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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
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NASA NTRS1984

Trace element abundances in megacrysts and their host basalts - Constraints on partition coefficients and megacryst genesis

Rare earth and other trace element abundances are determined in megacrysts of clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, amphibole, mica, anorthoclase, apatite and zircon, as well as their host basalts, in an effort to gather data on mineral/melt trace element partitioning during the high pressure petrogenesis of basic rocks. Phase equilibria, major element partitioning and isotopic ratio considerations indicate that while most of the pyroxene and amphibole megacrysts may have been in equilibrium with their host magmas at high pressures, mica, anorthoclase, apatite, and zircon megacrysts are unlikely to have formed in equilibrium with their host basalts. It is instead concluded that they were precipitated from more evolved magmas, and have been mixed into their present hosts.

Irving, A. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

High pressure cosmochemistry applied to major planetary interiors: Experimental studies

Progress is reported on a project to determine the properties and boundaries of high pressure phases of the H2-He-H2O-NH3-CH4 system that are needed to constrain theoretical models of the interiors of the major planets. This project is one of the first attempts to measure phase equilibria in binary fluid-solid systems in diamond anvil cells. Vibrational spectroscopy, direct visual observations, and X-ray diffraction crystallography of materials confined in externally heated cells are the primary experimental probes. Adiabats of these materials are also measured in order to constrain models of heat flow in these bodies and to detect phase transitions by thermal anomalies. Initial efforts involve the NH3-H2O binary. This system is especially relevant to models for surface reconstruction of the icy satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. Thermal analysis experiments were completed for the P-X space, p4GPa:0 or = 0.50, near room temperature. The cryostat, sample handling equipment, and optics needed to extend the optical P-T-X work below room temperature was completed.

Nicol, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The dynamic fission instability and the origin of the Moon

A theory for the formation of the Moon which involves the dynamic fission of a rapidly rotating protoplanet, which might then result in the formation of the Earth and the Moon is discussed. The fission hypothesis was originally based on analytic, linearized models of the growth of asymmetry in homogenous bodies. The fully nonlinear evolution of the dynamic instability in inviscid, compressible bodies was calculated by numerical techniques. It was found that the dynamic instability degenerates into the ejection of a ring of matter with a substantial fraction of the mass, leaving behind a central body with most of the mass. The linearized analytical approach and the numerical approach were used to show that dynamic fission probably does not occur in rocky protoplanets. The numerical calculations are performed with a fully three dimensional hydrodynamical code, which allows the nonlinear, time evolution of the instability to be followed. Sequences of uniformly rotating equilibria were constructed and are used as the initial models for the fission calculations. An initially imposed asymmetry consisting of a 10% binary perturbation in the density was found to disappear on the rotational period time scale. No dynamic instability occurred. This result are verified by including the velocity dissipation terms in the linearized analysis of the stability of a Maclaurin spheroid: the dynamic instability disappears when the simulated viscous dissipation terms are included. It is concluded that any rocky body, even with considerable partial melt or a molten core, should be stable to dynamic fission; any rotational instability that occurs can only result in equatorial mass loss.

Boss, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Study of the liquid vapor equilibrium in the bromine-hydrobromic acid-water system

A glass ebullioscope was built and at atmospheric pressure, liquid-vapor equilibria relative to the Br2-HBr-H2O system, in the concentration range of interest for evaluation of the Mark 13 cycle was studied. Measurements were performed for the brome-azeotrope (HBr-H2O) pseudo-binary system and for the ternary system at temperatures lower than 125 C and in the bromine concentration range up to 13% wt.

Benizri, R.↗
NASA NTRS1985

High pressure cosmochemistry applied to major planetary interiors: Experimental studies

The measurement of equilibria in binary fluid-solid systems in diamond anvil cells, represents a major advance of the art of high-pressure experimentation. Vibrational spectroscopy, direct visual observations, and X-ray diffraction crystallography of materials confined in externally heated cells are the primary experimental probes being used. Adiabats in these systems are being measured in order to constrain models of heat flow in these bodies and to detect phase transitions by thermal anomalies. Other studies are directed toward interpreting high pressure reactions in these systems that are suggested by shockwave measurements, and developing methods for reaching high temperatures and high pressures of planetary interest in diamond cells. The overall objective of this project is to determine the properties of the H2-He-H2O-HN3-CH4 system and related small-molecule systems that are needed to constrain theoretical models of the interiors of the major planets.

