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At least 163 records · Page 9

V/STOL shaft propulsion system analytical performance model

Several classes of system performance simulations of V/STOL propulsion systems are presented. A digital simulation approach for a typical system (a propulsion system made up of three engines, shafts and gearbox, and remote lift fan) is given with a description of the general philosophy, solution options and model flexibility.

Sulkoske, R. A.↗

Soil spectra contributions to grass canopy spectral reflectance

The soil or background spectra contribution to grass canopy spectral reflectance for the 0.35 to 0.80 micron region was investigated using in situ collected spectral reflectance data. Regression analysis was used to estimate accurately the unexposed soil spectral reflectance and to quantify maxima and minima for soil-green vegetation reflection contrasts.

Tucker, C. J.↗

Detection of X-ray emission from 3C 120

X-rays from a region containing the nucleus of the type 1 Seyfert galaxy 3C 120 have been detected using the rotating modulation collimator on board the SAS-3 X-ray observatory. The error circle has a 95% error radius of 1.0 arcmin. The measured X-ray (2-10 keV) flux is 5.4 by 10 to the -11th power erg/s per sq cm. The corresponding luminosity is 2.3 by 10 to the 44th power erg/s for the source at 200 Mpc. Synchrotron-Compton and hot plasma models are discussed.

Schnopper, H. W.↗

The molecular complexes in Orion

Line emission from CO at 2.6 mm is observed over an area of 28 square degrees in the Orion region. Most of the emission comes from two giant molecular complexes, roughly associated with Ori B and Ori A. The latter provides the best example of a giant molecular complex at the end of a sequence of OB association subgroups of decreasing age. This complex is apparently rotating with an angular velocity 4.5 by 10 to the -15th power per sec, but in a direction opposed to the Galactic rotation. The apparently denser parts of the cloud are rotating at a somewhat greater angular velocity. The total mass of the molecular gas derived from the observations is 200,000 solar masses, implying that roughly half the matter in this region is in the form of molecular hydrogen.

Kutner, M. L.↗

Resolution of grass canopy biomass classes

Analysis of variance methods has been applied to in situ grassland spectral reflectance data in order to determine the classes or levels of total wet biomass that can be resolved spectrally by a single narrow band measurement. Ground-truth clipping of blue grama grass plots was performed immediately following spectral reflectance measurements at 91 wavelength intervals which were 0.005 microns apart over the spectral range from 0.350 to 0.800 microns. It was found that the photographic infrared region of 0.750 to 0.800 microns could be used to distinguish three classes or levels of total wet biomass. Four or five classes, particularly at higher biomass levels, could not be distinguished by this technique.

Tucker, C. J.↗

Structure of the X-ray source in the Virgo cluster of galaxies

High-angular-resolution observations in the 0.15-1.5-keV band with an imaging X-ray telescope shows the extended X-ray source in the Virgo cluster of galaxies to be a diffuse halo of about 15 arcmin core radius surrounding M87. The angular structure of the surface brightness is marginally consistent with either of two simple models: (1) an isothermal (or adiabatic or hydrostatic) sphere plus a point source at M87 accounting for 12% of the total 0.5-1.5-keV intensity or (2) a power-law function without a discrete point source. No evidence for a point source is seen in the 0.15-0.28-keV band, which is consistent with self-absorption by about 10 to the 21st power per sq cm of matter having a cosmic abundance. The power-law models are motivated by the idea that radiation losses regulate the accretion of matter onto M87 and can account for the observed difference in the size of the X-ray source as seen in the present measurements and at higher energies.

Gorenstein, P.↗

Viking Lander imaging investigation: Picture catalog of primary mission experiment data record

All the images returned by the two Viking Landers during the primary phase of the Viking Mission are presented. Listings of supplemental information which described the conditions under which the images were acquired are included together with skyline drawings which show where the images are positioned in the field of view of the cameras. Subsets of the images are listed in a variety of sequences to aid in locating images of interest. The format and organization of the digital magnetic tape storage of the images are described. The mission and the camera system are briefly described.

