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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

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NASA NTRS1990

A fiber optic sensor for noncontact measurement of shaft speed, torque, and power

A fiber optic sensor which enables noncontact measurement of the speed, torque and power of a rotating shaft was fabricated and tested. The sensor provides a direct measurement of shaft rotational speed and shaft angular twist, from which torque and power can be determined. Angles of twist between 0.005 and 10 degrees were measured. Sensor resolution is limited by the sampling rate of the analog to digital converter, while accuracy is dependent on the spot size of the focused beam on the shaft. Increasing the sampling rate improves measurement resolution, and decreasing the focused spot size increases accuracy. Digital processing allows for enhancement of an electronically or optically degraded signal.

Madzsar, George C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

A fiber optic sensor for noncontact measurement of shaft speed, torque and power

Madzsar, George C.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Optically-Tuned Far-Infrared Device

Spacing of visible interference pattern determines frequency of infrared radiation. Variable photoconductivity grating formed by interference of two visible laser beams intersecting on surface of proposed AlGaAs device substituted for fixed metal grating. Proposed device provides higher output-power density and greater tunability.

Katz, Joseph↗

NASA NTRS1988

Space-based laser-powered orbital transfer vehicle (Project SLICK)

A conceptual design study of a laser-powered orbital transfer vehicle (LOTV) is presented. The LOTV, nicknamed SLICK (Space Laser Interorbital Cargo Kite), will be utilized for the transfer of 16000 kg of cargo between Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and either Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) or Low Lunar Orbit (LLO). This design concentrates primarily on the LEO/GEO scenario, which will have typical LEO-to-GEO trip time of 6 days and two return versions. One version uses an all propulsive return while the other utilizes a ballute aerobrake for the return trip. Furthermore, three return cargo options of 16000 kg, 5000 kg (standard option), and 1600 kg are considered for this scenario. The LEO/LLO scenario uses only a standard, aerobraked version. The basic concept behind the LOTV is that the power for the propulsion system is supplied by a source separate from the LOTV itself. For the LEO/GEO scenario the LOTV utilizes a direct solar-pumped iodide laser and possibly two relay stations, all orbiting at an altitude of one Earth radius and zero inclination. An additional nuclear-powered laser is placed on the Moon for the LEO/LLO scenario. The propulsion system of the LOTV consists of a single engine fueled with liquid hydrogen. The laser beam is captured and directed by a four mirror optical system through a window in the thrust chamber of the engine. There, seven plasmas are created to convert the laser beam energy into thermal energy at an efficiency of at least 50 percent. For the LEO/LLO scenario the laser propulsion is supplemented by LH2/LOX chemical thrusters.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1990

Net Photorefractive Gain In Gallium Arsenide

Prerequisite includes applied electric field. Electric field applied to GaAs crystal in which two infrared beams interfere. Depending on quality of sample and experimental conditions, net photorefractive gain obtained. Results offer possibility of new developments in real-time optical processing of signals by use of near-infrared lasers of low power.

Liu, Tsuen-Hsi↗

NASA NTRS2011

Space Mirror Alignment System

An optical alignment mirror mechanism (AMM) has been developed with angular positioning accuracy of +/-0.2 arcsec. This requires the mirror s linear positioning actuators to have positioning resolutions of +/-112 nm to enable the mirror to meet the angular tip/tilt accuracy requirement. Demonstrated capabilities are 0.1 arc-sec angular mirror positioning accuracy, which translates into linear positioning resolutions at the actuator of 50 nm. The mechanism consists of a structure with sets of cross-directional flexures that enable the mirror s tip and tilt motion, a mirror with its kinematic mount, and two linear actuators. An actuator comprises a brushless DC motor, a linear ball screw, and a piezoelectric brake that holds the mirror s position while the unit is unpowered. An interferometric linear position sensor senses the actuator s position. The AMMs were developed for an Astrometric Beam Combiner (ABC) optical bench, which is part of an interferometer development. Custom electronics were also developed to accommodate the presence of multiple AMMs within the ABC and provide a compact, all-in-one solution to power and control the AMMs.

Jau, Bruno M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Phase-change Reconfigurable Optical WavEfront Synthesis System (PROWESS)

We report the design, fabrication, and testing of electrically tunable metasurface k-space filters based on the low-loss, high-contrast phase-change material GSST and a transparent Si electrode heating architecture. A 10x10 array of PCM elements integrated with Si heaters was fabricated via foundry processes, and used to actively control the crystallinity of a metasurface consisting of GSST nano antennae. By selectively varying the structural state of individual PCM elements, specific k-vectors of transmitted light can effectively be filtered out, resulting in improved imaging quality by reducing the scattered light that reaches a detector. Optimized doping profiles in the Si heaters allow for uniform, low power, reliable and repeatable switching of the GSST state. Compared to other k-space filters, this new architecture is completely transparent to the wavelength of interest and can be actively reconfigured in real time with high performance, low power consumption and a small footprint. The 10x10 array device is a proof-of-concept demonstration that can enable high-resolution arbitrary wavefront synthesis and correction in the future, with key applications in optical communications, beam steering, remote sensing, and adaptive optics.