Nicol, M. F.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Intermediate phases in some rare earth-ruthenium systems

The phase equilibria and crystal structures of intermediate phases were investigated in eight representative RE-Ru systems using powder X-ray diffraction and metallographic techniques. The Fe3C, Mn5C2 and Er5Ru3 structures occur in all but the Ce-Ru systems. Phases analogous to Er5Ru3 possess an unknown crystal structure similar to Er5Rh3(I). MgCu2 and MgZn2 type Laves phases are encountered in the light rare earth and heavy rare earth systems, respectively, and RERu2 phases, where RE = Nd and Sm, possess both the Laves phase structures. An intermediate phase, NdRu, with an unknown structure, occurs only in the Nd-Ru system. A bcc structure with 40 atoms per unit cell is encountered in the phases Er3Ru2 and Y3Ru2. The behavior of cerium in Ce-Ru alloys is unique in that four unidentified structures, not encountered in other RE-Ru systems, have been encountered. Also a phase designated as Ce3Ru is found with the Th7Fe3 type structure.

Sharifrazi, P.↗
NASA NTRS1984

On the dynamics of stratocumulus formation and dissipation

Results obtained with a mixed layer model are used to study the dynamics of stratocumulus formation and dissipation in subtropical marine stratocumulus cloud regimes. The model used allows entrainment to be driven by shear as well as buoyancy, and includes a very crude parameterization of the partial blackness of thin cloud layers. Model results show that for some values of the large-scale divergence there are three equilibrium mixed layer structures, two of which are stable. One of the stable equilibria is cloudy, deep, and buoyancy-driven, while the other is clear, shallow, and shear-driven. It is found that as a result of hysteresis effects a transient increase in the large-scale divergence can produce a long-lasting break in the clouds.

Randall, D. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

A model of the polarization position-angle swings in BL Lacertae objects

The polarization position-angle swings that have been measured in a number of BL Lacertae objects and highly variable quasars are interpreted in terms of shock waves which illuminate (by enhanced synchrotron radiation) successive transverse cross sections of a magnetized, relativistic jet. The jet is assumed to have a nonaxisymmetric magnetic field configuration of the type discussed in the companion paper on the equilibria of force-free jets. For a jet that is viewed at a small angle to the axis, the passage of a shock will give rise to an apparent rotation of the polarization position angle whose amplitude can be substantially larger than 180 deg. The effects of freely propagating shocks are compared with those of bow shocks which form in front of dense obstacles in the jet, and specific applications to 0727 - 115 and BL Lacertae are considered. In the case of 0727 - 115, it is pointed out that the nonuniformity of the swing rate and the apparent oscillations of the degree of polarization could be a consequence of relativistic aberration.

Konigl, A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Hydromagnetic buoyancy force in the solar atmosphere

A quantitative definition of the hydromagnetic buoyancy force in the solar atmosphere is presented, on the basis of a numerical analysis of the hydromagnetic characteristics of a circular flux tube. It is shown that the peripheral inhomogeneity of ambient hydromagnetic pressure in the solar atmosphere can lead to hydromagnetic buoyancy in the presence of an extraneous body. The results of the flux tube analyses showed that the strength of the force is often equal to or greater than the gravitational force of the solar atmosphere, and may be responsible for the stationary equilibria of quiescent solar prominences, as well as the outward motions of coronal transients. A diagram is presented in order to describe the field lines in the large-scale solar magnetic field in the presence of hydromagnetic buoyancy.

Yeh, T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Fundamental processes in pair plasmas

The various processes that produce and destroy electron-positron pairs are reviewed, and the timescales of these processes are compared to thermalization, accretion, and cooling timescales. The various radiation spectra produced by relativistic, thermal plasmas are considered. Recent results for the equilibria available to finite, thermal relativistic plasmas with and without embedded magnetic fields are reviewed. Such plasmas, in steady state, have maximum temperatures, luminosities, and field strengths, useful diagnostics for interpreting quasars and active galaxies.

Lightman, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Persistent anomalies, blocking and variations in atmospheric predictability

The fully nonlinear, equivalent-barotropic vorticity equation on the sphere, with simplified forcing, dissipation and topography, is the model used in the present consideration of low frequency variability regimes in large scale atmospheric dynamics. The solutions obtained are studied as a function of the nondimensional intensity of the forcing and dissipation. The number of modes retained in the analysis allows the multiple equilibria thus obtained, which exhibit blocked and zonal flow patterns very similar to synoptically defined zonal and blocked Northern Hemisphere midlatitude flows, to appear for realistic values of the forcing. The number of episodes of blocked or zonal flow decreases monotonically as their duration increases, in agreement with observations.

Legras, B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Nonparametric solutions to the variational principle of ideal magnetohydrodynamics

In an effort to gain a better understanding of MHD equilibria in three dimensions, the lower dimensional cases are studied. The solution of the three-dimensional problem is based on the classical variational principle of ideal magnetohydrodynamics. The crucial assumption for the numerical method is the existence of a nested set of toroidal flux surfaces, which is then used as a coordinate. This paper studies the nonparametric solutions to this variational problem in those cases when the direct solution is known to have islands. A form of the variational principle for the slab geometry is described; the one-dimensional problem is analyzed; and asymptotic expansions and numerical solutions to the two-dimensional problem are discussed. An example is presented which shows that the assumption of nested flux surfaces need not rule out the occurrence of islands.

