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At least 919 records · Page 51

Improvements in the On-Orbit Response Versus Scan Angle Characterization of the Aqua MODIS Reflective Solar Bands

The Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) has been chosen by the Global Space-based Inter-Calibration System operational community as the reference sensor in cross-sensor calibration. A number of geostationary orbit and low-earth orbit sensors use the 0.64-μm band from Aqua MODIS as a calibration reference. After over 15 years on-orbit, the performance characteristics of the MODIS instrument have changed, with effects evident at short wavelengths. MODIS employs a reflectance-based calibration using the solar diffuser measurements with the monthly lunar observations facilitating a response versus scan angle characterization on-orbit. As the instrument continues to operate beyond its design lifetime of 6 years, the on-board calibrators alone are insufficient to accurately characterize the instrument's response at all scan angles. This results in a long-term reflectance drift, particularly observed in the 0.64- and 0.85-μm bands, while observing the temporally invariant desert sites. Long-term reflectance drifts of up to 2% and 3% are observed at the beginning of scan for the 0.64- and 0.85-μm bands, respectively. An approach using earth-view response to supplement the on-board calibrator measurements has been shown to overcome these inadequacies and is now implemented for the 0.64-, 0.85-, 0.46-, and 0.55-μm land bands of Aqua MODIS. This paper presents the details related to the algorithm implementation and an independent evaluation using the Dome Concordia site and deep-convective clouds. This approach has been reviewed, tested, and approved by the MODIS science team and has been implemented in the forward production of the MODIS L1B Collection 6 starting July 9, 2016. This enhanced approach has also been adopted in the MODIS L1B Collection 6.1 reprocess for the entire mission to facilitate an improved quality of downstream science products. The results with the enhanced approach reduce the reflectance drifts to within 0.5% for most cases.

Angal, Amit↗

Spectrometer Scan Mechanism for Encountering Jovian Orbit Trojan Asteroids

This paper describes the design, testing, and lessons learned during the development of the Lucy Ralph (L'Ralph) Scan Mirror System (SMS), composed of the Scan Mirror Mechanism (SMM), Differential Position Sensor System (DPSS) and Mechanism Control Electronics (MCE). The L'Ralph SMS evolved from the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS) Beam Steering Mechanism (BSM), so design comparisons will be made. Lucy is scheduled to launch in October 2021, embarking upon a 12-year mission to make close range encounters in 2025 and 2033 with seven Trojan asteroids and one main belt asteroid that are within the Jovian orbit. The L'Ralph instrument is based upon the New Horizons Ralph instrument, which is a panchromatic and color visible imager and infrared spectroscopic mapper that slewed the spacecraft for imaging. The L'Ralph SMM is to provide scanning for imaging to eliminate the need to slew the spacecraft. One purpose of this paper is to gain understanding of the reasoning behind some of the design features as compared with the ATLAS BSM. We will identify similarities and differences between the ATLAS BSM and the L'Ralph SMM that resulted from the latter's unique requirements. Another purpose of this paper is to focus upon "Lessons Learned" that came about during the development of the L'Ralph SMM and its MCE, both mechanism engineering issues and solutions as well as Ground Support Equipment (GSE) issues and solutions that came about during the validation of requirements process. At the time of this writing, the L'Ralph SMM has been flight qualified and delivered to the project.

Blumenstock, Kenneth A.↗

Simulating response versus scan angle characterization on OCI for the upcoming PACE mission

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) is the next generation ocean color sensor following on from the SeaWiFS and VIIRS designs, to be launched into low Earth orbit in 2022. Like those heritage sensors, OCI has cross track scanning fore-optics, the reflectivity of which (referred to here as the response versus scan angle or RVS) must be characterized prior to launch. The expected test setup, component reflectivity measurements, instrument model, and heritage sensor testing were used to generate simulated RVS data. This simulated data set was then used to verify the functionality of the analysis software in preparation for the upcoming ground test campaign. The analysis software is designed to characterize the RVS for all OCI bands over the full range of scan angles to be measured on orbit as well as verify compliance with the sensor design requirements in near real-time.

