Engineering topics

Hartmann, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Hartmann, G..

10 records

NASA NTRS1996

Space-Borne H2O Observations in the Arctic Stratosphere and Mesosphere in the Spring of 1992

We report on stratospheric and mesospheric water vapor (H2O) observations obtained by the Millimeter wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS) in the Arctic spring of 1992. In the lower stratosphere, the observations show enhanced H2O inside the vortex between 450 K and 625 K, in agreement with other H2O observations. In the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere, at potential temperatures between 1850 K and 2200 K, we find regions of depressed H2O volume mixing ratio coincident with remnants of high potential vorticity. The depressed mesospheric H2O, as well as the enhanced lower stratospheric H2O, are consistent with wintertime descent. It also suggests effective containment of air up into the lower mesosphere.

Aellig, C. P.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Low-altitude measurements of precipitating protons, alpha particles, and heavy ions during the geomagnetic storm on March 26-27, 1976

During the geomagnetic storm of March 16-17, 1976, observations were made of precipitating protons, alpha particles, and heavy ions by two counter telescopes aboard the low-altitude S3-2 satellite. These observations are presented in this paper and their significance discussed. Briefly, a two-zone precipitation region is observed on the nightside, at L equals 2.7 and L equals 4.0 with an alpha/p ratio of about 0.008 in the low-latitude region and about 0.0009 at higher latitude at 0.4 MeV/necleon. The heavier ions, CNO nuclei, are seen in the low-latitude zone with a CNO/alpha ratio of about 0.056 at 0.25 MeV/nucleon.

Scholer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Flight test experience with an adaptive control system using a maximum likelihood parameter estimation technique

The flight test performance of an adaptive control system for the F-8 DFBW aircraft is summarized. The adaptive system is based on explicit identification of surface effectiveness parameters which are used for gain scheduling in a command augmentation system. Performance of this control law under various design parameter variations is presented. These include variations in test signal level, sample rate, and identification channel structure. Flight performance closely matches analysis and simulation predictions from previous references.

Hartmann, G.↗

NASA NTRS1978

A new measurement of the cosmic ray electron spectrum from 10 GeV to 300 GeV

The spectrum of cosmic-ray electrons has been measured with an instrument that combines a transition-radiation detector with a shower detector. The transition-radiation detector provides unique identification of individual electrons and good discrimination against protons. At the same time, it allows the construction of a large-area instrument (0.48 sq m ? ster) and consequently makes possible a measurement of improved statistical accuracy. The instrument has been calibrated with electron beams of 5-300 GeV at Fermilab, thus eliminating energy-dependent biases. A first balloon flight yielded 30 hours of data at an altitude of 5 g/sq cm. The design of the instrument is described, along with the accelerator calibrations and the analysis of the balloon flight data. The spectrum of electrons is found to be significantly steeper than that of protons over the whole energy range.

Hartmann, G.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Recent progress in the development of transition radiation detectors

Transition-radiation detectors have been used in several recent cosmic-ray experiments for particle identification at energies E/mc-squared of at least about 1000. In order to optimize the design of such detectors and to use them for energy measurements over a broad energy range, it is necessary to study the details of the transition-radiation process. Experimental results are presented which test the theoretical predictions more precisely and at higher energies than in previous experiments. The dependence of the interference pattern in the frequency spectrum on the radiator dimensions is studied, and the total transition-radiation yield generated by electrons in various radiators is measured over a very wide energy range, from 5 to 300 GeV. The significance of the individual experimental parameters in the design of transition radiation detectors is reviewed, and the characteristics of transition-radiation detectors capable of measuring particle energies over the range E/mc-squared from about 300 to 100,000 are discussed.

Cherry, M. L.↗

NASA NTRS1977

High-energy cosmic-ray electrons - A new measurement using transition-radiation detectors

A new detector for cosmic-ray electrons, consisting of a combination of a transition-radiation detector and a shower detector, has been constructed, calibrated at accelerator beams, and exposed in a balloon flight under 5 g/sq cm of atmosphere. The design of this instrument and the methods of data analysis are described. Preliminary results in the energy range 9-300 GeV are presented. The energy spectrum of electrons is found to be significantly steeper than that of protons, consistent with a long escape lifetime of cosmic rays in the galaxy.

Hartmann, G.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Flight data processing with the F-8 adaptive algorithm

An explicit adaptive control algorithm based on maximum likelihood estimation of parameters has been designed for NASA's DFBW F-8 aircraft. To avoid iterative calculations, the algorithm uses parallel channels of Kalman filters operating at fixed locations in parameter space. This algorithm has been implemented in NASA/DFRC's Remotely Augmented Vehicle (RAV) facility. Real-time sensor outputs (rate gyro, accelerometer and surface position) are telemetered to a ground computer which sends new gain values to an on-board system. Ground test data and flight records were used to establish design values of noise statistics and to verify the ground-based adaptive software. The software and its performance evaluation based on flight data are described

Hartmann, G.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The generation of transition radiation by relativistic particles in plastic foam radiators

The design of large area transition radiation detectors for highly relativistic particles can be greatly simplified if plastic foam radiators are employed. Using electron beams with energies 1-9 GeV at the Cornell synchrotron, we have studied the properties of a large variety of transition radiators consisting of commercially available foam materials. In most cases, a measurable transition radiation signal has been observed, but only a few materials have been found to be suitable for practical purposes. The observed radiation yield is in these cases very similar to that of equivalent multifoil radiators. A detailed discussion is given of the particle detection efficiency that can be obtained with high yield foam radiators.

Prince, T. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Design of a transition radiation detector for cosmic rays

Transition radiation detectors consisting of sandwiches of plastic foam radiators and multiwire proportional chambers can be used to identify cosmic ray particles with energies gamma ? E/mc-squared is greater than 10 to the 3rd and to measure their energy in the region gamma is roughly equal to 10 to the 3rd

Hartmann, G.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Transition radiation from relativistic electrons in periodic radiators

The generation and detection of transition radiation have been studied in a series of experiments with electrons from 1 to 15 GeV at SLAC and at the Cornell Synchrotron. Periodic radiators, consisting of thin plastic foils stretched in air at constant spacings, were used, and proportional chambers filled with krypton or xenon served as detectors. A detailed discussion of the theoretical predictions is given, and the measurements are systematically compared with the predictions by varying the most critical parameters, such as configuration of radiators and detectors, and energy of the electrons. In general, good agreement between theory and experiment has been found. On the basis of these results, the criteria are summarized under which transition radiation can readily be observed.

Cherry, M. L.↗