Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “internal variability”

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

Anomalous temperature and zonal wind in the tropical upper stratosphere, 1982/1983

Observed temperature and zonal wind anomalies during 1982-1983 are described in relation to the 20-yr rocketsonde data record. Temperature data from the Nimbus 7 SAMS indicate that in mid-1982, cooling occurred in the upper and middle tropical stratosphere, starting shortly after the eruption of El Chichon (April 1982). Rocketsonde data from Kwajalein gave additional evidence of cooling and revealed that zonal winds in the upper and middle stratosphere were anomalous in 1982 and also in 1983. Rocketsonde observations were consistent with balance winds derived from SAMS. Upper-level cooling was linked to anomalous easterlies near the equator and therefore could not be interpreted as a radiative (nondynamical) response to El Chichon. The structure of an expected 2D dynamical response to aerosol heating is examined with a numerical model and compared to the data. It is suggested that internal sources of atmospheric variability (eg., extratropical forcing and quasi-biennial oscillation) contributed to the equatorial cooling observed in 1982.

Dunkerton, Timothy J.↗

Pseudoclassical description of the Dirac Oscillator

In this paper we discuss the Dirac Oscillator wave equation in terms of pseudoclassical language, using Grassmann variables to describe the internal degrees of freedom of the oscillator. Regarding the original wave equation as a classical constraint, we use the theory of constrained systems, to develop a reparameterization invariant lagrangian, which is the pseudoclassical equivalent of the quantum case. The consistency of the Hamiltonian formalism and the quantization procedure are also analyzed.

Delsolmesa, Antonio↗

Satellite emission features in two Seyfert galaxies: New evidence that radio-quiet AGN possess subrelativistic winds

Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) spectra are presented for three bright Seyfert galaxies including one (PG 1351+64) which possesses blue-displaced absorption features in C IV, Si IV, N V, and Ly-alpha (but not in Mg II) similar to those seen at high redshift in the broad-absorption-line (BAL) quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). Several features of the absorptions in PG 1351+64, including variability seen in archival International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) data, confirm their similarity to the BAL clouds rather than to the 'associated absorber' phenomenon which they superficially resemble. In PG 1351+64 'satellite' emission lines (called herein E1 and E2) have been detected nearly symmetrically placed at +/- 4000 km/s around the Mg II emission line; this velocity is just larger than the most blue-displaced of the BALs, suggesting that these two phenomena are related. The satellite line luminosity, L(E1) approximately = (3 x 10(exp 41) erg/s)/sq. h(sub 75), requires a cloud emission measure n(sub e)(exp 2)V(sub c) approximately = (1 x 10(exp 64)/cc)/sq. h(sub 75) at T approximately = 30,000 K. We believe the Mg II lines are produced by 50-90 km/s shocks driven into dense (approximately 10(exp 6)/cc, pre-shock) clouds by the ram pressure of a 0.1 solar mass/yr wind leaving the nucleus at velocity 4000 km/s. The detection of satellite lines in Mg II, the detection of the blue-shifted cloud in H-alpha and H-beta and the nondetection of this cloud in C IV restricts the cloud shocks to velocities v(sub c) less than or = 90 km/s and requires a cloud/wind density contrast greater than or = 10(exp 3). In this model, the emitting clouds are located at distances of R(sub eff) approximately = 10(exp 18-19) cm from the nucleus and are entrained and shock-accelerated to approximately 4000 km/s. The possible detection of similar 'satellite' emission features in the non-BAL Seyfert, Ton 951, suggests that the subrelativistic wind that accelerates BAL clouds is a physical feature of many radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (AGN).

Stocke, John T.↗

Development of Finite Elements for Two-Dimensional Structural Analysis Using the Integrated Force Method

