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Rahman, Z.

Publications and source records attributed to Rahman, Z..

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2011

An Examination of the Space Weathering Patina of Lunar Rock 76015

Space weathering discussions have generally centered around soils but exposed rocks will also incur the effects of weathering. Rocks have much longer surface lifetimes than an individual soil grain and thus record a longer history of exposure. By studying the weathering products which have built up on a rock surface, we can gain a deeper perspective on the weathering process and better assess the relative importance of various weathering components. The weathered coating, or patina, of the lunar rock 76015 has been previously studied under SEM and also by TEM using ultramicrotome sample preparation methods. However, to really understand the products involved in creating these coatings, it is helpful to examine the patina in cross section, something which is now possible though the use of Focused Ion Beam (FIB) sample prep techniques, which allows us to preserve intact the delicate stratigraphy of the patina coating and provides a unique cross-sectional view of the space weathering process. Several samples have been prepared from the rock and the coatings are found to be quite variable in thickness and composition from one sample to the next.

Noble, S.↗
NASA NTRS2011

FE-SEM, FIB and TEM Study of Surface Deposits of Apollo 15 Green Glass Volcanic Spherules

Surface deposits on lunar pyroclastic green (Apollo 15) and orange (Apollo 17) glass spherules have been attributed to condensation from the gas clouds that accompanied fire-fountain eruptions. The fire fountains cast molten lava high above the lunar surface and the silicate melt droplets quenched before landing producing the glass beads. Early investigations showed that these deposits are rich in sulfur and zinc. The deposits are extremely fine-grained and thin, so that it was never possible to determine their chemical compositions cleanly by SEM/EDX or electron probe x-ray analysis because most of the excited volume was in the under-lying silicate glass. We are investigating the surface deposits by TEM, using focused ion beam (FIB) microscopy to extract and thin the surface deposits. Here we report on chemical mapping of a FIB section of surface deposits of an Apollo green glass bead 15401using the ultra-high resolution JEOL 2500 STEM located at NASA Johnson Space Center.

Ross, Daniel K.↗
NASA NTRS2011

FE and MG Isotopic Analyses of Isotopically Unusual Presolar Silicate Grains

Interstellar and circumstellar silicate grains are thought to be Mg-rich and Fe-poor, based on astronomical observations and equilibrium condensation models of silicate dust formation in stellar outflows. On the other hand, presolar silicates isolated from meteorites have surprisingly high Fe contents and few Mg-rich grains are observed. The high Fe contents in meteoritic presolar silicates may indicate they formed by a non-equilibrium condensation process. Alternatively, the Fe in the stardust grains could have been acquired during parent body alteration. The origin of Fe in presolar silicates may be deduced from its isotopic composition. Thus far, Fe isotopic measurements of presolar silicates are limited to the Fe-54/Fe-56 ratios of 14 grains. Only two slight anomalies (albeit solar within error) were observed. However, these measurements suffered from contamination of Fe from the adjacent meteorite matrix, which diluted any isotopic anomalies. We have isolated four presolar silicates having unusual O isotopic compositions by focused ion beam (FIB) milling and obtained their undiluted Mg and Fe isotopic compositions. These compositions help to identify the grains stellar sources and to determine the source of Fe in the grains.

Nguyen, A. N.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Fayalite Oxidation Processes: Experimental Evidence for the Stability of Pure Ferric Fayalite?

Olivine is one of the most important minerals in Earth and planetary sciences. Fayalite Fe2(2+)SiO4, the ferrous end-member of olivine, is present in some terrestrial rocks and primitive meteorites (CV3 chondrites). A ferric fayalite (or ferri-fayalite), Fe(2+) Fe2(3+)(SiO4)2 laihunite, has been reported in Earth samples (magnetite ore, metamorphic and volcanic rocks...) and in Martian meteorites (nakhlites). Laihunite was also synthesized at 1 atmosphere between 400 and 700 C. We show evidence for the stability of a pure ferrifayalite end-member and for potential minerals with XFe(3+) between 2/3 and 1.

Martin, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS2011

New Titanium Monosulfide Mineral Phase in Yamato 691 Enstatite Chondrite

Yamato 691, an EH3 enstatite chondrite, was among the first meteorites discovered by chance in Antarctica by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) team in 1969. This discovery led to follow-up searches for meteorites in Antarctica [1]. These international searches have been very successful recovering over 40,000 total specimens (and still counting), including martian and lunar meteorites. Titanium is partly chalcophile in enstatite-rich meteorites. Previous occurrences of Ti-bearing sulfides include troilite, daubrelite and ferroan alabandite in enstatite chondrites and aubrites [2], and heideite with 28.5 wt% Ti in the Bustee aubrite [3]. Here we report a new mineral from Yamato 691, ideally stoichiometric TiS, titanium monosulfide, a simple two-element mineral phase, yet with a very unique crystal structure that, to our knowledge, has not been observed previously in nature.

