SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Heavy ion”

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.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 289 records · Page 16

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2012

Modeling Solar-Wind Heavy-Ions' Potential Sputtering of Lunar KREEP Surface

Recent laboratory data suggest that potential sputtering may be an important weathering mechanism that can affect the composition of both the lunar surface and its tenuous exosphere; its role and implications, however, remain unclear. Using a relatively simple kinetic model, we will demonstrate that solar-wind heavy ions induced sputtering of KREEP surfaces is critical in establishing the timescale of the overall solar-wind sputtering process of the lunar surface. We will also also show that potential sputtering leads to a more pronounced and significant differentiation between depleted and enriched surface elements. We briefly discuss the impacts of enhanced sputtering on the composition of the regolith and the exosphere, as well as of solar-wind sputtering as a source of hydrogen and water on the moon.

Barghouty, A. F.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Latchup in CMOS devices from heavy ions

It is noted that complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) microcircuits are inherently latchup prone. The four-layer n-p-n-p structures formed from the parasitic pnp and npn transistors make up a silicon controlled rectifier. If properly biased, this rectifier may be triggered 'ON' by electrical transients, ionizing radiation, or a single heavy ion. This latchup phenomenon might lead to a loss of functionality or device burnout. Results are presented from tests on 19 different device types from six manufacturers which investigate their latchup sensitivity with argon and krypton beams. The parasitic npnp paths are identified in general, and a qualitative rationale is given for latchup susceptibility, along with a latchup cross section for each type of device. Also presented is the correlation between bit-flip sensitivity and latchup susceptibility.

Soliman, K.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Geomagnetic transmission disturbances and heavy-ion fluences observed in low Earth orbit during the solar energetic particle events of October 1989

The large solar energetic particle (SEP) events and simultaneous large geomagnetic disturbances observed during October 1989 posed a significant, rapidly evolving space radiation hazard. Using data from the GOES-7, NOAA-10, IMP-8 and LDEF satellites, we determined the geomagnetic transmission, heavy ion fluences, mean Fe ionic charge state, and effective radiation hazard observed in low Earth orbit (LEO) for these SEPs. We modeled the geomagneitc transmission by tracing particles through the combination to the internal International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) and the Tsyganenko (1989) magnetospheric field models, extending the modeling to large geomagnetic disturbances. We used our results to assess the radiation hazard such very large SEP events would pose in the anticipated 52 deg inclination space station orbit.

Boberg, P. R.↗

NASA NTRS1989

On the excitation of cyclotron harmonic waves by newborn heavy ions

Wave measurements in planetary foreshocks and cometary environments show the sporadic occurrence of magnetic spectra with harmonic structure related to ion-cyclotron frequencies. Dilute populations of anisotropic and/or drifting charged particles can excite obliquely propagating modes with spacecraft frequencies close to the observed harmonics. Previous analyses of this generation mechanism are extended to drifting and nondrifting loss-cone-type distributions of heavy ions in a dense hydrogen magnetoplasma, characterizing the complex (real frequency and growth rate) dispersion, polarization, and compressibility of the unstable cyclotron harmonic waves. Solution of the full kinetic dispersion equation shows that it is possible to attain harmonic excitation, both in the drifting and nondrifting regimes. However, the bandwidth inherent to frequency Doppler shifts of obliquely propagating waves might preclude the observation of spectral structure in the spacecraft frame. The Giotto observations in the upstream region of comet Halley provide a reference to discuss the results.

Brinca, Armando L.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Calculation of the Frequency Distribution of the Energy Deposition in DNA Volumes by Heavy Ions