PACE↗

SCaN: Space Communication and Navigation - 5G in Space

NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program office builds, operates, and maintains NASA’s two primary communications networks – the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network. These networks allow spacecraft near and far to send critical tracking, telemetry, command, and science data to Earth. SCaN also investigates new communications and navigation technologies so that these networks can support advanced missions. SCaN’s Commercialization, Innovation, and Synergies (CIS) office is dedicated to creating robust partnerships with industry, academia, and other government agencies to advance communications and navigation capabilities.

5G↗

JPSS-3 / 4 VIIRS Response Versus Scan Angle Characterization and Performance

Scientific studies of the Earth’s climate increasingly rely on high-quality satellite observations. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a key sensor onboard a series of satellites [Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) and Joint Polar-orbiting Satellite System 1–4 (JPSS-1–JPSS-4)] that generate scientific data from land, ocean, and atmosphere used in these climate models. Providing quality scientific data from space-borne sensors requires the instruments to be well-calibrated. While much of the calibration can be maintained on-orbit, some aspects of the calibration can best be measured prior to launch. One VIIRS parameter that needs to be measured pre-launch is the response versus scan angle (RVS). The RVS measures the relative change in the reflectance of the scanning optics as a function of the angle of incidence. With the RVS, the gain calibration measured on-orbit can be transferred to any scan angle. The JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 instruments have undergone ground testing including the RVS measurements, which is the subject of this work. Results indicate that the measurements are comparable to previous VIIRS builds and are expected to contribute to the generation of high-quality science data once JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 are on-orbit.

JPSS↗

Towards Simultaneous Multi-Parameter Measurements Using Burst-Mode Frequency-Scanning Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence

While planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) can provide valuable flow visualization, there are many challenges in extracting quantitative measurements from the fluorescence intensity. To overcome the multi-parameter dependence of the signal intensity, frequency scanning planar laser-induced fluorescence (FS-PLIF) provides the potential for 2D temperature, pressure, and velocity measurements by spectrally resolving the excitation spectrum of one or more fluorescence transitions to extract the Doppler shift, Doppler- and collisional-broadening of absorption lines, and the relative signal intensities of multiple transitions. This work aims to characterize a burst-mode FS-PLIF system consisting of a Spectral Energies, LLC burst-mode laser coupled with a Spectral Energies, LLC optical parametric oscillator using nitric oxide (NO) static pressure cell measurements. The effect of the OPO cavity on intensity fluctuations during frequency-scanning is investigated. A NO PLIF model is implemented to investigate the feasibility of property measurements using single- and two-NO-line scans.

burst-mode laser↗

Inter-Calibrating CERES Instrument Fluxes Utilizing the CERES Instrument Geostationary Scan Mode Observations

The NASA Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) project provides the scientific community observed top-of-atmosphere (TOA) fluxes to monitor the Earth’s energy imbalance and validate climate models. The CERES instruments onboard the Terra, Aqua, SNPP and NOAA-20 satellites need to be inter-calibrated to provide a continuous and consistent TOA flux record contained in the CERES Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) product. The SNPP and NOAA-20 satellites are positioned a half an orbit apart within the same sun-synchronous orbit (1:30 PM equatorial crossing time) thus preventing any direct time-matched observations. The CERES project designed the geostationary scan mode (GEOscan) to inter-calibrate the Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) broadband measurement onboard the Meteosat 8-11 satellites. By rotating the orientation of the CERES instrument scan to match the angular configuration of the geostationary scan mode, the comparison of both angle and time matched observations suitable for inter-calibration is possible. To determine if the GEOscan mode is useful for inter-calibrating two CERES instruments placed in the same 16-day repeating orbit, the CERES project placed the Terra and Aqua CERES instruments in GEOscan mode once every 6 days over a rotation of five geostationary domains beginning in February 2023. The GEO imager narrowband to broadband derived radiances are used as transfer radiometers to compare the Terra and Aqua CERES observed radiances. Since both the Terra and Aqua CERES instruments are in GEOscan mode over the same GEO domain and day, the GEO imager calibration is expected to be consistent between the Terra and Aqua overpass times. Any GEO imager narrowband to broadband regional biases should be similar for the Terra and Aqua overpasses. The GEOscan mode Terra and Aqua CERES inter-calibration coefficients for both shortwave and longwave broadband radiances will be compared against the CERES instrument team’s coefficients to determine the viability of this approach. Improvements in the GEO imager narrowband to broadband approaches will also be investigated and verified within this framework.

