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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 271 records · Page 15

X-ray observations of the 1980 Cygnus X-1 'high state'

Observations of intensity transitions in the X-ray emission from the black-hole candidate Cygnus X-1 were made by the Hakucho satellite during the summer of 1980 and are reported here. In addition, the results of hard (20-120 keV) X-ray observations of Cyg X-1 are reported. These data were obtained during the 'high' intensity state by balloon-borne mercuric iodide detectors, and are compared with data obtained at similar energies approximately 1 month earlier (A. Sheepmaker et al., in preparation) during the 'low' intensity state.

Ogawara, Y.↗

Solitosynthesis: Cosmological evolution of non-topological solitons

The thermal creation, fusion, evaporation, and destruction of non-topological solitons (NTS) after a phase transition in the early universe is considered. By defining and following NTS statistical equilibrium and departures from it, and depending on particle physics parameters, one of three possible scenarios occurs. If reaction rates are high enough, a period of equilibrium occurs and relic abundances are determined by the freeze-out temperature. Equilibrium first drives most NTS's into their constituents (free phi particles) and then causes rapid fusion into large NTS's. If freeze-out occurs during the first phase, the NTS's are almost entirely destroyed, while if it occurs during the second phase, solitosynthesis occurs and NTS's may be cosmically relevant. For slow reaction rates the NTS's are born frozen out and have the abundance determined by the phase transition. Analytic approximations for determining the abundances are developed, and tested by numerically integrating a reaction network in an expanding universe. Unfortunately, for most of the parameter space considered, solito-destruction/evaporation occurs.

Griest, Kim↗

Mechanical energy flow models of rods and beams

It has been proposed that the flow of mechanical energy through a structural/acoustic system may be modeled in a manner similar to that of flow of thermal energy/in a heat conduction problem. If this hypothesis is true, it would result in relatively efficient numerical models of structure-borne energy in large built-up structures. Fewer parameters are required to approximate the energy solution than are required to model the characteristic wave behavior of structural vibration by using traditional displacement formulations. The energy flow hypothesis is tested in this investigation for both longitudinal vibration in rods and transverse flexural vibrations of beams. The rod is shown to behave approximately according to the thermal energy flow analogy. However, the beam solutions behave significantly differently than predicted by the thermal analogy unless locally-space-averaged energy and power are considered. Several techniques for coupling dissimilar rods and beams are also discussed. Illustrations of the solution accuracy of the methods are included.

Wohlever, J. C.↗

Balloon-borne observations of stratospheric aerosol in Antarctica from 1972 to 1984

Stratospheric levels of particles with r or = 0.15 microns were monitored with optical particle counters in approximately monthly balloon soundings at Laramie, Wyoming (41 deg N) since 1971. These measurements were used to characterize the background stratospheric aerosol layer and the disturbed layer following major volcanic eruptions. Levels of particles with r or = 0.01 microns have also been measured with balloon-borne counters since 1973. The latter are collectively called condensation nuclei (CN) as they are characteristic of aerosol in the early stages of growth. While they dominate the size distribution in the tropsophere, they are a trace species in the undisturbed stratosphere. From 1972 until 1980, annual balloon soundings from McMurdo Station (78 deg S) and/or Amundsen-Scott Station (90 deg S), in Antarctica, have also been conducted to crudely monitor Southern Hemisphere aerosol levels. These measurements were continued in 1983 and 1984. Profiles of r 0.15 microns aerosol concentrations as measured during January at the south pole from 1972 to 1975 and in 1980 are given. The former are typical of undisturbed conditions and indicate the small degree of variability under these conditions. The latter indicates the effect of minor volcanic activity, visible in the 10 to 15 km region.

Hofmann, D. J.↗

A study of cosmic-ray positron and electron spectra in interplanetary and interstellar space and the solar modulation of cosmic rays

The differential energy spectra of cosmic-ray positrons and negatrons with energies between approximately 11 and 1500 MeV was measured during the period 1968-1971 using a balloon-borne magnetic spectrometer. These measurements fill a gap in the previously existing data and permit the determination of the interstellar spectra of cosmic-ray positrons and electrons. Knowledge of these spectra provides a crucial tool for studies of the distribution and density of matter and magnetic fields in the interstellar medium and the origin and dynamics of energetic particles contained in the fields. The differential energy spectrum of interstellar electrons may be represented as a power-law, j alpha T to the -1.8 power for 100 MeV approximately T approximately 2 GeV, but must flatten considerably at lower energies. From the measured electron charge composition, it is concluded that the majority of cosmic-ray electrons with energies above approximately 10 MeV originate in primary sources.

