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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 343 records · Page 19

Cathode for use with low density gases

Method for preventing deterioration of mixed oxide cathodes in low density gas tubes caused by ion bombardment is discussed. Construction of cathode is described and illustration is furnished. Electron emission through space charge to neutralize ion-filled regions is basic process.

Bennett, W. H.↗

Prevention of cathode damage from positive ion bombardment

Mixed alkaline earth oxide compounds deposited into hole at cathode surface center prevent ion back bombardment damage to cathode by reducing oxide layer and by creating metallic diffusion along sides of hole for enhanced electron emission.

Bennett, W. H.↗

Cathode effects on thrust subsystem performance predictability.

Development of a model of mercury vapor electron bombardment thrustor hollow cathode operation. The proposed model predicts that the primary electron emission mechanism is thermionic when sufficient low work function material is present, that the cathode is heated by power extracted from the plasma to a temperature sufficient to emit the current demanded by the external circuit; that for a given total arc current, attempts to reduce cathode temperature by changes in the external thermal coupling will affect only the amount of power extracted from the plasma; and that depletion of low work function material in the cathode results in higher cathode temperature.

Goldstein, R.↗

Dual deflectable beam strip engine development.

This paper describes a dual beam thruster that has been designed, constructed, and tested. The system is suitable for two-axes attitude control and is comprised of two orthogonal strips, each capable of producing 0.30 mlb thrust and beam deflections of more than plus or minus 20 deg. The nominal specific impulse for the thruster is 5000 sec, and the thrust level from each strip can be varied from 0 to 100%. Neutralizer filaments that were developed and life tested over 2000 hours producing more than 40 mA of electron emission per watt of input power are also discussed. The system power required for clean ionizers is approximately 200 W.

Dulgeroff, C. R.↗

Material development for thermionic fuel-cladding systems.

Fuel-cladding systems capable of maintaining stable dimension and electron emission characteristics at high temperatures under irradiation are essential to the successful operation of nuclear thermionic power sources. Studies regarding two possible systems, involving tungsten clad uranium carbide and uranium oxide, are considered. Out-of-pile developmental efforts and the in-pile evaluation results for the two systems are described. Prototypical emitters have been tested for 8000 hours for the carbide system and 4000 hours for the oxide system.

Yang, L.↗

Metallurgical evaluation of factors influencing the ductility of aged T-111

The metallurgical factors influencing the ductility of T-111 (Ta-8W-2Hf) alloy following long-time exposures of GTA welds and tubing in the temperature range 982 C (1800 F) through 1316 C (2400 F) were evaluated by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Auger electron emission spectroscopy, and optical metallographic procedures. No classical aging response occurs in the alloy over the temperature range studied. The ductility impairment implied by previous investigations is not the result of microstructural response of the alloy to thermal exposures. Intergranular failure in the GTA sheet welds appears the result of random contamination by silicon, potassium, and/or fluorine at the grain boundaries of the fusion zones. Exposure to lithium at high temperatures had no adverse effects on the ductility of T-111 tubing. These materials were, however, sensitive to post-age handling and testing procedures.

Gold, R. E.↗

A 13000-hour test of a mercury hollow cathode

A mercury-fed hollow cathode was tested for 12,979 hours in a bell jar at SERT 2 neutralizer operating conditions. The net electron current drawn to a collector was 0.25 ampere at average collector voltages between 21.8 and 36.7 volts. The mercury flow rate was varied from 5.6 to 30.8 equivalent milliamperes to give stable operation at the desired electrode voltages and currents. Variations with time in the neutralizer discharge characteristics were observed and hypothesized to be related to changes in the cathode orifice dimensions and the availability of electron emissive material. A facility failure caused abnormal test conditions for the last 876 hours and led to the cathode heater failure which concluded the test.

Rawlin, V. K.↗

Mass spectrometry.

Review of the current state of mass spectrometry, indicating its unique importance for advanced scientific research. Mass spectrometry applications in computer techniques, gas chromatography, ion cyclotron resonance, molecular fragmentation and ionization, and isotope labeling are covered. Details are given on mass spectrometry applications in bio-organic chemistry and biomedical research. As the subjects of these applications are indicated alkaloids, carbohydrates, lipids, terpenes, quinones, nucleic acid components, peptides, antibiotics, and human and animal metabolisms. Particular attention is given to the mass spectra of organo-inorganic compounds, inorganic mass spectrometry, surface phenomena such as secondary ion and electron emission, and elemental and isotope analysis. Further topics include mass spectrometry in organic geochemistry, applications in geochronology and cosmochemistry, and organic mass spectrometry.