Kyle Itterly↗

High psedocapacitance of MnO2 nanoparticles in graphitic disordered mesoporous carbon at high scan rates

Nanocomposites composed of MnO{sub 2} and graphitic disordered mesoporous carbon (MnO{sub 2}/C) were synthesized for high total specific capacitance and redox pseudocapacitance (C{sub MnO{sub 2}}) at high scan rates up to 200 mV s{sup -1}. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) demonstrated that MnO{sub 2} nanodomains were highly dispersed throughout the mesoporous carbon structure. According to HRTEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the MnO{sub 2} domains are shown to be primarily amorphous and less than 5 nm in size. For these composites in aqueous 1 M Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} electrolyte, C{sub MnO{sub 2}} reached 500 F/g{sub MnO{sub 2}} at 2 mV s{sup -1} for 8.8 wt% MnO{sub 2}. A capacitance fade of only 20% over a 100-fold change in scan rate was observed for a high loading of 35 wt% MnO{sub 2} with a C{sub MnO{sub 2}} of 310 F/g{sub MnO{sub 2}} at the highest scan rate of 200 mV s{sup -1}. The high electronic conductivity of the graphitic 3D disordered mesoporous carbon support in conjunction with the thin MnO{sub 2} nanodomains facilitate rapid electron and ion transport offering the potential of improved high power density energy storage pseudocapacitors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High pseudocapacitance of MnO2 nanoparticles in graphitic disordered mesoporous carbon at high scan rates

Nanocomposites composed of MnO{sub 2} and graphitic disordered mesoporous carbon (MnO{sub 2}/C) were synthesized for high total specific capacitance and redox pseudocapacitance (C{sub MnO{sub 2}}) at high scan rates up to 200 mV s{sup -1}. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) demonstrated that MnO{sub 2} nanodomains were highly dispersed throughout the mesoporous carbon structure. According to HRTEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the MnO{sub 2} domains are shown to be primarily amorphous and less than 5 nm in size. For these composites in aqueous 1 M Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} electrolyte, C{sub MnO{sub 2}} reached 500 F/g{sub MnO{sub 2}} at 2 mV s{sup -1} for 8.8 wt% MnO{sub 2}. A capacitance fade of only 20% over a 100-fold change in scan rate was observed for a high loading of 35 wt% MnO{sub 2} with a C{sub MnO{sub 2}} of 310 F/g{sub MnO{sub 2}} at the highest scan rate of 200 mV s{sup -1}. The high electronic conductivity of the graphitic 3D disordered mesoporous carbon support in conjunction with the thin MnO{sub 2} nanodomains facilitate rapid electron and ion transport offering the potential of improved high power density energy storage pseudocapacitors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Alignment and Aperture Scan at the Fermilab Booster

The Fermilab Booster is currently in the process of an intensity upgrade referred to as the Proton Improvement Plan (PIP). The goal of PIP is to have the Booster provide a proton beam flux of 2 x 10{sup 17} protons/hour. This is almost double the current operation of 1.1 x 10{sup 17} protons/hour. Beam losses in the machine due to the increased flux will create larger integrated doses on aperture limiting components that will need to be mitigated. The Booster accelerates beam from 400 MeV to 8 GeV at a rep rate of 15hz and then extracts beam to the Main Injector. Several percent of the beam is lost within 3 msec after injection in the early part of acceleration. The aperture at injection energy was recently measured using corrector scans. Along with magnet survey data and aperture scan data a plan to realign the magnets in the Booster was developed and implemented in May 2012. The beam studies, analysis of the scan and alignment data, and the result of the magnet moves are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Analytical scanning evanescent microwave microscope and control stage

