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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.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Geophysical and astronomical models applied in the analysis of very long baseline interferometry

Very long baseline interferometry presents an opportunity to measure at the centimeter level such geodetic parameters as baseline length and instantaneous pole position. In order to achieve such precision, the geophysical and astronomical models used in data analysis must be as accurate as possible. The Mark-3 interactive data analysis system includes a number of refinements beyond conventional practice in modeling precession, nutation, diurnal polar motion, UT1, solid Earth tides, relativistic light deflection, and reduction to solar system barycentric coordinates. The algorithms and their effects on the recovered geodetic, geophysical, and astrometric parameters are discussed.

Ma, C.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Discovering Planetary Nebula Geometries: Explorations with a Hierarchy of Models

Astronomical objects known as planetary nebulae (PNe) consist of a shell of gas expelled by an aging medium-sized star as it makes its transition from a red giant to a white dwarf. In many cases this gas shell can be approximately described as a prolate ellipsoid. Knowledge of the physics of ionization processes in this gaseous shell enables us to construct a model in three dimensions (3D) called the Ionization-Bounded Prolate Ellipsoidal Shell model (IBPES model). Using this model we can generate synthetic nebular images, which can be used in conjunction with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of actual PNe to perform Bayesian model estimation. Since the IBPES model is characterized by thirteen parameters, model estimation requires the search of a 13-dimensional parameter space. The 'curse of dimensionality,' compounded by a computationally intense forward problem, makes forward searches extremely time-consuming and frequently causes them to become trapped in local solutions. We find that both the speed and of the search can be improved by judiciously reducing the dimensionality of the search space. Our basic approach employs a hierarchy of models of increasing complexity that converges to the IBPES model. Earlier studies establish that a hierarchical sequence converges more quickly, and to a better solution, than a search relying only on the most complex model. Here we report results for a hierarchy of five models. The first three models treat the nebula as a 2D image, while the last two models explore its characteristics as a 3D object and enable us to characterize the physics of the nebula. This five-model hierarchy is applied to HST images of ellipsoidal PNe to estimate their geometric properties and gas density profiles.

Huyser, Karen A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

C++, objected-oriented programming, and astronomical data models

Contemporary astronomy is characterized by increasingly complex instruments and observational techniques, higher data collection rates, and large data archives, placing severe stress on software analysis systems. The object-oriented paradigm represents a significant new approach to software design and implementation that holds great promise for dealing with this increased complexity. The basic concepts of this approach will be characterized in contrast to more traditional procedure-oriented approaches. The fundamental features of objected-oriented programming will be discussed from a C++ programming language perspective, using examples familiar to astronomers. This discussion will focus on objects, classes and their relevance to the data type system; the principle of information hiding; and the use of inheritance to implement generalization/specialization relationships. Drawing on the object-oriented approach, features of a new database model to support astronomical data analysis will be presented.

Farris, A.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Gamma rays from the Crab and Vela pulsars

Gamma ray pulsed emission from the Crab and Vela pulsars are discussed. Emphasis is placed on use of current and future Gamma Ray Observatory observations as diagnostics to examine and constrain theoretical models. Issues on the spectra and pulse profile are discussed. Specifically, the absence and possibly significant time variability of pulsed emission below 10 MeV from the Vela pulsar represents a serious challenge to current astronomical models. Theoretical implication of this 'peculiarity' is addressed.

Ho, Cheng↗
NASA NTRS2013

A Global Atmospheric Model of Meteoric Iron

The first global model of meteoric iron in the atmosphere (WACCM-Fe) has been developed by combining three components: the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), a description of the neutral and ion-molecule chemistry of iron in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT), and a treatment of the injection of meteoric constituents into the atmosphere. The iron chemistry treats seven neutral and four ionized iron containing species with 30 neutral and ion-molecule reactions. The meteoric input function (MIF), which describes the injection of Fe as a function of height, latitude, and day, is precalculated from an astronomical model coupled to a chemical meteoric ablation model (CABMOD). This newly developed WACCM-Fe model has been evaluated against a number of available ground-based lidar observations and performs well in simulating the mesospheric atomic Fe layer. The model reproduces the strong positive correlation of temperature and Fe density around the Fe layer peak and the large anticorrelation around 100 km. The diurnal tide has a significant effect in the middle of the layer, and the model also captures well the observed seasonal variations. However, the model overestimates the peak Fe+ concentration compared with the limited rocket-borne mass spectrometer data available, although good agreement on the ion layer underside can be obtained by adjusting the rate coefficients for dissociative recombination of Fe-molecular ions with electrons. Sensitivity experiments with the same chemistry in a 1-D model are used to highlight significant remaining uncertainties in reaction rate coefficients, and to explore the dependence of the total Fe abundance on the MIF and rate of vertical transport.

