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Materials And Processes Technical Information System (MAPTIS) LDEF materials database

The Materials and Processes Technical Information System (MAPTIS) is a collection of materials data which was computerized and is available to engineers in the aerospace community involved in the design and development of spacecraft and related hardware. Consisting of various database segments, MAPTIS provides the user with information such as material properties, test data derived from tests specifically conducted for qualification of materials for use in space, verification and control, project management, material information, and various administrative requirements. A recent addition to the project management segment consists of materials data derived from the LDEF flight. This tremendous quantity of data consists of both pre-flight and post-flight data in such diverse areas as optical/thermal, mechanical and electrical properties, atomic concentration surface analysis data, as well as general data such as sample placement on the satellite, A-O flux, equivalent sun hours, etc. Each data point is referenced to the primary investigator(s) and the published paper from which the data was taken. The MAPTIS system is envisioned to become the central location for all LDEF materials data. This paper consists of multiple parts, comprising a general overview of the MAPTIS System and the types of data contained within, and the specific LDEF data element and the data contained in that segment.

Davis, John M.↗

Research on Spectroscopy, Opacity, and Atmospheres

A web site has been set up to make the calculations accessible; (i.e., cfakus.harvard.edu) This data can also be accessed by FTP. It has all of the atomic and diatomic molecular data, tables of distribution function opacities, grids of model atmospheres, colors, fluxes, etc, programs that are ready for distribution, and most of recent papers developed during this grant. Atlases and computed spectra will be added as they are completed. New atomic and molecular calculations will be added as they are completed. The atomic programs that had been running on a Cray at the San Diego Supercomputer Center can now run on the Vaxes and Alpha. The work started with Ni and Co because there were new laboratory analyses that included isotopic and hyperfine splitting. Those calculations are described in the appended abstract for the 6th Atomic Spectroscopy and oscillator Strengths meeting in Victoria last summer. A surprising finding is that quadrupole transitions have been grossly in error because mixing with higher levels has not been included. All levels up through n=9 for Fe I and II, the spectra for which the most information is available, are now included. After Fe I and Fe II, all other spectra are "easy". ATLAS12, the opacity sampling program for computing models with arbitrary abundances, has been put on the web server. A new distribution function opacity program for workstations that replaces the one used on the Cray at the San Diego Supercomputer Center has been written. Each set of abundances would take 100 Cray hours costing $100,000.

Kurucz, Robert L.↗

Interplanetary Lyman-alpha observations with UVS on Voyager - Data, first analysis, implications for the ionization lifetime

A fraction of the measurements of the interplanetary Lyman-alpha background collected by the Ultraviolet Spectrometer during the cruise of Voyager 1 and 2 between 1977 and 1983 is presented and compared with results from current models of the interaction between the sun and the neutral interstellar gas. An analysis of two sets of data indicates that the same H atom lifetime cannot fit all the data. The actual ionization rate is inferred from the intensity gradient in the maximum emissivity region observed from a sidewind Voyager position at 6 AU, yielding a lifetime of about 1 exp 6 s at 1 AU, whereas the upwind/downwind intensity ratio in the inner solar system favors 2 x 10 exp 6 s, as measured by Voyager, Prognoz, and Pioneer Venus instruments. It is proposed that there is an excess of Ly-alpha emission in the downwind region which forces the model toward excessively high values of the lifetime. Possible explanations are discussed, like incorrect modeling or an additional source of H atoms.

Lallement, R.↗

Oxygen atom reaction with Shuttle materials at orbital altitudes - Data and experiment status

Significant surface characteristics changes have been noticed on materials that were exposed in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter on the first four flights. The most notable change was mass loss of Kapton film used as a component of thermal blankets. This film exhibited as much as 35 percent mass loss on STS-3 and loss of material was noticed on all flights. Other changes consist of rapid aging of paints and oxidation of Torlon surfaces. A mechanism has been proposed for the effects described, which involves the interaction of these organic materials with atomic oxygen available at low earth orbital altitudes. Evidence derived from measurements made on Shuttle materials that supports this mechanism will be presented. Experiments planned for near-term Shuttle flights are being developed to obtain quantitative data on reaction rates.

