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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

The space orientation of stars

Stellar rotation periods recently determined from short-term variations in Ca II H and K emission-line flux associated with starspot activity can be combined with both rotational spectral-line-broadening velocity measurements and independent measurements of stellar radii to give the inclination of the star's rotation axis to the line of sight. Assuming that the limits of distribution of sunspots on the sun apply similarly to solar-type stars, interferometric measurements of stellar radii in Ca II H and K flux may be performed to determine the clock-like, on-the-plane-of-the-sky orientation as well. Various stellar-radius measuring techniques are discussed, and photon limits on the measurability of this latter parameter are derived for Ca II H and K speckle interferometry. The accuracy with which the space orientation of stars can be determined is discussed in the context of existing data as well as photon limits. The importance of determining the space orientation of stars is then discussed, with emphasis on its important application to the present search for extrasolar planetary systems.

Doyle, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Discovery of solar system-size halos around young stars

Near-infrared speckle interferometric observations of five pre-main-sequence stars reveal a core-halo structure around two of these stars: HL Tau and R Mon. The halo light distribution is shown to arise from scattered light from small circumstellar particles. Halo sizes of 320 x 200 AU (alpha x delta FWHM) and 1300 x 1300 AU are deduced for HL Tau and R Mon, respectively, and the halo light is substantially bluer than the stellar light. The minimum mass of small particles in the scattering regions is comparable to the earth's mass in HL Tau and ten times greater in R Mon. Mass loss from the stars is almost certainly insufficient to produce the halo matter. The halos probably consist of relatively slowly moving matter bound gravitationally to the stars. From the size and mass of the circumstellar matter, it appears likely that these halos are in the early stage in the formation of planet-forming disks around the young stars.

Beckwith, S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The versatile array

A four-element, nonredundant array telescope-interferometer for ground use is discussed. The elements are 8-meter mirrors, and the maximum array spacing and two element spacing are 75 m and of 108 m, respectively. The array may be used as three separate telescopes, one of 11.3 m and two of 8 m, for work not requiring highest angular resolution. The problems of making speckle measures to high enough precision for synthetic images to be produced are discussed. It is shown that the high resolution presents opportunities for making types of observation that are possible with neither the VLBA nor the National New Technology Telescope.

Woolf, N. J.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Demonstration test of burner liner strain measurement systems: Interim results

Work is in progress to demonstrate two techniques for static strain measurements on a jet engine burner liner. Measurements are being made with a set of resistance strain gages made from Kanthal A-1 wire and via heterodyne speckle photogrammetry. The background of the program is presented along with current results.

Stetson, K. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Using Space Telescope to tie the HIPPARCOS and extragalactic reference frames together

Hubble Space Telescope observations will be made to tie the HIPPARCOS Instrumental System (HIS) to extragalactic objects, to determine the overall rotation of the HIS with respect to a set of extragalactic objects; to compare the HIS to an accurate radio reference frame; and to look for motions in the optical centroids of compact extragalactic objects at the level of 0.001 arcseconds per year. About 75 radio sources and extragalactic objects will be chosen from the initial group of 414 pairs. The egos will have their positions and proper motions determined relative to the HIPPARCOS Input Catalog stars. The candidate stars are being screened by ground based speckle interferometry to select a final set.

Hemenway, P. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The orbit of Pluto's satellite

Nineteen speckle interferometric observations of the Pluto system have been used to improve the determination of the orbital elements for Pluto's satellite. Calibration uncertainties appear to be the dominant source of error, but the observation of a partial occultation of the satellite by Pluto has been used to constrain the orbit solution. The orbital period is found to be in excellent agreement with the rotational period of the planet, reinforcing the belief that the system is completely tidally evolved. The orbital radius and period imply a total mass for the system of 6.8 + or - 0.5 x 10 to the -9th solar masses. Density constraints place an upper limit of 3615 + or - 90 km on the diameter of Pluto, while observations of the first mutual events establish a crude lower limit of about 2800 km.

Tholen, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Geological mapping potential of computer-enhanced images from the Shuttle Imaging Radar - Lisbon Valley Anticline, Utah

Computer-enhancement techniques applied to the SIR-A data from the Lisbon Valley area in the northern portion of the Paradox basin increased the value of the imagery in the development of geologically useful maps. The enhancement techniques include filtering to remove image speckle from the SIR-A data and combining these data with Landsat multispectral scanner data. A method well-suited for the combination of the data sets utilized a three-dimensional domain defined by intensity-hue-saturation (IHS) coordinates. Such a system allows the Landsat data to modulate image intensity, while the SIR-A data control image hue and saturation. Whereas the addition of Landsat data to the SIR-A image by means of a pixel-by-pixel ratio accentuated textural variations within the image, the addition of color to the combined images enabled isolation of areas in which gray-tone contrast was minimal. This isolation resulted in a more precise definition of stratigraphic units.

