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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Some analytical results for radiative transfer in thick atmospheres

Singular eigenmode expansions are a convenient analytical tool with which to study problems of monochromatic radiative transfer in thick or semi-infinite atmospheres. Some closed-form solutions are presented for anisotropic scattering, with the neglect of polarization effects. A basic ingredient for applications to the semi-infinite medium is Chandrasekhar's H-function, which is best defined through the Wiener-Hopf factorization. The solutions of the Milne and albedo problems are discussed in order that the method of matched asymptotic approximations may be used to describe the solution for a thick atmosphere adjacent to a diffusely reflecting ground. Expressions for the emerging distributions are quoted. A possible extension of the general scheme to problems involving polarization is indicated.

Kuscer, I.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Convective flow effects on protein crystal growth

The long-term stability of the interferometric setup for the monitoring of protein morphologies has been improved. Growth or dissolution of a crystal on a 100 A scale can now be clearly distinguished from dimensional changes occurring within the optical path of the interferometer. This capability of simultaneously monitoring the local interfacial displacement at several widely-spaced positions on the crystal surface with high local depth resolution, has already yielded novel results. We found with lysozyme that (1) the normal growth rate is oscillatory, and (2) the mean growth step density is greater at the periphery of a facet than in its center. The repartitioning of Na(+) and Cl(-) ions between lysozyme solutions and crystals was studied for a wide range of crystallization conditions. A nucleation-growth-repartitioning model was developed to interpret the large body of data in a unified way. The results strongly suggests that (1) the ion to lysozyme ratio in the crystal depends mostly on kinetic rather than crystallographic parameters, and (2) lysozyme crystals possess a salt-rich core with a diameter on the order of 10 microns. The computational model for diffusive-convective transport in protein crystallization (see the First Report) has been applied to a realistic growth cell geometry, taking into account the findings of the above repartitioning studies. These results show that some elements of a moving boundary problem must be incorporated into the model in order to obtain a more realistic description. Our experimental setup for light scattering investigations of aggregation and nucleation in protein solutions has been extensively tested. Scattering intensity measurements with a true Rayleigh scatterer produced systematically increased forward scattering, indicating problems with glare. These have been resolved. Preliminary measurements with supersaturated lysozyme solutions revealed that the scatterers grow with time. Work has begun on a computer program for the unified evaluation of simultaneously obtained, multi-angle static and dynamic light scattering data.

Rosenberger, Franz↗
NASA NTRS2020

Electromagnetic Scattering by Discrete Random Media Illuminated by a Gaussian Beam II: Solution of the Radiative Transfer Equation

In this paper, we present numerical methods for solving the phenomenological scalar radiative transfer equation for a discrete random medium illuminated by a Gaussian beam. These rely on the Fourier transform method for the horizontal variables and the discrete ordinate method with matrix exponential for solving the underlying one-dimensional radiative transfer equation in the wavenumber domain. The problem of a Gaussian beam at oblique and normal incidence, as well as, the searchlight problem are treated. A complete description of the methods and the numerical algorithms is provided.

Gaussian beam↗
NASA NTRS1982

Numerical techniques in radiative heat transfer for general, scattering, plane-parallel media

The study of radiative heat transfer with scattering usually leads to the solution of singular Fredholm integral equations. The present paper presents an accurate and efficient numerical method to solve certain integral equations that govern radiative equilibrium problems in plane-parallel geometry for both grey and nongrey, anisotropically scattering media. In particular, the nongrey problem is represented by a spectral integral of a system of nonlinear integral equations in space, which has not been solved previously. The numerical technique is constructed to handle this unique nongrey governing equation as well as the difficulties caused by singular kernels. Example problems are solved and the method's accuracy and computational speed are analyzed.

