Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “quantitative”

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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Quantitative Analysis of Defects in Silicon

The evaluation and prediction of the conversion efficiency for a variety of silicon samples with differences in structural defects, such as grain boundaries, twin boundaries, precipitate particles, dislocations, etc. are discussed. Quantitative characterization of these structural defects, which were revealed by etching the surface of silicon samples, is performed by using an image analyzer. Due to different crystal growth and fabrication techniques the various types of silicon contain a variety of trace impurity elements and structural defects. The two most important criteria in evaluating the various silicon types for solar cell applications are cost and conversion efficiency.

Natesh, R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Quantitative energy extraction measurements in a photoionization-stabilized self-sustained XeF laser

Detailed time-correlated gain, fluorescence, and laser energy measurements were used to obtain quantitative data on energy extraction efficiencies for a photoionization-stabilized self-sustained XeF laser. A current pulse of 25 ns full width at half-maximum produced an 80-cu-cm XeF plasma in NF3:Xe:He gas mixtures with a maximum output energy of 80 mJ. The results show that the maximum small-signal gain and the maximum specific output energy is proportional to the NF3 content of the gas mixture. This suggests that there is an optimum fractional utilization of the NF3 molecules in the discharge. Under high-gain conditions, 30-40% of the energy stored in XeF(asterisk) can be extracted in a gain-switched pulse. The output energy represents less than 1% of the input energy.

Lee, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Modeling the Earth's radiation belts. A review of quantitative data based electron and proton models

The evolution of quantitative models of the trapped radiation belts is traced to show how the knowledge of the various features has developed, or been clarified, by performing the required analysis and synthesis. The Starfish electron injection introduced problems in the time behavior of the inner zone, but this residue decayed away, and a good model of this depletion now exists. The outer zone electrons were handled statistically by a log normal distribution such that above 5 Earth radii there are no long term changes over the solar cycle. The transition region between the two zones presents the most difficulty, therefore the behavior of individual substorms as well as long term changes must be studied. The latest corrections to the electron environment based on new data are outlined. The proton models have evolved to the point where the solar cycle effect at low altitudes is included. Trends for new models are discussed; the feasibility of predicting substorm injections and solar wind high-speed streams make the modeling of individual events a topical activity.

Vette, J. I.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Quantitative ultrasonic evaluation of engineering properties in metals, composites and ceramics

Ultrasonic technology from the perspective of nondestructive evaluation approaches to material strength prediction and property verification is reviewed. Emergent advanced technology involving quantitative ultrasonic techniques for materials characterization is described. Ultrasonic methods are particularly useful in this area because they involve mechanical elastic waves that are strongly modulated by the same morphological factors that govern mechanical strength and dynamic failure processes. It is emphasized that the technology is in its infancy and that much effort is still required before all the available techniques can be transferred from laboratory to industrial environments.

Vary, A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A quantitative analysis of inter-island telephony traffic in the Pacific Basin Region (PBR)

As part of NASA's continuing assessment of future communication satellite requirements, a study was conducted to quantitatively scope current and future telecommunication traffic demand in the South Pacific Archipelagos. This demand was then converted to equivalent satellite transponder capacities. Only inter-island telephony traffic for the Pacific Basin Region was included. The results show that if all this traffic were carried by a satellite system, one-third of a satellite transponder would be needed to satisfy the base-year (1976-1977) requirement and about two-thirds of a satellite transponder would be needed to satisfy the forecasted 1985 requirement.

Evans, D. D.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Quantitative modeling of planetary magnetospheric magnetic fields

Three new quantitative models of the earth's magnetospheric magnetic field have recently been presented: the Olson-Pfitzer model, the Tsyganenko model, and the Voigt model. The paper reviews these models in some detail with emphasis on the extent to which they have succeeded in improving on earlier models. The models are compared with the observed field in both magnitude and direction. Finally, the application to other planetary magnetospheres of the techniques used to model the earth's magnetospheric magnetic field is briefly discussed.

Walker, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Quantitative representation of nonrepetitive temporal behavior

Analytical representations suitable to analyze the nonrepetitive pulse-like temporal behavior of physical quantities are derived. The representation utilizes solutions of a linear model equation in which the temporal variation is subject to time-dependent driving and dissipative forces. The property of solutions is described, and it is shown that such representations can provide a basis for quantitative comparisons of behaviors and a basis for physically meaningful interpretations of the results. Observations of solar flares in the soft X-ray flux have been analyzed with this method.

