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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 415 records · Page 23

(abstract) Spatial Power Spectral Measurements of IR Cirrus

We have used recently released IRAS Sky Survey Atlas (ISSA) image data to investigate the surface brightness distribution of selected regions of infrared cirrus using power spectral analysis techniques.

cirrus infrared IRAS Sky Survey Atlas brightness d↗

High-Fidelity Analysis of ULF Wave Mode Structure Following Interplanetary Shock Compression of the Dayside Magnetopause Using MMS Multi-Point Observations

During the 9 March 2018 event with two consecutive interplanetary shocks compressing the dayside magnetosphere, the azimuthal mode structure and frequency spectrum of ultra low frequency magnetic pulsations are resolved using a cross-spectral analysis based on high-fidelity multi-probe Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) magnetometer data. The results based on the MMS 4 and MMS 3 pair of measurements show that shock arrival leads to low mode (|m| ≤ 3) magnetic fluctuations in the Pc4-5 regimes, and smaller spatial scale fluctuations implied by the dominant high mode numbers are observed after both shock signatures hit and passed the magnetosphere. Detailed evolution of the mode structure is also shown for the first shock to reveal the development of high mode structure from a bump-on-tail distribution at m≈20 to a dominant peak at m≈50 in about 10 min. In addition, an interesting change of sign in m from negative to positive is observed as MMS crosses ~11 MLT pre-noon, which is consistent with the picture of wave generation by dayside magnetopause compression and then anti-sunward propagation. Finally, for both shocks, the contribution of higher frequency waves (Pc-4 range compared with Pc-5) to the total wave power is found to be negligible before and after the shock impact, but it becomes more significant during the shock impact.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Ionospheric modeling at Air Force Global Weather Central

The four Dimensional Ionospheric Model (4-D) is described. The 4-D integrates a wide variety of ionospheric data types into a consistent ionospheric specification. At each observing location, the 4-D reduces an entire electron density profile to four weighting coefficients. These weighting coefficients are interconnected in time and space by spectral analysis techniques. The resultant field of spectral coefficients can be used to reconstruct an electron density profile at any latitude, longitude and time.

Tascione, T. F.↗

Resolving local structural motifs across the phase evolution of zinc titanates with computational x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Resolving the local structure motifs that characterize phase evolution as a function of composition is a key challenge in structure characterization of complex materials. Here, in this study, we combine first-principles simulations and x-ray absorption near-edge structures (XANES) analysis to gain insights into the structure evolution revealed by measurements across a combinatorial zinc titanate thin film, which was grown with smoothly varying composition over a wide range of the Ti:Zn ratio. Specifically, we propose a cluster blind-signal-separation (cBSS) method for XANES spectral analysis based on a library of the structures and spectra of representative local motifs. In addition to motifs from zinc titanate crystals, two types of Ti-defect models constructed in this study are key to the understanding of the structure characteristics in the Zn-rich region. The cBSS method makes use of both spectral clustering of the simulated site-XANES spectra library and the BSS procedure to construct high-fidelity spectral basis functions from an experimental spectral sequence. The method provides a rigorous measure of the spectral sensitivity and basis completeness. The results of the XANES analysis are corroborated with other experimental modalities, including x-ray diffraction and spectroscopic ellipsometry, to validate the cBSS method. The calculated motif weights resulting from fitting the XANES spectra with the cBSS basis probe the atomic structure characteristics of both crystalline and amorphous phases as a function of the Ti/Zn composition. The insights of the local structure motif evolution are pivotal to the understanding of the nonmonotonic trend in the optical gap, which may lead to potential applications through tuning the optical properties of zinc titanate. The workflow of the XANES spectral analysis developed in this work can be generalized to construct the structure-property relationship in a broad material space.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Evaluation of a procedure for the analysis of nonstationary vibroacoustic data

Numerical techniques for the spectral analysis of vibration data from space-vehicle launches are described and demonstrated. A nonstationary product model described by Bendat and Piersol (1986) and its locally stationary version (Silverman, 1957) are applied to Space Shuttle flight data, and the results are presented in extensive graphs. It is shown that the nonstationary model can analyze data from longer sampling periods and thus significantly reduce random error; this in turn leads to vibration spectra lower than those obtained with short-duration models.