Sharma, A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

CoSb(sub 3)-IrSb(sub 3)Solid Solutions: Preparations and Characterization

The binary antimonide compounds of the skutterudite family have a good potential for thermoelectric applications as recent results at JPL have shown. However, the room temperature thermal conductivity of these materials is about 10 Wm(sup -1)K(sup -1) with an 80 % contribution from the lattice. To achieve maximum ZT values, the lattice thermal conductivity needs to be lowered. Because the lattice thermal conductivity of solid solutions can substantially decrease due to the addition of point defect phonon scattering (all state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials are solid solutions), a study of the formation of solid solutions between the antimonide skutterudite compounds is of interest. The preparation and characterization of both p-type and n-type CoSb(sub 3)-IrSb(sub 3) solid solutions by several techniques is reviewed in this paper. Experimental results showed that solid solutions were successfully formed in a wide range of compositions. The changes in the thermoelectric properties indicated the influence of a strong point defect scattering, resulting in large decreases in Hall mobility and thermal conductivity. The potential for high ZT values in CoSb(sub 3)-IrSb(sub 3) solid solutions is discussed.

mobility↗
NASA NTRS1977

Multiple scattering in reflection nebulae. I - A Monte Carlo approach. II - Uniform plane-parallel nebulae with foreground stars. III - Nebulae with embedded illuminating stars

A method for calculating the surface brightness distribution on a plane-parallel reflection nebula of uniform density illuminated by a star located either in front of, behind, or arbitrarily inside the scattering medium is proposed. The Monte Carlo technique is used to find solutions to the radiative transfer problem. The scattering properties of the nebular particles are parameterized by the albedo for single scattering and a three-parameter analytic phase function. Calculations are then presented for the surface brightness distribution across the face of such nebulae with (1) a foreground star and (2) immersed stars. The calculations include the full effects of multiple scattering, are independent of a particular assumed grain material or size distribution, and are applicable to any wavelength region for which observations can be obtained.

Witt, A. N.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Monitoring the sea surface with a short pulse radar

A solution is presented for the scattering of short pulses from a stochastic, corrugated surface relative to the sea for the case of a narrow-beam transmitting antenna pointing near nadir. The spectrum of the received power and its time history are calculated and this solution is used to show that a measure of the variance of the surface ordinant can be obtained from the backscattered power. Included explicitly in the analysis is the finite nature of the source and the role of the small-scale wave structure (capillary wave range). It is shown that when sufficiently short pulses are transmitted, one can obtain a measure of the variance of the large scale surface ordinant from either the temporal spacing of the peaks in the returned power or from the envelope of the spectrum of the received power. Assuming an appropriate model for the statistics and spectrum of the surface ordinate, the variance can be used to compute the wind speed and the significant wave height of the surface.

Le Vine, D. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Multiple scattering of light in a spherical cometary atmosphere with an axisymmetric dust jet

A numerical solution has been developed for the anisotropic multiple scattering of light in a spherical shell comet atmosphere. The code has been run for a spherically symmetric coma distribution, benchmarked against past studies, and then run for the conditions of an axisymmetric dust jet at the subsolar point of the comet. The radiant flux impinging on the nucleus surface and the mean intensity of light throughout the coma were investigated.

Chick, Kenneth M.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Harmonic oscillator representation in the theory of scattering and nuclear reactions

The following questions, concerning the application of the harmonic oscillator representation (HOR) in the theory of scattering and reactions, are discussed: the formulation of the scattering theory in HOR; exact solutions of the free motion Schroedinger equation in HOR; separable expansion of the short range potentials and the calculation of the phase shifts; 'isolated states' as generalization of the Wigner-von Neumann bound states embedded in continuum; a nuclear coupled channel problem in HOR; and the description of true three body scattering in HOR. As an illustration the soft dipole mode in the (11)Li nucleus is considered in a frame of the (9)Li+n+n cluster model taking into account of three body continuum effects.

