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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 1,225 records · Page 68
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Statistical and computational uncertainties in atmospheric profiles from radio occultation - Mariner 10 at Venus

Statistical error in Mariner 10 occultation profiles is traced from initial observations to reduced temperature, pressure, and absorption profiles. It is shown that for the Mariner 10 profile with a height of resolution of 0.1 km, statistical measurement errors lead to uncertainties in temperature that are less than 2 K at all altitudes considered and are typically less than 0.5 K. Attention is also given to uncertainties in pressure and atmospheric absorption. In addition it is found that there is also a systematic error in the reduction of two-way data that arises from the parallax between the uplink and downlink ray paths. Finally, it is concluded that if the systematic error can be reduced to the level of the statistical noise in Mariner 10, then long term studies of thick atmospheres by occultation techniques will be feasible in the future at good levels of accuracy.

Lipa, B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

An efficient technique for the performance evaluation of antenna arrays with noisy carrier reference

An efficient computational technique is developed to evaluate the performance of coherent receivers with noisy carrier reference and multiple antennas. The received signal is assumed to be uncoded residual carrier BPSK (binary phase shift keying), with a PLL (phase locked loop) used for extracting the carrier. Explicit relationships between the error probabilities and the various system parameters are given. Specific results are given for the performance gain of combined carrier referencing over baseband only combining when the channel alignment process is ideal. A simple asymptotic expression for the performance gain is determined when the number of antennas used is increased without bound. An example using a Block 3 Deep Space Network PLL illustrates the performance of each arraying structure. The technique used is applicable to the performance evaluation for other receivers having similar decision statistics.

Yan, T. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Development of techniques for producing static strata maps and development of photointerpretive methods based on multitemporal LANDSAT data

Progress in the evaluation of the static stratification procedure and the development of alternative photointerpretive techniques to the present LACIE procedure for the identification of training fields is reported. Statistically significant signature controlling variables were defined for use in refining the stratification procedure. A subset of the 1973-74 Kansas LACIE segments for wheat was analyzed.

Colwell, R. N.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Space diversity performance prediction for earth-satellite paths using radar modeling techniques

Space diversity performance is examined on the basis of radar modeling techniques. Radar-derived joint probability distributions are calculated for determining path attenuation and statistical formulation. The computational aspects of the model are discussed in terms of the data base, determining path length and converting statistics to other path angles. The results are presented in terms of prediction accuracy, predicted joint probability distributions, diversity gain, and the autocorrection function. When compared to other models, this model's rain-derived relative diversity gain shows good agreement.

Goldhirsh, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Sea surface temperature anomalies, planetary waves, and air-sea feedback in the middle latitudes

Current analytical models for large-scale air-sea interactions in the middle latitudes are reviewed in terms of known sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies. The scales and strength of different atmospheric forcing mechanisms are discussed, along with the damping and feedback processes controlling the evolution of the SST. Difficulties with effective SST modeling are described in terms of the techniques and results of case studies, numerical simulations of mixed-layer variability and statistical modeling. The relationship between SST and diabatic heating anomalies is considered and a linear model is developed for the response of the stationary atmosphere to the air-sea feedback. The results obtained with linear wave models are compared with the linear model results. Finally, sample data are presented from experiments with general circulation models into which specific SST anomaly data for the middle latitudes were introduced.

Frankignoul, C.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Optimal application of Morrison's iterative noise removal for deconvolution

Morrison's iterative method of noise removal can be applied for both noise removal alone and noise removal prior to deconvolution. This method is applied to noise of various noise levels added to determine the optimum use of the method. The phase shift method of migration and modeling is evaluated and the results are compared to Stolt's approach. A method is introduced by which the optimum iterative number for deconvolution can be found. Statistical computer simulation is used to describe the optimum use of two convergent iterative techniques for seismic data. The Always-Convergent deconvolution technique was applied to data recorded during the quantitative analysis of materials through NonDestructive Evaluation (NDE) in which ultrasonic signals were used to detect flaws in substances such as composites.

Ioup, George E.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Groundwater sapping valleys: Experimental studies, geological controls and implications to the interpretation of valley networks on Mars

An integrated approach using experimental laboratory models, field studies of terrestrial analogs, and remote studies of terrestrial field sites were applied to the goals of understanding the nature and morphology of valley networks formed by groundwater sapping. In spite of problems with scaling, the experimental studies provide valuable insights into concepts relating to the initiation, development, and evolution of valleys by groundwater sapping. These investigations are also aimed at developing geomorphic criteria for distinguishing valleys formed by surface runoff from those formed by groundwater sapping processes. Channels that were field classified as sapping vs. runoff were successfully distinguished using statistical analysis of their respective morphologies; therefore, it may be possible to use similar techniques to interpret channel genesis on Mars. The terrestrial and flume studies provide the ground truth dataset which can be used (and will be during the present year) to help interpret the genesis of valley networks on Mars.

