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At least 1,747 records · Page 97

Design of microstrip components by computer

A number of computer programs are presented for use in the synthesis of microwave components in microstrip geometries. The programs compute the electrical and dimensional parameters required to synthesize couplers, filters, circulators, transformers, power splitters, diode switches, multipliers, diode attenuators and phase shifters. Additional programs are included to analyze and optimize cascaded transmission lines and lumped element networks, to analyze and synthesize Chebyshev and Butterworth filter prototypes, and to compute mixer intermodulation products. The programs are written in FORTRAN and the emphasis of the study is placed on the use of these programs and not on the theoretical aspects of the structures.

Cisco, T. C.↗

On the design of recursive digital filters

A change of variables is described which transforms the problem of designing a recursive digital filter to that of approximation by a ratio of polynomials on a finite interval. Some analytic techniques for the design of low-pass filters are presented, illustrating the use of the transformation. Also considered are methods for the design of phase equalizers.

Shenoi, K.↗

Identification and measurement of combustion noise from a turbofan engine using correlation and coherence techniques

Fluctuating pressure measurements within the combustor and tailpipe of a turbofan engine are made simultaneously with far field acoustic measurements. The pressure measurements within the engine are accomplished with cooled semi-infinite waveguide probes utilizing conventional condenser microphones as the transducers. The measurements are taken over a broad range of engine operating conditions and for 16 far field microphone positions between 10 deg and 160 deg relative to the engine inlet axis. Correlation and coherence techniques are used to determine the relative phase and amplitude relationships between the internal pressures and far field acoustic pressures. The results indicate that the combustor is a low frequency source region for acoustic propagation through the tailpipe and out to the far field. Specifically, it is found that the relation between source pressure and the resulting sound pressure involves a 180 deg phase shift. The latter result is obtained by Fourier transforming the cross correlation function between the source pressure and acoustic pressure after removing the propagation delay time. Further, it is found that the transfer function between the source pressure and acoustic pressure has a magnitude approximately proportional to frequency squared. These results are shown to be consistent with a model using a modified source term in Lighthill's turbulence stress tensor, wherein the fluctuating Reynolds stresses are replaced with the pressure fluctuations due to fluctuating entropy.

Karchmer, A. M.↗

Importance of heterogeneous processes to tropospheric chemistry - Studies with a one-dimensional model

A one-dimensional, time-dependent model of tropospheric air composition is developed which incorporates several heterogeneous physical and chemical processes. The model includes the interaction of gases, aerosols, and hydrometeors through the physical mechanisms of nucleation, condensation, evaporation, coagulation, coalescence, and deliquescence. Precipitation, sedimentation, and dry deposition act to remove material from the atmosphere, while chemical transformations occur both in the vapor and the condensed phases. The model also incorporates the sources and vertical diffusion of gases and particles, as well as changes in the solar intensity caused by light-scattering from aerosols and clouds. Preliminary simulations made using this model indicate that rainout and washout processes strongly influence the distributions of tropospheric gases and aerosols under certain conditions.

Turco, R. P.↗

Reactions of chlorine nitrate with HCl and H2O

The kinetics of the reactions of chlorine nitrate with HCl and H2O are characterized using a static photolysis/Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer apparatus. For the homogeneous gas-phase reaction with HCl, an upper limit for the rate constant of less than 8.4 x 10 to the -21st, and for the reaction with H2O, a limit of less than 3.4 x 10 to the -21st cu cm/molecule per s, were obtained at 296 + or - 2 K. The yield of HNO3 is almost unity in both cases, and no synergistic effect is noted between HCl and H2O. The kinetic behavior of the reaction with H2O is well described by simple first-order kinetics, while the behavior of the reaction with HCl is described in terms of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

Hatakeyama, Shiro↗

Phase-space-Lagrangian action principle and the generalized K-X theorem

The covariant coupled equations for plasma dynamics and the Maxwell field are expressed as a phase-space-Lagrangian action principle. The linear interaction is transformed to the bilinear beat Hamiltonian by a gauge-invariant Lagrangian Lie transform. The result yields the generalized linear susceptibility directly.

