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At least 1,099 records · Page 61

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NASA NTRS1981

EBIC/TEM investigations of defects in solar silicon ribbon materials

Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the defect structure of edge defined film growth (EFG) material, web dentritic ribbons (WEB), and ribbon to ribbon recrystallized material (RTR). The most common defects in all these materials are coherent first order twin boundaries. These coherent twins can be very thin, a few atomic layers. Bundles of the twins which contain odd numbers of twins will in optical images appear as a seemingly single first twin boundary. First-order coherent twin boundaries are not electrically active, except at locations where they contain intrinsic (grain boundary) dislocations. These dislocations take up small deviations from the ideal twin relation and play the same role in twin boundaries as conventional and play the some role in twin boundaries as conventional edge and screw dislocations in small angle tilt and twist boundaries.

Ast, D. G.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Acoustic noise generation by the DOE/NASA MOD-1 wind turbine

The results of a series of measurements taken over the past year of the acoustic emissions from the DOE/NASA MOD-1 Wind Turbine show the maximum acoustic energy is concentrated in the low frequency range, often below 100 Hz. The temporal as well as the frequency characteristics of the turbine sounds have been shown to be important since the MOD-1 is capable of radiating both coherent and incoherent noise. The coherent sounds are usually impulsive and are manifested in an averaged frequency domain plot as large numbers of discrete energy bands extending from the blade passage frequency to beyond 50 Hz on occasion. It is these impulsive sounds which are identified as the principal source of the annoyance to a dozen families living within 3 km of the turbine. The source of the coherent noise appears to be the rapid, unsteady blade loads encountered as the blade passes through the wake of the tower structure. Annoying levels are occasionally reached at nearby homes due to the interaction of the low frequency, high energy peaks in the acoustic impulses and the structural modes of the homes as well as by direct radiation outdoors. The peak levels of these impulses can be enhanced or subdued through complete propagation.

Kelley, N. D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Power combining of semiconductor lasers: A review

Several methods of coherent power combining are described and compared. A comparison is also made between coherent and incoherent power combining, and important operational characteristics are considered. It is found that in communication links with demanding requirements coherent power combining is necessary.

Katz, J.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Microwave emissions from soils with rough surfaces

The effect of surface roughness on the thermal microwave emission of soils has been studied with the Kirchoff approach. A model is presented that includes both the coherent and incoherent reflectivities of the rough surface. It is demonstrated that both the coherent and incoherent terms must be included in order for theoretical computations to provide good agreement with the experimental data, especially for wet soil, where surface roughness causes a dramatic increase in brightness temperature. In addition, the model including both the coherent and incoherent terms allows one to use the physically measured surface height deviations of the rough surface in the model. Previous models have required that an effective height, not equal to the actual surface height measurements, be used in order for theoretical computations to match measurements.

Tsang, L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Cross spectra between temperature and pressure in a constant area duct downstream of a combustor

The feasibility of measuring pressure temperature cross spectra and coherence and temperature-temperature cross spectra and coherence at spatially separated points along with pressure and temperature auto-spectra in a combustion rig was investigated. The measurements were made near the inlet and exit of a 6.44 m long duct attached to a J-47 combustor. The fuel used was Jet A. The cross spectra and coherence measurements show the pressure and temperature fluctuations correlate best at low frequencies. At the inlet the phenomena controlling the phase relationship between pressure and temperature could not be identified. However, at the duct exit the phase angle of the pressure is related to the phase angle of the temperature by the convected flow time delay.

Miles, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Cross spectra between temperature and pressure in a constant area duct downstream of a combustor

Miles, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Pulse stuttering as a remedy for aliased ground backscatter

An algorithm that aides in the removal of ground scatter from low frequency Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere (MST) radar signals is examined. The unwanted ground scatter is shown as a sequence of velocity plots which are almost typical at the various altitudes. The interpulse period is changed in a cyclic way, thereby destroying the coherence of the unwanted signal. The interpulse period must be changed by an amount at least equal to the transmitted pulse width, and optimum performance is obtained when the number of different interpulse period occupies a time span greater than the coherence time of the unwanted signal. Since a 20-msec pulse width is used, it was found convenient to cycle through 50 pulses, the interpulse period changing from 2 msec to 3 msec during the 1/8-second time. This particular pattern of interpulse periods was provided by a software radar controller. With application of this algorithm, the unwanted scatter signal becomes incoherent from one pulse to the next, and therefore is perceived as noise by the coherent integrator and correlator.

Bowhill, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The performance of differential VLBI delay during interplanetary cruise

Project Voyager radio metric data are used to evaluate the orbit determination abilities of several data strategies during spacecraft interplanetary cruise. Benchmark performance is established with an operational data strategy of conventional coherent doppler, coherent range, and explicitly differenced range data from two intercontinental baselines to ameliorate the low declination singularity of the doppler data. Employing a Voyager operations trajectory as a reference, the performance of the operational data strategy is compared to the performances of data strategies using differential VLBI delay data (spacecraft delay minus quasar delay) in combinations with the aforementioned conventional data types. The comparison of strategy performances indicates that high accuracy cruise orbit determination can be achieved with a data strategy employing differential VLBI delay data, where the quantity of coherent radio metric data has been greatly reduced.

