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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.

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At least 991 records · Page 55
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Theory Techniques for Precision Physics -- Snowmass 2021 TF06 Topical Group Report

The wealth of experimental data collected at laboratory experiments suggests that there is some scale separation between the Standard Model (SM) and phenomena beyond the SM (BSM). New phenomena can manifest itself as small corrections to SM predictions, or as signals in processes where the SM predictions vanish or are exceedingly small. This makes precise calculations of the SM expectations essential, in order to maximize the sensitivity of current and forthcoming experiments to BSM physics. Here, this topical group report highlights some past and forthcoming theory developments critical for maximizing the sensitivity of the experimental program to understanding Nature at the shortest distances.

Boughezal, Radja↗
DOE OSTI2026

The Fate of Nucleated Black Holes in de Sitter Quantum Gravity

The Euclidean Nariai geometry has long been proposed as the instanton describing the nucleation of maximal-mass black holes in de Sitter space. We place this interpretation on firmer footing by showing that, once an observer is included, the gravitational path integral produces the imaginary phase required for a transition rate. As a warmup, we revisit the Hawking-Moss instanton and, as a byproduct, find that scalar fields can enhance black-hole nucleation, suggesting a quantum-gravity bound on scalar potentials with de Sitter solutions. We then study the subsequent semiclassical evolution of the nucleated black hole. We show that the previously claimed "anti-evaporation" channel is unphysical, arising from a quantum state with singular horizons. In a smooth state, the black hole instead undergoes standard thermal Hawking evaporation. We verify explicit agreement with the no-boundary state and argue that this evaporation is not subject to large quantum-gravity corrections. The nucleated black hole thus evaporates completely back to the maximally-entropic empty de Sitter vacuum, making the full process a Boltzmann fluctuation.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
NASA NTRS1968

Method of maintaining activity of hydrogen-sensing platinum electrode

Three-electrode hydrogen sensor containing a platinum electrode maintained in a highly catalytic state, operates with a minimal response time and maximal sensitivity to the hydrogen gas being sensed. Electronic control and readout circuitry reactivates the working electrode of the sensor to a state of maximal catalytic activity.

Harman, J. N., III↗
NASA NTRS1972

A computer method for schedule processing and quick-time updating.

A schedule analysis program is presented which can be used to process any schedule with continuous flow and with no loops. Although generally thought of as a management tool, it has applicability to such extremes as music composition and computer program efficiency analysis. Other possibilities for its use include the determination of electrical power usage during some operation such as spacecraft checkout, and the determination of impact envelopes for the purpose of scheduling payloads in launch processing. At the core of the described computer method is an algorithm which computes the position of each activity bar on the output waterfall chart. The algorithm is basically a maximal-path computation which gives to each node in the schedule network the maximal path from the initial node to the given node.

Mccoy, W. H.↗
NASA NTRS1972

On the stability of obliquely propagating whistlers.

By means of an energy conservation approach, this paper analyzes the growth rates of whistlers with arbitrary frequency and direction of propagation in a cold plasma permeated by a dilute energetic electron population. Numerical results are obtained for whistler frequencies and plasma characteristics prevailing at the onset of artificially stimulated emissions. It is found that the growth rates do not in general maximize for propagation along the static magnetic field, and a criterion for the existence of maximal growth at this direction is derived. An application to artificially stimulated emissions is discussed.

Brinca, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Design of a modular digital computer system

A design tradeoff study is reported for a modular spaceborne computer system that is responsive to many mission types and phases. The computer uses redundancy to maximize reliability, and multiprocessing to maximize processing capacity. Fault detection and recovery features provide optimal reliability.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1973

Effects of gravity on ontogeny in animals.

Inversion or clinostat rotation of frogs' eggs demonstrated a critical period of enhanced gravity-sensitivity prior to the first cleavage. These results were corroborated by centrifugation studies which localized the period of maximal sensitivity at approximately 20 minutes post-fertilization. Eggs of various invertebrates suspended in aqueous solution proved capable of normal development following brief ultracentrifugation. Among fly larvae, grasshopper nymphs, turtles, mice, rats, and chickens, growth rates were inversely related to G-force, and maximal chronic acceleration tolerated was inversely related to body size. Body composition data demonstrated the importance of separately evaluating fat and the fat-free portion of the body in studies of the effect of acceleration on growth in homeotherms. The attempt to evaluate the effect of weightlessness on the development of frogs' eggs in Biosatellite 2 was inconclusive for technical reasons.

Pitts, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Optimization of self-acting herringbone journal bearing for maximum stability

Groove parameters were determined to maximize the stability of herringbone grooved journal bearings. Parameters optimized were groove depth, width, length, and angle. Optimization was performed using a small eccentricity, infinite groove analysis in conjunction with: (1) a previously developed Newton-Raphson procedure for bearings with the smooth member rotating or with the grooved member rotating at low compressibility numbers, and (2) a newly-developed vector technique for bearings with the grooved member rotating at high compressibility numbers. The design curves enable one to choose the optimum bearing for a wide range of operating conditions. These include: (1) compressibility numbers from 0 (incompressible) to 80, (2) length to diameter ratios from 1/4 to 2, and (3) smooth or grooved member rotating. Compared to bearings optimized to maximize load capacity, bearings optimized for stability: (1) allow a thousandfold increase in bearing-supported mass in some cases before onset of instability (the most dramatic increase are for bearings with small L/D operating at high compressibility numbers), and (2) lose no more than 77-percent of their load capacity in any case studied. Stability is much greater when the grooved member rotates.