Kochel, R. Craig↗
NASA NTRS1990

Calculation of Weibull strength parameters, Batdorf flaw density constants and related statistical quantities using PC-CARES

This manual describes the operation and theory of the PC-CARES (Personal Computer-Ceramic Analysis and Reliability Evaluation of Structures) computer program for the IBM PC and compatibles running PC-DOS/MS-DOR OR IBM/MS-OS/2 (version 1.1 or higher) operating systems. The primary purpose of this code is to estimate Weibull material strength parameters, the Batdorf crack density coefficient, and other related statistical quantities. Included in the manual is the description of the calculation of shape and scale parameters of the two-parameter Weibull distribution using the least-squares analysis and maximum likelihood methods for volume- and surface-flaw-induced fracture in ceramics with complete and censored samples. The methods for detecting outliers and for calculating the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the Anderson-Darling goodness-of-fit statistics and 90 percent confidence bands about the Weibull line, as well as the techniques for calculating the Batdorf flaw-density constants are also described.

Szatmary, Steven A.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Techniques for removing non-uniform background in coded-aperture imaging on the energetic X-ray imaging telescope experiment

It is found that the subtractive flat field technique for nonuniform background illumination is generally effective at removing background systematics for stationary mask experiments such as the Energetic X-ray Imaging Experiment. The time dependence of intensity and the two-dimensional shape of the background detector image during the flight are explored. A flat field image is constructed from observations where X-ray sources were absent from the field of view. It is shown that this technique can successfully reduce rms fluctuations to within a few percent of ideal Poisson statistics. The quality of the flat field does not appear to be a strong function of radius and can be used effectively out to the edge of the detector to remove the strong background ring.

Covault, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Measuring uncertainty by extracting fuzzy rules using rough sets and extracting fuzzy rules under uncertainty and measuring definability using rough sets

Computers are not designed to handle terms where uncertainty is present. To deal with uncertainty, techniques other than classical logic must be developed. This paper examines the concepts of statistical analysis, the Dempster-Shafer theory, rough set theory, and fuzzy set theory to solve this problem. The fundamentals of these theories are combined to provide the possible optimal solution. By incorporating principles from these theories, a decision-making process may be simulated by extracting two sets of fuzzy rules: certain rules and possible rules. From these rules a corresponding measure of how much we believe these rules is constructed. From this, the idea of how much a fuzzy diagnosis is definable in terms of its fuzzy attributes is studied.

Worm, Jeffrey A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Experiments with recursive estimation in astronomical image processing

Recursive estimation concepts were applied to image enhancement problems since the 70's. However, very few applications in the particular area of astronomical image processing are known. These concepts were derived, for 2-dimensional images, from the well-known theory of Kalman filtering in one dimension. The historic reasons for application of these techniques to digital images are related to the images' scanned nature, in which the temporal output of a scanner device can be processed on-line by techniques borrowed directly from 1-dimensional recursive signal analysis. However, recursive estimation has particular properties that make it attractive even in modern days, when big computer memories make the full scanned image available to the processor at any given time. One particularly important aspect is the ability of recursive techniques to deal with non-stationary phenomena, that is, phenomena which have their statistical properties variable in time (or position in a 2-D image). Many image processing methods make underlying stationary assumptions either for the stochastic field being imaged, for the imaging system properties, or both. They will underperform, or even fail, when applied to images that deviate significantly from stationarity. Recursive methods, on the contrary, make it feasible to perform adaptive processing, that is, to process the image by a processor with properties tuned to the image's local statistical properties. Recursive estimation can be used to build estimates of images degraded by such phenomena as noise and blur. We show examples of recursive adaptive processing of astronomical images, using several local statistical properties to drive the adaptive processor, as average signal intensity, signal-to-noise and autocorrelation function. Software was developed under IRAF, and as such will be made available to interested users.

Busko, I.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Depth-diameter ratios for Martian impact craters: Implications for target properties and episodes of degradation

This study determines crater depth through use of photoclinometric profiles. Random checks of the photoclinometric results are performed using shadow estimation techniques. The images are Viking Orbiter digital format frames; in cases where the digital image is unusable for photoclinometric analysis, shadow estimation is used to determine crater depths. The two techniques provide depth results within 2 percent of each other. Crater diameters are obtained from the photoclinometric profiles and checked against the diameters measured from the hard-copy images using a digitizer. All images used in this analysis are of approximately 40 m/pixel resolution. The sites that have been analyzed to date include areas within Arabia, Maja Valles, Memnonia, Acidalia, and Elysium. Only results for simple craters (craters less than 5 km in diameter) are discussed here because of the low numbers of complex craters presently measured in the analysis. General results indicate that impact craters are deeper than average. A single d/D relationship for fresh impact craters on Mars does not exist due to changes in target properties across the planet's surface. Within regions where target properties are approximately constant, however, d/D ratios for fresh craters can be determined. In these regions, the d/D ratios of nonpristine craters can be compared with the fresh crater d/D relationship to obtain information on relative degrees of crater degradation. This technique reveals that regional episodes of enhanced degradation have occurred. However, the lack of statistically reliable size-frequency distribution data prevents comparison of the relative ages of these events between different regions, and thus determination of a large-scale episode (or perhaps several episodes) cannot be made at this time.

