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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 361 records · Page 20

Measurement of minority carrier lifetime, mobility and diffusion length in heavily doped silicon

Carrier transport and recombination parameters in heavily doped silicon were examined. Data were presented for carrier diffusivity in both p- and n-type heavily doped silicon covering a broad range of doping concentrations from 10 to the 15th power to 10 to the 20th power atoms/cu cm. One of the highlights of the results showed that minority carrier diffusivities are higher by a factor of 2 in silicon compared to majority carrier diffusivities.

Swirhun, S. E.↗

Detection of lambda = 2 cm emission from minor planet 704 Interamnia

Results are presented from a study of the 2 cm natural radio emissions from the class U asteroid 704 Interamnia. The study was performed with the NRAO VLA using 26 antennas in a compact hybrid configuration with baselengths from 0.1-2.2 km. The IF scans were centered at 14.97 GHz and 14.92 GHz. A brightness temperature plot is provided for 2 AU distance, assuming a 338 km diam for the asteroid. The scans revealed a surface dust layer at least 3 cm thick. Comparisons with spectra of 15 Eunomia, another rapidly rotating minor planet with a similar diameter reveals that this second object also has a surface dust layer a few centimeters thick.

Webster, W. J., Jr.↗

Model calculations of minor ion populations in the plasmapause

Recent observations of the density of minor ions at high altitudes in the outer plasmasphere show relative enhancements of O(2+) in regions of simultaneous O(+) enhancements. These regions also exhibit high ion temperatures. Computer simulations of the temperature structure of the plasmasphere under conditions of electron heating in the equatorial region suggest that such heating produces large gradients in both the electron and ion temperature in the ionosphere. These gradients result in an increase in the pressure of the electrons, which increases the polarization field, and of the ions, which results in large plasma scale heights at low altitudes and increased ion densities at high altitudes. The subsequent enhanced flux of O(2+) from the ionosphere produced by collisional drag of O(2+) by O(+) and the increased polarization field results in a significant increase in the O(2+) density above the ionosphere. At higher altitudes the O(2+)-O(+) collisions inhibit the upward flow of O(2+) resulting in a high-altitude peak in the O(2+) density. Above this peak, where collisions with O(+) begin to become insignificant, the O(2+) pressure gradient pushes the O(2+) into the equatorial reservoir. Simulations of conditions of moderate flux tube depletion result in an increase in this effect. The N(+) is also affected by collisions with O(+), but the increase in its density at high altitudes is primarily due to the scale height effect.

Chandler, M. O.↗

Palomar-Leiden minor planets - Proper elements, frequency distributions, belt boundaries, and family memberships

Tabulations are presented for the proper elements of 1227 higher accuracy orbits of faint minor planets encompassing earth and deep Mars crossers, Trojans, and Hildas. The distribution of the closest approach distance to Mars drops off sharply near zero, while that for Jupiter vanishes near 1.1 AU; it is suggested that Mars and Jupiter have caused these boundaries, so that the asteroid belt must have been larger early in the solar system's history. Some 3.5 percent of the sample, primarily shallow crossers, can impact Mars; the fortuitous alignments required for impact occur with near-simultaneity for these objects, so that they will episodically bombard Mars.

Williams, J. G.↗

A chemical/microwave technique for the measurement of bulk minority carrier lifetime in silicon wafers

A chemical/microwave technique for the measurement of bulk minority carrier lifetime in silicon wafers is described. This method consists of a wet chemical treatment (surface cleaning, oxidation in solution, and measurement in HF solution) to passivate the silicon surfaces, a laser diode array for carrier excitation, and a microwave bridge measuring system which is more sensitive than the microwave systems used previously for lifetime measurement. Representative experimental data are presented to demonstrate this technique. The result reveals that this method is useful for the determination of bulk lifetime of commercial silicon wafers.

Luke, Keung L.↗

Microstructure-mechanical property relationships for Al-Cu-Li-Zr alloys with minor additions of cadmium, indium or tin

Minor amounts of cadmium, indium or tin were added to a baseline alloy with the nominal composition of Al-2.4Cu-2.4Li-0.15Zr. These elements were added in an attempt to increase the age-hardening response of the material such that high strengths could be achieved through heat-treatment alone, without the need for intermediate mechanical working. The alloy variant containing indium achieved a higher peak hardness in comparison to the other alloy variations, including the baseline material, when aged at temperatures ranging from 160 C to 190 C. Tensile tests on specimens peak-aged at 160 indicated the yield strength of the indium-bearing alloy increased by approximately 15 percent compared to that of the peak-aged baseline alloy. In addition, the yield strength obtained in the indium-bearing alloy was comparable to that reported for similar baseline material subjected to a 6 percent stretch prior to peak-aging at 190 C. The higher strength levels obtaied for the indium-bearing alloy are attributed to increased number densities and homogeneity of both the T1 and theta-prime phases, as determined by TEM studies.

