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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

The extreme nearfield of an acoustic diffraction grating

An expression for the transmitted sound field near (within a fraction of a wavelength) an array of slits is derived under the assumption that the normal component of the particle velocity is the same, in the slits, as if no grating were present and zero everywhere else in the plane of the grating. The expression is in the form of an inverse Fourier transform and can be evaluated quickly using a standard fast-Fourier-transform (FFT) algorithm. Using this technique, the sound pressure on the axis of symmetry normal to the grating was evaluated for a plane-wave incident at various angles with respect to the normal to the grating, and the results were found to provide an excellent qualitative (and to a significant degree quantitative) description of some experimental measurements. Extensions of the method to oscillating pistons of arbitrary (but planar) configuration in a rigid baffle are indicated.

Ochs, R. L., Jr.↗

Cognitive Sciences

Session MP4 includes short reports on: (1) Face Recognition in Microgravity: Is Gravity Direction Involved in the Inversion Effect?; (2) Motor Timing under Microgravity; (3) Perceived Self-Motion Assessed by Computer-Generated Animations: Complexity and Reliability; (4) Prolonged Weightlessness Reference Frames and Visual Symmetry Detection; (5) Mental Representation of Gravity During a Locomotor Task; and (6) Haptic Perception in Weightlessness: A Sense of Force or a Sense of Effort?

Source record↗

The Jost-Kohn inversion procedure

Conditions are considered that must be imposed on a class of quantum mechanical problems to obtain reasonable results by the Jost-Kohn procedure. The discussion is restricted to problems in three space-dimensions without assuming any radial or other symmetry of the potential.

Prosser, R. T.↗

The Numerical Calculation of Flow Past Conical Bodies Supporting Elliptic Conical Shock Waves at Finite Angles of Incidence

The inverse method, with the shock wave prescribed to be an elliptic cone at a finite angle of incidence, is applied to calculate numerically the supersonic perfect-gas flow past conical bodies not having axial symmetry. Two formulations of the problem are employed, one using a pair of stream functions and the other involving entropy and components of velocity. A number of solutions are presented, illustrating the numerical methods employed, and showing the effects of moderate variation of the initial parameters.

Briggs, Benjamin R.↗

Krylov Subspace Methods for Complex Non-Hermitian Linear Systems

We consider Krylov subspace methods for the solution of large sparse linear systems Ax = b with complex non-Hermitian coefficient matrices. Such linear systems arise in important applications, such as inverse scattering, numerical solution of time-dependent Schrodinger equations, underwater acoustics, eddy current computations, numerical computations in quantum chromodynamics, and numerical conformal mapping. Typically, the resulting coefficient matrices A exhibit special structures, such as complex symmetry, or they are shifted Hermitian matrices. In this paper, we first describe a Krylov subspace approach with iterates defined by a quasi-minimal residual property, the QMR method, for solving general complex non-Hermitian linear systems. Then, we study special Krylov subspace methods designed for the two families of complex symmetric respectively shifted Hermitian linear systems. We also include some results concerning the obvious approach to general complex linear systems by solving equivalent real linear systems for the real and imaginary parts of x. Finally, numerical experiments for linear systems arising from the complex Helmholtz equation are reported.

Freund, Roland W.↗

Nozzle Free Jet Flows Within the Strong Curved Shock Regime

A study based on inviscid analysis was conducted to examine the flow field produced from a convergent-divergent nozzle when a strong curved shock occurs. It was found that a certain constraint is imposed on the flow solution of the problem which is the unique feature of the flow within this flow regime, and provides the reason why the inverse method of calculation cannot be employed for these problems. An approximate method was developed to calculate the flow field, and results were obtained for two-dimensional flows. Analysis and calculations were performed for flows with axial symmetry. It is shown that under certain conditions, the vorticity generated at the jet boundary may become infinite and the viscous effect becomes important. Under other conditions, the asymptotic free jet height as well as the corresponding shock geometry were determined.

