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At least 1,657 records · Page 92

Ultra-soft magnetic properties and correlated phase analysis by {sup 57}Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of Fe{sub 74}Cu{sub 0.8}Nb{sub 2.7}Si{sub 15.5}B{sub 7} alloy

A detailed study of magnetic softness has been performed on FINEMENT type of ribbons by investigating the BH loop with maximum applied field of 960 A/m. The ribbon with the composition of Fe{sub 74}Cu{sub 0.8}Nb{sub 2.7}Si{sub 15.5}B{sub 7} was synthesized by rapid solidification technique and the compositions volume fraction was controlled by changing the annealing condition. Detail phase analysis was performed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Mössbauer spectroscopy in order to correlate the ultrasoft magnetic properties with the volume fraction of amorphous and α-Fe(Si) soft nano composites. Bright (BF) and dark field (DF) image with selective area diffraction (SAD) patterns by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the sample annealed for the optimized annealed condition at 853 K for 3 min reveals nanocrystals with an average size between 10-15 nm possessing the bcc structure which matches with the grain size revealed by the X-ray diffraction. Kinetics of crystallization of α-Fe(Si) phases has been determined by DSC curves. Extremely small coercivity of 30.9 A/m and core loss of 2.5 W/Kg for the sample annealed at 853 K for 3 min was found. Similar values for other crystalline conditions were determined by using BH loop tracer with a maximum applied field of around 960 A/m. Mössbauer spectroscopy was used to determine chemical shift, hyperfine field distribution (HFD), and peak width of different phases. The volume fractions of the relative amount of amorphous and crystalline phases are also determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. High saturation magnetization along with ultrasoft magnetic properties exhibits very high potentials technological applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The dependence of tungsten fuzz layer thickness and porosity on tungsten deposition rate and helium ion fluence

Abstract Fuzz formation on a heated tungsten surface in the presence of a helium-containing plasma and tungsten deposition source was investigated. Tungsten samples were exposed at 1123 K to pure helium plasma with ion incident energy of 76 eV, W/He ion flux ratio of ∼ 0.4 × 10 − 4 , and varied helium ion fluence from 0.18 to 3.4 × 10 26 m −2 . Fuzz thickness was measured by cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy to increase from 0.22 to 15 µ m with increasing helium ion fluence. No indication of saturation in fuzz thickness at high fluence was observed, in contrast to fuzz produced on a tungsten surface without tungsten deposition. Additional tungsten samples were exposed at 1123 K to pure helium plasma with ion incident energy of 76 eV, helium ion fluence of ∼ 3.4 × 10 26 m −2 , and varied W/He ion flux ratio from 0.26 to 3.0 × 10 − 4 . Fuzz thickness increased from 7.5 to 120 µ m with increasing W/He ion ratio. A final sample exposed at 1123 K to a mixed helium-deuterium plasma with ion incident energy of 76 eV, helium ion fluence of 0.18 × 10 26 m −2 , and W/He ion flux ratio of 2.2 × 10 − 4 developed nearly identical fuzz structures to that developed in a pure He plasma. As a function of deposited tungsten fluence, all results were found to trace out a single layer-growth curve given by a power law relation, indicating that fuzz thickness is independent of the W/He ion flux ratio in the range investigated and independent of any deuterium present in the plasma. As a result, for tungsten plasma facing walls in magnetic fusion devices at 1000–2000 K with 10 −4 W/He ion flux ratio, fuzz with thicknesses greater than hundreds of microns may form in as little as 10 4 s (in the absence of ELM-induced erosion or annealing), and may more significantly affect its thermophysical properties than fuzz generated without a tungsten deposition source.

Physics↗

A 'BOOSTED FIREBALL' MODEL FOR STRUCTURED RELATIVISTIC JETS

We present a model for relativistic jets which generates a particular angular distribution of Lorentz factor and energy per solid angle. We consider a fireball with specific internal energy E/M launched with bulk Lorentz factor γ {sub B}. In its center-of-momentum frame the fireball expands isotropically, converting its internal energy into radially expanding flow with asymptotic Lorentz factor η{sub 0} ∼ E/M. In the lab frame the flow is beamed, expanding with Lorentz factor Γ = 2η{sub 0}γ {sub B} in the direction of its initial bulk motion and with characteristic opening angle θ{sub 0} ∼ 1/γ {sub B}. The flow is jet-like with Γθ{sub 0} ∼ 2η{sub 0} such that jets with Γ > 1/θ{sub 0} are naturally produced. The choice η{sub 0} ∼ γ {sub B} ∼ 10 yields a jet with Γ ∼ 200 on-axis and angular structure characterized by opening angle θ{sub 0} ∼ 0.1 of relevance for cosmological gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), while γ {sub B} ∼> 1 may be relevant for low-luminosity GRBs. The model produces a family of outflows, of relevance for different relativistic phenomena with structures completely determined by η{sub 0} and γ {sub B}. We calculate the energy per unit solid angle for the model and use it to compute light curves for comparison with the widely used top-hat model. The jet break in the boosted fireball light curve is greatly subdued when compared to the top-hat model because the edge of the jet is smoother than for a top-hat. This may explain missing jet breaks in afterglow light curves.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Framework for phase transitions between the Maxwell and Gibbs constructions