Kaufman, Allan N.↗

Growth of nitric acid hydrates on thin sulfuric acid films

Type I polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are thought to nucleate and grow on stratospheric sulfate aerosols (SSAs). To model this system, thin sulfuric acid films were exposed to water and nitric acid vapors (1-3 x 10(exp -4) Torr H2O and 1-2.5 x 10(exp -6) Torr HNO3) and subjected to cooling and heating cycles. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to probe the phase of the sulfuric acid and to identify the HNO3/H2O films that condensed. Nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) was observed to grow on crystalline sulfuric acid tetrahydrate (SAT) films. NAT also condensed in/on supercooled H2SO4 films without causing crystallization of the sulfuric acid. This growth is consistent with NAT nucleation from ternary solutions as the first step in PSC formation.

Iraci, Laura T.↗

FTIR studies of low temperature sulfuric acid aerosols

Sub-micrometer sized sulfuric acid H2SO4 particles were generated using a constant output atomizer source. The particles were then exposed to water vapor before being injected into a low temperature cell. Multipass transmission Fourier Transformation Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the phase and composition of the aerosols as a function of time for periods of up to five hours. Binary H2SO4H2O aerosols with compositions from 35 to 95 wt % H2SO4 remained liquid for over 3 hours at room temperatures ranging from 189-240 K. These results suggest that it is very difficut to freeze SSAs via homogeneous nucleation. Attempts to form aerosols more dilute than 35 wt % H2SO4 resulted in ice formation.

Anthony, S. E.↗

More About the Phase-Synchronized Enhancement Method

A report presents further details regarding the subject matter of "Phase-Synchronized Enhancement Method for Engine Diagnostics" (MFS-26435), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 22, No. 1 (January 1998), page 54. To recapitulate: The phase-synchronized enhancement method (PSEM) involves the digital resampling of a quasi-periodic signal in synchronism with the instantaneous phase of one of its spectral components. This resampling transforms the quasi-periodic signal into a periodic one more amenable to analysis. It is particularly useful for diagnosis of a rotating machine through analysis of vibration spectra that include components at the fundamental and harmonics of a slightly fluctuating rotation frequency. The report discusses the machinery-signal-analysis problem, outlines the PSEM algorithms, presents the mathematical basis of the PSEM, and presents examples of application of the PSEM in some computational simulations.

Jong, Jen-Yi↗

Fast-Acquisition/Weak-Signal-Tracking GPS Receiver for HEO

A report discusses the technical background and design of the Navigator Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver -- . a radiation-hardened receiver intended for use aboard spacecraft. Navigator is capable of weak signal acquisition and tracking as well as much faster acquisition of strong or weak signals with no a priori knowledge or external aiding. Weak-signal acquisition and tracking enables GPS use in high Earth orbits (HEO), and fast acquisition allows for the receiver to remain without power until needed in any orbit. Signal acquisition and signal tracking are, respectively, the processes of finding and demodulating a signal. Acquisition is the more computationally difficult process. Previous GPS receivers employ the method of sequentially searching the two-dimensional signal parameter space (code phase and Doppler). Navigator exploits properties of the Fourier transform in a massively parallel search for the GPS signal. This method results in far faster acquisition times [in the lab, 12 GPS satellites have been acquired with no a priori knowledge in a Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) scenario in less than one second]. Modeling has shown that Navigator will be capable of acquiring signals down to 25 dB-Hz, appropriate for HEO missions. Navigator is built using the radiation-hardened ColdFire microprocessor and housing the most computationally intense functions in dedicated field-programmable gate arrays. The high performance of the algorithm and of the receiver as a whole are made possible by optimizing computational efficiency and carefully weighing tradeoffs among the sampling rate, data format, and data-path bit width.

Wintemitz, Luke↗

Transformation enabled nitride magnets absent rare earths and a process of making the same

A process for producing an ordered martensitic iron nitride powder that is suitable for use as a permanent magnetic material is provided. The process includes fabricating an iron alloy powder having a desired composition and uniformity; nitriding the iron alloy powder by contacting the material with a nitrogen source in a fluidized bed reactor to produce a nitride iron powder; transforming the nitride iron powder to a disordered martensitic phase; annealing the disordered martensitic phase to an ordered martensitic phase; and separating the ordered martensitic phase from the iron nitride powder to yield an ordered martensitic iron nitride powder.