A scanning evanescent microwave microscope (SEMM) that uses near-field evanescent electromagnetic waves to probe sample properties is disclosed. The SEMM is capable of high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements of the electrical properties of the sample. The SEMM has the ability to map dielectric constant, loss tangent, conductivity, electrical impedance, and other electrical parameters of materials. Such properties are then used to provide distance control over a wide range, from to microns to nanometers, over dielectric and conductive samples for a scanned evanescent microwave probe, which enable quantitative non-contact and submicron spatial resolution topographic and electrical impedance profiling of dielectric, nonlinear dielectric and conductive materials. The invention also allows quantitative estimation of microwave impedance using signals obtained by the scanned evanescent microwave probe and quasistatic approximation modeling. The SEMM can be used to measure electrical properties of both dielectric and electrically conducting materials.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Sparse sampling and reconstruction for electron and scanning probe microscope imaging

Systems and methods for conducting electron or scanning probe microscopy are provided herein. In a general embodiment, the systems and methods for conducting electron or scanning probe microscopy with an undersampled data set include: driving an electron beam or probe to scan across a sample and visit a subset of pixel locations of the sample that are randomly or pseudo-randomly designated; determining actual pixel locations on the sample that are visited by the electron beam or probe; and processing data collected by detectors from the visits of the electron beam or probe at the actual pixel locations and recovering a reconstructed image of the sample.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Footwear scanning systems and methods

Methods and apparatus for scanning articles, such as footwear, to provide information regarding the contents of the articles are described. According to one aspect, a footwear scanning system includes a platform configured to contact footwear to be scanned, an antenna array configured to transmit electromagnetic waves through the platform into the footwear and to receive electromagnetic waves from the footwear and the platform, a transceiver coupled with antennas of the antenna array and configured to apply electrical signals to at least one of the antennas to generate the transmitted electromagnetic waves and to receive electrical signals from at least another of the antennas corresponding to the electromagnetic waves received by the others of the antennas, and processing circuitry configured to process the received electrical signals from the transceiver to provide information regarding contents within the footwear.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Single-pass parallel prefix scan with dynamic look back

One embodiment of the present invention performs a parallel prefix scan in a single pass that incorporates variable look-back. A parallel processing unit (PPU) subdivides a list of inputs into sequentially-ordered segments and assigns each segment to a streaming multiprocessor (SM) included in the PPU. Notably, the SMs may operate in parallel. Each SM executes write operations on a segment descriptor that includes the status, aggregate, and inclusive-prefix associated with the assigned segment. Further, each SM may execute read operations on segment descriptors associated with other segments. In operation, each SM may perform reduction operations to determine a segment-wide aggregate, may perform look-back operations across multiple preceding segments to determine an exclusive-prefix, and may perform a scan seeded with the exclusive prefix to generate output data. Advantageously, the PPU performs one read operation per input, thereby reducing the time required to execute the prefix scan relative to prior-art parallel implementations.

Merrill, Duane↗

Scanning tunneling thermometer

Various examples are provided related to scanning tunneling thermometers and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) techniques. In one example, a method includes simultaneously measuring conductance and thermopower of a nanostructure by toggling between: applying a time modulated voltage to a nanostructure disposed on an interconnect structure, the time modulated voltage applied at a probe tip positioned over the nanostructure, while measuring a resulting current at a contact of the interconnect structure; and applying a time modulated temperature signal to the nanostructure at the probe tip, while measuring current through a calibrated thermoresistor in series with the probe tip. In another example, a device includes an interconnect structure with connections to a first reservoir and a second reservoir; and a scanning tunneling probe in contact with a probe reservoir. Electrical measurements are simultaneously obtained for temperature and voltage applied to a nanostructure between the reservoirs.

