The application of Ross filters to the non- dispersive X-ray analysis of aluminum and silicon.
Use of balanced filter pairs for nondispersive analysis of aluminum and silicon in aluminum- silicon mixtures
X-RAY ANALYSIS↗
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Results for “Ross filter”
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The solar flare iron line to continuum ratio and the coronal abundances of iron and helium
Narrow band Ross filter measurements of the Fe 25 line flux around 0.185 nm and simultaneous broadband measurements during a solar flare were used to determine the relationship between the solar coronal abundances of iron and helium. The Fe 25 ion population was also determined as a function of time. The proportional counter and the Ross filter on OSO-7 were utilized. The data were analyzed under the separate assumptions that (1) the electron density was high enough that a single temperature could characterize the continuum spectrum and the ionization equilibrium, and that (2) the electron density was low so that the ion populations trailed the electron temperature in time. It was found that the density was at least 5x10 to the 9th power, and that the high density assumption was valid. It was also found that the iron abundance is 0.000011 for a helium abundance of 0.2, relative to hydrogen.
Mckenzie, D. L.↗
The GSFC EUV and X-ray spectroheliograph on OSO-7
The Goddard Space Flight Center instrument carried on the pointed section of the OSO-7 satellite is described. This instrument contains: an extreme-ultraviolet spectroheliograph using glancing incidence optics of Wolter's Type II to focus the sun's light on the entrance slit of a concave grating spectrometer; an auxiliary H-alpha system; two X-ray spectroheliographs using mechanical collimators for spatial resolution and Ross filters to isolate spectral bands of interest; and a flare polarimeter operating in the 15-40 keV X-ray region. The subsystems may be operated in a number of modes which, when combined with the spacecraft modes, give the instrument great flexibility for making solar observations. Representative results from each of the subsystems are presented.
Underwood, J. H.↗
Sampling data for OSSEs
An OSSE should for the sake of realism incorporate at least some of the high-frequency, small-scale phenomena that are suppressed by atmospheric models; these phenomena should be present in the realistic atmosphere sampled by all observing sensor systems whose data are being used. Errors are presently generated for an OSSE in a way that encompasses representational errors, sampling, geophysical local bias, random error, and sensor filtering.
Hoffman, Ross↗
Development of a Microwave Regenerative Sorbent-Based Hydrogen Purifier
This paper describes the design and fabrication of a Microwave Regenerative Sorbent-based Hydrogen Purifier (MRSHP). This unique microwave powered technology was developed for the purification of a hydrogen stream produced by the Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA). The PPA is a hydrogen recovery (from methane) post processor for NASA's Sabatier-based carbon dioxide reduction process. Embodied in the Carbon dioxide Reduction Assembly (CRA), currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Sabatier reaction employs hydrogen to catalytically recover oxygen, in the form of water, from respiratory carbon dioxide produced by the crew. This same approach is base-lined for future service in the Air Revitalization system on extended missions into deep space where resupply is not practical. Accordingly, manned exploration to Mars may only become feasible with further closure of the air loop as afforded by the greater hydrogen recovery permitted by the PPA with subsequent hydrogen purification. By utilizing the well-known high sorbate loading capacity of molecular sieve 13x, coupled with microwave dielectric heating phenomenon, MRSHP technology is employed as a regenerative filter for a contaminated hydrogen gas stream. By design, freshly regenerated molecular sieve 13x contained in the MRSHP will remove contaminants from the effluent of a 1-CM scale PPA for several hours prior to breakthrough. By reversing flow and pulling a relative vacuum the MRSHP prototype then uses 2.45 GHz microwave power, applied through a novel coaxial antenna array, to rapidly heat the sorbent bed and drive off the contaminants in a short duration vacuum/thermal contaminant desorption step. Finally, following rapid cooling via room temperature cold plates, the MRSHP is again ready to serve as a hydrogen filter.
Wheeler, Richard R., Jr.↗
Medium range lagged average forecasts
In this work, the application of the lagged average forecasting (LAF) technique to operational forecasts of the ECMWF is reported. The ECMWF data consist of two 100-day samples of 10-day forecasts of 500-mb geopotential height for winter 1980/81 and summer 1981. the LAF ensemble includes the latest operational forecast, and also forecast for the same verification time started one or more days earlier than the latest one. The focus is on the following two issues: (1) does ensemble averaging improve forecast skill and (2) is the dispersion of the ensemble useful in predicting forecast skill. The LAF technique was used to produce 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9 day forecasts of the 500-mb height field. The results show that the statistically filtered LAF is a marked improvment upon the operational forecast after 5 days. It is found that on a global scale, forecast skill is weakly correlated with the dispersion of the ensemble, as measured by the rms difference between the operational forecast and the statistically filtered LAF.
