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Results for “Ultra-high vacuum”

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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1974

Investigation of a quadrupole ultra-high vacuum ion pump

The new nonmagnetic ion pump resembles the quadrupole ionization gage. The dimensions are larger, and hyperbolically shaped electrodes replace the four rods. Their surfaces follow y sq. = 36 + x sq. (x, y in centimeters). The electrodes, 55 cm long, are positioned lengthwise in a tube. At one end a cathode emits electrons; at the other end a narrowly wound flat spiral of tungsten clad with titanium on cathode potential can be heated for titanium evaporation. Electrons accelerated by a dc potential of the surface electrodes oscillate between the ends on rotational trajectories, if a high frequency potential superimposed on the dc potential is properly adjusted. Pumping speeds (4-100 liter/sec) for different gases at different peak voltages (1000-3000V) at corresponding frequencies (57-100 MHz), and at different pressures 0.00001 to the minus 9 power Torr were observed. The lowest pressure reached was below 10 to the minus 10 power Torr.

Schwarz, H. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Decomposition of perfluoroalkylpolyethers (PFPE) in ultra-high vacuum under sliding conditions

Reactions of perfluoroalkylpolyethers (PFPE: Fomblin, Demnum and Krytox) were studied during the sliding contact of stainless steel specimens under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. All three fluids reacted with the steel specimens during sliding. Fomblin, which has acetal linkages, decomposed under the sliding conditions generating gaseous products, (COF2 and fluorinated carbons) which were detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Gaseous products were not detected for the Demnum and Krytox fluids. The amount of gaseous products from Fomblin increased with increasing sliding speed. At the end of the sliding experiments, the wear scar and deposits on the specimens were examined by small spot size XPS. The oxide layer on the specimen surface was removed during sliding, and metal fluorides were formed on the worn surface. The surface of the wear scar and deposits were covered with adsorbed PFPE. Based on these results, it was concluded that the decomposition reaction on Fomblin was initiated by contacting the fluid with a fresh metal surface which was formed during sliding.

Mori, Shigeyuki↗
NASA NTRS1977

Method of forming metal hydride films

The substrate to be coated (which may be of metal, glass or the like) is cleaned, both chemically and by off-sputtering in a vacuum chamber. In an ultra-high vacuum system, vapor deposition by a sublimator or vaporizer coats a cooled shroud disposed around the substrate with a thin film of hydride forming metal which getters any contaminant gas molecules. A shutter is then opened to allow hydride forming metal to be deposited as a film or coating on the substrate. After the hydride forming metal coating is formed, deuterium or other hydrogen isotopes are bled into the vacuum system and diffused into the metal film or coating to form a hydride of metal film. Higher substrate temperatures and pressures may be used if various parameters are appropriately adjusted.

Steinberg, R.↗
NASA NTRS1990

High-temperature metal purification using a compact, portable rf heating and levitation system on the wake shield

The potential use of a compact, battery-operated rf levitator and heating system to purify high-temperature melting materials in space is described. The wake shield now being fabricated for the Space Vacuum Epitaxy Center will provide an Ultra-high vacuum (10(exp -14) Torr hydrogen, 10(exp -14) Torr helium, 10(exp -30) Torr oxygen). The use of the wake shield to purify Nb, Ti, W, Ir, and other metals to a purity level not achievable on earth is described.

Hahs, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Nuclei growth kinetics during the nucleation of gold on UHV-cleaved mica substrates

Measurements of crystalline sizes during nucleation of gold on mica surfaces cleaved in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) reveal the presence of symmetric, sharply peaked distributions which flatten and broaden with increasing nucleation time. When the number density of nuclei increases, the growth rate is suppressed. The time taken to reach a given size increases with increasing temperature when the nuclei are growing as isolated particles. When the nuclei are spaced so far that their diffusion fields overlap, then the time taken to reach a given size decreases with increasing temperature.

Elliot, A. G.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Laser particulate spectrometer

Hybrid laser scattering and extinction technique measures particle diameters from 0.8 to 2.75 micrometers and speeds from 0.2 to 20 m/s. Operating pressures range from ambient to ultra-high vacuum, and temperatures range from 77 to 300 K. Potential applications include air pollution, clean room, and particle size monitoring.

Boyd, B. A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A facility for the simulation of low orbit atmospheric oxygen bombardment

A molecular beam facility to simulate the space environment of a spacecraft at low orbit was designed with the intent of studying the effect on the properties of optical elements of oxygen atoms impacting at orbital velocity. The four-stage differentially pumped molecular beam facility includes a variety of oxygen atom beam sources which cover a wide range of velocities (1 km/sec to approximately 8 km/sec), in addition to the ultra-clean experimental environmental of an ultra-high vacuum chamber and an optical diagnostic set-up. The primary oxygen atom beam source used to obtain the 8 km/sec O atoms is an arc heated source. It consists of a modified commercially available plasma torch. The modifications include attachments which provide for a nozzle which is used to expand the atomic beam into the vacuum system, and exhaust channels to dispose of excess torch gas. The torch operates in the 'nontransferred' mode of operation, that is the electric arc is confined within the torch. A plasma is formed in helium by a dc arc. A small amount of O2 is injected downstream from the arc where it is thermally dissociated by the hot He into oxygen atoms. The high temperature and isentropic expansion give the oxygen atoms their velocity. Using seeded beam techniques, oxygen atom beams of approximately 3.5 and approximately 1.5 km/sec, respectively, are obtained.