Nakamura-Messenger, K↗
NASA NTRS2011

Organic Carbon Features Identified in the Nakhla Martian Meteorite

We report, for the first time, the identification of specific carbonaceous phases, present within iddingsite alteration zones of the Nakhla meteorite that possess discrete, well defined, structurally coherent morphologies. These structures bear superficial similarity to the carbonaceous nanoglobules [1] found in primitive chondrites interplanetary dust particles, although they are an order-of-magnitude larger in size. Introduction: It has been known for many years that some members of the Martian meteorite clan contain organic matter [e.g., 2-4]. Based on both isotopic measurements [5] and circumstantial observations [4] (e.g., the similarity organic signatures present in both Antarctic finds and non-Antarctic falls) a credible argument has been made for a preterrestrial origin for the majority of these organics. The Nakhla meteorite is of particular interest in that it has been shown to contain both an acid-labile organic fraction as well as an acid-insoluble high molecular weight organic component [4]. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the latter component indicates it to be composed of aromatic and alkyl-aromatic functionalities bound into a macromolecule phase through ether linkages [4]. However, the spatial, textural and mineralogical associations of this carbonaceous macromolecular material have remained elusive [6].

Mckay, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Nakhla: a Martian Meteorite with Indigenous Organic Carbonaceous Features

The Nakhla meteorite possesses discrete, well defined, structurally coherent morphologies of carbonaceous phases present within iddingsite alteration zones. Based upon both isotopic measurements and analysis of organic phases the presence of pre-terrestrial organics is now recognized. Within the microcrystalline layers of Nakhla s iddingsite, discrete clusters of salt crystals are present. These salts are predominantly halite (NaCl) with minor MgCl2 crystals. Some CaSO4, likely gypsum, appears to be partially intergrown with some of the halite. EDX mapping shows discrete C-rich features are interspersed among these crystals. A hollow semi-spherical bowl structure (~ 3 m ) has been identified and analyzed after using a focused ion beam (FIB) to cut a transverse TEM thin section of the feature and the underlying iddingsite. TEM/EDX analysis reveals that the feature is primarily carbonaceous containing C with lesser amounts of Si, S, Ca, Cl, F, Na, and minor Mn and Fe; additionally a small peak consistent with N, which has been previously seen in Nakhla carbonaceous matter, is also present. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) shows that this C-rich material is amorphous (lacking any long-range crystallographic order) and is not graphite or carbonate. Micro-Raman spectra acquired from the same surface from which the FIB section was extracted demonstrate a typical kerogen-like D and G band structure with a weak absorption peak at 1350 and a stronger peak at 1600/cm. The C-rich feature is intimately associated with both the surrounding halite and underlying iddingsite matrix. Both iddingsite and salts are interpreted as having formed as evaporate assemblages from progressive evaporation of water bodies on Mars. This assemblage, sans the carbonaceous moieties, closely resembles iddingsite alteration features previously described which were interpreted as indigenous Martian assemblages. These distinctive macromolecular carbonaceous structures in Nakhla may represent one of the sources of the high molecular weight organic material previously identified in Nakhla. While we do not speculate on the origin of these unique carbonaceous structures, we note that the significance of such observations is that it may allow us to construct a C-cycle for Mars based on the C chemistry of the Martian meteorites with obvious implications for astrobiology and the prebiotic evolution of Mars. In any case, our observations strongly suggest that organic C exists as micrometersize, discrete structures on Mars.

McKay, D. S.↗
NASA NTRS2011

The Formation of Wassonite: A New Titanium Monosulfide Mineral in the Yamato 691 Enstatite Chondrite

Wassonite, ideally stoichiometric TiS, is a titanium monosulfide not previously observed in nature, that was discovered within the Yamato 691 EH3 enstatite chondrite [1]. Because of the submicrometer size of the wassonite grains, it was not possible to determine conventional macroscopic properties. However, the chemical composition and crystal structure were well constrained by extensive quantitative energy dispersive x-ray analysis and electron diffraction using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The crystal system for wassonite is rhombohedral (a = 3.42 plus or minus 0.07, c = 26.50 plus or minus 0.53 Angstroms) with space group: R(sup 3 raised bar) m (R9 type), cell volume: 268.4 plus or minus 0.53 Angstroms(sup 3), Z=9, density (calculated): 4.452 grams per cubic centimeter, empirical formula: (Ti(sub 0.93), Fe(sub 0.06), Cr(sub 0.01))S. In this study, we discuss possible formation mechanisms of wassonite and its associated minerals based on the petrology, mineralogy, crystallography, thermodynamic calculations, Al/Mg isotopic systematics and the O-isotopic composition of the wassonite-bearing BO chondrule.