Dalcher, Amnon↗
Experiments in oceanographic aerospace photography - Ben Franklin spectral filter tests
Aerial multispectral sensing test on submerged body in ocean
Jensen, R. C.↗
Intitialization, Conceptualization, and Application in the Generalized Fractional Calculus
This paper provides a formalized basis for initialization in the fractional calculus. The intent is to make the fractional calculus readily accessible to engineering and the sciences. A modified set of definitions for the fractional calculus is provided which formally include the effects of initialization. Conceptualizations of fractional derivatives and integrals are shown. Physical examples of the basic elements from electronics are presented along with examples from dynamics, material science, viscoelasticity, filtering, instrumentation, and electrochemistry to indicate the broad application of the theory and to demonstrate the use of the mathematics. The fundamental criteria for a generalized calculus established by Ross (1974) are shown to hold for the generalized fractional calculus under appropriate conditions. A new generalized form for the Laplace transform of the generalized differintegral is derived. The concept of a variable structure (order) differintegral is presented along with initial efforts toward meaningful definitions.
Lorenzo, Carl F.↗
Development of the GeoNEX Level 2G Products: Exploiting the Diurnal Variability of TOA Reflectance in Atmospheric Correction
This study develops a new atmospheric correction algorithm to generate the Level 2G products, in particular the gap-filled Surface Reflectance at 10-minute time steps, for the Geostationary-NASA Earth Exchange (GeoNEX) project. The algorithm is based on the MODIS MAIAC (Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction) framework but with significant modifications to exploit angular/temporal information from the diurnal variability of the GeoNEX L1G TOA (Top-of-Atmosphere) reflectance. The algorithm starts by evaluating the roughness/smoothness of the diurnal time series of the TOA reflectance. Because rapid changes in TOA reflectance are generally caused by passing clouds or shadows, rough segments of the time series are automatically filtered out while the smooth segments are further tested for brightness and temperature to identify clear-sky and snow-free observations. Next the algorithm runs the MAIAC RTM (Radiative Transfer Model) to retrieve the Ross-Thick-Li-Sparse (RTLS) BRDF model parameters and the daily-mean atmospheric optical depth (AOD) that allow the RTM to optimally simulate the observed diurnal variability of clear-sky TOA reflectance. Once the initial RTLS parameters are retrieved after the algorithm’s burn-in period, they are used as the prior information to predict the AOD level for the next days, while the subsequent clear-sky observations are used to make necessary adjustments to the RTLS parameters in an continuous fashion. This “prediction-analysis” cycle is then iterated to process the full time series of the L1G data, skipping only total-cloudy days or when surface snow is detected. We tested the algorithm over a list of selected AERONET sites. The retrieved results (the daily mean AOD and the RTLS parameters) reasonably agree with the ground-based measurements. Importantly, the results indicate that the diurnal cycles of surface reflectance are continuous functions of the illumination-view geometry. Thus we can use the retrieved RTLS model to accurately fill in data gaps on partial cloudy days. Also, our algorithm is totally independent from the traditional approaches based on the use of spectral band ratios between the shortwave infrared (e.g., 2.2µm) and the visible (e.g., 0.47µm and 0.64µm) bands. Our results thus demonstrate that the high-frequent diurnal geostationary observations contain unique information that helps us improve atmospheric correction of remote sensing data.
GeoNEX↗
Micromachined Tunable Fabry-Perot Filters for Infrared Astronomy
Micromachined Fabry-Perot tunable filters with a large clear aperture (12.5 to 40 mm) are being developed as an optical component for wide-field imaging 1:1 spectroscopy. This program applies silicon micromachining fabrication techniques to miniaturize Fabry-Perot filters for astronomical science instruments. The filter assembly consists of a stationary etalon plate mated to a plate in which the etalon is free to move along the optical axis on silicon springs attached to a stiff silicon support ring. The moving etalon is actuated electrostatically by electrode pairs on the fixed and moving etalons. To reduce mass, both etalons are fabricated by applying optical coatings to a thin freestanding silicon nitride film held flat in drumhead tension rather than to a thick optical substrate. The design, electro-mechanical modeling, fabrication, and initial results will be discussed. The potential application of the miniature Fabry-Perot filters will be briefly discussed with emphasis on the detection of extra-solar planets.