Chinivaranahalli Shastry, Abhay Shankar↗

Scanning tunneling thermometer

Various examples are provided related to scanning tunneling thermometers and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) techniques. In one example, a method includes simultaneously measuring conductance and thermopower of a nanostructure by toggling between: applying a time modulated voltage to a nanostructure disposed on an interconnect structure, the time modulated voltage applied at a probe tip positioned over the nanostructure, while measuring a resulting current at a contact of the interconnect structure; and applying a time modulated temperature signal to the nanostructure at the probe tip, while measuring current through a calibrated thermoresistor in series with the probe tip. In another example, a device includes an interconnect structure with connections to a first reservoir and a second reservoir; and a scanning tunneling probe in contact with a probe reservoir. Electrical measurements are simultaneously obtained for temperature and voltage applied to a nanostructure between the reservoirs.

Chinivaranahalli Shastry, Abhay Shankar↗

Serial Moire scanning phase contrast x-ray imaging

Method include emitting x-rays from an x-ray source, directing a first portion of the x-rays through an object grating situated adjacent to an object while the object is scanned relative to the object grating along a scan direction, directing a second portion of the x-rays through the object and subsequently through a detector grating without transmitting through the object grating, wherein the object grating and detector grating are adjacently arranged in a field of view of the x-rays sequentially with respect to each other in the scan direction, and receiving the first portion transmitted through the object and object grating with a first portion of a detector and receiving the second portion transmitted through the object and the detector grating with a second portion of the detector adjacent to the first portion of the detector. Systems are also disclosed, along with related techniques for beam hardening correction.

Miller, Erin A.↗

Design and Testing of a Novel Wide Range - Segmented Gamma Scanner Incorporating Tomographic Gamma Scanning for Measuring Both Low and Intermediate Level Waste in Drums - 13470

This paper describes the design and testing of a novel automated Wide Range Segmented Gamma ray Scanning (WR-SGS) assay instrument that also incorporates Tomographic Gamma Scanning (TGS). The instrument is designed for the measurement of both Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LLW and ILW) in 200 litre drums and other waste containers covering a wide range of density. Like earlier ANTECH WR-SGS instruments, the system employs a single shielded and collimated high purity germanium (HPGe) detector to quantify the radionuclide content of the waste and like conventional SGS instruments it is suitable for the measurement of relatively homogeneous waste matrices. Also, like earlier WR-SGS systems the instrument incorporates an automated variable aperture collimator, which allows the vertical segment height to be adjusted in order to measure both high dose-rate and very low activity drums. The instrument employs both conventional discrete SGS vertical segment measurements as well as vertical segment measurement by continuous helical-scanning of the drum as it rotates. This latter method reduces measurement times for SGS measurements. In order to determine the density corrections for both low and high-density drums, a high activity Eu-152 transmission source is employed. When not in use, and in place of a conventional shutter mechanism, the shielded transmission source is moved to a shielded storage position to eliminate background radiation from the source. Due to its novel features, the WR-SGS is applicable to the measurement of both very low and very high activity waste drums as well as waste drums with a wide range of density. If located in a low background position and with the effective shielding of the strong transmission source, the instrument can be used to measure very low level or exempt waste. In order to extend the range of applicability to the measurement of heterogeneous drums, TGS measurement capability has been included in the basic WR-SGS design. This is achieved by adding horizontal motion to the waste drum rotation platform and incorporating TGS collimation into the variable aperture collimator, as well as a filter to reduce the detector signal when straight-through measurements are made using the strong transmission source. Test measurements are presented of the system operating in both SGS and TGS modes using different drum densities and source strengths. The test measurement results are compared with benchmarked MCNP Monte Carlo calculations. The Wide Range SGS - TGS instrument extends the range of both activity and density that can be measured in 200 and 340 litre drums. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