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At least 991 records · Page 55

Solar wind record in the lunar regolith - Nitrogen and noble gases

The measured elemental and isotopic abundances of noble gases and nitrogen have been measured in five different samples of lunar regolith material. It was found noble gases liberated by chemical attack on grain surfaces from two of the samples were solar. The Ne-20/Ne-22 ratio in the two grain surface reservoir is 13.5-13.6, compared to the average value of 13.7 + or - 0.3 measured in the Apollo solar wind collection foils (Gochsler and Geiss, 1977). It is suggested that the noble gases in grain interiors have suffered severe mass fractionation. The surface-sited N/Ar in an ilmenite sample exceeds the predicted solar ratio by more than a factor of 10. It is concluded that the solar system abundances of Cameron (1982) describe the elemental composition of the noble gases in the solar wind very well.

Frick, Urs↗

Active region coronal loops - Structural and variability

X-ray images of a pair of active region loops are studied which show significant, short time-scale variability in the line fluxes of O VIII, Ne IX, and Mg XI and in the 3.5-11.5 keV soft X-ray bands. Vector magnetograms and high-resolution UV images were used to model the three-dimensional characteristics of the loops. X-ray light curves were generated spanning four consecutive orbits for both loops individually, and light curves of the loop tops and brightest points were also generated. The largest variations involve flux changes of up to several hundred percent on time scales of 10 minutes. No significant H-alpha flare activity is reported, and loop temperatures remain in the four to six million K range. The decay phases of the light curves indicate radiative cooling, inhibition of conduction, and some type of 'continued heating' due to ongoing, underlying activity at the microflare level.

Haisch, Bernhard M.↗

Effect of alcohol addition on shock-initiated formation of soot from benzene

Soot formation in benzene-methanol and benzene-ethanol argon-diluted mixtures was studied behind reflected shock waves by monitoring the attenuation of an He-Ne laser beam. The experiments were performed at temperatures 1580-2250 K, pressures 2.0-3.0 bar, and total carbon atom concentrations (2.0-2.7) x 10 to the 17th atoms/cu cm. The results obtained indicate that the addition of alcohol suppresses the formation of soot from benzene at all temperatures, and that the reduction in soot yields is increased with the amount of alcohol added. The analysis of the results indicates that the suppression effect is probably due to the oxidation of soot and soot precursors by OH and the removal of hydrogen atoms by alcohol and water molecules.

Frenklach, Michael↗

Passive tilt compensation in an FTS using a double-sided flat retroflector

An optical configuration for a tilt-compensated Fourier transform spectrometer is presented. An expanded and collimated He-Ne laser beam was passed through the interferometer and the collimated output was observed visually. The double-sided mirror was tilted through angles approaching 1 deg with no apparent degradation in the interference quality.

Jennings, Donald E.↗

Hardware development for the Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment aboard the USML-1 Spacelab mission

The Surface Tension Driven Convection Experiment is a Space Transportation System flight experiment to study both transient and steady thermocapillary fluid flows aboard the USML-1 Spacelab mission planned for March 1992. Hardware is under development to establish the experimental conditions and perform the specified measurements, for both ground based research and the flight experiment in a Spacelab single rack. Major development areas include an infrared thermal imaging system for surface temperature measurement, a CO2 laser and control system for surface heating, and for flow visualization, a He-Ne laser and optical system in conjunction with an intensified video camera. For ground based work the components of each system were purchased or designed, and tested individually. The three systems will be interfaced with the balance of the experimental hardware and will constitute a working engineering model. A description of the three systems and examples of the component performance is given along with the plans for the development of flight hardware.

Pline, A. D.↗

Circumstellar material in meteorites - Noble gases, carbon and nitrogen

In addition to preserving a record of isotopically distinct reservoirs in the early solar system, some primitive meteorites contain discrete grains of presolar origin. Such grains are distinguished by the isotopically anomalous noble-gas components they contain. One such component consists of monoisotopic Ne-22, produced by decay of radioactive Na-22 with a 2.6 yr half-life. Two xenon components have also been identified: one synthesized apparently in a supernova, the other probably in a red giant star. Most of the grains that carry these noble-gas components are carbonaceous and contain isotopically anomalous C, N, or both. They include diamond and silicon carbide. Two unidentified carriers of isotopically anomalous nitrogen, unaccompanied by noble gases, occur in the brecciated stony iron meteorite, Bencubbin.

Anders, Edward↗

Nuclear line spectroscopy of solar flares

A large nuclear-line-rich solar flare which occurred near the west limb on April 27, 1981 has been analyzed. Three intense and isolated gamma-ray lines observed have been identified as the deexcitation lines of Ne-20(1.634 MeV), C-12(4.438 MeV), and O-16(6.129 MeV). The elemental abundances of the ambient gas at the site of gamma-ray line production in the solar atmosphere deduced using the observations are found to be different from local Galactic abundances.