phase change material↗

NASA NTRS1993

Optical Communications for NASA's Small Spacecraft Missions of the Future

NASA's space missions of the future will be dominated by more moderate sized mini- and micro- spacecraft. Such missions will place stringent requirements on the mass and power consumption required for the various spacecraft subsystems.

optical communications technology small spacecraft↗

NASA NTRS2008

NASA Tech Briefs, January 2008

Topics covered include: Induction Charge Detector with Multiple Sensing Stages; Generic Helicopter-Based Testbed for Surface Terrain Imaging Sensors; Robot Electronics Architecture; Optimized Geometry for Superconducting Sensing Coils; Sensing a Changing Chemical Mixture Using an Electronic Nose; Inertial Orientation Trackers with Drift Compensation; Microstrip Yagi Antenna with Dual Aperture-Coupled Feed; Patterned Ferroelectric Films for Tunable Microwave Devices; Micron-Accurate Laser Fresnel-Diffraction Ranging System; Efficient G(sup 4)FET-Based Logic Circuits; Web-Enabled Optoelectronic Particle-Fallout Monitor; SiO2/TiO2 Composite for Removing Hg from Combustion Exhaust; Lightweight Tanks for Storing Liquefied Natural Gas; Hybrid Wound Filaments for Greater Resistance to Impacts; Making High-Tensile-Strength Amalgam Components; Bonding by Hydroxide-Catalyzed Hydration and Dehydration; Balanced Flow Meters without Moving Parts; Deflection-Compensating Beam for Use inside a Cylinder; Four-Point-Latching Microactuator; Curved Piezoelectric Actuators for Stretching Optical Fibers; Tunable Optical Assembly with Vibration Dampening; Passive Porous Treatment for Reducing Flap Side-Edge Noise; Cylindrical Piezoelectric Fiber Composite Actuators; Patterning of Indium Tin Oxide Films; Gimballed Shoulders for Friction Stir Welding; Improved Thermal Modulator for Gas Chromatography; Nuclear-Spin Gyroscope Based on an Atomic Co-Magnetometer; Utilizing Ion-Mobility Data to Estimate Molecular Masses; Optical Displacement Sensor for Sub-Hertz Applications; Polarization/Spatial Combining of Laser-Diode Pump Beams; Spatial Combining of Laser-Diode Beams for Pumping an NPRO; Algorithm Optimally Orders Forward-Chaining Inference Rules; Project Integration Architecture; High Power Amplifier and Power Supply; Estimating Mixing Heights Using Microwave Temperature Profiler; and Multiple-Cone Sunshade for a Spaceborne Telescope.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1972

Surface truth measurements of optical properties of the waters in the northern Gulf of California

Gemini and Apollo flight photographs of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, and especially of the Colorado River delta and the northwestern Gulf of California, are considered. The clearly discernible water coloration in the imagery led to the suggestion that remote sensing techniques may be usefully applied in such areas to determine bathymetric information. Measurements of the optical properties of the water in this region obtained in March 1971 showed that generally low transmissivities prevailed and at no station did the beam transmittance for the total water column exceed 2.5 x 10 to the -8th power. It was concluded that any correlation between water depth and spectral radiance at the surface must result from secondarily related phenomena.

Austin, R. W.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Polarization-sensitive spectroradiometer - Two methods for overcoming the problems of measuring reflectance spectra

The spectra obtained using a spectroradiometer are incorrect if the incident light from the sample is polarized, and if, at the same time, polarization is introduced into the transmitted beam by components of the spectroradiometer. Two methods are proposed for obtaining correct power reflectance spectra. One way is to average two incorrect reflectance spectra, which are taken at mutually orthogonal angles of rotation of the radiometer about its optical axis. Another way is by averaging reflectance spectra of mutually orthogonal polarized light components. When the orientation of one component is chosen such that it is in the plane of polarization of the incoming light, the latter method also gives the correct degree of polarization.

Auer, S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

DC calibration of the strain sensitivity of a single mode optical fiber interferometer

The strain sensitivity of an optical fiber interferometer developed for the detection of pulsed ultrasonic waves in solids was calibrated. Light from the output ends of both fibers was superimposed to form an interference fringe pattern that was interrogated in the far field to give a signal proportional to the differential optical fiber path length. Strain sensitivity is determined by comparing data obtained by clamping and bending the bar at different lengths to simple cantilever beam theory. A minimum theoretical detectable strain of less than 10 to the minus 10th power is indicated.