Tucker, R. B.↗

Hand-held radiometer red and photographic infrared spectral measurements of agricultural crops

Red and photographic infrared radiance data, collected under a variety of conditions at weekly intervals throughout the growing season using a hand-held radiometer, were used to monitor crop growth and development. The vegetation index transformation was used to effectively compensate for the different irradiational conditions encountered during the study period. These data, plotted against time, compared the different crops measured by comparing their green leaf biomass dynamics. This approach, based entirely upon spectral inputs, closely monitors crop growth and development and indicates the promise of ground-based hand-held radiometer measurements of crops.

Tucker, C. J.↗

A spectral method for determining the percentage of live herbage material in clipped samples

A laboratory spectroradiometric method for the rapid determination of live/dead vegetation percentages from clipped grass samples has been developed and preliminarily tested. The method utilizes the red and photographic infrared reflectance or radiance differences between green vegetation and that of dead vegetation. Mixtures of green and dead material were found to have reflectances or radiances proportional to the percentage of green material present. This method offers the possibility that rapid live/dead spectroradiometric determinations may replace the tedious hand-sorting now generally in use for many situations.

Tucker, C. J.↗

Monitoring corn and soybean crop development by remote sensing techniques

A system for spectrally monitoring the stages of crop development for corn and soybeans based upon red and photographic infrared spectral radiances is proposed. The red and photographic infrared spectral radiance, highly correlated with the green leaf area index or green leaf biomass, enable nondestructive monitoring of the crop canopy throughout the growing season. Five distinct periods are apparent which are related to crop development for corn and soybeans.

Tucker, C. J.↗

An evaluation of the first four LANDSAT-D thematic mapper reflective sensors for monitoring vegetation: A comparison with other satellite sensor systems

The first four LANDSAT-D thematic mapper sensors were evaluated and compared to: the return beam vidicon (RBV) and multispectral scanners (MSS) sensors from LANDSATS 1, 2, and 3; Colvocoresses' proposed 'operational LANDSAT' three band system; and the French SPOT three band system using simulation/intergration techniques and in situ collected spectral reflectance data. Sensors were evaluated by their ability to discriminate vegetation biomass, chlorophyll concentration, and leaf water content. The thematic mapper and SPOT bands were found to be superior in a spectral resolution context to the other three sensor systems for vegetational applications. Significant improvements are expected for most vegetational analyses from LANDSAT-D thematic mapper and SPOT imagery over MSS and RBV imagery.

Tucker, C. J.↗

Red and photographic infrared linear combinations for monitoring vegetation

In situ collected spectrometer data were used to evaluate and quantify the relationships between various linear combinations of red and photographic infrared radiances and experimental plot biomass, leaf water content, and chlorophyll content. The radiance variables evaluated included the red and photographic infrared (IR) radiance and the linear combinations of the IR/red ratio, the square root of th IR/red difference, the vegetation index, and the transformed vegetation index. In addition, the corresponding green and red linear combinations were evaluated for comparative purposes. Three data sets were used from June, September, and October sampling periods. Regression analysis showed the increase utility of the IR and red linear combinations vis-a-vis the same green and red linear combinations. The red and IR linear combinations had 7% and 14% greater regression significance than the green and red linear combinations for the June and September sampling periods, respectively. The VI, TVI, and square root of the IR/red ration were the most significant followed closely by the IR/red ratio. Less than 6% difference separated the highest and lowest of these four IR and red linear combinations. The use of these linear combinations was shown to be sensitive primarily to the green leaf area or green leaf biomass.

