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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1996

Balloon observations of organic and inorganic chlorine in the stratosphere: the role of HClO4 production on sulfate aerosols

Simultaneous observations of stratospheric organic and inorganic chlorine were made in September 1993 out of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, using JPL balloon-borne MkIV interferometer. Between 15 and 20 km, a significant fraction (20-60%) of the inorganic chlorine could not be accounted for by the sum of measured HCl, ClONO2, and HOCl. Laboratory measurements of the reaction of ClO radicals on sulfuric acid solutions have indicated that, along with HCl, small amounts of perchloric acid, HClO4, were formed. Very little is known about the fate of HClO4 in the stratosphere and we use a photochemical box model to determine the impact of this new species on the partitioning of inorganic chlorine in the stratosphere. Assuming that HClO4 is photochemically stable, it is shown that in the enhanced aerosol loading conditions resulting from Mt. Pinatubo's eruption, HClO4 could represent a significant reservoir of chlorine in the lower stratosphere, sequestering up to 0.2 ppbv (or 50%) of the total inorganic chlorine at 16 km. The occurrence of this new species could bring to closure the inorganic chlorine budget deficiency made apparent by recent ER-2 aircraft in situ measurements of HCl.

unmanned↗
NASA NTRS1977

Skylab ATM/S-056 X-ray event analyzer observations versus solar flare activity: An event compilation

An event compilation is presented which correlates ATM/S-056 X-ray event analyzer solar observations with solar flare activity. Approximately 1,070 h of pulse height analyzed X-ray proportional counter data were obtained with the X-ray event analyzer during Skylab. During its operation, 449 flares (including 343 flare peaks) were observed. Seventy events of peak X-ray emission or = Cl were simultaneously observed by ground based telescopes, SOLRAD 9 and/or Vela, and the X-ray event analyzer. These events were observed from preflare through flare rise to peak and through flare decline.

Wilson, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Effect of polarized radiative transfer on the Hanle magnetic field determination in prominences: Analysis of hydrogen H alpha line observations at Pic-du-Midi

The linear polarization of the Hydrogen H alpha line of prominences has been computed, taking into account the effect of a magnetic field (Hanle effect), of the radiative transfer in the prominence, and of the depolarization due to collisions with the surrounding electrons and protons. The corresponding formalisms are developed in a forthcoming series of papers. In this paper, the main features of the computation method are summarized. The results of computation have been used for interpretation in terms of magnetic field vector measurements from H alpha polarimetric observations in prominences performed at Pic-du-Midi coronagraph-polarimeter. Simultaneous observations in one optically thin line (He I D(3)) and one optically thick line (H alpha) give an opportunity for solving the ambiguity on the field vector determination.

Bommier, V.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The chromospheres of late-type stars. II - An atlas of chromospheric lines for selected early-K stars

High-resolution spectra of the chromospheric Na I D lines, Ca I 4227, Mg I 4571, 5167, and 5172, the Ca II H and K resonance and IR 8542.144 and 8662.170 lines, and H-alpha and H-beta, all observed simultaneously at the AAT, are presented. These data are presented as the observational basis for the self-consistent, semiempirical modeling of the outer photospheres and chromospheres of the target stars. Stellar activity is found in the low-chromosphere lines as core-filling and, in some stars, as line-broadening. Integrated fluxes are derived from the difference spectra, formed by subtracting quiet from active spectra, in the Ca II H and K resonance and IR 8542 and 8662 lines and in H-alpha, which are presented as chromospheric activity indicators. All the activity indices exhibit strong correlations, with the exception of the equivalent widths of H-alpha and H-beta, which are found to be relatively poor activity discriminators.

Thatcher, John D.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Well-resolved observations by ISEE 2 of ion dispersion in the magnetospheric cusp

During a prolonged period of southward IMF on October 30, 1978, the ISEE 2 spacecraft observed an unusually prolonged and distinct region of ion energy-time dispersion in the dayside dawn magnetosphere. Observed plasma features included the (1) presence of magnetosheath electrons and initial absence of magnetosheath ions and (2) subsequent arrival and energy-time dispersion of magnetosheath ions as the spacecraft transited outbound from 6.03 to 7.66 Earth radii. We use ISEE 2 ion measurements to illustrate these dispersive time-of-flight effects and to support our interpretation of a location in the north magnetospheric cusp. Ion energy dispersion persists for about 35 min and includes well-resolved sequences of magnetosheath and magnetospheric ion distributions. We focus primarily on observations and time-of-flight analysis of ions from the magnetosheath, which are observed simultaneously entering and exiting the cusp at different energies. We discuss the observational support and shortcomings of various ion injection locations and durations and conclude that quasi-steady merging at the dayside magnetopause, with ion dispersion caused by spacecraft motion away from the last closed field line, is the most likely scenario.

