Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Radio”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,369 records · Page 76

Variable radio source structure on a scale of several minutes of arc

Results are reported for high-frequency (0.75, 1.40, 3.24, 6.63, and 10.63 GHz) flux-density measurements of about 100 radio sources exhibiting low-frequency cutoffs. At least three sources (4C 79.4, 4C 79.15, and PKS 2344+09) showed variable structure on a scale ranging from a fraction of an arcmin to as much as 15 arcmin which appears to change significantly on a time scale of several months. The visual fields of these sources and their companion components are searched for identifiable objects, and complete radio spectra as well as contour maps are presented for some of the sources. It is suggested that the variable structure may result from the existence of several emission centers that are highly variable in flux density but fixed in position.

Ross, H. N.↗

Further joint X-ray, infrared and radio observations of Cygnus X-3

Observations of Cygnus X-3 were carried out at 2.5 - 7.5 keV, 2.2 micron, 8.1 GHz and 2.7 GHz over a two week period. The X-ray data show the periodic structure which is typical of Cyg X-3. At times the X-ray and infrared measurements show very similar periodic structure, both in phase and shape, while at other times the infrared data show no periodic variability. The radio fluxes were usually low during the period of observation; both the daily average radio flux levels and spectral index remained nearly constant.

Mason, K. O.↗

Prototype 10-meter radio telescope antenna and mount design

A prototype radio antenna of 10.4 meters diameter and 0.41 meter focal length, intended for use at the shortest radio wavelengths transmitted by the atmosphere, was successfully completed. The surface accuracy is at least four times better than that of any existing antenna in this size class: 50 micrometer rms. A prototype mount is being constructed and will be ready by early 1976. The development of an improved antenna of identical size, but heavier weight has been continued.

Leighton, R. B.↗

Radio detections of cometary molecular transitions: A review

Radio detections of CH, OH, HCN, CH3CN, and several unidentified species in comet Kohoutek and the detection of H2O emission from comet Bradfield are discussed in terms of the similarities and differences between cometary molecules and interstellar molecules. Emphasis is placed on excitation and chemistry. The observed projected densities and resulting gas production rates are considered along with the feasibility of future radio molecular observations of comets.

Snyder, L. E.↗

Turbulence effects in radio occultation studies of atmospheric scale heights

Atmospheric scale heights derived from radio occultation measurements of a turbulent planetary atmosphere would be accurate if the average angle of refraction through the turbulent atmosphere were equal to the refraction angle for the corresponding quiescent atmosphere. These two angles are not equal (although their difference may not be large enough to cause significant error). If necessary, it should be possible to correct for the systematic error introduced by this inequality by using measurements of signal spectra to determine characteristics of the turbulence. Sensitive dual-frequency measurements could help define the effects of turbulence in future radio occultation experiments. It does not appear that the angular offset due to turbulence has been important in past experiments, although it may become significant and require corrective analysis when improved equipment is used to probe deep into turbulent atmospheres with greater measurement precision.

Eshleman, V. R.↗

The radio sources associated with Cyg X-3

Some of the conclusions derived from the data on the radio flaring of Cyg X-3 are summarized. In addition, recent data showing that Cyg X-3 has both active and quiet radio behavior are presented.

Hjellming, R. M.↗

Radio observations of IC 434

Continuum radio emission and hydrogen recombination-line emission were measured at 2.37 GHz with the 64-m antenna at Goldstone, California. The radio emission has the same general distribution as the optical nebula. The radial velocity of the nebula agrees with that of the adjacent dust cloud L 1630. The electron temperature is estimated to be approximately 7000 K. The excitation of the nebula is compared with current estimates of the ionizing flux from the exciting star, sigma Orionis.

Kuiper, T. B. H.↗

The radio astronomy experiment on Helios A and B /E 5c/

The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center radio astronomy experiment on Helios, identified as Experiment 5c, has sixteen observing frequencies over the range of 26.5 to 3000 kHz. The antenna consists of two extendible 15-m booms, forming an electric dipole, two high-impedance preamplifiers located at the root of the booms, and the 16-channel radiometer. Important information about propagation conditions, such as absorption, scattering and refraction, are expected from observations of radio emission regions at distances between 1 and 0,3 AU.

Weber, R. R.↗

Comparison of geometrical effects in radio and stellar occultations

An important difference between the radio and stellar occultation techniques for probing planetary atmospheres is that a crucial equation relating refraction angle with ray impact parameter is solved in opposite directions in the two techniques. The solution is tolerant of small geometrical errors for stellar occultations but, unfortunately, not for radio occultations.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

Calculation of the radio emission from EAS

Time-varying features of an electron-photon cascade are considered, particularly those associated with radio emission. The cosmic ray shower is represented as a superposition of collinear 10 GeV electron-photon cascades launched at different heights in the atmosphere. Actual simulations are performed for only 10 cascades at each of 40 heights and the results are scaled to represent the total number of cascades required. The apparent angular motions of the cascade particles as detected by antennas located at various positions up to 300 m from the shower axis are simulated. The radio pulse waveform and the corresponding frequency spectrum are obtained from these motions.

Allan, H. R.↗

Radio continuum measurements of compact H II regions and other sources

Results are reported for measurements of the flux densities of 33 sources at wavelengths of 13, 4, and 2 cm, which were conducted using the NASA/JPL Deep Space Network 64-m antenna at Goldstone, Calif. Besides compact H II regions, the sources included five Uhuru X-ray sources, several IR sources, an extragalactic radio source, and a H2O maser. The Lyman continuum flux is derived from the measured radio flux and the assumed distance and temperature for 10 possible H II regions; the spectra of previously known sources are extended to higher frequencies, and upper limits are placed on the flux densities for the five X-ray sources. New compact H II regions are found in the bright nebula M78, the nebula K5, and the Ophiuchus dark cloud/IR region.

