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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

Hot spots in the microwave sky

Tha assumption that the cosmic background fluctuations can be approximated as a random Gaussian field implies specific predictions for the radiation temperature pattern. Using this assumption, the abundances and angular sizes are calculated for regions of various levels of brightness expected to appear in the sky. Different observational strategies are assessed in the context of these results. Calculations for both large-angle and small-angle anisotropy generated by scale-invariant fluctuations in a flat universe are presented. Also discussed are simple generalizations to open cosmological models.

Vittorio, Nicola↗

Effect of surface tension anisotropy on cellular morphologies

A three-dimensional weakly nonlinear analysis for conditions near the onset of instability at the crystal-melt interface was carried out to second order, taking into account the effects of latent heat generation and surface-tension anisotropy of the crystal-melt interface; particular consideration was given to the growth of a cubic crystal in the 001-, 011-, and 111-line directions. Numerical calculations by McFadden et al. (1987), performed for an aluminum-chromium alloy with the assumption of a linear temperature field and an isotropic surface tension, showed that only hexagonal nodes (and not hexagonal cells) occurred near the onset of instability. The results of the present analysis indicate that the nonlinear temperature field (which occurs when thermal conductivities of the crystal and the melt are different and/or the latent heat effects are not negligible) can modify this result and, for certain alloys and processing conditions, can cause the occurrence of hexagonal cells near the onset of instability.

Mcfadden, G. B.↗

Electromagnetic instabilities in the plasma sheet boundary layer

Plasma and magnetic field data observed during two ISEE crossing of the plasma sheet boundary layer are studied in conjuction with a linear theory analysis. The plasma distribution functions exhibit three distinct potential sources of free energy: ion/ion relative drifts, electron/ion relative drifts corresponding to nonzero field-aligned current, and large ion temperature anistropies. These observed distributions are used as source functions in a linear Vlasov theory of electromagnetic instabilities at propagation parallel or antiparallel to the average magnetic field. The theory shows that the field-aligned current gives rise to the low frequency kinklike instability, and anisotropies of the flowing ion components give rise to two distinct branches of the ion cyclotron anisotropy instability with spacecraft frame frequencies both below and above the proton cyclotron frequency Omega (p). Analysis of the magnetic field data demonstrates that the appearence of two fast, counterstreaming, anisotropic ion components corresponds to a significant increase in the magnetic fluctuation energy density both below and above Omega(p), in full agreement with the theoretical predictions.

Angelopoulos, Vassilis↗

Structural Analysis of Helios Filament-Wound Tanks Subjected to Internal Pressure and Cooling

A finite-element stress analysis is performed on Helios filament-wound hydrogen tanks to examine the stress field and effect of end dome geometry on the stress field. Each tank is composed of a central circular cylindrical section with either geodesic or hemispherical end domes, which have metallic polar bosses. The tanks are subjected to combined and separate internal pressure and temperature loading conditions, and the stress contributions of each loading component are examined. The tank-wall-polar-boss interfacial meridional tensile stress in the hemispherical dome is found to be approximately 27 percent lower than that in the geodesic dome. The effects of both material anisotropy and the aluminum lining on the intensities of tensile meridional stress at the tank-wall-polar-boss bonding interface are examined.

Ko, William L↗

Mechanical property anisotropy in superalloy El-929 directionally solidified by an exothermic technique

Directional solidification (DS) of the nickel-based superalloy El-929 was carried out by employing the exothermic technique for preparing several 150 mm long x 55 mm diameter rods. Specimens machined from blanks cut at 0, 45, 75 and 90 deg to the chill surface were tensile and stress-rupture tested at different temperatures. The air-melted DS alloy, when loaded parallel to the growth direction, shows considerable improvement in stress-rupture life and tensile ductility as compared with the vacuum induction melted, forged and heat-treated alloy. However, these property advantages rapidly degrade with the increasing deviation of the load axis from the growth direction.