Leger, L.↗

Interpretation of the X-ray spectra of solar active regions

This paper presents a review of recent analytical studies of the coronal X-ray spectrum below 25 A. The techniques used to compute the theoretical coronal spectrum, and the currently available atomic rate constant data are reviewed first. Spectroscopic techniques which have been proposed for the determination of coronal temperature and density structure, and the results derived from their application to coronal spectra are also reviewed. A number of coronal models based on X-ray observations have been developed recently, and the coronal temperature structure and composition predicted by these models is discussed, and compared with models of the corona and transition region derived from studies of the solar EUV spectrum.

Walker, A. B. C., Jr.↗

Chlorine chemistry in diffuse interstellar clouds

The results of recent observations of the column densities of chlorine species in diffuse interstellar clouds are inconsistent with the column densities predicted by model calculations. The use of new atomic and molecular data fails to decrease the discrepancy. It is speculated that the exothermic reaction Cl(+) yields HCl(+) + H may not be rapid at the low temperatures prevailing in diffuse interstellar clouds.

Black, J. H.↗

Systematics of ground-state potential minima between two main-group atoms or ions

A diagram is presented illustrating the internuclear separations between diatomic molecules or quasi-molecules with the exception of those containing transition metal and rare-earth atoms. As plotted as a function of the atomic numbers of the constituent atoms, the ground-state separations are observed to exhibit dramatic periodicities, as well as a gradual rise with increasing atomic number. The data for van der Waals molecules are not sufficient to predict the results of future experiments, although it is noted that the greatest internuclear separations are those of the alkali earth-rare gas molecules. Finally, it is found that to within the resolution of the diagram, isoelectronic molecules or quasi-molecules along the homonuclear direction have a constant internuclear separation.

Hefferlin, R.↗

Identification of Fe I lines in the ultraviolet solar spectrum

High-resolution ultraviolet echelle spectrograms of the sun obtained from a rocket-borne spectrograph have been used for the identification of Fe I absorption lines in the wavelength range 1770-2020 A. Wavelength measurements, with a precision of about 15 mA, are tabulated for 425 Fe I features, along with available laboratory wavelenghs or predicted wavelengths calculated from atomic energy level data. The classification system of Moore has been extended to include possible additional multiplets with 126 newly classified lines; 234 unclassified lines were observed and identified with laboratory Fe I spectra

Mccabe, M. K.↗

Propagation of heavy cosmic-ray nuclei

Techniques for modeling the propagation of heavy cosmic-ray nuclei, and the required atomic and nuclear data, are assembled in this paper. Emphasis is on understanding nuclear composition in the charge range Z = 3-83. Details of the application of 'matrix methods' above a few hundred MeV/nucleon, a new treatment of electron capture decay, and a new table of cosmic ray-stable isotopes are presented. Computation of nuclear fragmentation cross sections, stopping power, and electron stripping and attachment are briefly reviewed.

Letaw, J. R.↗

Analysis of atomic thermospheric nitrogen density

A NASA grant provided support for a research project at Augsbury College, Minneapolis, Minnesota for the analysis of atomic nitrogen density data obtained by the Neutral Atmospheric Composition Spectrometer (NACS) on board the Dynamics Explorer-2 satellite. Initial funding was for an exploratory study of the feasibility of obtaining ambient densities of N from source densities of NO. Funding was continued under the Dynamics Explorer Guest Investigator Program when initial studies indicated probable success in obtaining such ambient densities. The major scientific focus of the later work was to be to characterize the behavior of N densities at high latitudes.

Engebretson, M. J.↗

The composition of solar energetic particles

The present measurements of elemental abundances in 15 large solar energetic particle events confirm the existence of two major effects: systematic differences between solar energetic particle abundances and photospheric abundances that are approximately correlated with first ionization potential (implying that the solar corona is the likely source population for these particles), and an enhancement of heavy ion abundances relative to a baseline of solar energetic particle abundances whose magnitude increases with rising atomic number. These data suggest the possibility that the degree of heavy ion enhancement has some correlation with spectral slope, and confirm that the aforementioned effects are not due to time or energy variations within individual events. The maximum column density above the solar acceleration region is less than 0.1 g/sq cm, on the basis of these data.

