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At least 919 records · Page 51

Release of the NDI 2.2.0alpha

The Nuclear Data Interface 2.2.0alpha has been released. It includes the addition of charged particle dE/dx (stopping power) data, the ability to read in NDI-formatted binary data, corrections to TN data, CP 2011 and CP 2020 data, and other minor changes and bug fixes.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Environmental microbiology as related to planetary quarantine

The results of studies to determine the effect of soil particle size on the survival time at 125 C of the microflora associated with these particles are discussed. The data suggest that longer survival times exist for the microflora associated with larger particles. The studies indicate that microorganisms associated with soil are difficult to kill and that organisms associated with large particles are harder to kill than those associated with small particles. Sterlization requirements increase as the level of contamination increases. Soil particles and their accompanying microflora are the most critical contaminants.

Iflug, I. J.↗

Delta/Wind Launch with Isolated Cameras from Continuous Recording

The Wind spacecraft represents one of NASA's contributions to the International Solar Terrestrial Program (ISTP), an international effort to quantify the effects of solar energy on the Earth's magnetic field. Wind will provide continuous measurement of the solar wind, particularly charged particles and magnetic field data. The specific objectives of Wind are to: (1) provide complete plasma, energetic particle, and magnetic field input for magnetospheric and ionospheric studies; (2) determine the magnetospheric output to interplanetary space in the upstream region; (3) investigate basic plasma processes occurring in the near-Earth solar wind; and (4) provide baseline ecliptic plane observations to be used in heliospheric studies. This videotape shows the pre-dawn launch of the Wind spacecraft aboard a Delta 7925 on November 1, 1994. After the countdown and launch, the tape shows the activity in the Telemetry Room at Kennedy Space Center, where people are following the progress of the spacecraft. Following the activity in the telemetry room, there are four different replays of the launch from different locations. After showing the replays of the launch, the video returns to the Telemetry Room when an important stage in the launch and flight is achieved.

Source record↗

The Rings Node for the Planetary Data System

The Planetary Data System's Rings Node is devoted to the archiving and distributing of scientific data sets relevant to planetary ring systems. The two major classes of ring data are images and occultation profiles, although a variety of additional data types (e.g. spectra, particle absorption signatures, etc.) are also of interest. A large fraction of our data sets are from the Voyager missions to the outer planets, but Earth-based and Hubble Space Telescope data sets are also represented. Archiving work often includes re-formatting the data into standardized formats and reconstructing some of the data processing steps. The Rings Node also performs a variety of services to support research into these data sets. These services include developing on-line catalogs and information systems, filling orders for data, developing software tools, and coordinating special observing campaigns.

Showalter, Mark R.↗

Ice Crystal Icing Investigation on a Honeywell Uncertified Research Engine in an Altitude Simulation Icing Facility

A Honeywell Uncertified Research Engine was exposed to various ice crystal conditions in the NASA Glenn Propulsion Systems Laboratory. Simulations using NASA's 1D Icing Risk Analysis tool were used to determine potential inlet conditions that could lead to ice crystal accretion along the inlet of the core flowpath and into the high pressure compressor. These conditions were simulated in the facility to develop baseline conditions. Parameters were then varied to move or change accretion characteristics. Data were acquired at altitudes varying from 5 kft to 45 kft, at nominal ice particle Median Volumetric Diameters from 20 µm to 100 µm, and total water contents of 1 g/m3 to 12 g/m3. Engine and flight parameters such as fan speed, Mach number, and inlet temperature were also varied. The engine was instrumented with total temperature and pressure probes. Static pressure taps were installed at the leading edge of the fan stator, front frame hub, the shroud of the IGV, and first two rotors. Metal temperatures were acquired for vane stators 1-2. In-situ measurements of the particle size distribution were acquired three meters upstream of the engine forward fan flange and one meter downstream of the fan in the bypass in order to study particle break-up behavior. Cameras were installed in the engine to capture ice accretions at the leading edge of the fan stator, splitter lip, and inlet guide vane. Additional measurements acquired but not discussed in this paper include: high speed pressure transducers installed at the trailing edge of the first stage rotor and light extinction probes used to acquire particle concentrations at the fan exit stator plane and at the inlet to the core and bypass. The goal of this study was to understand key parameters of accretion, acquire particle break-up data aft of the fan, and generate a unique icing dataset for model and tool development. This work described in the paper focuses on the effect of particle break-up. It was found that there was significant particle break-up downstream of the fan in the bypass especially with larger initial particle sizes. The metal temperatures on the inlet guide vanes and stators show a temperature increase with increasing MVD. Accretion behavior was very similar across all test cases. However at the inlet guide vanes, the accretion decreased with increasing particle size.

