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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 NTRS2003

Investigation of an Oscillating Surface Plasma for Turbulent Drag Reduction

An oscillating, weakly ionized surface plasma has been investigated for use in turbulent boundary layer viscous drag reduction. The study was based on reports showing that mechanical spanwise oscillations of a wall can reduce viscous drag due to a turbulent boundary layer by up to 40%. It was hypothesized that the plasma induced body force in high electric field gradients of a surface plasma along strip electrodes could also be configured to oscillate the flow. Thin dielectric panels with millimeter-scale, flush- mounted, triad electrode arrays with one and two-phase high voltage excitation were tested. Results showed that while a small oscillation could be obtained, the effect was lost at a low frequency (less than 100Hz). Furthermore, a mean flow was generated during the oscillation that complicates the effect. Hot-wire and pitot probe diagnostics are presented along with phase-averaged images revealing plasma structure.

Wilkinson, Stephen P.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Laser-plasma spectra of highly ionized fluorine

Lines between 11.3 and 17.2 A of lithium-like, helium-like, and hydrogen-like fluorine have been observed in spectra of laser-produced plasmas. These lines include nine members of the Lyman series of F IX; eight members of the principal series of F VIII; and satellite lines arising from doubly excited configurations of F VII and F VIII. Similar satellite lines of the abundant solar elements have been identified in soft X-ray spectra of solar flares. A wavelength list of fluorine lines is given, and physical conditions in the plasma are discussed.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS2024

Plasma-Based Elemental Analyzer for Crewed Transit and Planetary Habitation

As NASA continues to perform research on the ISS and move towards the Moon and Mars, it is important for astronauts to have a technology capable of determining the composition of solid, liquid, and gas samples. Currently, samples are transported back to Earth for analysis, which may impact results due to the time delay of samples waiting to be returned to Earth as well as potential sample contamination from re-entry, change in environment, and various personnel handling. Therefore, researchers at the Applied Chemistry Lab at KSC have developed a proof-of-concept “Plasma-Based Elemental Analyzer,” which has the capability of testing solid, liquid, and gas samples for identification. Currently, the analysis is only qualitative, with quantitative identification left for future work. This technology is similar to ICP-OES, but differs in instrument size and sample preparation. Both technologies use plasma to ionize samples for light emission. The plasma elemental analyzer aims to be portable and lightweight, require only electrical power, and analyze solid, liquid, and gas samples. It does not use acid digestion or a nebulizer, requires less power than ICP-OES, and is able to operate with minimal to no usage of argon gas. Furthermore, the plasma elemental analyzer operates within low power constraints, which makes it feasible for usage on future missions with higher power constraints. The technology was tested at atmospheric pressure using mostly room air as the carrier gas for plasma production in the proof-of-concept study. The results showed the peak signals of the elements with an associated arbitrary signal intensity that allowed for qualitative identification. Solid samples that were tested included inedible biomass from the Golden Heirloom Cherry Tomato plant and Lunar Highlands Simulants (LHS-1). The liquid samples included elements of interest for the space crop production community. This work showed that a system smaller than the traditional ICP-OES equipment is able to be designed and implemented in future use cases, although it requires further development.

Kenneth Engeling↗
NASA NTRS2016

Fabrication of a Silicon Nanowire on a Bulk Substrate by Use of a Plasma Etching and Total Ionizing Dose Effects on a Gate-All-Around Field-Effect Transistor

The gate all around transistor is investigated through experiment. The suspended silicon nanowire for the next generation is fabricated on bulk substrate by plasma etching method. The scallop pattern generated by Bosch process is utilized to form a floating silicon nanowire. By combining anisotropic and istropic silicon etch process, the shape of nanowire is accurately controlled. From the suspended nanowire, the gate all around transistor is demonstrated. As the silicon nanowire is fully surrounded by the gate, the device shows excellent electrostatic characteristics.