Blackburn, L. B.↗

Minor surgery in microgravity

The purpose is to investigate and demonstrate equipment and techniques proposed for minor surgery on Space Station Freedom (SSF). The objectives are: (1) to test and evaluate methods of surgical instrument packaging and deployment; (2) to test and evaluate methods of surgical site preparation and draping; (3) to evaluate techniques of sterile procedure and maintaining sterile field; (4) to evaluate methods of trash management during medical/surgical procedures; and (4) to gain experience in techniques for performing surgery in microgravity. A KC-135 parabolic flight test was performed on March 30, 1990 with the goal of investigating and demonstrating surgical equipment and techniques under consideration for use on SSF. The flight followed the standard 40 parabola profile with 20 to 25 seconds of near-zero gravity in each parabola.

Billica, Roger↗

Global mapping of minor atmospheric constituents with AIRS on EOS

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is a grating-array spectrometer on EOS. It covers the region from 650 to 3000/cm with spectral resolution of 1200. The prime objective of AIRS is the global retrieval of temperature and water vapor profiles and of surface temperatures. The wide spectral coverage of AIRS permits the measurement of a number of additional atmospheric and surface parameters. Of particular interest is the potential to produce daily global maps of the spatial distribution of the more abundant of the minor gases, e.g. ozone, CO, CH4, and N2O. This potential capability for CH4 and N2O is strongly affected by cloud residual. Using the CH4 band at 1306/cm as example, spatial averaging of AIRS data is required to measure a 10 percent change in the nominal CH4 column abundance. At 1300/cm, this requires cloud clearing at the 0.3 percent level. The mapping capability for ozone and CO in terms of rural/urban abundance patterns is not likely to be impacted with cloud-clearing residuals as high as 5 percent.

Aumann, H. H.↗

Astrometric observations of comets and minor planets

Comets and planet crossing asteroids are observed so that accurate positions can be determined. The observations are made with the Palomar 1.5 m telescope equipped with a CCD array. The combination of telescope and detector is quite effective at recording faint comets and minor planets. This proves useful for early acquisition of comets and asteroids returning for a new opposition. The resulting positions permit accurate orbits to be determined and allow the properties of the comets and asteroids to be measured by other observers using a variety of techniques. Recoveries and other notable observations of comets and planet crossing asteroids observed during the past years are discussed.

Williams, J. G.↗

Astrometric observations of comets and minor planets

Comets and planet crossings are observed so that accurate positions can be determined. The observations are made with the Palomar 1.5m telescope equipped with a charge coupled device (CCD) array. This combination is quite efficient at recording faint comets and minor planets. This proves quite useful for early acquisition of comets and asteroids returning for a new opposition. The resulting positions permit accurate orbits to be determined and allow the properties of the comets and asteroids to be measured by other observers using a variety of techniques. Recoveries and other notable observations of comets and planet crossing asteroids observed during the past year are discussed.

Williams, J. G.↗

The minor stratospheric warming of January 1989 - Results from STRATAN, a stratospheric-tropospheric data assimilation system

Using a stratospheric-tropospheric data assimilation system, referred to as STRATAN, a minor sudden stratospheric warming that occurred in January 1989 is investigated. The event had a maximum influence on the stratospheric circulation near 2 hPa. The zonal mean circulation reversed briefly in the polar region as the temperature increased 34 K in 3 days. The cause of the warming is shown to be the rapid development and subsequent movement of a warm anomaly, which initially developed in the midlatitudes. The development of the warm anomaly is caused by adiabatic descent, and the dissipation by radiative cooling. A brief comparison with the NMC analysis and temperature sounding data is also presented.