The Integrated Force Method has been developed in recent years for the analysis of structural mechanics problems. This method treats all independent internal forces as unknown variables that can be calculated by simultaneously imposing equations of equilibrium and compatibility conditions. In this paper a finite element library for analyzing two-dimensional problems by the Integrated Force Method is presented. Triangular- and quadrilateral-shaped elements capable of modeling arbitrary domain configurations are presented. The element equilibrium and flexibility matrices are derived by discretizing the expressions for potential and complementary energies, respectively. The displacement and stress fields within the finite elements are independently approximated. The displacement field is interpolated as it is in the standard displacement method, and the stress field is approximated by using complete polynomials of the correct order. A procedure that uses the definitions of stress components in terms of an Airy stress function is developed to derive the stress interpolation polynomials. Such derived stress fields identically satisfy the equations of equilibrium. Moreover, the resulting element matrices are insensitive to the orientation of local coordinate systems. A method is devised to calculate the number of rigid body modes, and the present elements are shown to be free of spurious zero-energy modes. A number of example problems are solved by using the present library, and the results are compared with corresponding analytical solutions and with results from the standard displacement finite element method. The Integrated Force Method not only gives results that agree well with analytical and displacement method results but also outperforms the displacement method in stress calculations.

Kaljevic, Igor↗

Investigation of the Rocket Induced Flow Field in a Rectangular Duct

Rocket-Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) concepts attempt to improve the performance of launch vehicles at all points in the launch trajectory and make highly reusable launch vehicles a reality. The Aerojet Strutjet RBCC concept consists of a variable geometry duct with internal, vertical struts that functions in ducted rocket, ramjet, scramjet, and pure rocket modes. These struts have rocket and turbine exhaust nozzles imbedded within them. The rocket flows create an ejector effect with the ingested air at subsonic flight velocities. In ramjet and scramjet modes, the fuel rich nozzle flows react with the ingested air producing an afterburner effect. Under a NASA Marshall Space Flight Center contract, the UAH Propulsion Research Center (PRC) has designed and built a Strutjet simulation facility. A scale model of a single strut has been built and is undergoing cold-flow testing to investigate the mixing of the rocket and turbine exhausts with the ingested air. A complementary experimental program is also underway to examine the induced flow-field generated by rocket nozzles confined in a rectangular duct. Characterizing the induced flow behavior is critical to understanding and optimizing the performance of future Strutjet-based RBCC propulsion systems. The proposed paper will present results from the rocket induced flow investigation.

Landrum, D. Brian↗

Ferroelectric Pump

A ferroelectric pump has one or more variable volume pumping chambers internal to a housing. Each chamber has at least one wall comprising a dome shaped internally prestressed ferroelectric actuator having a curvature and a dome height that varies with an electric voltage applied between an inside and outside surface of the actuator. A pumped medium flows into and out of each pumping chamber in response to displacement of the ferroelectric actuator. The ferroelectric actuator is mounted within each wall and isolates each ferroelectric actuator from the pumped medium, supplies a path for voltage to be applied to each ferroelectric actuator, and provides for positive containment of each ferroelectric actuator while allowing displacement of the entirety of each ferroelectric actuator in response to the applied voltage.

Jalink, Antony, Jr.↗

The NASA Ames Closed Environmental Research Chamber: Present Status

The Closed Environmental Research Chamber (CERC) at the NASA Ames Research Center was created to investigate both components and complete systems for life support of advanced space exploration missions. This facility includes a Main Chamber, an Airlock, a Sample Transfer Lock, a Vacuum System, an Air Recompression System, a dedicated control room and a pit area for housing supporting and environmental control systems. The Main Chamber provides 310 sq ft of internal working/living space on two levels. It is planned that the CERC will be a human-rated facility for habitation simulation under mass balance closure conditions. The internal pressure will be variable over the range of 14.7 psia to 5 psia with accompanying capability for variation in atmosphere composition to maintain the oxygen partial pressure at 160 mm Hg. The CERC will be provided with a core set of primary life support subsystems for temperature and humidity control, C02 removal and trace contaminant control. Interfacing with external life support technology test b~ds with be provided, along with connection to centralized, microprocessor-based data acquisition and control systems. This paper will discuss the current status of the CERC facility and show how it is being used to address the advanced technology requirements necessary to implement an integrated working and living environment for a planetary habitat. In particular, it will be shown how the CERC, along with a human-powered centrifuge, a planetary terrain simulator and advanced displays and a virtual reality capability will work together to develop and demonstration applicable technologies for future planetary habitats. Artificial intelligence and expert system programming techniques will be used extensively to provide an automated environment for a 4-person crew. There will be several robotic mechanisms performing exploration tasks external to the habitat that will be controlled through the virtual environment to provide representative workloads for the crew. Finally, there will be a discussion of how effective are innovative new multidisciplinary test facilities to the investigation of the wide range of human and machine problems inherent in exploration missions.