By taking the nucleon-to-quark phase transition within a neutron star as an example, we present a thermodynamically consistent method to calculate the equation of state of ambient matter so that transitions that are intermediate to those of the familiar Maxwell and Gibbs constructions can be described. This method does not address the poorly known surface tension between the two phases microscopically (as, for example, in the calculation of the core pasta phases via the Wigner-Seitz approximation) but instead combines the local and global charge neutrality conditions characteristic of the Maxwell and Gibbs constructions, respectively. Overall charge neutrality is achieved by dividing the leptons to those that obey local charge neutrality (Maxwell) and those that maintain global charge neutrality (Gibbs). The equation of state is obtained by using equilibrium constraints derived from minimizing the total energy density. The results of this minimization are then used to calculate neutron star mass-radius curves, tidal deformabilities, equilibrium and adiabatic sound speeds, and nonradial g-mode oscillation frequencies for several intermediate constructions. Various quantities of interest transform smoothly from their Gibbs structures to those of Maxwell as the local-to-total electron ratio η, introduced to mimic the hadron-to-quark interface tension from 0 (Gibbs) to ∞ (Maxwell), is raised from 0 to 1. As a result, a notable exception is the g-mode frequency for the specific case of η = 1 for which a gap appears between the quark and hadronic branches.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Finite element analysis of large transient elastic-plastic deformations of simple structures, with application to the engine rotor fragment containment/deflection problem

Assumed-displacement versions of the finite-element method are developed to predict large-deformation elastic-plastic transient deformations of structures. Both the conventional and a new improved finite-element variational formulation are derived. These formulations are then developed in detail for straight-beam and curved-beam elements undergoing (1) Bernoulli-Euler-Kirchhoff or (2) Timoshenko deformation behavior, in one plane. For each of these categories, several types of assumed-displacement finite elements are developed, and transient response predictions are compared with available exact solutions for small-deflection, linear-elastic transient responses. The present finite-element predictions for large-deflection elastic-plastic transient responses are evaluated via several beam and ring examples for which experimental measurements of transient strains and large transient deformations and independent finite-difference predictions are available.

Wu, R. W.↗

The ATS-5 solar cell experiment after 6-1/2 years in synchronous orbit

Several types of solar cell/coverslide combinations were launched into synchronous orbit. The cells were 2 and 10 ohm-cm crucible-grown silicon with thicknesses of 0.2 and 0.3 mm. Coverslides were fused silica, ranging in thickness from 0.15 to 1.52 mm. The cells were mounted on two panels, one a rigid aluminum honeycomb structure, giving essentially infinite backshielding; the other was a thin Kapton-fiberglass substrate, offering minimal protection to the rear surface of the cells. The current-voltage curves of the cells were measured. Correction of cell electrical output to standard temperature and solar intensity was performed, using empirical radiation-dependent corrections. It is found that the cells on the flexible panel degrade much more rapidly than predicted, while the rigid panel cells follow the predictions fairly well. The anomalous behavior of the flexible panel cells is attributed to the deposition of a contaminant on the cell coverslides.

Anspaugh, B.↗

Neutron star evolution and results from the Einstein X-ray Observatory

The evolution of neutron stars is reexamined using current knowledge of their structure and the available microphysics, including general relativistic effects, improved opacities, and cooling by the emission of neutrinos from a pion condensate or from free quarks. Theoretical cooling curves are compared with observations performed with the Einstein X-ray Observatory. It is found that current soft X-ray observations of pulsars and young supernova remnants do not require stars with a pion condensate or free quarks.

Van Riper, K. A.↗

The reflection nebula NGC 1999

The properties of dust particles in regions of recent star formation often seem to be different from the 'average galactic' dust properties. The present investigation is concerned with a determination of the ratio of nebular intensity to the stellar flux for the system NGC 1999/V380 Ori in the ultraviolet. It is found that the stellar flux curve in the ultraviolet agrees surprisingly well with the corresponding curve for the system NGC 7023/HD 200775. This is at least compatible with the assumption that the dust properties in NGC 1999, as well as the basic geometric structure of the reflection nebula, are very similar to those in NGC 7023.