Ashlie B Flegel↗

Central Plasma Sheet Ion Properties as Inferred from Ionospheric Observations

A method of inferring central plasma sheet (CPS) temperature, density, and pressure from ionospheric observations is developed. The advantage of this method over in situ measurements is that the CPS can be studied in its entirely, rather than only in fragments. As a result, for the first time, comprehensive two-dimensional equatorial maps of CPS pressure, density, and temperature within the isotropic plasma sheet are produced. These particle properties are calculated from data taken by the Special Sensor for Precipitating Particles, version 4 (SSJ4) particle instruments onboard DMSP F8, F9, F10, and F11 satellites during the entire year of 1992. Ion spectra occurring in conjunction with electron acceleration events are specifically excluded. Because of the variability of magnetotail stretching, the mapping to the plasma sheet is done using a modified Tsyganenko [1989] magnetic field model (T89) adjusted to agree with the actual magnetotail stretch at observation time. The latter is inferred with a high degree of accuracy (correlation coefficient -0.9) from the latitude of the DMSP b2i boundary (equivalent to the ion isotropy boundary). The results show that temperature, pressure, and density all exhibit dawn-dusk asymmetries unresolved with previous measurements. The ion temperature peaks near the midnight meridian. This peak, which has been associated with bursty bulk flow events, widens in the Y direction with increased activity. The temperature is higher at dusk than at dawn, and this asymmetry increases with decreasing distance from the Earth. In contrast, the density is higher at dawn than at dusk, and there appears to be a density enhancement in the low-latitude boundary layer regions which increases with decreasing magnetic activity. In the near-Earth regions, the pressure is higher at dusk than at dawn, but this asymmetry weakens with increasing distance from the Earth and may even reverse so that at distances X less than approx. 10 to -12 R(sub E), depending on magnetic activity, the dawn sector has slightly higher pressure. The temperature and density asymmetries in the near-Earth region are consistent with the ion westward gradient/curvature drift as the ions ExB convect earthward. When the solar wind dynamic pressure increases, CPS density and pressure appear to increase, but the temperature remains relatively constant. Comparison with previously published work indicates good agreement between the inferred pressure, temperature, and density and those obtained from in situ data. This new method should provide a continuous mechanism to monitor the pressure, temperature, and density in the magnetotail with unprecedented comprehensiveness.

Wing, Simon↗

On analysis and stochastic modeling of the particle kinetic energy equation in particle-laden isotropic turbulent flows

In this study, we analyze three-dimensional particle-laden, isotropic turbulence to develop an understanding of inertial particle dynamics from a kinetic energy perspective. Data trends implying inhomogeneous sampling of the flow by particles are identified and used to support a proposed particle behavior: particles appear to accumulate in regions of low flow kinetic energy over time because they lose kinetic energy and slow down in such regions, ultimately causing them to spend more time there. To elucidate this behavior, we derive a particle kinetic energy equation from the particle momentum equation, which incorporates inertial effects through the Schiller–Naumann drag correlation. Upon extracting fundamental physics from this equation, hypotheses regarding the role of the Stokes number in the temporal change of particle kinetic energy and the previously proposed particle behavior are evaluated using simulation data considering three Stokes numbers. Finally, a Fokker–Planck equation is used to derive the steady-state probability density function of the particle kinetic energy. The model fits the simulation data well and provides a tool for further investigation into understanding preferential concentration, as well as a reduced order model for predicting particle kinetic energy in turbulent flows.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Exposure ages and erosion rates for lunar rocks

The available data on the effects of particle bombardment of lunar rocks are examined, taking into account rare gas data, neutron capture products, radioactive nuclei, and particle tracks. Attention is given to exposure ages, questions concerning the validity of exposure ages, the location of rocks during irradiation, the criteria for valid crater ages, special problems regarding lunar breccias, surface residence times from long lived radioactive nuclei, surface residence times from galactic cosmic ray track data, rocks with simple surface exposure, rocks with complex surface exposure, limits on surface residence times, suntan and subdecimeter ages, erosion rates, and a number of case histories related to exposure age measurements as applied to the problem of the dating of impact events.