Shih, Tso-Shin↗

Ideal photon number amplifier and duplicator

The photon number-amplification and number-duplication mechanism are analyzed in the ideal case. The search for unitary evolutions leads to consider also a number-deamplification mechanism, the symmetry between amplification and deamplification being broken by the integer-value nature of the number operator. Both transformations, amplification and duplication, need an auxiliary field which, in the case of amplification, turns out to be amplified in the inverse way. Input-output energy conservation is accounted for using a classical pump or through frequency-conversion of the fields. Ignoring one of the fields is equivalent to considering the amplifier as an open system involving entropy production. The Hamiltonians of the ideal devices are given and compared with those of realistic systems.

Dariano, G. M.↗

Ray propagation in oblate atmospheres

Phinney and Anderson's (1968) exact theory for the inversion of radio-occultation data for planetary atmospheres breaks down seriously when applied to occultations by oblate atmospheres because of departures from Bouguer's law. It has been proposed that this breakdown can be overcome by transforming the theory to a local spherical symmetry which osculates a ray's point of closest approach. The accuracy of this transformation procedure is assessed by evaluating the size of terms which are intrinsic to an oblate atmosphere and which are not eliminated by a local spherical approximation. The departures from Bouguer's law are analyzed, and it is shown that in the lowest-order deviation from that law, the plane of refraction is defined by the normal to the atmosphere at closest approach. In the next order, it is found that the oblateness of the atmosphere 'warps' the ray path out of a single plane, but the effect appears to be negligible for most purposes. It is concluded that there seems to be no source of serious error in making an approximation of local spherical symmetry with the refraction plane defined by the normal at closest approach.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

Efficient Implementations of the Quadrature-Free Discontinuous Galerkin Method

The efficiency of the quadrature-free form of the dis- continuous Galerkin method in two dimensions, and briefly in three dimensions, is examined. Most of the work for constant-coefficient, linear problems involves the volume and edge integrations, and the transformation of information from the volume to the edges. These operations can be viewed as matrix-vector multiplications. Many of the matrices are sparse as a result of symmetry, and blocking and specialized multiplication routines are used to account for the sparsity. By optimizing these operations, a 35% reduction in total CPU time is achieved. For nonlinear problems, the calculation of the flux becomes dominant because of the cost associated with polynomial products and inversion. This component of the work can be reduced by up to 75% when the products are approximated by truncating terms. Because the cost is high for nonlinear problems on general elements, it is suggested that simplified physics and the most efficient element types be used over most of the domain.

Lockard, David P.↗

Fuel spray measurements with an imaging-type spray analyzer

The application of an imaging-type, automated spray analysis system to measurements of fuel sprays requires consideration of a number of significant factors both in its use and in the interpretation of the data. These factors are reviewed and a procedure developed for one such instrument is described. The procedure involves optical scans along the optic axis of the system and an appropriate mathematical inversion scheme for interpretation of the results. The system is nominally capable of yielding the local size distribution function and the total number density at points along the optic axis for droplets from about 10 to 500 microns. No assumptions regarding the form of the size distribution function or the symmetry of the spray are required.

Skifstad, J. G.↗

Transmission Electron Microscopy of Magnetite Plaquettes in Orgueil

Magnetite sometimes takes the form of a plaquette - barrel-shaped stack of magnetite disks - in carbonaceous chondrites (CC) that show evidence of aqueous alteration. The asymmetric nature of the plaquettes caused Pizzarello and Groy to propose magnetite plaquettes as a naturally asymmetric mineral that can indroduce symmetry-breaking in organic molecules. Our previous synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography (SXRCT) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses of the magnetite plaquettes in fifteen CCs indicate that magnetite plaquettes are composed of nearly parallel discs, and the crystallographic orientations of the discs change around a rotational axis normal to the discs surfaces. In order to further investigate the nanostructures of magnetite plaquettes, we made two focused ion beam (FIB) sections of nine magnetite plaquettes from a thin section of CI Orgueil for transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. The X-ray spectrum imaging shows that the magnetite discs are purely iron oxide Fe3O4 (42.9 at% Fe and 57.1 at% O), which suggest that the plaquettes are of aqueous origin as it is difficult to form pure magnetite as a nebular condensate. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns acquired across the plaquettes show that the magnetite discs are single crystals. SEM and EBSD analyses suggest that the planar surfaces of the magnetite discs belong to the {100} planes of the cubic inverse spinel structure, which are supported by our TEM observations. Kerridge et al. suggested that the epitaxial relationship between magnetite plaquette and carbonate determines the magnetite face. However, according to our TEM observation, the association of magnetite with porous networks of phyllosilicate indicates that the epitaxial relationship with carbonate is not essential to the formation of magnetite plaquettes. It was difficult to determine the preferred rotational orientation of the plaquettes due to the symmetry of the cubic structure, however, we are able to observe small but consistent rotational orientation across several discs within a plaquette.