Radiation quality effects are largely determined by energy deposition in small volumes of characteristic sizes less than 10 nm representative of short-segments of DNA, the DNA nucleosome, or molecules initiating oxidative stress in the nucleus, mitochondria, or extra-cellular matrix. On this scale, qualitatively distinct types of molecular damage are possible for high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation such as heavy ions compared to low LET radiation. Unique types of DNA lesions or oxidative damages are the likely outcome of the energy deposition. The frequency distribution for energy imparted to 1-20 nm targets per unit dose or particle fluence is a useful descriptor and can be evaluated as a function of impact parameter from an ions track. In this work, the simulation of 1-Gy irradiation of a cubic volume of 5 micron by: 1) 450 (1)H(+) ions, 300 MeV; 2) 10 (12)C(6+) ions, 290 MeV/amu and 3) (56)Fe(26+) ions, 1000 MeV/amu was done with the Monte-Carlo simulation code RITRACKS. Cylindrical targets are generated in the irradiated volume, with random orientation. The frequency distribution curves of the energy deposited in the targets is obtained. For small targets (i.e. <25 nm size), the probability of an ion to hit a target is very small; therefore a large number of tracks and targets as well as a large number of histories are necessary to obtain statistically significant results. This simulation is very time-consuming and is difficult to perform by using the original version of RITRACKS. Consequently, the code RITRACKS was adapted to use multiple CPU on a workstation or on a computer cluster. To validate the simulation results, similar calculations were performed using targets with fixed position and orientation, for which experimental data are available [5]. Since the probability of single- and double-strand breaks in DNA as function of energy deposited is well know, the results that were obtained can be used to estimate the yield of DSB, and can be extended to include other targeted or non-target effects.

Plante, Ianik↗

NASA NTRS1974

Systematics of heavy ion enhancements in solar flares

Using Lexan and glass detectors, the composition of solar particles with atomic number 2 or greater was determined as a function of energy from approximately 0.2 to 50 MeV/nucleon in four flares of quite different intensity and during a time when the sun was nearly quiet. Fe is nearly completely stripped. The enhancement factor increases with atomic number at a given energy but decreases with energy. Heavy element enhancements are detectable at higher energies in stronger flares. They occurred in ancient as well as in present-day flares. We have observed Li and Be in one flare. Incomplete ionization, preferential leakage of heavy ions, energy loss by ionization, and nuclear reactions appear to be involved in solar particle production.

Price, P. B.↗

NASA NTRS2014

RITRACKS: A Software for Simulation of Stochastic Radiation Track Structure, Micro and Nanodosimetry, Radiation Chemistry and DNA Damage for Heavy Ions

The code RITRACKS (Relativistic Ion Tracks) has been developed over the last few years at the NASA Johnson Space Center to simulate the effects of ionizing radiations at the microscopic scale, to understand the effects of space radiation at the biological level. The fundamental part of this code is the stochastic simulation of radiation track structure of heavy ions, an important component of space radiations. The code can calculate many relevant quantities such as the radial dose, voxel dose, and may also be used to calculate the dose in spherical and cylindrical targets of various sizes. Recently, we have incorporated DNA structure and damage simulations at the molecular scale in RITRACKS. The direct effect of radiations is simulated by introducing a slight modification of the existing particle transport algorithms, using the Binary‐Encounter‐Bethe model of ionization cross sections for each molecular orbitals of DNA. The simulation of radiation chemistry is done by a step‐by‐step diffusion‐reaction program based on the Green's functions of the diffusion equation]. This approach is also used to simulate the indirect effect of ionizing radiation on DNA. The software can be installed independently on PC and tablets using the Windows operating system and does not require any coding from the user. It includes a Graphic User Interface (GUI) and a 3D OpenGL visualization interface. The calculations are executed simultaneously (in parallel) on multiple CPUs. The main features of the software will be presented.

Plante, I↗

NASA NTRS1989

The neutral cloud and heavy ion inner torus at Saturn

Voyager plasma data are used in conjunction with laboratory data on water molecule sputter-yields and energy distributions to calculate the morphology of the Saturn neutral water molecule and dissociated water molecule-product torus coexisting with the E-ring and icy satellites of this planet. Plasma production rates determined for this cloud exhibit a structure with distance from Saturn as well as from the orbit plane; this suggests a lack of equilibrium for the heavy ion plasma at less than 7 planet radii. Attention is given to the possibility that the Saturn E-ring may be a precipitate of the neutral cloud that is initiated by low-energy ion-molecule reactions.

