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At least 199 records · Page 11

An Intercomparison of Lidar Ozone and Temperature Measurements From the SOLVE Mission With Predicted Model Values

Temperature profiles acquired by Goddard Space Flight Center's AROTEL lidar during the SOLVE mission onboard NASA's DC-8 are compared with predicted values from several atmospheric models (DAO, NCEP and UKMO). The variability in the differences between measured and calculated temperature fields was approximately 5 K. Retrieved temperatures within the polar vortex showed large regions that were significantly colder than predicted by the atmospheric models.

Burris, John↗

Controllable Bidirectional dc Power Sources For Large Loads

System redesigned for greater efficiency, durability, and controllability. Modern electronically controlled dc power sources proposed to supply currents to six electromagnets used to position aerodynamic test model in wind tunnel. Six-phase bridge rectifier supplies load with large current at voltage of commanded magnitude and polarity. Current-feedback circuit includes current-limiting feature giving some protection against overload.

Tripp, John S.↗

Comparisons Between the Formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds and Cirrus Clouds

Analyses of lidar data taken during the 1989 AASE I program show that polar stratospheric clouds most often contain frozen particles, but sometimes contain spherical, presumably liquid, particles. In this paper the mechanisms that lead to the freezing of particles, and to the formation of liquid particles will be discussed based largely upon analyses of existing data. For example, trajectory studies help shed light on the conditions that lead to particle freezing. During April of 1996 an experiment using the NASA DC-8 and ER-2 aircraft will be conducted over the central U.S. Some of the goals of the project are to better understand the mechanisms of cirrus cloud formation, and to investigate the properties of freezing nuclei in the upper troposphere. Results from this field program will be presented as they apply to the topic of ice crystal nucleation. Comparisons will be drawn between the mechanisms that lead to new particle formation in the polar stratosphere, and the mechanisms that lead to new particles formation in the upper troposphere.

Toon, Owen B.↗

Carrier surface generation and recombination effects in photoconduction of HgI2 single crystals

Dc photoconductivity characteristics of HgI2 single crystals have been measured in the range of 1.75-2.75 eV, using CuI as a transparent electrical contact. Hole and electron photocurrents could be separately measured by applying different voltage polarities to the illuminated electrode. It is shown that charge carrier generation near the surface is highly extrinsic, as displayed by differences in the hole and electron photogeneration spectra. Analysis of the photoconductivity versus voltage characteristics indicates that the hole and electron bulk trapping times satisfy greater than 70 and 3 microsec, respectively. The hole and electron surface recombination velocities were 1.0 x 10 to the 4th cm/s and 8 x 10 to the 5th cm/s, respectively.

Burshtein, Z.↗

Multifrequency, Multipolarization External Calibration of the SIR-C/X-SAR Radars

Progress and the future plans for the following objectives are discussed: (1) Assess the accuracy at which the SIR-C/X-SAR standard data products can be calibrated through the use of ground calibrators to estimate the end-to-end system polarization calibration constants (or distortion parameters) and incorporate the constants into the data processing; (2) Study the cross-calibration between three multipolarization systems: SIR-C, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (NASA/JPL) DC-8 SAR, and the University of Michigan ground-based polarimetric scatterometer; (3) Evaluate the calibration "stability" of SIR-C/X-SAR (measured by variations in the calibration constants) over the range swath width and over a specified distance in azimuth. Variations over a 12-hour period (between ascending and descending passes) will also be studied; and (4) Develop a cost-effective calibration plan including development of inexpensive polarimetric active calibrators.

Freeman, Anthony↗

The Characterization of a DC Glow Discharge in a Tripped Hypersonic Boundary Layer

A direct current glow discharge plasma was generated on a canonical 2.75° half-angle wedge test article. Experiments were conducted in the Texas A&M University Actively Controlled Expansion tunnel at 𝑀 = 5.7 and 𝑅𝑒 = 6 × 10 6 /m. The effect of Reynolds number, polarity, and upstream perturbation were all independently studied via imaging, power measurements, and optical emission spectroscopy (OES). These measurements are the first to be conducted in a tripped hypersonic boundary layer and allow a deeper understanding of the electrohydrodynamics. The plasma, formally characterized as a normal glow discharge, had negligible Joule and cathode heating effects on the boundary layer. Analogously, the installation of trips upstream of the electrodes changed only the appearance of the plasma, creating periodic streaks corresponding to the wakes and vortices produced by each trip but not altering the power across the electrodes. The plasma power peaked at 47 W, which OES revealed was sufficient to generate NO in the positive column and negative glow.