Phillips, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Observations of the ratio of low-energy cosmic-ray positrons and electrons during solar quiet times

Simultaneous observations of the quiet-time interplanetary positron and electron spectra between 0.16 and 1.6 MeV are reported. The measurements were made in selected time intervals between October 1, 1972 and February 1, 1973 with the Caltech Electron/Isotope Spectrometer on the IMP-7 satellite. The detector system consists of a stack of 11 silicon surface-barrier detectors surrounded by a plastic scintillator anti-coincidence cup. The method of e+ identification and possible background effects are discussed and upper limits to the 0.16 to 1.6 MeV quiet-time positron flux are reported. During this period positrons amounted to less than 20% of the total 0.16 to 1.6 MeV electron flux.

Hurford, G. J.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Experimental validation of a collision-radiation dataset for molecular hydrogen in plasmas

Quantitative spectroscopy of molecular hydrogen has generated substantial demand, leading to the accumulation of diverse elementary process data encompassing radiative transitions, electron-impact transitions, predissociations, and quenching. However, their rates currently available are still sparse, and there are inconsistencies among those proposed by different authors. In this study, we demonstrate an experimental validation of such a molecular dataset by composing a collisional-radiative model (CRM) for molecular hydrogen and comparing experimentally obtained vibronic populations across multiple levels. From the population kinetics of molecular hydrogen, the importance of each elementary process in various parameter space is studied. In low-density plasmas (electron density ne≲1017 m−3) the excitation rates from the ground states and radiative decay rates, both of which have been reported previously, determine the excited state population. The inconsistency in the excitation rates affects the population distribution the most significantly in this parameter space. However, in higher density plasmas (ne≳1018 m−3), the excitation rates from excited states become important, which have never been reported in the literature, and may need to be approximated in some way. In order to validate these molecular datasets and approximated rates, we carried out experimental observations for two different hydrogen plasmas; a low-density radio frequency heated plasma (ne≈1016 m−3) and the Large Helical Device (LHD) divertor plasma (ne≳1018 m−3). The visible emission lines from EF1Σg+, HH¯1Σg+, D1Πu±, GK1Σg+, I1Πg±, J1Δg±, h3Σg+, e3Σu+, d3Πu±,g3Σg+, i3Πg±, and j3Δg± states were observed simultaneously and their population distributions were obtained from their intensities. We compared the observed population distributions with the CRM prediction, in particular the CRM with the rates compiled by Janev et al., Miles et al., and those calculated with the molecular convergent close-coupling (MCCC) method. The MCCC prediction gives the best agreement with the experiment, particularly for the emission from the low-density plasma. However, the population distribution in the LHD divertor shows a worse agreement with the CRM than those from low-density plasma, indicating the necessity of the precise excitation rates from excited states. We also found that the rates for the electron attachment is inconsistent with experimental results. This requires further investigation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1972

Solar observations from Skylab.

A wide variety of problems in solar physics will be attacked with coordinated observations made by the following instruments on Skylab: a white light coronagraph, a spectrograph for the 950-3900 A range, a spectrometer-spectroheliometer for the 300-1300 A range, a spectroheliograph for 150-650 A, X-ray telescopes, and supporting instrumentation. There will be complementary measurements from the ground and from space with 1-sec angular resolution on the sun. A coordinated program of correlative ground-based observations, sounding rocket launches, and observations from other spacecraft is being developed to provide calibration in orbit and simultaneous observations of solar phenomena over a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Oertel, G. K.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Radar studies of bird migration

Observations of bird migration with NASA radars were made at Wallops Island, Va. Simultaneous observations were made at a number of radar sites in the North Atlantic Ocean in an effort to discover what happened to those birds that were observed leaving the coast of North America headed toward Bermuda, the Caribbean and South America. Transatlantic migration, utilizing observations from a large number of radars is discussed. Detailed studies of bird movements at Wallops Island are presented.