Matthiesen, David↗

Molten fluid electrode apparatus

A battery includes negative electrode material and positive electrode material where the materials are in a solid phase except for selected portions that are heated to transform the selected portions into a fluid. The fluid portion of negative electrode material is directed to a negative electrode region of a reaction chamber and the fluid portion of positive electrode material is directed to a positive electrode region of the reaction chamber where a solid electrolyte containing ions of the negative electrode separates the positive electrode region from the negative electrode region.

Vissers, Daniel R.↗

A planar-sheet nongraphitic zero-bandgap sp 2 carbon phase made by the low-temperature reaction of γ-graphyne

The highest sheet symmetry form of graphyne, with one triple bond between each neighboring hexagon in graphene, irreversibly transforms exothermically at ambient pressure and low temperatures into a nongraphitic, planar-sheet, zero-bandgap phase consisting of intrasheet-bonded sp 2 carbons. The synthesis of this sp 2 carbon phase is demonstrated, and other carbon phases are described for possible future synthesis from graphyne without breaking graphyne bonds. While measurements and theory indicate that the reacting graphyne becomes nonplanar because of sheet wrinkling produced by dimensional mismatch between reacted and nonreacted sheet regions, sheet planarity is regained when the reaction is complete. Although the observed elimination of triple bonds to make parallel planar sp 2 carbon sheets likely requires ordered transformation within each sheet, diffraction data for reacted multisheet stacks indicate that the relative lateral positions of neighboring sheets are disordered, as predicted, since no crystalline diffraction peak (other than for the intersheet spacing) is observed.

Aliev, Ali E. (ORCID:0000000300349707)↗

Transformational Solar Array Final Report

We have made outstanding progress in the Base Phase towards achieving the final NASA Research Announcement (NRA) goals. Progress is better than anticipated due to the lighter than predicted mass of the IMM solar cells. We look forward to further improvements in the IMM cell performance during Option I and Option II; so, we have confidence that the first four items listed in the table will improve to better than the NRA goals. The computation of the end of life blanket efficiency is uncertain because we have extrapolated the radiation damage from room temperature measurements. The last three items listed in the Table were not intended to be accomplished during the Base Phase; they will be achieved during Option I and Option II.

Gaddy, Edward↗

Impact of microstructure on elastic properties in the alloy Ti-42Al-8.5 Nb

The microstructure of a γ-TiAl alloy containing niobium undergoes continuous transformations during annealing at 550 °C. These take place within the α 2 -phase of lamellar (α 2 +γ) colonies. We have characterized these changes by transmission electron microscopy and made a correlation to the elastic constants determined by resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy during in-situ annealing at the same temperature. Further, the results show a continuous increase of the E-modulus. This can be attributed to elastic strains acting within α 2 lamellae as a result of lattice transformations. After 5000h, a thermodynamic equilibrium was established with equal fractions of α 2 -phase and O-phase that differ only in lattice symmetry and Nb content. Generally, the presence of O-phase should contribute to lower elastic moduli, however in the present case the evolving microstructural characteristics were responsible for the observed increase in the E-modulus.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Atomic-scale in situ observation of electron beam and heat induced crystallization of Ge nanoparticles and transformation of Ag@Ge core-shell nanocrystals

