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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 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Recombination of H(3+) and D(3+) ions with electrons

Flowing-afterglow measurements in decaying H3(+) or D3(+) plasmas suggest that de-ionization does not occur by simple binary recombination of a single ion species. We find that vibrational excitation of the ions fails to provide an explanation for the effect, contrary to an earlier suggestion. Instead, we suggest that collisional stabilization of H3** Rydberg molecules by ambient electrons introduces an additional dependence on electron density. The proposed mechanism would permit plasma de-ionization to occur without the need for dissociative recombination by the mechanism of potential-surface crossings.

Johnsen, R.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Electron-Temperature Dependence of the Recombination of NH4(+)((NH3)(sub n) Ions with Electrons

The two-body recombination of NH4(+)(NH3)(sub 2,3) cluster-ions with electrons has been studied in an afterglow experiment in which the electron temperature T, was elevated by radio-frequency heating from 300 K up to 900 K. The recombination coefficients for the n = 2 and n = 3 cluster ions were found to be equal, alpha(sub 2, sup(2)) = alpha(sub 3, sup(2)) = (4.8 +/- 0.5) x 10(exp - 6)cu cm/s, and to vary with electron temperature as T(sub c, sup -0.65) rather than to be nearly temperature-independent as had been inferred from measurements in microwave-heated plasmas.

Skrzypkowski, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Distributed Pore Chemistry in Porous Organic Polymers

A method for making a biocompatible polymer article using a uniform atomic oxygen treatment is disclosed. The sub-strate may be subsequently optionally grated with a compatibilizing compound. Compatibilizing compounds may include proteins, phosphorylcholine groups, platelet adhesion preventing polymers, albumin adhesion promoters, and the like. The compatibilized substrate may also have a living cell layer adhered thereto. The atomic oxygen is preferably produced by a flowing afterglow microwave discharge, wherein the substrate resides in a sidearm out of the plasma. Also, methods for culturing cells for various purposes using the various membranes are disclosed as well. Also disclosed are porous organic polymers having a distributed pore chemistry (DPC) comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic region, and a method for making the DPC by exposing the polymer to atomic oxygen wherein the rate of hydrophilization is greater than the rate of mass loss.

Koontz, Steven L.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Search for Hard X-Ray Emission from Aquila X-1: High Energy Emission from Gamma-ray Radio Star 2CG 135+1/LSI 61 305

Several investigations supported by these CCRO grant were completed or are close to completion. The study of EGRET data for the unidentified source 2CG 135+01 was very fruitful. We discovered transient gamma-ray emission by combining several data obtained since 1994 through 1997. It is the first time that time variable emission is established for this enigmatic source, and clearly an interpretation in terms of an isolated radio pulsar (Geminga-like) is disfavored now. Our preferred model is a Galactic source, probably an energetic pulsar (such as PSR129-63) in a binary system producing gamma-rays because of pulsar wind/mass outflow interaction. We also accumulated may data concerning the radio source LSI 61 303, the possible counterpart of 2CG 135+01. We show that a possible anti-correlation between radio and gamma-ray emission exists. This anticorrelation is evident only in the energy range above 100 MeV, as demonstrated by the lack of it obtained from OSSE data. If confirmed, this anti-correlation would prove to be very important for the interpretation of the hundreds of unidentified gamma-ray sources currently discovered by EGRET near the Galactic plane, and would point to a new class of sources in addition to AGNs and isolated pulsars. We also completed the analysis of several time variable gamma-ray sources near the Galactic plane, with the discussion of evidence for transient emission from 2EG J1813-12 and 2EG J1828+01. We completed several investigations regarding gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), including the study of the brightness distribution for different spectral/duration GRB sub-classes, an investigation of acceleration processes and their consequences for GRB afterglow emission [61, the application of the synchrotron shock model of GRBs to X-ray energies.

Tavani, Marco↗
NASA NTRS1998

The X-Ray, Optical and Infrared Counterpart to GRB 980703

We report on our X-ray, optical and infrared follow-up observations of GRB980703. A previously unknown X-ray source in the GRB error box displays a powerlaw decline with index alpha= -1.0,5(exp +0.24 sub -0.29), fairly consistent with the average optical/infrared decay index alpha = -1.61 plus or minus 0.12. We invoke host galaxy extinction to match the observed spectral slope with the slope expected from 'fireball' models. The hypothesis that between 1998 July 4.4 and 8.4 UT no spectral breaks are present in the infrared to X-ray spectral range is in good agreement with the observations. For these two epochs we obtain an extinction of A(sub v) = 1.50 +/- 0.11 (July 4.4) and A(sub v) = 0.85 +/- 0.26 (July 8.4). From the X-ray data we estimate the optical extinction to be A(sub v) = 20.2(+12.3/-7.3), inconsistent with the former value. Optical spectra we took confirm the redshift of z=0.966 found by Djorgovski et al. We compare the afterglow of GRB 980703 with that of GRB 970508 and find that the fraction of the energy in the magnetic field is much lower in the case of GRB 980703.

