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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 217 records · Page 12

Equation of state and phase diagram of dense hydrogen

The equation of state of hydrogen was calculated for specific volumes ranging from 0.01 to 0.0001 cm3/mole and for temperatures ranging from 200 to 1 million K. Three phases are considered: the molecular solid, the metallic solid and the fluid. Chemical equilibrium between molecules, atoms, ions and electrons is considered in calculating the properties of the fluid phase. Transitions between the three phases will be discussed. The triple point, where the three phases coexist, is calculated to occur at 2.3 Mbar and 1679 K. At higher temperatures and pressures, the molecular solid is unstable.

Kerley, G. I.↗

Multiplet effects on the L(2,3) fluorescence yield of multiply ionized Ar

The 2p fluorescence yield of argon in the presence of 0 to 6 3p holes was calculated by statistically averaging the fluorescence yields of initial state that consist of individual multiplet configurations. These configurations were formed by coupling the 2p vacancy to the partially filled 3p shell. Results agree reasonably well with experimental fluorescence yields deduced from ion-atom collision measurements.

Chen, M. H.↗

First measurements of electron temperature in the D region with a symmetric double probe

Measurement of the altitude profile of electron temperature in the ionospheric D region with the aid of a symmetric double probe flown on a Nike-Cajun payload launched on Oct. 13, 1971. The procedure for determining the electron temperature from the parameters of the double probe's current-voltage characteristic under conditions of nonnegligible ion-atom collision frequencies is described. It is shown that in its first lower ionospheric application the technique of the symmetric double probe has yielded the lowest values of electron temperature yet measured and has provided the very first direct measurement of electron temperature in the D region.

Szuszczewicz, E. P.↗

Interstellar abundances - Gas and dust

Data on abundances of interstellar atoms, ions and molecules in front of zeta Oph are assembled and analyzed. The gas-phase abundances of at least 11 heavy elements are significantly lower, relative to hydrogen, than in the solar system. The abundance deficiencies of certain elements correlate with the temperatures derived theoretically for particle condensation in stellar atmospheres or nebulae, suggesting that these elements have condensed into dust grains near stars. There is evidence that other elements have accreted onto such grains after their arrival in interstellar space. The extinction spectrum of zeta Oph can be explained qualitatively and, to a degree, quantitatively by dust grains composed of silicates, graphite, silicon carbide, and iron, with mantles composed of complex molecules of H, C, N, and O. This composition is consistent with the observed gas-phase deficiencies.

Field, G. B.↗

Multiplet effects on the L/sub 2,3/ fluorescence yield of multiply ionized Ar

The 2p fluorescence yield of Ar in the presence of zero to six 3p holes has been calculated by statistically averaging the fluorescence yields of initial states that consist of individual multiplet configurations, formed by coupling the 2p vacancy to the partially filled 3p shell. The L(sub 2,3) fluorescence yields for the (2p)-1 (3p)-n configurations of Ar are found to be 1.48, 17.97, 24.83, 37.84, 79.61, 112.16, and 121.48 x .0001 for n = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Results agree reasonably well with experimental fluorescence yields deduced from ion-atom collision measurements.

Chen, M. H.↗

Effects of soft electron precipitation on the distribution of vibrational energy of N2

The paper investigates the direct effect of soft electron precipitation on the nitrogen vibrational distribution and on the rate coefficient for the ion-atom interchange reaction between O(+) and N2, using a spectrum of the precipitating electrons characteristic of the dayside cusp region. Substantial increases in the nitrogen vibrational temperature and in the rate of the O(+) destruction reaction do not occur unless the flux of incident electrons is as large as 1 trillion per sq cm/sec. For such large fluxes, departures of the vibrational distribution from a Boltzmann distribution have a significant effect on the rate coefficient. Incident fluxes less than 100 billion per sq cm/sec, such as are usually observed, have little direct effect on nitrogen vibration, although the indirect effect resulting from enhanced electron temperatures might be important.

