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Results for “Laser techniques”

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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1984

Potential for coherent Doppler wind velocity lidar using neodymium lasers

Existing techniques for the frequency stabilization of Nd:YAG lasers operating at 1.06 micron, and the high-gain amplification of radiation at that wavelength, make possible the construction of a coherent Doppler wind velocity lidar using Nd:YAG. Velocity accuracy and range resolution are better at 1.06 micron than at 10.6 microns at the same level of the SNR. Backscatter from the atmosphere at 1.06 micron is greater than that at 10.6 microns by about 2 orders of magnitude, but the quantum-limited noise is higher by 100 also. Near-field attenuation and turbulent effects are more severe at 1.06 micron. In some configurations and environments, the 1.06-micron wavelength may be the better choice, and there may be technological advantages favoring the use of solid-state lasers in satellite systems.

Kane, T. J.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Advancing Elemental and Isotopic Analysis of Uranium Mineral Inclusions: Rapid Screening via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and High-Resolution Laser Ablation-ICP-MS Mapping

The work presented herein employs two laser-based analytical techniques (laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)) to spatially determine the elemental and isotopic composition of uranium bearing minerals. Uniquely, this work leverages the high-speed applicability of LIBS to “screen” the sample(s) for their elemental constituents. After determining the location of the uranium inclusions (via LIBS), high-resolution LA-ICP-MS was employed to further characterize the inclusions. The high-resolution (sub-µm) capabilities of LA-ICP-MS were able to extract important information from the uranium minerals including discerning its chemical form (e.g., finchite from carnotite, Sr- and K-bearing uranyl vanadates, respectively) as well as their 235 U/ 238 U isotopic composition. This approach, LIBS followed by LA-ICP-MS, significantly reduces the analysis time (~95 %) in comparison to employing a LA-ICP-MS only approach. Furthermore, this work presented a novel approach to analyzing inclusions via a particle/inclusion analysis tool which is commercially available within the iolite 4 software. This tool allowed for a more accurate characterization of the isotopic distribution of the inclusions, as well as allowing for rapid sizing of the inclusions. Finally, this analytical approach could readily be applied to other sample types in which the target species (e.g., µm-sized inclusions) are embedded in complex matrices (e.g., cm-sized samples).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1976

Laser velocimeter supersonic and transonic wind tunnel studies

Wind tunnel investigations of a shock-induced separated flow and the flow about a two-dimensional airfoil section at transonic speeds using laser velocimetry techniques are described. Laser velocimeter data are presented and compared with conventional pressure type measurements (pitot and static pressure probe measurements for the shock-induced separation, and surface pressure measurements for the two-dimensional airfoil section). In addition to these data comparisons, a simple optical arrangement for the incorporation of a Bragg cell in a laser velocimeter system is described. The effects of particle concentration gradients within a turbulent boundary layer on laser velocimeter measurements are also demonstrated.

Johnson, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Test techniques for determining laser ranging system performance

Procedures and results of an on going test program intended to evaluate laser ranging system performance levels in the field as well as in the laboratory are summarized. Tests show that laser ranging system design requires consideration of time biases and RMS jitters of individual system components. All simple Q switched lasers tested were found to be inadequate for 10 centimeter ranging systems. Timing discriminators operating over a typical 100:1 dynamic signal range may introduce as much as 7 to 9 centimeters of range bias. Time interval units commercially available today are capable of half centimeter performance and are adequate for all field systems currently deployed. Photomultipliers tested show typical tube time biases of one centimeter with single photoelectron transit time jitter of approximately 10 centimeters. Test results demonstrate that NASA's Mobile Laser Ranging System (MOBLAS) receiver configuration is limiting system performance below the 100 photoelectron level.

Zagwodzki, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Field investigation of techniques for remote laser sensing of oceanographic parameters

A laser fluorosensor, previously studied in the laboratory, was deployed at a pier in lower Chesapeake Bay for field testing. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser doubled to 532 nm in conjunction with a gated optical multichannel analyzer (OMA) allow spectra with high signal-to-noise ratios to be recorded in full daylight at a distance of 20 m. As a test of the system a study was conducted of the spatial and temporal variations of the phytopigments phycoerythrin and chlorophyll. The phycoerythrin feature was resolved into two components, one attributable to cyanophytes and the other to cryptophytes. A comparison was also made with spectra obtained by the NASA airborne oceanographic lidar (AOL).

Houghton, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Conceptual design of a device to measure hand swelling in a micro-gravity environment

In the design of pressurized suits for use by astronauts in space, proper fit is an important consideration. One particularly difficult aspect of the suit design is the design of the gloves. If the gloves of the suit do not fit properly, the grip strength of the astronaut can be decreased by as much as fifty percent. These gloves are designed using an iterative process and can cost over 1.5 million dollars. Glove design is further complicated by the way the body behaves in a micro-gravity environment. In a micro-gravity setting, fluid from the lower body tends to move into the upper body. Some of this fluid collects in the hands and causes the hands to swell. Therefore, a pair of gloves that fit well on earth may not fit well when they are used in space. The conceptual design process for a device which can measure the swelling that occurs in the hands in a micro-gravity environment is described. This process involves developing a specifications list and function structure for the device and generating solution variants for each of the sub functions. The solution variants are then filtered, with the variants that violate any of the specifications being discarded. After acceptable solution variants are obtained, they are combined to form design concepts. These design concepts are evaluated against a set of criteria and the design concepts are ranked in order of preference. Through this process, the two most plausible design concepts were an ultrasonic imaging technique and a laser mapping technique. Both of these methods create a three dimensional model of the hand, from which the amount of swelling can be determined. In order to determine which of the two solutions will actually work best, a further analysis will need to be performed.

Hysinger, Christopher L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Laser and acoustic Doppler techniques for the measurement of fluid velocities

An overview of current laser and acoustic Doppler techniques is presented. Results obtained by Doppler anemometry and conventional sensors are compared. Comparisons include simultaneous velocity measurements by hot wire and a three-dimensional laser anemometer made in a gaseous pipe flow as well as direct comparisons of atmospheric velocities measured with propeller and cup anemometry. Scanning techniques are also discussed. Conclusions and recommendations for future work are presented.

Cliff, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Combined GaAs laser outputs

Technique for combining outputs of array of small semiconductor lasers increases total output power while relaxing fabrication tolerances to make manufacture potentially less costly. Advantage of free-running mode is that spacing between junction-diode lasers is less critical than for conventional, phase-coherently coupled arrays.

Rutz, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Improvements in a calorimeter for high-power CW lasers

A technique for improving the measurement certainty with the BB series (Smith et al., 1972) of electrically calibrated calorimeters used in high-energy lasers is described. The technique is based on monitoring the energy which is backscattered from the meter and monitoring the overspill radiation impinging on the calorimeter at the entrance aperture. The design and performance of a second generation BB meter is discussed and compared to that of the original device in terms of number of electrical calibrations, the residual standard deviation of electrical calibration, the calibration constant for laser energy, the correcting factor for systematics, inaccuracy, imprecision, and uncertainty.

Chamberlain, G. E.↗