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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 109 records · Page 6
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1983

New absolute spectroscopic measurement of the solar equatorial rotation rate

An atomic-beam resonance-scattering technique applied to the 7699 A solar potassium absorption line is used to make an absolute spectroscopic determination of the solar equatorial rotation rate. This is believed to be a new method which has not previously been used for studying solar rotation. The measurements were made during 1979-82, initially with a permanent apparatus at Oberlin College and more recently with a portable apparatus installed at the Snow Telescope on Mt. Wilson. After carefully allowing for possible systematic errors, it is concluded that the solar sidereal equatorial rotation rate is 13.8 + or - 0.3 deg/day and that it has not varied significantly over the period of these observations.

Snider, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Atomic hydrogen maser active oscillator cavity and bulb design optimization

The performance characteristics and reliability of the active oscillator atomic hydrogen maser depend upon oscillation parameters which characterize the interaction region of the maser, the resonant cavity and atom storage bulb assembly. With particular attention to use of the cavity frequency switching servo (1) to reduce cavity pulling, it is important to maintain high oscillation level, high atomic beam flux utilization efficiency, small spin exchange parameter and high cavity quality factor. It is also desirable to have a small and rigid cavity and bulb structure and to minimize the cavity temperature sensitivity. Curves for a novel hydrogen maser cavity configuration which is partially loaded with a quartz dielectric cylinder and show the relationships between cavity length, cavity diameter, bulb size, dielectric thickness, cavity quality factor, filling factor and cavity frequency temperature coefficient are presented. The results are discussed in terms of improvement in maser performance resulting from particular design choices.

Peters, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

An experimental investigation of cusped magnetic field discharge chambers

Several features of a proposed model of ion thruster performance are tested experimentally. The experiment conducted demonstrates the effects of variation in thruster operating parameters on the average plasma ion energy costs and extracted ion fractions of various ring and line cusp discharge chambers. The results indicate that the model correctly predicts the variation in the plasma ion energy cost resulting from changes in: propellant gas, grid transparency to neutral atoms, beam extraction area, and discharge voltage. In addition, the model is shown to be applicable to both ring and line cusp designs. Measurements of the extracted ion fraction indicate that this parameter tends to increase with decreasing discharge voltage and is generally higher for operation with argon as opposed to krypton propellant. Results suggest that to use the proposed thruster performance model as an aid in thruster design the performance may be described in terms of four thruster configuration dependent constants and two operating parameters.

Brophy, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Hypervelocity atomic oxygen source for the study of atom-surface interactions

Planned improvements in an electric discharge heated atomic oxygen beam source are described which will provide 6 to 7 kms(-1) beams of atomic oxygen with a flux of 10(16) cm(-2) s(-1) at 50 cm distance from the source aperture. A major advance will be the use of a zone of silence nozzle-skimmer arrangement which is necessitated by the need for high source flux and performance. It is anticipated that a Phase 2 program would provide for the fabrication of a two stage vacuum system which would be suitable for bolting on to a UHV (ultrahigh vacuum) surface study apparatus.

Freedman, A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Electron-Photon Coincidence Calibration Of Photon Detectors

Absolute and relative detector efficiencies measured. Apparatus uses coincidence-counting techniques to measure efficiency of ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet detector at very low radiation intensity. Crossed electron and atomic beams generate photons used to calibrate photon detector. Pulses from electron counter and photon detector(s) processed by standard coincidence-counting techniques. Used to calibrate other detectors or make absolute measurements of incident photon fluxes.

Srivastava, Santosh K.↗
NASA NTRS1986

High intensity 5 eV O-atom exposure facility for material degradation studies

An atomic oxygen exposure facility was developed for studies of material degradation. The goal of these studies is to provide design criteria and information for the manufacture of long life (20 to 30 years) construction materials for use in low Earth orbit. The studies that are being undertaken will provide: (1) absolute reaction cross sections for the engineering design problems, (2) formulations of reaction mechanisms for use in the selection of suitable existing materials and the design of new more resistant ones, and (3) the calibration of flight hardware (mass spectrometers, etc.) in order to directly relate experiments performed in low Earth orbit to ground based investigations. The facility consists of a CW laser sustained discharge source of O-atoms, an atomic beam formation and diagnostics system, a spinning rotor viscometer, and provision for using the system for calibration of actual flight instruments.