Vreeswijk, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Distributed Pore Chemistry in Porous Organic Polymers in Tissue Culture Flasks

A method for making a biocompatible polymer article using a uniform atomic oxygen treatment is disclose. The substrate may be subsequently optionally grated with a compatibilizing compound. Compatibilizing compounds may include proteins, phosphorylcholine groups, platelet adhesion preventing polymers, albumin adhesion promoters, and the like. The compatibilized substrate may also have a living cell layer adhered thereto. The atomic oxygen is preferably produced by a flowing afterglow microwave discharge, wherein the substrate resides in a sidearm out of the plasma. Also, methods for culturing cells for various purposes using the various membranes are disclosed as well. Also disclosed are porous organic polymers having a distributed pore chemistry (DPC) comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, and a method for making the DPC by exposing the polymer to atomic oxygen wherein the rate of hydrophilization is greater than the rate of mass loss.

Koontz, Steven L.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Observations of Gamma-Ray Bursts: An Update

Gamma-ray bursts remain one of the greatest mysteries in astrophysics. Observations of gamma-ray bursts made by the BATSE experiment on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory will be described. Most workers in the field now believe that they originate from cosmological distances. This view has been reinforced by observations this year of several optical afterglow counterparts to gamma-ray bursts. A summary of these recent discoveries will be presented, along with their implications for models of the burst emission mechanism and the energy source of the bursts.

Fishman, Gerald J.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Gas Dynamics and the Formation of Galaxies and Quasars

This performance report lists papers that were written during 19978/98. These papers focus on structure formation in the universe at high redshifts, and accomplish various aspects of the research goals of this grant. Some of the papers included in this report are: 1) The First Stars and Quasars; 2) Direct Measurement of Cosmological Parameters from the Cosmic Deceleration of Extragalactic Objects; and 3) The Expected Rate of Gamma-Ray Burst Afterglows In Supernova Searches.

Loeb, Abraham↗
NASA NTRS2000

Gamma-Ray Burst Spectral Indices: Evidence for Deceleration of Synchrotron Shocks

The current scenario for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) involves internal shocks for the prompt GRB emission phase and external shocks for the afterglow phase. Assuming synchrotron emission from energetic shocked electrons. GRB spectra observed with a low-energy power-law spectral index greater than -2/3 (for positive photon number indices E(sup alpha) indicate a problem with this model. The remaining spectra can test the synchrotron shock model prediction that the emission from a single distribution of electrons, cooling rapidly, is responsible for both the low-energy and high-energy power-low portions of the spectra. We find that the inferred relationship between the two spectral indices of observed GRB spectra is inconsistent with the constraints from the model, posing another problem for the synchrotron shock emission model. To overcome this problem, we describe a model where the average of -1, rather than the value of -3/2 predicted for cooling electrons. Situations where this might arise have been discussed in other contexts, and involve deceleration of the internal shocks during the GRB phase.

Preece, R. D.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Spectral Evolution in GRB 990510

We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the afterglow of GRB 990510. Through the identification of several absorption lines in the first epoch spectrum, we determine the redshift for this burst to be z >= 1.6190 +/- 0.0016. No clear emission lines are detected. From the absence of the Ly.alpha drop, we can put an upper limit to the redshift of z <= 2.3. We study the time evolution of the MgII absorption line in our spectra taken 0.8 and 3.9 days after the burst, whose equivalent width (E.W.) is expected to change in case the burst resides in a dense compact medium (Perna & Loeb 1998). We measure an E.W. of 2.5 /- 0.2 and 2.3 +/- 0.6 in the spectra 0.8 and 3.8 days after the burst, respectively. Our results suggest that the atoms responsible for the absorption are not in the vicinity of the site of the burst.

Vreeswijk, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Considerations for a Next Generation GRB Observatory

A framework will be described for the planning of a Next Generation Burst Observatory. This Observatory, using Swift as a pathfinder mission, would study early star formation and early galaxy formation at very high redshifts through observations of thousands of GRBS, their afterglows and environments. It is suggested that the international GRB community should begin some initial studies for such an observatory.

Fishman, Gerald J.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Cell-Culture Reactor Having a Porous Organic Polymer Membrane

A method for making a biocompatible polymer article using a uniform atomic oxygen treatment is disclosed. The substrate may be subsequently optionally grated with a compatibilizing compound. Compatibilizing compounds may include proteins, phosphory1choline groups, platelet adhesion preventing polymers, albumin adhesion promoters, and the like. The compatibilized substrate may also have a living cell layer adhered thereto. The atomic oxygen is preferably produced by a flowing afterglow microwave discharge, wherein the substrate resides in a sidearm out of the plasma. Also, methods for culturing cells for various purposes using the various membranes are disclosed as well. Also disclosed are porous organic polymers having a distributed pore chemistry (DPC) comprising hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, and a method for making the DPC by exposing the polymer to atomic oxygen wherein the rate of hydrophilization is greater than the rate of mass loss.

Koontz, Steven L.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Considerations for a Next Generation GRB Observatory

A framework will be described for the planning of a Next Generation Burst Observatory. This Observatory, using Swift as a pathfinder mission, would study early star formation and early galaxy formation at very high redshifts through observations of thousands of GRBs, their afterglows and environments. It is suggested that the international GRB community should begin some initial studies for such an observatory.