Burnett, D. S.↗

Mass and spatial distribution of carbonaceous component in Comet Halley

Cometary grains containing large amounts of carbon and/or organic matter were discovered by in situ measurements of cometary dust composition during VEGA and GIOTTO fly-by missions. In accordance with the classification for the data of PUMA-1 and PUMA-2 mass-spectrometers on board the VEGA spacecraft, particles with a ratio of C to any rock-forming element (Mg, Si, Fe, Ca etc.) greater than 10, were categorized as CHON. There are 464 such particles in PUMA-1 data and 51 in PUMA-2 data. Application of cluster analysis to these grains revealed several distinct compositional classes, namely: (H,C,N,O), (H,C,N), (H,C), (H,C,O), (C,N), (C,O), (C,N,O), and (C). Similar classes were identified among particles analyzed by PIA. Also, about a third of all particles fell into groups (H) and (O) characterized by abundances of these elements beyond chemically reasonable limits.

Fomenkova, M.↗

Measurement of light-by-light scattering and search for axion-like particles with 2.2 nb -1 of Pb+Pb data with the ATLAS detector

This paper describes a measurement of light-by-light scattering based on Pb+Pb collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment during Run 2 of the LHC. The study uses 2.2 nb -1 of integrated luminosity collected in 2015 and 2018 at s N N = 5.02. Light-by-light scattering candidates are selected in events with two photons produced exclusively, each with transverse energy E T &#x03B3;<!-- γ --> > 2.5 GeV, pseudorapidity |η γ | < 2.37, diphoton invariant mass m γγ > 5 GeV, and with small diphoton transverse momentum and diphoton acoplanarity. The integrated and differential fiducial cross sections are measured and compared with theoretical predictions. The diphoton invariant mass distribution is used to set limits on the production of axion-like particles. This result provides the most stringent limits to date on axion-like particle production for masses in the range 6–100 GeV. Cross sections above 2 to 70 nb are excluded at the 95% CL in that mass interval.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Particle cloud impingement damage

Single impact data considered ineffective in estimating target damage induced by micron-sized particle cloud impingement

Laderman, A. J.↗

Enhancements of energetic ions associated with travelling compression regions in the deep geomagnetic tail

This paper presents a representative example of an enhancement in energetic ion flux associated with the International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE 3) spacecraft's encounter with a traveling compression region (TCR). Data from the energetic particle anisotropy spectrometer (EPAS) instrument on ISEE 3 are studied, along with magnetic field data from the vector helium magnetometer. It is concluded that the ion enhancements seen are spatial in nature, thus supporting the idea that TCRs are the lobe signatures of plasmoids moving along the magnetotail, away from earth.

Murphy, N.↗

The Aries auroral modelling campaign - Characterization and modelling of an evening auroral arc observed from a rocket and a ground-based line of meridian scanners

A summary of the Aries experiments and results is presented with specific attention given to the tomographic analysis developed from ground-based photometric data. The instrumentation includes particle detectors, rocket photometers, plasma probes, and 1-deg meridian scanning photometers, and an all-sky TV system. The geophysical conditions during the observations are described including the auroral features and wavelengths, rocket trajectories, and the effectiveness of particle measurements. The tomographic inversion is explained with examples of rocket-photometer height data and contrasted with ground-based photometric data. The modeling techniques used to derive height profiles are described and indirectly compared to measured auroral intensities and intensity ratios. An enhancement of atomic oxygen is inferred from discrepancies with previous studies which confirm the difference between observed intensity ratios and modeled results.

Jones, A. V.↗

Analytical Tools for Cloudscope Ice Measurement

The cloudscope is a ground or aircraft instrument for viewing ice crystals impacted on a sapphire window. It is essentially a simple optical microscope with an attached compact CCD video camera whose output is recorded on a Hi-8 mm video cassette recorder equipped with digital time and date recording capability. In aircraft operation the window is at a stagnation point of the flow so adiabatic compression heats the window to sublimate the ice crystals so that later impacting crystals can be imaged as well. A film heater is used for ground based operation to provide sublimation, and it can also be used to provide extra heat for aircraft operation. The compact video camera can be focused manually by the operator, and a beam splitter - miniature bulb combination provide illumination for night operation. Several shutter speeds are available to accommodate daytime illumination conditions by direct sunlight. The video images can be directly used to qualitatively assess the crystal content of cirrus clouds and contrails. Quantitative size spectra are obtained with the tools described in this report. Selected portions of the video images are digitized using a PCI bus frame grabber to form a short movie segment or stack using NIH (National Institute of Health) Image software with custom macros developed at DRI. The stack can be Fourier transform filtered with custom, easy to design filters to reduce most objectionable video artifacts. Particle quantification of each slice of the stack is performed using digital image analysis. Data recorded for each particle include particle number and centroid, frame number in the stack, particle area, perimeter, equivalent ellipse maximum and minimum radii, ellipse angle, and pixel number. Each valid particle in the stack is stamped with a unique number. This output can be used to obtain a semiquantitative appreciation of the crystal content. The particle information becomes the raw input for a subsequent program (FORTRAN) that synthesizes each slice and separates the new from the sublimating particles. The new particle information is used to generate quantitative particle concentration, area, and mass size spectra along with total concentration, solar extinction coefficient, and ice water content. This program directly creates output in html format for viewing with a web browser.