Cross, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Tensile and creep rupture behavior of P/M processed Nb-base alloy, WC-3009

Due to its high strength at temperatures up to 1600 K, fabrication of niobium base alloy WC-3009 (Nb30Hf9W) by traditional methods is difficult. Powder metallurgy (P/M) processing offers an attractive fabrication alternative for this high strength alloy. Spherical powders of WC-3009 produced by electron beam atomizing (EBA) process were successfully consolidated into a one inch diameter rod by vacuum hot pressing and swaging techniques. Tensile strength of the fully dense P/M material at 300-1590 K were similar to the arc-melted material. Creep rupture tests in vacuum indicated that WC-3009 exhibits a class 1 solid solution (glide controlled) creep behavior in the 1480 to 1590 K temperature range and stress range of 14 to 70 MPa. The creep behavior was correlated with temperature and stress using a power law relationship. The calculated stress exponent n, was about 3.2 and the apparent activation energy, Q, was about 270 kJ/mol. The large creep ductility exhibited by WC-3009 was attributed to its high strain rate sensitivity.

Hebsur, Mohan G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Atomic oxygen effects on spacecraft materials: The state of the art of our knowledge

In the flight materials exposure data base extensive quantitative data is available from limited exposures in a narrow range of orbital environments. More data is needed in a wider range of environments as well as longer exposure times. Synergistic effects with other environmental factors; polar orbit and higher altitude environments; and real time materials degradation data is needed to understand degradation kinetics and mechanism. Almost no laboratory data exists from high fidelity simulations of the LEO environment. Simulation and test system are under development, and the data base is scanty. Theoretical understanding of hyperthermal atom surface reactions in the LEO environment is not good enough to support development of reliable accelerated test methods. The laser sustained discharge, atom beam sources are the most promising high fidelity simulation-test systems at this time.

Koontz, Steven L.↗
NASA NTRS1991

LDEF attitude measurement using a pinhole camera with a silver/oxygen atom detector

A small device designed to measure the orbital attitude stability of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft is examined. The device used the reaction of Ag with O atoms, which convert the metal to a nonconducting black appearing oxide with high efficiency. The atmosphere at LDEF altitudes consists of more than 90 pct. atomic O. The device is a small hemispheric Ag surface facing a pinhole in a metal plate on the front surface of the satellite. It was expected that the stream of O atoms, travelling at a relatively velocity of 8 km/s would pass through the pinhole and strike the Ag surface at the geometric center, producing a circular black spot. In fact, the position of the spot has clearly shown that the LDEF was rotated by 8.0 + or - 0.4 deg from its nominal attitude, but that it was remarkably stable about this offset. The ellipticity of the recorded spot was attributed to a yaw oscillation of + or - 0.2 deg, however it was previously noted, that the co-rotation of the Earth's atmosphere should produce a sweeping of the atom beam vector of ca. + or - 1.5 deg about the surface normal. Such an effect was not visible in this experiment.

Gregory, John C.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Precise laser frequency scanning using frequency-synthesized optical frequency sidebands - Application to isotope shifts and hyperfine structure of mercury

Based on an efficient broadband electrooptic modulator producing RF optical sidebands locked to a stable cavity, a tunable dye laser can be scanned under computer control with frequency-synthesizer precision. Cavity drift is suppressed in software by using a strong feature in the spectrum for stabilization. Mercury isotope shifts are measured with a reproducibility of about 50 kHz. This accuracy of about 1/300 of the linewidth illustrates the power of the technique. Derived hyperfine-structure constants are compared with previous atomic-beam data.

Rayman, M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Fast oxygen atom facility for studies related to low earth orbit activities

The operating principles and characteristics of an 8 km/s oxygen atom beam source are described. The source has been used for many applications relevant to low earth orbit (LEO) including both gas/surface and gas/gas interactions. Representative data from these activities are provided.

Caledonia, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Mechanistic investigations of shuttle glow

A series of laboratory measurements have been performed in order to provide a mechanistic interpretation for the visible shuttle glow. These studies involved interactions of an 8 km/s oxygen atom beam with both contaminant dosed surfaces and gaseous targets. We conclude that visible shuttle glow arises from surface mediated O + NO recombination via a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism and that the gas-phase exchange reaction O + N2 - NO + N provides a viable source of precursor NO above surfaces oriented in the ram direction.

