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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 37 records · Page 2

Analysis of inner and outer zone: OGO-1 and OGO-2 electron spectrometer and ion chamber data

The dynamic processes governing the acceleration and loss of electrons in the radiation zones are investigated. The radial diffusion coefficient was determined for a McIlwain parameter between 1.6 and 2.2 for electrons having a first adiabatic invariant of 12 MeV/gauss. The coefficient is larger than earlier values and suggests that there exists a lower limit to the fluxes in the inner zone. The agreement between observed and calculated magnetic fields and particle fluxes is improved by using solar wind pressure as input to the magnetic field models. Changes in the plasma pressure can cause apparent local time asymmetries in particle flux. A comparison of the magnetic field models with observed location of the trapping boundary also indicates the need for including distributed currents within the magnetosphere. The high latitude trapping boundary is only weakly dependent on A sub p, and the trapping boundary data are improved by including in the models a stand-off distance which varies with the plasma pressure.

Pfitzer, K. A.↗

Magnetospheric modulation effects on solar cosmic rays from simultaneous OGO 1 and 3 ion chamber data in 1968 and 1969

Simultaneous observations by identical ionization chambers aboard the satellites OGO-1 and OGO-3 are utilized to investigate spatial variations in particle intensity near and inside the magnetosphere during the solar cosmic ray events of September 1966. Cross-correlation of the absolute proton flux computed from the chamber rate during three solar particle events shows good agreement with the measurements by the IMP-F Solar Proton Monitor during the same events. The chamber has a dynamic range of over six orders of magnitude. Before launch it was calibrated in the laboratory with radiation dosages in the range 1 R/hr-6000 R/hr. The OGO-1 and OGO-3 chambers, which were normalized in the laboratory prior to the launch, are found to maintain their normalization within approximately equal to 1 per cent during their flight. The high sensitivity and absolute inter-comparability of the instruments allow small intensity differences to be detected and it is established that the observed differences can be explained by a magnetospheric screening effect when an anisotropic beam of particles is present in space. Evidence is presented to show that the screening is at times complete for a duration of as much as 110 min in the tail of the magnetosphere so that during this period the solar cosmic rays (E approximately equal to 15 MeV) have virtually no access to that region of the magnetosphere. Small intensity fluctuations of a temporal nature observed and found to be subjected to a damping effect inside the magnetosphere.

Hofmann, D. J.↗

A study of the relativistic rise in ionization as measured by ion chambers of different design

Techniques for scheduling with resource-constraints are investigated. In particular, the use of zero-one programming and dispatching methods are discussed. An algorithm which combines characteristics of both existing methods to generate a valid schedule to experiments is introduced. Examples and test results are presented to illustrate the feasibility of the use of this algorithm on data typical to Spacelab missions.

Shand, J. B., Jr.↗

The predicted deviation from the Z-sq dependence of the ion chamber and the Cerenkov counter response on the HEAO-3 experiment

The influence of the Mott cross section in producing a departure from a Z-sq dependence in the Heavy Nuclei Experiment instrument on board the HEAO-3 satellite is examined, along with the related problem of secondary electron energy transport through the instrument. A Monte Carlo method of electron transport and a modification of the Laulainen and Bichsel (1972) method were used to calculate energy deposition in the chamber, and corrections to the Cerenkov counter response were made. A maximum correction of a change of Z values of a -4 at Z equals 78 was found, and further calculations to determine the Mott cross sections for Z between 26-50 are indicated.

Derrickson, J. H.↗

Relative abundances of elements (20 or = Z or = 28) at energies up to 70 GeV/amu using relativistic rise in ion chambers

The results of a new balloon borne cosmic ray detector flown from Palestine, TX in Sept., 1982 are discussed. The exposure of 62 square meter-ster-hr is sufficient to prove the concept of using gas ionization chambers as energy measuring devices in the relativistic rise region. The abundances, relative Fe-26, of the pure secondaries Cr-22 and Ti-24, the pure primary Ni26, and the mixed primary and secondary Ca-20 between 6 and 70GeV/amu were measured.

