Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “contrast sensitivity”

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 325 records · Page 18

Contrasting landform perception with varied radar illumination geometries and at simulated resolutions of Venera and Magellan

The high sensitivity of imaging radars to slope at moderate to low incidence angles enhances the perception of linear topography on images. It reveals broad spatial patterns that are essential to landform mapping and interpretation. As radar responses are strongly directional, the ability to discriminate linear features on images varies with their orientation. Landforms that appear prominent on images where they are transverse to the illumination may be obscure to indistinguishable on images where they are parallel to it. Landform detection is also influenced by the spatial resolution in radar images. Seasat radar images of the Gran Desierto Dunes complex, Sonora, Mexico; the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province; and accreted terranes in eastern interior Alaska were processed to simulate both Venera 15 and 16 images (1000 to 3000 km resolution) and image data expected from the Magellan mission (120 to 300 m resolution. The Gran Desierto Dunes are not discernable in the Venera simulation, whereas the higher resolution Magellan simulation shows dominant dune patterns produced from differential erosion of the rocks. The Magellan simulation also shows that fluvial processes have dominated erosion and exposure of the folds.

Ford, J. P.↗

Response of the Current Climate to Land‐Ocean Contrasts in Parameterized Cumulus Entrainment

Abstract Cumulus entrainment substantially regulates the earth's climate but remains poorly constrained in global climate models. Recent studies have shown that cumulus bulk entrainment (or dilution) is particularly sensitive to continentality, with the entrainment rate in simulated maritime cumuli nearly double that of continental cumuli. This study examines the impacts of such land–ocean entrainment contrasts on the current climate using 21‐year simulations with the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's High‐Resolution Atmospheric Model (HIRAM). In response to a 25% reduction in the HIRAM entrainment parameter c 0 over land, precipitation over tropical land regions increases by up to 40%. Along with directly facilitating enhanced convective precipitation, this c 0 reduction induces an increase in soil moisture, which may contribute to a further enhancement of convective precipitation over land. A 25% c 0 reduction over the oceans leads to more widespread modifications of convection patterns, with the strongest signal in the tropical Pacific. Deep convection shifts upstream (eastward) there, inducing enhanced large‐scale ascent over the central Pacific with compensating subsidence and reduced humidity and precipitation over the western Pacific (WP). Land–ocean variations in c 0 project onto the Pacific Walker circulation, with the 25% land reduction strengthening it by 4% and the 25% ocean reduction weakening it by 14%. These changes are driven by variations in convective and large‐scale stratiform heating over the Pacific. While reduced c 0 over land enhances diabatic heating in the Maritime Continent to strengthen the Walker circulation, reduced c 0 over the oceans decreases diabatic heating in the WP to weaken the Walker circulation.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

High-resolution in-situ characterization of laser powder bed fusion via transmission X-ray microscopy at X-ray free electron lasers

In this work, we describe the instrumentation used to perform the first operando transmission X-ray microscopy (TXM) and simultaneous X-ray diffraction of laser melting simulating laser powder bed fusion on the XCS instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). Our TXM with 40× magnification in the X-ray regime at 11 keV gave spatial resolutions down to 940 nm per line pair, with effective pixel sizes down to 206 nm, image integration times of <100 fs, and frame rates tunable between 2.1 and 119 ns for two probe frames (0.48 GHz to 8.4 MHz). Images were recorded on Zyla and Icarus (UXI) detectors to trade off between spatial resolution and time dynamics. A 1 kW CW IR laser was coupled into the interaction point to conduct pump–probe studies of laser melting and solidification dynamics. Our temporal and spatial resolution with attenuation-based contrast exceeds that currently possible with synchrotron-based high-speed radiography. This system was sensitive to feature velocities of 10–12000 m s −1 but we did not observe any motion in this range in the laser melting of Al6061 alloy. Shockwaves were not observed and hot cracking proceeded at velocities below the detection limits. Pore accumulation was observed between successive shots, indicating that bubble escape mechanisms were not active. With proper experimental design, the spatial resolution, contrast and field of view could be further improved or modified. The increased brightness and narrower bandwidth of the XFEL allowed for this imaging technique and it lays the groundwork for a wide range of operando techniques to study additive manufacturing.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Quasi-Floquet Prethermalization in a Disordered Dipolar Spin Ensemble in Diamond

