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At least 1,693 records · Page 94

Analysis of field usage failure rate data for plastic encapsulated solid state devices

Survey and questionnaire techniques were used to gather data from users and manufacturers on the failure rates in the field of plastic encapsulated semiconductors. It was found that such solid state devices are being successfully used by commercial companies which impose certain screening and qualification procedures. The reliability of these semiconductors is now adequate to support their consideration in NASA systems, particularly in low cost systems. The cost of performing necessary screening for NASA applications was assessed.

Source record↗

Interpretation of F106B and CV580 in-flight lightning data and form factor determination

Two topics of in-flight aircraft/lightning interaction are addressed. The first is the analysis of measured data from the NASA F106B Thunderstorm Research Aircraft and the CV580 research program run by the FAA and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The CV580 data was investigated in a mostly qualitative sense, while the F106B data was subjected to both statistical and quantitative analysis using linear triggered lightning finite difference models. The second main topic is the analysis of field mill data and the calibration of the field mill systems. The calibration of the F106B field mill system was investigated using an improved finite difference model of the aircraft having a spatial resolution of one-quarter meter. The calibration was applied to measured field mill data acquired during the 1985 thunderstorm season. The experimental determination of form factors useful for field mill calibration was also investigated both experimentally and analytically. The experimental effort involved the use of conducting scale models and an electrolytic tank. An analytic technique was developed to aid in the understanding of the experimental results.

Rudolph, T.↗

Complexity of many-body interactions in transition metals via machine-learned force fields from the TM23 data set

Abstract This work examines challenges associated with the accuracy of machine-learned force fields (MLFFs) for bulk solid and liquid phases ofd-block elements. In exhaustive detail, we contrast the performance of force, energy, and stress predictions across the transition metals for two leading MLFF models: a kernel-based atomic cluster expansion method implemented using sparse Gaussian processes (FLARE), and an equivariant message-passing neural network (NequIP). Early transition metals present higher relative errors and are more difficult to learn relative to late platinum- and coinage-group elements, and this trend persists across model architectures. Trends in complexity of interatomic interactions for different metals are revealed via comparison of the performance of representations with different many-body order and angular resolution. Using arguments based on perturbation theory on the occupied and unoccupieddstates near the Fermi level, we determine that the large, sharpddensity of states both above and below the Fermi level in early transition metals leads to a more complex, harder-to-learn potential energy surface for these metals. Increasing the fictitious electronic temperature (smearing) modifies the angular sensitivity of forces and makes the early transition metal forces easier to learn. This work illustrates challenges in capturing intricate properties of metallic bonding with current leading MLFFs and provides a reference data set for transition metals, aimed at benchmarking the accuracy and improving the development of emerging machine-learned approximations.

Chemistry↗

PISCES High Contrast Integral Field Spectrograph Simulations and Data Reduction Pipeline

The PISCES (Prototype Imaging Spectrograph for Coronagraphic Exoplanet Studies) is a lenslet array based integral field spectrograph (IFS) designed to advance the technology readiness of the WFIRST (Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope)-AFTA (Astrophysics Focused Telescope Assets) high contrast Coronagraph Instrument. We present the end to end optical simulator and plans for the data reduction pipeline (DRP). The optical simulator was created with a combination of the IDL (Interactive Data Language)-based PROPER (optical propagation) library and Zemax (a MatLab script), while the data reduction pipeline is a modified version of the Gemini Planet Imager's (GPI) IDL pipeline. The simulations of the propagation of light through the instrument are based on Fourier transform algorithms. The DRP enables transformation of the PISCES IFS data to calibrated spectral data cubes.

