Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Linear optics”

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.

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

At least 289 records · Page 16
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Multispectral linear array multiband selection device

An apparatus for detecting multiple spectral bands, individually or concurrently, using linear detector arrays is described. The system employs a beamsplitter to divide the optical source into two or more optical beams which are directed at the linear detector arrays. Filter trays are positioned in the focal planes of the optical beams so that the beams pass through the filter trays prior to impinging upon the detector arrays. Multiple filters are placed on the filter trays. Linear actuators positioned adjacent the filter trays translate the trays across the focal planes of the optical beams so that individual filters are positioned in the path of beams such that those frequencies of the beams that fall within the spectral ranges of the individual bandpass filter through which it passes may be detected by the detector arrays for further examination and analysis.

Richard, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Exposure to a Rotating Virtual Environment During Treadmill Locomotion Causes Adaptation in Heading Direction

The goal of the present study was to investigate the adaptive effects of variation in the direction of optic flow, experienced during linear treadmill walking, on modifying locomotor trajectory. Subjects (n = 30) walked on a motorized linear treadmill at 4.0 km/h for 24 minutes while viewing the interior of a 3D virtual scene projected onto a screen 1.5 m in front of them. The virtual scene depicted constant self-motion equivalent to either 1) walking around the perimeter of a room to one s left (Rotating Room group) 2) walking down the center of a hallway (Infinite Hallway group). The scene was static for the first 4 minutes, and then constant rate self-motion was simulated for the remaining 20 minutes. Before and after the treadmill locomotion adaptation period, subjects performed five stepping trials where in each trial they marched in place to the beat of a metronome at 90 steps/min while blindfolded in a quiet room. The subject s final heading direction (deg), final X (for-aft, cm) and final Y (medio-lateral, cm) positions were measured for each trial. During the treadmill locomotion adaptation period subject s 3D torso position was measured. We found that subjects in the Rotating Room group as compared to the Infinite Hallway group: 1) showed significantly greater deviation during post exposure testing in the heading direction and Y position opposite to the direction of optic flow experienced during treadmill walking 2) showed a significant monotonically increasing torso yaw angular rotation bias in the direction of optic flow during the treadmill adaptation exposure period. Subjects in both groups showed greater forward translation (in the +X direction) during the post treadmill stepping task that differed significantly from their pre exposure performance. Subjects in both groups reported no perceptual deviation in position during the stepping tasks. We infer that 3 viewing simulated rotary self-motion during treadmill locomotion causes adaptive modification of sensory-motor integration in the control of position and trajectory during locomotion which functionally reflects adaptive changes in the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive cues. Such an adaptation in the control of position and heading direction during locomotion due to the congruence of sensory information demonstrates the potential for adaptive transfer between sensorimotor systems and suggests a common neural site for the processing and self-motion perception and concurrent adaptation in motor output. This will result in lack of subjects perception of deviation of position and trajectory during the post treadmill step test while blind folded.

Mulavara, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Exposure to a Rotating Virtual Environment During Treadmill Locomotion Causes Adaptation in Heading Direction

The goal of the present study was to investigate the adaptive effects of variation in the direction of optic flow, experienced during linear treadmill walking, on modifying locomotor trajectory. Subjects (n = 30) walked on a motorized linear treadmill at 4.0 kilometers per hour for 24 minutes while viewing the interior of a 3D virtual scene projected onto a screen 1.5 in in front of them. The virtual scene depicted constant self-motion equivalent to either 1) walking around the perimeter of a room to one s left (Rotating Room group) 2) walking down the center of a hallway (Infinite Hallway group). The scene was static for the first 4 minutes, and then constant rate self-motion was simulated for the remaining 20 minutes. Before and after the treadmill locomotion adaptation period, subjects performed five stepping trials where in each trial they marched in place to the beat of a metronome at 90 steps/min while blindfolded in a quiet room. The subject's final heading direction (deg), final X (for-aft, cm) and final Y (medio-lateral, cm) positions were measured for each trial. During the treadmill locomotion adaptation period subject's 3D torso position was measured. We found that subjects in the Rotating Room group as compared to the Infinite Hallway group: 1) showed significantly greater deviation during post exposure testing in the heading direction and Y position opposite to the direction of optic flow experienced during treadmill walking 2) showed a significant monotonically increasing torso yaw angular rotation bias in the direction of optic flow during the treadmill adaptation exposure period. Subjects in both groups showed greater forward translation (in the +X direction) during the post treadmill stepping task that differed significantly from their pre exposure performance. Subjects in both groups reported no perceptual deviation in position during the stepping tasks. We infer that viewing simulated rotary self-motion during treadmill locomotion causes adaptive modification of sensory-motor integration in the control of position and trajectory during locomotion which functionally reflects adaptive changes in the integration of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive cues. Such an adaptation in the control of position and heading direction during locomotion due to the congruence of sensory information demonstrates the potential for adaptive transfer between sensorimotor systems and suggests a common neural site for the processing and self-motion perception and concurrent adaptation in motor output. This will result in lack of subjects perception of deviation of position and trajectory during the post treadmill step test while blind folded.