Nakamura-Messenger, K.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Irradiation of FeS: Implications for the Lifecycle of Sulfur in the Interstellar Medium and Presolar FeS Grains

Fe(Ni) sulfides are ubiquitous in chondritic meteorites and cometary samples where they are the dominant host of sulfur. Despite their abundance in these early solar system materials, their presence in interstellar and circumstellar environments is poorly understood. Fe-sulfides have been reported from astronomical observations of pre- and post-main sequence stars [1, 2] and occur as inclusions in bonafide circumstellar silicate grains [3, 4]. In cold, dense molecular cloud (MC) environments, sulfur is highly depleted from the gas phase [e.g. 5], yet observations of sulfur-bearing molecules in dense cores find a total abundance that is only a small fraction of the sulfur seen in diffuse regions [6], therefore the bulk of the depletion must reside in an abundant unobserved phase. In stark contrast, sulfur is essentially undepleted from the gas phase in the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM) [7-9], indicating that little sulfur is incorporated into solid grains in this environment. This is a rather puzzling observation unless Fe-sulfides are not produced in significant quantities in stellar outflows, or their lifetime in the ISM is very short due to rapid destruction. The main destruction mechanism is sputtering due to supernova shocks in the warm, diffuse ISM [10]. This process involves the reduction of Fe-sulfide with the production of Fe metal as a by-product and returning S to the gas phase. In order to test this hypothesis, we irradiated FeS and analyzed the resulting material using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Keller, Lindsay P.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Experimental Investigation of Space Radiation Processing in Lunar Soil Ilmenite: Combining Perspectives from Surface Science and Transmission Electron Microscopy

Energetic ions mostly from the solar wind play a major role in lunar space weathering because they contribute structural and chemical changes to the space-exposed surfaces of lunar regolith grains. In mature mare soils, ilmenite (FeTiO3) grains in the finest size fraction have been shown in transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies to exhibit key differences in their response to space radiation processing relative to silicates [1,2,3]. In ilmenite, solar ion radiation alters host grain outer margins to produce 10-100 nm thick layers that are microstructurally complex, but dominantly crystalline compared to the amorphous radiation-processed rims on silicates [1,2,3]. Spatially well-resolved analytical TEM measurements also show nm-scale compositional and chemical state changes in these layers [1,3]. These include shifts in Fe/Ti ratio from strong surface Fe-enrichment (Fe/Ti >> 1), to Fe depletion (Fe/Ti < 1) at 40-50 nm below the grain surface [1,3]. These compositional changes are not observed in the radiation-processed rims on silicates [4]. Several mechanism(s) to explain the overall relations in the ilmenite grain rims by radiation processing and/or additional space weathering processes were proposed by [1], and remain under current consideration [3]. A key issue has concerned the ability of ion radiation processing alone to produce some of the deeper- penetrating compositional changes. In order to provide some experimental constraints on these questions, we have performed a combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field-emission scanning transmission electron (FE-STEM) study of experimentally ion-irradiated ilmenite. A key feature of this work is the combination of analytical techniques sensitive to changes in the irradiated samples at depth scales going from the immediate surface (approx.5 nm; XPS), to deeper in the grain interior (5-100 nm; FE-STEM).

Christoffersen, R.↗
NASA NTRS2010

MG Isotopic Measurement of FIB-Isolated Presolar Silicate Grains

The majority of presolar oxide and silicate grains are ascribed to origins in low-mass red giant and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars based on their O isotopic ratios. However, a minor population of these grains (< 10%) has O isotopic ratios incompatible with these sources. Two principle alternative sources are higher-than-solar metallicity (Z) stars or, more likely, supernovae (SN) [1-3]. These rare (Group 4) grains [3] are characterized by enrichments in O-18, and typically also enrichments in O-17. An even rarer subset of grains with extremely large enrichments in O-17 and smaller depletions in O-18 were suggested to come from binary star systems [2]. To establish the origins of these isotopically unusual grains, it is necessary to examine isotopic systems in addition to O. Presolar silicates offer several elements diagnostic of their stellar sources and nuclear processes, including O, Si, Mg, Fe and Ca. However, the database for minor element isotopic compositions in silicates is seriously lacking. To date only two silicate grains have been analyzed for Mg [4] or Fe [5]. One major complicating factor is their small size (average ~230 nm), which greatly limits the number of measurements that can be performed on any one grain and makes it more difficult to obtain statistically relevant data. This problem is compounded because the grains are identified among isotopically solar silicates, which contribute a diluting signal in isotopic measurements [1]. Thus, relatively small isotopic anomalies are missed due to this dilution effect. By applying focused ion beam (FIB) milling, we obtain undiluted Mg isotopic ratios of isolated rare presolar silicate grains to investigate their sources.

