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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 NTRS1998

Experimental Determination of Infrared Extinction Coefficients of Interplanetary Dust Particles

This technique is based on irradiating a single isolated charged dust particle suspended in balance by an electric field, and measuring the scattered radiation as a function of angle. The observed scattered intensity profile at a specific wavelength obtained for a dust particle of known composition is compared with Mie theory calculations, and the variable parameters relating to the particle size and complex refractive index are adjusted for a best fit between the two profiles. This leads to a simultaneous determination of the particle radius, the complex refractive index, and the scattering and extinction coefficients. The results of these experiments can be utilized to examine the IRAS and DIRBE (Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment) infrared data sets in order to determine the dust particle physical characteristics and distributions by using infrared models and inversion techniques. This technique may also be employed for investigation of the rotational bursting phenomena whereby large size cosmic and interplanetary particles are believed to fragment into smaller dust particles.

Spann, J. F., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Extinction by a Homogeneous Spherical Particle in an Absorbing Medium

We use a recent computer implementation of the first principles theory of electromagnetic scattering to compute far-field extinction by a spherical particle embedded in an absorbing unbounded host. Our results show that the suppressing effect of increasing absorption inside the host medium on the ripple structure of the extinction efficiency factor as a function of the size parameter is similar to the well-known effect of increasing absorption inside a particle embedded in a nonabsorbing host. However, the accompanying effects on the interference structure of the extinction efficiency curves are diametrically opposite. As a result, sufficiently large absorption inside the host medium can cause negative particulate extinction. We offer a simple physical explanation of the phenomenon of negative extinction consistent with the interpretation of the interference structure as being the result of interference of the field transmitted by the particle and the diffracted field due to an incomplete wave front resulting from the blockage of the incident plane wave by the particle's geometrical projection.

Scattering↗
NASA NTRS1994

Low-freqency instabilities and the resulting velocity distributions of pickup ions at comet Halley

The interaction between the solar wind and newborn cometary ions is studied using a new analytical theory as well as one- and two-dimensional hybrid simulations. Using the observed parameters upstream of the comet Halley, a detailed study of wave excitation and the resulting particle distributions is presentd. Linear theory as well as simulations show that a variety of modes such as the fast magnetosonic mode, high frequency whistlers and obliquely propagating Alfven ion cyclotron waves can be excited. However, parallel propagating waves are found to be dominant in the wave spectrum and to control the scattering of the pickup ions. Several features of the observed distributions of pickup protons are explained. In particular, it is shown that the observed asymmetric pitch distribution for the pickup protons is due to the small saturation amplitude of the waves for the given parameters. Water group associated waves can lead to energy diffusion and further pitch angle scattering of protons. This effect is most likely to be important in the vicinity of the bow shock of comet Halley where the density of water group ions becomes comparable to that of protons. It is shown that the observed increase in the radius of the proton velocity shell just outside the bow shock can be due to water group waves. The nearby isotropic proton pitch angle distribution observed by Neugebauer et al. (1989) just outside the bow shock may, however, be related to the presence of a rotational discontinuity which has been identified in the magnetic field data. Just outside the bow shock, simulations show that parallel propagating water group waves can steepen with attached whistler wave packets. The steepening process at parallel propagation is a transient effect, in an important contrast to the case of steepening at oblique angles. The smaller beam densitites at comet Halley appears to be the main reason not only why waves at comet Halley have smaller amplitudes but also why oblique, steepening magnetosonic waves have not been detected at comet Halley, whereas they have been seen at comet Giacobini-Zinner. Halley, whereas they have been seen at comet Giacobini-Zinner.

Karimabadi, H.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Monte Carlo approach in assessing damage in higher order structures of DNA

We have developed a computer monitor of nuclear DNA in the form of chromatin fibre. The fibres are modeled as a ideal solenoid consisting of twenty helical turns with six nucleosomes per turn. The chromatin model, in combination with are Monte Carlo theory of radiation damage induces by charged particles, based on general features of tack structure and stopping power theory, has been used to evaluate the influence of DNA structure on initial damage. An interesting has emerged from our calculations. Our calculated results predict the existence of strong spatial correlations in damage sites associated with the symmetries in the solenoidal model. We have calculated spectra of short fragments of double stranded DNA produced by multiple double strand breaks induced by both high and low LET radiation. The spectra exhibit peaks at multiples of approximately 85 base pairs (the nucleosome periodicity), and approximately 1000 base pairs (solenoid periodicity). Preliminary experiments to investigate the fragment distributions from irradiated DNA, made by B. Rydberg at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, confirm the existence of short DNA fragments and are in substantial agreement with the predictions of our theory.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1990

Particle acceleration by a wave in a strong magnetic field - Regular and stochastic motion

A general theory for the acceleration of a charged particle by a coherent wave of arbitrary polarization, propagation angle, and phase velocity in the presence of a uniform and strong magnetic field is presented. It is shown that the Hamiltonian surfaces are topologically open for waves with parallel phase velocity, equal to or larger than the speed of light. The trapping width is found to be a strong function of the index of refraction (N), and for N = 1 the trapping width increases as a function of the harmonic number. A novel mechanism for coherently accelerating particles to unlimited energies is presented.