Gross, Anthony R.↗

Joint Factorization of QCD and QED Radiation in Lepton-Hadron Scattering

The factorization theorem plays an important role in the analysis of high energy quantum chromodynamic (QCD) processes, separating the nonperturbative hadronic interaction into the universal parton distribution functions (PDFs) and fragmentation functions (FFs) and the process-dependent interactions into short distance perturbative calculations, with any interference power suppressed. With a virtual photon exchange, lepton-hadron deep inelastic scattering (DIS) provides an electromagnetic hard probe for the partonic structure of colliding hadrons and has played an important role in the development of QCD factorization. However, the collision induced QED radiation can change the momentum of the exchanged but unobserved virtual photon, making the photon-hadron frame, where the factorization formalism for DIS and semi-inclusive DIS (SIDIS) was derived, ill defined. A new analogous factorization approach has been introduced to separate the leading power process-independent QED radiative contributions to the single photon exchange by introducing lepton distribution functions (LDFs) and lepton fragmentation functions (LFFs), while process-dependent effects are perturbatively calculated with large logarithms removed [J. High Energ. Phys. 2021, 157 (2021)]. These LDFs and LFFs are considered global, as they appear in many different interactions, such as e+e-, DIS and SIDIS, so data from experiments can be used to fit and describe these functions across a wide range of lepton scattering. In this work, I will apply this new hybrid factorization approach to lepton-hadron DIS and SIDIS. For DIS, I derive the NLO short distance perturbative contribution to the cross section and demonstrate the effects the QED radiation has on the cross section using this approach using the CTEQ parameterization for the QCD functions. As part of the SIDIS analysis, I study the cross-section in two different kinematic regions: (1) the scattered lepton and observed hadron are not near back-to-back, and (2) they are close to back-to-back, where collinear QCD factorization works for (1) and TMD QCD factorization for (2) while collinear QED factorization works for both. As part of this work, I show the effects on the SIDIS cross section using fixed order calculations for the unpolarized structure function by first showing the effect of the radiative corrections on the main kinematic variables, especially how the internal transverse momentum is significantly correlated to the external angular dependence, and then the unpolarized structure function (or cross section) with matching between the descriptions for low and high transverse momentum. This work will impact the calculations for predictions for data from COMPASS and various Jefferson Lab experiments.

Cammarota, Justin [Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, K↗

Specification of ISS Plasma Environment Variability

Quantifying spacecraft charging risks and associated hazards for the International Space Station (ISS) requires a plasma environment specification for the natural variability of ionospheric temperature (Te) and density (Ne). Empirical ionospheric specification and forecast models such as the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model typically only provide long term (seasonal) mean Te and Ne values for the low Earth orbit environment. This paper describes a statistical analysis of historical ionospheric low Earth orbit plasma measurements from the AE-C, AE-D, and DE-2 satellites used to derive a model of deviations of observed data values from IRI-2001 estimates of Ne, Te parameters for each data point to provide a statistical basis for modeling the deviations of the plasma environment from the IRI model output. Application of the deviation model with the IRI-2001 output yields a method for estimating extreme environments for the ISS spacecraft charging analysis.

Minow, Joseph I.↗

III-nitride m-plane violet narrow ridge edge-emitting laser diodes with sidewall passivation using atomic layer deposition

A novel deep-ridge laser structure with atomic-layer deposition (ALD) sidewall passivation was proposed that enhances the optical characteristics of 8-µm ridge width III-nitride violet lasers on freestanding m -plane GaN substrates. The internal loss was determined using the variable stripe length method, where the laser structure with ALD sidewall passivation showed lower internal loss compared to the conventional shallow-ridge laser design. ALD sidewall passivation plays a critical role in device improvements; compared to the lasers without ALD sidewall passivation, the lasers with ALD sidewall passivation yield improved optoelectrical performance and longer lifetime under continuous-wave operation at high current density. This work demonstrates the importance of ALD sidewall passivation to laser performance, which enables high energy efficiency.