Newton, G. P.↗

Transport properties in the atmosphere of Jupiter

Activities reported include: (1) testing of the computer program used to obtain transport properties for the Hulburt-Hirschfelder potential; (2) calculation of transport properties for the C2-C interaction; (3) preliminary calculations for the C2-C2 interaction; (4) calculation of transport properties for the C2H-He interaction; (5) consideration of the effect of inelastic collisions on the transport properties; and (6) the use of the Hulburt-Hirschfelder potential to model ion-atom interactions.

Biolsi, L., Jr.↗

Ionospheric chemistry

This report deals primarily with progress in the chemistry of minor neutrals and ionized constituents of the thermosphere. Significant progress was made over the last few years in quantitative studies of many chemical processes. This success was primarily due to the advent of multiparameter multisatellite programs which permitted accurate simultaneous measurements to be made of many important parameters. In many cases studies of chemical reactions were made with laboratory-like precision. Rate coefficients have been derived as functions of temperature for a number of important reactions. New information has been acquired on nearly every major process which occurs in the thermosphere, including the recombination rates of all major molecular ions, charge transfer reactions, ion atom interchange reactions, and reactions of neutral and ionized metastable atoms and molecules.

Torr, D. G.↗

Simplified model of a volumetric direct nuclear pumped He-3-Ar laser

A physical model for the volumetric nuclear pumped He-3-Ar laser is described and the source terms arising from the He-3(n, p)H-3 reaction as well as the rate equations are given. Steady state solutions are derived for the densities of the species vs the fraction of argon. The dominant pumping mechanism is found to be collisional radiative recombination of the argon atomic ions and subsequent cascading into the upper laser level. The reactions following recombination are described and an expression is derived for the difference in densities of the argon 3d and 4p levels. Comparison with experiments shows good agreement.

Harries, W. L.↗

Nuclear pumping by the U-235 /n,ff/ FF reaction

The quenching role of the UF6 in noble gas nuclear pumped lasers is examined. Detailed results are presented for He-UF6-Xe system. These results indicate that depletion of the atomic ion is the mechanism responsible for the observed behavior. Based on this it is concluded that UF6 is not compatible with noble gas lasers but should be compatible with molecular lasers.

Hassan, H. A.↗

Pristine nature of comets as revealed by their UV spectrum

Satellite and rocket VUV observations of comets are discussed with reference to observations of OH and NH; the Lyman-alpha halo of hydrogen; and C, O, S atoms, ions, and molecules. Attention is also given to the study of production rates, and elemental and molecular abundances. It is shown that the observation of the VUV spectrum of comets has revealed new clues about comets, which could serve as a link between interstellar molecules and planetary atmospheres as well as between stellar and planetary astrophysics.

Delsemme, A. H.↗

The violet interstellar medium associated with the Carina Nebula

The interstellar spectrum of HD 93205, an 03V star in the cluster Tr16, located inside the most active part of the Great Carina Nebula was analyzed using data extracted directly from raw IUE images. From the analysis of 67 lines of 25 atoms, ions and molecules, up to six discrete absorption components spanning a maximum velocity range of approximately 375 km 5/1 were identified. The component structure for different species is tabulated and sample absorption lines, indicating at the top the positions of the six components, labelled A to F are shown. Ion column densities appropriate to each component which can be resolved in at least one line were derived by constructing empirical curves of growth and by fitting the observations with corresponding theoretical absorption line profiles. The most important results concerning each component are discussed.