Pradhan, D. C.↗

Model atmospheres and radiation of magnetic neutron stars: Anisotropic thermal emission

We investigate the anisotropy of the thermal radiation emitted by a surface element of a neutron star atmosphere (e.g., by a polar cap of a radio pulsar). Angular dependences of the partial fluxes at various photon energies, and spectra at various angles are obtained for different values of the effective temperature T(sub eff) and magnetic field strength B, and for different directions of the magnetic field. It is shown that the local radiation of the magnetized neutron star atmospheres is highly anisotropic, with the maximum flux emitted in the magnetic field direction. At high B the angular dependences in the soft X-ray range have two maxima, a high narrow peak along B and a lower and broader maximum at intermediate angles. The radiation is strongly polarized, the modulation of the degree of polarization due to the rotation of the neurtron star may be much higher than that for the radiative flux. The results obtained are compared with recent ROSAT observations of the thermal-like radiation from the radio pulsars PSR 1929+10 and PSR J0437-4715.

Pavlov, G. G.↗

Highly Uniform 150 mm Diameter Multichroic Polarimeter Array Deployed for CMB Detection

The Advanced Atacama Cosmology Telescope Polarimeter is an upgraded receiver for the Atacama Cosmology Telescope, which has begun making measurements of the small angular scale polarization anisotropies in the Cosmic Microwave Background using the first of four new multichroic superconducting detector arrays. Here, we review all details of the optimization and characterization of this first array, which features 2012 AlMn transition edge sensor bolometers operating at 150 and 230 GHz. We present critical temperatures, thermal conductivities,saturation powers, time constants, and sensitivities for the array. The results show high uniformity across the 150 mm wafer and good performance in the field.

Ho, Shuay-Pwu Patty↗

Anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation

Theoretical predictions of the angular anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background radiation on both small and large angular scales are presented, and the effect of massive neutrinos on both the background radiation anisotropy and on the galaxy correlation function over very large scales is reviewed. Current observations show that the quadrupole anisotropy provides the greatest constraint on theory, and the values for the gravitational potential fluctuations indicate that small amplitude but sufficiently large-scale density fluctuations, both at the present epoch and on the surface of last scattering, can produce significant large angular scale variations in the radiation temperature. Most importantly, it is proposed that the quadrupole moment is most simply and elegantly interpreted in terms of the density fluctuations on very large scales whose presence is inferred from the requirement that an initial fluctuation spectrum is required in order for structure to develop.

Silk, J.↗

Electrons In The Low Density Solar Wind

The recent occurrence of an interval (May 9th to May 12th, 1999) of abnormally low density solar wind has drawn attention to such events. The SWE instrument on the Wind spacecraft observed nine similar events between launch (November 1994) and August 1999: one in 1997, three in 1998, and five in January-August 1999. No such events were observed in 1996, the year of solar minimum. This already suggests a strong dependence upon solar activity. In this paper we discuss observations of the electron strahl, a strong anisotropy in the solar wind electrons above 60 eV directed along the magnetic field and observed continuously during the periods of low density in 1998 and 1999. When the solar wind density was less than 2/cc, the angular width of the strahl was below 3.5 degrees and the temperature deduced from the slope of the electron strahl phase density (as a function of energy in the energy range 200 to 800 eV) was 100 to 150 eV, equivalent to a typical coronal electron temperature. Three examples of this phenomenon, observed on Feb. 20- 22, April 26-27 and May 9-12, 1999, are discussed to show their similarity to one another. These electron observations are interpreted to show that the strahl occurs as a result of the conservation of the first adiabatic invariant, combined with the lack of coulomb collisions as suggested by Fairfield and Scudder, 1985.

Ogilvie, Keith W.↗

The effect of anisotropic crystal-melt surface tension on grain boundary groove morphology

The shape of a stationary solid-liquid interface in a temperature gradient near a grain boundary in a pure material is calculated for anisotropic crystal-melt surface tension and equal thermal conductivities of crystal and melt. Results are compared with those for the well-known problem of the two-dimensional equilibrium shape of a crystal. For small anisotropy, the resulting interface shapes have continuously turning tangents but differ in detail from the grain boundary groove shapes that have been calculated for isotropic surface tension. For larger anisotropy, the interface shapes have discontinuities in slope as a result of missing orientations.

