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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

Three-Dimensional Magnetic Restructuring in Two Homologous Solar Flares in the Seismically Active NOAA AR 11283

We carry out a comprehensive investigation comparing the three-dimensional magnetic field restructuring, flare energy release, and the helioseismic response of two homologous flares, the 2011 September 6 X2.1 (FL1) and September 7 X1.8 (FL2) flares in NOAA AR 11283. In our analysis, (1) a twisted flux rope (FR) collapses onto the surface at a speed of 1.5 km s(exp−1) after a partial eruption in FL1. The FR then gradually grows to reach a higher altitude and collapses again at 3 km s(exp−1) after a fuller eruption in FL2. Also, FL2 shows a larger decrease of the flux-weighted centroid separation of opposite magnetic polarities and a greater change of the horizontal field on the surface. These imply a more violent coronal implosion with corresponding more intense surface signatures in FL2. (2) The FR is inclined northward and together with the ambient fields, it undergoes a southward turning after both events. This agrees with the asymmetric decay of the penumbra observed in the peripheral regions. (3) The amounts of free magnetic energy and nonthermal electron energy released during FL1 are comparable to those of FL2 within the uncertainties of the measurements. (4) No sunquake was detected in FL1; in contrast, FL2 produced two seismic emission sources S1 and S2 both lying in the penumbral regions. Interestingly, S1 and S2 are connected by magnetic loops, and the stronger source S2 has a weaker vertical magnetic field. We discuss these results in relation to the implosion process in the low corona and the sunquake generation.

Sun: X-rays↗

On relativistic astrophysics.

Catastrophic implosion analysis in stars with masses greater than critical mass in which general relativity becomes dominant

STELLAR MASS↗

A study of cryogenic container thermodynamics during propellant transfer. Volume 2 - Final engineering report

This report describes the results of a study of cryogenic container thermodynamics during propellant transfer. The purpose of this study is to provide analytical and empirical descriptions of the transient phenomena occurring in cryogenic transfer lines and receive tanks during initial propellant transfer. A further basic objective is to identify those conditions which give rise to the possibility of tank implosion, and to establish the procedures and/or systems necessary to eliminate this possibility.

R M Vernon↗

Significance of blast wave studies to propulsion.

Brief survey of experimental methods currently used for the study of blast wave phenomena with emphasis on high rate exothermic processes. The experimental techniques have used such devices as divergent test sections in shock or detonation tubes, employment of proper test gases, as in marginal detonations, and a variety of explosion systems from finite source explosion apparatus to devices where virtually point explosions are obtained by local breakdown initiated by means of focused laser irradiation. Other methods used are detonation tubes where pressure waves are generated by accelerating flames or by exothermic reactions developed behind reflected shocks, as well as a variety of converging shock and implosion vessels.

Oppenheim, A. K.↗

Gasdynamics of explosions today.

A brief review is given of blast and detonation wave phenomena and some of their uses in war and peace. It is concluded that great strides have been made over the last three decades toward the physical understanding, the analytical-numerical solution, and the measurement of dynamic and thermodynamic quantities, also taking into consideration severe environments and extremely short durations. Questions of internal ballistics are discussed together with hypervelocity launchers and shock tubes, collapsing cylindrical drivers, spherical implosions, explosive weapons, dynamic response, and equation of state data.

Brode, H. L.↗

Space rescue considerations.

Basic objectives of rescue requirements are examined together with the hazards that would necessitate a space rescue. Such hazards include subsystem or component malfunction, crew illness or injury, enhanced radiation levels, fire, collisions, contamination, explosion or implosion, extravehicular hazard, meteoroid penetration, and operational errors. The space rescue requirement, in most cases, is one of accelerated crew retrieval. Escape and rescue systems are discussed, taking into consideration the space shuttle as an example of an earth-based rescue system. Other systems considered include a separable escape capsule and an orbital-based rescue system.

Rose, R. G.↗

Nonlinear hyperbolic theory of thermal waves in metals

A closed-form solution for cylindrical thermal waves in metals is given based on the nonlinear hyperbolic system of energy-conservation and heat-flux relaxation equations. It is shown that heat released from a line source propagates radially outward with finite speed in the form of a thermal wave which exhibits a discontinuous wave front. Unique nonlinear thermal-wave solutions exist up to a critical amount of driving energy, i.e., for larger energy releases, the thermal flow becomes multivalued (occurrence of shock waves). By comparison, it is demonstrated that the parabolic thermal-wave theory gives, in general, a misleading picture of the profile and propagation of thermal waves and leads to physical (infinite speed of heat propagation) and mathematical (divergent energy integrals) difficulties. Attention is drawn to the importance of temporal heat-flux relaxation for the physical understanding of fast transient processes such as thermal waves and more general explosions and implosions.

Wilhelm, H. E.↗

Safety shield for vacuum/pressure-chamber windows

Optically-clear shatter-resistant safety shield protects workers from implosion and explosion of vacuum and pressure windows. Plastic shield is inexpensive and may be added to vacuum chambers, pressure chambers, and gas-filling systems.

Shimansky, R. A.↗

Safety shield for vacuum/pressure chamber viewing port

Observers are protected from flying debris resulting from a failure of a vacuum or pressure chamber viewing port following an implosion or explosion by an optically clear shatter resistant safety shield which spaced apart from the viewing port on the outer surface of the chamber.

