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At least 307 records · Page 17

The Rapidly Moving Telescope: an Instrument for the Precise Study of Optical Transients

The development of a small telescope with a very rapid pointing capability is described whose purpose is to search for and study fast optical transients that may be associated with gamma-ray bursts and other phenomena. The primary motivation for this search is the discovery of the existence of a transient optical event from the known location of a gamma-ray bursts. The telescope has the capability of rapidly acquiring any target in the night sky within 0.7 second and locating the object's position with + or - 1 arcsec accuracy. The initial detection of the event is accomplished by the MIT explosive transient camera or ETC. This provides rough pointing coordinates to the RMT on the average within approximately 1 second after the detection of the event.

Teegarden, B. J.↗

Data and results of a laboratory investigation of microprocessor upset caused by simulated lightning-induced analog transients

A methodology was developed a assess the upset susceptibility/reliability of a computer system onboard an aircraft flying through a lightning environment. Upset error modes in a general purpose microprocessor were studied. The upset tests involved the random input of analog transients which model lightning induced signals onto interface lines of an 8080 based microcomputer from which upset error data was recorded. The program code on the microprocessor during tests is designed to exercise all of the machine cycles and memory addressing techniques implemented in the 8080 central processing unit. A statistical analysis is presented in which possible correlations are established between the probability of upset occurrence and transient signal inputs during specific processing states and operations. A stochastic upset susceptibility model for the 8080 microprocessor is presented. The susceptibility of this microprocessor to upset, once analog transients have entered the system, is determined analytically by calculating the state probabilities of the stochastic model.

Belcastro, C. M.↗

The containment set approach to digital system tolerance of lightning-induced transient faults

A fault model and a system model are necessary to assess the tolerance or resilience of a digital system to lightning-induced transients. It is noted that these models are usually developed separately. A new approach is outlined here for this assessment problem which combines the fault and system models into an overall model. With this approach, referred to as the containment set approach, an assessment of the effects of lightning-induced transients can be made in terms of a state transition matrix. This matrix can be generated by means of fault injection experiments. In addition, certain nonredundancy-oriented design alternatives to the achievement of lightning-induced transient tolerance in digital systems are indicated by the containment set approach.

Masson, G. M.↗

Density distribution in looplike coronal transients - A comparison of observations and a theoretical model

Skylab coronagraph observations of intensity changes in the five outer coronal 'loop-like' transients indicate trends toward the greatest concentration of material at the flanks of the bright loops characterizing such transients, together with the presence of a large depleted density region within the loops and the development of bright legs which contain most of the material in the transient and display minimal lateral motion as the top of the bright loop moves radially outward through the corona. Theoretical models for these phenomena predict a maximum enhancement at the top of the loop, rather than at the flanks, and legs that move laterally with a significant fraction of the propagation speed of the loop top, in contrast with observation. Agreement cannot be achieved without the use of a geometry that conflicts with that used for the model calculations.

Sime, D. G.↗

Flares in Hale 17760 - Magnetic transients in the 1981 July 27 flare

Several magnetic transients were observed in the flare of July 27, 1981 using the videomagnetograph at Big Bear Solar Observatory. Images in the Fe I 5324 A line used by the magnetograph showed emission in the area of the transients. Calculations show that the emission observed will explain the magnetic transient features, provided the magnetic field has two components: a strong and a weak or zero field. The elements of each field must be less than 1 arcsec in size, and the strong field must occupy less than 20 percent of the total area.

Patterson, A.↗

The complex coronal transient of 1980 March 23

The time evolution of the coronal transient of 1980 March 23 is described, which contains as substructures a dark loop and an area of depletion similar to those seen by Fisher, Garcia, and Seagraves. The mass ejection pushes aside preexisting streamers, giving rise to the characteristic dark area with bright flanks seen in difference images of depletion transients. Time-height plots for five identifiable features in the transient event are shown; these substructures have velocities interrelated in a way approximately consistent with the hypothesis of self-similar MHD propagation. This implies that the event as a whole may be a self-similar dynamical system, and that the substructure loops are not independent units. A scenario for the event is presented, in which it is considered as a large, complex system which evolves dynamically as a whole.

Illing, R. M. E.↗

Circuit transients due to negative bias arcs on a high-voltage solar array in low Earth orbit

Arcing to negatively biased, exposed solar cell interconnects on solar arrays placed in plasma environments was established. Arcing, however, may cause damaging interference with the operation of electrical power systems in spacecraft planned to be driven with high-voltage solar arrays. An analytical model was developed to estimate the effects of netagive bias arcs on solar array power system performance. Solar cell characteristics, plasma interactions, and power system features are modeled by a linear, lumped element transient circuit, and the time domain equations are solved. Numerical results for solar array common mode and load voltage transients are calculated for typical conditions. Acceptable load transients are found for a range of arc current amplitudes and time constants.