Curlis, J. D.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Assisting extrasolar planetary detection through the determination of stellar space orientations

Various methods outlined for indirect planetary detection would greatly benefit (in some cases require) the determination of the planetary orbital plane, which is theoretically equivalent to the stellar equatorial plane. Determining the stellar space orientation, therefore, would greatly benefit extrasolar planetary detection. Stellar rotation periods determined from short-term variations in Ca II H and K sunspot emission are utilized together with both stellar radii measurements and Doppler-broadened spectral line profiles to get the stellar inclination to the line of sight. The clocklike on-the-plane-of-the-sky component determination utilizes the concentration of sunspot-associated plage areas at central stellar latitudes when viewed in Ca II H or K emission. One can perform Ca II H and K emission speckle interferometry to measure the clocklike angle of this stellar Ca II H and K emission band, modeling it as an elliptical intensity distribution. Both components should be determinable to within 10 deg for at least the resolvable fifth magnitude stars.

Doyle, L. R.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Multiple incidence angle SIR-B experiment over Argentina Stereo-radargrammetric analysis

Four overlapping Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) radar images were obtained across southern Argentina; these form a total of six stereo models with intersection angles ranging from 5 to 23 deg. This data set is uniquely suited for experimental evaluation of some basic assumptions on stereo-radargrammetry. Each stereo model was measured on a specially programmed photogrammetric analytical plotter; the resulting coordinates of ground points were compared with those from maps. It is concluded that accuracies are lower than expected at the larger stereo-intersection angles, amounting to about + or 60 m in each coordinate direction. This might be explained by limitations of the quality of stereofusion caused by look angle differences and specular point migration, backscatter differences due to different incidence angles, differences in azimuth directions, and image noise and speckle.

Leberl, F.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Progress in coherent laser radar

Considerable progress with coherent laser radar has been made over the last few years, most notably perhaps in the available range of high performance devices and components and the confidence with which systems may now be taken into the field for prolonged periods of operation. Some of this increasing maturity was evident at the 3rd Topical Meeting on Coherent Laser Radar: Technology and Applications. Topics included in discussions were: mesoscale wind fields, nocturnal valley drainage and clear air down bursts; airborne Doppler lidar studies and comparison of ground and airborne wind measurement; wind measurement over the sea for comparison with satellite borne microwave sensors; transport of wake vortices at airfield; coherent DIAL methods; a newly assembled Nd-YAG coherent lidar system; backscatter profiles in the atmosphere and wavelength dependence over the 9 to 11 micrometer region; beam propagation; rock and soil classification with an airborne 4-laser system; technology of a global wind profiling system; target calibration; ranging and imaging with coherent pulsed and CW system; signal fluctuations and speckle. Some of these activities are briefly reviewed.

Vaughan, J. M.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The effect of turbulence on lidar backscattered signal fluctuations

CO2 lidar measurements being subjected to uncertainties caused by strong fluctuations were explained to appear primarily due to speckle effects whereas turbulence was to be negligible. Spectral cross correlation measurements performed in the near IR and in the visible show that the main contribution to the fluctuation for the above lidar wavelengths originates from the atmospheric turbulence. The standard deviation of the fluctuation signal was measured for the two wavelengths simultaneously. A typical curve representing mid-summer day changes in the value of sigma as a function of time is shown. The results, indicating the strong dependence on the turbulence, is analyzed and discussed.

Fastig, S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Demonstration test of burner liner strain measurements using resistance strain gages

A demonstration test of burner liner strain measurements using resistance strain gages as well as a feasibility test of an optical speckle technique for strain measurement are presented. The strain gage results are reported. Ten Kanthal A-1 wire strain gages were used for low cycle fatigue strain measurements to 950 K and .002 apparent strain on a JT12D burner can in a high pressure (10 atmospheres) burner test. The procedure for use of the strain gages involved extensive precalibration and postcalibration to correct for cooling rate dependence, drift, and temperature effects. Results were repeatable within + or - .0002 to .0006 strain, with best results during fast decels from 950 K. The results agreed with analytical prediction based on an axisymmetric burner model, and results indicated a non-uniform circumferential distribution of axial strain, suggesting temperature streaking.

