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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

Calculation of the lunar photon albedo from galactic and solar proton bombardment.

The lunar photon albedo due to cosmogenic and primordial photon sources has been calculated. The individual photon leakage spectra from prompt photons produced by galactic cosmic ray (GCR) and solar cosmic ray (SCR) induced nuclear interactions, from the decay of GCR- and SCR-induced radionuclides, and from the decay of naturally occurring radionuclides are given. An approximate estimate of the leakage from the photon-electron cascade initiated by the decay of neutral pions is also given. Monte Carlo methods have been used to determine the nucleon-meson cascade, and discrete-ordinates methods were used for the photon and low-energy neutron transport.

Armstrong, T. W.↗

Primary cosmic ray electrons above 10 GeV: Evidence for a spectral break

A balloon borne measurement of the cosmic ray electron spectrum from 10 to 200 GeV is reported in which two new techniques have been used to remove proton background contamination. First, the depth of the spectrometer was more than 25 radiation lengths, the equivalent of more than 2 mean free paths of material, enabling hadronically and electromagnetically induced cascades to be differentiated for a subset of the data. Second, electromagnetic cascade starting points were determined to within + or - 0.1 radiation lengths based upon a calibration with electrons from 5.4 to 18 GeV at the Stanford Linear Accelerator, greatly reducing the chances for a proton to simulate an electron. The resulting spectrum, when fitted with a power law, is quite steep, -3.2 + or - 0.1, but the chi-square fit is marginal. A significantly better fit is achieved assuming a transition region model in which the source spectral index is 2.7 with a break occurring at about 50 GeV.

Silverberg, R. F.↗

Approximations for neutron emission spectra from proton collisions between 20 and 500 MeV on nuclei of A greater than or equal to 12

When high energy protons from solar proton events or trapped radiation belts impinge on spacecraft structures, secondary particles are emitted. The most pernicious secondaries, from either a biological or physical standpoint, are the cascade and evaporation neutrons because of their reaction with matter leading to radioactive materials in the spacecraft structures. Empirically determined cascade and evaporation neutron emission spectra for protons of energy between 20 and 500 MeV incident on all materials at or above carbon in mass number are presented.

Burrell, M. O.↗

The IR emission spectrum of N2 excited under auroral conditions.

Recently determined experimental and theoretical cross sections for electron impact excitation of six triplet states of N2 (A, B, W, C, E, D) have been utilized to predict the absolute IR volume emission rates from N2 under nighttime auroral conditions. Secondary electron fluxes appropriate to an IBC II normal aurora were used in the calculations. The cascade contributions coupling the various electronic states were included as well as the most important quenching processes. The results indicate that the B yields reversibly A and W yields reversibly B cascade processes, which are important in the population of the A, B, and W states, produce appreciable radiation in the 1- to 5-micron wavelength region.

Cartwright, D. C.↗

New technology in turbine aerodynamics.

Cursory review of some recent work that has been done in turbine aerodynamic research. Topics discussed include the aerodynamic effect of turbine coolant, high work-factor (ratio of stage work to square of blade speed) turbines, and computer methods for turbine design and performance prediction. Experimental cooled-turbine aerodynamics programs using two-dimensional cascades, full annular cascades, and cold rotating turbine stage tests are discussed with some typical results presented. Analytically predicted results for cooled blade performance are compared to experimental results. The problems and some of the current programs associated with the use of very high work factors for fan-drive turbines of high-bypass-ratio engines are discussed. Computer programs have been developed for turbine design-point performance, off-design performance, supersonic blade profile design, and the calculation of channel velocities for subsonic and transonic flowfields. The use of these programs for the design and analysis of axial and radial turbines is discussed.

Glassman, A. J.↗

Estimation of deviation angle for axial-flow compressor blade sections using inviscid-flow solutions

Development of a method of estimating deviation angles by analytical procedures was begun. Solutions for inviscid, irrotational flow in the blade-to-blade plane were obtained with a finite-difference calculation method. Deviation angles for a plane cascade with a rounded trailing edge were estimated by using the inviscid-flow solutions and three trailing-edge hypotheses. The estimated deviation angles were compared with existing experimental data over a range of incidence angles at inlet flow angles of 30 deg and 60 deg. The results indicate that deviation angles can be estimated accurately (within 1 deg) by using one of the three trailing-edge hypotheses, but only when pressure losses are low. A new trailing-edge hypotheses is presented which is suitable (for the cascade considered) for both low- and high-loss operating points.