Arnold, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

On the distribution of noble gases in Allende - A differential oxidation study

The investigation makes use of an oxidizing technique which is based on methods widely employed in light stable isotope analysis. The utilization of closed-system differential combustion in molecular oxygen in an ultra-high vacuum system on-line with a spectrometer makes it possible to conduct precise abundance and isotopic measurements of all gases released in progressive oxidation and/or thermal outgassing of the host phases. Attention is given to the noble gases mobilized in progressive oxidation of a carbon-rich acid residue and a fine-grained matrix separate. The progressive oxidation of the Allende matrix is discussed. Release occurred over three distinct intervals, characterized by oxidation below 600 C, gas mobilization between 630 and 750 C, and high-temperature diffusive release.

Frick, U.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Degradation of the lunar vacuum by a moon base

Several industrial processes requiring high and ultra-high vacuum similar to the lunar vacuum are outlined. The effects of a 20-person lunar base and a 250-person industrial facility on this vacuum are discussed. It is shown that exhaust from transport spacecraft and leakage from the habitat will be comparable to the daytime gas pressure for the 20-person base, and will degrade the vacuum to the range of 2 x 10 to the -9th torr for the use of 250-person facility. This will result in replacing the mostly nonreactive gases hydrogen, helium, and neon with more reactive gases containing carbon and oxygen. This vacuum is still good enough to perform many important vacuum processes such as plasma-deposition of amorphous silicon for solar cells, but processes such as molecular beam epitaxy or locating an intersecting beam accelerator on the moon will require additional vacuum pumping.

Landis, Geoffrey↗
NASA NTRS1990

Experiments for electromagnetic levitation in microgravity

Containerless processing is a promising research tool for investigating the properties of undercooled melts and their solidification. For conducting samples RF-electromagnetic levitation offers the possibility to obtain large undercoolings by avoiding heterogeneous nucleation at container walls. On earth, however, strong magnetic fields are needed to compensate the gravitational force which imposes a lower limit on the available temperatures and on the accessible undercooling range. Under microgravity conditions the magnetic positioning fields can be minimized and hence, undercooling becomes feasible under ultra-high vacuum conditions and lower temperatures become accessible. In contrast to other undercooling and solidification techniques, electromagnetic levitation allows for diagnostic measurements during the early steps of nucleation and phase selection. Experiments cover a wide field of research topics: nucleation, directional solidification at high velocities, generation of metastable phases, evolution of microstructures, properties of undercooled liquids. Examples from these classes including experiments selected for the IML-2 mission are discussed with emphasis on technical requirements. An overview is given on the German TEMPUS (electromagnetic levitation facility) program.

Willnecker, R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Method for producing an atomic oxygen beam

A method for producing an atomic oxygen beam is provided by the present invention. First, a material 10' is provided which dissociates molecular oxygen and dissolves atomic oxygen into its bulk. Next, molecular oxygen is exposed to entrance surface 11' of material 10'. Next, material 10' is heated by heater 17' to facilitate the permeation of atomic oxygen through material 10' to the UHV side 12'. UHV side 12' is interfaced with an ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment provided by UHV pump 15'. The atomic oxygen on the UHV side 12' is excited to a non-binding state by exciter 14' thus producing the release of atomic oxygen to form an atomic oxygen beam 35'.

Outlaw, Ronald A.↗
NASA NTRS1970

Ultra-high molecular sink vacuum chamber

Double-wall vacuum chamber can be separated from the remainder of the system and pumped by ultra-clean techniques. Ultrahigh vacuum is maintained by the cryogenic effect of a cold wall and titanium chemisorption.

Stephens, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Space ultra-vacuum facility and method of operation

A wake shield space processing facility (10) for maintaining ultra-high levels of vacuum is described. The wake shield (12) is a truncated hemispherical section having a convex side (14) and a concave side (24). Material samples (68) to be processed are located on the convex side of the shield, which faces in the wake direction in operation in orbit. Necessary processing fixtures (20) and (22) are also located on the convex side. Support equipment including power supplies (40, 42), CMG package (46) and electronic control package (44) are located on the convex side (24) of the shield facing the ram direction. Prior to operation in orbit the wake shield is oriented in reverse with the convex side facing the ram direction to provide cleaning by exposure to ambient atomic oxygen. The shield is then baked-out by being pointed directed at the sun to obtain heating for a suitable period.

Naumann, Robert J.↗