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At least 1,027 records · Page 57
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NASA NTRS1989

A space qualified thermal imaging system using a Pt Si detector array

EDO Corporation, Barnes Engineering Division designed and constructed a high resolution thermal imaging system on contract to Lockheed for use in the SDI Star Lab. This employs a Pt Si CCD array which is sensitive in the spectral range of 3 to 5 microns. Star Lab will be flown in the Shuttle bay and consists basically of a large, reflecting, tracking telescope with associated sensors and electronics. The thermal imaging system is designed to operate in the focal plane of this telescope. The configuration of the system is illustrated. The telescope provides a collimated beam output which is focussed onto the detector array by a silicon objective lens. The detector array subtends a field of view of 1.6 degrees x 1.22 degrees. A beam switching mirror permits bypassing the large telescope to give a field of 4 degrees x 3 degrees. Two 8 position filter wheels are provided, and background radiation is minimized by Narcissus mirrors. The detector is cooled with a Joule-Thompson cryostat fed from a high pressure supply tank. This was selected instead of a more convenient closed-cycle system because of concern with vibration. The latter may couple into the extremely critical Starlab tracking telescope. The electronics produce a digitized video signal for recording. Offset and responsivity correction factors are stored for all pixels and these corrections are made to the digitized output in real time.

Astheimer, Robert W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Determination of depth-viewing volumes for stereo three-dimensional graphic displays

Real-world, 3-D, pictorial displays incorporating true depth cues via stereopsis techniques offer a potential means of displaying complex information in a natural way to prevent loss of situational awareness and provide increases in pilot/vehicle performance in advanced flight display concepts. Optimal use of stereopsis requires an understanding of the depth viewing volume available to the display designer. Suggested guidelines are presented for the depth viewing volume from an empirical determination of the effective region of stereopsis cueing (at several viewer-CRT screen distances) for a time multiplexed stereopsis display system. The results provide the display designer with information that will allow more effective placement of depth information to enable the full exploitation of stereopsis cueing. Increasing viewer-CRT screen distances provides increasing amounts of usable depth, but with decreasing fields-of-view. A stereopsis hardware system that permits an increased viewer-screen distance by incorporating larger screen sizes or collimation optics to maintain the field-of-view at required levels would provide a much larger stereo depth-viewing volume.

Parrish, Russell V.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Lidar instruments proposed for Eos

Lidar, an acronym for light detection and ranging, represents a class of instruments that utilize lasers to send probe beams into the atmosphere or onto the surface of the Earth and detect the backscattered return in order to measure properties of the atmosphere or surface. The associated technology has matured to the point where two lidar facilities, Geodynamics Laser Ranging System (GLRS), and Laser Atmospheric Wind Sensor (LAWS) were accepted for Phase 2 studies for Eos. A third lidar facility Laser Atmospheric Sounder and Altimeter (LASA), with the lidar experiment EAGLE (Eos Atmospheric Global Lidar Experiment) was proposed for Eos. The generic lidar system has a number of components. They include controlling electronics, laser transmitters, collimating optics, a receiving telescope, spectral filters, detectors, signal chain electronics, and a data system. Lidar systems that measure atmospheric constituents or meteorological parameters record the signal versus time as the beam propagates through the atmosphere. The backscatter arises from molecular (Rayleigh) and aerosol (Mie) scattering, while attenuation arises from molecular and aerosol scattering and absorption. Lidar systems that measure distance to the Earth's surface or retroreflectors in a ranging mode record signals with high temporal resolution over a short time period. The overall characteristics and measurements objectives of the three lidar systems proposed for Eos are given.

Grant, William B.↗
NASA NTRS1989

High-resolution observations of the multicomponent nucleus of NGC 5929

The central region of the type 2 Seyfert galaxy NGC 5929 is known to contain double radio-continuum and optical emission-line clouds separated by about 1 arcsec. High-resolution VLA mapping at 2 cm shows these two steep-spectrum radio clouds to be compact (about 13 pc FWHM) and well collimated on either side of a central source having a flatter spectrum. When the radio continuum and forbidden O III 5007-A image of Whittle et al. (1986) are compared at the same spatial resolution, there is no evidence that the separations or position angles of the radio and emission-line clouds differ. The double H-alpha clouds appear to differ in position angle by about 20 deg from the radio lobes. Large variations in excitation of the gas occur on the scale of the seeing. If the line-emitting clouds are confined in or near the radio lobes and the gas is ionized by a compact nuclear source, this source is likely to be beamed along the radio axis.

Wilson, Andrew S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Nuclei of two earth-grazing comets of fan-shaped appearance

The conceptual model of a collimated particle flow from isolated sources on the nucleus formulated for comets displaying a persisting sunward fanlike coma is successfully applied to two short-period comets, Pons-Winnecke (PW) and Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW3), observed respectively in 1927 and 1930. For PW, the interpretation of fan-orientation pattern is compatible with the spin axis inertially fixed in May-June 1927, but for SW3 the interpretation requires rapid nucleus precession at a peak rate of about 1.4 deg/day. Both comets satisfy the basic conditions for displaying a fan in the time span covered by the fan observations. The emission sources are situated within 35 deg of the sunlit rotation pole of PW and within 19 deg of the pole of SW 3. A rotation period of 8.2 hr is suggested for PW if the rotation sense is prograde or 5.8 hr if it is retrograde. Water production rates and global loss and erosion rates for the comets are estimated.