Tucker, C. J.↗

The effect of secondary impurities on solar cell performance

Czochralski and float zone sigle crystals of silicon were doped with the primary impurities B or P so that a resistivity of 0.5 ohm cm resulted, and in addition doped with certain secondary impurities including Al, C, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, O, Ti, V, and Zr. The actual presence of these impurities was confirmed by analysis of the crystals. Solar cell performance was evaluated and found to be degraded most significantly by Ti, V, and Zr and to some extent by most of the secondary impurities considered. These results are of significance to the low cost silicon program, since any such process would have to yield at least tolerable levels of these impurities.

Hill, D. E.↗

Processing the Viking lander camera data

Over 1000 camera events were returned from the two Viking landers during the Primary Mission. A system was devised for processing camera data as they were received, in real time, from the Deep Space Network. This system provided a flexible choice of parameters for three computer-enhanced versions of the data for display or hard-copy generation. Software systems allowed all but 0.3% of the imagery scan lines received on earth to be placed correctly in the camera data record. A second-order processing system was developed which allowed extensive interactive image processing including computer-assisted photogrammetry, a variety of geometric and photometric transformations, mosaicking, and color balancing using six different filtered images of a common scene. These results have been completely cataloged and documented to produce an Experiment Data Record.

Levinthal, E. C.↗

Observational constraints on the models for Cygnus X-3

Observations of Cygnus X-3 made by the ANS and Uhuru satellites have shown significant X-ray flux variability on a time scale of hours. No spectral change was observed associated with these fluctuations. Significant intensity and spectral changes were found on a time scale of months with an inverse correlation between the source intensity and the temperature, and possibly the low-energy cutoff. The spectrum studies have confirmed the existence of an excess above the fitted continuum which can be interpreted as line emission of Fe XXIV and/or Fe XXV at about 6.7 keV. Phenomenological models for Cygnus X-3 are discussed; the observational data are best interpreted by assuming that a scattering and absorbing shell is symmetrically placed around the X-ray source.

Parsignault, D. R.↗

Boolean differentiation and integration using Karnaugh maps

Algorithms are presented for differentiation and integration of Boolean functions by means of Karnaugh maps. The algorithms are considered simple when the number of variables is six or less; in this case Boolean differentiation and integration is said to be as easy as the Karnaugh map method of simplifying switching functions. It is suggested that the algorithms would be useful in the analysis of faults in combinational systems and in the synthesis of asynchronous sequential systems which utilize edge-sensitive flip-flops.

Tucker, J. H.↗

Stimulated-emission cross section at 1064 and 1342 nm in Nd:YVO4

The stimulated-emission cross sections at 1064 and 1342 nm in Nd:YVO4 were determined by measurement of laser thresholds as a function of output mirror reflectivity. Small samples of Nd:YVO4 and Nd:YAG were end pumped at room temperature with a CW 514.5-nm argon ion laser in an almost identical geometrical arrangement which permitted comparative values to be obtained. Assuming that the pumping quantum efficiency of Nd:YVO is similar to that of Nd:YAG, the stimulated-emission cross sections obtained for the 1064- and 1342-nm transitions were respectively 12 x 10 to the -19th and 6.0 x 10 to the -19th/sq cm.

Tucker, A. W.↗

Dynamics of the quiescent solar corona

An analytical model for the quiescent inhomogeneous solar corona is developed on the basis of the hypothesis that looplike structures are the basic coronal building blocks. By assuming that quiescent loop structures observed in X-rays are in hydrostatic equilibrium, it is demonstrated that such loops must have their temperature maximum located near their apex and that substantial nonradiative energy deposition must occur along most of their length. The calculations yield a unique relation among loop temperature, pressure, and size, which fits the X-ray observations of quiescent structures well and is consistent with the initial assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. The results suggest that the coronal loops visible in X-rays represent a relatively steady-state equilibrium of the confined plasmas and that fluctuations in such quantities as the local heating rate can lead to dynamically unstable states in which the loop plasma does not attain a temperature sufficient for X-ray emission. A parameterization of various proposed coronal heating theories is also developed within the context of the analytical model.

Rosner, R.↗