Forrest, D. J.↗

The ultraviolet spectrum of an oxygen-rich supernova remnant in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Ultraviolet and optical spectra data are presented for the oxygen-rich supernova remnant 1E 0102-7219 in the SMC. These UV data are the first to seriously constrain the UV emission from an oxygen-rich remnant. Emission lines of O I, forbidden O II, semiforbidden O III, semiforbidden O IV, C IV, forbidden Ne IV, and Mg II have been unambiguously detected in the UV. Shock models for material with abundances appropriate to massive stellar ejecta are calculated, and a number of differences between these models and the observations are found. The UV lines are observed to be weaker relative to optical lines than expected from models. Models of photoionization by the remnant's X-ray emission are calculated, and these provide a better qualitative match to the observed spectra. Approximate abundances in the ejecta are derived and the implications these have for the precursor star are discussed.

Blair, William P.↗

The ionization structure of planetary nebulae. IX - NGC 1535

The ionization structure of planetary nebula NGC 1535 was investigated using spectrophotometric observations of emission-line intensities over the spectral range 1400-7200 A, which were carried out in five positions in this nebula. The results obtained on the ionic abundances of He, O, N, Ne, C, and Ar in NGC 1535 suggest that it is a planetary nebula that formed initially in a somewhat metal-poor region and has undergone little or no enhancement of its original abundances by mixing with nuclear-processed material.

Barker, Timothy↗

Utraviolet observations of the planetary nebula NGC 2242

IUE observations of NGC 2242 reveal strong emission lines of C IV, He II, semi-forbidden C III, and forbidden Ne IV, along with weaker emissions from O IV and N IV. It is found that the oxygen abundance is about 1/6 of the solar value for T(e) = 25,000 K, and that the N/H and Ar/H ratios are down by a factor of 2-3 from typical disk PN values. The present abundance pattern resembles that observed in the halo planetary DDDM-1, except for the unusually low C/O ratio in DDDM-1.

Garnett, Donald R.↗

Laboratory simulation of meteoritic noble gases. III - Sorption of neon, argon, krypton, and xenon on carbon - Elemental fractionation

The sorption of Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe was studied in carbon black, acridine carbon, and diamond in an attempt to understand the origin of trapped noble gases in meteorites. The results support a model in which gases are physically adsorbed on interior surfaces formed by a pore labyrinth within amorphous carbons. The data show that: (1) the adsorption/desorption times are controlled by choke points that restrict the movement of noble gas atoms within the pore labyrinth, and (2) the physical adsorption controls the temperature behavior and elemental fractionation patterns.

Wacker, John F.↗

The role of repair in the survival of mammalian cells from heavy ion irradiation - Approximation to the ideal case of target theory

Experiments are discussed in which the cell-cycle dependency of the repair deficiency of the S/S variant of the L5178Y murine leukemic lymphoblast was examined by treatment with the heavy ions, Ne-20, Si-28, Ar-40, Fe-56, and Nb-93. Evidence from those studies provide support for the notion that as the linear energy transfer of the incident radiation increases the ability of the S/S cell to repair radiation damage decreases until it is eliminated around 500 keV/micron. In the region of the latter linear energy transfer value, the behavior of the S/S cell approximates the ideal case of target theory where post-irradiation metabolism does not influence cell survival.

Lett, J. T.↗

Cosmogenic helium and volatile-rich fluid in Sierra Leone alluvial diamonds

Noble gas measurements were carried out on two identical splits of a finely powdered harshly acid-washed sample derived from fragments of a single alluvial diamond from Sierra Leone, with essentially identical results obtained for both splits. Isotopic ratios for Ar, Kr, and Xe were found to be atmospheric. Their elemental abundances were high relative to published data, owing to the effect of shock implantation in the crushing step, as was verified in a supplementary experiment. No Ne was detected above the blank level. The He-3 was exceptionally abundant, while He-4 was exceptionally depleted, possibly due to the acid wash. The He-3/He-4 ratio was anomalously high at an R/Ra value of 246 + or - 16. The results support the hypothesis that the He-3 excess in diamonds is cosmogenic.

Mcconville, P.↗

An interferometric strain-displacement measurement system

A system for measuring the relative in-plane displacement over a gage length as short as 100 micrometers is described. Two closely spaced indentations are placed in a reflective specimen surface with a Vickers microhardness tester. Interference fringes are generated when they are illuminated with a He-Ne laser. As the distance between the indentations expands or contracts with applied load, the fringes move. This motion is monitored with a minicomputer-controlled system using linear diode arrays as sensors. Characteristics of the system are: (1) gage length ranging from 50 to 500 micrometers, but 100 micrometers is typical; (2) least-count resolution of approximately 0.0025 micrometer; and (3) sampling rate of 13 points per second. In addition, the measurement technique is non-contacting and non-reinforcing. It is useful for strain measurements over small gage lengths and for crack opening displacement measurements near crack tips. This report is a detailed description of a new system recently installed in the Mechanisms of Materials Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center. The intent is to enable a prospective user to evaluate the applicability of the system to a particular problem and assemble one if needed.