Crystallization of amorphous materials by thermal annealing has been investigated for numerous applications in the fields of nanotechnology, such as thin-film transistors and thermoelectric devices. The phase transition and shape evolution of amorphous germanium (Ge) and Ag@Ge core–shell nanoparticles with average diameters of 10 and 12 nm, respectively, were investigated by high-energy electron beam irradiation and in situ heating within a transmission electron microscope. The transition of a single Ge amorphous nanoparticle to the crystalline diamond cubic structure at the atomic scale was clearly demonstrated. Depending on the heating temperature, a hollow Ge structure can be maintained or transformed into a solid Ge nanocrystal through a diffusive process during the amorphous to crystalline phase transition. Selected area diffraction patterns were obtained to confirm the crystallization process. In addition, the thermal stability of Ag@Ge core–shell nanoparticles with an average core of 7.4 and a 2.1 nm Ge shell was studied by applying the same beam conditions and temperatures. The results show that at a moderate temperature (e.g., 385 °C), the amorphous Ge shell can completely crystallize while maintaining the well-defined core–shell structure, while at a high temperature (e.g., 545 °C), the high thermal energy enables a freely diffusive process of both Ag and Ge atoms on the carbon support film and leads to transformation into a phase segregated Ag–Ge Janus nanoparticle with a clear interface between the Ag and Ge domains. In conclusion, this study provides a protocol as well as insight into the thermal stability and strain relief mechanism of complex nanostructures at the single nanoparticle level with atomic resolution.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Pressure-induced phase transitions in Ni-bearing ferrosilite (Ni-En31Fs65)

Abstract Orthopyroxene is an abundant mineral in subducting slabs. Studying its phase transitions at high pressure is important to the understanding of mineralogy of subducting slabs in the deep Earth. Synchrotron-based single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments were conducted on a synthetic Ni-bearing ferrosilite (Ni-En31Fs65) at pressures up to 33.8 GPa. Three phase transitions were observed at 12.1(6), 15.6(6), and 31.3(25) GPa. The first two phase transitions in Ni-En31Fs65 resemble the previously described phase transitions in Ni-free Fe-rich orthopyroxenes, i.e., the initial α-opx (Pbca) transforms to β-opx (P21/c), then the latter transforms to γ-opx (Pbca). This indicates that the incorporation of a few mol% NiSiO3 does not influence the phase transition path of Fe-rich orthopyroxene. After the third phase transition, the structure (P21ca) of Ni-En31Fs65 resembles the previously reported β-popx observed in En90 at high pressure, although the onset pressure of the phase transition in Ni-En31Fs65 is ~7 GPa lower than that in En90. β-popx has a post-pyroxene structure that contains fivefold- and sixfold-coordinated Si cations. Our results indicate that the post-pyroxene structure is β-popx (P21ca) for either Fe-poor or Fe-rich orthopyroxenes, although the phase transition path before the pyroxene → post-pyroxene is compositionally dependent. Additionally, unlike the second and third transitions, whose onset pressures are monotonously decreased by increasing Fe content, the Fe effect on shifting the first transition is much more significant for orthopyroxenes within En <50 mol% than that within En >50 mol%.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

Ultrahigh-Capacity Rocksalt Cathodes Enabled by Cycling-Activated Structural Changes

Mn-redox-based oxides and oxyfluorides are considered the most promising earth-abundant high-energy cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. While high capacities are obtained in high-Mn content cathodes such as Li- and Mn-rich layered and spinel-type materials, local structure changes and structural distortions ( often lead to voltage fade, capacity decay, and impedance rise, resulting in unacceptable electrochemical performance upon cycling. In the present study, structural transformations that exploit the high capacity of Mn-rich oxyfluorides while enabling stable cycling, in stark contrast to commonly observed structural changes that result in rapid performance degradation, are reported. Here, it is shown that upon cycling of a cation-disordered rocksalt (DRX) cathode (Li 1.1 Mn 0.8 Ti 0.1 O 1.9 F 0.1 , an ultrahigh capacity of ≈320 mAh g –1 (energy density of ≈900 Wh kg –1 ) can be obtained through dynamic structural rearrangements upon cycling , along with a unique voltage profile evolution and capacity rise. At high voltage, the presence of Mn 4+ and Li + vacancies promotes local cation ordering, leading to the formation of domains of a “δ phase” within the disordered framework. On deep discharge, Mn 4+ reduction, along with Li + insertion transform the structure to a partially ordered DRX phase with a β'-LiFeO 2 -type arrangement. At the nanoscale, domains of the in situ formed phases are randomly oriented, allowing highly reversible structural changes and stable electrochemical cycling. These new insights not only help explain the superior electrochemical performance of high-Mn DRXbut also provide guidance for the future development of Mn-based, high-energy density oxide, and oxyfluoride cathode materials.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