meteoric inputfunction↗
NASA NTRS1981

Prospects for gamma ray astronomy

The Solar Maximum Mission and the Gamma Ray Experiment aboard the SMM spacecraft are discussed. Mission plans for interplanetary probes are also discussed. The Gamma Ray observatory and its role in future gamma ray astronomy is highlighted. It is concluded that gamma ray astronomy will be of major importance in the development of astronomical models and in the development of comsological theory.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1983

Theoretical studies of photodissociation of small molecules of astrophysical importance

The radicals and ions observed in comets result from photodissociation and photoionization of molecules. According to current models, a comet is composed chiefly of a large, solid nucelus of frozen gases (parent molecules) such as H2O, HCN, and NH3. It is believed comets were formed at the same time and in the same region of space as the major planets and that their chemical composition is the same as that of the early solar system. As the comet nears the Sun, the surface heats up, liberating the frozen gases as well as dust particles. Solar radiation photodissociates the parent molecules into fragments that are observed by resonance fluorescence. Both polyatomic molecules, present in the interstellar medium, and cometary radicals were observed. Using laboratory photo-dissociation data and computer models, astronomers are attempting to identify the parent molecules that account for all observed radicals and ions.

Saxon, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1990

SEL Ada reuse analysis and representations

Overall, it was revealed that the pattern of Ada reuse has evolved from initial reuse of utility components into reuse of generalized application architectures. Utility components were both domain-independent utilities, such as queues and stacks, and domain-specific utilities, such as those that implement spacecraft orbit and attitude mathematical functions and physics or astronomical models. The level of reuse was significantly increased with the development of a generalized telemetry simulator architecture. The use of Ada generics significantly increased the level of verbatum reuse, which is due to the ability, using Ada generics, to parameterize the aspects of design that are configurable during reuse. A key factor in implementing generalized architectures was the ability to use generic subprogram parameters to tailor parts of the algorithm embedded within the architecture. The use of object oriented design (in which objects model real world entities) significantly improved the modularity for reuse. Encapsulating into packages the data and operations associated with common real world entities creates natural building blocks for reuse.

Kester, Rush↗
NASA NTRS1993

Twenty-fourth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Part 1: A-F

The topics covered include the following: petrology, petrography, meteoritic composition, planetary geology, atmospheric composition, astronomical spectroscopy, lunar geology, Mars (planet), Mars composition, Mars surface, volcanology, Mars volcanoes, Mars craters, lunar craters, mineralogy, mineral deposits, lithology, asteroids, impact melts, planetary composition, planetary atmospheres, planetary mapping, cosmic dust, photogeology, stratigraphy, lunar craters, lunar exploration, space exploration, geochronology, tectonics, atmospheric chemistry, astronomical models, and geochemistry.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1995

GRO: Studies of high energy pulsars with EGRET

A reported e(+/-) annihilation line from the Crab pulsar is described on in this annual report, along with a astronomical model that was investigated theoretically and that displays all of the following properties discovered about this line:very strong (approximately 10(exp 40)e(+/-) annihilations/sec); redshifted (by about 70 KeV relative to mc(exp 2) = 511 KeV); and very narrow (width approximately 10 KeV). A draft of the paper based on this research entitled, 'Pair production in the magnetosphere of the Crab pulsar and a pulsed e(+/-) annihilation gamma-ray line' is included.

Ruderman, Malvin↗
NASA NTRS2005

Experimental Near Infrared Spectroscopy of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Between 0.7 to 2.5 microns

The near infrared (NIR) spectra and absolute band strengths of 27 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) cations and anions ranging in size from C14H10 to C50H22, are reported. The spectra from 0.7 to 2.5 microns (14,000 to 4000/cm) are presented for the fifteen PAHs ranging in size from C40H18 to C50H22 whereas the spectra of the remaining twelve span the narrower range from 0.7 to 1.1 microns (14,000 to 9000/cm). The spectra of all the ionized PAHs we have studied to date have strong, broad absorption bands in the NIR arising from electronic transitions. This work shows that ionized PAHs have significant absorption bands at longer wavelengths than predicted by the current astronomical models which consider PAHs in their treatment of the radiation balance of the interstellar medium. Two implications are 1)-ionized interstellar PAHs should add weak, broad band structure to the NIR portion of the interstellar extinction curve and 2)- UV poor radiation fields can pump the PAH emission bands provided ionized PAHs are present.

Mattioda, A. L.↗