Nakagawa, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Quantitative laboratory spectra and spectral line parameters for the nu2 and nu4 bands of PH3 applicable to spectral radiative models of the atmosphere of Jupiter

Quantitative laboratory PH3 absorption spectra were obtained in the 800-1350/cm region, at approximately 0.05/cm resolution, with gas amounts corresponding to observed PH3 absorptions in the atmosphere of Jupiter. A compilation of spectral line positions, intensities and ground state energies has been generated for the nu2 and nu4 bands of PH3. Line-by-line calculations have been compared with the experimental spectra.

Goldman, A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Quantitative absorption and fluorescence studies of NO between 1060 and 2000 A

Synchrotron radiation in the 1060 to 2000 A region was used to measure the average absorption and fluorescence cross sections of NO and to determine approximate photodissociation quantum yields. Several vibrational levels of the D(2) sigma(+), E(2) sigma(+), and B(2) delta states have high fluorescence quantum yields. The C(2) and B(2) states do not fluoresce when the excitation energies are above the first dissociation limit, in accord with previous experiments. In general, the fluorescence yields decrease with increasing photon energy. The quantitative measurements are compared with spectroscopic observations and are found to be reasonably consistent.

Guest, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Quantitative tests for plate tectonics on Venus

Quantitative comparisons are made between the characteristics of plate tectonics on the earth and those which are possible on Venus. Considerations of the factors influencing rise height and relating the decrease in rise height to plate velocity indicate that the rate of topographic dropoff from spreading centers should be about half that on earth due to greater rock-fluid density contrast and lower temperature differential between the surface and interior. Statistical analyses of Pioneer Venus radar altimetry data and global earth elevation data is used to identify 21,000 km of ridge on Venus and 33,000 km on earth, and reveal Venus ridges to have a less well-defined mode in crest heights and a greater concavity than earth ridges. Comparison of the Venus results with the spreading rates and associated heat flow on earth reveals plate creation rates on Venus to be 0.7 sq km/year or less and indicates that not more than 15% of Venus's energy is delivered to the surface by plate tectonics, in contrast to values of 2.9 sq km a year and 70% for earth.

Kaula, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The quantitative methodology of remote sensing: An educator's perspective

Strategies for teaching the fundamentals of quantitative remote sensing to students from diverse disciplines and with a broad range of mathematical backgrounds are described. Because the concepts are fairly abstract and complex, the successful educator must take care to motivate and assist the students in mastering the concepts. He/she should strive to communicate intuitive notions of the concepts couched in settings as familiar as possible and use these settings to illustrate each mathematical or statistical formulation which is introduced. The utilization of laboratory-type experiences and lectures from experts is also suggested.

Swain, P. H.↗
NASA NTRS1982

GIS Integration for Quantitatively Determining the Capabilities of Five Remote Sensors for Resource Exploration

To assist the U.S. Geological Survey in carrying out a Congressional mandate to investigate the use of side-looking airborne radar (SLAR) for resources exploration, a research program was conducted to define the contribution of SLAR imagery to structural geologic mapping and to compare this with contributions from other remote sensing systems. Imagery from two SLAR systems and from three other remote sensing systems was interpreted, and the resulting information was digitized, quantified and intercompared using a computer-assisted geographic information system (GIS). The study area covers approximately 10,000 square miles within the Naval Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, and is situated between the foothills of the Brooks Range and the North Slope. The principal objectives were: (1) to establish quantitatively, the total information contribution of each of the five remote sensing systems to the mapping of structural geology; (2) to determine the amount of information detected in common when the sensors are used in combination; and (3) to determine the amount of unique, incremental information detected by each sensor when used in combination with others. The remote sensor imagery that was investigated included real-aperture and synthetic-aperture radar imagery, standard and digitally enhanced LANDSAT MSS imagery, and aerial photos.