Cummings, A. C.↗

High Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun Balloon-Borne Telescope: Astrophysical Pointing

On September 21, 2013, the High Energy Replicated Optics to Explore the Sun, or HEROES, balloon-borne x-ray telescope launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility's site in Ft. Summer, NM. The flight lasted for approximately 27 hours and the observational targets included the Sun and astrophysical sources GRS 1915+105 and the Crab Nebula. Over the past year, the HEROES team upgraded the existing High Energy Replicated Optics (HERO) balloon-borne telescope to make unique scientific measurements of the Sun and astrophysical targets during the same flight. The HEROES Project is a multi-NASA Center effort with team members at both Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), and is led by Co-PIs (one at each Center). The HEROES payload consists of the hard X-ray telescope HERO, developed at MSFC, combined with several new systems. To allow the HEROES telescope to make observations of the Sun, a new solar aspect system was added to supplement the existing star camera for fine pointing during both the day and night. A mechanical shutter was added to the star camera to protect it during solar observations and two alignment monitoring systems were added for improved pointing and post-flight data reconstruction. This mission was funded by the NASA HOPE (Hands-On Project Experience) Training Opportunity awarded by the NASA Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership, in partnership with NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Office of the Chief Engineer and Office of the Chief Technologist.

Gaskin, Jessica↗

Sequence of neuron origin and neocortical laminar fate: relation to cell cycle of origin in the developing murine cerebral wall

Neurons destined for each region of the neocortex are known to arise approximately in an "inside-to-outside" sequence from a pseudostratified ventricular epithelium (PVE). This sequence is initiated rostrolaterally and propagates caudomedially. Moreover, independently of location in the PVE, the neuronogenetic sequence in mouse is divisible into 11 cell cycles that occur over a 6 d period. Here we use a novel "birth hour" method that identifies small cohorts of neurons born during a single 2 hr period, i.e., 10-20% of a single cell cycle, which corresponds to approximately 1.5% of the 6 d neuronogenetic period. This method shows that neurons arising with the same cycle of the 11 cycle sequence in mouse have common laminar fates even if they arise from widely separated positions on the PVE (neurons of fields 1 and 40) and therefore arise at different embryonic times. Even at this high level of temporal resolution, simultaneously arising cells occupy more than one cortical layer, and there is substantial overlap in the distributions of cells arising with successive cycles. We demonstrate additionally that the laminar representation of cells arising with a given cycle is little if at all modified over the early postnatal interval of histogenetic cell death. We infer from these findings that cell cycle is a neuronogenetic counting mechanism and that this counting mechanism is integral to subsequent processes that determine cortical laminar fate.

NASA Discipline Cell Biology↗

Precise Control of a Tunable IR Diode Laser

Tuning system applicable to lead-salt semiconductor tunable diode laser (TDL) and other solid-state lasers with temperature and current dependent emission wavelength developed for balloon borne, highresolution spectrometer that measures trace atmospheric constituents in stratosphere. Instrument measures absorption at approximately 20 points in 100 MHz wide spectral line.

Menzies, R. T.↗

Photolysis rates based on Schumann-Runge band approximations and irradiance measurements

The photolysis rate (J3) for CF2Cl2(F-12) in the stratosphere has been computed for three altitudes using measured solar fluxes from a balloon borne spectrometer. The rate is compared with that obtained by computing the attenuated flux using effective cross sections appropriate for the Schumann-Runge bands (J1) (Allen and Frederick, 1982). The result shows that the error in the F-12 photolysis rate caused by using the Allen and Frederick approximation is about 10 percent (J1 less than J3) for altitudes between 32 and 38 km with solar zenith angles less than about 62 degrees. For species other than O2, this implies that the discrepancy in photolysis rates associated with the Schumann-Runge band approximations are not likely to be important. Within the Schumann-Runge band region the computed errors for F-12 photolysis are about 10.5 percent at 38.13 km and increase with decreasing altitude. If this error applies to O2 photolysis, there may be the possibility of an incorrect calculation of net odd oxygen production in photochemical models.