Floquet (periodic) driving has recently emerged as a powerful technique for engineering quantum systems and realizing nonequilibrium phases of matter. A central challenge to stabilizing quantum phenomena in such systems is the need to prevent energy absorption from the driving field. Fortunately, when the frequency of the drive is significantly larger than the local energy scales of the many-body system, energy absorption is suppressed. The existence of this so-called prethermal regime depends sensitively on the range of interactions and the presence of multiple driving frequencies. Here, we report the observation of Floquet prethermalization in a strongly interacting dipolar spin ensemble in diamond, where the angular dependence of the dipolar coupling helps to mitigate the long-ranged nature of the interaction. Moreover, we extend our experimental observation to quasi-Floquet drives with multiple incommensurate frequencies. In contrast to a single-frequency drive, we find that the existence of prethermalization is extremely sensitive to the smoothness of the applied field. In conclusion, our results open the door to stabilizing and characterizing nonequilibrium phenomena in quasiperiodically driven systems.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Assessing the Variability of Radiation, Water and Energy in the Deep Tropics Over the Last 3 Decades

Global surface energy closure and its variability depends heavily upon the surface radiative energy budget in the deep tropics. A key process observed is the change in convection regimes from disorganized convection to organized deep convection. During these periods an imbalance is observed between energy and water fluxes in terms of energy closure in some atmospheric reanalysis systems, implying that processes are not simulated well. A recent paper by Hsaio et al (2023, pre-published version) found that the transition process has wind shear and longwave cloud radiative feedback signatures. In this presentation, we assess the surface radiative budget in the deep tropics by comparing multiple data products (GEWEX SRB Rel4IP, CERES Ed4.1, ISSCP FH, etc.) and describing the variability across the deep tropics for the period from 1988 to near present. We assess this variability of the radiative flux anomalies (including the net TOA, surface and the atmospheric divergence fluxes) against water vapor divergence, cloud properties (include ISCCP “Weather States, Tselioudis et al. 2021) and larger scale wind shear. We include further analysis contrasting 6 key tropical oceanic regions (Indian Ocean east and west, tropical western, central and eastern Pacific Ocean, and Tropical Atlantic Ocean) and the sensitivity of the fluxes as a function of fluctuations in cloud types in response to various larger scale atmospheric processes (e.g. El Niño, Indian Ocean Dipole). These are contrasted against the modeled radiative fluxes from ERA-5 and MERRA-2. Ocean buoy measurements of radiative fluxes are utilized to help assess data radiative flux uncertainty over the nearly 40 year period. In general, the variability for overlap periods of these various data products agrees well, but there are significant differences in the net fluxes that vary according to the rendering of surface, atmospheric, aerosol and cloud properties. We conclude with recommendations for continuing work.

Radiation budget↗

Limits on Arcminute Scale Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy with the BIMA Array

We have used the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland-Association (BIMA) millimeter array outfitted with sensitive cm-wave receivers to search for Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies on arcminute scales. The interferometer was placed in a compact configuration which produces high brightness sensitivity, while providing discrimination against point sources. Operating at a frequency of 28.5 GHz, the FWHM primary beam of the instrument is 6.6 arcminutes. We have made sensitive images of seven fields, five of which where chosen specifically to have low IR dust contrast and be free of bright radio sources. Additional observations with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) millimeter array were used to assist in the location and removal of radio point sources. Applying a Bayesian analysis to the raw visibility data, we place limits on CMB anisotropy flat-band power Q_flat = 5.6 (+3.0, -5.6) uK and Q_flat < 14.1 uK at 68% and 95% confidence. The sensitivity of this experiment to flat band power peaks at a multipole of l = 5470, which corresponds to an angular scale of approximately 2 arcminutes The most likely value of Q_flat is similar to the level of the expected secondary anisotropies.