Miller, M. J.↗

High isolation RF signal selection switches

A selection switch with high isolation between RF signal input terminals is achieved with a gated Schmitt trigger circuit feeding into a control NAND gate in each signal switching channel. The control NAND gates of the separate signal channels are coupled to an output terminal by a single NAND gate. The schmitt trigger circuits and all gates are implemented with Schottky transistor-transistor logic circuits having input clamping diodes. Each Schmitt trigger circuit includes two cascaded NAND gates and a feedback isolation Schottky diode between one input terminal connected to receive an RF input and another input terminal connected to receive a feedback signal from the second of the two cascaded NAND gates. Both NAND gates of the Schmitt trigger circuits are enabled by the same switch control signal which enables the control gates.

Hanna, M. F.↗

Primary cosmic ray electrons above 10 GeV - Measurements using a thick detector

A balloon-borne measurement of the cosmic ray electron spectrum from 10 to 200 GeV is reported in which two new techniques have been used to remove proton background contamination. First, the depth of the spectrometer was more than 40 radiation lengths, the equivalent of more than 3 mean free paths of material, enabling hadronically and electromagnetically induced cascades to be differentiated for a subset of the data. Second, electromagnetic cascade starting points were determined to within plus or minus 0.1 radiation lengths on the basis of a calibration with electrons from 5.4 to 18 GeV at the Stanford Linear Accelerator, greatly reducing the chances for a proton to simulate an electron. The resulting spectrum, when fitted with a power law, is quite steep, -3.2 plus or minus 0.1, but the fit to a power law is marginal.

Silverberg, R. F.↗

The shape of the primary cosmic ray electron spectrum above 10 GeV

A balloon borne measurement of the cosmic ray electron spectrum above 10 GeV is reported in which two new techniques have been used to remove proton background contamination. First, the depth of the spectrometer on one of the flights was more than 40 radiation lengths, enabling hadronically and electromagnetically induced cascades to be differentiated for a subset of the data. Second, electromagnetic cascade starting points were determined to within about 0.1 radiation lengths based upon a calibration with electrons from 5.4 to 18 GeV at the Stanford Linear Accelerator. The resulting spectrum, when fitted with a power law, is steep, but the fit is marginal. A significantly better fit is achieved by assuming a model in which the spectrum is steepening in the measured region.

Silverberg, R. F.↗

On the theory of H2 rotational excitation

A number of mechanisms for exciting higher-J states in the ground vibrational level are considered. Attention is given to collisions with H atoms and electrons. Other mechanisms involve a cascading down from upper vibrational levels, following absorption and reemission of photons in the Lyman and Werner bands, or a cascading down from upper vibrational levels, following formation of hydrogen molecules in excited vibrational and rotational levels. Theoretical population densities of rotational levels are shown in a graph.

Spitzer, L., Jr.↗

Method of predicting radiation heat transfer in turbine cooling test facilities

A method is presented for calculating the average net radiation heat flux to turbine vanes and blades. The net radiation heat flux at a vane leading edge calculated by this method was compared with heat flux values independently determined from experimental tests on a vane in a cascade. The spectral emissivities of the turbine vane and the cascade wall were also measured.

Gladden, H. J.↗

Noncompact source effect on the prediction of tone noise from a fan rotor

A comparison is made between the conventional compact source prediction for airfoil sound radiation and the rigorous prediction based on distributed sources along the airfoil chord. The theoretical analysis performed is for a single airfoil and cascaded airfoils immersed in a sinusoidally varying convected gust field. The pressure field around a single airfoil in supersonic gust flows is also studied. In subsonic flows the phase change of unsteady lift along the chord of a single airfoil reduces the sound radiation significantly in the upstream direction and increases the downstream radiation compared to the compact source prediction. In supersonic flows the compact source prediction gives substantial error in the region just behind the Mach wedge originating from the leading edge, while it approaches the noncompact source results far downstream from the airfoil. In the case of cascaded airfoils the compact source prediction overestimates the upstream radiation by as much as 20 dB depending on frequency and interblade phase.