Herman, J. R.↗

Tracer Lamination in the Stratosphere: A Global Climatology

Vertical soundings of stratospheric ozone often exhibit laminated tracer structures characterized by strong vertical tracer gradients. The change in time of these gradients is used to define a tracer lamination rate. It is shown that this quantity can be calculated by the cross product of the horizontal temperature and horizontal tracer gradients. A climatology based on UARS satellite-borne ozone data and on ozone-like pseudotracer data is presented. Three stratospheric regions with high lamination rates were found: the part of the stratospheric overworld which is influenced by the polar vortex, the part of the lowermost stratosphere which is influenced by the tropopause and a third region in the subtropical lower stratosphere mainly characterized with strong vertical shear. High lamination rates in the stratospheric overworld were absent during summer, whereas in the lowermost stratosphere high lamination rates were found year-round. This is consistent with the occurrence and seasonal variation of the horizontal tracer gradient and vertical shear necessary for tilting the tracer surfaces. During winter, high lamination rates associated with the stratospheric polar vortex are present down to approximately 100 hPa. Several features of the derived climatology are roughly consistent with earlier balloon-borne studies. The patterns in the southern and northern hemisphere are comparable, but details differ as anticipated from a less disturbed and more symmetric southern polar vortex.

Appenzeller, Christof↗

Solar protons E greater than 100 Mev incident over Antarctica during January- February 1967.

Commencing at 0825 +a -1 UT on January 28, 1967, a large and prolonged increase in the intensity of penetrating charged particles was observed by balloon-borne instruments floating over Byrd Station, Antarctica. (80°S, 120°W). A peak intensity of approximately 50 protons per cm 2 -sec-steradian with E> 100 MeV occurred at about 1230 UT on the 28th. The event was under observation almost continuously over a period of about 100 hours until the intensity decayed below cosmic-ray background on February 1. The initial decay was rapid but, some 40 hours after onset, went over into a slow exponential decay characterized by a 20 hour time-constant. The decay phase of an additional, though considerably less intense, event was observed on February 3 and 4. Presumably both events had their origins in major disturbances on the far side of the sun since nether event has been definitely linked to any feature which existed on the visible disk within an appropriate time interval. Results pertaining to the time-intensity profile and to the energy spectrum for protons E> 100 MeV are presented for the January 29 event. Comparison of the balloon results with neutron-monitor and satellite measurements and with models of interplanetary diffusion has led to some conclusions regarding the role of small-angle scattering by irregularities and by the random walk of magnetic lines of force relative to the mean interplanetary field within the orbit of earth.

Energy spectrum↗

Charge coupled device image sensor study

An evaluation of a charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors for use in spacecraft-borne imaging systems was conducted. The study resulted in design recommendations for two sensors, an approximately 500 times 500 element imaging device and a 1 times 190 element linear imaging device with a 190 times 121 buffer store. Emphasis was placed on the higher resolution, area-imaging sensor. The objectives of the proposed sensors are listed, results of the experiments are analyzed, and estimates of the device performance are presented. A summary of the major technical recommendations is included.

Source record↗

Atmospheric effects on radiometric imaging from satellites under low optical thickness conditions

The interference that the atmosphere poses to analyzing the imagery taken by satellite-borne instruments is discussed, assuming a cloud-free, planar, and horizontally uniform atmosphere. An approximate explicit formula is derived for the earth-atmosphere system nadir-beam reflectivity in terms of the atmospheric parameters, object pixel reflectivity and surrounding area reflectivity, for the limiting case of an optically thin atmosphere. The concepts of the forward-scattering and the backward-scattering optical thickness are introduced, and it is shown that the atmospheric effects in a spectral band depend in a specific fashion on these atmospheric parameters and on the surface spectral reflectivity. In addition, contrast transmittance through the atmosphere, which affects the possibilities of photointerpretation, is discussed.

