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At least 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS1974

High resolution interferometry of cool stars

A description is given of results obtained in a program of infrared high resolution spectroscopy of cool stars. The nature of infrared stellar spectra is considered along with questions regarding astrophysics and stellar infrared spectroscopy. An abundance analysis for alpha Ori (Betelgeuse) is conducted. The C-12/C-13 abundance ratio is examined and attention is given to the O-16/O-18 and O-16/O-17 abundance ratios. M stars and SiO vibration-rotation bands are discussed and questions regarding the characteristics of the molecular hydrogen quadrupole vibration-rotation lines are explored.

Lambert, D. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Optimization of contaminated oxide inversion layer solar cell

Contaminated oxide cells have been fabricated with efficiencies of 8.6% with values of I sub sc = 120 ma, V sub oc = .54 volts, and curve factor of .73. Attempts to optimize the fabrication step to yield a higher output have not been successful. The fundamental limitation is the inadequate antireflection coating afforded by the silicon dioxide coating used to hold the contaminating ions. Coatings of SiO, therefore, were used to obtain a good antireflection coating, but the thinness of the coatings prevented a large concentration of the contaminating ions, and the cells was weak. Data of the best cell were .52 volts V sub oc, 110 ma I sub sc, .66 CFF and 6.7% efficiency.

Call, R. L.↗

NASA NTRS1976

A study of efficiency in low resistivity silicon solar cells

A general device-analysis program has been utilized to study the efficiency of silicon solar cells. The analysis is applied to specific geometries of both n(+)-p and n(+)-p-p(+) solar cells, and involves a numerical solution of the basic transport and continuity equations. This approach allows solutions that are free of typical limiting assumptions involved in solving the device equations as well as solutions relating to lifetime, mobility variations, and diffused-region profiles. The analysis includes available empirical information on diffusion length, mobility, and lifetime as a function of doping, as well as a Gaussian profile for the diffused region. Results are presented which illustrate the limitations of efficiency as a function of doping. It is found that the maximum efficiencies for both types of cell converge at lower resistivities to around 16% with air-mass-zero radiation and a single-layer absorbing-SiO antireflecting film. It is also found that the minority-carrier lifetime, both in the n(+) surface and p-type bulk regions, presents serious limitations to conversion efficiency, particularly in the low-resistivity cells.

Dunbar, P. M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Theoretical optimization and parametric study of n-on-p Al/x/Ga/1-x/As-GaAs graded band-gap solar cell

A comprehensive theoretical model of the graded band-gap Al(x)Ga(1-x)As-GaAs solar cell is used to optimize the n-on-p cell. The model includes power losses due to surface, bulk, and junction minority-carrier recombination, series resistance, and photon reflection from an SiO antireflection coating of optimum thickness. The optimized cell has a junction depth/graded band-gap layer thickness of 1.0 micron, respective donor and acceptor concentrations of 4 x 10 to the 17th power and 2 x 10 to the 17th power per cu cm, and a surface AlAs mode fraction of x = 0.35. The optimized graded band-gap cell has an air-mass-zero efficiency of 17.7% (not corrected for a 13% front surface contact area) and is shown to be less sensitive than a similar n-on-p GaAs cell to material degradation in the form of decreased minority-carrier diffusion lengths and increased surface-recombination velocity

Hutchby, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Interstellar molecules

Progress in the discovery and study of interstellar molecules is summarized. The 36 molecular species thus far identified in interstellar space are listed in several groups which include simple hydrides, oxides, and sulfides, various derivatives of ammonia, molecules involving linear carbon chains, cyanides, and molecules related in structure to formaldehyde, alcohols, or ethers. Several free radicals are described, the discovery of molecules in external galaxies is discussed, and possible mechanisms for molecular formation are noted. Methods for examining relative isotopic abundances by measuring molecules in interstellar clouds are outlined, mechanisms for the excitation of interstellar molecules are reviewed, and values are presented for the C-12/C-13 abundance ratio in a number of interstellar clouds. The detection of interstellar masers is discussed along with pumping mechanisms and masing transitions in H2CO, CH, OH, and SiO. The nature of dense interstellar clouds is examined in terms of several simple and complex cloud models, with emphasis on multiple condensation models.

