Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Allison, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Allison, M..

12 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Magnetic anisotropy and spin dynamics in the kagome magnet Fe 4 Si 2 Sn 7 O 16 : NMR and magnetic susceptibility study on oriented powder

Fe 4 Si 2 Sn 7 O 16 hosts an undistorted kagome lattice of Fe 2+ (3d 6 , S = 2) ions. We present results of bulk magnetization and Sn nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements on an oriented Fe 4 Si 2 Sn 7 O 16 powder sample oriented in geometries parallel (∥) and perpendicular (⊥) to the external applied magnetic field used for orienting the powder (Bori). The bulk susceptibility χ shows a broad peak at T N ~ 3 K associated with antiferromagnetic ordering. NMR spectra indicate the presence of planar anisotropy in the kagome planes. From an analysis of the static NMR shift (K) and dynamic spin-lattice relaxation rate (1/T 1 ) we conclude the presence of dominant magnetic fluctuations in the kagome planes. For the ∥ orientation, K scales linearly with the bulk susceptibility for temperatures down to ~ 4 K, while in the ⊥ orientation K starts to deviate strongly below T ~ 30 K. We associate this deviation with the onset of spin-tilting towards the kagome planes. These correlations are also reflected in the 1/T 1 data for the ∥ orientation, which starts to decrease below T ~ 30 K. Here, in this correlated regime, T N < T < ~ 30 K, we discuss the formation of positive chiral spin correlations in the kagome planes.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2005

Cassini radar views the surface of Titan

The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper imaged about 1% of Titan's surface at a resolution of approximately 0.5 kilometer, and larger areas of the globe in lower resolution modes. The images reveal a complex surface, with areas of low relief and a variety of geologic features suggestive of dome-like volcanic constructs, flows, and sinuous channels. The surface appears to be young, with few impact craters. Scattering and dielectric properties are consistent with porous ice or organics. Dark patches in the radar images show high brightness temperatures and high emissivity and are consistent with frozen hydrocarbons.

Saturn↗
NASA NTRS2005

The Cassini/Huygens Doppler Wind Experiment: Results from the Titan Descent

The primary objective of the Doppler Wind Experiment (DWE), one of the six scientific investigations comprising the payload of the ESA Huygens Probe, is a determination of the wind velocity in Titan's atmosphere. Measurements of the Doppler shift of the S-band (2040 MHz) carrier signal to the Cassini Orbiter and to Earth were recorded during the Probe descent in order to deduce wind-induced motion of the Probe to an accuracy better than 1 m s-1. An experiment with the same scientific goal was performed with the Galileo Probe at Jupiter. Analogous to the Galileo experience, it was anticipated that the frequency of the Huygens radio signal could be measured on Earth to obtain an additional component of the horizontal winds. Specific secondary science objectives of DWE include measurements of: (a) Doppler fluctuations to determine the turbulence spectrum and possible wave activity in the Titan atmosphere; (b) Doppler and signal level modulation to monitor Probe descent dynamics (e.g., spinrate/spinphase, parachute swing); (c) Probe coordinates and orientation during descent and after impact on Titan.

Bird, M. K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Jupiter: Atmospheric Sounding and Sensing of the Interior (JASSI)

The formation of the giant planets is one of the most fundamental questions in solar system exploration. Understanding the process that led to the creation of Jupiter is essential to understanding the nature of the primordial solar nebula, and the formation of our solar system and others currently being discovered. Data from Galileo combined with HST and Ulysses results validated our basic understanding of Jupiter as a giant planet whose gaseous envelope consists of solar nebula gas enriched in elements heavier than He by in falling icy planetesimals. However, the current Galileo Probe data set does not itself allow firm conclusions about the original planetesimal composition or the process of giant planet formation - we crucially need the O and N abundances that Galileo could not determine. We propose a new and simple concept capable of determining these abundance in Jupiter plus substantial gravity science. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Bolton, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Mapping the Martian Meteorology