Wong, Matthew S.↗

Specification of the ISS Plasma Environment Variability

Quantifying the spacecraft charging risks and corresponding hazards for the International Space Station (ISS) requires a plasma environment specification describing the natural variability of ionospheric temperature (Te) and density (Ne). Empirical ionospheric specification and forecast models such as the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model typically only provide estimates of long term (seasonal) mean Te and Ne values for the low Earth orbit environment. Knowledge of the Te and Ne variability as well as the likelihood of extreme deviations from the mean values are required to estimate both the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of potentially hazardous spacecraft charging environments for a given ISS construction stage and flight configuration. This paper describes the statistical analysis of historical ionospheric low Earth orbit plasma measurements used to estimate Ne, Te variability in the ISS flight environment. The statistical variability analysis of Ne and Te enables calculation of the expected frequency of Occurrence of any particular values of Ne and Te, especially those that correspond to possibly hazardous spacecraft charging environments. The database used in the original analysis included measurements from the AE-C, AE-D, and DE-2 satellites. Recent work on the database has added additional satellites to the database and ground based incoherent scatter radar observations as well. Deviations of the data values from the IRI estimated Ne, Te parameters for each data point provide a statistical basis for modeling the deviations of the plasma environment from the IRI model output. This technique, while developed specifically for the Space Station analysis, can also be generalized to provide ionospheric plasma environment risk specification models for low Earth orbit over an altitude range of 200 km through approximately 1000 km.

Minow, Joseph I.↗

Developing Passenger Demand Models for International Aviation from/to Egypt: A Case Study of Cairo Airport and Egyptair

This research is concerned with developing passenger demand models for international aviation from/to Egypt. In this context, aviation sector in Egypt is represented by the biggest and main airport namely Cairo airport as well as by the main Egyptian international air carrier namely Egyptair. The developed models utilize two variables to represent aviation demand, namely total number of international flights originating from and attracted to Cairo airport as well as total number of passengers using Egyptair international flights originating from and attracted to Cairo airport. Such demand variables were related, using different functional forms, to several explanatory variables including population, GDP and number of foreign tourists. Finally, two models were selected based on their logical acceptability, best fit and statistical significance. To demonstrate usefulness of developed models, these were used to forecast future demand patterns.

Abbas, Khaled A.↗

Lagrange thermodynamic potential and intrinsic variables for He-3 He-4 dilute solutions

For a two-fluid model of dilute solutions of He-3 in liquid He-4, a thermodynamic potential is constructed that provides a Lagrangian for deriving equations of motion by a variational procedure. This Lagrangian is defined for uniform velocity fields as a (negative) Legendre transform of total internal energy, and its primary independent variables, together with their thermodynamic conjugates, are identified. Here, similarities between relations in classical physics and quantum statistical mechanics serve as a guide for developing an alternate expression for this function that reveals its character as the difference between apparent kinetic energy and intrinsic internal energy. When the He-3 concentration in the mixtures tends to zero, this expression reduces to Zilsel's formula for the Lagrangian for pure liquid He-4. An investigation of properties of the intrinsic internal energy leads to the introduction of intrinsic chemical potentials along with other intrinsic variables for the mixtures. Explicit formulas for these variables are derived for a noninteracting elementary excitation model of the fluid. Using these formulas and others also derived from quantum statistical mechanics, another equivalent expression for the Lagrangian is generated.

Jackson, H. W.↗

Variable Noise Reduction Systems for a Notional Supersonic Business Jet

A variable noise reduction system consists of equipment on board an airplane that is designed to reduce noise in the vicinity of airports. They are anticipated to be used on supersonic civil aircraft currently under development by industry. They are investigated in this paper for a notional 55-tonne supersonic business jet. The airplane concept was developed by NASA for use in environmental impact studies conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The variable noise reduction system investigated implements a programmed thrust lapse procedure and a programmed flap retraction procedure. The procedures are expected to reduce noise in aircraft certification as well as in operational practice. Behavior of the aircraft in a noise certification setting is considered. Variables of the procedures are optimized to reduce noise levels. Certification considerations unique to these systems are discussed for transport-category large airplanes and for jet-powered airplanes. A novel method for evaluating lateral noise is used.