Townes, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Silicon monoxide in the 4 micron infrared spectrum of long-period variables

The first-overtone sequence of vibration-rotation transitions of the free radical silicon monoxide are shown to have extreme phase-dependent variations in the spectra of two M-type long-period variables, Omicron Ceti and R Leonis, and the mild S-type long-period variable, Chi Cygni. At maximum light, the SiO band heads are not detectable. Near minimum light, the band heads of (Si-25)O are detected in the 4-micron spectra of all three stars. The band heads of the terrestrially less abundant isotopic species, (Si-29)O and (Si-30)O, are detected in Chi Cygni. Possible explanations of the phase-dependent behavior are discussed, and the role of the stellar chromosphere is considered.

Hinkle, K. H.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Distribution of the pre-solar component in Allende and other carbonaceous chondrites

Detailed analyses of separated phases of several Allende Ca-Al-rich inclusions are reported which reveal a consistent pattern of large O-16 enrichments in spinel, pyroxene, and sometimes olivine, and small O-16 enrichments in melilite, feldspathoids, and grossular. The heterogeneous distribution of the O-16 excesses, together with their enhancement in minerals believed to be early solar nebular condensates, suggests the existence of pre-solar carriers of the isotopic anomaly, probably grains or molecules with oxygen which was nearly pure O-16. Pre-solar grains of corundum or spinel, and pre-solar molecules of SiO are considered possibilities. Excess O-16, relative to terrestrial abundances, has been found in all samples of C2, C3 (the Allende is this kind), and C4 carbonaceous chondrites which have been analyzed. No direct correlation has yet been observed between the oxygen anomalies and isotope anomalies in neon, magnesium, or xenon.

Clayton, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Aerothermodynamic environment for Jovian entry with silica heat shield

Solutions are presented for the stagnation-region shock-layer equations, including radiative transfer with spectral lines and silica ablation during Jovian entry. Results for variations of entry angle, sphere-cone configuration, and atmospheric model are given. The effect of silica ablation on the radiative and convective surface heating is correlated with the ratio of the wall to free-stream mass flux. Correlations are also given for spectral distributions. The effect of newly obtained SiO radiation properties on the surface heating is examined.

Green, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1978

An experimental investigation of the condensation of silicate grains

Results are presented for a series of laboratory experiments designed to investigate the nucleation of small silicate grains from a vapor of astrophysically significant elements and compounds. In the experiments, magnesium silicate grains were condensed by simultaneously evaporating Mg and SiO solids into an atmosphere of argon or hydrogen at a pressure of a few torr. The results show that at low temperatures (up to a few hundred degrees C) the condensates are amorphous grains and have widely varying stoichiometries. The thermodynamically most stable compounds (Mg2SiO4, MgSiO3, SiO2) do not form readily, but all initial condensates can be converted to crystalline forsterite (Mg2SiO4) by heating to 1000 C in vacuum. At higher temperatures (above 700 K) it becomes more difficult to nucleate any silicates, and those that do form are amorphous, indicating that surface energies and kinetic effects are very important in determining under what conditions condensation will occur. The IR spectra of the experimentally produced magnesium silicates are found to have a strong resemblance to those observed in many astronomical clouds.

Day, K. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Identification of the 3.9 micron absorption band in carbon stars

With a 1.7% spectral-resolution filter-wheel spectrometer, 1.2-5.2-micron spectra have been obtained for a sample of carbon stars. The previously unidentified 3.9-micron band is attributed to a combination of CS and C2H2. The first observation of SiO in a carbon star is also reported.

Bregman, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Orbiter multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM)/Space Lab Bus Interface Unit (SL/BIU) serial data interface evaluation, volume 2

Tests were performed to evaluate the operating characteristics of the interface between the Space Lab Bus Interface Unit (SL/BIU) and the Orbiter Multiplexer-Demultiplexer (MDM) serial data input-output (SIO) module. This volume contains the test equipment preparation procedures and a detailed description of the Nova/Input Output Processor Simulator (IOPS) software used during the data transfer tests to determine word error rates (WER).

Tobey, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1978

The eight micron band of silicon monoxide in the expanding cloud around VY Canis Majoris

Observations of vibration-rotation transitions of silicon monoxide in VY CMa show that the lines originate in accelerating, expanding, and cool (600 K) layers of a circumstellar cloud at a distance of roughly 0.15 minutes from the central star. The central stellar velocity, as estimated from observed SiO P Cygni line profiles, is somewhat redshifted from the midpoint of the maser emission features. Most of the silicon is probably in the form of dust grains. The isotopic ratios of silicon are nearly terrestrial.