Kaji, S.↗

Gamma ray pulsars

Recent data from the high energy gamma ray experiment have revealed the existence of four pulsars emitting photons above 35 MeV. An attempt is made to explain the gamma ray emission from these pulsars in terms of an electron-photon cascade that develops in the magnetosphere of the pulsar. Although there is very little material above the surface of the pulsar, the very intense magnetic fields correspond to many radiation lengths which cause electrons to emit photons via magnetic bremsstrahlung and these photons to pair produce. The cascade develops until the mean photon energy drops below the pair production threshold which happens to be in the gamma ray range; at this stage the photons break out from the source.

Oegelman, H.↗

The numerical prediction of tornadic windstorms

Rather than treating localized severe weather events as being purely statistical in nature, a mathematical framework was developed based on the concept of a deterministic cascade of energy-momentum which bridges the gap between the longest and shortest of atmospheric wave phenomena. This cascade relieves macroscale wavelengths ( 1000 km) of mass-momentum imbalances by exciting convective phenomena ( 10 km) through a sophisticated transfer process involving intermediate, mesoscale wavelengths.

Paine, D. A.↗

Gamma ray pulsars

Data from the SAS-2 high-energy gamma-ray experiment reveal the existence of four pulsars emitting photons above 35 MeV. An attempt is made to explain the gamma-ray emission from these pulsars in terms of an electron-photon cascade that develops in the magnetosphere of the pulsar. Although there is very little material above the surface of the pulsar, the very intense magnetic fields (10 to the 12th power gauss) correspond to many radiation lengths which cause electrons to emit photons by magnetic bremsstrahlung and which cause these photons to pair-produce. The cascade develops until the mean photon energy drops below the pair-production threshold which is in the gamma-ray range; at this stage, the photons break out from the source.

Oegelman, H.↗

Phenomenological model of nuclear primary air showers

The development of proton primary air showers is described in terms of a model based on a hadron core plus an electromagnetic cascade. The muon component is neglected. The model uses three parameters: a rate at which hadron core energy is converted into electromagnetic cascade energy and a two-parameter sea-level shower-age function. By assuming an interaction length for the primary nucleus, the model is extended to nuclear primaries. Both models are applied over the energy range from 10 to the 13th power to 10 to the 21st power eV. Both models describe the size and age structure (neglecting muons) from a depth of 342 to 2052 g/sq cm.

Tompkins, D. R., Jr.↗

A study of axial compressor blade optimization for operation in the low Reynolds number regime

Original and previously published experimental data is presented in this study of axial compressor blade optimization for use in the subcritical Reynolds number region. Three methods of increasing cascade performance at these low Rc are presented, discussed, and compared: (1) use of sharp-leading-edge profiles, (2) trip wires or roughness elements, and (3) high free-stream turbulence. The original data was collected in the VKI C-1 cascade wind tunnel; during these tests blade chord Reynolds number was varied from 250,000 down to about 17,000. Each technique demonstrated an increase in low Reynolds number (based on chord) performance for certain profiles, with the sharp-leading-edge profile as the potential optimum. Axial compressors or pumps that must operate for a significant amount of their design life under low Reynolds number conditions might benefit substantially from these methods.

Roberts, W. B.↗

Implications of Navier-Stokes turbulence theory for plasma turbulence

Plasma turbulence is considered within the framework of the Navier-Stokes turbulence theory. Two-dimensional turbulence is discussed, noting inverse cascades, and compared to three-dimensional turbulence. MHD turbulence is described with reference to applications of the Navier-Stokes theory and the possibility of inverse magnetic cascades. Turbulence in Vlasov plasmas is outlined on the basis of the direct interaction approximation developed for Navier-Stokes fluids (Kraichnan, 1958-1959).

Montgomery, D.↗