bus is used for communications, GN&C, power, etc., a substantial increase in payload weight is possible. This potentially allows for a stepdown in the required launch vehicle size or class for similar payload weight using conventional chemical propulsion and a separate spacecraft bus. The ISUS power system is to provide 1000W(sub e) at 28+/-6V(sub dc) to the payload/spacecraft from a maximum TID generation capability of 1070W(sub e) at 2200K. Producing power with this quality, protecting the spacecraft from electrical faults and accommodating operational constraints of the TID's are the responsibilities of the PMAD system. The design strategy and system options examined along with the proposed designs for the Flight and EGD configurations are discussed herein.

Kimnach, Greg L.↗
NASA NTRS1995

CW Performance of an InGaAs-GaAs-AlGaAs Laterally-Coupled Distributed Feedback (LC-DFB) Ridge Laser Diode

Single-mode distributed feedback (DFB) laser diodes typically require a two-step epitaxial growth or use of a corrugated substrate. We demonstrate InGaAs-GaAs-AlGaAs DFB lasers fabricated from a single epitaxial growth using lateral evanescent coupling of the optical field to a surface grating etehed along the sides of the ridge. A CW threshold current of 25 mA and external quantum efficiency of 0.48 mW/mA per facet were measured for a 1 mm cavity length device with anti-reflection coated facets. Single-mode output powers as high as 11 mW per facet at 935 nm wavelength were attained. A coupling coefficient of at least 5.8/cm was calculated from the subthreshold spectrum taking into account the 2% residual facet reflectivity.

Martin, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Diode-Pumped Long-Pulse-Length Ho:Tm:YLiF4 Laser at 10 Hz

An optical efficiency of 0.052 under normal mode operation for diode-pumped Ho:Tm:YLiF4 at a pulse repetition frequency of 10 Hz has been achieved. Laser output energy of 30 mJ in single Q-switched pulses with 600-ns pulse length were obtained for an input energy of 3 J. A diffusion-bonded birefringent laser rod consisting of Ho:Tm-doped and undoped pieces of YLF was utilized for 10-Hz operation.

Jani, Mahendra G.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Surface and Interface Study of PdCr/SiC Schottky Diode Gas Sensor Annealed at 425 C

The surface and interface properties of Pd(sub 0.9)Cr(sub 0.1/SiC Schottky diode gas sensor both before and after annealing are investigated using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). At room temperature the alloy reacted with SiC and formed Pd(sub x)Si only in a very narrow interfacial region. After annealing for 250 hours at 425 deg. C, the surface of the Schottky contact area has much less silicon and carbon contamination than that found on the surface of an annealed Pd/SiC structure. Pd(sub x)Si formed at a broadened interface after annealing, but a significant layer of alloy film is still free of silicon and carbon. The chromium concentration with respect to palladium is quite uniform down to the deep interface region. A stable catalytic surface and a clean layer of Pd(sub 0.9)Cr(sub 0.1) film are likely responsible for significantly improved device sensitivity.

Chen, Liang-Yu↗
NASA NTRS1998

Surface and Interface Properties of PdCr/SiC Schottky Diode Gas Sensor Annealed at 425 C

The surface and interface properties of Pd(0.9)Cr(0.1)/SiC Schottky diode gas sensors both before and after annealing are investigated using Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). At room temperature the alloy reacted with SiC and formed Pd(x)Si only in a very narrow interfacial region. After annealing for 250 hours at 425 C, the surface of the Schottky contact area has much less silicon and carbon contamination than that found on the surface of an annealed Pd/SiC structure. Palladium silicides (Pd(x)Si) formed at a broadened interface after annealing, but a significant layer of alloy film is still free of silicon and carbon. The chromium concentration with respect to palladium is quite uniform down to the deep interface region. A stable catalytic surface and a clean layer of Pd(0.9)Cr(0.1) film are likely responsible for significantly improved device sensitivity.

Chen, Liang-Yu↗
NASA NTRS1998

Continuous-Wave Single-Frequency Operation of Fabry-Perot Laser Diodes by Self-Injection Phase Locking Using Feedback from a Fiber Bragg Grating

Single-frequency operation of uncoated Fabry-Perot laser diodes is demonstrated by phase- locking the laser oscillations through self-injection seeding with feedback from a fiber Bragg grating. By precisely tuning the laser temperature so that an axial-mode coincides with the short-wavelength band edge of the grating, the phase of the feedback is made conjugate to that of the axial mode, locking the phase of the laser oscillations to that mode.

Duerksen, Gary L.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Characterization of Infrared Diode Laser Beams and Atmospheric CO Imaging Instrument

