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At least 109 records · Page 6

A three-dimensional model of the nucleus of Comet Halley

The nucleus of comet Halley was observed by the Halley Multicolor Camera (HMC) during the last minutes of the flyby sequence before reaching the point of closest approach. The phase angle change during the observational period was less than 17 deg, so HMC data can only define a two-dimensional contour of the nucleus at a certain time. The overall geometry during the HMC observations is outlined and the findings are related to information available from other sources at different times. The nucleus of the comet is described as a triaxial ellipsoid with major axes of 16, 10, and 9 km. The rotation axis is directed towards delta 1950 = -(40 + or - 5) deg and alpha 1950 = (50 + or - 10) deg. The rotation with a period of P = (54 + or - 1) is in a prograde sense with respect to the orbital motion.

Wilhelm, K.↗

Reactions of SiC with H2/H2O/Ar mixtures at 1300 C

Thermochemical modeling anticipates the existence of three reaction regions for the case of a sintered alpha-SiC with 5 percent H2/H2O/Ar at 1300 C, depending on the initial water vapor or, equivalently, oxygen, content of the gas stream. While a high oxygen content leads to SiC-protecting SiO2 surface film formation and limits consumption of the SiC through passive oxidation, intermediate oxygen contents lead to SiO and CO formation and rapid SiC consumption. In this intermediate region, reaction rates appear to be controlled by H2O gas-phase transport to the sample; reacted microstructures exhibit extensive grain-boundary attack in this region. Very low oxygen content is predicted to selectively remove carbon, with free silicon formation.

Jacobson, Nathan S.↗

Nonlinear stability and control study of highly maneuverable high performance aircraft, phase 2

This research should lead to the development of new nonlinear methodologies for the adaptive control and stability analysis of high angle-of-attack aircraft such as the F18 (HARV). The emphasis has been on nonlinear adaptive control, but associated model development, system identification, stability analysis and simulation is performed in some detail as well. Various models under investigation for different purposes are summarized in tabular form. Models and simulation for the longitudinal dynamics have been developed for all types except the nonlinear ordinary differential equation model. Briefly, studies completed indicate that nonlinear adaptive control can outperform linear adaptive control for rapid maneuvers with large changes in alpha. The transient responses are compared where the desired alpha varies from 5 degrees to 60 degrees to 30 degrees and back to 5 degrees in all about 16 sec. Here, the horizontal stabilator is the only control used with an assumed first-order linear actuator with a 1/30 sec time constant.

Mohler, R. R.↗

Fast Interplanetary Missions with Low-Thrust Propulsion Systems

A simple family of indirect-transfer trajectories between circular orbits is used to evaluate the mass ratio required to complete round-trip interplanetary missions using low-thrust propulsion systems. These trajectories, although not optimum, yielded very substantial reductions in total round-trip time for Mars missions with moderate increases in initial weight. For a powerplant specific weight a of 10 pounds per kilowatt of jet power, trip times were reduced from 1200 to 600 days, for a typical manned mission, with an initial weight increase of a factor of two. Comparison with a nuclear rocket with 1000-second specific impulse indicated that the electric-propulsion system required less initial weight for trip times as low as 550 days with alpha equal to 10 and as low as 400 days with alpha equal to 5 pounds per kilowatt. Further weight reductions would be expected with more nearly optimum trajectories.

Moeckel, W. E.↗

FUSE Observations of Galactic and LMC Novae in Outburst

This document is a collection of five abstracts from papers written on the 'FUSE Observations of Galactic and LMC Novae in Outburst'. The titles are the following: (1) Analyzing FUSE Observations of Galactic and LMC Novae; (2) Detailed NLTE Model Atmospheres for Novae during Outburst: Modeling Optical and Ultraviolet Observations for Nova LMC 1988; (3) Numerical Solution of the Expanding Stellar Atmosphere Problem; (4) A Non-LTE Line-Blanketed Expanding Atmosphere Model for A-supergiant Alpha Cygni; and (5) Non-LTE Model Atmosphere Analysis of the Early Ultraviolet Spectra of Nova Andromedae 1986. A list of journal publications is also included.