Ruttley, T↗
DOE OSTI2025

Efficient Measurement of Length Distribution of 1D Nanoparticles in Solution via Optical Polarimetry

The efficient measurement of the length distribution of nanotubes, nanowires, and other one-dimensional (1D) nanoparticles in solution is important to enable their incorporation into materials and devices and to optimize their processing for properties of interest, such as thermal/electrical conductivity or mechanical strength, in suspensions and composites. We report an electric-field (E-field)-assisted optical-polarimetry technique to measure the length distribution of ensembles of high-aspect-ratio particles in dilute suspension. The degree of alignment of polarizable 1D particles suspended in a fluid under Brownian motion explicitly depends on the E-field strength and the particle length. We show that it is possible to extract the length distribution of 1D nanoparticles suspended in an insulating fluid by applying a range of E-fields and using optical polarimetry to measure the corresponding alignment order parameter. Notably, the method is relatively insensitive to the diameter of the 1D particles, which can be poorly known or vary within a sample. The technique is validated with silver nanowires and carbon nanotubes of known lengths, as well as polymer-depletion-length-separated single-wall carbon nanotube samples with length distributions independently measured with analytical ultracentrifugation. Finally, we demonstrate the ability of the optical-polarimetry technique to quantify changes in the length distribution of ultranarrow, sub-nanometer-diameter single-wall carbon nanotubes under different types and durations of ultrasonication. Within its range of applicability (polarizable 1D nanoparticles in the 0.5 to 15 μm length range, constrained by the voltage stability of the media and the suspended particles), the E-field-assisted optical-polarimetry method is a particularly efficient and accurate method to measure the length distribution of nanowires and nanotubes in suspension.

1D nanoparticles↗
DOE OSTI2026

Development and application of a low-noise, high-speed optical detector module for carbon density fluctuation measurements on Wendelstein 7-X

A low-noise, high-speed optical detector module is characterized and successfully commissioned for the measurement of high-frequency, low-intensity beam emission on Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X). An ultra-narrow bandpass optical filter is employed to selectively transmit the desired emission line while suppressing broadband plasma background emissions. Carbon density fluctuations are investigated by observing the carbon C-VI emission line (n = 8 → 7, λ ∼ 529 nm), arising from charge exchange (CX) between the neutral beam atoms and the intrinsic carbon population. Here, we present the characterization of the optical detector module and experimental measurements of carbon density fluctuations using available fibers on W7-X. The initial performance of the detector is presented in both active and passive CX measurements of intrinsic carbon density fluctuations. The low frequency dynamics of fluctuation is observed in response to the neutral beam and the pellet injection, demonstrating that the optical detector module is capable of providing a sufficient signal level with an adequate signal-to-noise ratio. In the upcoming OP2.4 campaign, this optical detector module will be adapted for use in a beam emission spectroscopy system by replacing the optical bandpass filter with one centered at 654 nm (90% transmission: 653–655.3 nm), which facilitates two-dimensional measurements of ion gyro-scale turbulence on W7-X.

Charge exchange recombination spectroscopy↗
DOE OSTI2026

Customized Bayesian optimization for efficient beam tuning at the facility for rare isotope beams

Bayesian optimization (BO) has recently emerged as a powerful approach for on-line beam tuning, and it is rapidly gaining adoption across accelerator facilities due to its flexibility and efficiency in handling complex optimization tasks. At the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, rapid and reliable tuning is essential to support the delivery of diverse ion species. To improve the practicality of BO in this setting, we implemented several enhancements, including scalarized composite objective construction for multicriteria optimization, asynchronous evaluation for better resource utilization, prior-mean-assisted optimization to accelerate convergence, and a local search strategy for rapid completion of the task. We present the details of these methods, discuss challenges-encountered, and share our experience applying them to specific beam-tuning tasks.

