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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 1,441 records · Page 80
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DOE OSTI2024

RokBase Core Facility Data Collection

The RokBase Core Facility Data Collection v1.0 is an aggregation of information on the locations and collections of geologic core facilities in the United States. It contains two spatial files, their corresponding attribute tables within a catalog, and an interactive web map and dashboard. It is intended to be used for research and comparison purposes, see full disclaimer and credits. Please contact NETL if revisions / corrections can be made to improve this dataset.

core facility location↗
DOE OSTI2022

Ultra-rapid, physics-based development pathway for reactor-relevant RF antenna materials

This paper presents a rapid, atomistically-informed, experimental development pathway for fusion reactor-relevant radio frequency (RF) antenna materials in the Cu-Cr-(Nb,Al,Zr) composition system, with the goal of improving upon GRCop-84. RF antennas in a tokamak fusion reactor will face a unique set of challenges as both structural and functional materials. The desired material must simultaneously achieve and maintain high electrical conductivity, high strength, high thermal conductivity, resist high temperatures, possess low nuclear activation, and incur low damage due to neutron bombardment. The GRCop-84 alloy serves as a starting point for iterative improvement, with the desire to reduce or eliminate Nb from the material to minimize nuclear activation. The rapid development pathway makes use of a multi-target combinatorial thick film sputtering process to produce full ternary phase diagrams on a Si wafer substrate. Transient grating spectroscopy (TGS), a laser-ultrasonic method, will determine spatially-varying thermo-elastic properties, while four terminal electrical conductivity measurements will map out the best per- forming regions of the sample for in-depth study at larger length scales. High energy proton and self-ion irradiation emulates the effects of neutron damage on the thermal/electric properties. With rapid turnaround time (∼days) in terms of mapping radiation damage-induced material property changes in the full ternary system, these techniques allow rapid iteration towards an optimal material, testing hundreds of nearby compositions in the time it took to test one. Focused testing of larger, single composition samples (produced in an arc furnace or by laser sintering) provides data on structural and high power RF properties, and validates our thick-film based workflow.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1977

Digital image-rectification system

System removes spatial distortions from data and brings data into conformance with Universal Transverse Mercator map projection, produces digital output products suitable for further machine processing and analysis, and fills need for geometrically corrected Landsat multispectral scanner digital data in several remote sensing application areas.

Van Wie, P. H.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Satellites - New global observing techniques for ice and snow

The possibility that the variation in areal extent of the snow cover may be related by empirical means to the average monthly run-off in a given watershed was demonstrated by comparing run-off records from the Indus River Basin in south-east Asia with a series of snow-cover maps obtained from Nimbus-3 and 4 imagery. Similar studies using the higher spatial resolution available with ERTS-1 imagery were carried out for the Wind River Mountains watersheds in Wyoming, where it was found that the empirical relationship varied with mean elevation of the watershed. In addition, digital image enhancement techniques are shown to be useful for identifying glacier features thought to be related to extent of snow cover, moraine characteristics, debris coverage, and the like. Finally, longer wavelength observations using sensors on board the Nimbus-5 satellite are shown to be useful for indicating crystal size distributions and onset of melting on glacier snow cover.

Gloersen, P.↗
NASA NTRS1981

IUE detection of bursts of H Ly-alpha emission from Saturn

A new investigation is reported of the potential sources of Ly-alpha emission in a series of observations of the Saturnian system carried out between January and July 1980 using the short wavelength spectrograph of the IUE Observatory. It is noted that north-south maps of the Ly-alpha emission across the planet disk show pronounced spatial asymmetries in emission brightness. These asymmetries vary to a marked extent on a time scale of days and are interpreted as bursts of Ly-alpha emission of as much as 1 kR brightness averaged over a 6 x 10 arcsec area, above a constant planetary emission level of 700-800 R. In fact, the Ly-alpha emission peaks manifest themselves as essentially point source features in these data; it is pointed out that if the emitting region is smaller than the 6 x 10 arcsec instrumental resolution, the surface brightness must be proportionally higher.

Clarke, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Interactive initialization of heat flux parameters for numerical models using satellite temperature measurements

Day/night Heat Capacity Mapping Mission image pairs over Kansas and Indiana were used to examine the spatial variation of moisture availability on the mesoscale. Of particular concern was whether patterns of moisture availability and thermal inertia, as well as surface heat fluxes, respond to significant spatial variations in the rainfall pattern. A temperature analysis for the Indiana case is presented.

Carlson, T. N.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Characteristics of the magnetospheric source of interplanetary energetic particles

The Earth's bow shock is frequently cited as an example of an astrophysical shock where particle acceleration is observed. However, because energetic particles observed upstream of the bow shock may be accelerated within the magnetosphere, it is important to understand the properties of the magnetospheric source. A first order picture of the spatial distribution of magnetospheric particles in the magnetosheath and upstream is obtained by mapping those magnetic field lines which drape over the magnetopause through the bow shock. Subsets of these field lines that connect to potential sites of magnetic merging on the magnetopause are also traced in the event that leakage occurs preferentially where normal components of the field are present across the boundary. The results can be used to determine whether the so-called diffuse particles observed upstream are accelerated locally or within the magnetosphere.