Moultrie, B.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Application of signal analysis to cavitation

The diagnostic facilities of the cross power spectrum and the coherence function have been employed to enhance the identification of not only the inception of cavitation, but also its level. Two piezoelectric pressure transducers placed in the downstream chamber of a model spool valve undergoing various levels of cavitation allowed for the use of both functions - the phase angle of the complex cross spectrum and the dimensionless coherence function - to sense clearly the difference between noise levels associated with a noncavitating jet from those once cavitation inception is attained. The cavitation noise within the chamber exhibited quite a regular character in terms of the phase difference between instruments for limited cavitation. Varying cavitation levels clearly illustrated the effect of bubble size on the attendant frequency range for which there was an extremely high coherence or nearly perfect causality.

Martin, C. S.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Development of powder metallurgy 2XXX series Al alloys for high temperature aircraft structural applications

The objective of the present investigation was to improve the strength and fracture toughness combination of P/M 2124 Al alloys in accordance with NASA program goals for damage tolerance and fatigue resistance. Two (2) P/M compositions based on Al-3.70 Cu-1.85 Mg-0.20 Mn with 0.12 and 0.60 wt. pct. Zr were selected for investigation. The rapid solidification rates produced by atomization were observed to prohibit the precipitation of coarse, primary Al3Zr in both alloys. A major portion of the Zr precipitated as finely distributed, coherent Al3Zr phases during vacuum preheating and solution heat treatment. The proper balance between Cu and Mg contents eliminated undissolved, soluble constituents such as Al2CuMg and Al2Cu during atomization. The resultant extruded microstructures produced a unique combination of strength and fracture toughness. An increase in the volume fraction of coherent Al3Zr, unlike incoherent Al20Cu2Mn3 dispersoids, strengthened the P/M Al base alloy either directly by dislocation-precipitate interactions, indirectly by a retardation of recrystallization, or a combination of both mechanisms. Furthermore, coherent Al3Zr does not appear to degrade toughness to the extent that incoherent Al20Cu2Mn3 does. Consequently, the addition of 0.60 wt. pct. Zr to the base alloy, incorporated with a 774K (935 F) solution heat treatment temperature, produces an alloy which exceeds all tensile property and fracture toughness goals for damage tolerant and fatigue resistant applications in the naturally aged condition.

Chellman, D. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

The Performance of Differential VLBI Delay During Interplanetary Cruise

Project Voyager radio metric data are used to evaluate the orbit determination utilities of several data strategies during spacecraft interplanetary cruise. Benchmark performance is established with an operational data strategy of conventional coherent Doppler, coherent range, and explicitly differenced range data from two intercontinental baselines to ameliorate the low declination singularity of the Doppler data. Employing a Voyager operations trajectory as a reference, the performance of the operational data strategy is compared to the performances of data strategies using differential VLBI delay data (spacecraft delay minus quasar delay) in combination with the aforementioned conventional data types. The comparison of strategy performances indicates that high accuracy cruise orbit determination can be achieved with a data strategy employing differential VLBI delay data, where the quantity of coherent radio metric data was reduced by over 95% with a concurrent 90% reduction in the DSN time allocated to radio metric data acquisition.

Moultrie, B.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Space and Time Variations and Turbopause Dynamical Structure

Time spectra of the critical frequency f sub o E sub s and blanketing frequency f sub b E sub s for the records of a spaced chain of ionosphere vertical sounding stations were studied by means of a maximum entropy method, while coherence spectra were analyzed with the Blackman and Tukey method. It was found out that the frequency parameters spectrum of E sub s within the range of 1-10 cycles/h are discrete with one or two maxima. The first, a low frequency maximum with T=40 min, is of larger amplitude, stable and exists permanently; the second one with T = 10 min is less stable, occurs irregularly and more often within f sub o E sub s. Further, the first maximum corresponds to a higher level of coherence which decreases as the distance to the stations increases. It is concluded that the low-frequency maximum is induced by cellular eddies, usually interpreted as wind shears with horizontal dimensions of not more than 300 km. Irregularity, small amplitude, and low coherence in the range of the second maximum are indicative of the fact that turbulence must be its only source.