Accelerators & storage rings↗
NASA NTRS1974

Specific wavelength colorimeter

A self contained, specific wavelength, single beam colorimeter is described for direct spectrophotometric measurement of the concentration of a given solute in a test sample. An electrical circuit employing a photoconductive cell converts the optical output into a linear, directly readable meter output. The colorimeter is simple to operate and is adapted for use in zero gravity conditions. In a specific application, the colorimeter is designed to analyze the concentration of iodine in potable water carried aboard a space vehicle such as the 4B stage of Skylab.

Brawner, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Radiative amplification of sound waves in the winds of O and B stars

The velocity perturbation associated with an outwardly propagating sound wave in a radiation-driven stellar wind gives rise to a periodic Doppler shifting of absorption lines formed in the flow. A linearized theory applicable to optically thin waves is used to show that the resulting fluctuation in the absorption-line force can cause the wave amplitude to grow. Detailed calculations of the acceleration due to a large number of lines indicate that significant amplification can occur throughout the high-velocity portion of winds in which the dominant force-producing lines have appreciable optical depths. In the particular case of the wind of Zeta Pup (O4f), it is found that the e-folding distance for wave growth is considerably shorter than the scale lengths over which the physical properties of the flow vary. A qualitative estimate of the rate at which mechanical energy due to nonlinear waves can be dissipated suggests that this mechanism may be important in heating the supersonic portion of winds of early-type stars.

Macgregor, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The dynamics and control of large flexible space structures

The dynamics and attitude and shape control of very large, inherently flexible spacecraft systems were investigated. Increasingly more complex examples were examined, beginning with a uniform free-free beam, next a free-free uniform plate/platform and finally by considering a thin shallow spherical shell structure in orbit. The effects devices were modeled. For given sets of assumed actuator locations, the controllability of these systems was first established. Control laws for each of the actuators were developed based on decoupling techniques (including distributed modal control) pole placement algorithms and a application of the linear regulator problem for optical control theory.

Bainum, P. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Shuttle imaging spectrometer optics

This paper discusses the optical design and performance of the Shuttle Imaging Spectrometer (SISEX) optical system, which is being planned for the next generation of Earth remote sensing instruments. This optical system represents a new approach to remote sensing in which wide-field optics, dispersing elements, and area detector arrays are used in place of mechanical scanners, filters, and discrete detector elements or linear arrays. While the SISEX optical system is designed specifically for flight on Shuttle, the same optical approach is being used in the design of other remote sensing instruments, such as the High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, which is expected to fly on the Earth Observing System.

Page, N. A.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Protein crystal growth in low gravity

The solubility and growth of the protein canavalin, and the application of the schlieren technique to study fluid flow in protein crystal growth systems were investigated. These studies have resulted in the proposal of a model to describe protein crystal growth and the preliminary plans for a long-term space flight experiment. Canavalin, which may be crystallized from a basic solution by the addition of hydrogen (H+) ions, was shown to have normal solubility characteristics over the range of temperatures (5 to 25 C) and pH (5 to 7.5) studies. The solubility data combined with growth rate data gathered from the seeded growth of canavalin crystals indicated that the growth rate limiting step is a screw dislocation mechanism. A schlieren apparatus was constructed and flow patterns were observed in Rochelle salt (sodium potassium tartrate), lysozyme, and canavalin. The critical parameters were identified as the change in density with concentration (dp/dc) and the change in index of refraction with concentration (dn/dc). Some of these values were measured for the materials listed. The data for lyrozyme showed non-linearities in plots of optical properties and density vs. concentration. In conjunction with with W. A. Tiller, a model based on colloid stability theory was proposed to describe protein crystallization. The model was used to explain observations made by ourselves and others. The results of this research has lead to the development for a preliminary design for a long-term, low-g experiment. The proposed apparatus is univeral and capable of operation under microprocessor control.

