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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11

Study made of dielectric properties of promising materials for cryogenic capacitors

Experimental investigations were conducted to determine dielectric properties of promising materials for cryogenic capacitors to be used in energy storage and pulse applications. The three classes of materials investigated were inorganic bonded ferroelectric materials, anodic coatings on metal foils, and polar low temperature liquids.

Mathes, K. N.↗

Optical and infrared spectroscopy

Optical and infrared spectroscopic studies of single crystal fluoride perovskites and potassium compounds to determine transmission spectra and ferroelectricity

OPTICAL SPECTRUM↗

Rocket propulsion by thermonuclear micro-bombs ignited with intense relativistic electron beams.

Discussion of a method for the ignition of a thermonuclear microbomb by means of an intense relativistic electron beam with regard to its potential application to rocket propulsion. With such a system, exhaust velocities up to 1000 km/sec, corresponding to a specific impulse of 100,000 sec, seem to be within the realm of possibility. The rocket is propelled by a chain of thermonuclear microbombs exploded in a concave magnetic mirror produced by superconducting field coils. The magnetic pressure of the field reflects the fireball generated by the explosion. For the large capacitor bank required to generate the intense relativistic electron beam, a desirable lightweight design may be possible through use of ferroelectric materials. Because of the high cost of the T-D and He 3-D thermonuclear material, the system has to be optimized by minimizing the T-D and He 3-D consumption by a proper TD and He 3-D fuel to hydrogen propellant mass ratio, leading to a larger total system mass than would be absolutely necessary.

Winterberg, F.↗

Strain-biased PLZT input devices /page composers/ for holographic memories and optical data processing.

The features of a new class of transparent ferroelectric ceramic materials, called PLZT, are described. PLZT are shown to have very strong electrooptic properties and memory, and are switched through transparent electrodes when mechanically strained. Because of these properties, they can be used to fabricate two-dimensional page composers for coherent optical systems. Techniques for fabricating such devices are outlined along with preliminary test results. Applications in displays are shown to be also feasible.

Roberts, H. N.↗

Investigation of crystal growth from solutions

The quality was investigated of a crystal of Rochelle salt grown from a solution placed in the zero-gravity environment of Skylab 4. The crystal has the following unique features: (1) the typical cavity is a long tube extending along the c-axis, the average length being 4mm, compared to 0.1mm that is the average size for earth-grown crystals; and (2) the crystal consists of several single crystals, the axes of which are parallel to each other. A preliminary measurement was made on the ferroelectric hysteresis curve of this Rochelle salt crystal.

Miyagawa, I.↗

Physical properties of the stratospheric aerosols

A comparison of the equilibrium vapor pressure over nitric acid solutions with observed water and nitric acid partial pressures in the stratosphere implies that nitric acid cannot be present as an aerosol particle in the lower stratosphere. A similar comparison for sulfuric acid solutions indicates that sulfuric acid aerosol particles are 75% H2SO4 by weight in water, in good agreement with direct observations. The freezing curve of H2SO4 solutions requires that the H2SO4 aerosol particles be solid or supercooled. The equilibrium vapor pressure of H2SO4 in the stratosphere is of the order of 20 picotorr. At stratospheric temperatures, ammonium sulfate is in a ferroelectric phase. As a result, polar molecules may form a surface coating on these aerosols, which may be a fertile ground for further chemical reaction.

Toon, O. B.↗

Unique properties of SBN and their use in a layered optical memory

Holographic storage experiments using crystal Sr(0.75)Ba(0.25)Nb2O6 (SBN 75/25) as a volume-phase holographic medium show that this material is the most sensitive crystalline storage medium yet discovered. An exposure level of 0.003 J/sq cm at 0.488 micron produces a 1% diffraction efficiency in a 5-mm length of crystal. In addition to high recording sensitivity, SBN 75/25 exhibits interesting electric-field induced effects that include electric-field enhanced recording sensitivity and voltage-switchable latent-to-active holographic reconstruction efficiency. These effects are explained in terms of drift and diffusion of photoionized carriers coupled with the nonlinear electrooptic behavior characteristic of this low Curie temperature ferroelectric crystal. A mechanism is proposed that correlates the observed electrically controlled holographic response with the dielectric behavior of the crystal. These interesting effects are used to implement a novel, layered optical memory having no moving parts and having electrical access for writing or reading selected layers.