Cardelli, J. A.↗

The 7 and 25 June 1985 Neptune occultations - Constraints on the putative Neptune 'arc'

Data were obtained on stellar occultations by Neptune on June 7 and 25, 1985 in an attempt to validate previous data which supported the presence of a ring-like 'arc' near the planet. The data were taken with an IR photometer at the South African Astronomical Observatory using continuous measurements at 2.2 microns. One dip was observed in the light curve of an occulted binary star. The dip was similar to a previously observed dip and, because no dip was seen for the companion star, indicated a discontinuous structure. Two estimates, around 62,600 and 63,760 km, are made for the equatorial radius of the potential arc structure, which may be discontinuous on a scale of a few thousand kilometers.

Covault, C. E.↗

Analysis of coupled cylindrical striplines filled with multilayered dielectrics

A method of analysis for coupled cylindrical striplines filled with multilayered dielectrics is presented that uses a variational technique in the space domain. Coupled-mode analysis is presented for the case of a pair of coupled circular arc strips arbitrarily located between cylindrical ground planes filled with multilayered dielectrics. An even- and odd-mode approach is used for the analysis of shielded cylindrically curved edge-coupled pairs of broad-side parallel strips (broad-side, edge-coupled cylindrical striplines). The effect of environmental changes on an otherwise planar structure is also studied by extending the present analysis to cylindrically warped coupled striplines.

Reddy, C. Jagadeswara↗

Determining XV-15 aeroelastic modes from flight data with frequency-domain methods

The XV-15 tilt-rotor wing has six major aeroelastic modes that are close in frequency. To precisely excite individual modes during flight test, dual flaperon exciters with automatic frequency-sweep controls were installed. The resulting structural data were analyzed in the frequency domain (Fourier transformed). All spectral data were computed using chirp z-transforms. Modal frequencies and damping were determined by fitting curves to frequency-response magnitude and phase data. The results given in this report are for the XV-15 with its original metal rotor blades. Also, frequency and damping values are compared with theoretical predictions made using two different programs, CAMRAD and ASAP. The frequency-domain data-analysis method proved to be very reliable and adequate for tracking aeroelastic modes during flight-envelope expansion. This approach required less flight-test time and yielded mode estimations that were more repeatable, compared with the exponential-decay method previously used.

Acree, C. W., Jr.↗

Mechanical and thermal buckling analysis of sandwich panels under different edge conditions

By using the Rayleigh-Ritz method of minimizing the total potential energy of a structural system, combined load (mechanical or thermal load) buckling equations are established for orthotropic rectangular sandwich panels supported under four different edge conditions. Two-dimensional buckling interaction curves and three dimensional buckling interaction surfaces are constructed for high-temperature honeycomb-core sandwich panels supported under four different edge conditions. The interaction surfaces provide easy comparison of the panel buckling strengths and the domains of symmetrical and antisymmetrical buckling associated with the different edge conditions. Thermal buckling curves of the sandwich panels also are presented. The thermal buckling conditions for the cases with and without thermal moments were found to be identical for the small deformation theory. In sandwich panels, the effect of transverse shear is quite large, and by neglecting the transverse shear effect, the buckling loads could be overpredicted considerably. Clamping of the edges could greatly increase buckling strength more in compression than in shear.

Ko, William L.↗

HST UV observations of the accretion disk corona X-ray binary X1822-371

The Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has provided the first ultraviolet orbital light curve of the low-mass X-ray binary X1822-371. The shape of the UV light curve changes with wavelength providing the first direct clues to the temperature of the various system components. The data support the idea that the system contains a thick, structured accretion disk.

Puchnarewicz, E. M.↗

Investigation of Composite Structures

This final report consists of a compilation of four separate written documents, three dealing with the response and failure of elliptical composite cylinders to an internal pressure load, and the fourth dealing with the influence of manufacturing imperfections in curved composite panels. The three focused on elliptical cylinders consist of the following: 1 - A paper entitled "Progressive Failure Analysis of Internally Pressurized Elliptical Composite Cylinders," 2 - A paper entitled "Influence of Geometric Nonlinearities on the Response and Failure of Internally Pressurized Elliptical Composite Cylinders," and 3 - A report entitled "Response and Failure of Internally Pressurized Elliptical Composite Cyclinders." The document which deals with the influence of manufacturing imperfections is a paper entitled "Manufacturing Distortions of Curved Composite Panels."

Hyer, Michael W.↗

Kinetic Alfven Wave Electron Acceleration on Auroral Field Lines

Major results of the S3-3 Langmuir sweep study are published. Studies show statistics and average density and temperature variation on auroral field lines up to 8000 km altitude. Alfven wave papers were published. Our model of Alfven wave propagation on auroral field lines was successfully extended to handle varying density and magnetic field for the inertial mode. The study showed that Alfven wave can create time-dispersed electron signatures. A study was undertaken to extend Langmuir sweep I-V curves to handle the case of an kappa electron distribution as well as Maxwellian. The manuscript is in preparation. Participated in International Space Science Institute study of Alfvenic structures which resulted in a group review paper. The proposed work was to develop an extended model of Alfven wave propagation along auroral field lines to study electron acceleration. As part of this work, a major task was to characterize density and temperature along auroral field lines by using spacecraft Langmuir sweep data. The work that was completed under this funding was successful at both tasks. Three papers have been published as part of this work and a fourth manuscript is in preparation.