Aircraft noise↗

Exploration of the polarization angle variability of the Crab Nebula with POLARBEAR and its application to the search for axionlike particles

The Crab Nebula, also known as Tau A, is a polarized astronomical source at millimeter wavelengths. It has been used as a stable light source for polarization angle calibration in millimeter-wave astronomy. However, it is known that its intensity and polarization vary as a function of time at a variety of wavelengths. Thus, it is of interest to verify the stability of the millimeter-wave polarization. If detected, polarization variability may be used to better understand the dynamics of Tau A, and for understanding the validity of Tau A as a calibrator. One intriguing application of such observation is to use it for the search of axionlike particles (ALPs). Ultralight ALPs couple to photons through a Chern-Simons term, and induce a temporal oscillation in the polarization angle of linearly polarized sources. After assessing a number of systematic errors and testing for internal consistency, we evaluate the variability of the polarization angle of the Crab Nebula using 2015 and 2016 observations with the 150 GHz P instrument. We place a median 95% upper bound of polarization oscillation amplitude A < 0.06 5 ° over the oscillation frequencies from 0.75 year − 1 to 0.66 hour − 1 . Assuming that no sources other than ALP are causing Tau A’s polarization angle variation, that the ALP constitutes all the dark matter, and that the ALP field is a stochastic Gaussian field, this bound translates into a median 95% upper bound of ALP-photon coupling g a γ γ < 2.16 × 10 − 12 GeV − 1 × ( m a / 10 − 21 eV ) in the mass range from 9.9 × 10 − 23 eV to 7.7 × 10 − 19 eV . This demonstrates that this type of analysis using bright polarized sources is as competitive as those using the polarization of cosmic microwave background in constraining ALPs. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Adachi, Shunsuke (ORCID:0000000204007555)↗

IUE and ground-based observations of the Hubble-Sandage variables in M31 and M33

Ultraviolet spectra were obtained from the International Ultraviolet Explorer for the brightest Hubble-Sandage (H-S) variables in M31 and M33. The ultraviolet fluxes were then used in combination with ground-based visual and infrared photometry to determine the energy distributions, luminosities, and temperatures of these stars. When corrected for interstellar extinction, the integrated energy distributions yield the total luminosities and blackbody temperatures of the H-S variables. The resulting bolometric magnitudes and temperatures confirm that these peculiar stars are indeed very luminous, hot stars. They occupy the same regions of the bolometric magnitude vs temperature diagram as Eta Car and P Cyg in the Galaxy and S Dor in the LMC.

Blaha, C.↗

Reanalyses and Essential Climate Variables

Reanalyses are a potentially powerful climate data collection driven by observations but also subjected to model bias. Additionally, reanalyses can produce and use essential climate variables in a consistent method. For example, snow cover and soil moisture (among other variables) will eventually be assimilated into the reanalyses, but also provide crucial validation data. Sea surface temperature can be prescribed or assimilated in a coupled reanalysis. The strength of reanalysis lies in the ancillary data that is produced from the modeling components but not routinely observed thereby providing more complete Earth system information. The weakness in this concept is that the model derived data can be affected by model bias and may also change relative to the available observing system. Here, we will review the status of existing reanalyses and the ECVs being considered for the workshop. Purpose of Michael Bosilovich's contribution to the workshop: Michael Bosilovich will represent US reanalysis community in this international discussion of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) and the relative nature of reanalyses to ECVs.

Bosilovich, Michael↗

Preliminary Investigation of Performance of Variable-throat Extended-plug-type Nozzles over Wide Range of Nozzle Pressure Ratios

As part of an overall program for the experimental investigation of large-scale jet nozzles, a preliminary evaluation of the internal performance characteristics of several variable-throat extended-plug-type nozzles was obtained over a range of nozzle pressure rations from 2 to 15 with nozzle throat variations as great as 2:1. The extended-plug nozzle attained peak thrust coefficients as high as those which have been attained with fixed-geometry convergent-divergent nozzles. The thrust coefficients of the extended-plug nozzles were relatively insensitive to both nozzle pressure ratio and throat area over the range investigated. The lack of sensitivity of thrust coefficient to nozzle pressure ratio and throat area was due primarily to the absence of severe decreases in thrust coefficient, which are normally observed at low nozzle pressure ratios for convergent-divergent nozzles because of overexpansion. For choked flow, the flow coefficients of the extended-plug nozzles varied from 0.95 to 0.997. A ratio of the outer-shell exit area to nozzle throat area was found to be an important variable affecting nozzle performance. Most of the configurations reported herein showed a small decrease in thrust coefficient at low nozzle pressure ratios; however, it is believed that this characteristic can nearly be eliminated by proper nozzle design.

NOZZLES↗