Geballe, T. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Silicon Solar Cell Process Development, Fabrication and Analysis

Ribbon to Ribbon (RTR) solar cells processed from polycrystalline feedstock showed maximum AMO efficiency of 5.6%. Solar cells from single crystalline feedstock showed slightly higher efficiency than those from polycrystalline feedstock, indicating maximum efficiency of about 6.6% with SiO AR coating. Single crystalline control cells gave 11-12% AMO efficiencies demonstrating that the poor performance of the RTR solar was due to the low quality of material itself. Dendritic web solar cells from the standard process showed maximum AMO efficiency of 9.8% while efficiency of control solar cells were around 11-12%. Web solar cells from back surface field (BSF) process indicated maximum AMO efficiency of 10.9%. Some improvement in open circuit voltage was noticed from the BSF process. Small light spot scanning experiments were carried out on the solar cells from Wacker Silso, EFG, RTR, and dendritic web ribbons. Photoresponse results provided information on localized cell performance and grain size in polycrystalline material, and agreed quite well with the cell performance data, such as efficiency, minority carrier diffusion length, and spectral response.

Yoo, H. I.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Development and evaluation of die and container materials. Low cost silicon solar array project

Specific compositions of high purity silicon aluminum oxynitride (Sialon) and silicon beryllium oxynitride (Sibeon) solid solutions were shown to be promising refractory materials for handling and manipulating solar grade silicon into silicon ribbon. Evaulation of the interaction of these materials in contact with molten silicon indicated that solid solutions based upon beta-Si3N4 were more stable than those based on Si2N2O. Sibeon was more resistant to molten silicon attack than Sialon. Both materials should preferably be used in an inert atmosphere rather than under vacuum conditions because removal of oxygen from the silicon melt occurs as SiO enhances the dissolution of aluminum and beryllium. The wetting angles of these materials were low enough for these materials to be considered as both die and container materials.

Wills, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A shock-tube measurement of the SiO/E 1 Sigma + - X 1 Sigma +/ transition moment

The sum of the squares of the electronic transition moments for the (E 1 Sigma +) - (X 1 Sigma +) band system of SiO has been determined from absorption measurements conducted in the reflected-shock region of a shock tube. The test gas produced by shock-heating a mixture of SiCl4, N2O, and Ar, and the spectra were recorded photographically in the 150-230-nm wavelength range. The values of the sum of the squares were determined by comparing the measured absorption spectra with those produced by a line-by-line synthetic spectrum calculation. The value so deduced at an r-centroid value of 3.0 bohr was 0.86 + or - 0.10 atomic unit.

Park, C.↗

NASA NTRS1979

The 8 micron band of silicon monoxide in the expanding cloud around VY Canis Majoris

Observations of vibration-rotation transitions of silicon monoxide in VY CMa show that the lines originate in accelerating, expanding, and cool (about 600 K) layers of a circumstellar cloud at a distance of approximately 0.15 arcsec from the central star. The central stellar velocity, as estimated from observed SiO P Cygni line profiles, is somewhat redshifted from the midpoint of the maser emission features. Most of the silicon is probably in the form of dust grains. The isotopic ratios of silicon are nearly terrestrial.

Geballe, T. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Growth, evaluation and modeling of silicon-on-ceramic solar cells

The silicon-on-ceramic (SOC) process uses inexpensive ceramic substrates to provide supported growth of silicon from the melt. The conditions for unidirectional solidification, the grain structure and other properties are quite similar to those of EFG silicon ribbon. Solar cells with interdigital electrodes have demonstrated AMl conversion efficiencies (active area) of 7.8% without AR coatings and 10.1% efficiencies with an AR coating of SiO. Mathematical modeling of the series resistance of cells shows the feasibility of making electrical contact to the base layer of the cell through slots in the substrate. However, series resistance in the base layer sets an upper limit on slot spacing for efficient cell performance.

Zook, J. D.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Molecular diagnostics of interstellar shocks

The chemistry of molecules in shocked regions of the interstellar gas is considered and calculations are carried out for a region subjected to a shock at a velocity of 8 km/sec. Substantial enhancements are predicted in the concentrations of the molecules H2S, SO, and SiO compared to those anticipated in cold interstellar clouds.

Hartquist, T. W.↗