Shimansky, R. A.↗

A current generation by Compton scattering in a relativistic plasma with velocity shear and temperature gradient

Current generation by Thomson scattering in a non-relativistic plasma with the velocity shear and the temperature gradient (Hinata and Daneshvar, 1983) is extended to a relativistic plasma by replacing Thomson cross section by the Klein-Nishina formula. Because of the energy dependence of the cross-section, a numerical rather than analytic result is presented. The present calculation may be applied to a supernova implosion where the temperature may reach several MeV and a strong differential rotation is expected. It may also find applications in the early universe, and laser-pellet interaction.

Hinata, S.↗

Cometary globules in the southeast quadrant of the Rosette nebula

We present a study of newly identified cometary globules in the southeast quadrant of the Rosette nebula using the J = 1-0 transition of carbon monoxide. The globules are found to be blueshifted by about 6 km/s with respect to the adjacent Rosette molecular cloud. The masses of the globules vary from 50 to 300 solar masses, and their sizes are between 1 and 3 pc. Two of the globules have cometary morphology and show velocity gradients of about 1.5 km/s/pc along their symmetry axes. These globules are associated with the IRAS sources 06314+0421, X0632+043, 06322+0427, and 06327+0423 which coincide with local maxima in the (C-13)O emission. The derived physical parameters of the globules are found to be consistent with those predicted by recent theoretical models of photoevaporating cometary clouds. We suggest that star formation induced by radiation driven implosion has occurred.

Patel, Nimesh A.↗

Ultrasonic cleaning: Fundamental theory and application

This presentation describes: the theory of ultrasonics, cavitation and implosion; the importance and application of ultrasonics in precision cleaning; explanations of ultrasonic cleaning equipment options and their application; process parameters for ultrasonic cleaning; and proper operation of ultrasonic cleaning equipment to achieve maximum results.

Fuchs, F. John↗

Carbon in The Universe: PAHs and Clusters

Following the initial demonstration of this new technique (Science 265 1686 (1994)) and its application to a series of neutral PAHs which have been proposed as condidates for the UIRs (Nature 380, 227 (1996)), we have concentrated on two major aspects of this project. 1. Developing a detailed model for infrared emission spectra of a collection of highly excited PAH molecules, in which experimental bandshapes and temperature-dependent redshifts are used in conjunction with ab initio vibrational frequencies and intensities to simulate the UIR bands. This shows that a collection of nine different cations (as large as ovalene) reproduce the UIR features better than do a collection of the corresponding neutrals, but a detailed match with the UIRs is not obtained. 2. Construction of SPIRES apparatus for the study of PAH ion emission spectra. The design of this experiment is shown and described. Unfortunately a disasterous accident occurred just as we were preparing to start the testing of the ion apparatus. A vacuum implosion occurred, destroying the liquid He cooled monochromator. It has taken us nearly one full year to reconstruct this, and we arc only now in the final testing of the new system. We expect to try the ion experiments by the end of summer.

Saykally, Richard J.↗

High-Energy Space Propulsion Based on Magnetized Target Fusion

Magnetized target fusion is an approach in which a magnetized target plasma is compressed inertially by an imploding material wall. A high energy plasma liner may be used to produce the required implosion. The plasma liner is formed by the merging of a number of high momentum plasma jets converging towards the center of a sphere where two compact toroids have been introduced. Preliminary 3-D hydrodynamics modeling results using the SPHINX code of Los Alamos National Laboratory have been very encouraging and confirm earlier theoretical expectations. The concept appears ready for experimental exploration and plans for doing so are being pursued. In this talk, we explore conceptually how this innovative fusion approach could be packaged for space propulsion for interplanetary travel. We discuss the generally generic components of a baseline propulsion concept including the fusion engine, high velocity plasma accelerators, generators of compact toroids using conical theta pinches, magnetic nozzle, neutron absorption blanket, tritium reprocessing system, shock absorber, magnetohydrodynamic generator, capacitor pulsed power system, thermal management system, and micrometeorite shields.

Thio, Y. C. F.↗

Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element Method Being Developed

The engineering research and design requirements of today pose great computer-simulation challenges to engineers and scientists who are called on to analyze phenomena in continuum mechanics. The future will bring even more daunting challenges, when increasingly complex phenomena must be analyzed with increased accuracy. Traditionally used numerical simulation methods have evolved to their present state by repeated incremental extensions to broaden their scope. They are reaching the limits of their applicability and will need to be radically revised, at the very least, to meet future simulation challenges. At the NASA Lewis Research Center, researchers have been developing a new numerical framework for solving conservation laws in continuum mechanics, namely, the Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element Method, or the CE/SE method. This method has been built from fundamentals and is not a modification of any previously existing method. It has been designed with generality, simplicity, robustness, and accuracy as cornerstones. The CE/SE method has thus far been applied in the fields of computational fluid dynamics, computational aeroacoustics, and computational electromagnetics. Computer programs based on the CE/SE method have been developed for calculating flows in one, two, and three spatial dimensions. Results have been obtained for numerous problems and phenomena, including various shock-tube problems, ZND detonation waves, an implosion and explosion problem, shocks over a forward-facing step, a blast wave discharging from a nozzle, various acoustic waves, and shock/acoustic-wave interactions. The method can clearly resolve shock/acoustic-wave interactions, wherein the difference of the magnitude between the acoustic wave and shock could be up to six orders. In two-dimensional flows, the reflected shock is as crisp as the leading shock. CE/SE schemes are currently being used for advanced applications to jet and fan noise prediction and to chemically reacting flows.

Chang, Sin-Chung↗