Fleming, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Optimization of self-acting herringbone-grooved journal bearings for maximum stability

Groove parameters were determined to maximize the stability of herringbone-grooved journal bearings. Parameters optimized were groove depth, width, length, and angle. Optimization was performed by using a small-eccentricity, infinite-groove analysis in conjunction with a previously developed Newton-Raphson procedure for bearings with the smooth member rotating or with the grooved member rotating at low compressibility numbers, and a newly developed vector technique for bearings with the grooved member rotating at high compressibility numbers. The design curves in this report enable one to choose the optimum bearing for a wide range of operating conditions. Compared with bearings optimized to maximize load capacity, bearings optimized for stability allow a thousandfold increase in bearing-supported mass in some cases before onset of instability, and lose no more than 77 percent of their load capacity in any case studied. Stability is much greater when the grooved member rotates.

Fleming, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Real-time correction of atmospherically degraded telescope images through image sharpening

We present a new technique for the correction of atmospheric distortion in telescope images. Most of this distortion arises from a random phase variation of the incoming light across the telescope aperture. This variation limits the resolving power of even large telescopes to about one arc second. If the sharpness of the images is defined in a suitable way, this sharpness is maximized only when the phase distortion of the incoming light is zero. We present computer simulations of a simple feedback system in which active optical elements, set to maximize the sharpness, correct most of the atmospheric distortion. Photon statistics set the limiting magnitude of the object for which a practical feedback system can work. Details in a sixth magnitude object smaller than 0.1 sec of arc should be resolvable. The system can be conveniently employed within existing telescopes.

Muller, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Optimization of self-acting herringbone journal bearings for maximum stability

Groove parameters were determined to maximize the stability of herringbone grooved journal bearings. Parameters optimized were groove depth, width, length, and angle. Optimization was performed using a small eccentricity, infinite groove analysis in conjunction with: (1) a previously developed Newton-Raphson procedure for bearings with the smooth member rotating or with the grooved member rotating at low compressibility numbers; (2) a newly-developed vector technique for bearings with the grooved member rotating at high compressibility numbers. The design curves in this report enable one to choose the optimum bearing for a wide range of operating conditions. These include: (1) compressibility numbers from 0 to 80; (2) length to diameter ratios from 1/4 to 2; and (3) smooth or grooved member rotating. Compared to bearings optimized to maximize load capacity, bearings optimized for stability allow a thousandfold increase in bearing-supported mass in some cases before onset of instability. Stability is much greater when the grooved member rotates.

Fleming, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A timeline algorithm for astronomy missions

An algorithm is presented for generating viewing timelines for orbital astronomy missions of the pointing (nonsurvey/scan) type. The algorithm establishes a target sequence from a list of candidate targets in a way which maximizes total viewing time. Two special cases are treated. One concerns dim targets which, due to lighting constraints, are scheduled only during the antipolar portion of each orbit. They normally require long observation times extending over several revolutions. A minimum slew heuristic is employed to select the sequence of dim targets. The other case deals with bright, or short duration, targets, which have less restrictive lighting constraints and are scheduled during the portion of each orbit when dim targets cannot be viewed. Since this process moves much more rapidly than the dim path, an enumeration algorithm is used to select the sequence that maximizes total viewing time.

Moore, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1976

A counter-example in linear feature selection theory

The paper shows that it is possible to construct two k x n matrices, both of which maximize divergence in the transformed space of the linear feature selection problem in multiclass pattern recognition, and which are not row equivalent. Thus, even under extremely strong conditions, it is not possible to assume that all matrix solutions which maximize transformed divergence are row equivalent.

Brown, D. R.↗
NASA NTRS1977

On signal design by the R/0/ criterion for non-white Gaussian noise channels

The use of the cut-off rate criterion for modulation system design is investigated for channels with non-white Gaussian noise. A signal space representation of the waveform channel is developed, and the cut-off rate for vector channels with additive non-white Gaussian noise and unquantized demodulation is derived. When the signal input to the channel is a continuous random vector, maximization of the cut-off rate with constrained average signal energy leads to a water-filling interpretation of optimal energy distribution in signal space. The necessary condition for a finite signal set to maximize the cut-off rate with constrained energy and an equally likely probability assignment of signal vectors is presented, and an algorithm is outlined for numerically computing the optimum signal set. As an example, the rectangular signal set which has the water-filling average energy distribution and the optimum rectangular set are compared.

Bordelon, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Oxygen as a factor in eukaryote evolution - Some effects of low levels of oxygen on Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A comparative study of the effects of varying levels of oxygen on some of the metabolic functions of the primitive eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has shown that these cells are responsive to very low levels of oxygen: the level of palmitoyl-Co A desaturase was greatly enhanced by only 0.03 vol % oxygen. Similarly, an acetyl-CoA synthetase associated predominantly with anaerobic growth was stimulated by as little as 0.1% oxygen, while an isoenzyme correlated with aerobic growth was maximally active at much higher oxygen levels (greater than 1%). Closely following this latter pattern were three mitochondrial enzymes that attained maximal activity only under atmospheric levels of oxygen.

Jahnke, L.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Forebody and base region real-gas flow in severe planetary entry by a factored implicit numerical method. I - Computational fluid dynamics

A new code for the simulation of full (forebody and base region) flowfields about bluff bodies in the hypersonic regime of severe planetary entry is described. The present 'maximally conservative, maximally differenced' formulation of the unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations for 2-D axisymmetric 3-D flow is contrasted for stability with previous formulations of Viviand, Kutler, et al, and Thomas and Lombard. Discrete metric relations peculiar to the axisymmetric finite volume formulation are presented along with a general discussion of their relations to and consequences of failure to close computational cells. A computational mesh of curvilinear coordinate topology singular in the flow regime is presented that permits aligned capturing of the major physical features of the complex flowfield.

Lombard, C. K.↗