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At least 181 records · Page 10

Acoustical levitation for space processing

It is pointed out that many space-manufacturing processes will require the manipulation of weightless molten material within a container in such a way that the material does not touch the container wall. A description is given of an acoustical method which can be used for the positioning and shaping of any molten material including nonconductors such as glasses. The new approach makes use of an acoustical standing wave which is excited within an enclosure or resonator.

Wang, T. G.↗

High-energy lasers by using distributed reflection: A concept

Lasers may be made with higher energy photons than heretofore possible. It has been proposed that vacuum ultraviolet lasing can be obtained by bombarding superfluid helium with electron beam, while coupling acoustic energy into helium to set up standing waves in fluid.

Saffren, M. M.↗

Levitation of objects using acoustic energy

Activated sound source establishes standing-wave pattern in gap between source and acoustic reflector. Solid or liquid material introduced in region will move to one of the low pressure areas produced at antinodes and remain suspended as long as acoustic signal is present.

Whymark, R. R.↗

Ultrasonic dispersion (delta V/V) determined from mechanical resonance frequency shifts

With standing wave ultrasonic techniques, small changes in phase velocity which result from changes in some external parameter (e.g., temperature or magnetic field) have traditionally been determined by observing shifts in the mechanical resonance frequency of a composite resonator. Some previous investigators have assumed that the fractional change in velocity is equal to the fractional change in frequency. Substantially improved formulas for determining the dispersion are presented and one of these is shown to be much more accurate than all previous approximations. The results of simulated and actual experiments over wide ranges of dispersion, transducer loading parameter, and frequency are analyzed in order to compare the errors inherent in the various approximations.

Moerner, W. E.↗

Measurements of discrete vortex noise in a closed-throat wind tunnel

Measurements are presented of the discrete vortex noise emitted by a thin airfoil. These measurements were made in a new wind tunnel designed specifically for aerodynamic noise measurements. The tunnel is an indraft type with a 25- by 35- by 100-cm testing section and a sonic-throat noise suppressor just downstream of the test section. Directivity and standing wave patterns are presented and compared with theoretical predictions. Frequency scaling criteria are developed and compared with other investigations.

Davis, S. S.↗

Ultrasonic dispersion determined from mechanical resonance frequency shifts

With standing wave ultrasonic techniques, small changes in phase velocity which result from changes in some external parameter (e.g., temperature or magnetic field) have traditionally been determined by observing shifts in the mechanical resonance frequency of a composite resonator. Some previous investigators have assumed that the fractional change in velocity is equal to the fractional change in frequency. We discuss quantitatively the errors involved in such an approach, showing that it leads to substantial inaccuracies when the loading effect of the transducer(s) cannot be neglected. Substantially improved formulas for determining the dispersion are presented and one of these is shown to be much more accurate than all previous approximations. The results of simulated and actual experiments over wide ranges of dispersion, transducer loading parameter, and frequency are analyzed in order to compare the errors inherent in the various approximations.

Moerner, W. E.↗

Two-photon stimulated emission and pulse amplification

Threshold conditions are given for the sustained operation of standing-wave and long-pulse traveling-wave two-photon lasers. Pulse shortening in long-pulse two-photon amplification, a behavior absent in the one-photon case, is also demonstrated analytically.

Yuen, H. P.↗

Excitation of a Helmholtz resonator by a turbulent boundary layer

A turbulent boundary layer on the fuselage of a glider was used to excite a Helmholtz resonator. The resonator orifice was flush with the surface and smaller than the boundary layer thickness. Resonator frequencies were chosen so they would tune with different portions of the boundary layer wall pressure spectrum. The resonators were excited at both the Helmholtz frequency and a standing wave frequency. The results show a shift in the Helmholtz frequency when the boundary layer is present. This shift indicates the degree to which the turbulence interacts with the acoustic motion in the orifice and modifies the end correction. Four of the nine resonators tested were 'strongly' excited and radiated considerable acoustic sound. This phenomenon occurs when turbulent eddies about the size of the orifice are convected past the orifice with the proper velocity to impose a frequency that matches a resonant frequency of the resonator. Turbulent eddies which are either smaller or larger than the orifice will not produce strong excitation.

Panton, R. L.↗

Generalized photoclinometry for Mariner 9

A theory is developed for the photoclinometric determination of topography when the photometric function of a planetary surface is not restricted beyond the expectation that it is a function of phase angle, angle of incidence, and angle of emergence. Several versions of such an operational theory are presented together with several approaches to the numerical analysis. Reasons for the differences in numerical techniques are discussed. A preliminary result is considered which has been produced for an early Mariner 9 frame wherein the dust-laden atmosphere seems to exhibit standing-wave patterns. It is shown that if the assumption of homologous departures from plane-parallel atmospheric configuration is valid, the photoclinometry implies that laminar flow lines in the optically observable dust layer undergo a near-sinusoidal rise and fall of about 40 to 50 meters.