Barlow, N. G.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Chemical Compositions and Abundance Anomalies in Stellar Coronae ADP99

We have been investigating different statistical methods for analysing the metal abundances of sources with low S/N. A Bayesian technique has been developed that determines the most probable line-to-continuum ratio in the source, thereby leading to the metallicity. This method is a promising approach with which to mine the ASCA archive. Some of this work has now been published in conference proceedings. The flavour of the project has changed very slightly in the last year owing to the increasing availability of several good quality Chandra HETG and LETG spectra for stars for which we had reduced and analysed ASCA data. The Chandra grating spectra in principle provide a means of calibrating the results from the low resolution ASCA spectra and we have started some work toward that goal. One paper concerning abundance ratios in active stars is appearing shortly in conference proceedings and is being readied for publication in a main-stream astrophysical journal. This paper demonstrates for the first time that abundance anomalies cannot be categorized simply in terms of First Ionization Potential (FIP) or inverse-FIP based effects. Different Ne enhancements are found in different star types but a link between enhancement factors and stellar properties is not obvious. The publication noted as in preparation in an earlier report, finding strong Ne enhancements in active stars, is now published. These results will again be used to "calibrate" low resolution results for which line ratio techniques cannot be employed.

Drake, Jeremy↗
NASA NTRS2018

Modeling Spacecraft Safe Mode Events

Spacecraft enter a ‘safe mode’ to protect the vehicle when a potentially harmful anomaly occurs. This minimally functioning state isolates faults, establishes contact with Earth, and orients the vehicle into a power positive attitude until operators intervene. Though ‘safings’ are inherently unpredictable, mission teams build in time margin during operations to determine root causes and restore functionality. Planning and managing this margin is both critical and enabling on mission architectures dependent on near-continuous operability – such as a low-thrust electric propulsion mission. To better quantify the occurrences and severity of safe mode anomalies, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has assembled a database of safings from past and active missions. Currently nearly 240 records are captured from 21 beyond-Earth missions, stemming from a collaboration between teams at JPL, Ames Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. This paper discusses the event database, explores a statistical approach in modeling the occurrences and severity of safing events, presents a simulation technique, and details recommendations and future work to benefit future concepts.

Nicholas, Austin↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Maximum-Likelihood Parameter Estimation for High-Contrast Wavefront Sensing & Control

Stellar coronagraphs use closed-loop focal-plane wavefront sensing and control algorithms to create high-contrast dark zones suitable for imaging exoplanets and exozodiacal dust clouds around nearby stars. At present, the deepest contrast has been achieved using model-based algorithms, which use the predicted focal-plane influence of the coronagraph's deformable mirrors to drive diffracted starlight toward zero over time in an optimal control framework. However, model-based algorithms are susceptible to model mismatch, wherein a departure of the coronagraph's true optical characteristics from the model predictions causes reduced control loop performance. Here, we report on a technique for maximum-likelihood estimation of the wavefront control Jacobian matrix and noise statistics of the coronagraph focal-plane electric field from data acquired in situ during closed-loop wavefront control operations. By empirically tuning the Jacobian and noise properties in a statistically rigorous fashion, the maximum-likelihood approach mitigates model mismatch and recovers near-optimal control loop performance.

coronagraphy↗
DOE OSTI2021

Resonant soft X-ray scattering in polymer science

Resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSoXS) is an emerging, powerful technique to probe the nano-to-mesoscale structure of polymers and other molecules. It joins together small-angle X-ray scattering (a statistical nanoprobe) with X-ray spectroscopy that brings with it unique chemical and bond-orientation sensitivity. Through over a decade of discovery and development, RSoXS is moving from a niche technique applied to organic electronic thin films to a mature tool applicable to a plethora of polymeric and molecular systems, encompassing new modalities, analyses, and simulation methods. This development promises to deliver increasingly quantitative answers to challenging questions in polymer science as well as expand its usefulness to complementary fields. Here, this review presents a full synopsis of the technique, including background on the theoretical underpinnings, measurement best practices, and examples of recent RSoXS applications and discoveries provided here to accelerate the transition to a broader range of soft matter and polymeric fields.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