SEARCH · Engineering Papers
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.
Using the precision s- and p-wave elastic-scattering wave functions obtained previously, we have calculated the annihilation rate for positrons colliding with hydrogen atoms below the positronium-formation threshold. The s-wave results agree well with those of Humberston, while the p-wave results, which are new, contribute about 20% of the total at the higher energies.
The observed nonspherical structure of the material ejected during a nova outburst is explained by considering a component of the cataclysmic binaries ignored in previous theories - the ring of material which lies in the equatorial plane and surrounds the white dwarf. When the expanding shell collides with the ring, a shock is formed which heats the material in the ring and in the portion of the shell striking the ring. There is enough energy and density in the expanding shell for it to sweep the ring along, but with a final velocity somewhat lower than the shell moving perpendicular to the ring. The result is a prolate ellipsoid with the long axis perpendicular to the plane of the binary orbit. As the nebulosity evolves, the density remains greater in the equatorial plane than at the polar axis. This hypothesis is supported by calculations of the forbidden emission line ratios which also imply a higher equatorial density.
We have detected absorption features in the far-ultraviolet spectrum of zeta Tau (B3pe), one of which corresponds to a new transition involving quasi-H/-/, and the other to a transition involving quasi-H2/+/. The former transition produces a broad absorption feature on the red wing of L-alpha. It is the result of the absorption of a photon by a ground-state hydrogen atom and colliding electron, and it leads to the excitation of both electrons to the 2p2 3Pe state of H/-/.
The mechanics of the collision and coalescence of liquid droplets is one of the main research areas in the fields of nuclear physics, astrophysics, meteorology and fluid mechanics. The crew members on the Skylab 3 and 4 missions were requested to perform demonstrations of the collision and coalescence of water droplets under the low gravity environment at orbital altitude. In Skylab 4 two water droplets with equal volumes, 30 cu cm each, were used. A dark colored droplet (contaminated with grape drink) moving with a velocity of 3.14 cm/sec collided with a stationary pink colored droplet (contaminated with strawberry drink) and coalescence occurred. Theoretical models are proposed to study the various stages of the collision-coalescence processes. Special considerations are concentrated in the investigation of the bounce-coalescence and coalescence-instability processes. The surface tension of the coalesced droplets was calculated to be 52 dynes/cm in perfect agreement with laboratory measurements made after the flight using a reproduction of the liquids.
A number of recent works are reviewed concerning the generation and emission of gravitational waves. It is shown that at high frequencies, the generation of gravitational radiation is a local phenomenon. Two examples are described illustrating this generation when a high-energy particle collides against the space-time curvature. One, after Matzner and Nutku, uses a method of virtual photons; the other, after Chrzanowski and Misner, is based on the W.K.B. approximation, corresponding to geometric optics, for the inhomogeneous wave equation. This method uses a factorized integral representation of the Green function which is valid asymptotically to infinity in space.
The correlations among the time derivative of the solar-wind velocity, the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), and the IMF turbulence level are examined to test the idea that interaction between two colliding solar-wind streams can generate turbulence in the solar wind and the IMF. Data obtained by Explorer 33 on the solar wind and IMF are described, and the analysis techniques are outlined. The results indicate that the IMF turbulence level, as measured by the variance, is correlated with the existence of positive velocity gradients in the solar wind. It is noted that while the variance is an increasing function of the field magnitude, it is also independently correlated with the solar-wind velocity gradient.
Strong evidence that Io's sodium emission is due to resonant scattering is given by our observations which show a monotonic increase of emission intensity with residual solar intensity. In addition we detected no emission during three eclipse observations of Io. We propose a resonant scattering model with two spacial components comprising an optically thick atmosphere extending 1000 km above Io's surface surrounded by an optically thin cloud which forms a partial torus around Jupiter. In this model, sodium atoms are sputtered from Io's surface by heavy energetic ions which are accelerated in a plasma sheath around Io. The atoms sputtered from the surface collide with atoms in Io's atmosphere so the equipartition of kinetic energy is established. During Io's day, sodium and other atmospheric constituents are ionized, giving rise to the ionosphere observed by Pioneer 10. Atoms escape by means of Jeans escape from the critical level, which is at the top of the atmosphere and the base of the cloud.
One of the dominant electron cooling processes in the ionosphere is caused by electron impact induced fine structure transitions among the ground state levels of atomic oxygen. This fine structure cooling rate is based on theoretical cross sections. Recent advances in the numerical cross section determinations to include polarization effects and more accurate representations of the atomic target result in new lower values. These cross sections are employed in this paper to derive a new fine structure cooling rate which is between 40% and 60% of the currently used rate. A new generalized formula is presented for the cooling rate (from which the fine structure cooling rate is derived), valid for arbitrary mass and temperature difference of the colliding particles and arbitrary inelastic energy difference.
The dynamics of impacts between the nose cap ejected from the space shuttle solid rocket booster and the drogue parachute pack are analyzed. The analysis is restricted to planar impact, and assumes the law of restitution and the possible occurrence of three types of impact, depending on the friction behavior of the colliding surfaces: forward slip; backward slip; no slip (normal rebound). The positions of both bodies and their velocities at the time of impact are required. Seven successive impacts, representing all three types, detected and simulated for the case of nose cap ejection at 20 fps normal to the direction of airflow, with selected coefficients of friction (0.25) and restitution (0.85).