Luhmann, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Maps of millimeter wave emission from three galactic star-forming regions

In order to investigate the gas dynamics around young stellar objects, three sources were mapped which exhibit supersonic velocities in the 115 GHZ, J = 1-0 transition of CO. The maps, made with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory Millimeter Interferometer, are the highest spatial resolution images currently available of millimeter-wave continuum and line emission from the sources S106, S87, and LkHalpha101. Observations were made in the CS (J = 2-1) and C-13O (J = 1-0) transitions. In all the sources, the observations indicate that the ionized stellar wind is sweeping up ambient molecular gas. The molecular gas is found adjacent to the outer edges of the ionized winds, which originate in embedded infrared sources. From the observations presented, it may be inferred that the outflowing ionized winds are channeled by the surrounding dense, neutral gas.

Barsony, Mary↗
NASA NTRS1992

Use of nontraditional flight displays for the reduction of central visual overload in the cockpit

The use of nontraditional flight displays to reduce visual overload in the cockpit was investigated in a dual-task paradigm. Three flight displays (central, peripheral, and ecological) were used between subjects for the primary tasks, and the type of secondary task (object identification or motion judgment) and the presentation of the location of the task in the visual field (central or peripheral) were manipulated with groups. The two visual-spatial tasks were time-shared to study the possibility of a compatibility mapping between task type and task location. The ecological display was found to allow for the most efficient time-sharing.

Weinstein, Lisa F.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Stressed and unstressed Ge:Ga detector arrays for airborne astronomy

The construction and operation of 2D arrays of both unstressed and stressed Ge:Ga photoconductive detectors for far-IR astronomy from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory is presented. The 25 element (5 x 5) arrays are designed for a new cryogenically cooled spectrometer. The 2D spatial array described has the advantage of absolute registry between pixels in a map.

Stacey, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Using the stereokinetic effect to convey depth - Computationally efficient depth-from-motion displays

Recent developments in microelectronics have encouraged the use of 3D data bases to create compelling volumetric renderings of graphical objects. However, even with the computational capabilities of current-generation graphical systems, real-time displays of such objects are difficult, particularly when dynamic spatial transformations are involved. In this paper we discuss a type of visual stimulus (the stereokinetic effect display) that is computationally far less complex than a true three-dimensional transformation but yields an equally compelling depth impression, often perceptually indiscriminable from the true spatial transformation. Several possible applications for this technique are discussed (e.g., animating contour maps and air traffic control displays so as to evoke accurate depth percepts).

Kaiser, Mary K.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Representing spatial information in a computational model for network management

While currently available relational database management systems (RDBMS) allow inclusion of spatial information in a data model, they lack tools for presenting this information in an easily comprehensible form. Computer-aided design (CAD) software packages provide adequate functions to produce drawings, but still require manual placement of symbols and features. This project has demonstrated a bridge between the data model of an RDBMS and the graphic display of a CAD system. It is shown that the CAD system can be used to control the selection of data with spatial components from the database and then quickly plot that data on a map display. It is shown that the CAD system can be used to extract data from a drawing and then control the insertion of that data into the database. These demonstrations were successful in a test environment that incorporated many features of known working environments, suggesting that the techniques developed could be adapted for practical use.

Blaisdell, James H.↗
NASA NTRS1995

The thermal structure and dynamics of the atmosphere of Venus between 70 and 90 km from the Galileo-NIMS spectra

An analysis of thermal profiles and dynamics over a wide range of latitudes for the venusian atmosphere between 70 and 90 km is presented based on high spatial resolution infrared spectra of the night side obtained by the near infrared mapping spectrometer (NIMS) experiment during the Galileo-Venus encounter in February 1990. Using the 4.3-micrometer CO2 absorption band, the temperature profile is retrieved in the 75- to 91-km altitude region over a latitudinal range of -59 deg to +64 deg. Compared to earlier observations from the Pioneer Venus mission, the temperature at 91 km is about 10 K higher and between 74 and 83 km about 3.6 K colder. An equator to pole warming at constant pressure levels is found and implications for the zonal wind profiles are drawn under the assumption that the atmosphere is in cyclostrophic balance in the region of 70 to 90 km. The results are in correspondence with direct wind measurements from ground-based observations at 95 km and 105 km altitude.