Smirnov, Yuri F.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Analytical study of the effects of clouds on the light produced by lightning

Researchers consider the scattering of visible and infrared light due to lightning by cubic, cylindrical and spherical clouds. The researchers extend to cloud physics the work by Twersky for single and multiple scattering of electromagnetic waves. They solve the interior problem separately to obtain the bulk parameters for the scatterer equivalent to the ensemble of spherical droplets. With the interior solution or the equivalent medium approach, the multiple scattering problem is reduced to that of a single scatterer in isolation. Hence, the computing methods of Wiscombe or Bohren specialized to Mie scattering with the possibility for absorption were used to generate numerical results in short computer time.

Phanord, Dieudonne D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

LRAT: Lightning Radiative Transfer

In this report, we extend to cloud physics the work done for single and multiple scattering of electromagnetic waves. We consider the scattering of light, visible or infrared, by a spherical cloud represented by a statistically homogeneous ensemble of configurations of N identical spherical water droplets whose centers are uniformly distributed in its volume V. The ensemble is specified by the average number rho of scatterers in unit volume and by rho f(R) with f(R) as the distribution function for separations R of pairs. The incident light, vector-phi(sub 0) a plane electromagnetic wave with harmonic time dependence, is from outside the cloud. The propagation parameter kappa(sub 0) and the index of refraction eta(sub 0) determine physically the medium outside the distribution of scatterers. We solve the interior problem separately to obtain the bulk parameters for the scatterer equivalent to the ensemble of spherical droplets. With the interior solution or the equivalent medium approach, the multiple scattering problem is reduced to that of an equivalent single scatterer excited from outside illumination. A dispersion relation which determines the bulk propagation parameter K and the bulk index of refraction eta of the cloud is given in terms of the vector equivalent scattering amplitude vector-G and the dyadic scattering amplitude tilde-g of the single object in isolation. Based on this transfer model we will have the ability to consider clouds composed of inhomogeneous distribution of water and/or ice particles and we will be able to take into account particle size distributions within the cloud. We will also be able to study the effects of cloud composition (i.e., particle shape, size, composition, orientation, location) on the polarization of the single or the multiple scattered waves. Finally, this study will provide a new starting point for studying the problem of lightning radiative transfer.

Phanord, Dieudonne D.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Simplified multiple scattering model for radiative transfer in turbid water

Quantitative analytical procedures for relating selected water quality parameters to the characteristics of the backscattered signals, measured by remote sensors, require the solution of the radiative transport equation in turbid media. Presented is an approximate closed form solution of this equation and based on this solution, the remote sensing of sediments is discussed. The results are compared with other standard closed form solutions such as quasi-single scattering approximations.

Ghovanlou, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Spectral formation in compact X-ray sources

A method is described for calculating the transfer of X-rays through gas that is optically thick to Compton scattering. The method permits the simultaneous solution of the radiation-dominated temperature and ionization structure of the medium as well as the effects of incoherent Compton scattering of photons. Self-consistent results are obtained for idealized models of compact X-ray sources, represented as point sources of continuum X-rays surrounded by spherical shells of gas, demonstrating the range of spectral features that might result from such optically thick transfer. Some implications for the analysis of X-ray spectra of galactic X-ray sources are discussed.

Ross, R. R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Light scattering in a spherical, exponential atmosphere, with applications to Venus

In the present discussion of the problem presented by the reflection of light from an optically thick spherical atmosphere, in which the scatterers are distributed exponentially with a scale height that is small by comparison to the radius of the planet, exact formal solutions are obtained for the single scattered component. The results obtained are applied to the analysis of the Mariner 10 limb and terminator images of Venus, which show a detached haze layer as a planetwide feature that is similar in location, scale height, and thickness during both Pioneer Venus and Mariner 10 missions, by contrast to the dramatically altered lower haze. The possible nature of the limb hazes is discussed.