Betancourt, O. L.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Nonstoichiometric defects in GaAs and the EL2 bandwagon

In the present paper, an attempt is made to formulate a common framework for a discussion of nonstoichiometric defects, especially EL2 and dislocations. An outline is provided of the most important settled and unsettled issues, taking into account not only fundamental interests, but also urgent needs in advancing IC technology. Attention is given to stoichiometry-controlled compensation, the expected role of melt stoichiometry in electrical conductivity for the basic atomic disorders, defect equilibria-dislocations and EL2, and current issues pertaining to the identification of EL2. It is concluded that nonstoichiometric defects play a critical role in the electronic properties of GaAs and its electronic applications. Very significant progress has been recently made in learning how to adjust melt stoichiometry in order to maximize its beneficial effects and minimize its detrimental ones.

Lagowski, J.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Low-frequency dynamics of quasi-geostrophic waves in a midlatitude channel and the effects of tropical influence

Both zonal mean flow and stationary waves in the stratosphere have large variabilities from month to month and from year to year. One plausible mechanism that can account for these variabilities is the interaction between the forced stationary waves and the mean zonal flow. Given the large energy source contained in the stationary waves which are forced in the lower atmosphere, they are probably responsible for inducing the bulk of the variability in the mean flow in the stratosphere. Variability in the mean flow can in turn produce variability in the stationary wave amplitudes due to the possible sensitivity of wave response in the stratosphere to the configuration of the wave guide determined by the mean flow. The likely causes for the low-frequency variability of the stationary waves-mean flow system in extratropical latitudes are assessed. The causes of variability are divided into internal and external ones. Internal mechanisms include transition between equilibria and vacillation cycles, while mechanisms external to the midlatitude system include eddy heat and momentum fluxes from the tropics and the Hadley circulation forced in the tropics.

Tung, K. K.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Design and performance analysis of gas sorption compressors

Compressor kinetics based on gas adsorption and desorption processes by charcoal and for gas absorption and desorption processes by LaNi5 were analyzed using a two-phase model and a three-component model, respectively. The assumption of the modeling involved thermal and mechanical equilibria between phases or among the components. The analyses predicted performance well for compressors which have heaters located outside the adsorbent or the absorbent bed. For the rapidly-cycled compressor, where the heater was centrally located, only the transient pressure compared well with the experimental data.

Chan, C. K.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Bifurcation techniques for nonlinear dynamic analysis of compressor stall phenomena

Compressor stall phenomena is analyzed from nonlinear control theory viewpoint, based on bifurcation-catastrophe techniques. This new approach appears promising and offers insight into such well known compressor instability problems as surge and rotating stall; furthermore it suggests strategies for recovery from stall. Three interlocking dynamic nonlinear state space models are developed. It is shown that the problem of rotating stall can be viewed as an (induced) bifurcation of solution of the unstalled model. Hysteresis effect is shown to exist in the stall/recovery process. Surge cycles are observed to develop for some critical parameter values. It is shown that the oscillatory behavior is due to development of limit cycles, generated by Hopf bifurcation of solutions. Both stable and unstable limit cycles are observed. To further illustrate the usefulness of the methodology some partial computation of domains of attraction of equilibria is carried out, and parameter sensitivity analysis is performed.

Razavi, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The excitation of helium resonance lines in solar flares

Helium resonance line intensities are calculated for a set of six flare models corresponding to two rates of heating and three widely varying incident fluxes of soft X-rays. The differing ionization and excitation equilibria produced by these models, the processes which dominate the various cases, and the predicted helium line spectra are examined. The line intensities and their ratios are compared with values derived from Skylab NRL spectroheliograms for a class M flare, thus determining which of these models most nearly represents the density vs temperature structure and soft X-ray flux in the flaring solar transition region, and the temperature and dominant mechanaism of formation of the helium line spectrum during a flare.

Porter, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

High pressure cosmochemistry applied to major planetary interiors: Experimental studies

The overall goal of this project is to determine properties of the H-He-C-N-O system, as represented by small molecules composed of these elements, that are needed to constrain theoretical models of the interiors of the major planets. Much of our work now concerns the H2O-NH3 system. This project is the first major effort to measure phase equilibria in binary fluid-solid systems in diamond anvil cells. Vibrational spectroscopy, direct visual observations, and X-ray crystallography of materials confined in externally heated cells are our primary experimental probes. We also are collaborating with the shockwave physics group at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in studies of the equation of state of a synthetic Uranus fluid and molecular composition of this and other H-C-N-O materials under planetary conditions.

Nicol, M. F.↗