Holzapfel, W. L.↗

Integrating Experiments and Simulations to Reveal Anisotropic Growth Mechanisms and Interfaces of a One-Dimensional Zeolite

Zeolites are nanoporous crystalline materials critical for diverse industrial applications, yet their growth mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, this study presents a novel integrated framework combining experimental synthesis, high-resolution imaging, coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, and computer vision to uncover the mechanisms of growth of SSZ-24, a 1D channel zeolite. We demonstrate how synthesis conditions, such as temperature and reactant concentration, govern crystal anisotropy and surface roughness with growth dynamics differing markedly by crystallographic orientation. Along the channels, growth involves minimal energy barriers and rapid nucleation, resulting in rough surfaces. In contrast, growth perpendicular to the channels requires cooperative molecular organization and is highly sensitive to thermodynamic and kinetic conditions, yielding smooth anisotropic surfaces under low driving forces. By simulating transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, we bridge molecular-scale simulations with experimental observations, identifying distinct growth mechanisms along different crystal planes. This work offers molecular-level insights into zeolite crystallization, advancing the rational design of nanoporous materials. The integration of cross-disciplinary methodologies establishes a transformative framework for optimizing zeolite synthesis, with implications for broader classes of materials.

Bertolazzo, Andressa A. [Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake ↗

Quantitative x ray phase contrast imaging of oblique shock wave–interface interactions

Oblique shock wave–interface interactions of gases and liquids have been extensively studied in shock tubes using optical methods to measure equation-of-state (EOS) parameters. However, this is difficult with solids due to their opaqueness to visible light. X ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) has the penetrative strength to probe solids while still being sensitive to mass density and enhancing the visibility of material boundaries. We investigate the accuracy and repeatability of measuring the mean value of the average mass density (areal density divided by thickness) over region S (B S ) and flow deflection angle (θ) from XPCI images of a sample. To that end, a Hough transform-based method for measuring θ is developed. To measure B S , the XPCI image intensity probability density function (PDF) is modeled accounting for the spatial distribution of x ray energy, scintillator response, and pulse-to-pulse variation in the x ray intensity. In addition, a Monte Carlo-based algorithm for computing the B S PDF is developed. Both methods are validated on an impact-generated oblique shock wave interacting at a solid polymer-to-polymer interface. Furthermore this is accomplished through a comparison to hydrodynamic simulations using well-established EOS. Under the modeling framework for the XPCI image intensity, B S is computed with an accuracy of < 0.1% and precision of 3%–5%, while θ has an uncertainty of 0.2°, respectively. This shows that the XPCI-based model that is developed here could be an invaluable tool for high-fidelity testing of hydrodynamic models in shock polar configurations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

QPress: Quantum Press for Next-Generation Quantum Information Platforms

Quantum information science (QIS) holds promise for revolutionizing computation, communication, and sensing. Of course, realizing this promise requires material platforms that can host quantum bits with pre-assigned characteristics that are uniquely attuned to such functionalities. For example, quantum bits for computation should be as immune as possible to any external perturbation, controllable on short time scales and scalable. In contrast, quantum bits for local metrology should be as small as possible and sensitive to specific fields of interest. While tremendous advances in QIS have been achieved in recent years, the underlying properties of the materials that host these quantum bits remains one of the key limitations in their performance.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Assessing the Behavior of Moderately Volatile Elements on the Moon in Order to Constrain Processes of Magmatic Evolution and Planetary Accretion

