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Results for “radiation mechanisms”

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 NTRS2004

Radiation Degradation Mechanisms in Laser Diodes

Degradation mechanisms are investigated for laser diodes fabricated with different materials and wavelengths between 660 and 1550 nm. A new approach is developed that evaluates degradation below the laser threshold to determine the radiation-induced recombination density. This allows mechanisms at high injection, such as Auger recombination, to be separated from low-injection damage. New results show that AlGaInP lasers in the visible region are nearly an order of magnitude more resistant to radiation than devices fabricated with AlGaAs or AlGaAsP at longer wavelengths.

laser degradation↗
NASA NTRS1980

Effect of High Energy Radiation on Mechanical Properties of Graphite Fiber Reinforced Composites

The flexural strength and average modulus of graphite fiber reinforced composites were tested before and after exposure to 0.5 Mev electron radiation and 1.33 Mev gamma radiation by using a three point bending test (ASTM D-790). The irradiation was conducted on vacuum treated samples. Graphite fiber/epoxy (T300/5208), graphite fiber/polyimide (C6000/PMR 15) and graphite fiber/polysulfone (C6000/P1700) composites after being irradiated with 0.5 Mev electron radiation in vacuum up to 5000 Mrad, show increases in stress and modulus of approximately 12% compared with the controls. Graphite fiber/epoxy (T300/5208 and AS/3501-6), after being irradiated with 1.33 Mev gamma radiation up to 360 Mrads, show increases in stress and modulus of approximately 6% at 167 Mrad compared with the controls. Results suggest that the graphite fiber composites studied should withstand the high energy radiation in a space environment for a considerable time, e.g., over 30 years.

Naranong, N.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Coordinated ultraviolet and radio observations of selected nearby stars

All of the US2 shifts assigned were successfully completed with simultaneous International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and the Very Large Array (VLA) observations of the proposed target stars. The target stars included dwarf M flare stars and RS CVn stars. The combined ultraviolet (IUE) and microwave (VLA) observations have provided important new insights to the radiation mechanisms at these two widely-separated regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The VLA results included the discovery of narrow-band microwave radiation and rapid time variations in the microwave radiation of dwarf M flare stars. The results indicate that conventional radiation mechanisms cannot explain the microwave emission from these stars. In general, ultraviolet variations and bursts occur when no similar variations are detected at microwave wavelengths and vice versa. Although these is some overlap, the variations in these two spectral regions are usually uncorrelated, suggesting that there is little interaction between the activity centers at the two associated atmospheric levels.

Lang, Kenneth R.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Radiation Damage Mechanisms in Oxide-Based Solid Electrolytes

Ion implantation is a promising approach to mitigate dendrite formation in metal anode solid-state batteries by modifying the chemical and mechanical properties of oxide-based electrolyte surfaces such as Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 (LLZO). Yet, the detailed atomistic mechanisms and potentially adverse side effects of ion implantation remain poorly understood. In this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the evolution of radiation-induced damage in LLZO. The results reveal that radiation damage is primarily driven by recoils from heavy ions in the lattice, producing antisite defect clusters whose density decreases as recoil energy increases, a counterintuitive finding that highlights complex cascade fragmentation. Radiation-induced disruption to the crystal sublattice connectivity, especially in the La–O network critical for Li-ion transport, leads to degradation in ionic pathways at low energies, while higher energy cascades can form new conduction pathways via enhanced Zr–O network connectivity. These findings provide a mechanistic foundation for optimizing ion implantation strategies that balance disruption of the lattice for surface modification for dendrite resistance with preservation of essential ionic conductivity.

Defects↗
NASA NTRS1974

The effect of suprathermal protons on the physical conditions in Seyfert galaxy nuclei

The physical conditions in a high density hydrogen gas heated and ionized by suprathermal protons were investigated, with application to the gas in the nuclear region of Seyfert galaxies. The gas is assumed optically thick to Lyman and Balmer line radiation. Mechanisms by which the radiation from the gas can balance the heating by the fast protons were investigated, and minimum values for the mass of gas were estimated. Under certain conditions, the suprathermal atoms themselves can cool the ambient gas by rescattering the line radiation into the optically thin region in the wings of the line. This mechanism, called optical reverberation, can enhance the broad component of the hydrogen lines produced by inelastic atomic collisions and yield line widths consistent with those observed in Seyfert and quasar spectra. Also discussed is the possibility of achieving dynamic equilibrium of the ambient gas by balancing the momentum transfer from the suprathermals with gravitational attraction of a massive central source.