Karimabadi, H.↗
NASA NTRS1988

The problem of clustering in laboratory studies of cometary dust

In trying to understand the nature of interstellar or interplanetary dust grains it is tempting to simply rely on direct lab measurements of grain properties such as extinction. However, until agreement is achieved between directly measured extinction and the same property calculated from measured optical constants of the solid, application to astronomical observations is questionable. There are two major problems which are discussed: the problem of what optical constants to use in the calculation, and the almost unavoidable problem of particle clustering in lab studies. Regarding small particle measurements, a problem afflicting almost all lab measurements is the clustering of particles. Having failed in efforts to isolate particles, the solution to the problem was attempted with a simple theory which seems to adequately describe the extinction by small, clustered particles in many cases. The theory is briefly explained.

Huffman, Donald R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Ignition and combustion characteristics of metallized propellants

Shakedown and calibration of the experimental apparatus designed to study secondary atomization and ignition characteristics of aluminum slurry propellants was begun and nears completion. The burner was tested over an array of equivalence ratios and oxygen mass fractions to determine the permissible range of operating conditions. A burner flow control system was designed and fabricated which permits independent control of flame stoichiometry and oxidant O2 concentrations. The Sun slurry formulation was selected as the base for initial testing. Laser beam waists at the focal volume of the single particle sizing system were determined to be 396 microns for the Ar-ion and 81 microns for the He-Ne laser. Size calibrations using pinholes were completed and compared to Mie theory for light scattering from particles. A vibrating office droplet generator was used to test the single particle sizing system dynamically by producing a water droplet laden gas flow. The data acquisition and analysis programming was completed and testing is in progress. From initial results, the particle sizing, atomization and ignition detection systems appear to be performing as expected.

Turns, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Amplitude variations of whistler-mode signals caused by their interaction with energetic electrons of the magnetosphere

Whistler mode waves that propagate through the magnetosphere exchange energy with energetic electrons by wave-particle interaction mechanisms. Using linear theory, a detailed investigation is presented of the resulting amplitude variations of the wave as it propagates. Arbitrary wave frequency and direction of propagation are considered. A general class of electron distributions that are nonseparable in particle energy and pitch-angle is proposed. It is found that the proposed distribution model is consistent with available whistler and particle observations. This model yields insignificant amplitude variation over a large frequency band, a feature commonly observed in whistler data. This feature implies a certain equilibrium between waves and particles in the magnetosphere over a wide spread of particle energy, and is relevant to plasma injection experiments and to monitoring the distribution of energetic electrons in the magnetosphere.

Bernard, L. C.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Some wave-particle effects on large-scale Alfven wave propagation and damping

Phase mixing can reduce greatly the torsional Alfven wave's dissipation length for propagation in complex magnetic field-line geometries. This phase mixing causes significant energy transfers from large to small scales where a conversion from ordered wave energy into a particle kinetic form occurs. This conversion during its initial stages is an entropy conserving process well described by Vlasov theory, Nonlinear stages of wave-particle resonance, particle trapping, and collisional resistivity are often invoked as processes eventually responsible for converting ordered wave motions into random thermal motion. Strictly speaking, this entropy producing phase cannot be described within Vlasov theory, and the large-scale effects of these microscopic events resides at the difficult frontier between generalized fluid and kinetic theories. We attempt to describe certain aspects of such resonances within the framework of fluid theory focusing on torsional Alfven wave energy transport and deposition within flux tubes.

Siregar, E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Analysis of Mount St. Helens ash from optical photoelectric photometry

The optical properties of suspended dust particles from the eruption of Mt. St. Helens on July 23, 1980 are investigated using photoelectric observations of standard stars obtained on the 0.76-m telescope at the University of Washington 48 hours after the eruption. Measurements were made with five broad-band filters centered at 3910, 5085, 5480, 6330, and 8050 A on stars of varying color and over a wide range of air masses. Anomalous extinction effects due to the volcanic ash were detected, and a significant change in the wavelength-dependent extinction parameter during the course of the observations was established by statistical analysis. Mean particle size (a) and column density (N) are estimated using the Mie theory, assuming a log-normal particle-size distribution: a = 0.18 micron throughout; N = 1.02 x 10 to the 9th/sq cm before 7:00 UT and 2.33 x 10 to the 9th/sq cm after 8:30 UT on July 25, 1980. The extinction is attributed to low-level, slowly migrating ash, possibly combined with products of gas-to-particle conversion and coagulation.