Barclay, Richard↗
Raven: An On-Orbit Relative Navigation Demonstration Using International Space Station Visiting Vehicles
Since the last Hubble Servicing Mission five years ago, the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office (SSCO) at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) has been focusing on maturing the technologies necessary to robotically service orbiting legacy assets-spacecraft not necessarily designed for in-flight service. Raven, SSCO's next orbital experiment to the International Space Station (ISS), is a real-time autonomous non-cooperative relative navigation system that will mature the estimation algorithms required for rendezvous and proximity operations for a satellite-servicing mission. Raven will fly as a hosted payload as part of the Space Test Program's STP-H5 mission, which will be mounted on an external ExPRESS Logistics Carrier (ELC) and will image the many visiting vehicles arriving and departing from the ISS as targets for observation. Raven will host multiple sensors: a visible camera with a variable field of view lens, a long-wave infrared camera, and a short-wave flash lidar. This sensor suite can be pointed via a two-axis gimbal to provide a wide field of regard to track the visiting vehicles as they make their approach. Various real-time vision processing algorithms will produce range, bearing, and six degree of freedom pose measurements that will be processed in a relative navigation filter to produce an optimal relative state estimate. In this overview paper, we will cover top-level requirements, experimental concept of operations, system design, and the status of Raven integration and test activities.
Rendezvous↗
Compact Radiative Control Structures for Millimeter Astronomy
We have designed, fabricated, and tested compact radiative control structures, including antireflection coatings and resonant absorbers, for millimeter through submillimeter wave astronomy. The antireflection coatings consist of micromachined single crystal silicon dielectric sub-wavelength honeycombs. The effective dielectric constant of the structures is set by the honeycomb cell geometry. The resonant absorbers consist of pieces of solid single crystal silicon substrate and thin phosphorus implanted regions whose sheet resistance is tailored to maximize absorption by the structure. We present an implantation model that can be used to predict the ion energy and dose required for obtaining a target implant layer sheet resistance. A neutral density filter, a hybrid of a silicon dielectric honeycomb with an implanted region, has also been fabricated with this basic approach. These radiative control structures are scalable and compatible for use large focal plane detector arrays.
Brown, Ari D.↗
Separation of lithospheric, external, and core components of the south polar geomagnetic field at satellite altitudes
We present a new approach to producing scalar Magsat magnetic anomaly maps based on correlation coefficient filtering and the use of almost all of the available orbits. Our method differs from earlier techniques with respect to the following: (1) Passes are selected based on their variance properties rather than planetary indices such as Kp. (2) The core field model is least squares fit to individual passes and subsequently removed instead of substracting the model directly. This technique replaces band pass filtering or polynomial trend removal methods. (3) Each selected pass is sorted geographically and by local time, placed into one of four different altitude bands, and correlation coefficient filtered with the two adjacent passes. The filtering is the second step toward isolating the static lithospheric signal from the more dynamic external field signals. (4) Least squares collocation is used to grid the correlated passes; subsequently, the dawn and dusk maps are also correlation filtered providing another step toward removal of external fields. (5) The four resultant total field maps are continued to a common altitude and again correlation filtered for the static lithospheric anomalies. (6) The filtered results are then averaged together to provide a new total field map of the lithosphere south of 40 deg S latitude. Our total field map differs from previous efforts over the crustal blocks of West Antarctica. We obtained a positive anomaly over Edward VII Peninsula, extending into the Byrd subglacial basin and obtained a negative anomaly over the Ellsworth Mountains and parts of the Byrd subglacial basin. Also, a positive anomaly extending from the Ross Sea to offshore Wilkes Land is present in our map; however, this feature is absent in other maps. Positive anomalies marking the Weddell Sea in previous efforts are not present in our map. Prominent external field anomalies in the quadrant offshore of Wilkes Land are present in all previous efforts; however, these signatures are reduced in our total field map. This map significantly advances efforts for the identification and interpretation of magnetic anomalies of the south polar lithosphere.
Alsdorf, Douglas E.↗
Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren at the 0.3-M Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel and the National Transonic Facility
The implementation of a self-aligned focusing schlieren (SAFS) system at two cryogenic wind tunnels at NASA Langley Research Center is discussed. Risk-reduction testing of the SAFS system was first performed at the 0.3-M Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel to evaluate the system’s operation in a small-scale characteristic cryogenic facility. Testing was conducted with three models: a three-quarter span 25.4-mm-diameter cylinder, a semi-span 65A006 tapered unswept airfoil, and a full-span SC(3)-0712 airfoil. Testing with the cylinder and semi-span airfoil revealed a highly dynamic shock environment, whereas the shock on the full-span airfoil was stationary, solidifying the usage of this model for a pre-/post-shock particle tracking velocimetry measurement. Temperature-induced polarization-altering window stresses were encountered during low-temperature testing and were mitigated using a “non-ideal” quartz/quartz Rochon prism that had largely been neglected since the SAFS system’s first introduction in favor of the more favorable “ideal” glass/quartz Rochon prism. The size of the SAFS system was then decreased in order to fit inside an environmentally controlled camera can enclosure at the National Transonic Facility (NTF) for testing of a sting-mounted aircraft model. The SAFS system was demonstrated to be effective at filtering out the large density gradient flow in the0.3-M plenum, and the thick, high density turbulent boundary layers on the wind tunnel walls at the NTF. Results of the testing campaigns and improvements to future systems are discussed.