Huschildt, P. H.↗

Monte Carlo track structure for radiation biology and space applications

Over the past two decades event by event Monte Carlo track structure codes have increasingly been used for biophysical modelling and radiotherapy. Advent of these codes has helped to shed light on many aspects of microdosimetry and mechanism of damage by ionising radiation in the cell. These codes have continuously been modified to include new improved cross sections and computational techniques. This paper provides a summary of input data for ionizations, excitations and elastic scattering cross sections for event by event Monte Carlo track structure simulations for electrons and ions in the form of parametric equations, which makes it easy to reproduce the data. Stopping power and radial distribution of dose are presented for ions and compared with experimental data. A model is described for simulation of full slowing down of proton tracks in water in the range 1 keV to 1 MeV. Modelling and calculations are presented for the response of a TEPC proportional counter irradiated with 5 MeV alpha-particles. Distributions are presented for the wall and wall-less counters. Data shows contribution of indirect effects to the lineal energy distribution for the wall counters responses even at such a low ion energy.

NASA Center JSC↗

Weighing the Low-Redshift Lyman-alpha Forest

In 2003-2004, our FUSE research group prepared several major surveys of the amount of baryonic matter in the intergalactic medium (IGM), using the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite. These surveys include measurements of the Lyman-alpha absorption line of neutral hydrogen (H I), the far-ultraviolet (1032,1038 Angstrom) doublet of highly ionized oxygen ( O VI), the higher Lyman-series lines (Ly-beta, Ly-gamma, etc) of H I, and the 977 Angstrom line of c III. As an overview, our FUSE spectroscopic studies, taken together with data from the Hubble Space Telescope, show that approximately 30% of the normal matter is contained in intergalactic hydrogen gas clouds (the Lyman-alpha forest). Another 5-10% resides in hotter gas at temperatures of 10(exp 5) to 10(exp 6) K, visible in 0 VI and C III absorption. Along with the matter attributed to galaxies, we have now accounted for approximately HALF of all the baryonic matter in the universe. Where is the other half? That matter my exist in even hotter gas, invisible through the ultraviolet absorption lines, but perhaps detectable through X-ray absorption lines of more highly ionized oxygen and neon.

Shull, Mike↗

Six Decades of Flight Research: Dryden Flight Research Center, 1946 - 2006 [DVD]

This DVD contains an introduction by Center Director Kevin Peterson, two videos on the history of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and a bibliography of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center publications from 1946 through 2006. The NASA Dryden 60th Anniversary Summary Documentary video is narrated by Michael Dorn and give a brief history of Dryden. The Six Decades of Flight Research at NASA Dryden lasts approximately 75 minutes and is broken up in six decades: 1. The Early X-Plane Era; 2. The X-15 Era; 3. The Lifting Body Era; 4. The Space Shuttle Era; 5. The High Alpha and Thrust Vectoring Era; and 6. The technology Demonstration Era. The bibliography provides citations for NASA Technical Reports and Conference Papers, Tech Briefs, Contractor Reports, UCLA Flight Systems Research Center publications and Dryden videos. Finally, a link is provided to the NASA Dryden Gallery that features video clips and photos of the many unique aircraft flown at NASA Dryden and its predecessor organizations.

Fisher, David F.↗

Global Comparison of CFD and Wind-Tunnel-Derived Force and Moment Databases for the Space Launch System

Recently a very large (739 runs) collection of high-fidelity RANS CFD solutions was obtained for Space Launch System ascent aerodynamics for the vehicle to be used for the first exploratory (unmanned) mission (EM-1). The extensive computations, at full-scale conditions, were originally developed to obtain detailed line and protuberance loads and surface pressures for venting analyses. The line loads were eventually integrated for comparison of the resulting forces and moments to the database that was derived from wind tunnel tests conducted at sub-scale conditions. The comparisons presented herein cover the ranges 0.5 < or = M(infinity) < or = 5, −6deg < or = alpha < or = 6deg, and −6deg < or = beta < or = 6deg. For detailed comparisons, slender-body-theory-based component build-up aero models from missile aerodynamics are used. The differences in the model fit coefficients are shown to be relatively small except for the low supersonic Mach number range, 1.1 < or = M(infinity) < or = 2.0. The analysis is intended to support process improvement and development of uncertainty models.