Casey J. Broslawski↗

The Characterization of a DC Glow Discharge in a Tripped Hypersonic Boundary Layer

A direct current glow discharge plasma was generated on a canonical 2.75° half-angle wedge test article. Experiments were conducted in the Texas A&M University Actively Controlled Expansion tunnel at 𝑀 = 5.7 and 𝑅𝑒 = 6 × 10 6 /m. The effect of Reynolds number, polarity, and upstream perturbation were all independently studied via imaging, power measurements, and optical emission spectroscopy (OES). These measurements are the first to be conducted in a tripped hypersonic boundary layer and allow a deeper understanding of the electrohydrodynamics. The plasma, formally characterized as a normal glow discharge, had negligible Joule and cathode heating effects on the boundary layer. Analogously, the installation of trips upstream of the electrodes changed only the appearance of the plasma, creating periodic streaks corresponding to the wakes and vortices produced by each trip but not altering the power across the electrodes. The plasma power peaked at 47 W, which OES revealed was sufficient to generate NO in the positive column and negative glow.

Casey Broslawski↗

BOREAS RSS-16 AIRSAR CM Images: Integrated Processor Version 6.1 Level-3b

The BOREAS RSS-16 team used satellite and aircraft SAR data in conjunction with various ground measurements to determine the moisture regime of the boreal forest. RSS-16 assisted with the acquisition and ordering of NASA JPL AIRSAR data collected from the NASA DC-8 aircraft. The NASA JPL AIRSAR is a side-looking imaging radar system that utilizes the SAR principle to obtain high resolution images that represent the radar backscatter of the imaged surface at different frequencies and polarizations. The information contained in each pixel of the AIRSAR data represents the radar backscatter for all possible combinations of horizontal and vertical transmit and receive polarizations (i.e., HH, HV, VH, and VV). Geographically, the data cover portions of the BOREAS SSA and NSA. Temporally, the data were acquired from 12-Aug-1993 to 31-Jul-1995. The level-3b AIRSAR CM data are in compressed Stokes matrix format, which has 10 bytes per pixel. From this data format, it is possible to synthesize a number of different radar backscatter measurements. The data are stored in binary image-format files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Hall, Forrest G.↗

BOREAS RSS-16 Level-3b DC-8 AIRSAR SY Images

The BOREAS RSS-16 team used satellite and aircraft SAR data in conjunction with various ground measurements to determine the moisture regime of the boreal forest. RSS-16 assisted with the acquisition and ordering of NASA JPL AIRSAR data collected from the NASA DC-8 aircraft. The NASA JPL AIRSAR is a side-looking imaging radar system that utilizes the SAR principle to obtain high-resolution images that represent the radar backscatter of the imaged surface at different frequencies and polarizations. The information contained in each pixel of the AIRSAR data represents the radar backscatter for all possible combinations of horizontal and vertical transmit and receive polarizations (i.e., HH, HV, VH, and VV). Geographically, the data cover portions of the BOREAS SSA and NSA. Temporally, the data were acquired from 12-Aug-1993 to 31-Jul-1995. The level-3b AIRSAR SY data are the JPL synoptic product and contain 3 of the 12 total frequency and polarization combinations that are possible. The data are stored in binary image format files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884), or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Hall, Forrest G.↗

An Ultra-Wideband, Microwave Radar for Measuring Snow Thickness on Sea Ice and Mapping Near-Surface Internal Layers in Polar Firn

