Engineering topics

Auer, S. O.

Publications and source records attributed to Auer, S. O..

7 records

NASA NTRS1977

Remote sensing of vegetation and soil using microwave ellipsometry

A method is described of determining vegetation height and water content of vegetation from the intensity and state of elliptical polarization of a reflected train of microwaves. The method comprises the steps of reflecting a circularly polarized train of microwaves from vegetation at a predetermined angle of incidence and detecting the reflected train of microwaves. The ratio of the intensities of the electric field vector components is determined, the phase difference of the components is measured, and the refractive index and thickness of the layer of vegetation are computed from a formula. The refractive index is given essentially by the water content of the vegetation.

Auer, S. O.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Remote sensing of vegetation and soil

Microwave ellipsometry apparatus reflects circularly polarized train of microwaves from vegetation at predetermined angle of incidence to determine ratio of intensities of electric field components and their phase differences. Refractive index given by water content of vegetation and thickness of vegetation layer are computed from formula based on Maxwell's equations.

Schutt, J. B.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Moving particle composition analyzer

A mass spectrometry apparatus for analyzing the composition of moving microscopic particles is introduced. The apparatus includes a capacitor with a front electrode upon which the particles impinge, a back electrode, and a solid dielectric sandwiched between the front and back electrodes. In one embodiment, the electrodes and dielectric are arcuately shaped as concentric peripheral segments of different spheres having a common center and different radii. The front electrode and dielectric together have a thickness such that an impinging particle can penetrate them. In a second embodiment, the capacitor has planar, parallel electrodes, in which case the ejected positive ions are deflected downstream of a planar grid by a pair of spaced, arcuate capacitor plates having a region between them through which the ejected ions travel.

Auer, S. O.↗

NASA NTRS1975

A composition analyzer for microparticles using a spark ion source

Iron microparticles were fired onto a capacitor-type microparticle detector which responded to an impact with a spark discharge. Ion currents were extracted from the spark and analyzed in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The mass spectra showed the element of both detector and particle materials. The total extracted ion currents was typically 10A within a period of 100ns, indicating very efficient vaporization of the particle and ionization of the vapor. Potential applications include research on cosmic dust, atmospheric aerosols and cloud droplets, particles ejected by rocket or jet engines, by machining processes, or by nuclear bomb explosions.

Auer, S. O.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Micrometeoroid velocity-and-trajectory analyzer

By adding potential energy of charged capacitor to kinetic energy of impacting particle, new technique causes major fraction of atoms in microscopic particle impacting on particle-receiving surface to be ionized. Chemical constituents of impacting particle are represented by generated ion mass spectrum in approximately correct proportions.

Auer, S. O.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Micrometeoroid composition analyzer

Technique has been developed to detect moving charged particles and to determine their positions and/or their velocity vectors, relative to three mutually orthogonal axes, without particle impact or any elements of detector and without changing particle charge or motion.

Auer, S. O.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Particle impact location detector

Detector includes delay lines connected to each detector surface strip. When several particles strike different strips simultaneously, pulses generated by each strip are time delayed by certain intervals. Delay time for each strip is known. By observing time delay in pulse, it is possible to locate strip that is struck by particle.

Auer, S. O.↗