Burlingame, A. L.↗

Improved channel multiplier for radiation-and-particle detectors

Multiplier is formed of glass and includes cylindrically-shaped main channel element having length-to-diameter ratio of 50 to 1. Element has open slot along its length. Attached to slot edges are two glass plates set at an angle to each other. Inside surfaces are coated with secondary electron emissive coating.

Schmidt, K. C.↗

Electrostatic transportation of dust on the moon

There is much evidence that the surface transportation of lunar soil has been a major process in the shaping of the lunar surface. Some such transportation has taken place as a result of meteoritic impacts, but theory and laboratory experiments indicate that electrostatic effects resulting from secondary electron emission are the dominant cause of movement of small grains on the surface. The various electrostatic actions are discussed, and a host of unexpected phenomena are described that have turned up in the course of the laboratory experiments.

Gold, T.↗

Hybrid-mode thermionic converter

Converter's collector electrode has uniform low work-function surface and operates at sufficiently low temperature to produce negligible electron emission. Emitter electrode has main region which has intermediate work-function and auxiliary region which has relatively high work-function surface.

Rasor, N. S.↗

III-V photocathode with nitrogen doping for increased quantum efficiency

An increase in the quantum efficiency of a 3-5 photocathode is achieved by doping its semiconductor material with an acceptor and nitrogen, a column-5 isoelectronic element, that introduces a spatially localized energy level just below the conduction band similar to a donor level to which optical transitions can occur. This increases the absorption coefficient, alpha without compensation of the acceptor dopant. A layer of a suitable 1-5, 1-6 or 1-7 compound is included as an activation layer on the electron emission side to lower the work function of the photocathode.

James, L. W.↗

Applications of beam-foil spectroscopy to atomic collisions in solids

Some selected papers presented at the Fourth International Conference on Beam-Foil Spectroscopy, whose results are of particular pertinence to ionic collision phenomena in solids, are reviewed. The topics discussed include solid target effects and means of surmounting them in the measurement of excited projectile ion lifetimes for low-energy heavy element ions; the electron emission accompanying the passage of heavy particles through solid targets; the collision broadening of X rays emitted from 100 keV ions moving in solids; residual K-shell excitation in chlorine ions penetrating carbon; comparison between 40 MeV Si on gaseous SiH4 targets at 300 mtorr and 40 MeV Si on Al; and the emergent surface interaction in beam-foil spectroscopy. A distinct overlap of interests between the sciences of beam-foil spectroscopy and atomic collisions in solids is pointed out.

Sellin, I. A.↗

Direction-finding measurements of type III radio bursts out of the ecliptic plane

A series of two-dimensional direction-finding measurements for three type III solar radio bursts is presented which is based on spin-modulation measurements from two satellites (IMP 8 and Hawkeye I) whose spin axes were nearly perpendicular to each other. The two-dimensional direction-finding technique is combined with a model of the solar-wind plasma density in order to provide determinations of type III source locations out of the ecliptic plane as well as information on the three-dimensional structure of the solar magnetic field at radial distances of 0.2 to 1.0 AU from the sun. The direction-finding technique is described in detail, characteristics of the bursts observed by the two satellites are summarized, and the solar-wind model is outlined. The results show that the source locations follow an Archimedean spiral when projected onto the ecliptic plane but usually follow a constant heliocentric latitude perpendicular to that plane. It is also found that measured source sizes are a factor of two larger than the angular sizes of previously reported solar-flare electron emissions, that the spin-modulation factor tends to be largest near the beginning of a type III event, and that the arrival direction of the radiation varies systematically during an event.

Baumback, M. M.↗

Research on lunar materials

Abstracts of 14 research reports relating to investigations of lunar samples are presented. The principal topics covered include: (1) optical properties of surface and core samples; (2) chemical composition of the surface layers of lunar grains: Auger electron spectroscopy of lunar soil and ground rock samples; (3) high frequency electrical properties of lunar soil and rock samples and their relevance for the interpretation of lunar radar observations; (4) the electrostatic dust transport process; (5) secondary electron emission characteristics of lunar soil samples and their relevance to the dust transportation process; (6) grain size distribution in surface soil and core samples; and (7) the optical and chemical effects of simulated solar wind (2keV proton and a particle radiation) on lunar material.

Gold, T.↗