The PISCES (Prototype Imaging Spectrograph for Cor↗

Gap Flows Along the Columbia River Observed During the WFIP2 Field Campaign

Data collected in the Columbia River Gorge and Basin Area during the second Wind Forecasting Improvement Project (WFIP2) was used to study gap flow events in the region. In particular, the relationship between 200 m zonal wind speed and the zonal mesoscale pressure gradient at Troutdale (West of the gorge), Wasco (east of the gorge), and Boardman (farther east of the gorge) sites was examined. An objective criterion was used to identify 169 (Troutdale), 161 (Wasco), and 113 (Boardman) gap flow days that had weak synoptic forcing. The 200 m zonal wind speed exhibited a linear relationship with the zonal pressure gradient at Wasco during both easterly and westerly gap flow days at daily timescales. Such a relationship was only observed during easterly gap flow days at Troutdale and was not observed at Boardman. The zonal wind speed exhibited a diurnal cycle at Wasco and Boardman, with greater changes in the nighttime winds than the daytime winds due to changes in pressure gradient. The root mean square differences (RMSDs) between the observed pressure gradient at Wasco and that simulated by the High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model in 3 km (HRRR-3km) and 750 m (HRRR-750m) horizontal resolution were 3.14 hPa and 0.57 hPa, respectively. However, the RMSDs for the 200 m zonal wind speed were 1.40 m s -1 for HRRR-3km and 1.20 m s -1 for HRRR- 750m. Improvement in simulating the zonal pressure gradient accompanied by negligible changes in simulating zonal wind speed due to higher horizontal resolution points to a complex interplay between different components of the model physics when simulating the meteorology. The HRRR-750m resolution model accurately mimicked the observed covariability (phase diagram) between the zonal pressure gradient and the 200 m zonal wind speed during the nighttime, but not during the daytime, suggesting model errors might be related to the representation of boundary layer processes.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Space shuttle orbiter reaction control system interactions with the vehicle flow field

Test data on the effect of the interaction between the space shuttle orbiter rear-mounted reaction control system jets and the flow over the vehicle in the atmosphere are analyzed with particular attention to yaw angle effects. Masted tank-plus-orbiter jet interactions resulting from combinations of forward and rear-mounted reaction control jets being fired prior to external tank staging are also documented. The primary correlating parameter used for the mated data is a single-jet momentum ratioed to free-stream momentum. An analytic model for computing reaction control system interactions for all control combinations used for mated vehicle coast is included.

Rausch, J. R.↗

Precise GPS orbit determination results from 1985 field tests

Data from three different receiver types have been used to obtain precise orbits for the satellites of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The data were collected during the 1985 March-April GPS experiment to test and validate GPS techniques for precision orbit determination and geodesy. A new software package developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), GIPSY (GPS Inferred Positioning SYstem), was used to process the data. To assess orbit accuracy, solutions are compared using integrated doppler data from various different receiver types, different fiducial sites, and independent data arcs, including one spanning six days. From these intercomparisons, orbit accuracy for a well-tracked GPS satellite of three meters in altitude and about five meters in each of down and cross-track components are inferred.

Lichten, S. M.↗

Line variability and the broad emission line region of quasi-stellar objects. III - Line profiles and velocity field

Spectroscopic data were used to derive significant information about the broad emission line regions (BELRs) of QSOs. It is found that, if the light-crossing time of the whole BELR is significantly larger than the separation between observations, then an apparent asymmetry in line profiles and time development of both line fluxes and profiles would be expected. The lack of such confirmed developments suggests that a major part of the BELR in these QSOs is not considerably larger than one light-month. In one case, the net change is found to be narrower than the static part of H-beta. This may imply that the inner parts of the BELR have a smaller velocity dispersion. A redshift of about 700 km/s relative to the narrow forbidden O III is found in the QSO 0026+129. This sets an upper limit to the central mass as 6 x 10 to the 9th solar if the size of the BELR is not larger than five light-months.

Zheng, Wei↗

Parabola directional field radiometer for aiding in space sensor data interpretations

A unique field radiometer, called the Parabola, was developed to accurately measure the multidirectional incoming and outgoing spectral radiances for a variety of earth surface types; these range from rangeland vegetation to ice and snow. It is found that bidirectional reflectance characteristics are not constant for a given type of vegetation. There can be substantial changes in the anisotropic expression with changes in the solar zenith angle and vegetation conditions.

Deering, Donald W.↗

Broadband radiation fields derived from ERBE data during the FIRE cirrus IFO

The First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE), especially the cirrus Intensive Field Observations (IFO), provides opportunities for studying radiation measurements from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) taken over areas with known cirrus cloud properties. Satellite measurements taken during the IFO are used to determine the cloud amounts and broadband radiation fields over regions containing cirrus clouds. The impact of cirrus on the ERBE technique for converting radiance to flux and on the relationship between narrow-band and broadband radiances is confirmed by the results.