Metz, R. N.↗

Transient technique for measuring heat transfer coefficients on stator airfoils in a jet engine environment

A transient technique was used to measure heat transfer coefficients on stator airfoils in a high-temperature annular cascade at real engine conditions. The transient response of thin film thermocouples on the airfoil surface to step changes in the gas stream temperature was used to determine these coefficients. In addition, gardon gages and paired thermocouples were also utilized to measure heat flux on the airfoil pressure surface at steady state conditions. The tests were conducted at exit gas stream Reynolds numbers of one-half to 1.9 million based on true chord. The results from the transient technique show good comparison with the steady-state results in both trend and magnitude. In addition, comparison is made with the STAN5 boundary layer code and shows good comparison with the trends. However, the magnitude of the experimental data is consistently higher than the analysis.

Gladden, H. J.↗

Rotor response for transient unbalance changes in a nonlinear simulation

Transient unbalance shifts were determined not to excite a rotor instability in the high pressure turbomachinery of the Space Shuttle Main Engine using the current rotor dynamic models. Sudden unbalance changes of relatively small magnitudes during fast-speed ramps showed stable nonsynchronous motion depending on the resultant unbalance distribution at subsequent high speed dwells. Transient moment unbalance may initiate a limit cycle subsynchronous response that shortly decays, but a persistent subsynchronous with large amplitudes was never achieved. These limit cycle subsynchronous amplitudes appear to be minimized with lower unbalance magnitudes, which indicates improved rotor balancing would sustain synchronous motion only. The transient unbalance phenomenon was determined to be an explanation for synchronous response shifts often observed during engine tests.

Hine, M. J.↗

Magnetic fields on the sun and the north-south component of transient variations of the interplanetary magnetic field at 1 AU

In order to study the relationship between solar magnetic fields and the transient variations of the north-south component B(Z) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) at 1 AU, flares from unusual north-south oriented active regions, large IMF B(Z) events, and large flares with comprehensive flare index higher than 12 were collected. The associated IMF B(Z) changes or the magnetic field of the initiating flares are investigated. For those cases where an association between a transient B(Z) variation and an initiating flare is plausible, it is found that, for a given flare field, the orientation of the corresponding transient variation of B(Z) may be in agreement with the flare field, opposite to it, or more often, fluctuating in both magnitude and direction. Conversely, an IMF B(Z) event may originate in a flare field in the same magnetic orientation, opposite to it, or in the east-west orientation.

Tang, F.↗

A multiple type-II burst associated with a coronal transient and its MHD simulation

A large coronal transient took place on May 8, 1981. The transient was related to an M7.7/2B flare and was associated with at least two coronal type-II bursts. The velocities of the type-II bursts were in the range 1100-1800 km/s, in excess of the transient velocity of 1000 km/s. Two dimensional positions of the type-II radio sources are available from both the Clark Lake and the Culgoora Radio Observatories. Two dimensional MHD simulations of the event are carried out, taking into account the observed velocity, position, and size of the type-II bursts. The multiple shocks observed during the event and their interaction are simulated, and results of the simulation are discussed.

Gergely, T. E.↗

The effects of transient rheology on the interpretation of lower mantle viscosity

The role played by transient rheology in the interpretation of mantle viscosity is reexamined. The investigation has been carried out by comparing the amplitude responses with the data of secular variation of J(2), the relative sea-level histories at sites well within the ice margins and at the ice margin like the city of Boston. A linear Burgers body rheology has been assumed in ther lower mantle. The data near the edge of the ice load proves most sensitive to the transient viscosity structure. The non-monotonic behavior of sea-level data near Boston can be explained both by a steady-state lower mantle viscosity of 10 to the 22nd P with a thick lithosphere and by a transient lower mantle rheology but with a thin lithosphere. The long-term viscosity of the lower mantle in this second model has a steady-state value of around 5 x 10 to the 23rd P.