Otterman, J.↗

Targeted flight opportunities with large area collectors

A major factor in the stratospheric collection process is the relative density of particles at the collection altitude. With current aircraft-borne collector plate geometries, one potential extraterrestrial particle of about 10 micron diameter is collected approximately every hour. However, a new design for the collector plate, termed the Large Area Collector (LAC), allows a factor of 10 improvement in collection efficiency over current conventional geometry. The implementation of LAC design on future stratospheric collection flights will provide many opportunities for additional data on both terrestrial and extraterrestrial phenomena. With the improvement in collection efficiency, LAC's may provide a suitable number of potential extraterrestrial particles in one short flight of between 4 and 8 hours duration. Alternatively, total collection periods of approximately 40 hours enhance the probability that rare particles can be retrieved from the stratosphere. This latter approach is of great value for the cosmochemist who may wish to perform sophisticated analyses on interplanetary dust greater than a picogram. The former approach, involving short duration flights, may also provide invaluable data on the source of many extraterrestrial particles. The time dependence of particle entry to the collection altitude is an important parameter which may be correlated with specific global events (e.g., meteoroid streams) provided the collection time is known to an accuracy of 2 hours.

Mackinnon, I. D. R.↗

Cubic Calorimeter for High-Energy Electrons in Ultra-Long Ballooning

The concept and optimization study of a balloon-borne instrument to study high-energy (from 100 GeV to 5 TeV) cosmic ray electrons will be presented. This energy range of electrons is very interesting for the study of cosmic ray propagation and the search for the nearby sources of high-energy electrons. The instrument is based on a cubic design that allows the detection from all sides. Proton rejection is provided by stringent track analysis, which allows defining when an electron shower is exhausted while the hadron shower continues development. The collecting power of a nominal balloon-borne instrument using this concept will be over 2 square meters sr. This will provide approximately 3,000 electron events above 500 GeV for 3-month long ULDB flight. This instrument will also be capable of detecting sharp features in the high energy gamma-ray spectrum such as gamma-ray lines originating from the dark matter annihilation.

Moiseev, Alexander A.↗

Performance of Gas Scintillation Proportional Counter Array for High-Energy X-Ray Observatory

A focal plane array of high-pressure gas scintillation proportional counters (GSPC) for a High Energy X-Ray Observatory (HERO) is developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The array is consisted from eight GSPCs and is a part of balloon born payload scheduled to flight in May 2004. These detectors have an active area of approximately 20 square centimeters, and are filled with a high pressure (10(exp 6) Pa) xenon-helium mixture. Imaging is via crossed-grid position-sensitive phototubes sensitive in the UV region. The performance of the GSPC is well matched to that of the telescopes x-ray optics which have response to 75 keV and a focal spot size of approximately 500 microns. The detector's energy resolution, 4% FWHM at 60 keV, is adequate for resolving the broad spectral lines of astrophysical importance and for accurate continuum measurements. Results of the on-earth detector calibration will be presented and in-flight detector performance will be provided, as available.

Gubarev, Mikhail↗

A comprehensive method on black-legged tick larvae and nymph feeding on mice to study Lyme disease transmission and acquisition

Tick-borne diseases are a growing public health concern in the United States, with cases rising steadily each year. Lyme borreliosis, or Lyme disease, remains the most prevalent, affecting approximately 476,000 individuals annually. Human-driven changes in climate and ecosystems have expanded the habitat of pathogen-carrying ticks, facilitating the spread of these infections. Additionally, increased instances of tick-borne diseases transmission through human tissues have been reported. Despite ongoing efforts to manage these infections, their incidence continues to rise. To develop effective control measures against these diseases and prevent the transmission of tick-borne infections through human and animal tissues, it is very important to develop detection assays and understand the transmission mechanisms of tick-borne infections. In this study, we provide detailed descriptions and visual references for larval and nymphal tick feeding on mice, focusing on the transmission and acquisition ofBorrelia burgdorferi(sensu stricto). These methodologies can be applied to study other tick-borne diseases, tick vectorial capacity, and tick biology, aiding in the development of detection strategies to combat these infections.

Microbiology↗

The 100-micron observations of galactic and extragalactic Southern Hemisphere objects

Far-infrared observations of the interstellar medium are reported by a balloon-borne telescope. With the 30-centimeter (12-in.) telescope operating at a wavelength of 100 microns, approximately forty new sources were observed in the galactic plane and in the large Magellanic Cloud. Patterns and some degree of understanding are beginning to emerge from the observations of objects in the far infrared.

Hoffmann, W. F.↗