Pettini, M.↗

A deficiency of O III in the Io plasma torus

Evidence for a deficiency of O III ions in the Io plasma torus is reported and implications of this deficiency for the physical processes controlling the plasma are considered. Observations of the O III 5007-A as well as Cl III and S III emissions from the Io plasma torus were made by a ground-based echelle spectrograph and intensified Reticon detector in February and May, 1981. The O III observations allow an upper limit of 4/cu cm to be placed on torus O III abundance, which is inconsistent with expectations for a low density plasma controlled by electron collisions. The inclusion of ion-ion and ion-atom charge exchange reactions and a depleted high energy electron component in the model is found to suppress O III levels, however observed limiting values are only achieved if it is assumed that the O III is kinetically hot. In addition, the charge-exchange model developed is inconsistent with previous observations of the kinetics of the S II-S III system. The present observations also establish upper limits of 2 R on 5518-A and 5538-A Cl III emission, and an emission rate of 58 + or - 40 R for the S III 6312-A line in the hot torus.

Brown, R. A.↗

Airborne far-infrared and submillimeter spectroscopy

This paper is a review of airborne spectroscopic observations in the wavelength range 18-800 microns, and the instruments on the NASA Kuiper Airborne Observatory with which they were carried out. Recent measurements of spectral lines of ions, atoms and molecules are presented and discussed.

Watson, D. M.↗

Interstellar Medium Absorption Profile Spectrograph (IMAPS)

The design and fabrication of an objective-grating echelle spectrograph to fly on sounding rockets and record spectra of stars from approximately 920 to 1120A with a resolving power lambda/delta lambda = 200,000 is discussed. The scientific purpose of the program is to observe, with ten times better velocity resolution than before, the plentiful absorption lines in this spectral region produced by atoms, ions and molecules in the interstellar medium. In addition, an important technical goal is to develop and flight-quality a new ultraviolet, photon-counting image sensor which has a windowless, opaque photocathode and a CCD bombarded directly by the accelerated photoelectrons. Except for some initial difficulties with the performance of CCDs, the development of the payload instrument is relatively straightforward and our overall design goals are satisfied. The first flight occurred in late 1984, but no data were obtained because of an inrush of air degraded the instrument's vacuum and caused the detector's high voltage to arc. A second flight in early 1985 was a complete success and obtained a spectrum of pi Sco. Data from this mission are currently being reduced; quick-look versions of the spectra indicate that excellent results will be obtained. Currently, the payload is being reconfigured to fly on a Spartan mission in 1988.

Jenkins, E. B.↗

Determination of CA-41, I-129 and OS-187 in the Rochester tandem accelerator and some applications of these isotopes

The measurement of Ca-41 and I-129 utilizing the Rochester Tanden Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (TAMS) is discussed. Ca-41, having a half-life of 100,000 yrs., is of potential use for the dating of ground water as well as of bones in the age range between 50,000 and 1 million yrs. A major problem for the measurement of Ca-41 with TAMS is the fact that calcium does not readily form negative atomic ions. It does, however, form negative molecular ions. The production of CaO ions from compounds such as CaO and CaCO3 and from free Ca molecules sprayed with oxygen gas was studied. A project to utilize I-129 as a tracer for hydrothermal convection in sediment-covered oceanic crust is also briefly described. Finally, plans to use the Os-187/Os-186 ratio for the determination of extraterrestrial material in the Ries crater in Germany are summarized.

Fehn, U.↗

Far-infrared and submillimeter observations of interstellar clouds

Research in the use of FIR and sub-mm lines to provide data relevant to astrochemistry is examined. Spectroscopic features in the FIR and sub-mm are dominated by transitions from species of atoms and atomic ions, metal hydrides, and heavy molecules. The data of Lester et al.(1983) and Dinerstein et al. (1984) on the N/O abundance ratio are discussed. The N/O abundance ratio is analyzed as a function of the galactic radius, and the procedure for determining the N/O abundance ratio from the FIR and sub-mm lines is given. The conditions at the surface of molecular clouds and the chemical profile of molecular clouds are studied in the forbidden lines O I 63.18 and 145.53 microns and the forbidden line C II 157.74 microns. Results of recent FIR/sub-mm observations of post-shocked gas which relate to modeling the chemical processing that occurs in the wake of shock waves are considered.

Melnick, Gary↗