Himelblau, Harry↗

LANDSAT-4 MSS and TM Spectral Class Comparison and Coherent Noise Analysis

A detailed spectral analysis is conducted of thematic mapper and MSS data for an area near Des Moines, Iowa. Data are utilized from 7 blocks distributed throughout the area which included agricultural, forest, suburan, urban, and water scene types. The blocks are processed using a clustering algorithm to produce up to 18 cluster groupings for each block. Each cluster class is then identified with a ground-cover class using aerial photography and maps of the area. The clusters from each of the 7 blocks are inspected with regard to separability, mean, and variances. The separability measure used in the transformed divergence function or processor measures the statistical distance between classes based on class means and covariance matrices. The measure has a maximum value of 2,000 and the minimum of 0. Spectrally, very close classes will typically have values as low as 50 to 500.

Anuta, P. E.↗

The Transmission of ULF Waves From the Solar Wind to the Magnetosphere: An Analysis of Some Critical Aspects

Several critical aspects may influence the analysis of the relationship between the solar wind (SW) and magnetospheric fluctuations, for example, the characteristics and frequency of SW fluctuations that are expected to impinge the magnetosphere may not be the same when they are observed by spacecraft located at different places in front of the magnetosphere; similarly, the choice of analytical methods adopted for the spectral analysis might influence the frequency estimate (as well as the wave identification itself) both in the SW and magnetosphere. Focusing our attention on these aspects, we present an analysis of SW compressional fluctuations (f ≈ 1–5 mHz), following two interplanetary shocks observed by two interplanetary spacecraft, regarded as two different situations in terms of spacecraft separation and distance from the magnetosphere. Our results show that some differences in the characteristics of SW fluctuations emerge when the same stream is observed at different places and confirm the critical role of analytical methods in determining fluctuation characteristics. We compared aspects of SW fluctuations with those of magnetospheric fluctuations following the sudden impulses due to the impact of interplanetary shocks. For this scope, we examined observations by two satellites at geostationary orbit and at several ground-based stations. We found that the magnetospheric fluctuations were related to compressional SW fluctuations approximately at the same frequencies, with no evidence for wave activity of internal origin or directly driven by the shock impact.

ULF waves↗

Monitoring of Terrestrial Aquatic Ecosystems Through Analysis of Time-Variant Hyperspectral Imagery

Time-variant spectral analysis of plants can classify stress-based perturbations (e.g., dry soil or increased salination) and quantify mechanistic attributes associated with plant photosynthesis, respiration, hormone function, and plant morphology. This project will investigate the utility of hyperspectral cameras for detecting and monitoring these perturbations.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Correcting observed stellar Lyman alpha profiles for the effects of interstellar absorption and geocoronal emission

Techniques to compensate for interstellar absorption and geocoronal emission in IUE studies of late stars atmospheres were developed. Thus it is possible to determine the Lyman alpha flux from nearby cool stars using the low-resolution spectra in the IUE archives. The accuracy of such a procedure depends fundamentally upon the assumptions regarding the shape of the intrinsic profile and the density and velocity structure of the local interstellar medium, not upon measurement uncertainties of the low-resolution spectra. Geocoronal emission and saturated spectra are fatal only to a one-dimensional spectral analysis. When both the spatial and the spectral dimensions are considered, the observed Lyman alpha flux can be recovered.

Neff, J. E.↗

Image processing software for imaging spectrometry data analysis

Imaging spectrometers simultaneously collect image data in hundreds of spectral channels, from the near-UV to the IR, and can thereby provide direct surface materials identification by means resembling laboratory reflectance spectroscopy. Attention is presently given to a software system, the Spectral Analysis Manager (SPAM) for the analysis of imaging spectrometer data. SPAM requires only modest computational resources and is composed of one main routine and a set of subroutine libraries. Additions and modifications are relatively easy, and special-purpose algorithms have been incorporated that are tailored to geological applications.