Ptak, R.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The effect of suprathermal protons on the physical conditions in Seyfert galaxy nuclei

Physical conditions in a high-density hydrogen gas heated and ionized by suprathermal protons are investigated, and the results are applied to the gas in the nuclear region of Seyfert galaxies. The gas is assumed to be optically thick to Lyman and Balmer line radiation. Mechanisms by which the radiation from the gas can balance the heating by the fast protons are investigated, and minimum values for the mass of gas are estimated. Under certain conditions, the suprathermal atoms themselves can cool the ambient gas by rescattering the line radiation into the optically thin region in the wings of the line. This mechanism, optical reverberation, can enhance the broad component of the hydrogen lines produced by inelastic atomic collisions and yield line widths consistent with those observed in Seyfert and quasar spectra. If this mechanism is important, the Lyman decrement can depend strongly on the temperature and density of the ambient hydrogen. The possibility is discussed of achieving dynamic equilibrium of the ambient gas by balancing the momentum transfer from the suprathermals with gravitational attraction of a massive central source.

Ptak, R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Evanescent radiation, quantum mechanics and the Casimir effect

An attempt to bridge the gap between classical and quantum mechanics and to explain the Casimir effect is presented. The general nature of chaotic motion is discussed from two points of view: the first uses catastrophe theory and strange attractors to describe the deterministic view of this motion; the underlying framework for chaos in these classical dynamic systems is their extreme sensitivity to initial conditions. The second interpretation refers to randomness associated with probabilistic dynamics, as for Brownian motion. The present approach to understanding evanescent radiation and its relation to the Casimir effect corresponds to the first interpretation, whereas stochastic electrodynamics corresponds to the second viewpoint. The nonlinear behavior of the electromagnetic field is also studied. This well-understood behavior is utilized to examine the motions of two orbiting charges and shows a closeness between the classical behavior and the quantum uncertainty principle. The evanescent radiation is used to help explain the Casimir effect.

Schatten, Kenneth H.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Neoplastic cell transformation by high-LET radiation - Molecular mechanisms

Quantitative data were collected on dose-response curves of cultured mouse-embryo cells (C3H10T1/2) irradiated with heavy ions of various charges and energies. Results suggests that two breaks formed on DNA within 80 A may cause cell transformation and that two DNA breaks formed within 20 A may be lethal. From results of experiments with restriction enzymes which produce DNA damages at specific sites, it was found that DNA double strand breaks are important primary lesions for radiogenic cell transformation and that blunt-ended double-strand breaks can form lethal as well as transformational damages due to misrepair or incomplete repair in the cell. The RBE-LET relationship for high-LET radiation is similar to that for HGPRT locus mutation, chromosomal deletion, and cell transformation, indicating that common lesions may be involved in these radiation effects.

Yang, Tracy Chui-Hsu↗
NASA NTRS1985

Near millimeter wave imaging/multi-beam integrated antennas

This report describes the most recent work on the theory of single element Linearly Tapered Slot Antennas (LTSAs) and Constant Width Slot Antennas (CWSAs). The radiation mechanism for these is presently well understood and allows quantitative calculation of beamwidths and sidelobe levels, provided that the antennas have a sufficiently wide conducting region on either side of the tapered slot. Appendices 4 to 7 represent earlier work on the grant. This work further elucidates the properties of arrays of CWSA elements, and the effects of coupling on the beam-shape. It should be noted that typical beam-efficiencies of 65% have been estimated, and that element spacings of about one Rayleigh unit are possible. Further, two-point resolution at the Rayleigh spacing has been demonstrated for a CWSA array in a 30.4 cm paraboloid at 31 GHz. These results underscore that interest in further studies of the radiation mechanism of tapered slot arrays. Appendix 7 constitutes a final, detailed report on the work leading to a 94 GHz seven element LTSA array imaging system, which has been reported previously in less detail. Experimental results are presented.

Yngvesson, K. S.↗
DOE OSTI2022

On the mechanism of radiation and thermal-induced degradation of the insulation cables in nuclear power plants-the presence of long-lived polyenyl C-centered radicals

Radiolytically and thermally produced long-lived polyenyl C-centered radicals in the nuclear power plants’ insulation cables are detected and measured after more than 45 months of aging since the irradiation and the thermal treatment. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) results of the irradiated Cross-linked Polyethylene (XLPE) and Ethylene Propylene Rubber (EthProRu), used as primary insulation materials at Nuclear Power Plants (NPP), clearly demonstrate the presence of polyenyl radicals along with allyl and peroxyl radicals. The yields of these free radicals are dose-rate dependent. EPR results also show the presence of the long-lived polyenyl along with allyl and peroxyl free radicals in the thermally treated XLPE, and EthProRu. These free radicals can cause a major failure in the performance of these cables in NPPs. Besides, the results showed the enhancement in the oxidation reactions due to the migration of copper ions from the conductor to the bulk of the insulation. Further, this study also shows that the oxidation index (OI) and Elongation at Break (EAB) increases and decreases respectively at higher doses and temperatures.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

MECHANISMS OF RADIATION CARCINOGENESIS: WHAT IS REALLY INDUCED?