Arnott, W. Patrick↗

Are Planetary Regolith Particles Back Scattering? Response to a Paper by M. Mishchenko

In a recent paper Mishchenko asserts that soil particles are strongly forward scattering, whereas particles on the surfaces of objects in the solar system have been inferred to be back scattering. Mishchenko suggests that this apparent discrepancy is an artifact caused by using an approximate light scattering model to analyse the data, and that planetary regolith particles are actually strong forward scatterers. The purpose of the present paper is to point out the errors in Mishchenko's paper and to show from both theoretical arguments and experimental data that inhomogencous composite particles which are large compared to the wavelength of visible light, such as rock fragments and agglutinates, can be strongly back scattering and are the fundamental scatterers in media composed of them. Such particles appear to be abundant in planetary regoliths and can account for the back scattering character of the surfaces of many bodies in the solar system. If the range of phase angles covered by a data set is insufficient, serious errors in retrieving the particle scattering properties can result whether an exact or approximate scattering model is used. However, if the data set includes both large and small phase angles, approximate regolith scattering models can correctly retrieve the sign of the particle scattering asymmetry.

Hapke, Bruce↗

Discovering polyelemental nanostructures with redistributed plasmonic modes through combinatorial synthesis

Coupling plasmonic and functional materials provides a promising way to generate multifunctional structures. However, finding plasmonic nanomaterials and elucidating the roles of various geometric and dielectric configurations are tedious. This work describes a combinatorial approach to rapidly exploring and identifying plasmonic heteronanomaterials. Symmetry-broken noble/non-noble metal particle heterojunctions (~100 nanometers) were synthesized on multiwindow silicon chips with silicon nitride membranes. The metal types and the interface locations were controlled to establish a nanoparticle library, where the particle morphology and scattering color can be rapidly screened. By correlating structural data with near- and far-field single-particle spectroscopy data, we found that certain low-energy plasmonic modes could be supported across the heterointerface, while others are localized. Furthermore, we found a series of triangular heteronanoplates stabilized by epitaxial Moiré superlattices, which show strong plasmonic responses despite largely comprising a lossy metal (~70 atomic %). These architectures can become the basis for multifunctional and cost-effective plasmonic devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

The hidden ion population of the magnetosphere

The presence of a cold ion population in the magnetosphere which is normally hidden from particle detector observation by the positive charging of the spacecraft is reported. Ion and electron data were obtained from particle detectors on the ATS 6 and SCATHA satellites designed to measure the 1-eV to 80-keV plasma population. The cold, isotropic ion population, with temperature 1 eV and density 10-100/cu cm, was detected only when the spacecraft were in eclipse, when spacecraft potential had dropped from +10 V in sunlight to +4 to +5 V. The hidden ion population was found at geosynchronous altitude only during geomagnetically quiet times and when there has been an absence of geomagnetic activity for several hours, and appears to coexist with the plasma sheet. More consistent measurements of the cold ion population at midnight or at other local times would require the biasing of the ion detector with respect to the spacecraft, or the controlling of spacecraft potential.

Olsen, R. C.↗

Observations of ion-neutral collisional effects in the auroral E region

Thermal ion energy distribution functions and local electric and magnetic fields were directly measured for the first time in the ionospheric E region. Measured ion distribution functions were fitted to shifted Maxwellian distributions, and their resulting ion drift velocities were compared with E x B/B-squared velocities from the double-probe electric field observations. The results show that the ion drift direction rotates with respect to the local electric field direction and that the ratio of the magnitudes of the ion velocity to the E x B/B-squared velocity decreases with decreasing altitudes. Using these observations, the quiet time ion-neutral collison frequencies and neutral wind velocities were estimated and found to be consistent with theoretical estimates. However, significant discrepancies between observations and theory are found in the disturbed E region near auroral particle precipitation regions. These data indicate that the auroral atmosphere is significantly perturbed due to Joule as well as particle heating effects.

Watanabe, S.↗