Sekanina, Z.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Symmetrical jet action in the R Aquarii binary system

Collimated mass flow in opposite directions is detected in the R Aqr binary-system jet by means of high-resolution long-slit spectroscopy of several optical emission lines. Also presented are images of the jet structure in the forbidden line of O III, which clearly show bipolar symmetry extending to distances of about 2750 AU on either side of the central Mira variable. The Mira light was greatly reduced by utilization of a vignetting disk on the window of the imaging CCD. This result confirms the recent report of morphological evidence for an R Aqr jet from the detection of bipolar radio continuum emission at 6 cm, and provides the necessary kinematical evidence to show that jet action is actually taking place.

Hollis, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Magnetic field and spatial structure of bipolar outflow sources

Deep K band images of three bipolar outflow sources (Cep A, GL 490, and R Mon) are presented. The polarization of background or embedded stars close to these star-forming regions has been measured in the I band to determine the local projected magnetic field direction. For Cep A the outflow direction and the magnetic field are almost parallel as is the case for most bipolar outflow sources. This alignment is poorer in the case of R Mon while GL 490 is a peculiar case with the outflow direction almost perpendicular to the local magnetic field. No indication was found for a distortion of the magnetic field close to the collimating disks of the outflows.

Hodapp, Klaus-Werner↗
NASA NTRS1990

A spectacular molecular outflow in the Monoceros OB1 molecular cloud

Detailed observations of CO, CS, IR continuum, and H2 emission from a large, highly collimated, bipolar outflow in the Monoceros OB1 molecular cloud are presented. The CO observations suggest that molecular gas in the outflow is contained in a shell with higher velocity material situated interior to lower velocity material. The velocities of outflow emission are found to increase with increasing distance from the center of the outflow. Additional detections include shock-excited molecular hydrogen emission from the blueshifted lobe of the outflow and six 2-micron sources in the direction of the outflow. Near-IR and IRAS observations suggest that the driving source for the outflow must have a bolometric luminosity below about 4.5 solar luminosities. It is concluded that the flow is probably not driven by stellar radiation from a central source.

Margulis, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1989

Space-qualified laser diode assembly for the NASA/DDLT program

A space-qualified module incorporating a high power semiconductor diode laser, collimating lens, thermal control, and driver circuit is described. Three such modules are used in an optical transmitter designed for use in NASA space laser communications experiments. Details of the various components are discussed, as well as laser diode lifetest results.

Holcomb, Terry L.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Conjugate echoes of artificially injected electron beams detected optically by means of new image processing

Artificial auroral streaks were detected following two upward injections of energetic electrons (38 keV and 26 keV) from the Echo 4 rocket-borne electron accelerator. Newly developed image processing techniques are used to detect and describe the streaks. It is found that the potential of the payload remained below 1 kV during 45 mA injections at an altitude of 210 km. The echo streaks show little dispersion in time or space, suggesting that the portion of the beam returning to the northern hemisphere loss cone remained collimated and nearly monoenergetic. There was, however, a 70 percent loss in the return flux. The causes of this loss are discussed.

Hallinan, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Imaging spectrophotometry of ionized gas in NGC 1068. I - Kinematics of the narrow-line region

The kinematics of collisionally excited forbidden N II 6548, 6583 across the inner 1 arcmin diameter of the nearby Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 is mapped using an imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer and low-noise CCD. The stack of monochromatic images, which spatially resolved the high-velocity gas, was analyzed for kinematic and photometric content. Profiles agree well with previous long-slit work, and their complete spatial coverage makes it possible to constrain the gas volume distribution. It is found that the narrow-line region is distributed in a thick center-darkened, line-emitting cylinder that envelopes the collimated radio jet. Three distinct kinematic subsystems, of which the cylinder is composed, are discussed in detail. Detailed behavior of the emission-line profiles, at the few points in the NE quadrant with simple kinematics, argues that the ionized gas develops a significant component of motion perpendicular to the jet axis.

Cecil, Gerald↗
NASA NTRS1990

Nuclear outflow from the edge-on galaxy NGC 3628

New evidence is presented for collimated outflow from a starburst nucleus in the edge-on galaxy NGC 3628. A plume of X-ray emission along the minor axis of this galaxy is suggested by the distribution of counts in the softer energy channels of the Einstein Observatory IPC. Plumes of H-alpha emission are visible in a CCD image of the southern minor axis region, at a position angle consistent with that of the X-ray plume, while extended, possibly filamentary, H-alpha emission is visible in the north. Optical spectroscopy along the northern minor axis clearly detects line emission, with line ratios of H-alpha, N II, and S II changing from those characteristic of normal H II regions near the nucleus, to a low-ionization state, consistent with shock heating, farther out. All this evidence, and the IR and radio continuum properties of this galaxy, make NGC 3628 another member of the growing class of galaxies with starburst nuclear activity and outflowing winds, to which NGC 253 and M82 already belong.

