Thermal escape of neutral hydrogen and its distribution in the earth's thermosphere
Effect of thermal escape on neutral hydrogen distribution in upper atmosphere
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Effect of thermal escape on neutral hydrogen distribution in upper atmosphere
The James Web Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared-optimized space telescope scheduled for launch in 2011. This is a continuation of a series of papers on modeling activities for JWST. The structural-thermal-optical, often referred to as STOP, analysis process is used to predict the effect of thermal distortion on optical performance. The benchmark STOP analysis for JWST assesses the effect of an observatory slew on wavefront error. Temperatures predicted using geometric and thermal math models are mapped to a structural finite element model in order to predict thermally induced deformations. Motions and deformations at optical surfaces are then input to optical models, and optical performance is predicted using either an optical ray trace or a linear optical analysis tool. In addition to baseline performance predictions, a process for performing sensitivity studies to assess modeling uncertainties is described.
The thermal Marangoni effect observed on molten JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant presents novel and valuable potential for extraterrestrial manufacturing applications as the effect will be more prominent on extraterrestrial surfaces under higher vacuum and reduced gravity.
The single solar array on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is subjected to a thermal distortion when the spacecraft enters and exits the Earth's shadow. The distortion results in a torque that alters the spacecraft attitude. Due to the sudden nature of the attitude discontinuity, the effect has been termed 'thermal snap'. Thermal snap has also been experienced by Landsats 4 and 5. Analyses by the spacecraft builder addressed the impact of the resultant torque on the onboard control system. This paper discusses the results of comparisons between the predicted effects of thermal snap on UARS and actual attitude solutions from UARS telemetry data. In addition, this paper describes the characteristics of the thermal snap on UARS in terms of maximum displacement, solar beta angle, and solar array drive angle. Comparisons are made between the actual times of thermal snaps and the predicted spacecraft sunrise and sunset times. The effects of the UARS thermal snap are summarized and a general comment is made relating possible effects of thermal snap on other satellites. Also, an analysis of UARS attitude solutions that span periods of thermal snap was performed to determine whether the gyro sampling time of 1/8 second is sufficient to properly model the resulting spacecraft attitude without compromising the accuracy requirements. The results of this analysis are discussed.
Gases effects on UV irradiated thermal control materials spectral reflectance, discussing tests and photolysis mechanisms
The effects of bond and thermal barrier coating compositions, thicknesses, and densities on air plasma spray deposited Ni-Cr-Al-Y/ZrO2-Y2O3 life were evaluated in cyclic furnace oxidation tests at temperatures from 1110 to 1220 C. An empirical relation was developed to give life as a function of the above parameters. The thermal barrier system tested which had the longest life consisted of Ni-35.0 wt% Cr-5.9 wt% Al-0.95 wt% Y bond coating and ZrO2-6.1 wt% Y2O3 thermal barrier coating.
The effects of bond and thermal barrier coating compositions, thicknesses, and densities on air plasma spray deposited Ni-Cr-Al-Y/ZrO2-Y2O3 life were evaluated in cyclic furnace oxidation tests at temperatures from 1110 to 1220 C. An empirical relation was developed to give life as a function of the above parameters. The thermal barrier system tested which had the longest life consisted of Ni-35.0 wt pct Cr-5.9 wt pct Al-0.95 wt pct Y bond coating and ZrO2-6.1 wt pct Y2O3 thermal barrier coating.
The effect of oxidation on the high heat flux behavior of a thermal barrier coating was evaluated by cyclically exposing preoxidized specimens to a 3000 C nitrogen plasma. The thermal barrier coatings consisted of a 0.025 cm layer of air-plasma-sprayed ZrO2-7 percent Y2O3 and a 0.012 cm layer of low pressure-plasma-sprayed NiCoCrAlY applied over 0.13 cm diameter B1900+Hf cylindrical substrates. A gradient of 800 C is produced across the ceramic layer in each 0.5 second exposure. This is much more severe than the gradient encountered on a gas turbine engine. Prior to exposure, the specimens were preoxidized at 1200 C for time from 0 to 20 hours. These coatings were found to be tolerant to the high heat flux plasma flame for all but the most severe preoxidations. However, life degraded rapidly for preoxidation times in excess of 15 hours at 1200 C. A log-log plot of cycles-to-failure vs estimated oxidative weight gain yield a straight or nearly straight line, and this line could be rationalized using an oxidation-based model that was developed previously for low heat flux applications.
Proton and alpha particle effects on thermal properties of spacecraft and solar concentrator coatings of anodic-coated aluminum, zinc oxide/ potassium silicate, etc
Performance of magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) experiments is highly dependent on transport processes including magnetized heat flows and magnetic flux losses. Magnetohydrodynamic simulations used to model these experiments require a choice of model for the transport coefficients, which are the constants of proportionality relating driving terms, such as temperature gradients and currents, to the associated heat and magnetic field transport. The coefficients have been the subject of repeated recalculation using various methods throughout the years. Using a semi-analytic MagLIF model, we compare models for the transport coefficients. The choice of model modifies magnetic-flux losses caused by the Nernst thermoelectric effect and thermal conduction losses. We present simulated results from parameter scans conducted in order to compare the effects of the different models on parameters of interest in MagLIF. In some regions of parameter space, discrepancies of up to 38% are found in integrated quantities like the fusion yield. These results may serve as a guide for experimental validation of the various models, particularly as laser preheat energies and initial axial field strengths are increased on MagLIF experiments.