During June-August 1997 Dr. Jonathan Miles participated in the ASEE-sponsored summer faculty research program at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The Aerospace Electronic Systems Division (AESD), Sensor Systems Branch (SSB), at NASA LARC had proposed a new mission, GEOstationary TROpospheric Pollution SATellite (GEO TROPSAT), to address critical science questions of tropospheric chemistry. The troposphere is a complex system, comprising "point" and distributed sources of natural and anthropogenic origin; complicated transport processes, both lateral and vertical; and photochemistry driven by UV flux, temperature, atmospheric composition, and other variables. GEO TROPSAT would be implemented about a geostationary Earth orbital (GEO) position at the equator between 600 and 80" West longitude to observe the Americas and large portions of the oceans of either coast. This mission would advance our knowledge of the atmosphere by capturing the wide temporal and spatial variability of tropospheric phenomena which is undetectable from low Earth orbit. A pre-prototype imaging carbon monoxide (CO) imaging system operating within a narrow waveband about 4.7 [Lm was built, demonstrated, and evaluated. This system applies the gas-filter correlation radiometry (GFCR) technique and produces digitized images comprising 4096 pixels, each representing a single CO mixing ratio measurement inferred from radiometric data. Associated tasks accomplished included specification for the next-generation prototype system to operate in the 2.3-@tm waveband; characterization of a 64x64, InSb focal-plane-array (FPA) imager; design, fabrication, and assembly of a filter wheel; and software development. Laboratory evaluation of this system involved imaging of a test cell placed in the path of radiant flux emanating from a blackbody source used to simulate the radiant energy reflected by Earth in real application. The cell was evacuated for system balancing and then charged with measured quantities of CO to provide a means for system characterization. Two related research efforts were undertaken during the term of the study reported here - continued development of an atmospheric CO imaging instrument and characterization of diode-laser beams. Both efforts were successful and are described within the body of this report. A second objective was to provide a means for undergraduate ISAT majors to become involved with the research described, to be afforded the opportunity to learn the technologies associated with the work performed. Two ISAT students gained a comprehensive understanding and interest in missions supported by NASA through direct involvement in this project. Many more students were exposed to these technologies through demonstrations, laboratory tours, and explanations provided in lectures.

Miles, Jonathan J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Surface and Interface Properties of PdCr/SiC Schottky Diode Gas Sensor Annealed at 425 C

The surface and interface properties of Pd(0.9,)Cr(0.1)/SiC Schottky diode gas sensors both before and after annealing are investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). At room temperature the alloy reacted with SiC and formed Pd,Si only in a very narrow interfacial region. After annealing for 250 h ,It 425 C, the surface of the Schottky contact area his much less silicon and carbon contamination than that found on the surface of an annealed Pd/SiC structure. Palladium silicides (Pd(x)Si) formed at a broadened interface after annealing, but a significant layer of alloy film is still free of silicon and carbon. The chromium concentration with respect to palladium is quite uniform down to the deep interface region. A stable catalytic surface and a clean layer of Pd(0.9)Cr(0.1) film are likely responsible for significantly improved device sensitivity.

Chen, Liang-Yu↗
NASA NTRS1988

Tunable Diode Laser Heterodyne Spectrophotometry of Ozone

Tunable diode laser heterodyne spectrophotometry (TDLHS) has been used to make extremely high resolution (less than 0.0005/ cm) solar spectra in the 9.6 micron ozone band. Observations have shown that a signal-to-noise ratio of 95 : 1 (35% of theoretical) for an integration time of 1/8 second can be achieved at a resolution of 0.0005 wavenumbers. The spectral data have been inverted to yield a total column amount of ozone, in good agreement with that. measured at the nearby National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ozone monitoring facility in Boulder, Colorado.

Fogal, P. F.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Correlation of EBIC and SWBXT Imaged Defects and Epilayer Growth Pits in 6H-SiC Schottky Diodes

We show the first direct experimental correlation between the presence of closed core screw dislocations in 6H-SiC epilayers with recombination centers, as well as with some of the small growth pits on the epilayer surface in lightly-doped 6H-SiC Schottky diodes. At every Synchrotron White-Beam X-ray Topography (SWBXT)-identified closed core screw dislocation, an Electron Beam Induced Current (EBIC) image showed a dark spot indicating a recombination center, and Nomarski optical microscope and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) images showed a corresponding small growth pit with a sharp apex on the surface of the epilayer.

Schnable, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Radiation Effects on Resonant Tunneling Diodes: Preliminary Results

We have observed enhanced bistability (hysteresis) in the current-voltage characteristics of gamma irradiated resonant tunneling diodes. This bistability occurs in the negative differential conductance region for voltages larger than 1.1 V. We discuss possible mechanisms for the observed phenomena and also discuss the measurements sensitivity to the external circuit.

Wilkins, R.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Light-Emitting Diodes and Cool White Fluorescent Light Similarly Suppress Pineal Gland Melatonin and Maintain Retinal Function and Morphology in the Rat

Currently, the light sources most commonly used in animal habitat lighting are cool white fluorescent or incandescent lamps. We evaluated a novel light-emitting diode (LED) light source for use in animal habitat lighting by comparing its effectiveness to cool white fluorescent light (CWF) in suppressing pineal gland melatonin and maintaining normal retinal physiology and morphology in the rat. Results of pineal melatonin suppression experiments showed equal suppression of pineal melatonin concentrations for LED light and CWF light at five different light illuminances (100, 40, 10, 1 and 0.1 lux). There were no significant differences in melatonin suppression between LED and CWF light when compared to unexposed controls. Retinal physiology was evaluated using electroretinography. Results show no differences in a-wave implicit times and amplitudes or b-wave implicit times and amplitudes between 100-lux LED-exposed rats and 100-lux CWF-exposed rats. Results of retinal histology assessment show no differences in retinal thickness rod outer segment length and number of rod nuclei between rats exposed to 100-lux LED and 100-lux CWF for days. Furthermore, the retinal pigmented epithelium and rod outer segments of all eyes observed were in good condition and of normal thickness. This study indicates that LED light does not cause retinal damage and can suppress pineal melatonin at similar intensities as a conventional CWF light source. These data suggest that LED light sources may be suitable replacements for conventional light sources used in the lighting of rodent vivariums while providing many mechanical and economical advantages.

Holley, Daniel C.↗