Heterogeneous isotopic compositions of Zn and Ga in lunar basalts and highlands rocks indicate that secondary processing affected the stable isotopic composition of major lunar reservoirs. It follows that these fractionating processes must be identified and characterized in order to make robust estimates for the isotopic composition of the mare basalt source regions or the bulk silicate Moon (BSM). Contrary to previous assertions (e.g., Kato & Moynier, 2017), MVEs such as Zn and Ga do not behave similarly on the Moon, in line with differences in their chemical behavior and volatility. There is clear evidence that impact reworking fractionates zinc isotopes but, in addition, zinc isotopes are also highly sensitive to the formation of Ti-bearing oxides such as ilmenite. In contrast, gallium is far less susceptible to volatile reworking, but its isotopic composition is fractionated during incorporation into plagioclase (Wimpenny et al., 2022; Render et al., 2023). Based on these findings we conclude that current isotopic compositions of Zn and Ga in lunar rocks, such as those measured for the mare basalt suite, are unlikely to be representative of the bulk Moon when it accreted. As such, estimates for the MVE isotopic composition of the BSM derived from mare basalts may not be accurate, which may have implications for the incorporation of these data into dynamical models of the Moon’s formation. In the following, we discuss the main findings from this project in more detail, focusing on the behaviour of zinc and gallium isotopic systematics in lunar rocks and the processes that control their isotopic fractionation on the Moon.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Using Geophysical Information to Investigate Subsurface Structure within the High-Hydraulic Conductivity Analysis Zone

Within the 200 East Area of the Central Plateau and southeastward toward the Columbia River, a high-hydraulic conductivity zone (HCZ) has been interpreted to extend through the 200-PO-1 and 200-BP-5 operable units on the Hanford Site. The HCZ is a controlling hydraulic feature that impacts groundwater flow out of the 200 East Area and the fate of eastwardly migrating plumes from the 200 West Area. The lateral extent of the HCZ is highly uncertain, and despite strong evidence for the existence of the HCZ based on water-level data and contaminant plume tracking, there is still a limited understanding of how to define its boundaries. To provide additional information on the nature and extent of the HCZ, three surface geophysical methods – electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), time-domain electromagnetics (TEM), and seismic methods – were used to collect data south of 200 East. In addition, existing data from 200 East, consisting of surface seismic data, a borehole check shot survey in 699-37-47A, and borehole stratigraphic interpretations, were used to aid interpretations of newly collected seismic data south of 200 East. This work presumed that the contrast in subsurface geophysical properties would be a first-order aid identifying a transmissive zone(s) within the HCZ analysis area by imaging contrasts and/or anomalies in geophysical properties. While seismic, ERT, and TEM methods have sensitivity to overlapping physical properties (porosity, moisture content, lithology), the resolution and physics used to acquire each of these datasets are different, and therefore the information can also be different. Figure S.1 shows the locations of the geophysical data considered in this report.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Aerosol responses to precipitation along North American air trajectories arriving at Bermuda

North American pollution outflow is ubiquitous over the western North Atlantic Ocean, especially in winter, making this location a suitable natural laboratory for investigating the impact of precipitation on aerosol particles along air mass trajectories. We take advantage of observational data collected at Bermuda to seasonally assess the sensitivity of aerosol mass concentrations and volume size distributions to accumulated precipitation along trajectories (APT). The mass concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 µm normalized by the enhancement of carbon monoxide above background (PM 2.5 /ΔCO) at Bermuda was used to estimate the degree of aerosol loss during transport to Bermuda. Results for December–February (DJF) show that most trajectories come from North America and have the highest APTs, resulting in a significant reduction (by 53 %) in PM 2.5 /ΔCO under high-APT conditions (> 13.5 mm) relative to low-APT conditions (< 0.9 mm). Moreover, PM 2.5 /ΔCO was most sensitive to increases in APT up to 5 mm (–0.044 µg m –3 ppbv –1 mm –1 ) and less sensitive to increases in APT over 5 mm. While anthropogenic PM 2.5 constituents (e.g., black carbon, sulfate, organic carbon) decrease with high APT, sea salt, in contrast, was comparable between high- and low-APT conditions owing to enhanced local wind and sea salt emissions in high-APT conditions. The greater sensitivity of the fine-mode volume concentrations (versus coarse mode) to wet scavenging is evident from AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) volume size distribution data. A combination of GEOS-Chem model simulations of the 210 Pb submicron aerosol tracer and its gaseous precursor 222 Rn reveals that (i) surface aerosol particles at Bermuda are most impacted by wet scavenging in winter and spring (due to large-scale precipitation) with a maximum in March, whereas convective scavenging plays a substantial role in summer; and (ii) North American 222 Rn tracer emissions contribute most to surface 210 Pb concentrations at Bermuda in winter (~75 %–80 %), indicating that air masses arriving at Bermuda experience large-scale precipitation scavenging while traveling from North America. A case study flight from the ACTIVATE field campaign on 22 February 2020 reveals a significant reduction in aerosol number and volume concentrations during air mass transport off the US East Coast associated with increased cloud fraction and precipitation. These results highlight the sensitivity of remote marine boundary layer aerosol characteristics to precipitation along trajectories, especially when the air mass source is continental outflow from polluted regions like the US East Coast.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Miniaturized Seismometer for Subsurface Probing on Mars