Sea ice is generally covered with snow, which can vary in thickness from a few centimeters to >1 m. Snow cover acts as a thermal insulator modulating the heat exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere, and it impacts sea-ice growth rates and overall thickness, a key indicator of climate change in polar regions. Snow depth is required to estimate sea-ice thickness using freeboard measurements made with satellite altimeters. The snow cover also acts as a mechanical load that depresses ice freeboard (snow and ice above sea level). Freeboard depression can result in flooding of the snow/ice interface and the formation of a thick slush layer, particularly in the Antarctic sea-ice cover. The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) has developed an ultra-wideband, microwave radar capable of operation on long-endurance aircraft to characterize the thickness of snow over sea ice. The low-power, 100mW signal is swept from 2 to 8GHz allowing the air/snow and snow/ ice interfaces to be mapped with 5 c range resolution in snow; this is an improvement over the original system that worked from 2 to 6.5 GHz. From 2009 to 2012, CReSIS successfully operated the radar on the NASA P-3B and DC-8 aircraft to collect data on snow-covered sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic for NASA Operation IceBridge. The radar was found capable of snow depth retrievals ranging from 10cm to >1 m. We also demonstrated that this radar can be used to map near-surface internal layers in polar firn with fine range resolution. Here we describe the instrument design, characteristics and performance of the radar.

Snow Cover↗

Reducing dielectric loss and enhancing electrical insulation for multilayer polymer films by nanoconfined ion transport under high poling electric fields

High temperature polar polymers have demonstrated potential for good thermal stability and high dielectric constant at the same time. However, polarization of contaminated impurity ions in polar polymers, even at the ppm level, can significantly increase the dielectric loss at high temperature and low frequencies. One effective strategy to mitigate this problem is to multilayer them with a high temperature nonpolar dielectric polymer to confine impurity ion transport at the nanometer scale. In this study, confined ion transport in high temperature polycarbonate (HTPC)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) multilayer films under high AC electric fields was studied using a direct analytical simulation method. Different from the ion transport under low fields, the ion diffusion model failed to describe the ion transport under high electric fields. An exponential ion distribution profile, which was observed for the DC poling situation, was employed to implement the direct analytical simulation. Confined impurity ion transport under high AC fields was quantitatively understood. As the AC field increased, the mobile ion concentration decreased whereas the diffusion coefficient increased. The decrease of mobile ion concentration was explained by the blockage of impurity ions by the HTPC layers. This knowledge helped in the determination of optimal conditions to polarize impurity ions from the PVDF layers into the HTPC layers. After cooling below the glass transition temperature of HTPC, polarized impurity ions were locked inside the HTPC layers. As a result, increased discharge efficiency and enhanced electrical insulation (i.e., increased dielectric breakdown strength) were achieved for the polarized multilayer films.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

GaN for LED applications

In order to improve the synthesis of GaN the effect of various growth and doping parameters has been studied. Although Be, Li, Mg, and Dy can be used to overcompensate native donors, the most interesting acceptor element is Zn. The emission spectrum and the luminescence efficiency depend on the growth temperature (below 800 C), on the partial pressure of the doping impurity, and on the duration of growth. Blue-green electroluminescence with a power efficiency of 0.1 percent and a brightness of 850 fL (at 0.6 mA and 22.5 V) was obtained. Some diodes allow the color of the emitted light to change by reversing the polarity of the bias. Continuous operation of a diode over a period of 5 months showed no evidence of degradation. The luminescence properties of ion-implanted GaN were studied. Delay effects were found in the electroluminescence of diodes, although, with a dc bias, a 70-MHz modulation was possible.

Pankove, J. I.↗

Advances in spaceborne synthetic aperture radar sensor technology

The evolution of space SARs for NASA projects since Seasat (1978) is surveyed, with an emphasis on hardware development. The fundamental principles of SAR are reviewed; the SIR-A and SIR-B instruments flown as Shuttle payloads are characterized; their antennas, transmitters, receivers, and data subsystems are described; the advantages offered by the SIR-C dual-frequency (L and C band) dual-polarization distributed SAR (being developed for a future Shuttle flight and as the basis of an SAR for the Earth Observing System) are explained; and a number of technical challenges are identified (including RF elements, structural fidelity, pointing accuracy, data handling, and dc power). Drawings, diagrams, sample images, photographs, and tables are provided.