Abstract It has been difficult to understand why the relative risk for cancer decreases with an increase in time since an exposure to radiation. It was recently recognized that this decline can be explained by a parallel shift of the age-related cancer mortality curve toward younger ages. In fact, it has been known for many years that mouse survival curves exhibit a parallel shift toward younger ages following an exposure to radiation, but it was not recognized that the mutation induction theory is incompatible with this parallel shift. This is because a parallel shift in the survival curve implies that all the irradiated individuals are affected, but the mutation induction theory assumes that only a fraction of the irradiated individuals is affected following an exposure to radiation. Thus, it seems likely that the target of radiation action, which leads to carcinogenesis, is not restricted to epithelial cells but includes all of the surrounding cells leading to an altered microenvironment. Since it is repeatedly observed that radiation-exposed normal tissues can stimulate transplanted or spontaneously arising tumor cells to grow faster, worsen the malignant phenotypes and finally kill the host earlier than usual, an exposure to radiation seems most likely to cause tissue inflammation, which creates conditions favorable for the growth of spontaneously arising tumor cells. This new concept suggests that it might be possible to attenuate the extent of radiation carcinogenesis by intervening in tissue inflammatory processes.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
NASA NTRS1983

Space radiation interaction mechanisms in materials

Models of charged-particle impact under conditions typical of the space environment are reported, with a focus on impact excitation and nuclear reactions, especially for heavy ions. Impact excitation is studied by using a global model for electronic excitation based on formal relations through the classical dielectric function to derive an approximation related to the local plasma (electron density distribution) within the atoms and molecules; and corrections to the model resulting from the nonfluid nature of this plasma are discussed. Nuclear reactions are studied by reducing quantum-mechanical treatment of this general N-body problem to an equivalent two-body problem that is solvable, and by comparing the results with experimental data. The equations for heavy-charged-particle transport are derived and solution techniques demonstrated. Finally, these methods of analysis are applied to study the change in the electrical properties of a GaAs semiconductor for photovoltaic applications; proton damage to GaAs crystals is found to arise from stable replacement defects and to be nonannealable, in contrast to electron-induced damage.

Wilson, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1990

High speed turboprop aeroacoustic study (counterrotation). Volume 1: Model development

The isolated counterrotating high speed turboprop noise prediction program was compared with model data taken in the GE Aircraft Engines Cell 41 anechoic facility, the Boeing Transonic Wind Tunnel, and in NASA-Lewis' 8x6 and 9x15 wind tunnels. The predictions show good agreement with measured data under both low and high speed simulated flight conditions. The installation effect model developed for single rotation, high speed turboprops was extended to include counterotation. The additional effect of mounting a pylon upstream of the forward rotor was included in the flow field modeling. A nontraditional mechanism concerning the acoustic radiation from a propeller at angle of attach was investigated. Predictions made using this approach show results that are in much closer agreement with measurement over a range of operating conditions than those obtained via traditional fluctuating force methods. The isolated rotors and installation effects models were combines into a single prediction program, results of which were compared with data taken during the flight test of the B727/UDF engine demonstrator aircraft. Satisfactory comparisons between prediction and measured data for the demonstrator airplane, together with the identification of a nontraditional radiation mechanism for propellers at angle of attack are achieved.

Whitfield, C. E.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The central engine of quasars and AGNs: A relativistic proton radiative shock

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and quasars (QSOs) appear to emit roughly equal energy per decade from radio to gamma-ray energies (e.g. Ramaty and Ligenfelter 1982). This argues strongly for a nonthermal radiation mechanism (see Rees 1984). In addition, statistical studies have indicated that the spectra of these objects in the IR-UV and 2 to 50 keV X-ray band, can be fitted very well with power laws of specific indices. These spectral indices do not seem to depend on the luminosity or morphology of the objects (Rothschild et al. 1983; Malkan 1984), and any theory should account for them in a basic and model independent way. If shocks accelerate relativistic protons via the first-order Fermi mechanism (e.g. Axfor 1981), the radiating electrons can be produced as secondaries throughout the source by proton-proton (p-p) collisions and pion decay, thus eliminating Compton losses (Protheroe and Kazanas 1983). As shown by Kazanas (1984), if relativistic electrons are injected at high energies, e+-e- pair production results in a steady state electron distribution that is very similar to that observed in AGNs, independent of the details of injection and the dynamics of the source. The conditions required by this mechanism are met in the shock model of Eichler (1984) and Ellison and Eichler (1984) which allows the self-consistent calculation of the shock acceleration efficiency.

Kazanas, D.↗