Caledonia, G. E.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Radiative lifetimes in B I using ultraviolet and vacuum-ultraviolet laser-induced fluorescence

Radiative lifetimes of the eight lowest even parity levels in the doublet system of B I are measured using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence in the UV and VUV on an atomic beam of boron. The accurate lifetimes provide a base for improved determination of absolute transition probabilities in B I. The techniques described are broadly applicable to measurement of lifetimes of levels with transitions in the visible, UV, and VUV in almost any element.

O'Brian, T. R.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Enhanced Glow Discharge Production of Oxygen

Studies starting in late seventies have shown Mars atmosphere can be used as a feedstock for oxygen production using simple chemical processing systems during early phases of the Mars exploration program. This approach has been recognized as one of the most important in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) concepts for enabling future round trip Mars missions. It was determined a decade ago that separation of oxygen can be accomplished efficiently by permeation through a silver membrane at temperatures well below 1000 K. This process involves adsorption of atomic oxygen on the surface and its subsequent diffusion through a silver lattice via an oxygen concentration gradient. We have determined recently that glow discharge can be used to liberate atomic oxygen from Mars atmosphere and that the oxygen can be collected through a silver permeation membrane. Recently, we demonstrated a substantial increase in energy efficiency of the process by applying a radio frequency discharge in combination with a silver permeation membrane. The experiments were performed using pure carbon dioxide in the pressure range equal to Mars surface conditions. Energy efficiency was defined as the ratio of the energy required to dissociate a unit mass of oxygen from carbon dioxide to the (electrical) energy consumed by the overall system during the dissociation and collection process. The research effort, started at NASA Langley Research Center, continued with this project. Oxygen production apparatus, built and operated under the research grant NAG1-1140 was relocated to the Atomic Beams Laboratory at ODU in July 1996, being since then in fall operation.

Ash, Robert↗
NASA NTRS1959

Interactions Between Ground-State Nitrogen Atoms and Molecules

Potential-energy curves for nitrogen atom (N-N) interactions corresponding to the X (1)Sigma(sup +, sub g), A (3)Sigma(sup +, sub u), (5)Sigma(sup +, sub g), (7)Sigma(sup +, sub u), B (3) Pi(sub g), C (3)(Pi(su u)and a (1)Pi(sub g) states of the nitrogen molecule N2 as well as curves for the atom-molecules (N-N2) and molecule-molecule (N2-N2) interactions have been calculated. All calculations have been based as nearly as possible on experimental data, including spectroscopically determined vibrational energy levels, scattering cross sections of atomic beams in gases, and measured vibrational relaxation times. In cases where experimental data were not available, approximate quantum-mechanical calculations have been made. Results obtained by these various methods are remarkably consistent with one another and are believed to have good accuracy.

Vanderslice, Joseph T.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Small Vacuum Compatible Hyperthermal Atom Generator

A vacuum compatible hyperthermal atom generator includes a membrane having two sides. the membrane having the capability of dissolving atoms into the membrane's bulk. A first housing is furnished in operative association with the first side of the membrane to provide for the exposure of the first side of the membrane to a gas species. A second housing is furnished in operative association with the second side of the membrane to provide a vacuum environment having a pressure of less than 1 x 10(exp -3) Torr on the second side of the membrane. Exciting means excites atoms adsorbed on the second side of the membrane to a non-binding state so that a portion from 0% to 100% of atoms adsorbed on the second side of is the membrane are released from the second side of the membrane primarily as an atom beam.

Outlaw, Ronald A.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Small Mercury Ion Clock for On-board Spacecraft Navigation

I.Small Ion Clock Approach and Heritage: a) No lasers, uwave cavities, cryogenics, atomic beams, etc. b) Ions are electrically shuttled between separate optical and microwave traps. II. Each trap is optimized for its task: quadrupole for optical state selection; multi-pole for microwave clock. a) Very good stability shown in USNO. Timescale running "open loop." III. "Open loop" operation means no self-measurements of frequency offsets: (Zeeman, ion temperature,... etc.) a) Fewer parts and procedures, produces stable output continuously. IV. Ion clock is not so sensitive to temperature fluctuations a) Measured u:nshielded temperature coefficient of few 10(exp -15) per C. b) No bulky temperature isolation needed.

Prestage, John D.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Complementarity Probably Survives Challenge

In their Nature article of Sept. 3rd, S. Durr et al. report the results of an experiment involving the recombination of two quantum atomic beams.

Complementarity Heisenberg uncertainty principle i↗