An experiment was conducted at the CERN intersecting storage rings using colliding proton beams to investigate high-multiplicity gamma-ray events. The objective of the study was to reveal certain features of multiple pion production as well as other possible mechanisms of gamma-ray production. The detector system consisted of ten planes of spark chambers, three scintillation counter hodoscopes and two arrays of lead-glass Cerenkov counters, the first array containing 16 counters and the second, 60 counters. The event trigger was obtained from the Cerenkov counters, and the energies in all the Cerenkov counters after trigger, as well as the information on all the charged particles given by the scintillation counters and spark chambers were recorded on magnetic tape. The relationship between the number of gamma-rays per event and the number of Cerenkov counters triggered by a neutral secondary was established by means of a Monte Carlo calculation.
It is proposed that Li-7 is produced in the Galaxy primarily by alpha-alpha collisions surrounding newly born pulsars. About 10 percent of the pulsar energy losses are converted to medium-energy alpha-particles which collide in a dominantly He nebula. The problem of the origin of lithium would be solved by the scenario, and clear-cut tests by nuclear gamma-ray astronomy are described.
One of the dominant electron cooling processes in the ionosphere is caused by electron impact induced fine structure transitions among the ground state levels of atomic oxygen. This fine structure cooling rate is based on theoretical cross sections. Recent advances in the numerical cross section determinations to include polarization effects and more accurate representations of the atomic target result in new lower values. These cross sections are employed in this paper to derive a new fine structure cooling rate which is between 40% and 60% of the currently used rate. A new generalized formula is presented for the cooling rate (from which the fine structure cooling rate is derived), valid for arbitrary mass and temperature difference of the colliding particles and arbitrary inelastic energy difference.
Inclusive gamma-ray experiments were carried out in a e(+)e(-) colliding-beam apparatus with NaI(Tl) arrays as detectors. The inclusive gamma-ray spectra, after cosmic-ray background subtraction, are shown as histograms for the decays of the psi(3095) and psi-prime(3684). The psi spectrum has no significant narrow structure, while the psi-prime spectrum shows at least four peaks. Three major radiative decays of the psi-prime(3684) are found, and their respective branching fractions are computed.
The diameter of the plasma in a quadrupole ionization gauge and quadrupole ion pump has been measured as a function of pressure. The radio-frequency quadrupole systems are tuned in such a way that electrons remain on stable trajectories in the center of the tube. Being emitted at one end, the electrons encounter an inverted field at the other end so that they travel on spiral paths back and forth until they collide with the rest gas molecules, producing ions which are collected as an ion current at a cylinder surrounding the four hyperbolically shaped quadrupole electrodes.
The problem of a 2-p state atom colliding with a singlet sigma state diatom, which involves multiple potential surfaces, is investigated. Within a diabatic representation for the electronic degrees of freedom (plus spin-orbit interaction), coupled scattering equations are derived in both space-fixed and body-fixed coordinate systems. Coefficients, analogous to Percival-Seaton coefficients, are obtained. Approximations to the exact equations, including angular momenta decoupling approximations, are discussed for both the space-fixed and body-fixed formalisms.
A prototype NaI(Tl) detector (the Cluster of 54) of spherical geometry subtending a solid angle of 7.5% of 4pi at its center, has recently been assembled and tested. This detector consists of 54 close-packed but optically isolated NaI(Tl) modules and the associated electronic circuitry. The Cluster of 54 is the predecessor of an almost complete spherical detector, the Crystal Ball, which will cover 94% of 4pi. The latter detector is now under construction and is especially designed for the study of gamma-rays produced in electron-positron collisions at colliding beam facilities. This article outlines the mechanical, optical, and electronic assembly of the prototype system.
A quantitative assessment is made of the long-term risk of earth reencounter and reentry associated with aborted disposal of hazardous material in the space environment. Numerical results are presented for 10 candidate disposal options covering a broad spectrum of disposal destinations and deployment propulsion systems. Based on representative models of system failure, the probability that a single payload will return and collide with earth within a period of 250,000 years is found to lie in the range .0002-.006. Proportionately smaller risk attaches to shorter time intervals. Risk-critical factors related to trajectory geometry and system reliability are identified as possible mechanisms of hazard reduction.
The paper presents a detailed development of the coupled-states approximation for the general case of two colliding diatomic molecules. The high-energy limit of the exact Lippman-Schwinger equation is applied, and the analysis follows the Shimoni and Kouri (1977) treatment of atom-diatom collisions where the coupled rotor angular momentum and projection replace the single diatom angular momentum and projection. Parallels to the expression for the differential scattering amplitude, the opacity function, and the nondiagonality of the T matrix are reported. Symmetrized expressions and symmetrized coupled equations are derived. The present correctly labeled coupled-states theory is tested by comparing its calculated results with other computed results for three cases: H2-H2 collisions, ortho-para H2-H2 scattering, and H2-HCl.