Johnson, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Heavy ion induced DNA-DSB in yeast and mammalian cells

Molecular changes at the DNA are assumed to be the main cause for radiation effects in a number of organisms. During the course of the last decades techniques have been developed for measuring DNA double-strand breaks (dsb), generally assumed to be the most critical DNA lesions. The outcome of all those different approaches portrays a collection of data useful for a theoretical description of radiation action mechanisms. However, in the case of heavy ion induced DNA dsb the picture is not quite clear yet and further projects and strategies have to be developed. The biological systems studied in our group are yeast and mammalian cells. While in the case of yeast cells technical and methodical reasons highlight these organisms mammalian cells reach greater importance when dsb repair studies are performed. In both types of organisms the technique of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is applied, although with different modifications and evaluation procedures mainly due to the different genome sizes.

Loebrich, M.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Implications of Saito's coronal density model on the polar solar wind flow and heavy ion abundances

A comparison of polar solar wind proton flux upper limits derived using a coronal density model, with Lyman alpha measurements of the length of the neutral H tail of comet Bennet at high latitudes, shows that either extended heating beyond 2 solar radii is necessary some of the time or that the model's polar densities are too low. Whichever possibility is the case, the fact that the solar wind particle flux does not appear to decrease with increasing latitude indicates that the heavy element content of the high latitude wind may be similar to that observed in the ecliptic. It was then shown that solar wind heavy ion observations at high latitudes allow a determination of the electron temperature at heights which bracket the nominal location of the coronal temperature maximum thus providing information concerning the magnitude and extent of mechanical dissipation in the intermediate corona.

Feldman, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Pc 1-2 observations of heavy ion effects by synchronous satellite ATS-6

Ion cyclotron waves generated in the magnetosphere by the ion cyclotron instability of protons are thought to be the origin of Pc 1-2 geomagnetic pulsations. Propagation characteristics of these waves have been measured using ATS-6 synchronous satellite magnetometer wave data. Of particular interest are the wave spectra, polarization properties, and wave diagnostics; all are characteristic of propagation in a cool ambient magnetospheric plasma containing He(+) and O(+) heavy ions.

Fraser, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS2011

The Analysis of the Patterns of Radiation-Induced DNA Damage Foci by a Stochastic Monte Carlo Model of DNA Double Strand Breaks Induction by Heavy Ions and Image Segmentation Software

To create a generalized mechanistic model of DNA damage in human cells that will generate analytical and image data corresponding to experimentally observed DNA damage foci and will help to improve the experimental foci yields by simulating spatial foci patterns and resolving problems with quantitative image analysis. Material and Methods: The analysis of patterns of RIFs (radiation-induced foci) produced by low- and high-LET (linear energy transfer) radiation was conducted by using a Monte Carlo model that combines the heavy ion track structure with characteristics of the human genome on the level of chromosomes. The foci patterns were also simulated in the maximum projection plane for flat nuclei. Some data analysis was done with the help of image segmentation software that identifies individual classes of RIFs and colocolized RIFs, which is of importance to some experimental assays that assign DNA damage a dual phosphorescent signal. Results: The model predicts the spatial and genomic distributions of DNA DSBs (double strand breaks) and associated RIFs in a human cell nucleus for a particular dose of either low- or high-LET radiation. We used the model to do analyses for different irradiation scenarios. In the beam-parallel-to-the-disk-of-a-flattened-nucleus scenario we found that the foci appeared to be merged due to their high density, while, in the perpendicular-beam scenario, the foci appeared as one bright spot per hit. The statistics and spatial distribution of regions of densely arranged foci, termed DNA foci chains, were predicted numerically using this model. Another analysis was done to evaluate the number of ion hits per nucleus, which were visible from streaks of closely located foci. In another analysis, our image segmentaiton software determined foci yields directly from images with single-class or colocolized foci. Conclusions: We showed that DSB clustering needs to be taken into account to determine the true DNA damage foci yield, which helps to determine the DSB yield. Using the model analysis, a researcher can refine the DSB yield per nucleus per particle. We showed that purely geometric artifacts, present in the experimental images, can be analytically resolved with the model, and that the quantization of track hits and DSB yields can be provided to the experimentalists who use enumeration of radiation-induced foci in immunofluorescence experiments using proteins that detect DNA damage. An automated image segmentaiton software can prove useful in a faster and more precise object counting for colocolized foci images.