Hemsch, Michael J.↗

RGS Observations of Ejecta Knots in Tycho's Supernova Remnant

We present results from XMM-Newton/RGS observations of prominent knots in the southest portion of Tycho's supernova remnant, known to be the remnant of a Type Ia SN in 1572 C.E. By dispersing the photons from these knots out of the remnant with very little emission in front of or behind them, we obtained the nearly uncontaminated spectra of the knots. In the southernmost knot, the RGS successfully resolved numerous emission lines from Si, Ne, O He-alpha and Ly-alpha, and Fe L-shell. This is the first clear detection of O lines in Tycho's SNR. Line broadening was measured to be ~ 3 eV for the O He-alpha and ~ 4:5 eV for Fe L lines. If we attribute the broadening to pure thermal Doppler effects, then we obtain kTO and kTFe to be ~ 400 keV and 1.5 MeV, respectively. These temperatures can be explained by heating in a reverse shock with a shock velocity of ~ 3500 km/s. The abundances obtained from fitting the RGS and MOS data together imply substantially elevated amounts of these materials, confi rming previous studies that the knots are heated by a reverse shock, and thus contain ejecta material from the supernova. We are unable to fi nd a Type Ia explosion model that reproduces these abundances, but this is likely the result of this knot being too small to extrapolate to the entire remnant.

Brian J. Williams↗

On capturing the grain-scale elastic and plastic anisotropy of alpha-Ti with spherical nanoindentation and electron back-scattered diffraction

Here, spherical nanoindentation combined with electron back-scattered diffraction has been employed to characterize the grain-scale elastic and plastic anisotropy of single crystal alpha-Ti of two different compositions (in two different titanium alloys). Data analyses protocols needed to reliably extract the desired properties of interest are extended and demonstrated in this paper. Specifically, the grain-scale mechanical response is extracted in the form of indentation stress-strain curves for commercially pure (CP-Ti) alpha-Ti and alloyed (Ti-64) titanium from measurements on polycrystalline samples. The results are compared with responses of single crystals and nanoindentation tests (hardness and modulus) from the literature, and the measured indentation moduli are validated using crystal-elastic finite element simulations. The results obtained in this study show that (i) it is possible to characterize reliably the elastic and plastic anisotropy of alpha-Ti (hcp) of varying alloying contents with spherical nanoindentation stress-strain curves, (ii) the indentation modulus of alpha-Ti-64 is 5–10% less than CP-Ti, and (iii) the indentation yield strength of alpha-Ti-64 is 50–80% higher than CP-Ti.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The Mariner 5 ultraviolet photometer experiment - Analysis of hydrogen Lyman alpha data

Lyman alpha measurements of the Venus exosphere made by the Mariner-5 ultraviolet photometer on Oct. 19, 1967 are analyzed. The radiative-transfer exospheric model deduced from this analysis is highly asymmetrical with the exospheric temperature varying from 275 K on the day side to 150 K on the night side. The exobase density is 2 x 10 to 5/cu cm on the day side and at the terminator and probably increases toward the dark limb. A hot component was observed in the exosphere which is characterized by models with exospheric temperatures of 1000 K, 1500 K and 1130 K respectively. The column densities calculated from these hot models indicate an increase in abundance from bright limb to dark limb, and then a decrease downwind of Venus.

Anderson, D. E., Jr.↗

EVOLUTION OF THE HIGH-MASS END OF THE STELLAR INITIAL MASS FUNCTIONS IN STARBURST GALAXIES

We investigate the time evolution and spatial variation of the stellar initial mass function (IMF) in star-forming disk galaxies by using chemodynamical simulations with an IMF model depending both on local densities and metallicities ([Fe/H]) of the interstellar medium (ISM). We find that the slope ({alpha}) of a power-law IMF (N(m){proportional_to}m {sup -{alpha}}) for stellar masses larger than 1 M{sub Sun} evolves from the canonical Salpeter IMF ({alpha} Almost-Equal-To 2.35) to be moderately top-heavy one ({alpha} Almost-Equal-To 1.9) in the simulated disk galaxies with starbursts triggered by galaxy interaction. We also find that {alpha} in star-forming regions correlates with star formation rate densities ({Sigma}{sub SFR} in units of M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1} kpc{sup -2}). Feedback effects of Type Ia and II supernovae are found to prevent IMFs from being too top-heavy ({alpha} < 1.5). The simulation predicts {alpha} Almost-Equal-To 0.23log {Sigma}{sub SFR} + 1.7 for log {Sigma}{sub SFR} {>=} -2 (i.e., more top-heavy in higher {Sigma}{sub SFR}), which is reasonably consistent with corresponding recent observational results. The present study also predicts that inner regions of starburst disk galaxies have smaller {alpha} and thus are more top-heavy (d{alpha}/dR {approx} 0.07 kpc{sup -1} for R {<=} 5 kpc). The predicted radial {alpha} gradient can be tested against future observational studies of the {alpha} variation in star-forming galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Coordination of Anle138b to Silver Results in Selective Reduction of a C-terminal truncated Alpha-synuclein Protein and Increased Aggregate Size