A number of investigations have been concerned with the kinetic theory and processes associated with a relativistic electron gas. Gould (1981) has considered a condition in which upon the ultimate thermalization the temperature can be such that the electron gas is highly relativistic while the gas of protons and other ions is nonrelativistic. With the nuclear component nonrelativistic but having energies in the MeV range and above, it is necessary to consider the effects of nuclear forces in the scattering of the ions in their thermalization. The effects of nuclear forces in the thermalization of ions in plasmas have been computed, principally in connection with problems of controlle; fusion. The present investigation is concerned with an attempt to express results in analytic form to as great a degree as possible. The p-p problem, which is the fundamental problem in astrophysical plasma, is studied. Attention is given to a low-energy formulation, the s-wave phase shift, the effective stopping number, Fokker-Planck operators, and the interaction with the electron gas.
Proton and alpha particle effects on thermal properties of spacecraft and solar concentrator coating of anodic-coated aluminum, zinc oxide/ potassium silicate, etc
Findings are introduced for thermal emission from individually trapped carbon nanoparticles (NPs) in the temperature range from ~1000 to ~2100 K. We explore the effects on the magnitude and wavelength dependency of the emissivity, ε(λ), of the NP size and charge and of the type of carbon material, including graphite, graphene, diamond, carbon black, and carbon dots. Furthermore, it is found that heating the NPs, particularly to temperatures above ~1900 K, results in significant changes in the emission properties, which is attributed to changes in the distribution of surface and defect sites caused by annealing and sublimation.
The effect of a semi-annular acoustic shield on jet exhaust noise is investigated with the rationale that such a configuration would reduce or eliminate the multiple reflection mechanism. A limited range of flow conditions for one nozzle/shield configuration were studied at model scale. Noise measurements for a 10 cm conical nozzle with a semi-annular acoustical shield are presented in terms of lossless free field data at various angular locations with respect to the nozzle. Measurements were made on both the shielded and unshielded sides of the nozzle. Model scale overall sound pressure level directivity patterns and comparisons of model scale spectral data are provided. The results show that a semi-annular thermal acoustic shield consisting of a low velocity, high temperature gas stream partially surrounding a central jet exhibits lower noise levels than when the central jet is operated alone. The results are presented parametrically, showing the effects of various shield and central system velocities and temperatures.
The chemical-dynamical model of Walterscheid et al. (1987), which describes wave-driven fluctuations in OH nightglow, was modified to include the effects of both eddy thermal conduction and viscosity, as well as the Coriolis force (with the shallow atmosphere approximation). Using the new model, calculations were performed for the same nominal case as used by Walterscheid et al. but with only wave periods considered. For this case, the Coriolis force was found to be unimportant at any wave period. For wave periods greater than 2 or 3 hours, the inclusion of thermal conduction alone greatly modified the results (in terms of a complex ratio 'eta' which expresses the relationship between the intensity oscillation about the time-averaged intensity and the temperature oscillation about the time-averaged temperature); this effect was reduced with the further inclusion of the eddy viscosity.
Ultraviolet and gamma radiation effects on solar absorptance of thermal-control coatings in vacuum chamber
The effect of thermal coupling and the tilt of the earth's magnetic field on interhemispheric coupling is investigated, and, due to a longitudinal displacement in the conjugate points, it is found that the tilt significantly effects the upward flow of H(+) flux such that the maximum upward flux can occur several hours before local sunrise. Heating from the conjugate atmosphere, which accompanies solar illumination in one hemisphere, produces electron temperatures 1000 K higher in the dark than in the sunlit hemisphere, and the morning upward H(+) fluxes in the dark ionosphere are as large as the daytime fluxes. A strong symmetry is also noted in the overall behavior of the H(+) fluxes due to the differing day lengths at the conjugate points, which are separated by 15 deg in latitude. Electron temperatures in the conjugate hemispheres are found to be strongly coupled above the F region peaks, though in the vicinity of the peaks near 250 km, the coupling is weak during the day and strong during the night.
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) photons scatter off the free-electron gas in galaxies and clusters, allowing us to use the CMB as a backlight to probe the gas in and around low-redshift galaxies. The thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect, sourced by hot electrons in high-density environments, measures the thermal pressure of the target objects, shedding light on halo thermodynamics and galaxy formation, and providing a path toward understanding the baryon distribution around cosmic structures. We use a combination of high-resolution CMB maps from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope and photometric luminous red galaxy catalogs from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument to measure the thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich signal in four redshift bins from 𝑧 = 0.4 to 𝑧 = 1.2, with a combined detection significance of 19𝜎 when stacking on the fiducial CMB Compton-𝑦 map. We discuss possible sources of contamination, finding that residual dust emission associated with the target galaxies is important and limits current analyses. We discuss several mitigation strategies and quantify the residual modeling uncertainty. Furthermore, this work complements closely related measurements of the kinematic Sunyaev-Zel’dovich and weak lensing of the same galaxies.