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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 307 records · Page 17

EGRET Diffuse Gamma Ray Maps Between 30 MeV and 10 GeV

This paper presents all-sky maps of diffuse gamma radiation in various energy ranges between 30 MeV and 10 GeV, based on data collected by the EGRET instrument on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Although the maps can be used for a variety of applications. the immediate goal is the generation of diffuse gamma-ray maps which can be used as a diffuse background/foreground for point source analysis of the data to be obtained from new high-energy gamma-ray missions like GLAST and AGILE. To generate the diffuse gamma maps from the raw EGRET maps, the point sources in the Third EGRET Catalog were subtracted out using the appropriate point spread function for each energy range. After that, smoothing was performed to minimize the effects of photon statistical noise. A smoothing length of 1 deg vas used for the Galactic plane maps. For the all-sky maps, a procedure was used which resulted in a smoothing length roughly equivalent to 4 deg. The result of this work is 16 maps of different energy intervals for absolute value of b < or equal to 20 deg, and 32 all-sky maps, 16 in equatorial coordinates (J2000) and 16 in Galactic coordinates.

Cillis, A, N.↗

Energetic and radiative constraints on highly relativistic jets

We examine constraints on the energetics and radiative efficiencies of highly relativistic, synchrotron-emitting jets. If the observed intraday radio variability of compact radio sources is intrinsic and results from incoherent synchrotron radiation, then the associated jets must have bulk Lorentz factors in the range Gamma varies approximately 30 to 100, several times larger than the largest values inferred from superluminal expansion, and larger even than the values required to avoid the synchrotron self-Compton catastrophe. We show that such highly relativistic jets produce synchrotron radiation with extremely low radiative efficiency. As a result they must carry enormous kinetic energy fluxes, L(sub j) approximately greater than 10(exp 47)(Delta Omega/0.1 sr), where Delta Omega is the solid angle subtended by the jet, in order to produce 'apparent' synchrotron brightness temperatures approximately greater than 10(exp 16) K. Energy losses by such jets should be strongly dominated by Compton scattering of diffuse ambient radiation, and they should produce large X-ray and gamma-ray fluxes.

Begelman, Mitchell C.↗

Saturn's rings and Pioneer 11

Quantitative predictions of the diffuse reflection and transmission properties of Saturn's rings, relevant to the September 1979 Pioneer 11 flyby, are presented. Predictions are based on an elementary anisotropic scattering model. Interparticle separations are considered to be sufficiently large that mutual shadowing is negligible. Likely ranges in both the single scattering albedo and perpendicular optical thickness of the ring are considered. Situations of pronounced back-scattering and of isotropic scattering are treated individually. Spacecraft measurement of the radiation suffering diffuse scattering by the ring can provide a useful test of the basic ring model.

Price, M. J.↗

Impact of Nonabsorbing Anthropogenic Aerosols on Clear-Sky Atmospheric Absorption

Absorption of solar radiation by atmospheric aerosol has become recognized as important in regional and global climate. Nonabsorbing, hydrophilic aerosols, such as sulfate, potentially affect atmospheric absorption in opposing ways: first, decreasing absorption through aging initially hydrophobic black carbon (BC) to a hydrophilic state, enhancing its removal by wet scavenging, and consequently decreasing BC lifetime and abundance, and second, increasing absorption through enhancement of the BC absorption efficiency by internal mixing as well as through increasing the amount of diffuse solar radiation in the atmosphere. On the basis of General Circulation Model studies with an embedded microphysical aerosol module we systematically demonstrate the significance of these mechanisms both on the global and regional scales. In remote transport regions, the first mechanism prevails, reducing atmospheric absorption, whereas in the vicinity of source regions, despite enhanced wet scavenging, absorption is enhanced owing to the prevalence of the second mechanisms. Our findings imply that the sulfur to BC emission ratio plays a key role in aerosol absorption.

Stier, Philip↗

Thermal and dynamic partition of dumbbell interstitials in complex concentrated alloys

Complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) are promising candidates for applications in extreme conditions, such as irradiation where interstitial mediated diffusion is important. In CCAs with N principal elements, $\frac{N(N+1)}{2}$ types of dumbbell interstitials exist. Currently, there is no way to predict the thermal partition (fractional concentration at equilibrium) and the dynamic partition (fractional time an interstitial spends during diffusion) of each type of dumbbell interstitial. To mitigate this issue, this work proposes a theoretical model for computing the equilibrium concentrations and thermal partition of dumbbell interstitials in CCAs and validates the model using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. Lattice kinetic Monte Carlo simulations show that the thermal partition is equivalent to the dynamic partition, and both are governed by composition and formation energies of dumbbells. As a result, the model proposed provides a foundation for understanding radiation enhanced diffusion and induced segregation in CCAs under irradiation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Applicability of steady models for hot-star winds

Non-Sobolev models of radiatively driven stellar winds based on a pure-absorption approximation do not have a well-defined steady state. Here the implications of this for flow time-dependence are examined, showing that, under such circumstances, instabilities in the flow attain an absolute character that leads to intrinsic variability. In this case, steady solutions are inherently inapplicable because they do not represent physically realizable states. However, for actual hot-star winds, driving is principally by scattering, not pure absorption. In practice, the relatively weak force associated with slight asymmetries in the diffuse, scattered radiation field may play a crucial role in breaking the solution degeneracy and reducing the instability from an absolute to an advective character.