Pascucci, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A quantitative model of geomagnetic activity

A quantitative model of geomagnetic activity is developed and utilized to investigate the causes of the diurnal, seasonal, and IMF sector variations in the AL index records. This auroral index was chosen for study because of its high sensitivity to the strength of the westward electrojet and, hence, magnetospheric substorm activity. After the introduction of corrections for processes not related to substorms, ability of the function Bs to the 0.85th power x V squared to produce the observed variations in AL was examined. The annual variation of Bs was determined by superposing the contributions to Bs due to the inclination of the magnetic axis (Russell and McPherron, 1973) on an empirical mean distribution of Bz. V was assumed constant. The predicted values of ALc have been compared with observed averages for 9 years of solar cycle 20. The predicted annual variation of ALc for toward and away sectors are in good agreement with observation. While the predicted semi-annual component of ALc is in phase with observation, it is less than half the observed amplitude. The predicted diurnal variation of ALc for June is in satisfactory agreement with observation.

Holzer, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

A quantitative study relating observed shear in photospheric magnetic fields to repeated flaring

In this paper a quantitative evaluation of the shear in the magnetic field along the neutral line in an active region during an epoch of flare activity is presented. Shear is defined as the angular difference in the photosphere between the potential magnetic field, which fits the boundary conditions imposed by the observed line-of-sight field, and the observed magnetic field. For the active region studied, this angular difference (shear) is non-uniform along the neutral line with maxima occurring at the locations of repeated flare onsets. It is suggested that continued magnetic evolution causes the field's maximum shear to exceed a critical value of shear, resulting in a flare around the site of maximum shear. Evidently, the field at the site of the flare must relax to a state of shear somewhat below the critical value (but still far from potential), with subsequent evolution returning the field to the critical threshold. This inference is drawn because several flares occured at sites of maximum photospheric shear which were persistent in location.

Hagyard, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Quantitative use of multiincidence-angle SAR for geologic mapping

It is proposed that techniques be developed and used for quantitative interpretation of shuttle imaging radar-B (SIR-B) data for lithologic identification and mapping. The use of backscatter versus incidence angle signatures derived from SIR-B images is to be investigated. The use of SIR-B with other sensors for geologic mapping is also to be considered. Anticipated results are discussed in terms of geologic mapping.

Farr, T. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Quantitative Analyses of Planetary Reflectance Spectra

The development of a set of quantitative models to analyze planetary reflectance spectra as a function of microscopic and macroscopic mineral mixtures, particle size, and illumination geometry is considered. The approach has been to simplify more sophisticated algorithms to include the smallest number of parameters possible, consistent with being able to use them to produce useful results. This means that they should be able to model the data to within the accuracy obtainable by laboratory, telescopic, and space instrumentation (roughly 1%). The algorithms are ideally given in terms of parameters that are directly measureable (such as spectral reflectance or particle size).

Johnson, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Quantitative Alterations in the Function of Bone Forming Cells Due to Reduced Weight Bearing

Rats subjected to spaceflight or suspended in a non-weight bearing position for 2 to 3 weeks, show a significant reduction in new bone formation. This reduction is associated with a decrease in akaline phosphatase activity in the differentiated osteoblast population. Those cells in the siaphyseal region of bone are more affected than the same cell type in metaphyseal bone. Measurements of alkaline phosphate activity in specific regions of bone, and the autoradiographic localization of H(3) proline in bone forming areas are described. Concomitant with decreased bone matrix synthesis, the osteoblast population also demonstrate changes in the Golgi/lysosomal complex as a result of whole animal suspension. Morphometric techniques are being applied for quantitation of the lysosomal population and the percentage of lysosomal or Golgi bodies containing acid phosphatase activity.

Doty, S. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Quantitation of Na+, K+-atpase Enzymatic Activity in Tissues of the Mammalian Vestibular System

In order to quantify vestibular Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, a microassay technique was developed which is sufficiently sensitive to measure the enzymatic activity in tissue from a single animal. The assay was used to characterize ATPase in he vestibular apparatus of the Mongolian gerbil. The quantitative procedure employs NPP (5 mM) as synthetic enzyme substrate. The assay relies upon spectrophotometric measurement (410 nm) of nitrophenol (NP) released by enzymatic hydrolysis of the substrate. Product formation in the absence of ouabain reflects both specific (Na(+), K(+)-ATPase) and non-specific (Mg(++)-ATPase) enzymatic activity. By measuring the accumulation of reaction product (NP) at three-minute intervals during the course of incubation, it is found that the overall enzymatic reaction proceeds linearly for at least 45 minutes. It is therefore possible to determine two separate reaction rates from a single set of tissues. Initial results indicate that total activity amounts to 53.3 + or - 11.2 (S.E.M.) nmol/hr/mg dry tissue, of which approximately 20% is ouabain-sensitive.

Kerr, T. P.↗