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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2014

Laboratory Investigations of the Complex Refractory Organic Material Produced from Irradiation of Pluto Ice Analogs

Much of Pluto's surface consists of N2 ice with smaller amounts of CH4 and CO ices. Despite the low temperature (approximately 45K), chemistry can be driven in the surface ices by radiation processing such as cosmic ray bombardment. When cosmic rays strike the surface, much of their energy is dispersed in the form of secondary electrons, which in turn drive much of the resulting chemical reactions. Laboratory experiments designed to simulate the conditions on these icy bodies may provide insight into this chemistry. Significant progress has been made in the laboratory toward understanding the smaller, simple compounds produced in the solid phase by radiation processing of (N2, CH4, CO) ices (Bohn et al. 1994; Moore & Hudson 2003; Hodyss et al. 2011; Kim and Kaiser 2012). Recently Materese et al. (2014) used a variety of techniques to better characterize the refractory materials produced from the UV photo-irradiation of N2:CH4:CO ices. However, because Pluto's atmosphere is optically thick to Lyman-alpha UV radiation it is important to re-examine the results using an alternate radiation source. Our latest work has consisted of the analysis of refractory materials produced from the electron bombardment of low temperature N2(‐), CH4(‐), and CO(‐)containing ices (100:1:1). The ice mixture was chosen to be analogous to the known surface ices on Pluto and the radiation source was chosen to mimic the secondary electrons produced by cosmic rays bombardment. The residues were studied using multiple chemical techniques including, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The organic residues produced in these experiments can be seen as an analog for the refractory component of the surface of Pluto, and are compared with the residues previously obtained from UV photo‐irradiation. UV and near‐ IR spectroscopy of the surfaces of Pluto and Charon during the encounter with NASA's New Horizons spacecraft in 2015, will give the first close‐up measurements of ices and their photoproducts. Laboratory measurements and experiments will provide a better context for the data returned by the spacecraft.

organics↗
NASA NTRS2018

Synoptic Ozone, Cloud Reflectivity, and Erythemal Irradiance from Sunrise to Sunset for the Whole Earth as Viewed by the DSCOVR Spacecraft from the Earth-Sun Lagrange 1 Orbit

EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) on board the DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory) spacecraft is the first earth science instrument located near the earth-sun gravitational plus centrifugal force balance point, Lagrange 1. EPIC measures earth-reflected radiances in 10 wavelength channels ranging from 317.5 to 779.5 nm. Of these channels, four are in the UV range 317.5, 325, 340, and 388 nm, which are used to retrieve O3, 388 nm scene reflectivity (LER: Lambert equivalent reflectivity), SO2, and aerosol properties. These new synoptic quantities are retrieved for the entire sunlit globe from sunrise to sunset multiple times per day as the earth rotates in EPIC's field of view. Retrieved ozone amounts agree with ground-based measurements and satellite data to within 3 %. The ozone amounts and LER are combined to derive the erythemal irradiance for the earth's entire sunlit surface at a nadir resolution of 1818 km2 using a computationally efficient approximation to a radiative transfer calculation of irradiance. The results show very high summertime values of the UV index (UVI) in the Andes and Himalayas (greater than 18), and high values of UVI near the Equator at equinox.

Cloud reflectivity↗
NASA NTRS1993

A Proposed Update to the Solar Irradiance Spectrum Used in LOWTRAN and MODTRAN

The calibrated upwelling radiance spectra measured by AVIRIS are increasingly being analyzed with radiative transfer codes. Analysis of AVIRIS data with the LOWTRAN and MODTRAN radiative transfer codes has led to indications of an error in the solar irradiance spectra used by these codes. This paper presents evidence for the error and a proposed update to the solar irradiance spectra used by LOWTRAN and MODTRAN.

AVIRIS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advances to a Global Agroclimatology Solar Insolation and Meteorological Parameter Data Base: Improved Solar Irradiance up to Hourly Temporal Resolution

