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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

On the bizarre gamma-ray spectrum of SS 433

Lamb et al. (1983) have announced the discovery of a pair of gamma-ray lines interpretable as emission of the 1.368 MeV line of Mg-24 in the two oppositely directed relativistic jets of SS 433. The mass loss rate related to the Mg-24 and the kinetic energy flux of the Mg-24 are considered. In the present investigation, it is shown that the mass loss flux must be well in excess of 0.00001 solar mass per yr, while the abundance of the gamma-emitting nucleus is extremely high. Attention is given to the calculation of the gamma-ray production efficiency factor, the size of the emitting region, reaction processes, and X-ray luminosity. It is concluded that for plasma beam models, there must be a substantial overabundance, by a factor of 100 to approximately 1000, of the gamma-line producing nucleus. The association of the gamma-ray lines with Mg-24 is reasonable but not secure.

Helfer, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Computations of two-dimensional airfoil-vortex interactions

A procedure for calculating the interaction of a vortex with a two dimensional airfoil in a uniform free stream is presented along with results for several test cases. A Lamb like anaytical vortex having a finite core and convect in a uniform free stream interacts with the flowfield of NACA 0012 or NACA 64A006 airfoil in transonic and subsonic flow. Euler and thin layer Navier-Stokes solutions are computed and the results are compared with the results from transonic small disturbance code and available experimental results. For interactions within the limits of transonic small disturbance assumptions, the three methods gave qualitatively similar results of a two bladed helicopter rotor and suggest that the time lag effects of the free stream velocity approaching the blade may be important and should be considered in the analysis. In general, the results show a tremendous influence of the interacting vortex on the flowfield around the airfoil. This is particularly true when the vortex is stationary. For a convecting vortex, the most dramatic changes in the flowfield seem to occur when the vortex is within one chord of the airfoil.

Srinivasan, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A fourth order accurate finite difference scheme for the computation of elastic waves

A finite difference for elastic waves is introduced. The model is based on the first order system of equations for the velocities and stresses. The differencing is fourth order accurate on the spatial derivatives and second order accurate in time. The model is tested on a series of examples including the Lamb problem, scattering from plane interf aces and scattering from a fluid-elastic interface. The scheme is shown to be effective for these problems. The accuracy and stability is insensitive to the Poisson ratio. For the class of problems considered here it is found that the fourth order scheme requires for two-thirds to one-half the resolution of a typical second order scheme to give comparable accuracy.

Bayliss, A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Ultrasonic stress wave characterization of composite materials

The work reported covers three simultaneous projects. The first project was concerned with: (1) establishing the sensitivity of the acousto-ultrasonic method for evaluating subtle forms of damage development in cyclically loaded composite materials, (2) establishing the ability of the acousto-ultrasonic method for detecting initial material imperfections that lead to localized damage growth and final specimen failure, and (3) characteristics of the NBS/Proctor sensor/receiver for acousto-ultrasonic evaluation of laminated composite materials. The second project was concerned with examining the nature of the wave propagation that occurs during acoustic-ultrasonic evaluation of composite laminates and demonstrating the role of Lamb or plate wave modes and their utilization for characterizing composite laminates. The third project was concerned with the replacement of contact-type receiving piezotransducers with noncontacting laser-optical sensors for acousto-ultrasonic signal acquisition.

Duke, J. C., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Viscous damping of the oscillations of a rotating simple drop

The viscous damping of the small-amplitude capillary oscillations of a rotating simple drop is calculated in the small viscosity limit. The calculation concerns the case of a liquid drop in a gaseous medium, which is relevant to the space processing of materials using acoustic levitation. The method used is that of Lamb in which the inviscid solutions of the problem are used as trial functions in the energy equation to find the damping coefficient.

Lee, C. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

On helicity fluctuations and the energy cascade in turbulence

Recent conjectures concerning the correlation between regions of high local helicity and low dissipation are examined from a rigorous theoretical standpoint based on the Navier-Stokes equations. It is proven that only the solenoidal part of the Lamb vector omega x u (which is directly tied to the nonlocal convection and stretching of vortex lines) contributes to the energy cascade in turbulence. Consequently, it is shown that regions of low dissipation can be associated with either low or high helicity, a result which disproves earlier speculations concerning this direct connection between helicity and the energy cascade. Some brief examples are given along with a discussion of the consistency of these results with the most recent computations of helicity fluctuations in incompressible turbulent flows.