Roos-Serote, M.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Global Distribution of Dust, Smoke, Volcanic Ash, and Pollutant Aerosols Seen from Space

New technique for observing aerosols from space, using ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, have been developed during the past three years. The chief benefit from observing aerosols in the UV is that they are easily visible over both land and water. While there is presently more than one satellite that can observe aerosols in the UV, only Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) has a long-term record (since 1979) and adequate spatial resolutions (50 to 100 km) to observe the seasonal and interannual variations, and to locate some of the land sources of dust, smoke, volcanic ash and sulfate pollutants. The data has been assembled into daily images of the atmospheric aerosol loading in terms of optical depth and UV transmittance. For the major sources of aerosols, it is common for at least 50% of the total UV to be absorbed underneath aerosol plumes. This is particularly true for the spectacular smoke plumes originating from the recent Indonesian and Mexican fires, as well as under the huge African dust plumes. The sulfate pollutants are mostly present in the Northern Hemisphere and are associated with regions of high industrial activity. The location and seasonal dependence of these aerosol plumes over Europe and North America will be contrasted with the relatively clean Southern Hemisphere. Because of the success of this technique, it has formed the basis for a new generation of space-borne aerosol detection instruments. These new instruments combine the UV observations with the more traditional visible-wavelength data to obtain a more comprehensive characterization of aerosols that is possible with either UV or visible techniques by themselves.

Herman, Jay R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

A Statistical Study of the Global Structure of the Ring Current

In this paper we derive the average configuration of the ring current as a function of the state of the magnetosphere as indicated by the Dst index. We sort magnetic field data from the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) by spatial location and by the Dst index in order to produce magnetic field maps. From these maps we calculate local current systems by taking the curl of the magnetic field. NN7e find both the westward (outer) and the eastward (inner) components of the ring current. We find that the ring current intensity varies linearly with D.St as expected, and that the ring current is asymmetric for all Dst values. The azimuthal peak of the ring current is located in the afternoon sector for quiet conditions, and near midnight for disturbed conditions. The ring current also moves closer to the Earth during disturbed conditions. We are able to recreate the Dst index by integrating the magnetic perturbations caused by the ring current. We find that we needed to apply a 20 nT offset to Dst, and assume a perfectly conducting Earth to obtain an optimal agreement between the computed and the observed Dst. We interpret the 20 nT offset as the magnetic field generated by the quiet time ring current used as baseline in computing Dst.

Jorgensen, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS2000

BOREAS Level-2 MAS Surface Reflectance and Temperature Images in BSQ Format

The BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) Staff Science Aircraft Data Acquisition Program focused on providing the research teams with the remotely sensed aircraft data products they needed to compare and spatially extend point results. The MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) images, along with other remotely sensed data, were collected to provide spatially extensive information over the primary study areas. This information includes biophysical parameter maps such as surface reflectance and temperature. Collection of the MAS images occurred over the study areas during the 1994 field campaigns. The level-2 MAS data cover the dates of 21-Jul-1994, 24-Jul-1994, 04-Aug-1994, and 08-Aug-1994. The data are not geographically/geometrically corrected; however, files of relative X and Y coordinates for each image pixel were derived by using the C130 navigation data in a MAS scan model. The data are provided in binary image format files.

Hall, Forrest G.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Stray Light Analysis

Based on a Small Business Innovation Research contract from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, TracePro is state-of-the-art interactive software created by Lambda Research Corporation to detect stray light in optical systems. An image can be ruined by incidental light in an optical system. To maintain image excellence from an optical system, stray light must be detected and eliminated. TracePro accounts for absorption, specular reflection and refraction, scattering and aperture diffraction of light. Output from the software consists of spatial irradiance plots and angular radiance plots. Results can be viewed as contour maps or as ray histories in tabular form. TracePro is adept at modeling solids such as lenses, baffles, light pipes, integrating spheres, non-imaging concentrators, and complete illumination systems. The firm's customer base includes Lockheed Martin, Samsung Electronics and other manufacturing, optical, aerospace, and educational companies worldwide.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS2003

Thermophysical Properties of Mars' North Polar Layered Deposits and Related Materials from Mars Odyssey THEMIS

The presence of a thick sequence of horizontal layers of ice-rich material at Mars north pole, dissected by troughs and eroding at its margins, is undoubtedly telling us something about the evolution of Mars climate [1,2] we just don t know what yet. The North Polar Layered Deposits (NPLD) most likely formed as astronomically driven climate variations led to the deposition of conformable, areally extensive layers of ice and dust over the polar region. More recently, the balance seems to have fundamentally shifted to net erosion, as evidenced by the many troughs within the NPLD and the steep, arcuate scarps present near its margins, both of which expose layering. We defined a number of Regions of Interest ROI) for THEMIS to target as part of the Mars Odyssey Participating Scientist program. We use these THEMIS data in order to understand the morphology and color/thermal properties of the NPLD and related materials over relevant (i.e., m to km) spatial scales. We have assembled color mosaics of our ROIs in order to map the distribution of ices, the different layered units, dark material, and underlying basement. The color information from THEMIS is crucial for distinguishing these different units which are less distinct on Mars Orbiter Camera images. We wish to understand the nature of the marginal scarps and their relationship to the dark material. Our next, more ambitious goal is to derive the thermophysical properties of the different geologic materials using THEMIS and Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer TES) data.

Vasavada, A. R.↗