A primary objective of NASA’s Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resource (POWER) project is to facilitate the use of NASA Earth Science data holdings within the energy, agricultural, and architectural industries. To this end daily averaged solar data from several NASA projects and metrological data from a NASA assimilation model have long been reformatted and via a user friendly web based data portal (https://power.larc.nasa.gov) at the native resolution of each data products. Potential users can access solar and metrological data in a column formatted DSSAT ASCII format by entering single site specific coordinates or from an area by entering the appropriate area coordinates. Upgrades to the POWER data portal have been implemented that result in a complete upgrade of the base solar insolation data products. From the years 1984 through 2000, a new version of the NASA/GEWEX Surface Radiation Budget (SRB) and Clouds is utilized that reduces the RMS relative to surface measurements. Additionally, Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) SYNoptic 1x1 Degree (SYN1Deg) data products are utilized starting from January 1, 2001 through 3 months of real-time. The CERES Fast Longwave and SHortwave radiative Fluxes (FLASHFlux) is still used to provided daily data spanning from the end of SYN1Deg to within 7 days of real-time. Meteorological parameters now are taken from the NASA Modern Era Retrospective-analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA-2) data set which provides higher resolution data products (hourly and 0.5 x 625 degree) covering the entire globe. Besides updating the solar and meteorological data products, this new version features new data products such as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), more cloud information, estimates of soil temperatures and improved options for long-term climatological data requests. More than 36+ years daily time slices are included in the combined solar and meteorological data sets. However, perhaps the most important innovation of the POWER GIS-enabled Web Services is the provision of hourly solar and meteorological data products beginning in Jan 1, 2001. The hourly values will enable more detailed modeling and crop analysis that incorporates the diurnal variability of these parameters. The new capability is made possible by utilizing both the CERES SYN1Deg and MERRA-2 data products that include parameters at these resolutions. An assessment of both the meteorological and the solar irradiance data are based upon comparisons with globally distributed surface observations. The meteorological observations from the National Center for Environmental Information’s “Integrated Surface Database” as well as the “Global Summary of the Day” (GSOD) data files. The estimates of solar insolation are compared to the Baseline Solar Radiation Network (BSRN) and other high quality surface measurement networks. Results from the uncertainty assessments demonstrates that the NASA’s meteorological and solar irradiance data can represent a viable alternative to surface observations, particularly in data sparse regions of the world.

solar irradiance↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Shortwave Broadband Irradiance Computations Using Cloud Properties Combined from CALIPSO, CloudSat, and MODIS

In this study, cloud properties measured from the CALIPSO, CloudSat, and MODIS (CCM) are used for top-of-atmosphere (TOA) shortwave (SW) broadband (BB) irradiance computations. The CALIPSO and CloudSat active sensors provide detailed cloud vertical profiles, but these occasionally miss parts of the cloud columns due to the full attenuation of sensor signals, surface clutter, or insensitivity to a certain range of cloud particle sizes. As a result, the CCM-merged cloud extinction coefficient profiles can be underestimated. Therefore, we compare the column-integrated visible scaled cloud optical depth (VSCOD) of the CCM-merged cloud extinction coefficient profile with the MODIS-estimated VSCOD and apply a scaling factor to the CCM-merged cloud extinction profile. The VSCOD is defined as a visible cloud optical depth multiplied by (1¬–asymmetry parameter). The SW irradiances are computed using the scaled CCM-merged cloud extinction coefficient and effective radius profiles. It is shown that the multi-sensor-combined cloud profiles significantly reduce positive TOA SW BB biases, compared to those with MODIS-derived cloud properties only. The improvement is more pronounced for optically thick clouds, where MODIS ice particle effective radius is largely underestimated.

Cloud↗
NASA NTRS1967

Neutron irradiation of Am-241 effectively produces curium

Computer study was made on the production of multicurie amounts of highly alpha-active curium 242 from americium 241 irradiation. The information available includes curium 242 yields, curium composition, irradiation data, and production techniques and safeguards.

Anderson, R. W.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Hall effect study of electron irradiated Si(Li)

Measurement of the Hall coefficient as a function of temperature between 15 and 300 K allows the separate determination of donor and acceptor concentrations in silicon samples which were irradiated at 240 K by 1-MeV electrons and then thermally annealed at 300 K. In both lithium- and phosphorus-doped silicon irradiation increased the acceptor concentration and decreased the donor concentration due to the formation of vacancy donor pairs. Annealing did not change either concentration in phosphorus-doped silicon and caused both concentrations to decrease in silicon doped with moderate amounts of lithium. In addition to this, in both lithium- and phosphorus-doped silicon the concentration and energy level of the A center were measured at each point in the sample's history. This experiment was limited to float-zoned silicon doped with less than 6 x 10 to the 14th power donors per cu cm.

Stannard, J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Irradiation effects studies of NERVA materials

Several materials used in the NERVA project were irradiated at cryogenic temperatures to neutron fluences between 10 to the 17th and 10 to the 19th power newtons per square centimeter. Tensile properties were determined over a temperature range to evaluate the effects of irradiation on the material properties. The expected radiation damage typical of other materials was observed. A general increase in strength and decrease in ductility occurred. The effects at liquid nitrogen temperatures are more pronounced since radiation induced defects are not annealed out.