Chan, Q. H. S.↗

Ion beam probing of electrostatic fields

The determination of a cylindrically symmetric, time-independent electrostatic potential V in a magnetic field B with the same symmetry by measurements of the deflection of a primary beam of ions is analyzed and substantiated by examples. Special attention is given to the requirements on canonical angular momentum and total energy set by an arbitrary, nonmonotone V, to scaling laws obtained by normalization, and to the analogy with ionospheric sounding. The inversion procedure with the Abel analysis of an equivalent problem with a one-dimensional fictitious potential is used in a numerical experiment with application to the NASA Lewis Modified Penning Discharge. The determination of V from a study of secondary beams of ions with increased charge produced by hot plasma electrons is also analyzed, both from a general point of view and with application to the NASA Lewis SUMMA experiment. Simple formulas and geometrical constructions are given for the minimum energy necessary to reach the axis, the whole plasma, and any point in the magnetic field. The common, simplifying assumption that V is a small perturbation is critically and constructively analyzed; an iteration scheme for successively correcting the orbits and points of ionization for the electrostatic potential is suggested.

Persson, H.↗

Integral dose during constant velocity motion near a space power reactor

The dose rate in a rotationally-symmetric radiation field near a space power reactor is assumed to be inversely proportional to separation distance squared and directly proportional either to a constant or a constant times the sine-cubed of a polar angle. Constant velocity motion is examined in both cases in both two and three dimensional geometries. The two dimensional geometry occurs when the line of motion and the field axis of symmetry are co-planar. The dose integral in the sine-cubed region may be integrated directly, but a more useful form is obtained after a change of variable. A coordinate system rotation greatly simplifies the results. The three dimensional problem is integrated after a change of variable. Finally, tables of normalized functions are presented and discussed.

Manning, H. S.↗

Broken Symmetry and Coherent Structure in MHD Turbulence

Absolute equilibrium ensemble theory for ideal homogeneous magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence is fairly well developed. Theory and Simulation indicate that ideal MHD turbulence non-ergodic and contains coherent structure. The question of applicability real (i.e., dissipative) MHD turbulence is examined. Results from several very long time numerical simulations on a 64(exp 3) grid are presented. It is seen that coherent structure begins to form before decay dominates over nonlinearity. The connection with inverse spectral cascades and selective decay will also be discussed.

Shebalin, John V.↗

Flowfield in the plane of symmetry below a delta wing

The flowfield in the plane of symmetry of a thin lifting delta wing with supersonic leading edges is examined for wings with apex angles that are comparable to the Mach angle, as well as for the limiting case of a straight leading edge. For these two cases, a simplified treatment of the interaction between the plane expansion wave emanating from the trailing edge and the three-dimensional bow shock is presented. In the region unaffected by the wing tips, the shock decays inversely with distance from the wing.

Cramer, M. S.↗

The brightness distribution of IRC +10216 at 11 microns

The brightness distribution of IRC +10216 at a wavelength of 11 microns has been measured in detail by using spatial interferometer. This brightness distribution appears to have azimuthal symmetry; an upper limit of 1.1 may be set to the ellipticity at 11 microns if the object has a major axis oriented either along or perpendicular to the major axis of the optical image. The radial distribution shows both compact and extended emission. The extended component, which is due to thermal emission from circumstellar dust, contributes 91% of the total flux and has a 1/e diameter of 0.90 arcsec. The tapered shape of this component is consistent with a dust density dependence on the inverse square of radial distance. The compact component is unresolved (less than 0.2 arcsec in diameter) and represents emission from the central star seen through the circumstellar envelope.

