Engineering topics

Phillips, G. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Phillips, G. W..

6 records

NASA NTRS2001

Radiation dosimetry using three-dimensional optical random access memories

Three-dimensional optical random access memories (3D ORAMs) are a new generation of high-density data storage devices. Binary information is stored and retrieved via a light induced reversible transformation of an ensemble of bistable photochromic molecules embedded in a polymer matrix. This paper describes the application of 3D ORAM materials to radiation dosimetry. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally, that ionizing radiation in the form of heavy charged particles is capable of changing the information originally stored on the ORAM material. The magnitude and spatial distribution of these changes are used as a measure of the absorbed dose, particle type and energy. The effects of exposure on 3D ORAM materials have been investigated for a variety of particle types and energies, including protons, alpha particles and 12C ions. The exposed materials are observed to fluoresce when exposed to laser light. The intensity and the depth of the fluorescence is dependent on the type and energy of the particle to which the materials were exposed. It is shown that these effects can be modeled using Monte Carlo calculations. The model provides a better understanding of the properties of these materials. which should prove useful for developing systems for charged particle and neutron dosimetry/detector applications. c2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS2001

Correlation of Upper-Atmospheric Be-7 With Solar Energetic Particle Events

Surprisingly large concentrations of radioactive Be-7 have been found in the upper atmosphere at levels of one to three orders of magnitude greater than observed in the stratosphere. This phenomenon was originally observed on the LDEF satellite which was recovered in January 1990 following a period of extremely high solar activity in the fall of 1989. We report on follow-up measurements on the Russian COSMOS and RESURS F1 spacecraft during the period of 1996 to 1999 which was a period of minimal to moderate solar activity. The Be-7 concentrations observed on these flights were down substantially from the LDEF observations but were still one to two orders of magnitude higher than stratospheric levels. A significant correlation is observed between the Be-7 activity and the combined fluence of solar energetic protons (SEP) and galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) protons. The Be-7 activity is not correlated with overall solar activity as represented by the solar x-ray flux. We discuss possible mechanisms for the solar proton correlation. However, it is likely that the Be-7 is ionized and it is unknown how this will affect the calculations. There were several large solar flares in the fall of 1989 that produced extraordinarily intense solar particle events at the Earth and record geophysical disturbances. These may have acted to increase production of Be-7 from spallation in the stratosphere and also to enhance transport to higher altitudes from the effects of heating and expansion of the upper atmosphere. Be-7 in the upper atmosphere may also have been produced directly at the Sun. Be-7 and Li-7 are produced in solar flares when accelerated alpha-particles fuse with He-4 in the solar atmosphere. Under optimistic assumptions for Sun to Earth transport and subsequent insertion into low Earth orbit, a Be-7 density of about 10(exp -7) atom/cubic cm at 310 km is estimated.

Phillips, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Correlation of Upper-Atmospheric 7-Be with Solar Energetic Particle Events

A surprisingly large concentration of radioactive 7-Be was observed in the upper atmosphere at altitudes above 320 km on the LDEF satellite that was recovered in January 1990. We report on follow-up experiments on Russian spacecraft at altitudes of 167 to 370 km during the period of 1996 to 1999, specifically designed to measure 7-Be concentrations in low earth orbit. Our data show a significant correlation between the 7-Be concentration and the solar energetic proton fluence at Earth, but not with the overall solar activity. During periods of low solar proton fluence, the concentration is correlated with the galactic cosmic ray fluence. This indicates that spallation of atmospheric N by both solar energetic particles and cosmic rays is the primary source of 7-Be in the ionosphere.

Phillips, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS2001

The Mechanism Responsible for High Concentrations of Be-7 in the Near Space

In 1990 an unexpectedly high concentration of Be-7 was discovered on the LDEF satellite surface, facing in the RAM direction. The search for an explanation of this high concentration of Be-7 which is in thermal equilibrium in the upper atmosphere, led the researchers to the hypothesis of Be-7 transport by vertical turbulent fluxes from deeper layers in the Earth's atmosphere, where Be-7 is produced as a result of nuclear reactions between solar energetic protons (which penetrated there after a solar flare) and terrestrial atmosphere elements. The experiments carried out during 1995-1999 on 'Resource F1' and 'Cosmos' satellites not only confirmed the existence of high Be-7 concentrations at altitudes of about 200 km, but also permitted to establish correlation between the concentration of Be-7 in the upper atmosphere and flare activity on the Sun. More detailed analysis of the whole set of experimental data on Be-7 measurements at satellite altitudes showed, that the appearance of high Be-7 concentrations in the upper atmosphere of the Earth is a more complicated phenomenon. Two more mechanisms , explaining the observed effect can be indicated. Firstly, the observed concentrations could be associated with direct penetration of energetic Be-7 nuclei, originating in flares, into the terrestrial atmosphere. Calculations show, that in solar cosmic rays the flux of Be-7 nuclei should be maximum in comparison to the fluxes of other Beryllium isotopes. Secondly, the high concentration of Be-7 in the upper atmosphere of the Earth could be explained by solar wind penetration through the polar zones. Theoretical analysis of active processes including flares, occurring in the solar atmosphere, leads to the conclusion, that radioactive Beryllium is constantly present in the solar atmosphere, and, possibly, is the main isotope of solar Beryllium.

Panasyuk, M. I.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Gamma radiation survey of the LDEF spacecraft

The retrieval of the Long Duration Exposure Facility spacecraft in January 1990 after nearly six years in orbit offered a unique opportunity to study the long term buildup of induced radioactivity in the variety of materials on board. We conducted the first complete gamma-ray survey of a large spacecraft on LDEF shortly after its return to earth. A surprising observation was the Be-7 activity which was seen primarily on the leading edge of the satellite, implying that it was picked up by LDEF in orbit. This is the first known evidence for accretion of a radioactive isotope onto an orbiting spacecraft. Other isotopes observed during the survey, the strongest being Na-22, are all attributed to activation of spacecraft components. Be-7 is a spallation product of cosmic rays on nitrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere. However, the observed density is much greater than expected due to cosmic-ray production in situ. This implies transport of Be-7 from much lower altitudes up to the LDEF orbit.

Phillips, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Gamma radiation survey of the LDEF spacecraft

The retrieval of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft after nearly 6 years in orbit offered a unique opportunity to study the long term buildup of induced radioactivity in the variety of materials on board. The first complete gamma ray survey was conducted of a large spacecraft on LDEF shortly after its return to Earth. A surprising observation was the large Be-7 activity which was seen primarily on the leading edge of the satellite, implying that it was picked up by LDEF in orbit. This is the first known evidence for accretion of a radioactive isotope onto an orbiting spacecraft. Other isotopes seen during the survey, the strongest being Na-22 and Mn-54, are all attributed to activation of spacecraft components in orbit. Be-7 is a spallation product of cosmic rays on nitrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere. However, the observed density is much greater than expected due to cosmic ray production in situ. This implies transport of Be-7 from much lower altitudes up to the LDEF orbit.

Phillips, G. W.↗