Caro, E. R.↗

Lidar Temperature Measurements During the SOLVE Campaign and the Absence of PSCs from Regions of Very Cold Air

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's Airborne Raman Ozone, Temperature and Aerosol Lidar (AROTEL) measured extremely cold temperatures during all three deployments (December 1-16, 1999, January 14-29, 2000 and February 27-March 15, 2000) of the Sage III Ozone Loss and Validation Experiment (SOLVE). Temperatures were significantly below values observed in previous years with large regions regularly below 191 K and frequent temperature retrievals yielding values at or below 187 K. Temperatures well below the saturation point of type I polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) were regularly encountered but their presence was not well correlated with PSCs observed by the NASA Langley Research Center's Aerosol Lidar co-located with AROTEL. Temperature measurements by meteorological sondes launched within areas traversed by the DC-8 showed minimum temperatures consistent in time and vertical extent with those derived from AROTEL data. Calculations to establish whether PSCs could exist at measured AROTEL temperatures and observed mixing ratios of nitric acid and water vapor showed large regions favorable to PSC formation. On several occasions measured AROTEL temperatures up to 10 K below the NAT saturation temperature were insufficient to produce PSCs even though measured values of nitric acid and water were sufficient for their formation.

Burris, John↗

Effects of atmospheric transport on column abundances of nitrogen and chlorine compounds in the arctic stratosphere

In the absence of heterogeneous processes, distributions of NO(y), HNO3, Cl(x) and HCl in the polar winter stratosphere should be determined by transport. A model simulating distributions of these species in the arctic for January and February 1989 is developed using observed fields of potential vorticity and potential temperature. Comparison of model results with column measurements from the DC-8 indicates conversion of NO(x) to HNO3, condensation of HNO3, conversion of HCl to CINO3, and conversion of HCl plus CINO3 to an unmeasured species. Heterogeneous processes strongly affect abundances of NO(y) and Cl(x) species in the winter arctic stratosphere.

Yatteau, John H.↗

Arctic chemical Ozone Loss Observed by the AROTEL Instrument during the SOLVE Campaign, December 1999 - March 2000

During the winter of 1999-2000, the AROTEL instrument was deployed on the NASA DC-8 at Kiruna, Sweden for the SAGE III Ozone Loss Validation Experiment (SOLVE). Measurements of ozone, temperature and aerosols were made on 18 local science flights from December to March. Extremely low temperatures were observed throughout most of the Arctic vortex and polar stratospheric clouds were observed throughout the Arctic area during January. Significant ozone loss was measured after the sun began to rise on the vortex area in February. Ozone mixing ratios as low as 800 ppbv were observed during flights in March.

McGee, Thomas J.↗

Ultrafast vertical photoconductive intrinsic diamond switch with high current (17.1 A at 1 kV)

Here, this Letter reports on a vertical, bulk-conducting photoconductive semiconductor switch (PCSS) fabricated on an intrinsic Type IIa single-crystal diamond substrate. Under near-bandgap excitation at 225 nm with a 20 μ J pulse, a strong photocurrent response of 17.1 A at 1 kV DC bias magnitude is obtained by (i) tuning the optical trigger wavelength to the “matched-absorption” window (224–235 nm) near the band edge, where the optical penetration depth becomes comparable to the 500 μ m substrate thickness, and (ii) choosing the bias polarity ensuring electron-dominant conduction, given that electrons have a higher mobility than holes in diamond. The PCSS has an area-normalized responsivity of 54.2 mA W −1 cm −2 and an effective on-resistance of 8.48 Ω, with a fast 90%–10% transient fall time of 25 ns, attributed to carrier sweep-out. These results support vertical, bulk-conducting intrinsic diamond PCSS as a promising platform for high-power optical switching and provide new insight into intrinsic photoconductivity in diamond.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Three new BL Lacertae objects in the Palomar-Green survey

We have identified three BL Lacertae objects in the Palomar-Green Survey which were previously misclassified as DC white dwarfs, namely PG 1246+586, PG 1424+240, and PG 1437+398. Our reclassification is based on the detection of these objects as x-ray sources in the ROSAT all-sky survey and upon our subsequent detection of intrinsic linearly polarized and variable optical emission from these sources. As a result of the ROSAT survey, the number of identified BL Lac objects in the Palomar-Green catalog of UV excess objects has been doubled. Corrected optical positions are presented for PG 1246+586 and PG 1437+398.

Fleming, Thomas A.↗