Cardelli, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Time dependent convection electric fields and plasma injection

A model of large-scale electric fields associated with storms or substorms consisting of realistic initial conditions and time dependent convection to explain a typical substorm-associated electron injection event is presented. These fields are responsible for inward convection and energization of plasma sheet electrons, and calculations based on steady state convection theory show that the response to such electric fields qualitatively accounts for many features of the injected particle distribution, but agreement with the theory has not been obtained. An adiabatic convection model which assumes that plasma sheet electrons are present outside of the initial electron boundaries which have an energy dependence appropriate for a small convection field representative of a steady, quiet magnetosphere is described. The position of the inner edge in which plasma sheet electrons of given W and alpha can be found for the assumed initial conditions and enhanced field is calculated providing convecting demarcation boundaries.

Kaye, S. M.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Kinetic aspects of tail dynamics - Theory and simulation

Kinetic theories relevant to the geomagnetic tail are reviewed. The topics discussed include kinetic instabilities, simulations, and current-sheet particle acceleration. Tearing mode and reconnection theories are emphasized. Kinetic treatment is appropriate for these topics since the tail plasma is collisionless. Fluid calculations are appropriate when stochastic processes dominate and for studies where long wavelengths are important. However, fluid treatments of tearing modes and reconnection require a finite resistivity in the diffusion region. Thus, although 'anomalous resistivity' can be guessed or in some cases calculated, ideally the kinetic treatment is often to be preferred. Particle motion and acceleration in the current sheet can give rise to beam-like distributions in the plasma-sheet boundary layer. Studies of current-sheet particle motion have also been used as the basis for 'kinetic' tail equilibrium models. Furthermore, quite recently current-sheet particle motion is used directly in Coroniti's explosive tail reconnection model. The 'inertial conductivity' from the equilibrium models provides the 'dissipation' necessary for reconnection.

Speiser, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Particle transport in planetary magnetospheres

Particle energization in Earth's and Jupiter's magnetospheres is discussed. Understanding of the large scale magnetic and electric fields in which charged particles move is reviewed. Orbit theory in the adiabatic approximation is sketched. General conditions for adiabatic breakdown at each of three levels of periodicity are presented. High energy losses and lower energy sources argue for the existence of magnetospheric accelerations. Nonadiabatic acceleration processes are mentioned. Slow diffusive energization by particle interactions with electromagnetic fluctuations is outlined. This mechanism seems adequate at Earth but, operating alone, is unconvincing for Jupiter. Adding spatial diffusion in the radially distended Jovian magnetodisk may resolve the difficulty.

Birmingham, T. J.↗
NASA NTRS2016

The Microwave Radiative Properties of Falling Snow Derived from Nonspherical Ice Particle Models. Part II: Initial Testing Using Radar, Radiometer and In Situ Observations

In this study, two different particle models describing the structure and electromagnetic properties of snow are developed and evaluated for potential use in satellite combined radar-radiometer precipitation estimation algorithms. In the first model, snow particles are assumed to be homogeneous ice-air spheres with single-scattering properties derived from Mie theory. In the second model, snow particles are created by simulating the self-collection of pristine ice crystals into aggregate particles of different sizes, using different numbers and habits of the collected component crystals. Single-scattering properties of the resulting nonspherical snow particles are determined using the discrete dipole approximation. The size-distribution-integrated scattering properties of the spherical and nonspherical snow particles are incorporated into a dual-wavelength radar profiling algorithm that is applied to 14- and 34-GHz observations of stratiform precipitation from the ER-2 aircraft-borne High-Altitude Imaging Wind and Rain Airborne Profiler (HIWRAP) radar. The retrieved ice precipitation profiles are then input to a forward radiative transfer calculation in an attempt to simulate coincident radiance observations from the Conical Scanning Millimeter-Wave Imaging Radiometer (CoSMIR). Much greater consistency between the simulated and observed CoSMIR radiances is obtained using estimated profiles that are based upon the nonspherical crystal/aggregate snow particle model. Despite this greater consistency, there remain some discrepancies between the higher moments of the HIWRAP-retrieved precipitation size distributions and in situ distributions derived from microphysics probe observations obtained from Citation aircraft underflights of the ER-2. These discrepancies can only be eliminated if a subset of lower-density crystal/aggregate snow particles is assumed in the radar algorithm and in the interpretation of the in situ data.