Seismology is one of the most powerful tools for investigating the subsurface structure of a planet. The mechanical structure information derived from seismic measurements is complementary to other methods of probing the subsurface (such as gravity and electromagnetics), both in terms of spatial and depth resolution and the relevant types of material properties being sensed. In the near-surface, the propagation of seismic waves is especially sensitive to density and degree of compaction. In addition, interfaces between layer with contrasting properties can be relatively easily delineated. The subsurface of Mars provides an obvious target for seismic investigations. Searching for the presence of water is among the highest priority goals of the Mars Exploration Program, but there are many other important science questions that could be addressed by a seismic profile of the upper layers of the crust. We have developed an extremely small, lightweight, low-power seismometer for planetary applications which is ideally suited for use on Mars. This instrument has previously been proposed and selected for use on a comet (on the Rosetta Lander, subsequently deselected for programmatic reasons) and Mars (on the NetLander mission, with an emphasis on global structure determination).

Banerdt, W. B.↗

Document Monitor

The charters of Freedom Monitoring System will periodically assess the physical condition of the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. Although protected in helium filled glass cases, the documents are subject to damage from light vibration and humidity. The photometer is a CCD detector used as the electronic film for the camera system's scanning camera which mechanically scans the document line by line and acquires a series of images, each representing a one square inch portion of the document. Perkin-Elmer Corporation's photometer is capable of detecting changes in contrast, shape or other indicators of degradation with 5 to 10 times the sensitivity of the human eye. A Vicom image processing computer receives the data from the photometer stores it and manipulates it, allowing comparison of electronic images over time to detect changes.

Source record↗

Meiosis, egg activation, and nuclear envelope breakdown are differentially reliant on Ca2+, whereas germinal vesicle breakdown is Ca2+ independent in the mouse oocyte

During early development, intracellular Ca2+ mobilization is not only essential for fertilization, but has also been implicated during other meiotic and mitotic events, such as germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and nuclear envelope breakdown (NEBD). In this study, the roles of intracellular and extracellular Ca2+ were examined during meiotic maturation and reinitiation at parthenogenetic activation and during first mitosis in a single species using the same methodologies. Cumulus-free metaphase II mouse oocytes immediately resumed anaphase upon the induction of a large, transient Ca2+ elevation. This resumption of meiosis and associated events, such as cortical granule discharge, were not sensitive to extracellular Ca2+ removal, but were blocked by intracellular Ca2+ chelators. In contrast, meiosis I was dependent on external Ca2+; in its absence, the formation and function of the first meiotic spindle was delayed, the first polar body did not form and an interphase-like state was induced. GVBD was not dependent on external Ca2+ and showed no associated Ca2+ changes. NEBD at first mitosis in fertilized eggs, on the other hand, was frequently, but not always associated with a brief Ca2+ transient and was dependent on Ca2+ mobilization. We conclude that GVBD is Ca2+ independent, but that the dependence of NEBD on Ca2+ suggests regulation by more than one pathway. As cells develop from Ca(2+)-independent germinal vesicle oocytes to internal Ca(2+)-dependent pronuclear eggs, internal Ca2+ pools increase by approximately fourfold.