Messenger, Scott R.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Metal/Silicate Partitioning at High Pressures and Temperatures

The behavior of siderophile elements during metal-silicate segregation, and their resulting distributions provide insight into core formation processes. Determination of partition coefficients allows the calculation of element distributions that can be compared to established values of element abundances in the silicate (mantle) and metallic (core) portions of the Earth. Moderately siderophile elements, including W, are particularly useful in constraining core formation conditions because they are sensitive to variations in T, P, oxygen fugacity (fO2), and silicate composition. To constrain the effect of pressure on W metal/silicate partitioning, we performed experiments at high pressures and temperatures using a multi anvil press (MAP) at NASA Johnson Space Center and laser-heated diamond anvil cells (LHDAC) at the University of Maryland. Starting materials consisted of natural peridotite mixed with Fe and W metals. Pressure conditions in the MAP experiments ranged from 10 to 16 GPa at 2400 K. Pressures in the LHDAC experiments ranged from 26 to 58 GPa, and peak temperatures ranged up to 5000 K. LHDAC experimental run products were sectioned by focused ion beam (FIB) at NASA JSC. Run products were analyzed by electron microprobe using wavelength dispersive spectroscopy. Liquid metal/liquid silicate partition coefficients for W were calculated from element abundances determined by microprobe analyses, and corrected to a common fO2 condition of IW-2 assuming +4 valence for W. Within analytical uncertainties, W partitioning shows a flat trend with increasing pressure from 10 to 16 GPa. At higher pressures, W becomes more siderophile, with an increase in partition coefficient of approximately 0.5 log units.

Shofner, G.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Retinex Preprocessing for Improved Multi-Spectral Image Classification

The goal of multi-image classification is to identify and label "similar regions" within a scene. The ability to correctly classify a remotely sensed multi-image of a scene is affected by the ability of the classification process to adequately compensate for the effects of atmospheric variations and sensor anomalies. Better classification may be obtained if the multi-image is preprocessed before classification, so as to reduce the adverse effects of image formation. In this paper, we discuss the overall impact on multi-spectral image classification when the retinex image enhancement algorithm is used to preprocess multi-spectral images. The retinex is a multi-purpose image enhancement algorithm that performs dynamic range compression, reduces the dependence on lighting conditions, and generally enhances apparent spatial resolution. The retinex has been successfully applied to the enhancement of many different types of grayscale and color images. We show in this paper that retinex preprocessing improves the spatial structure of multi-spectral images and thus provides better within-class variations than would otherwise be obtained without the preprocessing. For a series of multi-spectral images obtained with diffuse and direct lighting, we show that without retinex preprocessing the class spectral signatures vary substantially with the lighting conditions. Whereas multi-dimensional clustering without preprocessing produced one-class homogeneous regions, the classification on the preprocessed images produced multi-class non-homogeneous regions. This lack of homogeneity is explained by the interaction between different agronomic treatments applied to the regions: the preprocessed images are closer to ground truth. The principle advantage that the retinex offers is that for different lighting conditions classifications derived from the retinex preprocessed images look remarkably "similar", and thus more consistent, whereas classifications derived from the original images, without preprocessing, are much less similar.

Thompson, B.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Active Engine Mount Technology for Automobiles

We present a narrow-band tracking control using a variant of the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm [1,2,3] for supressing automobile engine/drive-train vibration disturbances. The algorithm presented here has a simple structure and may be implemented in a low cost micro controller.

noise vibration automobiles vibration propogation ↗
NASA NTRS1995

Exponential Convergence of the Tracking Error in Adaptive Systems Without Persistent Excitation

Persistent excitation conditions which ensure parameter convergence in adaptive algorithms have been studied by many researchers. Here, conditions are investigated for exponential convergence of the tracking error in feedforward adaptive systems without persistent excitation. Particular attention is paid to the continuous-time LMS algorithm in the overparametrized case. Results are presented.

control↗
NASA NTRS1993

Optical Pathlength Control Experiment on JPL Phase B Testbed

An experimental implementation of a nanometer level optical pathlength control for large baseline space interferometry is presented. The pathlength compensation system is installed on a large flexible experimental truss, thus structural motions play a dominant role in the control system design. The associated control structure interaction problem is addressed to maintain the optical pathlength within the prescribed variation of 10-15 nanometer rms. By a successful blend of a structural control for damping augmentation and a direct pathlength control for the pathlength compensation, the optical pathlength variation has been maintained within 6 nonometer rms under the laboratory ambient disturbance and within 9 nonmeter rms under a severe forced resonant disturbance.

interferometry↗