Steenrod, Stephen D.↗

Evaluation of the minority carrier diffusion length and surface-recombination velocity in GaAs p/n solar cells

The minority carrier diffusion length (Lp) and the surface recombination velocity (Vs) were measured as a function of distance (x) from the p-n junction in GaAs p/n concentrator solar cells. The measured Vs values were used in a theoretical expression for the normalized electron-beam-induced current. A fitting procedure was then used to fit this expression with experimental values to obtain Lp. The results show that both Vs and Lp vary with x. Lp measured in irradiated cells showed a marked reduction. These values were compared to those measured previously which did not account for Vs.

Hakimzadeh, Roshanak↗

On the distribution of minor planet inclinations

The distribution of minor planet orbits with inclination to the ecliptic plane and with respect to the Jupiter orbit is studied. Position of the plane considered as the mean plane of the asteroid belt is determined.

Shor, Viktor A.↗

Comparison of generalized transport and Monte-Carlo models of the escape of a minor species

The steady-state diffusion of a minor species through a static background species is studied using a Monte Carlo model and a generalized 16-moment transport model. The two models are in excellent agreement in the collision-dominated region and in the 'transition region'. In the 'collisionless' region the 16-moment solution contains two singularities, and physical meaning cannot be assigned to the solution in their vicinity. In all regions, agreement between the models is best for the distribution function and for the lower-order moments and is less good for higher-order moments. Moments of order higher than the heat flow and hence beyond the level of description provided by the transport model have a noticeable effect on the shape of distribution functions in the collisionless region.

Demars, H. G.↗

Minority carrier diffusion length and edge surface-recombination velocity in InP

A scanning electron microscope was used to obtain the electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) profiles in InP specimens containing a Schottky barrier perpendicular to the scanned (edge) surface. An independent technique was used to measure the edge surface-recombination velocity. These values were used in a fit of the experimental EBIC data with a theoretical expression for normalized EBIC (Donolato, 1982) to obtain the electron (minority carrier) diffusion length.

Hakimzadeh, Roshanak↗

The IRAS Minor Planet Survey

This report documents the program and data used to identify known asteroids observed by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and to compute albedos and diameters from their IRAS fluxes. It also presents listings of the results obtained. These results supplant those in the IRAS Asteroid and Comet Survey, 1986. The present version used new and improved asteroid orbital elements for 4679 numbered asteroids and 2632 additional asteroids for which at least two-opposition elements were available as of mid-1991. It employed asteroid absolute magnitudes on the International Astronomical Union system adopted in 1991. In addition, the code was modified to increase the reliability of associating asteroids with IRAS sources and rectify several shortcomings in the final data products released in 1986. Association reliability was improved by decreasing the position difference between an IRAS source and a predicted asteroid position required for an association. The shortcomings addressed included the problem of flux overestimation for low SNR sources and the systematic difference in albedos and diameters among the three wavelength bands (12, 25, and 60 micrometers). Several minor bugs in the original code were also corrected.

Tedesco, Edward F.↗

High temperature annealing of minority carrier traps in irradiated MOCVD n(+)p InP solar cell junctions

Deep level transient spectroscopy was used to monitor thermal annealing of trapping centers in electron irradiated n(+)p InP junctions grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition, at temperatures ranging from 500 up to 650K. Special emphasis is given to the behavior of the minority carrier (electron) traps EA (0.24 eV), EC (0.12 eV), and ED (0.31 eV) which have received considerably less attention than the majority carrier (hole) traps H3, H4, and H5, although this work does extend the annealing behavior of the hole traps to higher temperatures than previously reported. It is found that H5 begins to anneal above 500K and is completely removed by 630K. The electron traps begin to anneal above 540K and are reduced to about half intensity by 630K. Although they each have slightly different annealing temperatures, EA, EC, and ED are all removed by 650K. A new hole trap called H3'(0.33 eV) grows as the other traps anneal and is the only trap remaining at 650K. This annealing behavior is much different than that reported for diffused junctions.

Messenger, S. R.↗

Measurement of the minority carrier diffusion length and edge surface-recombination velocity in InP

A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to measure the electron (minority carrier) diffusion length (L(sub n)) and the edge surface-recombination velocity (V(sub s)) in zinc-doped Czochralski-grown InP wafers. Electron-beam-induced current (EBIC) profiles were obtained in specimens containing a Schottky barrier perpendicular to the scanned (edge) surface. An independent technique was used to measure V(sub s), and these values were used in a theoretical expression for normalized EBIC. A fit of the experimental data with this expression enabled us to determine L(sub n).

Bailey, Sheila G.↗