Annual Progress Report, 1966
Rarefied gas mechanics, plasma dynamics, blast wave phenomena, energy conversion, aerodynamic noise, subsonics, flight dynamics, materials, high altitude measurements, and molecular beams
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Rarefied gas mechanics, plasma dynamics, blast wave phenomena, energy conversion, aerodynamic noise, subsonics, flight dynamics, materials, high altitude measurements, and molecular beams
Concepts for space-based conversion of space radiation energy into useful energy for man's needs are developed and supported by studies of costs, material and size requirements, efficiency, and available technology. Besides the more studied solar power satellite system using microwave transmission, a number of alternative space energy concepts are considered. Topics covered include orbiting mirrors for terrestrial energy supply, energy conversion at a lunar polar site, ultralightweight structures for space power, radiatively sustained cesium plasmas for solar electric conversion, solar pumped CW CO2 laser, superelastic laser energy conversion, laser-enhanced dynamics in molecular rate processes, and electron beams in space for energy storage.
The Advanced CO2 Removal Technical Task Agreement covers three active areas of research and development. These include a study of the economic viability of a hybrid membrane/adsorption CO2 removal system, sorbent materials development, and construction of a database of adsorption properties of important fixed gases on several adsorbent material that may be used in CO2 removal systems. The membrane/adsorption CO2 removal system was proposed as a possible way to reduce the energy consumption of the four-bed molecular sieve system now in use. Much of the energy used by the 4BMS is used to desorb water removed in the device s desiccant beds. These beds might be replaced by a desiccating membrane that moves the water from [he incoming stream directly into the outlet stream. The approach may allow the CO2 removal beds to operate at a lower temperature. A comparison between models of the 4BMS and hybrid systems is underway at Vanderbilt University. NASA Ames Research Center has been investigating a Ag-exchanged zeolites as a possible improvement over currently used Ca and Na zeolites for CO2 removal. Silver ions will complex with n:-bonds in hydrocarbons such as ethylene, giving remarkably improved selectivity for adsorption of those materials. Bonds with n: character are also present in carbon oxides. NASA Ames is also continuing to build a database for adsorption isotherms of CO2, N2, O2, CH4, and Ar on a variety of sorbents. This information is useful for analysis of existing hardware and design of new processes.
Analytic expressions are presented which may be used to compute the sputter-erosion yield from any unimolecular gravitationally bound gas by any atomic charged particle of any energy. A calculation of solar wind proton and alpha particle induced erosion of the CO2 atmosphere of Mars predicts molecular sputtering yields. An expression for the emission yield of energetic molecular fragments produced in primary knock-on events is given in closed form; such fragment emission is of secondary importance for mass loss compared to the molecular yield itself. Erosion by radiation belt protons of a hypothetical thin O2 atmosphere associated with the Jovian satellite Ganymede is considered, and molecular sputtering yields for proton energies are determined.
Substitution rates for homogeneous deuterium- hydrogen exchange reactions controlled by vibrational excitation
Oscillator strengths and autoionization lifetime of aluminum I doublet measured in shock tube
Vibrational energy transfer in high energy collisions of diatomic nitrogen, evaluating transition probabilities for forced harmonic oscillator
Moderately long-range relativistic intermolecular forces, obtaining interaction energies
Retarded intermolecular forces, discussing Casimir and Polder retarded dipole-dipole energy of interaction between two ground state atoms in terms of trigonometric integrals
Energy level shifts due to atom confinement by conducting walls
Arc-heated, supersonic, argon molecular beam measurements of molecular collision cross section energies
Supersonic argon molecular beam at intermediate energies produced by beam gas heating in electric arc, measuring densities and speeds
Slow charged products of charge exchange collisions by ions in molecular gases, comparing kinetic energies during various reactions
Intramolecular triplet-triplet energy transfer between nonconjugated molecular chromophores held together by rigid molecular frame at known separation distance and mutual orientation
Hard sphere model for reactive molecular collisions based on energy and momentum of reactants and products
Biochemical molecular model for metabolic energy transition from mammalian organs to central nervous system
Carbon dioxide electron impact energy loss spectrum and molecular orbit calculations, discussing fourth positive bands production in Mars upper atmosphere UV dayglow
Excitation and ionization cross sections of atmospheric molecular species by low energy ions in strong auroral and man-made electric fields