Sharpe, William N., Jr.↗

Ion formation by electron impact

Dissociative attachment and polar dissociation cross sections were measured for the following molecules: HC1, NO, N2O, C6H6, SiH4, Si2H6, and LiH. Direct ionization and dissociative ionization cross sections were determined for the following molecules: H2, D2, N2, O2, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, H2O, Co, CO2, CH4, SiH4, Sih4, Si2H6, N2*, and NH3. An experimental apparatus for a pulsed extraction technique was fabricated and successfully tested.

Srivastava, Santosh K.↗

Geology of Southern Guinevere Planitia, Venus, based on analyses of Goldstone radar data

The ensemble of 41 backscatter images of Venus acquired by the S Band (12.6 cm) Goldstone radar system covers approx. 35 million km and includes the equatorial portion of Guinevere Planitia, Navka Planitia, Heng-O Chasma, and Tinatin Planitia, and parts of Devana Chasma and Phoebe Regio. The images and associated altimetry data combine relatively high spatial resolution (1 to 10 km) with small incidence angles (less than 10 deg) for regions not covered by either Venera Orbiter or Arecibo radar data. Systematic analyses of the Goldstone data show that: (1) Volcanic plains dominate, including groups of small volcanic constructs, radar bright flows on a NW-SE arm of Phoebe Regio and on Ushas Mons and circular volcano-tectonic depressions; (2) Some of the regions imaged by Goldstone have high radar cross sections, including the flows on Ushas Mons and the NW-SE arm of Phoebe Regio, and several other unnamed hills, ridged terrains, and plains areas; (3) A 1000 km diameter multiringed structure is observed and appears to have a morphology not observed in Venera data (The northern section corresponds to Heng-O Chasma); (4) A 150 km wide, 2 km deep, 1400 km long rift valley with upturned flanks is located on the western flank of Phoebe Regio and extends into Devana Chasma; (5) A number of structures can be discerned in the Goldstone data, mainly trending NW-SE and NE-SW, directions similar to those discerned in Pioneer-Venus topography throughout the equatorial region; and (6) The abundance of circular and impact features is similar to the plains global average defined from Venera and Arecibo data, implying that the terrain imaged by Goldstone has typical crater retention ages, measured in hundreds of millions of years. The rate of resurfacing is less than or equal to 4 km/Ga.

Arvidson, R. E.↗

The 10.7-cm microwave observations of AR 5395 and related terrestrial effects

The 10.7 cm flux patrols in Canada recorded 4 Great Bursts (peaks greater than 500 sfu) during the disk passage of AR 5395 in March 1989. The Great Bursts of 16 and 17 March were simple events of great amplitude and with half-life durations of only several minutes. Earlier Great Bursts, originating on 6 March towards the NE limb and on 10 March closer to the central meridian, belong to an entirely different category of event. Each started with a very strong impulsive event lasting just minutes. After an initial recovery, however, the emission climbed back to level as greater or greater than the initial impulsive burst. The events of 6 and 10 March stayed above the Great Burst threshold for at least 100 minutes. The second component of long duration in these cases is associated with Type 4 continuum emission and thus very likely with CMEs. Major geomagnetic disturbances did not occur as a result of the massive complex event of 6 March or the two simple but strong events of 16 and 17 March. But some 55 hours after the peak in the long-enduring burst of 10 March, a storm began which qualifies as the fourth strongest geomagnetic storm in Canada since 1932. The vertical component of the earth's field measured during the storm by a fluxgate magnetometer at a station in Manitoba is presented. Within a minute of the sudden commencement of this storm, a series of breakdowns began in the transmission system of Hydro-Quebec which resulted in a total loss of power, on a bitterly cold winter's day, for at least 10 hours. The loss of power provoked an enormous outcry from the public resulting in the power utilities being more receptive to the need to monitor solar as well as geomagnetic activity.

Gaizauskas, V.↗

Use of a krypton isotope for rapid ion changeover at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory 88-inch cyclotron

An isotope of krypton, Kr86, has been combined with a mix of Ar, Ne, and N ions at the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) source, at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory cyclotron, to provide rapid ion changeover in Single Event Phenomena (SEP) testing. The new technique has been proved out successfully by a recent Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) test in which it was found that there was no measurable contamination from other isotopes.

Soli, George A.↗