Ponomarev, Artem↗

NASA NTRS2016

Heavy Ion Irradiation Fluence Dependence for Single-Event Upsets of NAND Flash Memory

We investigated the single-event effect (SEE) susceptibility of the Micron 16 nm NAND flash, and found the single-event upset (SEU) cross section varied inversely with fluence. The SEU cross section decreased with increasing fluence. We attribute the effect to the variable upset sensitivities of the memory cells. The current test standards and procedures assume that SEU follow a Poisson process and do not take into account the variability in the error rate with fluence. Therefore, heavy ion irradiation of devices with variable upset sensitivity distribution using typical fluence levels may underestimate the cross section and on-orbit event rate.

Single Event Effects (SEE)↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

To the Die Smartly: Heavy Ion Testing of PEMs on COTS Boards Through the Plastic

Seven commercial off the shelf (COTS) boards containing electronic devices (all in plastic packages, PEMS), under consideration for use in a spacecraft subsystem, were exposed to beams of very high energy ions at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (MSU). The ion energies were high enough that an entire board could be exposed in air, and it could still penetrate through the plastic and reach the silicon die. A total of about 300 runs were made, and for each, the LET of the ion entering the silicon die had to be determined, based on the thickness of the plastic lid and the thickness of overlaying materials (e.g., aluminum degraders). Single event latchup (SEL) and functional interrupt (SEFI) were determined during each run, the SEFI by means of simple programs being continuously written to and read from the boards to monitor functionality, while each part was being exposed to the heavy ions.

Wert, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS2011

Estimates of SEU rates from heavy ions in devices exhibiting dual-node susceptibility

A single-event effect (SEE) occurs when a single ionizing particle passing through an electronic device produces a detectable event in the device. The type of SEE most frequently discussed in the literature is a "single-node upset" problem in which an upset at a given node depends only on conditions seen by that node. In contrast, some devices are designed so that an upset becomes a "dual-node" problem in which a device upset depends on conditions simultaneously seen by two nodes. This report derives a method for estimating heavy-ion induced upset rates for the dual-node problem.

Edmonds, Larry D.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Pc 1-2 magnetic pulsation spectra and heavy ion effects at synchronous orbit - ATS 6 results

Two types of Pc 1-2 wave events have been identified in ATS 6 flux gate magnetometer data recorded approximately 12 deg off the geomagnetic equator. Left-hand polarized waves observed in the afternoon are typical of IPDP ground events. Highly elliptical and linearly polarized waves occur around local noon. Spectra often show slots near the equatorial helium and oxygen cyclotron frequencies. The linear polarization may be interpreted in terms of propagation at a large wave normal angle or a crossover frequency that is a consequence of propagation in a multicomponent plasma. The spectral slots may be associated with either heavy ion cyclotron resonanace or propagation effects.

Fraser, B. J.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Nucleon and heavy-ion total and absorption cross section for selected nuclei

Approximate solutions of the coupled-channel equations for high-energy composite particle scattering are obtained and are applied to the nuclear scattering problem. Relationships between several approximation procedures are established and discussed. The eikonal formalism is used with a small-angle approximation to calculate the coherent elastic scattered amplitude from which total and absorption cross sections are derived. Detailed comparisons with nucleon-nucleus experiments show agreement within 5 percent except at lower energies where the eikonal approximation is of questionable accuracy. Even at these lower energies, agreement is within 15 percent. Tables of cross sections required for cosmic heavy-ion transport and shielding studies are presented.

Wilson, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Stopping of relativistic heavy ions in various media

The residual ranges of (900 + or - 3)-MeV/amu gold nuclei accelerated at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Bevalac have been measured in several different media. The energy of the beam of nuclei was measured directly using a new time-of-flight system. The ranges were measured by absorption in linear wedges of polyethylene, carbon, aluminum, copper, tin, and lead and in circular wedges of polystyrene, aluminum, and gold, and by total absorption in nuclear emulsion. The measured ranges were significantly different from those calculated from the best available theoretical estimates of the energy loss of highly charged nuclei. It is concluded that at present energy losses and residual ranges of relativistic heavy ions in an arbitrary medium cannot be predicted with better than an approximately 2 percent accuracy.

Waddington, C. J.↗