Speziale, Charles G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Outer magnetospheric fluctuations and pulsar timing noise

The Cheng, Ho, and Ruderman (1986) outer-magnetosphere gap model was used to investigate the stability of Crab-type outer magnetosphere gaps for pulsars having the parameter (Omega-square B) similar to that of the Crab pulsar. The Lamb, Pines, and Shaham (1978) fluctuating magnetosphere noise model was applied to the Crab pulsar to examine the type of the equation of state that best describes the structure of the neutron star. The noise model was also applied to other pulsars, and the theoretical results were compared with observational data. The results of the comparison are consistent with the stiff equation of state, as suggested by the vortex creep model of the neutron star interior. The timing-noise observations also contribute to the evidence for the existence of superfluid in the core of the neutron star.

Cheng, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Prospects for Eulerian CFD analysis of helicopter vortex flows

The applicability of current finite-volume CFD algorithms based on the Euler equations to the vortex flow over a helicopter in forward flight is investigated analytically. The general characteristics of the flow are reviewed; existing Euler, Navier-Stokes, perturbation, high-order, and adaptive methods are briefly characterized; and a novel Eulerian/Lagrangian approach with entropy and vorticity corrections is presented in detail. Numerical results for simple convection of a finite-core Lamb vortex moving downstream with its axis perpendicular to the flow are presented in graphs, and the possibility of extending the method to three-dimensional, viscous, and shock flows is discussed.

Drela, Mark↗
NASA NTRS1987

The effects of diffusion on population gratings and the stability of ring lasers

The effects of diffusion on the coupling between counterpropagating modes in a two-level medium are studied in the rate equation limit. It is shown that diffusion can greatly decrease saturation gratings in low-pressure gases. Among many other effects which rely on spatial hole burning, this can alter the stability of bidirectional solutions of the third-order Lamb equation model of a ring laser.

Lawandy, N. M.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The 1981 outburst of the old nova GK Persei

Old nova GK Per was observed in 1981 with the IUE, during its rise, maximum, and subsequent return to minimum. In outburst, GK Per is luminous but much redder than dwarf novae or standard model accretion disks. The observed spectrum can be explained qualitatively with the Ghosh and Lamb (1979) model for the interaction of an accretion disk with the magnetic field of the accreting white dwarf. The N V and He2 are enhanced relative to other emission lines during outburst. This can be understood with photoionization by very soft X-rays having a luminosity comparable to that of the hard X-rays.

Wu, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Theoretical energies for the n = 1 and 2 states of the helium isoelectronic sequence up to Z = 100

The unified method described previously for combining high-precision nonrelativistic variational calculations with relativistic and quantum electrodynamic corrections is applied to the 1s2 1S0, 1s2s 1S0, 1s2s 1S0, 1s2s 3S1, 1s2p 1P1, and 1s2p 3P(0.1,2) states of helium-like ions. Detailed tabulations are presented for all ions in the range Z = 2-100 and are compared with a wide range of experimental data up to (Kr-34)+. The results for (U-90)+ significantly alter the recent Lamb shift measurement of Munger and Gould (1986) from 70.4 + or - 8.3 to 71.0 + or - 8.3 eV, in comparison with a revised theoretical value of 74.3 + or - 0.4 eV. The improved agreement is due to the inclusion of higher order two-electron corrections in the present work.

Drake, G. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The illusive Geminga: What is it

The first unassociated gamma-ray source was discovered by SAS-2 in 1973 (Kniffen, et al., 1975) and later confirmed by COS-B (Bennett, et al., 1977). Followed the announcement, there were numerous attempts to find a counterpart, and many models were developed to explain the source. Now over fifteen years later this illusive source still remains as one of the major riddles of astrophysics. The question of why an object, which is able to emit such energetic photons is so well concealed at other wavelengths, still remains to be answered. The association with the Einstein source 1E 0630+178 is the most favored (Bignami, Caraveo, and Lamb, 1983), but this cannot be considered proven. The pulsar emission model of Ruderman and Cheng (1988) is appealing in its broad applicability, but awaits observational confirmation. The EGRET (Energetic Gamma-Ray Experimental Telescope) instrument on the Gamma-Ray Observatory provides a major improvement in observational capability to better define the location and spectrum of this source, and hopefully leads to a confident identification.

Kniffen, Donald A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Absolute wind measurements in the lower thermosphere of Venus using infrared heterodyne spectroscopy