Kletzing, Craig A.↗

Multiwavelength Photometric Imaging of X-Ray and EUV Emission from Comet P/Tempel-Tuttle 1998

The unexpected discovery of x-ray emission from Comet Hyakutake in March 1996 (Lisse et ai. 1996) has produced a number of questions about the physical mechanism producing the radiation. The original detection and subsequent observations (Dennerl et ai. 1997, Mumma et al. 1997, Krasnopolsky et al. 1998, Owens et al. 1998. Lisse et al. 1999) have shown that the very soft (best fit thermal bremsstrahlung model kT approx. 0.2 keV) emission is due to an interaction between the solar wind and the comet's atmosphere. Using the results fiom the 15 comets detected to date in x-rays, we report on the latest results on cometary x-ray emission, including new results from Chandra and XMM. As-observed morphologies, spectra, and light curves will be discussed. Our emphasis will be on understanding the physical mechanism producing the emission, and using this to determine the nature of the cometary coma, the structure of the solar wind in the heliosphere, and the source of the local soft x-ray background. This work has been graciously supported by grants from the NASA Planetary Astronomy and Astrophysical Data Programs.

Lisse, Carey M.↗

Diffractive optical elements on non-flat substrates using electron beam lithography

The present disclosure describes a technique for creating diffraction gratings on curved surfaces with electron beam lithography. The curved surface can act as an optical element to produce flat and aberration-free images in imaging spectrometers. In addition, the fabrication technique can modify the power structure of the grating orders so that there is more energy in the first order than for a typical grating. The inventors noticed that by using electron-beam lithography techniques, a variety of convex gratings that are well-suited to the requirements of imaging spectrometers can be manufactured.

Maker, Paul D.↗

Characteristics of Whipple Shield Performance in the Shatter Regime

Between the onset of projectile fragmentation and the assumption of rear wall failure due to an impulsive load, multi-wall ballistic limit equations are linearly interpolated to provide reasonable yet conservative predictions of perforation thresholds with conveniently simple mathematics. Although low velocity and hypervelocity regime predictions are based on analytical expressions, there is no such scientific foundation for predictions in the intermediate (or shatter) regime. As the debris flux in low earth orbit (LEO) becomes increasingly dominated by manmade pollution, the profile of micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) risk shifts continually towards lower velocities. For the International Space Station (ISS), encounter velocities below 7 km/s now constitute approximately 50% of the penetration risk. Considering that the transition velocity from shatter to hypervelocity impact regimes described by common ballistic limit equations (e.g. new non-optimum Whipple shield equation [1]) occurs at 7 km/s, 50% of station risk is now calculated based on failure limit equations with little analytical foundation. To investigate projectile and shield behavior for impact conditions leading to projectile fragmentation and melt, a series of hypervelocity impact tests have been performed on aluminum Whipple shields. In the experiments projectile diameter, bumper thickness, and shield spacing were kept constant, while rear wall thickness was adjusted to determine spallation and perforation limits at various impact velocities and angles. The results, shown in Figure 1 for normal and 45 impacts, demonstrated behavior that was not sufficiently described by the simplified linear interpolation of the NNO equation (also shown in Figure 1). Hopkins et al. [2] investigated the performance of a nominally-identical aluminum Whipple shield, identifying the effects of phase change in the shatter regime. The results (conceptually represented in Figure 2) were found to agree well with those obtained in this study at normal incidence, suggesting that shielding performance in the shatter regime could be well described by considering more complex phase conditions than currently implemented in most BLEs. Furthermore, evidence of these phase effects were found in the oblique test results, providing the basis for an empirical description of these effects that can be applied in MMOD risk assessment software. In this paper, results of the impact experiments are presented, and characteristics of target damage are evaluated. A comparison of intermediate velocity impact failure mechanisms in current BLEs are discussed and compared to the findings of the experimental study. Risk assessment calculations have been made on a simplified structure using currently implemented penetration equations and predicted limits from the experimental program, and the variation in perceived mission risk is discussed. It was found that ballistic limit curves that explicitly incorporated phase change effects within the intermediate regime lead to a decrease in predicted MMOD risk for ISS-representative orbits. When considered for all Whipple-based shielding configurations onboard the ISS, intermediate phase change effects could lead to significant variations in predicted mission risk.

Ryan, Shannon↗