Ice particles; Radiances; Radiative transfer; Airc↗
NASA NTRS1999

Effective Forces Between Colloidal Particles

Colloidal suspensions have proven to be excellent model systems for the study of condensed matter and its phase behavior. Many of the properties of colloidal suspensions can be investigated with a systematic variation of the characteristics of the systems and, in addition, the energy, length and time scales associated with them allow for experimental probing of otherwise inaccessible regimes. The latter property also makes colloidal systems vulnerable to external influences such as gravity. Experiments performed in micro-ravity by Chaikin and Russell have been invaluable in extracting the true behavior of the systems without an external field. Weitz and Pusey intend to use mixtures of colloidal particles with additives such as polymers to induce aggregation and form weak, tenuous, highly disordered fractal structures that would be stable in the absence of gravitational forces. When dispersed in a polarizable medium, colloidal particles can ionize, emitting counterions into the solution. The standard interaction potential in these charged colloidal suspensions was first obtained by Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey and Overbeek. The DLVO potential is obtained in the mean-field linearized Poisson-Boltzmann approximation and thus has limited applicability. For more precise calculations, we have used ab initio density functional theory. In our model, colloidal particles are charged hard spheres, the counterions are described by a continuum density field and the solvent is treated as a homogeneous medium with a specified dielectric constant. We calculate the effective forces between charged colloidal particles by integrating over the solvent and counterion degrees of freedom, taking into account the direct interactions between the particles as well as particle-counterion, counterion-counterion Coulomb, counterion entropic and correlation contributions. We obtain the effective interaction potential between charged colloidal particles in different configurations. We evaluate two- and three-body forces in the bulk as well as study the influence of soft walls. We qualitatively explain the effects of the walls on the forces and demonstrate that many-body effects are negligible in our system. With adjustments in the parameters, the DLVO pair-potential can describe the results quantitatively. Besides electrostatic interactions, entropic depletion effects that arise from (hard-core) exclusion play an important role in determining the behavior of multi-component colloidal suspensions. A standard theory for depletion forces is due to Asakura and Oosawa and is based on the ideal gas approximation. To go beyond this approximation, we have studied entropic forces in molecular dynamics simulations of systems of hard spheres (the effects of the solvent have been ignored). The effective depletion forces for these systems can be found either from equilibrium distribution functions or from direct momentum transfer calculations. Our results obtained by either method show qualitative differences from the Asakura-Oosawa forces, indicating a longer range, higher value at contact and most importantly a more complicated structure, comprising of several maxima and minima. Our calculations include the determination of effective forces between two spheres, a hard sphere and a wall, and the behavior of a hard sphere near a step-edge and a corner. We also demonstrate that such entropic forces do not necessarily satisfy pairwise additivity.

Tehver, Riina↗
NASA NTRS1981

Experimental and theoretical studies of the laws governing condensate deposition from combustion gases

A description is presented of the results of a research program directed at an improved understanding of condensate deposition rate phenomena in combustion systems. The conducted experiments make use of real-time optical laser reflectance-interference-polarization techniques in flame environments. The obtained new data and the results of previous gravimetric experiments are employed as a basis for the development of a comprehensive convective diffusion deposition theory, taking into account the assumption of a multicomponent vapor or multisize class particles 'source-free' boundary layer. The theory makes it possible to provide self-consistent salt/ash/soot deposition rate predictions over a wide variety of environmental conditions.

Rosner, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Backscattering by nonspherical particles - A review of methods and suggested new approaches

Scattering of electromagnetic radiation near the backward direction is more sensitive to particle shape than scattering near the forward direction. Mie theory is therefore of dubious applicability to predicting backscattering by atmospheric particles known to be irregular or to inverting measurements on such particles. An irregular particle is one with an uncertain shape. In the face of uncertainty one must adopt a statistical approach in which scattering properties of ensembles are determined. To obtain ensemble averages, a basis is needed for averaging over a set of electromagnetic microstates. Ensemble averages based on the Rayleigh theory for small ellipsoids and on the T matrix method for spheroids agree better with measurements than Mie theory does. The coupled-dipole method also provides a basis for ensemble averaging. This method also leads to a simple physical interpretation of why backscattering is so sensitive to particle shape and can be used to calculate scattering by one- and two-dimensional analogs to three-dimensional irregular particles.

Bohren, Craig F.↗