Owocki, Stanley P.↗

Preliminary results from the first satellite of a high-resolution germanium gamma-ray spectrometer: Description of instrument, some activation lines encountered, and studies of the diffuse spectra

Gamma radiation from terrestrial and extraterrestrial sources were investigated with a high resolution Ge(Li) spectrometer-cryogen system flown onboard a low altitude, spin stabilized, polar orbiting satellite. A brief description is given of the instrument and preliminary results obtained from earth orbit are discussed. Attempts were made to use angular distributions and geomagnetic latitude spectral variations to determine diffuse background spectrum, detect gamma ray line emissions from solar flares, and search for positron annihilation radiation coming from the direction of the galactic center.

Nakano, G. H.↗

The diffuse far-ultraviolet cosmic background radiation field observed from the Space Shuttle

The paper presents 17-A resolution spectra of the diffuse far-ultraviolet (1200-1700 A) cosmic background in eight regions of the sky obtained from the Johns Hopkins University UVX experiment aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-61C) in January 1986. A spectrally flat background is found with brightnesses between 100 and 700 + or - 200 photons/sq cm s sr A, with some evidence for spatial variations, but not for the high-intensity regions found by other experiments.

Murthy, J.↗

Stray light effects on calibrations using a solar diffuser

The sun is the intended source of radiation for a solar diffuser for the calibration of spacecraft radiometric sensors. Two unwanted sources have also been identified: (1) solar radiation reflected from the earth and scattered by the atmosphere, and (2) solar radiation reflected from surrounding spacecraft structures. This paper describes the determination of the stray radiation incident on the diffuser for the High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (HIRIS). Finally, the optimization of the calibration geometry is considered.

Palmer, James M.↗

Step-by-Step Simulation of Radiation Chemistry Using Green Functions for Diffusion-Influenced Reactions

Radiolytic species are formed approximately 1 ps after the passage of ionizing radiation through matter. After their formation, they diffuse and chemically react with other radiolytic species and neighboring biological molecules, leading to various oxidative damage. Therefore, the simulation of radiation chemistry is of considerable importance to understand how radiolytic species damage biological molecules [1]. The step-by-step simulation of chemical reactions is difficult, because the radiolytic species are distributed non-homogeneously in the medium. Consequently, computational approaches based on Green functions for diffusion-influenced reactions should be used [2]. Recently, Green functions for more complex type of reactions have been published [3-4]. We have developed exact random variate generators of these Green functions [5], which will allow us to use them in radiation chemistry codes. Moreover, simulating chemistry using the Green functions is which is computationally very demanding, because the probabilities of reactions between each pair of particles should be evaluated at each timestep [2]. This kind of problem is well adapted for General Purpose Graphic Processing Units (GPGPU), which can handle a large number of similar calculations simultaneously. These new developments will allow us to include more complex reactions in chemistry codes, and to improve the calculation time. This code should be of importance to link radiation track structure simulations and DNA damage models.

Plante, Ianik↗

A two-dimensional numerical study of the magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability with FLASH: Application to the staged Z-pinch concept

Magnetically driven implosions involving a liner collapsing onto a target are inherently vulnerable to the magneto-Rayleigh–Taylor instability (MRTI). Among the various approaches proposed to achieve fusion conditions within the target, the staged Z-pinch (SZP) concept employs a high-Z liner, the advantages of which remain an active area of investigation. Consequently, ongoing design optimization efforts are essential, while critical physical processes such as magnetic field (B-field) diffusion and radiation transport increase the complexity of required simulations. In this study, we utilize the new capabilities of the FLASH code to simulate in 2D, for the first time using this code, staged Z-pinch configurations (designated SZP1 and SZP1*), focusing on their stability. First, a comparison of simulation results with theoretical predictions of MRTI growth provide new insights into the often-overlooked influences of high mesh resolution and initial perturbation seeding on instability dynamics. These findings then lead to a discussion on potential improvements for future SZP experiments. These include the use of an axial B-field stabilization and the optimization of radiation transport processes during the implosion. The results presented herein establish the framework for simulating multi-dimensional Z pinches using the FLASH code and pave the way for the development of innovative experimental configurations leveraging its advanced simulation capabilities.

Adaptive mesh refinement↗