Voorhees, P. W.↗

Consideration of encapsulants for photovoltaic arrays in terrestrial applications

Long-term survivability of photovoltaic arrays and components in terrestrial environments will require development of adequate protective systems. Highly considered are polymeric encapsulants, a method which was successfully employed in space and aerospace applications to protect critical electrical circuitry. To be employable, however, the polymer encapsulants must themselves be chemically and mechanically resistant to failure in terrestrial service. Chemical resistance includes stability to the degrading actions of ultraviolet light, oxygen, moisture and elevated temperatures in sun rich areas. Programs are underway to identify and develop chemically stable encapsulant candidates. Chemical considerations aside, mechanical failures of the encapsulants must also be avoided in array designs. This paper discusses design considerations for avoiding mechanical failures of polymeric encapsulants, with emphasis on biaxial properties, thermal fatigue, and anisotropy and nonhomogeneity of material properties. The general principles to be presented evolved from actual failures of polymeric materials in engineering applications. Also included are brief remarks on the permeability of polymer materials to atmospheric gases.

Cuddihy, E. F.↗

A Microgravity Helium Dilution Cooler

We are developing a He-3-He-4 dilution cooler to operate in microgravity. It uses charcoal adsorption pumps and heaters for its operation; it has no moving parts. It currently operates cyclically to well below 0.1 K and we have designed a version to operate continuously. We expect that the continuous version will be able to provide the long-duration cooling that many experiments need at temperatures down to 0.040 K. More importantly, such a dilution cooler could provide the precooling that enables the use of adiabatic demagnetization techniques that can reach temperatures below 0.001 K. At temperatures below 0.002 K many fascinating microgravity experiments on superfluid He-3 become possible. Among the possibilities are: research into a superfluid He-3 gyroscope, study of the nucleation of the B-phase of superfluid He-3 when the sample is floating out of contact with walls, study of the anisotropy of the surface tension of the B-phase, and NMR experiments on tiny free-floating clusters of superfluid He-3 atoms that should model the shell structure of nuclei.

Roach, Pat R.↗

Garnet, the Archetypal Cubic Mineral, Does Not Grow Cubic

Garnet is the archetypal cubic mineral, occurring in a wide variety of rock types in Earth's crust and upper mantle. Owing to its prevalence, durability and compositional diversity, garnet is used to investigate a broad range of geological processes. Although birefringence is a characteristic feature of rare Ca–Fe3+ garnet and Ca-rich hydrous garnet, the optical anisotropy that has occasionally been documented in common (that is, anhydrous Ca–Fe2+–Mg–Mn) garnet is generally attributed to internal strain of the cubic structure. Here we show that common garnet with a non-cubic (tetragonal) crystal structure is much more widespread than previously thought, occurring in low-temperature, high pressure metamorphosed basalts (blueschists) from subduction zones and in low-grade metamorphosed mudstones (phyllites and schists) from orogenic belts. Indeed, a non-cubic symmetry appears to be typical of common garnet that forms at low temperatures (<450°C), where it has a characteristic Fe–Ca-rich composition with very low Mg contents. We propose that, in most cases garnet does not initially grow cubic. Our discovery indicates that the crystal chemistry and thermodynamic properties of garnet at low-temperature need to be re-assessed, with potential consequences for the application of garnet as an investigative tool in a broad range of geological environments.

B Cesare↗

Anisotropic constitutive modeling for nickel base single crystal superalloy Rene N4 at 982 C

A back stress/drag stress constitutive model based on a crystallographic approach to model single crystal anisotropy is presented. Experimental results demonstrated the need for the back stress variable in the inelastic flow equations. Experimental findings suggested that back stress is orientation dependent and controls both strain hardening and recovery characteristics. Due to the observed stable fatigue loops at 1800 F, drag stress is considered constant for this temperature. The constitutive model operated with constraints determined only from tensile data was extensively tested from simple tensile and fatigue to complicated strain hold tests. The model predicted very well under those conditions.