Barthelmy, S. D.↗

Stigmatically focusing partial pressure analyzer with dual chamber ion source

The partial pressure analyzer developed has a high absolute sensitivity and high resolution. Interaction effects, as they occur in conventional partial pressure analyzers between the heating filament for the emission of electrons and the residual gas, are suppressed by removing the heating filament from the measurement area. The electron beam is generated in an auxiliary vacuum compartment, and passes subsequently through an aperture into the ionization compartment. The probability is small, therefore, that the presence of substances produced at the heating filament by chemical reactions and thermal decompositions will have disturbing effects. The high sensitivity and resolution of the instrument are obtained with the aid of an electron path configuration of unconventional characteristics.

Rasskopf, Klaus F.↗

Convert Ten Foot Environmental Test Chamber into an Ion Engine Test Chamber

The 10 Foot Space Simulator at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been used for the last 40 years to test numerous spacecraft, including the Ranger series, several Mariner class, among many others and finally, the Spirit and Opportunity Mars Rovers. The request was made to convert this facility to an Ion Engine test facility, with a possible long term life test. The Ion engine was to propel the Prometheus spacecraft to Jupiter's moons. This paper discusses the challenges that were met, both from a procedural and physical standpoint. The converted facility must operate unattended, support a 30 Kw Ion Engine, operate economically, and be easily converted back to former operation as a spacecraft test facility.

ion engines↗

Computational Model Tracking Primary Electrons, Secondary Electrons, and Ions in the Discharge Chamber of an Ion Engine

Computational modeling of the plasma located in the discharge chamber of an ion engine is an important activity so that the development and design of the next generation of ion engines may be enhanced. In this work a computational tool called XOOPIC is used to model the primary electrons, secondary electrons, and ions inside the discharge chamber. The details of this computational tool are discussed in this paper. Preliminary results from XOOPIC are presented. The results presented include particle number density distributions for the primary electrons, the secondary electrons, and the ions. In addition the total number of a particular particle in the discharge chamber as a function of time, electric potential maps and magnetic field maps are presented. A primary electron number density plot from PRIMA is given in this paper so that the results of XOOPIC can be compared to it. PRIMA is a computer code that the present investigators have used in much of their previous work that provides results that compare well to experimental results. PRIMA only models the primary electrons in the discharge chamber. Modeling ions and secondary electrons, as well as the primary electrons, will greatly increase our ability to predict different characteristics of the plasma discharge used in an ion engine.

Mahalingam, Sudhakar↗

The UH-nuclei cosmic ray detector on the third High Energy Astronomy Observatory

The third High Energy Astronomy Observatory satellite (HEAO-3) carries a particle telescope for the detection of highly charged cosmic ray nuclei. These nuclei, which have Z equal to or greater than 28, are much rarer than the lower charged nuclei in the cosmic radiation. As a consequence, this particle telescope was required to have a large collecting area as well as an ability to resolve individual elements. This paper describes the telescope, composed of large area parallel plate ionization chambers, multiwire ion chamber hodoscopes and a Cherenkov radiation detector. The resulting telescope has a total geometry factor of 59,000 sq cm sr and is capable of measuring the charges of nuclei in the range Z = 14-120.

Binns, W. R.↗

Picoampere charged particle beam monitor.

Description of a transmission ion chamber for charged particles designed to give continuous indication of beam symmetry and magnitude. The chamber consists of four separate ion chambers. Signals from opposing chambers are compared to determine beam symmetry and summed to obtain a beam intensity signal. The system is simple and offers good linearity at low cost for proton beam currents in the range of 1 to 100 pA.

Smathers, J. B.↗

Enhanced thermal emittance of space radiators by ion-discharge chamber texturing

The discharge chamber of a 30-cm argon ion source was successfully used to texture potential space radiator materials for the purpose of obtaining values of thermal emittance greater than 0.85 at 700 and 900 K. Some samples were also treated in acid prior to texturing. To evaluate the durability of the textured materials to atomic oxygen, samples were exposed to an RF air plasma environment. The spectral emittance between 2.0 anf 15.0 microns was measured before and after the textured materials were exposed to the plasma asher. The results indicate that copper with extremely high values of emittance after texturing (0.978 and 0.983) at 700 and 900 K, respectively,did not change its values of emittance after ashing, whereas the emittance of stainless steel fell below 0.85 after ashing. These data, along with scanning electron photomicrographs, and the results of texturing and ashing titanium and Nb(1)Zr are presented .