Fishman, Gerald J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Comparison of z-known GRBs with the Main Groups of Bright BATSE Events

The small reference sample of six BATSE gamma-ray bursts with known redshifts from optical afterglows is compared with a comparison group of the 218 brightest BATSE bursts. These two groups are shown to be consistent both with respect to the distributions of the spectral peak parameter in the observer's frame and also with respect to the distributions of the frame-independent cosmological invariant parameter (CIP). Using the known values of the redshifts z for the reference sample, the rest-frame distribution of spectral parameters is built. The de-redshifted distribution of the spectral parameters of the reference sample is compared with distribution of these parameters for the comparison group after de-redshifting by the factor 1/(1+z), with z a free parameter. Requiring consistency between these two distributions produces a collective estimation of the best fitting redshifts z for the comparison group, z=1.8--3.6. These values can be considered as the average cosmological redshift of the sources of the brightest BATSE bursts. The most probable value of the peak energy of the spectrum in the rest frame is 920 keV, close to the rest mass of an electron-positron pair.

Mitrofanov, Igor G.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Observations of GRBs: Current Research and Planning for a Next Generation GRB Observatory

The basic observed properties of GRBs in the hard x-ray and gamma-ray region will be reviewed, primarily using analyses from BATSE data. Summaries of new BATSE observations that are presented in this symposium and other work in progress are given. Finally, a framework will be described-for the planning of a Next Generation Burst Observatory. This Observatory, using Swift as a pathfinder mission, would study early star formation and early galaxy formation at very high redshifts through observations of thousands of GRBs, their afterglows and environments. It is suggested that the international GRB community should begin some initial studies for such an observatory.

Fishman, Gerald J.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Microshutter Array Development for the Multi-Object Spectrograph for the New Generation Space Telescope, and Its Ground-based Demonstrator

The 6.5-m NASA/ESA/Canada New Generation Space Telescope to be operated at the L2 Lagrangian point will require a multi-object spectrograph (MOS) operating from 1 to 5 microns. Up to 3000 targets will be selected for simultaneous spectroscopy using a programmable cryogenic (approx. 35K) aperture array, consisting of a mosaic of arrays of micromirrors or microshutters. We describe the current status of the GSFC microshutter array development. The 100 micron square shutters are opened magnetically and latched open or closed electrostatically. Selection will be by two crossed one-dimensional addressing circuits. We will demonstrate the use of a 512 x 512 unit array on a ground-based IR MOS which will cover 0.6 to 5 microns, and operate rapidly to include spectroscopy of gamma ray burst afterglows.

Woodgate, Bruce E.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Gamma-Ray Burst Subclasses: Separating Instrumental Biases from Potential Source Populations

Instrumental effects mar gamma-ray burst observations. These effects can alter whether or not bursts trigger, as well as changing measured burst properties. The Burst And Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) on NASA's Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO) has provided the largest database of gamma-ray bursts observed to date. It also provides an excellent laboratory for studying instrumental biases. We examine trigger biases and burst property biases as they pertain to previously identified gamma-ray burst classes. We also study some burst class properties in the new age of burst afterglow studies.

Hakkila, Jon↗
NASA NTRS2002

Implications of Lag-Luminosity Relationship for Unified GRB Paradigms

Spectral lags (tau(sub lag)) are deduced for 1437 long (T(sub 90) greater than 2 s) BATSE gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) with peak flux F(sub p) greater than 0.25 photons cm(sup -2)/s, near to the BATSE trigger threshold. The lags are modeled to approximate the observed distribution in the F(sub p)-T(sub lag) plane, realizing a noise-free representation. Assuming a two-branch lag-luminosity relationship, the lags are self-consistently corrected for cosmological effects to yield distributions in luminosity, distance, and redshift. The results have several consequences for GRB populations and for unified gamma-ray/afterglow scenarios which would account for afterglow break times and gamma-ray spectral evolution in terms of jet opening angle, viewing angle, or a profiled jet with variable Lorentz factor: A component of the burst sample is identified - those with few, wide pulses, lags of a few tenths to several seconds, and soft spectra - whose Log[N]-Log[F(sub p)] distribution approximates a -3/2 power-law, suggesting homogeneity and thus relatively nearby sources. The proportion of these long-lag bursts increases from negligible among bright BATSE bursts to approx. 50% at trigger threshold. Bursts with very long lags, approx. 1-2 less than tau(sub lag) (S) less than 10, show a tendency to concentrate near the Supergalactic Plane with a quadrupole moment of approx. -0.10 +/- 0.04. GRB 980425 (SN 1998bw) is a member of this subsample of approx. 90 bursts with estimated distances less than 100 Mpc. The frequency of the observed ultra-low luminosity bursts is approx. 1/4 that of SNe Ib/c within the same volume. If truly nearby, the core-collapse events associated with these GRBs might produce gravitational radiation detectable by LIGO-II. Such nearby bursts might also help explain flattening of the cosmic ray spectrum at ultra-high energies, as observed by AGASA.

Norris, J. P.↗