Matsakis, D. N.↗

Electron plasma oscillations associated with type III radio emissions and solar electrons

Results of an extensive search for electron plasma oscillations associated with type III radio noise bursts are presented which were obtained by analyzing 87 type III bursts detected in plasma-wave and charged-particle measurements carried out by IMP 6, 7, and 8. Only one case is found for which plasma oscillations were associated with electrons of solar origin; at least eight events are identified in which no plasma oscillations were detected even though electrons from solar flares were clearly evident. The type III emissions are compared with similar radiation coming from upstream of earth's bow shock at the harmonic of the local electron plasma frequency, and quantitative calculations of the rate of conversion from plasma oscillatory energy to electromagnetic radiation are performed. The results show that electron plasma oscillations are seldom observed in association with solar electron events and type III radio bursts at 1.0 AU and that neither the type III emissions nor the radiation from upstream of the bow shock can be adequately explained by a current model for the coupling of electron plasma oscillations to electromagnetic radiation. Several possible explanations are considered for this discrepancy between theory and observations.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

The problem of spiral galaxies and satellite radio sources

Regions 2-deg x 2-deg in area centered on four spiral galaxies were scanned with the Goldstone 64-m antenna in search of satellite radio sources at 2295 MHz. Four control regions of equal area but free of galaxies brighter than 13th magnitude were also scanned. No significant excess in the number density of sources with flux densities greater than 0.10 Jy relative to the control fields was found. A detailed comparison is made between the results of this program and the results of previous investigators. In particular, attention is directed to the potentially important implications of an investigation by Tovmasyan (1968), who searched a large number of spirals and found evidence that a small percentage of them apparently have radio satellites located up to 20 arcmin from the central galaxy. Fifteen sources selected from Tovmasyan's list of 43 satellite sources were measured. The present results confirm his positions and relative flux densities for each of the sources.

Arp, H.↗

Possibility of detecting magnetospheric radio bursts from Uranus and Neptune

The intensity of magnetospheric radio bursts (MRBs) is scaled to solar-wind input into planetary magnetospheres and the frequency of emission is scaled to polar surface magnetic-field strength in order to estimate the possibility of detecting MRBs from Uranus and Neptune. A scaling law is derived which relates the ratio of power radiated in MRBs to the solar-wind input for earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. Power-flux spectra of MRBs from these three planets are plotted, and it is shown that Jupiter and Saturn may radiate 1% to 5% of the solar-wind energy input into their magnetospheres. The properties of MRBs from Uranus and Neptune are estimated by assuming a conversion efficiency of 1% to 5%, a bandwidth of half the peak frequency, and conformity of Uranus' and Neptune's dipole moments with the magnetic Bode's law. Based on the results, it is suggested that detection of MRBs from these two planets may be a reasonable cruise-mode radio-astronomy objective on future missions to the outer solar system.

Kennel, C. F.↗

Apparent 'superrelativistic' expansion of the extragalactic radio source 3C 345

The compact extragalactic radio source 3C 345 was observed by very-long-baseline interferometry (wavelength about 3.8 cm) at 12 epochs distributed over the nearly four-year period from February 1971 to October 1974. For one of these epochs, the multibaseline data were sufficient to allow the brightness distribution to be estimated in a model-independent manner; the resultant distribution was clearly dominated by two components. The remaining sets of data were also represented adequately by two-component models. The angular separation of the two components increased during this period from about 1.00 to 1.30 milliarcsec, corresponding to an apparent average speed of expansion of approximately 2.5 c at a fixed position angle of 105 (plus or minus 5) deg. These results, coupled with the fact that contraction has never been observed, seem difficult to reconcile with the so-called Christmas-tree model of the 'superrelativistic' expansion of extragalactic radio sources.

Wittels, J. J.↗

The use of dispersion to eliminate multipath in planetary radio occultations

Occultation geometry is analyzed with a view toward eliminating all multipath resulting from layer effects. It is assumed that the spacecraft moves behind the planet with a constant velocity perpendicular to the direction from the spacecraft to the earth, and that for radio frequencies of 1 to 2 GHz the angle of refraction of a radio ray passing through the ionosphere is so small as to be imperceptible if drawn to scale. It is shown that if a particular amount of dispersion is inserted into the process at any stage prior to signal detection, the frequency vs time curve will be converted to a frequency vs ray asymptote height curve. Because there can be only one mode from any one ray asymptote height in a layered medium, frequency must be a single-valued function of this parameter. The introduction of an appropriate dispersion will therefore eliminate all multipath insofar as it is caused by spherically symmetric planetary layers. The degree of accuracy to be provided in flight and during postflight analysis is discussed.

Croft, T. A.↗

Further joint X-ray, infrared, and radio observations of Cygnus X-3

Observations of Cygnus X-3 have been carried out at 2.5-7.5 keV, 2.2 micrometers, 8.1 GHz, and 2.7 GHz over a two week period. The X-ray data show the periodic structure which is typical of Cyg X-3. At times the X-ray and infrared measurements show very similar periodic structure, both in phase and in shape, while at other times the infrared data show no periodic variability. The radio fluxes were unusually low during the period of observation; both the daily average radio flux levels and the spectral index remained nearly constant.

Mason, K. O.↗