Claus, R. O.↗

NASA NTRS2005

Holographic Optical Elements as Scanning Lidar Telescopes

We have developed and investigated the use of holographic optical elements (HOEs) and holographic transmission gratings for scanning lidar telescopes. For example, rotating a flat HOE in its own plane with the focal spot on the rotation axis makes a very simple and compact conical scanning telescope. We developed and tested transmission and reflection HOEs for use at the first three harmonic wavelengths of Nd:YAG lasers. The diffraction efficiency, diffraction angle, focal length, focal spot size and optical losses were measured for several HOEs and holographic gratings, and found to be suitable for use as lidar receiver telescopes, and in many cases could also serve as the final collimating and beam steering optic for the laser transmitter. Two lidar systems based on this technology have been designed, built, and successfully tested in atmospheric science applications. This technology will enable future spaceborne lidar missions by significantly lowering the size, weight, power requirement and cost of a large aperture, narrow field of view scanning telescope.

Schwemmer, Geary K.↗

NASA NTRS2008

The Radio Luminosity Function and Galaxy Evolution in the Coma Cluster

We investigate the radio luminosity function and radio source population for two fields within the Coma cluster of galaxies, with the fields centered on the cluster core and southwest infall region and each covering about half a square degree. Using VLA data with a typical rms sensitivity of 28 (mu)Jy per 4.4" beam, we identify 249 radio sources with optical counterparts brighter than r = 22 (equivalent to M(sub r) = -13 for cluster member galaxies). Comprehensive optical spectroscopy identifies 38 of these as members of the Coma cluster, evenly split between sources powered by an active nucleus and sources powered by active star formation. The radio-detected star-forming galaxies are restricted to radio luminosities between about 10(exp 21) and 10(exp 22) W/Hz, an interesting result given that star formation dominates field radio luminosity functions below about 10(exp 23) W/Hz. The majority of the radio-detected star-forming galaxies have characteristics of starbursts, including high specific star formation rates and optical spectra with strong emission lines. In conjunction with prior studies on post-starburst galaxies within the Coma cluster, this is consistent with a picture in which late-type galaxies entering Coma undergo a starburst prior to a rapid cessation of star formation. Optically bright elliptical galaxies (Mr less than or equals -20.5) make the largest contribution to the radio luminosity function at both the high (> approx. 3x10(exp 22) W/Hz) and low (< approx. 10(exp 21) W/Hz) ends. Through a stacking analysis of these optically-bright ellipticals we find that they continue to harbor radio sources down to luminosities as faint as 3x10(exp 19) W/Hz. However, contrary to published results for the Virgo cluster we find no evidence for the existence of a population of optically faint (M(sub r) approx. equals -14) dwarf ellipticals hosting strong radio AGN.

Miller, Neal A.↗

NASA NTRS1972

Reliability of hybrid microcircuit discrete components

Data accumulated during 4 years of research and evaluation of ceramic chip capacitors, ceramic carrier mounted active devices, beam-lead transistors, and chip resistors are presented. Life and temperature coefficient test data, and optical and scanning electron microscope photographs of device failures are presented and the failure modes are described. Particular interest is given to discrete component qualification, power burn-in, and procedures for testing and screening discrete components. Burn-in requirements and test data will be given in support of 100 percent burn-in policy on all NASA flight programs.

Allen, R. V.↗

NASA NTRS1988

X-ray mirror assessment with optical light

The imaging capability of a thin foil X-ray mirror has been examined with optical light, using a laser beam and a wide optical parallel beam. These measurements reveal that: (1) image broadening due to millimeter scale waviness (orange peel) of the aluminum substrate, partly intrinsic to the foil and partly caused during the foil treatment, is 1.2-min of arc half-power diameter (HPD) in two reflections; (2) slope errors due to foil shaping and misalignment cause broadening of 1.6-2.0-min of arc HPD; and (3) total broadening is about 3-min of arc HPD, which is consistent with the broadening of 2.6-min of arc HPD measured with X rays.

Kunieda, Hideyo↗

NASA NTRS1972

Bandwidth and threshold calculations for angle-tuned parametric oscillators.

The bandwidth of angle-tuned optical parametric oscillators, in some cases, is limited by the noncolinear interaction of the pump, signal, and idler beams, which results when the nonlinear material is rotated relative to the pump beam. To determine this bandwidth, a theoretical expression for the pump power threshold is derived in the near field limit taking into account double refraction for a noncolinear interaction. Angle tuning can be done by (1) rotating the crystal and mirrors as a unit, or by (2) rotating the crystal only. Expressions for determining the tuning rate and threshold increase for both tuning methods are derived.

Basu, R.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Development of far infrared attenuation to measure electron densities in cw pin discharge lasers

A two beam attenuation technique was devised to measure electron densities 10 to the 9th power to 10 to the 11th power cm/3 resolved to 1 cm, in a near atmospheric COFFEE laser discharge, using 496 micrometer and 1,220 micrometer radiations from CH3F, optically pumped by a CO2 laser. A far infrared generator was developed which was suitable except for a periodic intensity variation in FIR output deriving from frequency variation of the pump radiation.

Babcock, R. V.↗