Joshua M Weisberger↗
Phenological Parameters Estimation Tool
The Phenological Parameters Estimation Tool (PPET) is a set of algorithms implemented in MATLAB that estimates key vegetative phenological parameters. For a given year, the PPET software package takes in temporally processed vegetation index data (3D spatio-temporal arrays) generated by the time series product tool (TSPT) and outputs spatial grids (2D arrays) of vegetation phenological parameters. As a precursor to PPET, the TSPT uses quality information for each pixel of each date to remove bad or suspect data, and then interpolates and digitally fills data voids in the time series to produce a continuous, smoothed vegetation index product. During processing, the TSPT displays NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) time series plots and images from the temporally processed pixels. Both the TSPT and PPET currently use moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite multispectral data as a default, but each software package is modifiable and could be used with any high-temporal-rate remote sensing data collection system that is capable of producing vegetation indices. Raw MODIS data from the Aqua and Terra satellites is processed using the TSPT to generate a filtered time series data product. The PPET then uses the TSPT output to generate phenological parameters for desired locations. PPET output data tiles are mosaicked into a Conterminous United States (CONUS) data layer using ERDAS IMAGINE, or equivalent software package. Mosaics of the vegetation phenology data products are then reprojected to the desired map projection using ERDAS IMAGINE
McKellip, Rodney D.↗
Self-Aligned Focusing Schlieren at the 0.3-M Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel and the National Transonic Facility
The implementation of a self-aligned focusing schlieren (SAFS) system at two cryogenic wind tunnels at NASA Langley Research Center is discussed. Risk-reduction testing of the SAFS system was first performed at the 0.3-M Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel to evaluate the system’s operation in a small-scale characteristic cryogenic facility. Testing was conducted with three models: a three-quarter span 25.4-mm-diameter cylinder, a semi-span 65A006 tapered unswept airfoil, and a full-span SC(3)-0712 airfoil. Testing with the cylinder and semi-span airfoil revealed a highly dynamic shock environment, whereas the shock on the full-span airfoil was stationary, solidifying the usage of this model for a pre-/post-shock particle tracking velocimetry measurement. Temperature-induced polarization-altering window stresses were encountered during low-temperature testing, and were mitigated using a “non-ideal” quartz/quartz Rochon prism that had largely been neglected since the SAFS system’s first introduction in favor of the more favorable “ideal” glass/quartz Rochon prism. The size of the SAFS system was then decreased in order to fit inside an environmentally-controlled camera can enclosure at the National Transonic Facility (NTF) for testing of a sting-mounted aircraft model. The SAFS system was demonstrated to be effective at filtering out the large density gradient flow in the 0.3-M plenum, and the thick, high density turbulent boundary layers on the wind tunnel walls at the NTF. Results of the testing campaigns and improvements to future systems are discussed.
Joshua M. Weisberger↗
Spatial cross-correlation of Antarctic Sea ice and seabed topography
A time series of derived sea ice concentrations as observed about Antarctica by the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) satellite in 1983 is considered. The degree of spatial cross correlation between these data and seabed topography is quantified. The approach is to implement a statistical image processing filter designed to extract local patterns of spatial cross correlation over the entire sea ice field as it undergoes daily changes. Throughout the sea ice, it was found that large scale variations in sea ice concentration correlate systematically with variations in the topography of the seabed. Generally speaking, high concentrations of sea ice occur over deep ocean, whereas areas of encavement, early dissipation and polynya formation develop over topographic features of high elevation. The latter was studied in detail with respect to the features Maud Rise, Astrid Ridge and the continental shelf in the Cosmonaut and Ross Seas. In each case, it is shown that an encavement in sea ice, a polynya, or both develops in the vicinity of the feature in question. As these results are quantified in terms of spatial cross correlation, a potential role is inferred for seabed topography in such fluctuations in the sea ice about Antarctica.
Deveaux, Richard D.↗
Rendezvous and docking tracker
A conceptual solid-state rendezvous and docking tracker (RDT) has been devised for generating range and attitude data for a docking vehicle relative to a target vehicle. Emphasis is placed on the approach of the Orbiter to a link with the Space Station. Three laser illuminators ring the optical axis of the lens a directed toward retroreflectors on the target vehicle. Each retroreflector is equipped with a bandpass filter for a designated illumination frequency. Data are collected sequentially over a 20 deg field of view as the range closes to 100-1000 m. A fourth ranging retroreflector 0.3 m from center is employed during close-in maneuvers. The system provides tracking data on motions with 6 deg of freedom, and furnishes 500 msec updates (to be enhanced to 100 msec) to the operator at a computer console.
Ray, Art J.↗