Harrison, Edwin F.↗

Thermal forcing on the tropical Pacific from satellite data

Monthly fields of latent heat flux and surface solar irradiance derived from spaceborne sensors were combined to estimate the surface thermal forcing on the tropical Pacific from 1980 to 1983. The annual cycle and the anomalies associated with 1982-1983 ENSO episode were examined. Along the equator and during the early phase of the episode the reduction of solar irradiance into the ocean is found to be compensated to some extent by the decrease in evaporative cooling. The distribution of correlation coefficients demonstrated that outside the equatorial waveguides, surface thermal forcing plays a significant role in the seasonal change of sea surface temperature and surface solar irradiance is main driving force. Significant correlation is also found between anomalous latent heat flux and anomalous change of sea surface temperature over a broad area in the equatorial and southern tropical Pacific, indicating that surface thermal forcing may play a larger role than expected in the anomalous sea surface temperature change, particularly in the reestablishment of the cold tongue at end of the episode.

Liu, W. Timothy↗

On the Frequency of Potential Venus Analogs from Kepler Data

The field of exoplanetary science has seen a dramatic improvement in sensitivity to terrestrial planets over recent years. Such discoveries have been a key feature of results from the Kepler mission which utilizes the transit method to determine the size of the planet. These discoveries have resulted in a corresponding interest in the topic of the Habitable Zone and the search for potential Earth analogs. Within the solar system, there is a clear dichotomy between Venus and Earth in terms of atmospheric evolution, likely the result of the large difference (approximately a factor of two) in incident flux from the Sun. Since Venus is 95% of the Earth's radius in size, it is impossible to distinguish between these two planets based only on size. In this Letter we discuss planetary insolation in the context of atmospheric erosion and runaway greenhouse limits for planets similar to Venus. We define a "Venus Zone" in which the planet is more likely to be a Venus analog rather than an Earth analog. We identify 43 potential Venus analogs with an occurrence rate (η♀) of 0.32 (+0.05/-0.07) and 0.45 (+0.06/-0.09) for M dwarfs and GK dwarfs, respectively.

planetary systems↗

By-controlled convection and field-aligned currents near midnight auroral oval for northward interplanetary magnetic field

Using the Dynamics Explorer (DE) 2 magnetic and electric field and plasma data, B(sub y)- controlled convection and field-aligned currents in the midnight sector for northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) are examined. The results of an analysis of the electric field data show that when IMF is stable and when its magnitude is large, a coherent B(sub y)-controlled convection exists near the midnight auroral oval in the ionosphere having adequate conductivities. When B(sub y) is negative, the convection consists of a westward (eastward) plasma flow at the lower latitudes and an eastward (westward) plasma flow at the higher latitudes in the midnight sector in the northern (southern) ionosphere. When B(sub y) is positive, the flow directions are reversed. The distribution of the field-aligned currents associated with the B(sub y)-controlled convection, in most cases, shows a three-sheet structure. In accordance with the convection the directions of the three sheets are dependent on the sign of B(sub y). The location of disappearance of the precipitating intense electrons having energies of a few keV is close to the convection reversal surface. However, the more detailed relationship between the electron precipitation boundary and the convection reversal surface depends on the case. In some cases the precipitating electrons extend beyond the convection reversal surface, and in others the poleward boundary terminates at a latitude lower than the reversal surface. Previous studies suggest that the poleward boundary of the electrons having energies of a few keV is not necessarily coincident with an open/closed bounary. Thus the open/closed boundary may be at a latitude higher than the poleward boundary of the electron precipitation, or it may be at a latitude lower than the poleward boundary of the electron precipitation. We discuss relationships between the open/closed boundary and the convection reversal surface. When as a possible choice we adopt a view that the open/closed boundary agrees with the convection reversal surface, we can explain qualitatively the configuration of the B(sub y)-controlled convection on the open and close field line regions by proposing a mapping modified in accordance with IMF B(sub y).