Mazer, Alan↗

Evidence for a Multiphase ISM in Early Type Galaxies and Elliptical Galaxies with Strong Radio Continuum

We have observed NGC 1316 (Fornax A) with the ROSAT HRI. In this paper, we present the results of these observations and we complement them with the spectral analysis of the archival PSPC data. The spectral properties suggest the presence of a significant component of thermal X-ray emission (greater than 60%), amounting to approx. 10(exp 9) solar mass of hot ISM. Within 3 feet from the nucleus of NGC 1316, the HRI X-ray surface brightness falls as r(exp -2) following the stellar light. In the inner approx. 30 inch., however, the X-ray surface brightness is significantly elongated, contrary to the distribution of stellar light, which is significantly rounder within 10 inch. This again argues for a non-stellar origin of the X-ray emission. This flattened X-ray feature is suggestive of either the disk-like geometry of a rotating cooling flow and/or the presence of extended, elongated dark matter. By comparing the morphology of the X-ray emission with the distribution of optical dust patches, we find that the X-ray emission is significantly reduced at the locations where the dust patches are more pronounced, indicating that at least some of the X-ray photons are absorbed by the cold ISM. We also compare the distribution of the hot and cold ISM with that of the ionized gas, using recently obtained H(sub alpha) CCD data. We find that the ionized gas is distributed roughly along the dust patches and follows the large scale X-ray distribution at r greater than 1 foot from the nucleus. However, there is no one-to-one correspondence between ionized gas and hot gas. Both morphological relations and kinematics suggest different origins for hot and cold ISM. The radio jets in projection appear to pass perpendicularly through the central X-ray ellipsoid. Comparison of thermal and radio pressures suggests that the radio jets are confined by the surrounding hot gaseous medium.

Kim, Dong Woo↗

EPIC Study of Two Enigmatic Sources: The Mouse and SNR 359.1-0.5

The objective of the original proposal was to observe the Mouse pulsar wind nebula (associated with PSR J1744-2958) and the nearby supernova remnant G359.1-0.5, where the pulsar was probably born, with the XMM-Newton observatory to study the properties of these objects. SNR G359.1-0.5 was accepted as a Category C target and has not been observed. The Mouse was observed on April 27,2003 for 52 ks. The image analysis has shown that the Mouse is extended in the East-West direction, possibly along the direction of the pulsar's proper motion. The spectrum of this pulsar wind nebula can be described as an absorbed power law with the photon index GAMMA = 1.9 plus or minus 0.1, effective hydrogen column density n(sub H) = (2.6 plus or minus 0.1) x 10(exp 22) per square centimeter, and flux F = 1.8 x 10(exp -11) erg per square centimeter per second in the 1-10 keV energy range. Based on the n(sub H) value, the distance to the source is about 5 kpc, which results in the luminosity 3.7 x 10(exp 34) erg per second. We conclude that PSR J1744-2958 and the Mouse are not physically associated with G359.1-0.5, which lies at a larger distance. In addition to the Mouse, we also detected two Low-Mass X-ray Binaries, SLX 1744-299 and 1744-300, in the EPIC MOS and PN fields of view. The latter of these objects showed a Type I X-ray burst during our observation, with a rise time of 5 s and decay time of 60 s. A very strong pileup during the burst made the analysis of the burst properties unreliable. The spectral analysis of the persistent radiation from SLX 1744-299 and 1744-300 yields the hydrogen column densities of 3.2 plus or minus 0.1 and (3.6 plus or minus 0.2) x 10(exp 22) per square centimeter, respectively, which suggests that the sources are close to the Galactic center (d = 8-9 kpc). The spectra can be reasonably well fitted with a blackbody plus thin disk model, with the blackbody temperatures of 1.7 plus or minus 0.2 and 1.8 plus or minus 0.2 keV, respectively.