Mcguire, R. E.↗

Methods and first results of plasma non-isothermal parameters measurements in meteor trails

There is no reliable experimental evidence so far of either the presence or absence of nonisothermal effects in newly formed meteor trails. Neither is there a common opinion on the most effective mechanism of electron cooling. According to the laboratory experimental data collisions of atomic and molecular particles of all kinds having velocities of 10 to 70/kms often yields 1 eV electrons and not infrequently some have energies reaching several electron volts. These highest energy electrons are referred to as superhot electrons. The method of measurement and the results of these measurements in meteor trails are discussed.

Kostylev, K. K.↗

A new class of natural magnetic materials - The ordering alloys

It is shown that tetrataenite (approximately FeNi), found in many meteorites, and Josephinite (approximately FeNi3), found in many serpentinized peridotites and possibly in Allende, are atomically ordered alloys. Data are presented, showing magnetic hysteresis loops, coercivity-temperature behavior at cryogenic temperatures, and thermomagnetic curves, that show that these ordered magnetic materials have unique magnetic properties and do not fit the conventional rock magnetism paradigms represented by Fe3O4 serpentinites. The ordered state is characterized by induced magnetic anisotropy, reaching the extreme for the tetragonal truly uniaxial anisotropy in FeNi. It is suggested that these ordered magnetic alloys should be considered a new class of natural magnetic materials.

Wasilewski, Peter↗

Collisional excitation of interstellar molecules - Deuterated water, HDO

Using an accurate theoretical interacting potential and coupled-channel molecular scattering calculations, excitation rates for deuterated water (HDO) in collisions with He atoms were computed. Data are presented for rates among the 34 rotational levels with energy below 400/cm for temperatures between 50 and 500 K. Excitation rate constants were determined using data from fixed energy cross sections averaged over thermal (Boltzmann) distributions of collision energies. Based on the agreement (for H2O) of rates from two different theoretical potentials and on agreement with the limited experimental data, the larger rates for HDO were estimated to be generally accurate to better than 50 percent.

Green, Sheldon↗

The volatile composition of comets

Comets may be our best probes of the physical and chemical conditions in the outer regions of the solar nebula during that crucial period when the planets formed. The volatile composition of cometary nuclei can be used to decide whether comets are the product of a condensation sequence similar to that invoked to explain the compositions of the planets and asteroids, or if comets are simply agglomerations of interstellar grains which have been insignificantly modified by the events that shaped the other bodies in the solar system. Although cometary nuclei are not generally accessible to observation, observations of cometary comae can illuminate at least some of the mysteries of the nuclei provided one has a detailed knowledge of the excitation conditions in the coma and also has access to basic atomic and molecular data on the many species present in comets. Examined here is the status of our knowledge of the volatile composition of cometary nuclei and how these data are obtained.

Weaver, H. A.↗

Densities and vibrational distribution of H(3+) in the Jovian auroral ionosphere

The assumption that H(3+) is in LTE in the region of the Jovian ionosphere from which the emissions originate is tested by calculating the vibrational distribution of H(3+) over the altitude range of 350 to 1500 km above the methane cloud tops. A model of the Jovian auroral ionosphere is constructed in which the neutral temperatures are enhanced over those of the midlatitude ionosphere, as suggested by observations and models of the auroral region. The energy and energy flux were found to be less than those involved in the production of the UV aurora. A computation of the densities and vibrational distribution shows that the distribution of the six lowest states of H(3+) can be determined fairly well in spite of uncertainties in the atomic and molecular data. The computed altitude profiles and vibrational distributions of H(3+) and H2 are consistent with the observations of IR emission in the 2- and 4-micron regions.

Kim, Y. H.↗

Atomic and molecular supernovae

Atomic and molecular physics of supernovae is discussed with an emphasis on the importance of detailed treatments of the critical atomic and molecular processes with the best available atomic and molecular data. The observations of molecules in SN 1987A are interpreted through a combination of spectral and chemical modelings, leading to strong constraints on the mixing and nucleosynthesis of the supernova. The non-equilibrium chemistry is used to argue that carbon dust can form in the oxygen-rich clumps where the efficient molecular cooling makes the nucleation of dust grains possible. For Type Ia supernovae, the analyses of their nebular spectra lead to strong constraints on the supernova explosion models.

Liu, Weihong↗