Stouffer, D. C.↗

Fracture Toughness Evaluation of Space Shuttle External Tank Thermal Protection System Polyurethane Foam Insulation Materials

Experimental evaluation of the basic fracture properties of Thermal Protection System (TPS) polyurethane foam insulation materials was conducted to validate the methodology used in estimating critical defect sizes in TPS applications on the Space Shuttle External Fuel Tank. The polyurethane foam found on the External Tank (ET) is manufactured by mixing liquid constituents and allowing them to react and expand upwards - a process which creates component cells that are generally elongated in the foam rise direction and gives rise to mechanical anisotropy. Similarly, the application of successive foam layers to the ET produces cohesive foam interfaces (knitlines) which may lead to local variations in mechanical properties. This study reports the fracture toughness of BX-265, NCFI 24-124, and PDL-1034 closed-cell polyurethane foam as a function of ambient and cryogenic temperatures and knitline/cellular orientation at ambient pressure.

McGill, Preston↗

Simulated cosmic microwave background maps at 0.5 deg resolution: Unresolved features

High-contrast peaks in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy can appear as unresolved sources to observers. We fit simluated CMB maps generated with a cold dark matter model to a set of unresolved features at instrumental resolution 0.5 deg-1.5 deg to derive the integral number density per steradian n (greater than absolute value of T) of features brighter than threshold temperature absolute value of T and compare the results to recent experiments. A typical medium-scale experiment observing 0.001 sr at 0.5 deg resolution would expect to observe one feature brighter than 85 micro-K after convolution with the beam profile, with less than 5% probability to observe a source brighter than 150 micro-K. Increasing the power-law index of primordial density perturbations n from 1 to 1.5 raises these temperature limits absolute value of T by a factor of 2. The MSAM features are in agreement with standard cold dark matter models and are not necessarily evidence for processes beyond the standard model.

Kogut, A.↗

A comparison of the cosmic microwave and cosmic X-ray backgrounds - Constraints on local sources of the fluctuations observed by COBE

It has been suggested by Hogan (1992) that the microwave background anisotropy detected by the COBE DMR experiment (Smoot et al., 1992) might be produced by inverse Compton scattering from hot diffuse clouds of electrons in nearby superclusters. If the COBE fluctuations are due to this mechanism, then the absence of anticorrelations between maps of the cosmic microwave and cosmic X-ray backgrounds constrains the temperature (16 keV) and density (less than 2 x 10 exp -6/cu cm) of the ionized supercluster gas. Since the COBE limits on spectral distortion indicate that the temperature of the intergalactic medium is less than 10 keV, we conclude that the fluctuations observed by COBE are probably not produced by this mechanism.

Boughn, S. P.↗

Measurements of the anisotropy of the cosmic background radiation and diffuse galactic emission at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths

The results of a balloon-borne observing program to measure the large angular scale brightness distribution of the 2.7 K cosmic background radiation (CBR) at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths are reported. A new determination of the dipole anisotropy of the CBR is found with 3.40 + or - 0.42 mK toward alpha = 12.1 + or - 0.24 hr, delta = - 23 + or - 5 deg in a 1.2 to 8/cm band and 4.7 + or - 1.4 mK toward alpha = 9.9 + 1.7 or - 1.1 hr, delta = - 38 + or - 21 deg between 5 and 18/cm, where the amplitudes are listed as thermodynamic temperatures. New estimates of the absolute temperature in these two bands of 2.86 + or - 0.26 K and 3.01 + or - 0.31 are obtained under the assumption that the CBR has a Planck spectrum. The diffuse Galactic emission is fitted by a secant distribution in Galactic latitude, and the resulting Galactic pole antenna temperatures are given. Maps of sky brightness, measurements of zodiacal emission, and measurements of fluctuations of the atmospheric emission which dominates the noise budget are also presented.

Halpern, Mark↗