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a prevalent age-related neurodegenerative syndrome, partially thought to be caused by a decrease in alpha-synuclein proteostasis. Anle138b = 5-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-3-(3-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrazole (HL), is undergoing clinical trials as a promising mitigator of alpha-synuclein aggregation. Because complexation to metals is known to modulate the activity of several drugs, we have prepared and characterized: H2L(ClO4), [CuI(µ-L)]3, and [AgI(µ-L)]3. To better understand the bioviability of these compounds, we monitored their effects in a cell culture model of alpha-synuclein protein aggregation using human alpha-synuclein pre-formed fibrils (PFFs). Using two different anti-alpha-synuclein antibodies, our data suggests that [AgI(µ-L)]3 decreases a C-terminal truncated protein that is approximately 12.4 kDa, as well as increases the size and alters the shape of PFF-induced aggregates. This indicates that [AgI(µ-L)]3 impacts aggregation in a manner different from HL and may serve as a novel tool for studying C-terminal truncation related aggregation chemistry.

Rue, Kelly L.↗

Stability and stability degree of a cracked flexible rotor supported on journal bearings

This paper investigates the stability and the stability degree of a flexible cracked rotor supported on different kinds of journal bearings. It is found that no matter what kind of bearings is used, the unstable zones caused by rotor crack locate always within the speed ratio (2/N) (1 - Delta K(sub xi)/4) is less than Omega is less than 2/N when gravity parameter W(sub R) is greater than 1.0, and locate always within the speed ratio (2 Omega(sub alpha)/N) (1 - Delta K(sub xi)/4) is less than Omega is less than 2 Omega(sub alpha)/N when W(sub R) is less than 0.1, where Delta K(sub xi) is the crack stiffness ratio, N = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ..., and Omega(sub alpha) = ((1 + 2 alpha)/2 alpha)(exp 1/2). When 0.1 is less than W(sub R) is less than 1.0, there is a region where no unstable zones caused by rotor crack exist. Outside the crack ridge zones, the rotor crack has almost no influence on system's stability and stability degree; while within the crack ridge zones, the stability and stability degree depend both on the crack and system's parameters. In some cases, the system may still be stable even when the crack is very large. For small gravity parameter (W(sub R) is less than 0.1), the mass ratio alpha has large influence on the position of unstable region, but its influence on the stability degree is small. The influence of fixed Sommerfeld number S(sub 0) on the crack stability degree is small although S(sub 0) has large influence on the stability degree of uncracked rotor.

Meng, Guang↗

Light output quenching in response to deuterium-ions and alpha particles and pulse shape discrimination in deuterated trans-stilbene

We characterized the light output response of a new 140 cm 3 stilbene-d 12 crystal up to 14.1 MeV neutron energies using a coincidence neutron scattering system. We also characterized its light output response to alpha particles in the 5 to 6 MeV energy range. The excellent PSD capability of the stilbene-d 12 detector allowed us to select light pulses produced by particles of increasing ionization density, namely electrons, protons, deuterium-ions, and alpha particles. The measured fast decay component of the light pulses is increasingly quenched as the ionization density of the particle in the crystal increases. Consistently with this finding, the Birks’ quenching parameter of alpha particles is approximately 8.5 times larger compared to the quenching of deuterium ions, produced by neutron scattering interactions. The reported experimental characterization will allow high-fidelity modeling of the detector enabling its application for fast-neutron detection and spectroscopy in nuclear physics, radiation protection, nuclear security, and non-proliferation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