Feigelson, Robert S.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Optical pattern recognition; Proceedings of the Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 17, 18, 1989

Papers on optical pattern recognition are presented, covering topics such as the estimation of satellite pose and motion parameters using a neural net tracker, associative memory, optical implmentation of programmable neural networks, optoelectronic neural networks, dynamic autoassociative neural memory, heteroassociative memory, bilinear pattern recognition processors, optical processing of optical correlation plane data, and a synthetic discriminant function-based nonlinear optical correlator. Other topics include an interactive optical-digital image processor, geometric transformations for video compression and human teleoperator display, quasiconformal remapping for compensation of human visual field defects, hybrid vision for automated spacecraft landing, advanced symbolic and inference optical correlation filters, and a rotationally invariant holographic tracking system. Additional topics include the detection of rotational and scale-varying objects with a programmable joint transform correlator, a single spatial light modulator binary nonlinear optical correlator, optical joint transform correlation, linear phase coefficient composite filters, and binary phase-only filters.

Liu, Hua-Kuang↗
NASA NTRS1991

THz dichroic plates for use at high angles of incidence

The design of a high frequency dichroic plate consisting of an electrically thick self supporting metallic mesh that can be used in a linearly polarized quasi-optical system at high angles of incidence is described. The measured and computed performance of a 2.5-inch aperture mesh is given. This mesh has a 3-dB cutoff frequency of 875 GHz and less than 0.75 dB of transmission loss from 950-1350 GHz at incidence angles of 0, 30, and 45 degrees. The results of a multimode waveguide analysis corroborate the measured data.

Siegel, Peter H.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Subvisual-thin cirrus lidar dataset for satellite verification and climatological research

A polarization (0.694 microns wavelength) lidar dataset for subvisual and thin (bluish-colored) cirrus clouds is drawn from project FIRE (First ISCCP Regional Experiment) extended time observations. The clouds are characterized by their day-night visual appearance; base, top, and optical midcloud heights and temperatures; measured physical and estimated optical cloud thicknesses; integrated linear depolarization ratios; and derived k/2 eta ratios. A subset of the data supporting 30 NOAA polar-orbiting satellite overpasses is given in tabular form to provide investigators with the means to test cloud retrieval algorithms and establish the limits of cirrus detectability from satellite measurements under various conditions. Climatologically, subvisual-thin cirrus appear to be higher, colder, and more strongly depolarizing than previously reported multilatitude cirrus, although similar k/2 eta that decrease with height and temperature are found.

Sassen, Kenneth↗
NASA NTRS1993

On the thermal stability of a radiating plasma subject to nonlocal thermal conduction. I - Linear analysis

We study the linear stability of an optically thin uniform radiating plasma subject to nonlocal heat transport. We derive the dispersion relation appropriate to this problem, and the marginal wavenumbers for instability. Our analysis indicates that nonlocal heat transport acts to reduce the stabilizing influence of thermal conduction, and that there are critical values for the electron mean free path such that the plasma is always unstable. Our results may be applied to a number of astrophysical plasmas, one such example being the halos of clusters of galaxies.

Chun, E.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Three new BL Lacertae objects in the Palomar-Green survey

We have identified three BL Lacertae objects in the Palomar-Green Survey which were previously misclassified as DC white dwarfs, namely PG 1246+586, PG 1424+240, and PG 1437+398. Our reclassification is based on the detection of these objects as x-ray sources in the ROSAT all-sky survey and upon our subsequent detection of intrinsic linearly polarized and variable optical emission from these sources. As a result of the ROSAT survey, the number of identified BL Lac objects in the Palomar-Green catalog of UV excess objects has been doubled. Corrected optical positions are presented for PG 1246+586 and PG 1437+398.

Fleming, Thomas A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

A Simple Approach of CCD Camera Calibration for Optical Diagnostics Instrumentation

Solid State array sensors are ubiquitous nowadays for obtaining gross field images in numerous scientific and engineering applications including optical diagnostics and instrumentation. Linear responses of these sensors are often required as in interferometry, light scattering and attenuation measurements, and photometry. In most applications, the linearity is usually taken to be granted without thorough quantitative assessment or correction through calibration. Upper-grade CCD cameras of high price may offer better linearity: however, they also require linearity checking and correction if necessary. Intermediate- or low-grade CCD cameras are more likely to need calibration for linearity . Here, we present two very simple approaches: one for quickly checking camera linearity without any additional setup and one for precisely correcting nonlinear sensor responses. It is believed that after calibration, those sensors of intermediate or low grade can function as effectively as their expensive counterpart.

Cha, Soyoung Stephen↗