Non-NASA Center↗

A Reevaluation of Airborne HO(x) Observations from NASA Field Campaigns

In-situ observations of tropospheric HO(x) (OH and HO2) obtained during four NASA airborne campaigns (SUCCESS, SONEX, PEM-Tropics B and TRACE-P) are reevaluated using the NASA Langley time-dependent photochemical box model. Special attention is given to previously diagnosed discrepancies between observed and predicted HO2 which increase with higher NO(x) levels and at high solar zenith angles. This analysis shows that much of the model discrepancy at high NO(x) during SUCCESS can be attributed to modeling observations at time-scales too long to capture the nonlinearity of HO(x) chemistry under highly variable conditions for NO(x). Discrepancies at high NO(x) during SONEX can be moderated to a large extent by complete use of all available precursor observations. Differences in kinetic rate coefficients and photolysis frequencies available for previous studies versus current recommendations also explain some of the disparity. Each of these causes is shown to exert greater influence with increasing NO(x) due to both the chemical nonlinearity between HO(x) and NO(x) and the increased sensitivity of HO(x) to changes in sources at high NO(x). In contrast, discrepancies at high solar zenith angles will persist until an adequate nighttime source of HO(x) can be identified. It is important to note that this analysis falls short of fully eliminating the issue of discrepancies between observed and predicted HO(x) for high NO(x) environments. These discrepancies are not resolved with the above causes in other data sets from ground-based field studies. Nevertheless, these results highlight important considerations in the application of box models to observationally based predictions of HO(x) radicals.

Olson, Jennifer↗

Local-in-Time Adjoint-Based Method for Optimal Control/Design Optimization of Unsteady Compressible Flows

.We study local-in-time adjoint-based methods for minimization of ow matching functionals subject to the 2-D unsteady compressible Euler equations. The key idea of the local-in-time method is to construct a very accurate approximation of the global-in-time adjoint equations and the corresponding sensitivity derivative by using only local information available on each time subinterval. In contrast to conventional time-dependent adjoint-based optimization methods which require backward-in-time integration of the adjoint equations over the entire time interval, the local-in-time method solves local adjoint equations sequentially over each time subinterval. Since each subinterval contains relatively few time steps, the storage cost of the local-in-time method is much lower than that of the global adjoint formulation, thus making the time-dependent optimization feasible for practical applications. The paper presents a detailed comparison of the local- and global-in-time adjoint-based methods for minimization of a tracking functional governed by the Euler equations describing the ow around a circular bump. Our numerical results show that the local-in-time method converges to the same optimal solution obtained with the global counterpart, while drastically reducing the memory cost as compared to the global-in-time adjoint formulation.

Yamaleev, N. K.↗

Limits on Arcminute-Scale Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy at 28.5 GHz

We have used the Berkeley-Illinois-Maryland Association (BIMA) millimeter array outfitted with sensitive centimeter-wave receivers to search for cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies on arcminute scales. The interferometer was placed in a compact configuration that produces high brightness sensitivity, while providing discrimination against point sources. Operating at a frequency of 28.5 GHz, the FWHM primary beam of the instrument is approximately 6'.6. We have made sensitive images of seven fields, four of which where chosen specifically to have low infrared dust contrast and to be free of bright radio sources. Additional observations with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) millimeter array were used to assist in the location and removal of radio point sources. Applying a Bayesian analysis to the raw visibility data, we place limits on CMB anisotropy flat-band power of Q(sub flat) = 5.6(sub -5.6)(exp 3.0) microK and Q(sub flat) < 14.1 microK at 68% and 95% confidence, respectively. The sensitivity of this experiment to flat-band power peaks at a multipole of I = 5470, which corresponds to an angular scale of approximately 2'. The most likely value of Q(sub flat) is similar to the level of the expected secondary anisotropies.

Holzapfel, W. L.↗