Mirtich, Michael J.↗

IER-484 CED4a Report: AFRRI ER1 Dosimetry Characterization

This report presents an analytical function as the reference neutron and photon dose (normalized to an ion chamber integral) for future nuclear accident dosimeter (NAD) exercise at the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI). Various dosimeters and equipment were positioned within exposure room 1 (ER1) and irradiated using a 1.1 MW Training, Research, Isotope, General Atomics (TRIGA) Mark-F nuclear reactor. An ion chamber located in ER1 was used as a normalization factor in Equation 2. This allows for a quick calculation of neutron and photon dose based on the ion chamber data. Currently, AFRRI is in preparation to host a NAD exercise this summer.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Proton dosimeter design for distributed body organs

A simple dosimeter design has been developed by NASA to monitor the space proton dose (in rads) to a distributed body organ as a linear combination of ion chambers with varying wall thickness. Estimated doses are given for ion chambers of thickness 2, 3, 4, and 5 g/sq cm. The analytical equation used to calculate the dose distribution factor is also given.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Log-N/Period Sensitivity Analysis

The Log-N/Period system utilizes a compensated ion chamber to measure neutron radiation in the reactor core. This analysis focuses on determining a more accurate value for the sensitivity of the installed compensated ion chambers for the Log-N/Period system at the ATR. Using calibration procedures a formula for indirectly calculating the sensitivity of the chambers was derived. Using historical data from approximately ten reactor cycles a new average sensitivity for both channels of the Log-N/Period system was determined.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A measurement of the relativistic rise in xenon-filled ionisation chambers for cosmic ray iron

The relativistic rise of ionization in a pair of xenon-filled pulse ion chambers was measured for primary iron nuclei during a recent balloon flight. Energy calibration over the range 21.5-60 GeV/n was made with a Freon-12 gas Cerenkov detector. This allowed a comparison with recent calculations of the relativistic rise in xenon counters and an estimate of the ion chamber resolution above 21.5 GeV/n to be made.

Gregory, J. C.↗

Irradiation Results of Commercial Neutron and Gamma Sensors at the Ohio State University Research Reactor

This report serves to present the evaluation results of commercial radiation detectors (SPNDs) with the potential to accomplish the data objectives—having sufficient gamma and fast neutron sensitivity—at temperatures near 650°C. The detectors chosen for evaluation are gamma ion chambers from Exosens (previously known as Photonis) models CRGA11 and CRGE32 and tantalum-based self-powered neutron detectors (Ta-SPND) from Mirion. The evaluation was performed in a series of heat irradiations from ambient to 850°C in the 9.5-inch dry tube furnace at the Ohio State University Research Reactor (OSURR). Ion chamber counting curves were measured to evaluate sensor operability at temperature. Detector sensitivity to reactor power and temperature were measured and presented in curve fit parameters. The curve fit equations were used to identify the suggested operational temperatures based on reactor power. Overall, it was evaluated that the CRGA11 was not significantly affected by temperatures up to 650°C and is operable—with higher temperature-contributed signals—up to 700°C. The CRGE32 was more affected by the high temperatures compared to the CRGA11. As a result of increasing temperature, the leakage current was a dominating factor. While the detector can operate up to 600°C and 700°C with lowered high voltage, it is not recommended unless a suitably strong gamma flux field is present. Finally, Ta SPND did not demonstrate good performance beyond 350°C due to the presence of an unknown phenomenon at changing temperatures. The study of the phenomenon is an active research topic outside the scope of this project.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

The study of efficient low-power diffraction designs

Topics covered include the design and fabrication of: (1) a nuclear radiation monitor for use in measuring the radiation environment of the space shuttle payload bay (part of the Spacelab 2 payload; (2) a parallel plate ion chamber for measuring ionization loss by relativistic heavy ions and (3) ionization chambers and proportional chambers for the active radiation detector on Spacelab 1. An experiment to measure the response of ion chambers and Cerenkox counters to relativistic argon and iron atoms is also described.

Gregory, J. C.↗