The Mars-adapted version of the NASA/GISS general circulation model (GCM) has been applied to the hourly/daily simulation of the planet's meteorology over several seasonal orbits. The current running version of the model includes a diurnal solar cycle, CO2 sublimation, and a mature parameterization of upper level wave drag with a vertical domain extending from the surface up to the 6microb level. The benchmark simulations provide a four-dimensional archive for the comparative evaluation of various schemes for the retrieval of winds from anticipated polar orbiter measurements of temperatures by the Pressure Modulator Infrared Radiometer. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Allison, M.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Rubidium Ultra-Stable Oscillators at Titan: The Huygens Doppler Wind Experiment

The Doppler Wind Experiment (DWE) is one of six investigations to be performed during the Titan atmospheric descent of the ESA Huygens Probe. The primary scientific objective is to measure the direction and strength of Titan's zonal winds with an accuracy better than 1 m/s. The Probe's wind-induced horizontal motion will be derived from the residual Doppler shift of its S-band radio link to the Cassini Orbiter, corrected for all known orbit and propagation effects, from the beginning of the mission (altitude: approx. 160 km) down to impact on the surface. The DWE Instrumentation consists of Rb-based Ultra-Stable Oscillators used to: (1) generate the transmitted signal from the Probe and (2) extract the frequency of the received signal on the Orbiter. The capabilities of these USOs under the rugged experimental conditions on Titan and some results from the DWE pre-launch test program are described.

Bird, M. K.↗
NASA NTRS1990

A wave dynamical interpretation of Saturn's polar hexagon

The hexagonal, pole-centered cloud feature in Saturn's northern atmosphere, as revealed in Voyager close-encounter imaging mosaics, may be interpreted as a stationary Rossby wave. The wave is embedded within a sharply peaked eastward jet (of 100 meters per second) and appears to be perturbed by at least one anticyclonic oval vortex immediately to the south. The effectively exact observational determination of the horizontal wave number and phase speed, applied to a simple model dispersion relation, suggests that the wave is vertically trapped and provides a diagnostic template for further modeling of the deep atmospheric stratification.

Allison, M.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Saturn meteorology - A diagnostic assessment of thin-layer configurations for the zonal flow

Voyager imaging, infrared, and radio observations for Saturn have been recently interpreted by Smith et al. (1982) as an indication that the jet streams observed at the cloud tops extend to depths greater than the 10,000-bar level. This analysis assumes a maximum latitudinal temperature contrast of a few percent, a mean atmospheric rotation rate at depth given by Saturn's ratio period, and no variation with latitude of the bottom pressure level for the zonal flow system. These assumptions are not, however, firmly constrained by observation. The diagnostic analysis of plausible alternative configurations for Saturn's atmospheric structure demonstrates that a thin weather layer system (confined at mid to high latitudes to levels above 200 bar) cannot be excluded by any of the available observations. A quantitative estimate of the effects of moisture condensation (including the differentiation of mean molecular weight) suggests that these might provide the buoyancy contrasts necessary to support a thin-layer flow provided that Saturn's outer envelope is enriched approximately 10 times in water abundance relative to a solar composition atmosphere and strongly differentiated with latitude at the condensation level.

Allison, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared observations of the Saturnian system from Voyager 1

Atmospheric chemistry analyses of Saturn based on Voyager 1 infrared spectral and radiometric data are presented, including characteristics of the planet's rings and of Titan and other satellites. Infrared spectra of Saturn indicate the presence of H2, CH4, NH3, PH3, C2H2, and C2H6, with the possibility of C3H4 and C3H8. The atmospheric thermal structure of the planet shows hemispheric asymmetries that are consistent with seasonally varying insolation response, with an extensive small-scale latitudinal structure. Atmospheric chemistries of Titan, and optical and thermal characteristics for the rings of Saturn, are also given.

Hanel, R.↗