Ovezgeldiyev, O. G.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Recent developments in monolithic phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays

Coherent combination of the power of several semiconductor lasers fabricated on the same substrate has been the subject of an intense research effort in recent years, the main motivation being to obtain higher power levels than those available from a single laser in a stable radiation pattern. Best results reported so far include 2.6 Watts CW emitted power and less than 1 deg far-field angle (in the array plane) in arrays where all the lasers are electrically connected in parallel. A different type of coherent array, where each element has a separate contact, has been recently demonstrated. While requiring the more complex two-level metallization technology, applying a separate contact to each laser provides an additional degree of freedom in the design and the operation of monolithic arrays. The separate contacts can be employed to tailor the near-field and far-field distributions and to compensate for device-to-device nonuniformities. Furthermore, the control of the currents of the array elements allows the performance of a variety of other functions, such as beam scanning, spectral mode control, wavelength tuning and control of the mutual coherence between array elements.

Katz, J.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Monolithic, unidirectional single-mode Nd:YAG ring laser

A new solid-state laser has been designed which achieves high single-mode output power by using a unidirectional nonplanar resonator constructed from a single Nd:YAG crystal. When placed in a magnetic field, the laser provides a pump-limited, single-axial-mode output of 163 mW at 1064 nm. The laser has been specifically developed as an oscillator for a long-range coherent Doppler anemometer. Other applications include coherent communications, coherent optical radar, and inertial rotation sensing.

Kane, T. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Recent developments in monolithic phase-locked semiconductor laser arrays

Coherent combination of the power of several semiconductor lasers fabricated on the same substrate has been the subject of an intense research effort in recent years, the main motivation being to obtain higher power levels than those available from a single laser in a stable radiation pattern. Best results reported so far include 2.6 watts CW emitted power and less than 1 deg far-field angle (in the array plane) in arrays where all the lasers are electrically connected in parallel. A different type of coherent array, where each element has a separate contact, has been recently demonstrated. While requiring the more complex two-level metallization technology, applying a separate contact to each laser provides an additional degree of freedom in the design and the operation of monolithic arrays. The separate contacts can be employed to tailor the near-field and far-field distributions and to compensate for device-to-device nonuniformities. Furthermore, the control of the currents of the array elements allows the performance of a variety of other functions, such as beam scanning, spectral mode control, wavelength tuning and control of the mutual coherence between array elements.

Katz, J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Hydrogen effects on the age hardening behavior of 2024 aluminum

It has been found that the fatigue crack growth rate in aluminum alloys increases significantly in the presence of moisture. This phenomenon along with a moisture effect observed in another context has been attributed to 'embrittlement' of the aluminum by absorbed hydrogen generated by the reaction of moisture with freshly exposed aluminum. A description is given of a number of age hardening experiments involving 2024 aluminum. These experiments show that a mechanism related to the segregation of absorbed hydrogen to the coherent theta-double-prime interfaces may account for the observed reduction in fatigue life. It is pointed out that this segregation promotes a loss of coherency in the hydrogen rich region at a fatigue crack tip. Subsequently, the loss of coherency causes local softening and reduces fatigue life.

Wagner, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A proposed experimental test to distinguish waves from 2-D turbulence

A theory of buoyancy range turbulence that leads to a unique scale, K sub B, that allows one to differentiate between waves and turbulence for the special case of theta = 0 (i.e., horizontally propagating waves) is discussed. The theory does not seem to lead to a practical empirical distinction for the general situation. This is due to the fact that, as theta is increased, one has the ever-increasing presence of BRT for longer wavelengths. The fact that the numerical values of epsilon prime are not yet available compounds the difficulty. In addition, it does not appear possible to encompass true 2-D turbulence in the theory. We are thus driven to a test which circumvents all these difficulties. A proposed test is based on the idea that waves are coherent and propagate, while in turbulence we have the opposite situation. In particular, the test is suggested by the following quotation from MULLER (1984), on the nature of such turbulence: The turbulence in each horizontal plane is independent from the turbulence in the other planes. If this statement were to be taken literally, it would imply that the temporal coherence between horizontal speeds, separated only in altitude, would be zero. Any vertical separation would be forced to take into account the effects of viscosity: that is to say, a specific finite vertical separation would be needed to destroy coherence. In order to estimate this distance, L, one can use L = C(v/S) (1/2) were v is the kinematic viscosity, S is the shear scale, and C is a constant of order unity.

Dewan, E. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Very long baseline interferometry using a radio telescope in Earth orbit

Successful Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations at 2.3 GHz were made using an antenna aboard an Earth-orbiting spacecraft as one of the receiving telescopes. These observations employed the first deployed satellite (TDRSE-E for East) of the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). Fringes were found for 3 radio sources on baselines between TDRSE and telescopes in Australia and Japan. The purpose of this experiment and the characteristics of the spacecraft that are related to the VLBI observations are described. The technical obstacles to maintaining phase coherence between the orbiting antenna and the ground stations, as well as the calibration schemes for the communication link between TDRSE and its ground station at White Sands, New Mexico are explored. System coherence results and scientific results for the radio source observations are presented. Using all available calibrations, a coherence of 84% over 700 seconds was achieved for baselines to the orbiting telescope.

Ulvestad, J. S.↗