Grant, H. P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Research in planetary astronomy and operation of the 2.2-meter telescope

The turn-around in the secular change in brightness of Pluto was detected, the planet is now beginning to brighten. The spectral signature was found of an ammonia bearing compound in the surface ices of Europa. Specific Io volcanic hotspots were detected from infrared photometry of the mutual events of the Jovian satellites. The polarized emission from the volcanic hotspots on Io was discovered and the locations of those hotspots were determined. The orbit of Charon was refined from speckle observations of the Pluto-Charon system. The spectral properties of liquid nitrogen-methane mixtures with reference to the infrared spectrum of Triton were studied. Major progress was made in modeling asteroid lightcurves from a modern theory of photometric properties of the asteroid surfaces. Several additional olivine-rich asteroids from near-infrared spectrophotometry were discovered. Important photometric, spectroscopic, narrow-band imaging data on Comet P/Halley was acquired, along with Schmidt photographs of Comet P/Halley and its tail.

Hall, D. N. B.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Deriving Two-Dimensional Ocean Wave Spectra and Surface Height Maps from the Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B)

Directional ocean wave spectra were derived from Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-B) imagery in regions where nearly simultaneous aircraft-based measurements of the wave spectra were also available as part of the NASA Shuttle Mission 41G experiments. The SIR-B response to a coherently speckled scene is used to estimate the stationary system transfer function in the 15 even terms of an eighth-order two-dimensional polynomial. Surface elevation contours are assigned to SIR-B ocean scenes Fourier filtered using a empirical model of the modulation transfer function calibrated with independent measurements of wave height. The empirical measurements of the wave height distribution are illustrated for a variety of sea states.

Tilley, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Particle sizing in rocket motor studies utilizing hologram image processing

A technique of obtaining particle size information from holograms of combustion products is described. The holograms are obtained with a pulsed ruby laser through windows in a combustion chamber. The reconstruction is done with a krypton laser with the real image being viewed through a microscope. The particle size information is measured with a Quantimet 720 image processing system which can discriminate various features and perform measurements of the portions of interest in the image. Various problems that arise in the technique are discussed, especially those that are a consequence of the speckle due to the diffuse illumination used in the recording process.

Netzer, David↗
NASA NTRS1986

Satellites of Uranus and Neptune, and the Pluto-Charon system

The orbital properties, surface compositions, opposition surges, masses, radii, and densities of the satellites of Uranus are presented. It is noted that the Uranian satellites are comparable in size to the largest of Saturn's icy satellites while density measurements suggest that the bulk compositions of Ariel and Umbriel might be different from those of Titania and Oberon. Consideration is given to the two satellites of Neptune and the question of a third satellite is addressed. The elements of Charon, determined from astrometric observations by photographic and speckle interferometric techniques, and then from eclipse observations, are given. The diurnal period of Pluto and its photometric lightcurve are discussed. The similarities and differences existing between the satellites of Uranus and Neptune and the Pluto-Charon pair are mentioned briefly.

Cruikshank, Dale P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Refractory grain processing in circumstellar shells Diagnostic infrared signatures

Recent advances in infrared speckle interferometry reported by Ridgway, et al. (1986) have made possible the determination of the temperatures at the inner radius of certain dusty outflows. When combined with recent data on the thermal annealing and hydrous alteration rates of amorphous magnesium silicate grains, this information allows one to predict that grains heated to high temperatures around stars such as NML Cygnus will be more crystalline than will cooler grains around stars like IRC +10420. In 1985, Jura and Morris (1985) showed that water vapor can condense on previously nucleated refractory grains in some stellar outflows. Stochastic heating events might provide sufficient energy to produce hydrated silicates from orginally amorphous grains provided that the loss of water from such materials does not occur too rapidly. Observable consequences of both types of grain processing are discussed.

Nuth, Joseph A., III↗
NASA NTRS1987

Unsteady separated flows - Novel experimental approach

A novel experimental technique, commonly referred to as laser speckle velocimetry or particle image displacement velocimetry (PIDV), is developed for the measurement of instantaneous velocity fields in unsteady and steady flows. The main advantage of this technique is the fact that the velocity field is measured with sufficient accuracy so that the distribution of vorticity can be calculated with accuracy. The PIDV technique, which is ideally suited for the study of unsteady separated flows, has been utilized to measure the development of the separated flow field generated by a high angle-of-attack (alpha = 30 deg) NACA 0012 airfoil, started impulsively from rest.

Krothapalli, A.↗