Wallach, D.↗
NASA NTRS2004

An improved Green's function for ion beam transport

Ion beam transport theory allows testing of material transmission properties in the laboratory environment generated by particle accelerators. This is a necessary step in materials development and evaluation for space use. The approximations used in solving the Boltzmann transport equation for the space setting are often not sufficient for laboratory work and those issues are the main emphasis of the present work. In consequence, an analytic solution of the linear Boltzmann equation is pursued in the form of a Green's function allowing flexibility in application to a broad range of boundary value problems. It has been established that simple solutions can be found for high charge and energy (HZE) ions by ignoring nuclear energy downshifts and dispersion. Such solutions were found to be supported by experimental evidence with HZE ion beams when multiple scattering was added. Lacking from the prior solutions were range and energy straggling and energy downshift with dispersion associated with nuclear events. Recently, we have found global solutions including these effects providing a broader class of HZE ion solutions. c2004 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NASA Center LaRC↗
NASA NTRS2010

L Band Brightness Temperature from Forest: Comparison of Approximate Techniques

In this paper, three approximate physical microwave radiometry models have been used to calculate brightness temperatures from a forest canopy at L-band. These models are (1) tau-omega model (zero order scattering approximation to radiative transfer equations), (2) successive order of scattering model up to first order (first order scattering approximation to the radiative transfer equations), and (3) Peak technique utilizing the active solution obtained from the Distorted Born Approximation (DBA). These models are physically-based and treat vegetation as a layer of discrete scatterers over a rough surface. Vegetation components within the canopy are represented by canonical shapes such as dielectric discs and cylinders. The tau-omega model is based on a zero-order solution to the radiative transfer (RT) equations. The model ignores scattering except for the effect of the scatterers in the attenuation of the emission through the vegetation. Application of the tau-omega model to data acquired during airborne and ground-based campaigns over the years has solidified scientific understanding of microwave interactions with different landscapes. In particular, shrubland, grasslands, agricultural crops, and light to moderate vegetation have been investigated. Its applicability to areas with a significant tree fraction is unknown. The first order scattering model is based on an iterative solution of the RT equation up to the first order. The first order solution is obtained by substituting the zeroth-order solution into the scattering source term and then solving the resulting radiative transfer equations. This formulation adds a new scattering term to the tau-omega model. It represents emission by particles in the layer and emission by the ground that is scattered once by particles in the layer. The resulting model represents an improvement over the standard zero-order solution (the tau-omega model) since it accounts for the scattered vegetation and ground radiation that can have a pronounced effect on the observed brightness temperature. The third model is based on the Peake formulation in conjunction with the DBA. The procedure for calculation of forest emission is accomplished by first calculating the bistatic scattering cross section for each type of scatterer, then by using the DBA to calculate specular albedo of the ground and the diffused albedo of the layer. Once the albedos are determined, Peake s principle relating active and passive problems can be used to determine the effective emissivity of the forest layer.

Kurum, Mehmet↗
NASA NTRS1995

Development of Fast Algorithms Using Recursion, Nesting and Iterations for Computational Electromagnetics

In the first phase of our work, we have concentrated on laying the foundation to develop fast algorithms, including the use of recursive structure like the recursive aggregate interaction matrix algorithm (RAIMA), the nested equivalence principle algorithm (NEPAL), the ray-propagation fast multipole algorithm (RPFMA), and the multi-level fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA). We have also investigated the use of curvilinear patches to build a basic method of moments code where these acceleration techniques can be used later. In the second phase, which is mainly reported on here, we have concentrated on implementing three-dimensional NEPAL on a massively parallel machine, the Connection Machine CM-5, and have been able to obtain some 3D scattering results. In order to understand the parallelization of codes on the Connection Machine, we have also studied the parallelization of 3D finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) code with PML material absorbing boundary condition (ABC). We found that simple algorithms like the FDTD with material ABC can be parallelized very well allowing us to solve within a minute a problem of over a million nodes. In addition, we have studied the use of the fast multipole method and the ray-propagation fast multipole algorithm to expedite matrix-vector multiplication in a conjugate-gradient solution to integral equations of scattering. We find that these methods are faster than LU decomposition for one incident angle, but are slower than LU decomposition when many incident angles are needed as in the monostatic RCS calculations.

Chew, W. C.↗