Taguchi, S.↗

Preliminary solutions for the lunar gravity field from analysis of lunar orbiter tracking data

Knowledge of the gravitation field, in combination with surface topography, provides one of the principal means of inferring the internal structure of a planetary body. Previous analyses of the lunar gravitational field have been based on data from the Lunar Orbiters, the Apollo subsatellites, and the low altitude passes of the Apollo spacecraft. Recently, Konopliv et al. have reanalyzed all available Lunar Orbiter and Apollo subsatellite tracking data, producing a 60th degree and order solution. In preparation for the Clementine Mission to the Moon, we have also initiated a reanalysis of the Lunar Orbiter and Apollo subsatellite data. Our reanalysis takes advantage of advanced force and measurement modeling techniques as well as modern computational facilities. We applied the least squares collocation technique which stabilizes the behavior of the solution and high degree and order. The extension of the size of the field reduces the aliasing coming from the omitted portion of the gravitational field. This is especially important for the analysis of the tracking data from the Lunar Orbiters, as the periapse heights frequently ranged from 50 to 100 km.

Lemoine, F. G.↗

Active galactic nucleus feedback in NGC 3982

The energetic feedback from supermassive black holes can influence star formation at the centres of galaxies. Observational evidence for active galactic nucleus (AGN) impact on star formation can be searched for in galaxies by combining ultraviolet imaging and optical integral field unit data. The ultraviolet flux directly traces recent star formation, and the integral field unit data can reveal dust attenuation, gas ionisation mechanisms, and gas kinematics from the central regions of the galaxy disk. A pilot study on NGC 3982 shows star formation suppression in the central regions of the galaxy, likely due to negative AGN feedback, and enhanced star formation in the outer regions. The case of NGC 3982 could be observational evidence of AGN feedback operating in a Seyfert galaxy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Continental shelf fish production estimation from CZCS chlorophyll data

A method for ocean fish production estimation was proposed for development. The method was to use data acquired with the Coastal Zone Color Scanner, and processed into chlorophyll concentrations by the GSFC ocean Sciences Division, in combination with fish production and primary production data acquired from different ocean areas. A linear relation exits between annual fish production and annual phytoplankton carbon production for a wide range of coastal ocean environments. The uses of several existing algorithms which relate primary production to CZCS chlorophyll data as input to the fish production regression model is proposed. A question relating phytoplankton production to CZCS chlorophyll was obtained by Eppley (1984) using chlorophyll data obtained from field samples, equivalent to chlorophyll data obtained from CZCS imagery, and primary production data obtained from ship-board observations on a wide variety of coastal and open ocean environments. This equation was modified with additional data and was successfully tested using CZCS data and field chlorophyll and phytoplankton production data obtained from northeastern North American continental shelf waters and Atlantic open ocean waters. The modified Eppley (1984) relation also estimated phytoplankton annual carbon production in the Sargasso Sea within the confidence limits of a mean value obtained from the Eppley (1984) equation for oceanic waters that provide about 90 percent of total ocean primary production. The modified Eppley production formula applied to CZCS chlorophyll data obtained from several northeastern North American coastal environments gave phytoplankton annual carbon production values similar to the values used in the fish production regression equation.

Iverson, Richard L.↗

Microwave remote sensing and radar polarization signatures of natural fields

Theoretical models developed for simulation of microwave remote sensing of the Earth surface from airborne/spaceborne sensors are described. Theoretical model calculations were performed and the results were compared with data of field measurements. Data studied included polarimetric images at the frequencies of P band, L band, and C band, acquired with airborne polarimeters over a agricultural field test site. Radar polarization signatures from bare soil surfaces and from tree covered fields were obtained from the data. The models developed in this report include: (1) Small perturbation model of wave scatterings from randomly rough surfaces, (2) Physical optics model, (3) Geometrical optics model, and (4) Electromagnetic wave scattering from dielectric cylinders of finite lengths, which replace the trees and branches in the modeling of tree covered field. Additionally, a three-layer emissivity model for passive sensing of a vegetation covered soil surface is also developed. The effects of surface roughness, soil moisture contents, and tree parameters on the polarization signatures were investigated.

Mo, Tsan↗