Fabbiano, G.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Beam-generated upper hybrid noise in Jupiter's outer magnetosphere

A model for generation of upper hybrid waves in Jupiter's outer magnetosphere is presented. Energetic electrons accelerated on high-latitude auroral field lines at 1 R(J) altitudes are assumed to stream outwards to the distant magnetosphere. The large decrease in the local magnetic field strength results in a highly collimated, field-aligned electron beam due to conservation of the particle's magnetic moment. As the beam travels outward it passes through the plasma sheet boundary layer region located on the edges of the plasma sheet. Because of the large field-aligned anisotropy of the beam, the distribution is unstable to the excitation of the upper hybrid waves which amplify and then undergo mode conversion at the f(p) layer to generate the Jovian continuum radiation. A novel feature of the model is the beam-anisotropic heat flux instability which drives UH waves unstable without the need for any positive slope on the electron distribution function.

Barbosa, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1989

An improved electrothermal model for the ERBE nonscanning radiometer - Comparison of predicted and measured behavior during solar observations

The improved Earth Radiation Budget Experiment nonscanning-channels electrothermal model presented is used to model two types of solar observations: those obtained through the solar port during solar calibration, and and those obtained during the satellite pitch-over maneuver, in which the sun is observed by the radiometer while it is in earth-viewing configuration. Thermal noise has been separately studied to evaluate its contribution to the radiative energy absorbed by the active cavity. It is found that the scattering of the collimated solar radiation contributes an average of 0.071 mW during solar calibration.

Tira, Nour E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Holographic matched filter for full-field in-line signal processing of optical-fiber sensor outputs

A holographic matched filter is used to measure the changes in the output of a dual-mode fiber undergoing axial strain. The hologram is formed by interfering collimated light from a single-mode reference fiber and an unstrained dual-mode sensor fiber on a small piece of holographic material. When the hologram is illuminated by the strained sensor fiber, the cross-correlation field comparing the dual-mode output and its previous state, as recorded in the hologram, is collected, focused into a pick-up fiber, and sent to a photodiode. This arrangement allows for a compact, in-line method for full-field processing of the strain-induced changes in phase and amplitude in the sensor fiber. Other uses of such fiber-based correlators are suggested.

Indebetouw, Guy↗
NASA NTRS1989

Airborne reconnaissance XIII; Proceedings of the Meeting, San Diego, CA, Aug. 7-9, 1989

The present conference on airborne reconnaissance discusses topics in imagery exploitation, reconsystem modeling and analysis, and reconnaissance optics and electronics configurations. Attention is given to airborne minefield detection, the optimization of an IR linescanner for RPV operations, real-time display of IR linescanner data for RPVs, three-dimensional model-guided site recognition, the AMIDARS high-performance real-time display, and MMW sensor image analysis. Also discussed are reconnaissance concepts for the 3-5 micron spectral window, sensor concept development for hazard detection, a stabilization system for a large aperture camera, three-axis image stabilization with a two-axis mirror, the results of performance tests on the TOW target collimator design, and the replacement of film by electrooptic media in advanced tactical airborne reconnaissance.

Henkel, Paul A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Broadband, Achromatic Twyman-Green Interferometer

Improved Twyman-Green interferometer used in wave-front testing optical components at wavelengths from 200 to 1,100 nm, without having to readjust focus when changing wavelength. Built to measure aberrations of light passing through optical filters. Collimating and imaging lenses of classical Twyman-Green configuration replaced by single spherical mirror. Field lens replaced by field mirror. Mirrors exhibit no axial chromatic aberration and made to reflect light efficiently over desired broad range of wavelengths.

Steimle, Lawrence J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Deep narrow band imagery of the diffuse ISM in M33

Very deep narrow band images were obtained for several fields in the local group spiral galaxy M33 using a wide field reimaging Charge Coupled Device (CCD) camera on the 1.5 m telescope at Palomar Observatory. The reimaging system uses a 306 mm collimator and a 58 mm camera lens to put a 16 minute by 16 minute field onto a Texas Instruments 800 x 800 pixel CCD at a resolution of 1.2 arcseconds pixel (-1). The overall system is f/1.65. Images were obtained in the light of H alpha (S II) lambda lambda 6717, 6731, (O III) lambda 5007, and line-free continuum bands 100A wide, centered at 6450A and 5100A. Assuming a distance of 600 kpc to M33 (Humphreys 1980, Ap. J., 241, 587), this corresponds to a linear scale of 3.5 pc pixel (-1), and a field size of 2.8 kpc x 2.8 kpc. Researchers discuss the H alpha imagery of a field centered approx. equal to 8 minutes NE of the nucleus, including the supergiant HII region complex NGC 604. Two 2000 second H alpha images and two 300 second red continuum images were obtained of two slightly offset fields. The fields were offset to allow for discrimination between real emission and possible artifacts in the images. All images were resampled to align them with one of the H alpha frames. The continuum images were normalized to the line images using the results of aperture photometry on a grid of stars in the field, then the rescaled continuum data were directly subtracted from the line data.

Hester, J. Jeff↗