Williams, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Infrared Imaging, Spectroscopic, and Photometric Studies of Comets

We have continued our program of infrared (IR) photometric, imaging, spectroscopic, and polarimetric temporal observations of comets to study the properties of comet dust and comet nuclei. During the first two years we digitized our IR data base on P/Halley and other recent comets to facilitate further analysis and comparison with other data bases, and found compelling evidence for the emission of a burst of small grains from P/Halley's nucleus at perihelion. We reported imaging and photometric observations of Comets Austin 1990 V and Swift-Tuttle 1992. The Swift-Tuttle 1992t observations included IR photometry, several 7-14 micron long-slit spectra of the coma and a time-sequence of more than 150 10 micron broadband images of the coma. An analysis of near-IR images of the inner coma of P/Halley obtained on three consecutive nights in 1986 March showed sunwardjets. We completed our analysis of IR imaging spectrosco-photometric data on comets. We also obtained observations of Comets Hyakutake 1996 B2 and Hale/Bopp 1995 01. We obtained infrared imaging, photometric, spectroscopic and polarimetric temporal observations of bright comets using a network of five telescopes, with emphasis on simultaneous observations of comets at many wavelengths with different instruments. Our program offers several unique advantages: 1) rapid observational response to new comets with dedicated infrared telescopes; 2) observations within a few degrees of the sun when comets are near perihelion and 3) access to advanced infrared array imagers and spectrometers. In particular, reduction, analysis, publication and archiving of our Jupiter/sl-9 and Comet Hyakutake infrared data received special emphasis. Instrumentation development included installation of the latest version of the innovative FORTH telescope control and a data acquisition system that enables us to control three telescopes remotely by telephone from anywhere in the world for comet observations in broad daylight. We have acquired more than 3000 256x256 images totaling nearly two gigabytes of data detailing the near-IR development of the impact sites of the S-L9 fragments on Jupiter. These data were obtained using the University of Rochester Imaging IR Camera at the cassegrain focus of the 92" at WIRO. The WIRO data set covers 8 days and is, to our knowledge, one of the most extensive observational records of the S-L/Jupiter encounter obtained by any ground-based telescope. This program benefitted from the compilation during these last few months of an upgrade to the data acquisition program at WIRO with support of this NASA contract.

Gehrz, Robert D.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Tracking Retreat of the North Seasonal Ice Cap on Mars: Results from the THEMIS Investigation

The CO2 ice caps on Mars advance and retreat with the seasons. This phenomenon was first observed by Cassini and then confirmed by numerous ground based observations in 19th and 20th centuries. With the advent of the space age observations of the seasonal ice cap were done by all orbiting spacecraft starting with Mariner 7. Viking Orbiters and more recently the Mars Global Surveyor (particularly Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) and Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) instruments) have accumulated significant data on the retreat of the CO2 seasonal cap. During Mars year 2 of THEMIS operations at Mars, we planned an observational campaign in which the THEMIS instrument (onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft) repeatedly observed the north seasonal polar cap from midwinter to late spring. THEMIS allows simultaneous observations in both Thermal IR (12.57 m) and Visible wavelengths (0.65 m). One of the goals for this work is to initiate an interannual program for observations of the seasonal ice caps using the THEMIS instrument. The most efficient way to detect the edge between frost and bare ground is directly onboard of the spacecraft. Prior to onboard software design effort, we have developed two groundbased algorithms for automatically finding the edge of the seasonal polar cap in THEMIS IR data. The first algorithm relies on fully calibrated data and can be used for highly reliable groundbased analyses. The second method was specifically developed for processing raw, uncalibrated data in a highly efficient way. It has the potential to enable automatic, onboard detections of the seasonal cap retreat. We have experimentally confirmed that both methods produce similar results, and we have validated both methods against a model constructed from the MGS TES data from the same season.

Ivanov, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The sources of material comprising a mass ejection coronal transient

The origin of the material ejected during a white-light coronal transient on August 26 and 27, 1973, is investigated using simultaneous observations of a slowly ascending prominence and the more rapid accompanying coronal transient. Nearly identical simultaneous images of the prominence were obtained over a six-hour period in the H-alpha and He II (304 A) emission lines; contemporaneous Skylab coronograph observations over approximately 1.5 hours showed that the mass-ejection coronal transient rose above the ascending prominence. Based on analysis of these observations, it is concluded that: (1) the bulk of the ejected material originated in the lower corona, despite the lack of an observed depletion there; (2) the material in the transient was at coronal temperature and was visible in polarized radiation due to Thomson scattering of photospheric light by free electrons; and (3) the total event was far larger, more energetic, and longer lasting than would have been inferred from the prominence observations alone.

