High-energy radiation testing and effects on spacecraft materials outgassing
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We have evaluated the energetics of 38 solar eruptive events observed by a variety of spacecraft instruments between February 2002 and December 2006, as accurately as the observations allow. The measured energetic components include: (1) the radiated energy in the GOES 1 { 8 A band; (2) the total energy radiated from the soft X-ray (SXR) emitting plasma; (3) the peak energy in the SXR-emitting plasma; (4) the bolometric radiated energy over the full duration of the event; (5) the energy in are-accelerated electrons above 20 keV and in ions above 1 MeV; (6) the kinetic and potential energies of the coronal mass ejection (CME); (7) the energy in solar energetic particles (SEPs); and (8) the amount of free (nonpotential) magnetic energy estimated to be available in the pertinent active region. Major conclusions include: (1) the energy radiated by the SXR-emitting plasma exceeds, by about half an order of magnitude, the peak energy content of the thermal plasma that produces this radiation; (2) the energy content in are-accelerated electrons and ions is sufficient to supply the bolometric energy radiated across all wavelengths throughout the event; (3) the energy contents of are-accelerated electrons and ions are comparable; (4) the energy in SEPs is typically a few percent of the CME kinetic energy (measured in the rest frame of the solar wind); and (5) the available magnetic energy is sufficient to power the CME, the are-accelerated particles, and the hot thermal plasma.
Laser supported combustion (LSC) waves are an important ingredient in the fluid mechanics of CW laser propulsion using a hydrogen propellant and 10.6 micron lasers. Therefore, a computer model has been constructed to solve the one-dimensional energy equation with constant pressure and area. Physical processes considered include convection, conduction, absorption of laser energy, radiation energy loss, and accurate properties of equilibrium hydrogen. Calculations for 1, 3, 10 and 30 atm were made for intensities of 10 to the 4th to 10 to the 6th W/sq cm, which gave temperature profiles, wave speed, etc. To pursue the propulsion application, a second computer model was developed to describe the acceleration of the gas emerging from the LSC wave into a variable-pressure, converging streamtube, still including all the above-mentioned physical processes. The results show very high temperatures in LSC waves which absorb all the laser energy, and high radiative losses.
Calibrated measurements of lightning optical emissions are critical for both quantifying the impacts of lightning in our atmosphere and devising detection instruments with sufficient dynamic range capable of yielding close to 100% detection efficiency. However, to date, there is only a limited number of investigations that have attempted to take such calibrated measurements. Here, in this work, we report the power radiated by lightning in both visible and infrared bands, assuming isotropic emission, and accounting for atmospheric absorption. More precisely, we report peak radiated power and total radiated energy in the combined visible plus near-infrared range (VNIR, 0.34–1.1 μm), around the H α line (652–667 nm), and for the 2–2.5 μm infrared band. The estimated peak power and total energy radiated by negative cloud-to-ground return strokes in the VNIR range is 130 MW and 20 kJ, respectively. Additionally, we detected peak radiated powers of 12 and 0.19 MW in the H α and infrared bands, respectively. We cross-reference the optical data set with peak current reported by a lightning detection network. The resulting trend is that optical power emitted around the H α line scales with peak return stroke current according to a power law with exponent equal to 1.25. This trend, which should be approximately true across the entire visible spectrum, can be attributed to the plasma negative differential resistance of the lightning return stroke channel. We conclude by discussing the challenges in performing calibrated measurements of lightning optical power in different bands and comparing the results with previously-collected data with different experimental setups, observation conditions, and calibration methods.
A one-dimensional energy equation, with constant pressure and area, was used to model the LSC wave. This equation balances convection, conduction, laser energy absorption, radiation energy loss and radiation energy transport. Solutions of this energy equation were obtained to give profiles of temperature and other properties, as well as the relation between laser intensity and mass flux through the wave. The flow through the LSC wave was then conducted through a variable pressure, variable area streamtube to accelerate it to high speed, with the propulsion application in mind. A numerical method for coupling the LSC wave model to the streamtube flow was developed, and a sample calculation was performed. The result shows that 42% of the laser power has been radiated away by the time the gas reaches the throat. It was concluded that in the radially confined flows of interest for propulsion applications, transverse velocities would be less important than in the unconfined flows where air experiments have been conducted.
A multiband model for the absorption coefficient of atomic hydrogen-helium plasmas is constructed which includes continuum and line contributions. Emission from 28 stronger lines of 106 that have been screened is considered, of which 21 are from hydrogen and 7 belong to helium, with reabsorption due to line-line, line-continuum overlap accurately accounted for. The model is utilized in the computation of intensities and fluxes from shock-heated slabs of 85% H2-15% He mixtures for slab thicknesses from 1 to 30 cm, temperature from 10,000 to 20,000 K, and for different densities. In conjunction with the multiband model, simple numerical schemes have been devised which provide a quick and comprehensive way of computing radiative energy transfer in nonisothermal and nongrey gases.
- High energy radiation environments responsible for radiation damage to thick materials are well characterized and modeled: - Galactic cosmic rays — Badhwar-O’Neil 2020, CREME96, Nymmik - Solar particle events — Emission of Solar Protons, SAPPHIRE, JPL, King 1972 - Trapped radiation belts — AE8/AP8, AE9/AP9/IRENE - Low energy radiation environments responsible for radiation damage to thin materials relevant to Lagrange points and interplanetary missions have not been treated as comprehensively to date: - Solar wind - Magnetosheath - Magnetotail - Concern to spacecraft design and operations is radiation damage to surfaces and thin materials with mission critical applications on exterior of spacecraft - Applications: thermal control coatings, sunshields, multilayer insulation, optical thin film coatings, solar sails, thermo-optical properties of space exposed materials - Damage processes: radiation degradation (total dose), light ion sputtering, proton blistering of soft metals, modification of optical properties (α/ε), modification of charging properties (SEY, surface conductivity)
Radiation sickness in mammals and relative biological effect of high energy protons
Course of radiation sickness in proton irradiated mice
Energy spectra of carbon and oxygen nuclei in primary cosmic radiation, comparing results to earlier measurements and satellite observation
Radiative heating rates computed with cloud properties derived from passive and active sensors are investigated. Zonal monthly radiative heating rate anomalies computed using both active and passive sensors show that larger variability in longwave cooling exists near the tropical tropopause and near the top of the boundary layer between ~50°N to ~50°S. Aerosol variability contributes to increases in shortwave heating rate variability. When zonal monthly mean cloud effects on the radiative heating rate computed with both active and passive sensors and those computed with passive sensor only are compared, the latter shows cooling and heating peaks corresponding to cloud top and base height ranges used for separating cloud types. The difference of these two sets of cloud radiative effect on heating rates in the middle to upper troposphere is larger than the radiative heating rate uncertainty estimated based on the difference of two active sensor radiative heating rate profile data products. In addition, radiative heating rate contribution to generation of eddy available potential energy is also investigated. Although radiation contribution to generation of eddy available potential energy averaged over a year and the entire globe is small, radiation increases the eddy available potential energy in the northern hemisphere during summer. Two key elements that longwave radiation contribute to the generation of eddy potential energy are (1) longitudinal temperature gradient in the atmosphere associated with land and ocean surface temperatures contrasts and absorption of longwave radiation emitted by the surface and (2) cooling near the cloud top of stratocumulus clouds.