Sutton, E. C.↗

The OMPS Limb Profiler Instrument: Two-Dimensional Retrieval Algorithm

The upcoming Ozone Mapper and Profiler Suite (OMPS), which will be launched on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) platform in early 2011, will continue monitoring the global distribution of the Earth's middle atmosphere ozone and aerosol. OMPS is composed of three instruments, namely the Total Column Mapper (heritage: TOMS, OMI), the Nadir Profiler (heritage: SBUV) and the Limb Profiler (heritage: SOLSE/LORE, OSIRIS, SCIAMACHY, SAGE III). The ultimate goal of the mission is to better understand and quantify the rate of stratospheric ozone recovery. The focus of the paper will be on the Limb Profiler (LP) instrument. The LP instrument will measure the Earth's limb radiance (which is due to the scattering of solar photons by air molecules, aerosol and Earth surface) in the ultra-violet (UV), visible and near infrared, from 285 to 1000 nm. The LP simultaneously images the whole vertical extent of the Earth's limb through three vertical slits, each covering a vertical tangent height range of 100 km and each horizontally spaced by 250 km in the cross-track direction. Measurements are made every 19 seconds along the orbit track, which corresponds to a distance of about 150km. Several data analysis tools are presently being constructed and tested to retrieve ozone and aerosol vertical distribution from limb radiance measurements. The primary NASA algorithm is based on earlier algorithms developed for the SOLSE/LORE and SAGE III limb scatter missions. All the existing retrieval algorithms rely on a spherical symmetry assumption for the atmosphere structure. While this assumption is reasonable in most of the stratosphere, it is no longer valid in regions of prime scientific interest, such as polar vortex and UTLS regions. The paper will describe a two-dimensional retrieval algorithm whereby the ozone distribution is simultaneously retrieved vertically and horizontally for a whole orbit. The retrieval code relies on (1) a forward 2D Radiative Transfer code (to model limb radiances within a non-uniform atmosphere and evaluate 2D analytical partial derivatives) and (2) an optimal estimator inversion routine. The algorithm uses the typically sparse nature of the kernel matrices as well as fast matrix inversion techniques to allow for fast inversion of limb data with efficient memory management (as was done for MIPAS data processing). While the method has so far only been developed in the context of Single Scatter, the paper will show how the CPU intensive Multiple Scatter modeling can be implemented using parallel CPU processing. Initial results will be presented in terms of retrieved ozone profiles and code performance.

Rault, Didier F.↗

Kinematics of a large-scale intraplate extending lithosphere: The Basin-Range

Upper lithospheric structure of the Cordilleran Basin Range (B-R) is characterised by an E-W symmetry of velocity layering. The crust is 25 km thick on its eastern active margin, thickening to 30 km within the central portion and thinning to approx. 25 km on the west. Pn velocities of 7.8 to 7.9 km/s characterize the upper mantle low velocity cushion, 7.4 km/s to 7.5 km/s, occurs at a depth of approx. 25 km in the eastern B-R and underlies the area of active extension. An upper-crustal low-velocity zone in the eastern B-R shows a marked P-wave velocity inversion of 7% at depths of 7 to 10 km also in the area of greatest extension. The seismic velocity models for this region of intraplate extension suggest major differences from that of a normal, thermally underformed continental lithosphere. Interpretations of seismic reflection data demonstrate the presence of extensive low-angle reflections in the upper-crust of the eastern B-R at depths from near-surface to 7 to 10 km. These reflections have been interpreted to represent low-angle normal fault detachments or reactivated thrusts. Seismic profiles across steeply-dipping normal faults in unconsolidated sediments show reflections from both planar to downward flatening (listric) faults that in most cases do not penetrate the low-angle detachments. These faults are interpreted as late Cenozoic and cataclastic mylonitic zones of shear displacement.

Smith, R. B.↗