Hildner, E.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Characteristics of Electron Distributions Observed During Large Amplitude Whistler Wave Events in the Magnetosphere

We present a statistical study of the characteristics of electron distributions associated with large amplitude whistler waves inside the terrestrial magnetosphere using waveform capture data as an addition of the study by Kellogg et al., [2010b]. We identified three types of electron distributions observed simultaneously with the whistler waves including beam-like, beam/flattop, and anisotropic distributions. The whistlers exhibited different characteristics dependent upon the observed electron distributions. The majority of the waveforms observed in our study have f/fce < or = 0.5 and are observed primarily in the radiation belts outside the plasmapause simultaneously with anisotropic electron distributions. We also present an example waveform capture of the largest magnetic field amplitude (> or = 8 nT pk-pk) whistler wave measured in the radiation belts. The majority of the largest amplitude whistlers occur during magnetically active periods (AE > 200 nT).

Wilson, Lynn B., III↗
NASA NTRS1979

The detection of an optical burst coincident with an X-ray burst from MXB 1837 + 05 /Ser X-1/

The detection of a simultaneous optical and X-ray burst from MXB 1837 + 05 (4U 1837 + 04 = Ser X-1) is reported. A similar detection was made earlier from MXB 1735-44. These are the only two burst sources that have been optically observed (simultaneous with X-ray observations) at a high level of sensitivity. Therefore, it may well be that optical bursts commonly accompany X-ray bursts. The relative timing and flux ratio of the optical and X-ray bursts imply that the optical radiation is probably reemission from X-ray-heated matter within 1-2 light seconds of the X-ray source and no more than a few light seconds in extent. This matter may be in an accretion disk around the X-ray source or possibly in the atmosphere of a dwarf companion.

Hackwell, J. A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Transient plasma-detachment events induced by multiple gas puffs in ADITYA-U tokamak

Application of periodic short bursts of gas leads to periodic separation of the plasma column edge from the limiter in the Ohmically heated discharges of ADITYA-U tokamak. After every gas-puff, injecting around 10 17 –10 18 m −3 molecules of fuel gas in the edge of the plasma column, a significant reduction in plasma density, temperature, H α emission intensity and an increase in the H β /H α ratio is observed in the vicinity of the limiter radius for a certain time duration before these parameters regain their pre-gas puff values. A decline in the ion-flux to the limiter is also observed simultaneously. The global confinement of plasma also increases after each gas-puff. These observations, which repeat after each gas-injection, imply that the plasma–neutral interaction occurs further away from the limiters after the gas-injection and indicate a periodic plasma separation from the limiter surface. Further investigation revealed that the gas-injection modifies the radial and toroidal electric field, which may be playing a role in the separation of the plasma column from the limiter surface. It was further demonstrated by an electrode bias experiment in the absence of gas-injection that an application of an external radial electric field can result in obtaining a separated plasma state.

Physics - Plasma physics↗
NASA NTRS1983

Backscattering cascade of beam modes off ambient density fluctuations

The effects of a given nonthermal low-frequency density-fluctuation spectrum on the amplification of Langmuir waves by a 'bump-on-tail' beam of electrons are studied. The density-fluctuation spectrum is assumed to contain a uniform distribution of wavelengths ranging from much shorter than the beam mode wavelength to of the same order. This permits multiple large-angle (back) scattering to occur. One-dimensional numerical solutions of the kinetic equations are found which yield criteria for linear saturation of the beam instability of a cascade of backscattering to high wavenumber. The relevant time scales and spectral shapes are also determined in both the stable and unstable regions. Linear damping and Cerenkov emission by a possible nonthermal tail of electrons is taken into account. An application is made to the beam modes observed simultaneously with density fluctuations off the Jovian bow shock. It is shown that the observed level of density fluctuations is sufficient to saturate the unstable Langmuir waves, although nonthermal Landau damping may prevent a cascade to very high wavenumbers.

Russell, D. A.↗