Wildey, R. L.↗

Excitation of a Helmholtz resonator by a turbulent boundary layer

A turbulent boundary layer on the fuselage of a glider is used to excite a Helmholtz resonator whose openings are comparable in size to the turbulent eddies in the boundary layer. The resonator was excited at both the Helmholtz frequency and a standing wave frequency. The level of the resonator response and the response frequency are the major results. A shift in the response frequency, compared to acoustic excitation, indicates an interaction of turbulent and acoustic motions and a modification of the orifice end correction. A strong excitation phenomenon occurs when the resonator and boundary layer are tuned, in which case turbulent eddies of about the orifice diameter in size flow past the orifice and impose a frequency equal to one of the resonant frequencies of the resonator.

Panton, R. L.↗

Analysis of the backscatter spectrum in an ionospheric modification experiment

The purpose of this study is to compare predictions of the backscatter spectrum, including effects of ionospheric inhomogeneity, with experimental observations of incoherent backscatter from an artificially heated region. Our calculations show that the strongest backscatter echo received is not from the reflection level but from a region some distance below (about 900-1100 m for an experiment carried out at Arecibo). By taking the standing wave pattern of the pump properly into account the present theory explains certain asymmetrical features of the upshifted and downshifted plasma lines in the backscatter spectrum.

Kim, H.↗

The magnetosphere

The terrestrial magnetic field shields the earth from the supersonic wind of the expanding solar atmosphere, forming a cavity called the magnetosphere. Since the velocity of the solar wind is supersonic, a detached shock wave stands in front of this cavity. The flow past the cavity is viscous, drawing the field lines back into a long tail. In this paper we review briefly the nature of the magnetosphere, the outstanding problem areas in this field, and what space missions are needed to attack these problems.

Russell, C. T.↗

Microwave radiometer for subsurface temperature measurement

A UHF radiometer, operating at a frequency of 800 MHz, was modified to provide an integral, three frequency voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) circuit in the radio frequency (RF) head. The VSWR circuit provides readings of power transmission at the antenna-material interface with an accuracy of plus or minus 5 percent. The power transmission readings are numerically equal to the emissivity of the material under observation. Knowledge of material emissivity is useful in the interpretation of subsurface apparent temperatures obtained on phantom models of biological tissue. The emissivities of phantom models consisting of lean beefsteak were found to lie in the range 0.623 to 0.779, depending on moisture content. Radiometric measurements performed on instrumented phantoms showed that the radiometer was capable of sensing small temperature changes occurring at depths of at least 19 to 30 mm. This is consistent with previously generated data which showed that the radiometer could sense temperatures at a depth of 38 mm.

Porter, R. A.↗

Diode laser saturation spectroscopy of NH3

Saturation of molecular transitions using a tuneable diode laser was demonstrated for the first time using a standing-wave cavity configuration with an f/8 beam focussed at the sample. Observed saturation effects in NH3 transitions near 888/cm include sub-Doppler (Lamb-dip) resonances at line center.

Jennings, D. E.↗

An electrostatically driven surface for flexible wall drag reduction studies

This paper describes the theoretical analysis, experimental development and surface motion data from an electrostatically driven flexible wall capable of producing high frequency, large amplitude, short wavelength standing wave motions. The driven wall was developed for use in studying flexible wall-turbulent boundary layer interactions. The theoretical analysis considers the coupled electrochemical system using a continuum model. For the system under consideration the electrical field is uncoupled from the mechanical system leading to a simplified analysis. The structural problem is a non-linear (moderately) large amplitude problem and details of the analysis are presented. Surface motion measurements, made using a modified schlieren type optical system, are discussed and details of the surface motion under different excitations are presented. Fair agreement is obtained between experimental measurements and theoretical calculations.

Weinstein, L. M.↗

Saturated absorption in NH3 demonstrated using a tuneable diode laser

Saturation of molecular transitions using a tunable diode laser has been demonstrated for the first time using a standing-wave-cavity configuration with the laser beam focused at the sample. Observed saturation effects in NH3 transitions near 888 kaysers include sub-Doppler (Lamb-dip) resonances at the line center.

Jennings, D. E.↗

Improved acoustic levitation apparatus

Concave driver and reflector enhance and shape levitation forces in acoustic resonance system. Single-mode standing-wave pattern is focused by ring element situated between driver and reflector. Concave surfaces increase levitating forces up to factor of 6 as opposed to conventional flat surfaces, making it possible to suspend heavier objects.

Berge, L. H.↗

Measurements of admittances and characteristic combustion times of reactive gaseous propellant coaxial injectors

The results of an experimental investigation that was concerned with the quantitative determination of the capabilities of combustion processes associated with coaxial injectors to amplify and sustain combustor oscillations was described. The driving provided by the combustion process was determined by employing the modified standing-wave method utilizing coaxial injectors and air-acetylene mixtures. Analyses of the measured data indicate that the investigated injectors are capable of initiating and amplifying combustion instabilities under favorable conditions of injector-combustion coupling and over certain frequency ranges. These frequency ranges and the frequency at which an injector's driving capacity is maximum are observed to depend upon the equivalence ratio, the pressure drop across the injector orifices and the number of injector elements. The characteristic combustion times of coaxial injectors were determined from steady state temperature measurements.

Janardan, B. A.↗