Demastry, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Radiation scales on which standard values of the solar constant and solar spectral irradiance are based

The question of radiation scales is critically examined. There are two radiation scales which are of fundamental validity and there are several calibration standards and radiation scales which have been set up for practical convenience. The interrelation between these scales is investigated. It is shown that within the limits of accuracy of irradiance measurements in general and solar irradiance measurements in particular, the proposed standard values of the solar constant and solar spectrum should be considered to be on radiation scales of fundamental validity; those based on absolute electrical units and on the thermodynamic Kelvin temperature scale.

Thekaekara, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Optical absorption in fused silica at elevated temperatures during 1.5-MeV electron irradiation

An experimental determination of the optical transmission of Corning 7940 UV and Suprasil 1 and 2 fused silica has been made during 1.5-MeV electron bombardment. The fused silica reached temperatures ranging from 150 to 1000 C. The Lewis Research Center dynamitron provided electron current densities which corresponded to a dose rate of 2.6 to 20 Mrad/sec. The irradiation induced absorption was measured at 215.0, 270.0, and 450.0 nm (2150, 2700, 4500 A). The length of each irradiation was sufficient so that an equilibrium between radiation induced coloration and high temperature annealing was reached. The experimental results indicate a significant optical absorption, with values of the induced absorption coefficient at 215.0 nm (2150 A) of 14.5 to 2.2/cm, at 270.0 nm (2700 A) of 9.7 to 3.0/cm and at 450.0 nm (4500 A) of 3.7 to 0.5/cm. This would make the use of fused silica as the separating wall material in the nuclear light bulb propulsion concept questionable.

Smith, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Fabrication of (U, Zr) C-fueled/tungsten-clad specimens for irradiation in the Plum Brook Reactor Facility

Fuel samples, 90UC - 10 ZrC, and chemically vapor deposited tungsten fuel cups were fabricated for the study of the long term dimensional stability and compatibility of the carbide-tungsten fuel-cladding systems under irradiation. These fuel samples and fuel cups were assembled into the fuel pins of two capsules, designated as V-2E and V-2F, for irradiation in NASA Plum Brook Reactor Facility at a fission power density of 172 watts/c.c. and a miximum cladding temperature of 1823 K. Fabrication methods and characteristics of the fuel samples and fuel cups prepared are described.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1971

RBE for late somatic effects in mice irradiated with 60 MeV protons relative to X-rays.

Investigation of the relative biological effectiveness of energetic protons for the induction of somatic effects in a mammal (mice) following whole body irradiation. The proton energy used approximates the mean energy for proton spectra accompanying solar events. The effects on longevity and the incidence of major neoplastic diseases are summarized. The results obtained suggest that medium energy proton irradiation is no more effective, and on the whole, probably less effective, than conventional X radiation for the induction of late radiation effects in the mouse.

Darden, E. B., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The observation of damage regions produced by neutron irradiation in lithium-doped silicon solar cells.

Study regions of lattice disorder produced in lithium-doped float-zone melted n/p-type silicon solar cells by irradiation with monoenergetic neutrons at doses between 10 to the 10th and 10 to the 13th per cu cm. The defect regions were revealed by chemically etching the surface of the solar cells and by observing carbon replicas in an electron microscope. It was found that the defect density increased with increasing irradiation dose and increased lithium content, whereas the average defect diameter was found to decrease. From thermal annealing experiments it was found that in the lithium-doped material the defect structure was stable at temperatures between 300 and 1200 K. This was found to be in contrast to the undoped material where at the lowest doses considerable annealing was observed to occur. These results are discussed in terms of the theoretical predictions and models of defect clusters proposed by Gossick (1959) and Crawford and Cleland (1959).

Ghosh, S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Penetration of solar irradiances through the atmosphere and plant canopies.

The equation of radiative transfer is applied to an analysis of solar irradiances penetrating into a plant canopy covered by a turbid atmosphere. The method of discrete coordinates is applied to vertically inhomogeneous atmospheres and plant canopies. It is shown that four-point quadrature yields results with an accuracy that is consistent with irradiance measurements. It is believed that the presented computational scheme may have considerable agricultural applications.

Weinman, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Irradiation of linear polyethylene - Partitioning between sol and gel.

Investigation of the importance of chain-scission processes and of the applicability of the general theory of network formation to polyethylene with respect to critical conditions for gelation, using molecular weight fractions of linear polyethylene irradiated at 133 C. The partitioning between sol and gel was found to adhere to the theory just beyond the gel point. Deviations from theory occurred as the irradiation dosage was increased. It was concluded that main-chain scission at the temperatures concerned is not a significant process.

Rijke, A. M.↗