Transistor↗
NASA NTRS2005

Probing the Reverse Shock in an Oxygen-Rich Supernovae Remnant

The purpose of this investigation is to examine the O VI emission from the X-ray bright ring of the supernova remnant 1 E0102.2-729 in the small Magellanic cloud. Three pointings were positioned tangent to the ring, north (N), northeast (NE), and southeast (SE), to examine a range of X-ray emitting regions overlapping a range of optical [O III] nebulosity and to examine the velocity structure. One background pointing was also obtained, but it was contaminated by a star. The background levels in the pointings on the remnant were low enough that the background pointing was not required for the remaining analysis. The SE pointing was reobserved in August, 2004, in order to bring the total exposure up to the originally requested 15 ks. The archive notified us of the data's availability in mid September. Significant broad O VI 1032 and O VI 1038 emission was found, brightest in the NE and SE pointings. In the NE and SE pointings, the FWHM of the broad O VI component is approx.800-1000 km/s, while in the N pointing, the line is approx.1500 km/s wide. The O VI is redshifted in the N (approx.380 km/s) and NE (approx.60 km/s) but is blueshifted in the SE (approx. -160 km/s). These FUSE O VI velocity dispersions can be compared to the X-ray gas velocities inferred from Doppler distortions in the Chandra X-ray data as reported by Flanagan et al. 2004 (ApJ 605, 230). The bulk velocities in the X-ray bright ring of order +/- 1000 km/s, comparable to the velocity dispersion seen in the FUSE data. However, the X-ray data indicates a redshift of approx.1000 km/s in the SE, while the FUSE data show a blueshift of approx.160 km/s, underscoring the complex velocity structure in this remnant. The O VI fluxes estimated from the fits to the FUSE data were combined with X-ray (XMM- Newton) O VI1 and O VIII fluxes and compared with predictions from a plasma nonequilibrium ionization model in a "line-based" analysis. We found that the plasma departs significantly from collisional ionization equilibrium, particularly in the SE, and that the plasma excitation conditions vary among the pointings: the O plasma sees different conditions than the Ne and Mg plasmas.

Gaetz, Terrance↗
NASA NTRS1993

Skeletal unloading decreases production of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D

The plasma concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] decreases during skeletal unloading and increases when normal weight bearing is restored. To determine whether these changes in plasma 1,25(OH)2D reflect changes in production, metabolic clearance, or both we measured the kinetics of 1,25(OH)2D metabolism in rats whose skeletons were normally loaded, unloaded, or reloaded after a period of nonweight bearing. Skeletal unloading produced a transient but striking fall in the production (-73%) and plasma concentration (-72%) of 1,25(OH)2D without having a significant effect (< 20%) on metabolic clearance. Skeletal reloading returned production to normal. Bone formation predictably decreased during unloading and returned to normal after return to weight bearing. No consistent changes in blood ionized calcium, plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (irPTH), or plasma phosphorus occurred. These data suggest that the changes in plasma 1,25-(OH)2D associated with changes in skeletal weight bearing primarily reflect changes in 1,25(OH)2D production. The data provide no evidence that the changes in 1,25(OH)2D production are a consequence of changes in blood ionized calcium, plasma irPTH, or phosphorus.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1972

Turbulent properties of a continuum plasma in shear flow.

The detailed turbulence structure of a weakly ionized, continuum plasma is analyzed. This analysis, when extended to high Reynolds number turbulent boundary layers, shows that the ratio of the electron to ion saturation currents decreases by an order of magnitude as compared to the laminar case.

Marcisz, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Atomic data and level populations of highly ionized Ti for tokamak plasmas

The paper presents calculations of electron impact collision strengths and spontaneous radiative decay rates for titanium ions of the LiI through FI isoelectronic sequences for transitions between levels of the 2S(2)2p(k), 2s2p(k+1), and 2p(k+2) configurations. From these atomic data, excitation-rate coefficients are calculated along with level populations for these three configurations. The calculations of level populations include the effects of proton excitation, and are carried out at electron temperatures and densities typical of tokamak plasmas. Wavelengths of forbidden and intersystem lines are given, and a synthetic spectrum is presented for a typical temperature and density.

Bhatia, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Pulsed Energy Systems for Generating Plasmas

This paper will describe the techniques needed to electrically generate highly ionized dense plasmas for a variety of applications. The components needed in pulsed circuits are described in terms of general performance parameters currently available from commercial vendors. Examples of pulsed systems using these components are described and technical data from laboratory experiments presented. Experimental data are given for point designs, capable of multi-megawatt power levels.

Rose, M. Franklin↗
NASA NTRS1968

Nonlinear interactions of electromagnetic waves with a thermally generated cesium plasma.

The interaction of a large‐amplitude disturbing wave with a thermally generated, highly ionized cesium plasma has been investigated using a small‐amplitude sensing wave as a probe. The subsequent interaction between the disturbing and sensing waves is related to the plasma electron temperature. The plasma was contained in a magnetic field of 500–1000 G and had an electron plasma frequency near 10 GHz and an electron gyromagnetic frequency around 2 GHz. The sensing wave was a 10 GHz plane wave of approximately 1.5 mW input power and the disturbing wave was 7.5 GHz plane wave of about 1.2 W peak power. Measurements of the sensing‐wave transmitted power were made using standard microwave techniques. A notch filter in the sensing‐wave receiving circuit reduced the scattered disturbing‐wave interference to an immeasurably low level. Langmuir probes were used to detect disturbing‐wave modulation and to measure plasma temperatures and densities. Measurements of the interaction were correlated with a solution of the Boltzmann transport equation for a perturbed Maxwellian distribution function with binary Coulomb collisions.

Jack G Hewitt, Jr↗