Pavlov, George↗

High Resolution Spectroscopy And Timing Of The Isolated Neutron Star RBS 1774

The 2004 May 31 XMM-Newton observation was reprocessed using SASv6.0.0 and times of high background were filtered out. The net exposure time remaining was 23 ks. The source was clearly detected in MOS1, MOS2 and PN chips. We performed both timing and spectroscopic analysis on the data. We performed a spectral analysis by fitting data from the three EPIC detectors simultaneously, finding that the broadband spectrum can be represented by a single absorbed blackbody, with kT = 0.10 keV. The fitting revealed the presence of an absorption feature at 0:7 keV, but the data did have enough resolution to allow us to discriminate between an absorption line and an edge. We also tested magnetized models of Pavlov et a1 and Zavlin et al, but found that fits with these models were considerably worse than with a blackbody. For the timing analysis, we extracted the counts within a 3000 radius aperture in both PN and MOS 1 and MOS2 but with the aperture truncated by a chord where it approached the edge of the CCD window in each case: this maximized the counts while avoiding any edge effects. We analyzed PN, MOSl and MOS2 data both individually and combined using the Maximum Likelihood Periodogram technique of Zane et al. (2002) and Cropper et al. (2004). Periods from 10000 s to 30 ms were searched, ensuring that in each case the period grid was 2.5 times better sampled than the Nyquist frequency. The search revealed a significant period at 9.437s. Taken overall, we found the characteristics of RBS 1774 to be remarkably similar to those of another X-ray faint isolated neutron stars. These results were written up for the Astrophysical Journal, and the paper has recently been accepted for publication.

Mushotzky, Richard↗

The Rhythm of Fairall 9. I. Observing the Spectral Variability With XMM-Newton and NuSTAR

We present a multi-epoch X-ray spectral analysis of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Fairall 9. Our analysis shows that Fairall 9 displays unique spectral variability in that its ratio residuals to a simple absorbed power law in the 0.510 keV band remain constant with time in spite of large variations in flux. This behavior implies an unchanging source geometry and the same emission processes continuously at work at the timescale probed. With the constraints from NuSTAR on the broad-band spectral shape, it is clear that the soft excess in this source is a superposition of two different processes, one being blurred ionized reflection in the innermost parts of the accretion disk, and the other a continuum component such as a spatially distinct Comptonizing region. Alternatively, a more complex primary Comptonization component together with blurred ionized reflection could be responsible.

galaxies: active↗

Improved Prediction of Losses with Large Eddy Simulation in a Low-Pressure Turbine

There is a need to improve predictions of losses resulting from large eddy simulations (LES) of low-pressure turbines (LPT) in gas turbines. This may be done by assessing the accuracy of predictions against validation data and understanding the source of any inaccuracies. LES is a promising approach for capturing the laminar/turbulent transition process in a LPT. In previous studies, the authors utilized LES to model the flow field over a Variable Speed Power Turbine (VSPT) blade and successfully captured characteristic features of separation/reattachment and transition on the suction side at both the cruise (positive incidence) and take-off conditions (negative incidence) and as well, simulated the effect of free-stream turbulence (FST) on those phenomena. The predicted pressure loading profiles agreed well with the experimental data for both a high and a low FST case at a Reynolds number of Re(ex)=220,000. In this paper, we present wake profiles resulting from computations for a range of FST values. Although the predicted wake profiles for the lowest FST case (Tu=0.5%) matched the experimental data, at higher FST (Tu=10-15%,) the wake was wider than the experimentally measured wake and for both cases were displaced laterally when compared to the experimental measurements. In our investigation of the causes of the said discrepancies we have identified important effects which could strongly influence the predicted wake profile. Predicted losses were improved by assuring the validity of the flow solution. This was done by utilizing spectral analysis to scrutinize the dynamic behavior of the wake and determine solution accuracy resulting from low mesh density and low accuracy of convective modeling.

LES-LDKM↗

Hard X-Ray Emission of X-Ray Bursters

The primary goal of this proposal was to increase our understanding of the accretion dynamics and emission mechanisms in neutron-star low-mass x-ray binaries via accurate measurements of their broad-band x-ray spectrum with particular emphasis on the hard x-ray emission. We obtained an extensive set of Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of a bright hard x-ray outburst from the source 4U1728-34 including data obtained under this proposal and previously scheduled observations for another observer. We have constructed x-ray light curves in several energy bands, including hard energy bands, from these data. We also completed spectral analysis of several observations which show strong hard x-ray emission. We are currently performing timing analysis to search for possible correlations between the spectral and timing evolution of 4U1728-34. Due to the one-year delay in obtaining the observations made for the other observer (which are the ones containing the peak of the hard X-ray emission), the analysis for this project is not yet complete. Because 4U1728-34 shows interesting high-frequency timing behavior, we plan to complete the analysis as part of our on-going investigation of high-frequency timing of X-ray binaries.

Kaaret, P.↗