Thaxter, J. B.↗

Crystal growth in fused solvent systems

The successful nucleation of bismuth germanate, B12GeO20 on a high quality seed and the growth of regions of single crystals of the same orientation of the seed are reported. Lead germanate, Pb5Ge3O11 was also identified as a ferroelectric crystal with large electrooptic and nonlinear optic constants. Solvent criteria, solvent/development, and crystal growth are discussed, and recommendations for future studies are included.

Ulrich, D. R.↗

Reduction of acoustic losses by outgassing

Heat treatment procedure at low pressure increases internal-friction quality factor of treated samples. Method can reduce propagation losses in porous ferroelectric ceramics by as much as a factor of 100.

Cirlin, E. H.↗

Solid state electro-optic color filter and iris

The electro-optic properties of lanthanum-modified lead zirconate titanate (PLZT) ferroelectric ceramic material are evaluated when utilized as a variable density and/or spectral filter in conjunction with a television scanning system. Emphasis was placed on the development of techniques and procedures for processing the PLZT disks and for applying efficient electrode structures. A number of samples were processed using different combinations of cleaning, electrode material, and deposition process. Best overall performance resulted from the direct evaporation of gold over chrome electrodes. A ruggedized mounting holder assembly was designed, fabricated, and tested. The assembly provides electrical contacts, high voltage protection, and support for the fragile PLZT disk, and permits mounting and optical alignment of the associated polarizers. Operational measurements of a PLZT sample mounted in the holder assembly were performed in conjunction with a television camera and the associated drive circuits. The data verified achievement of the elimination of the observed white-line effect.

Source record↗

Optical storage in lithium niobate

Holographic storage and retrieval using photorefractive media (electro-optic ferroelectric materials), particularly iron-doped lithium niobate with its enhanced sensitivity, are discussed. Refractive index changes induced by exposure to light render the materials useful for read-write memories and read-write memory simulation. Resolution, dark storage time, write and erase times, reversibility, and noise levels of the materials are examined. The laser source, deflection system, hololens, page composer, and detector array of the holographic memory system are described. High SNR and two orders of magnitude improvement in speed are reported over earlier experimental prototypes, but the system is still too slow to meet practical needs.

Alphonse, G. A.↗

Study of the photovoltaic effect in thin film barium titanate

The feasibility of making non-volatile digital memory devices of barium titanate, BaTiO3, that are integrated onto a silicon substrate with the required ferroelectric film produced by processing, compatible with silicon technology was examined.

Grannemann, W. W.↗

Dipole-field sums and Lorentz factors for orthorhombic lattices, and implications for polarizable molecules

A method for computing the Lorentz tensor components in single crystals via rapidly convergent sums of Bessels functions is developed using the relationship between dipole-field sums and the tensor components. The Lorentz factors for simple, body-centered, and base-centered orthorhombic lattices are computed using this method, and the derivative Lorentz factors for simple orthorhombic lattices are also determined. Both the Lorentz factors and their derivatives are shown to be very sensitive to a lattice structure. The equivalent of the Clausius-Mossotti relation for general orthorhombic lattices is derived using the Lorentz-factor formalism, and the permanent molecular dipole moment is related to crystal polarization for the case of a ferroelectric of polarizable point dipoles. It is concluded that the polarization enhancement due to self-polarization familiar from classical theory may actually be a reduction in consequences of negative Lorentz factors in one or two lattice directions for noncubic crystals.

Purvis, C. K.↗

Polarization catastrophe model of static electrification and spokes in the B-ring of Saturn

A Clausius-Mossotti polarization catastrophe is presented as the operative charging mechanism in the Saturn B-ring. A review is undertaken of the polarization effect appearing in ice at the crystallization temperature. The ice crystals in the Saturn rings are in the 68-85 K temperature range, close to the ferroelectric transition temperature. An analytical treatment of the interaction of the ice crystals with the Saturn electric discharge field indicates that once polarization is initiated, it propagates toward the direction of the initial polarization. The spokes form in the radial direction, following the radial direction of the Saturn electric field. The polarization is cancelled by free plasma in the planet shadow. The charges are freed and are observed as the Saturn electric discharge phenomena, which has a periodicity which corresponds with the superrotation of the Saturn ionosphere.

Handel, P. H.↗