Sabadini, R.↗

Transient technique for measuring heat transfer coefficients on stator airfoils in a jet engine environment

A transient technique was used to measure heat transfer coefficients on stator airfoils in a high-temperature annular cascade at real engine conditions. The transient response of thin film thermocouples on the airfoil surface to step changes in the gas stream temperature was used to determine these coefficients. In addition, gardon gages and paired thermocouples were also utilized to measure heat flux on the airfoil pressure surface at steady state conditions. The tests were conducted at exit gas stream Reynolds numbers of one-half to 1.9 million based on true chord. The results from the transient technique show good comparison with the steady-state results in both trend and magnitude. In addition, comparison is made with the STAN5 boundary layer code and shows good comparison with the trends. However, the magnitude of the experimental data is consistently higher than the analysis.

Gladden, H. J.↗

Analytical comparison of transient and steady state visual evoked cortical potentials

To better describe the linear-dynamic properties of the human visual-cortical response system, transient and steady state Visual Evoked Response Potentials (VERP) were observed. The stimulus presentation device provided both the evoking stimulus (flickering or pulsing lights) and a video task display. The steady state stimulus was modulated by a complex, ten frequency, sum-of-sines, wave. The transient VERP was the time-locked average of the EEG to a series of narrow light pulses (pulse width of 10 msec). The Fourier transform of the averaged pulses had properties that approximate band limited white noise, i.e., a flat spectrum over the frequency region spanned by the 10 summed sines. The Fourier transform of both the steady state and the transient evoked potentials resulted in transfer that are equivalent and therefore comparable. To investigate the effects of task loading on evoked potentials, a grammatical reasoning task was provided. Results support the relevancy of continued application of a systems engineering approach for describing neurosensory functioning.

Junker, A. M.↗

White-light and radio sounding observations of coronal transients

A concerted search for coronal transients was conducted with the 'Solwind' coronagraph during the solar occultations of the two Helios spacecraft in October/November 1979. The polarization angle and bandwidth of the linearly polarized S-band downlink signal were monitored at the three 64-m tracking stations of the NASA Deep Space Network to determine coronal Faraday rotation and spectral broadening. A one-to-one correspondence could be established between abrupt disturbances in the two signal parameters and the passage of a white-light transient through the signal ray path from spacecraft to earth. The white-light morphology and the additional information provided by the radio sounding coverage are presented for each of the five distinct events recorded. Although no specific example could be observed in sufficient detail in both white light and Faraday rotation to derive the small-scale magnetic structure, some qualitative descriptions of the orientation and rough estimates of the magnitude of the transient magnetic field could be made.

Bird, M. K.↗

A theory of post-stall transients in axial compression systems. I - Development of equations

An approximate theory is presented for post-stall transients in multistage axial compression systems. The theory leads to a set of three simultaneous nonlinear third-order partial differential equations for pressure rise, and average and disturbed values of flow coefficient, as functions of time and angle around the compressor. By a Galerkin procedure, angular dependence is averaged, and the equations become first order in time. These final equations are capable of describing the growth and possible decay of a rotating-stall cell during a compressor mass-flow transient. It is shown how rotating-stall-like and surgelike motions are coupled through these equations, and also how the instantaneous compressor pumping characteristic changes during the transient stall process.

Moore, F. K.↗

A theory of post-stall transients in axial compression systems. II - Application

Using the theory developed in Part I, calculations have been carried out to show the evolution of the mass flow, pressure rise, and rotating-stall cell amplitude during compression system post-stall transients. In particular, it is shown that the unsteady growth or decay of the stall cell can have a significant effect on the instantaneous compressor pumping characteristic and hence on the overall system behavior. A limited parametric study is carried out to illustrate the impact of different system features on transient behavior. It is shown, for example, that the ultimate mode of system response, surge or stable rotating stall, depends not only on the B parameter, but also on the compressor length-to-radius ratio. Small values of this latter quantity tend to favor the occurrence of surge, as do large values of B. Based on the analytical and numerical results, several specific topics are suggested for future research on post-stall transients.

Greitzer, E. M.↗

Transient response of Ge:Be and Ge:Zn FIR photoconductors under low background photon flux conditions

An experimental study of the transient behavior of Ge:Be and Ge:Zn photoconductors to changes in photon flux rates has been performed under the low background flux conditions (10 to the 8th photon/s) typical of astronomy and astrophysics applications. A characteristic transient behavior with time constants ranging from 0.1 to greater than 5 s has been observed in both materials when the shallow levels are very closely compensated. The detector response consists of both a fast and a slow component. The amplitude of the slow component can be up to 10 times greater than the initial fast component. It has been established that this phenomenon cannot be explained by current models of carrier sweep-out or dielectric relaxation. The transient behavior has been characterized as a function of temperature, electric field, photoconductive gain and material parameters.

Haegel, N. M.↗