The first absolute wind velocities above the Venusian cloud-tops were obtained using NASA/Goddard infrared heterodyne spectrometers at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) and the McMath Solar Telescope. Beam-integrated Doppler displacements in the non-thermal emission core of (12)C(16)O2 10.33 micron R(8) sampled the line of sight projection of the lower thermospheric wind field (100 to 120 km). A field-usable Lamb-dip laser stabilization system, developed for spectrometer absolute frequency calibration to less than + or - 0.1 MHz, allowed S/N-limited line of sight velocity resolution at the 1 m/s level. The spectrometer's diffraction-limited beam (1.7 arc-second HPBW at McMath, 0.9 arc-second HPBW at IRTF), and 1 to 2 arc-second seeing, provided the spatial resolution necessary for circulation model discrimination. Qualitative analysis of beam-integrated winds provided definitive evidence of a dominant subsolar-antisolar circulation in the lower thermosphere. Beam-integrated winds were modelled with a 100x100 grid over the beam, incorporating beam spatial rolloff and across-the-beam gradients in non-thermal emission intensity, line of sight projection geometry, and horizontal wind velocity. Horizontal wind velocity was derived from a 2-parameter model wind field comprised of subsolar-antisolar and zonal components. Best-fit models indicated a dominant subsolar-antisolar flow with 120 m/s cross-terminator winds and a retrograde zonal component with a 25 m/s equatorial velocity. A review of all dynamical indicators above the cloud-tops allowed development of an integrated and self-consistent picture of circulation in the 70 to 200 km range.

Goldstein, Jeffrey J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

On helicity fluctuations and the energy cascade in turbulence

Recent conjectures concerning the correlation between regions of high local helicity and low dissipation are examined from a rigorous theoretical standpoint based on the Navier-Stokes equations. It is proven that only the solenoidal part of the Lamb vector omega x u (which is directly tied to the nonlocal convection and stretching of vortex lines) contributes to the energy cascade in turbulence. Consequently, it is shown that regions of low dissipation can be associated with either low or high helicity, a result which disproves earlier speculations concerning this direct connection between helicity and the energy cascade. Some brief examples are given along with a discussion of the consistency of these results with the most recent computations of helicity fluctuations in incompressible turbulent flows.

Speziale, Charles G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Guided waves and defect scattering in metal matrix composite plates

Guided Rayleigh-Lamb waves in a continuous graphite fiber reinforced magnesium plate has been studied. The interest in this material arises from its high thermal stability and because it provides high strength-to-weight ratio. Previous studies have shown that for wavelengths much larger than the fiber diameters and spacing, the material can be characterized as transversely isotropic with the symmetry axis aligned with the fiber direction. Because of the high longitudinal stiffness of the graphite fibers, the material shows strong anisotropy, with very high modulus in the fiber direction. For this reason, dispersion of guided waves is strongly influenced by the deviation of the direction of propagation from the symmetry axis. Results are given for propagation in different directions and for scattering of antiplane shear waves by surface-breaking cracks and delaminations.

Datta, Subhendu K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The nature of the emission-line nebulae in powerful far-infrared galaxies

The authors discuss their program of narrow-band (H alpha + (NII)) imaging of a sample of 30 powerful far-infrared galaxies (FIRG's) chosen to have far-infrared spectral energy distributions similar to the prototype FIRG's Arp 220, NGC 3690, NGC 6240, and M82. The emission-line nebulae of these IR color-selected sample (ICSS) galaxies as a class are both impressively large (mean half light radius, r approx. 1.3 Kpc, and mean diameter, D approx. 16 Kpc) and luminous (L sub TOT approx. 10(exp 8) solar lumninosity; uncorrected for internal extinction). The mean total H alpha + (NII) luminosity of the FIRG's is comparable to that found for pairs of optically selected interacting galaxies (Bushouse, Lamb, and Werner 1988), but is a factor of approx. 5 greater than that of isolated spirals (Kennicutt and Kent 1983). Only approx. 25 percent of the nearby (z approx. less than 0.10) FIRG's have morphologies suggesting that large HII-regions contribute significantly to their emission-line appearance. The broad-band morphologies of our IR color-selected galaxies fall into three major categories. Nearly 75 percent are single galaxy systems, with the remaining FIRG's being either multiple nuclei systems, or members of interacting pairs. Since the authors saw few (10 percent) currently interacting FIRG's, yet many (80 percent) with highly distorted continuum morphologies, their IR color criteria may be preferentially selecting galaxies that have undergone highly inelastic, rapidly merging interactions.

Armus, Lee↗
NASA NTRS1990

Experimental flaw detection by scattering of plate waves

The surface displacements of elastic waves scattered from a surface-breaking crack are measured with a capacitive transducer on a 2D plate, and comparisons with theoretical predictions are reported. The noncontacting detector has a wide and flat frequency response which measures the response of a glass plate to the propagation of Rayleigh-Lamb waves. A theoretical simulation of the surface displacements is generated by multiplying experimental traces with a cosine window, and Green's function is used to compute the source function. Power spectra are also recorded from the experiment to compare the results with a finite-element model of the crack, and good agreement is reported for results in both the time and frequency domains. The crack can be detected in the far field when the spacing of the receiver locations is small, and the transducer/probe appears to be a practical flaw-detection instrument.

Spetzler, Hartmut↗