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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 433 records · Page 24

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NASA NTRS1982

The effects of electron and gamma radiation on epoxy-based materials

Specimens of graphite/epoxy composites and epoxy resins were exposed to electron and gamma radiation, followed by mechanical property and fundamental measurements. Measurement techniques included: scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electron spin resonance spectroscopic analysis. Results indicate little or no change in flexural properties of miniature specimens of a graphite/epoxy composite and no change in failure mode at the fiber-resin interface and in the crystallinity of the fiber and the resin. Some doubt in the observation of stable flexural properties is cast by electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of a relatively large number of radiation-generated radicals. These generally lead to a change in cross-linking and in chain-scissioning which should alter mechanical properties.

Fornes, R. E.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Upstream energetic ions and electrons - Bow shock-associated or magnetospheric origin

An analysis is made of 35 proton bursts observed with the Max-Planck-Institut/University of Maryland sensor system on ISEE 3 far upstream of the earth's bow shock. These upstream bursts are found to fall into two distinctive groups. The first is accompanied by energetic electrons (more than about 75 keV), and the proton spectrum extends up to energies greater than about 300 keV and higher and bends over toward lower energies (less than about 30 keV). The second group, which is unaccompanied by energetic electron bursts, exhibits spectra which can be represented extremely well by exponentials in energy with a mean e-folding energy of approximately 15 keV. The first group is thought to be of a magnetospheric origin, and the second to be bow-shock associated.

Scholer, M.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Recovery of damage in rad-hard MOS devices during and after irradiation by electrons, protons, alphas, and gamma rays

This paper reports on the recovery properties of rad-hard MOS devices during and after irradiation by electrons, protons, alphas, and gamma rays. The results indicated that complex recovery properties controlled the damage sensitivities of the tested parts. The results also indicated that damage sensitivities depended on dose rate, total dose, supply bias, gate bias, transistor type, radiation source, and particle energy. The complex nature of these dependencies make interpretation of LSI device performance in space (exposure to entire electron and proton spectra) difficult, if not impossible, without respective ground tests and analyses. Complete recovery of n-channel shifts was observed, in some cases within hours after irradiation, with equilibrium values of threshold voltages greater than their pre-irradiation values. This effect depended on total dose, radiation source, and gate bias during exposure. In contrast, the p-channel shifts recovered only 20 percent within 30 days after irradiation.

Brucker, G. J.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Pyroelectric materials as electronic pulse detectors of ultraheavy nuclei

The design and testing of ultraheavy-nucleus pulse detectors based on pyroelectric materials are reported, extending the preliminary findings of Tuzzolino (1983) and Simpson and Tuzzolino (1983). Uranium-ion beams of about 240 MeV/u are detected by a 39.5-micron-thick Si detector, degraded to about 175 MeV/u by Al absorbers, and then strike 700-micron-thick polyvinylidene fluoride or 1000-micron-thick LiTaO3 pyroelectric samples. Both detector systems are connected to a coincidence circuit via charge-sensitive preamplifiers, shaping amplifiers with 30-microsec effective time constants, and electronic discriminators. Sample spectra are shown, and the pulse heights measured are found to agree with theoretical calculations to within a factor of about 2. The response of the pyroelectric materials is found to be unaffected by exposure to about 10 Mrad of 2-7-MeV/u heavy ion radiation. With further study and improvement of the detection sensitivity, devices of this type could be applied to large-area space measurements of low ultraheavy-ion fluxes.

Simpson, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Aluminum work function: Effect of oxidation, mechanical scraping and ion bombardment

Surface studies have been performed on aluminum polycrystalline surfaces which have been mechanically scraped. Such studies were initiated in order to understand surface effects occurring in tribological processes which involve rubbing surfaces and the effects of adsorption of oxygen. To characterize the surfaces, the following three different experimental approaches have been used: (1) X.P.S. (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), in order to check the cleanliness of the surfaces and follow the adsorption and oxidation kinetics; (2) Analysis of the work function changes by following the energy spectra of secondary electrons emitted under low energy electron bombardment; and (3) Analysis of photoemission intensities under U.V. excitation. The reference state being chosen to be the surface cleaned by ion bombardment and exposures to oxygen atmospheres have been shown to lower the work function of clean polycrystalline aluminum by 1.2 eV. The oxygen pressure is found to affect only the kinetics of these experiments. Mechanical scraping has been shown to induce a decrease ( 0.3 eV) in the work function, which could sharply modify the kinetics of adsorption on the surface.

Vinet, P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The central engine of quasars and active galactic nuclei Hadronic interactions of shock-accelerated relativistic protons

The detailed dynamics are presented of a model for AGNs and QSOs based on spherically symmetric accretion onto a black hole and dissipation of the accretion energy in a collisionless shock. The basic assumptions and equations relevant for the model are presented, and the relations between the physical parameters are given in terms of the shock parameters. The latter are calculated for varying Mach numbers, and the resulting scaling laws are discussed and compared to the data, in particular the recently discovered correlations between luminosity and mass. The model can naturally produce ultrarelativistic electrons with flat spectra, a feature which, when coupled with e(+)-e(-) pair production, can account for the observed continuum radiation from these objects over essentially the whole electromagnetic spectrum. The model also predicts the emission of high-energy neutrinos with a luminosity roughly equal to that of the photons.

Kazanas, D.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Laser surface interactions of high-T(sub c) superconductors

During the past two years, one of the most exciting research fields in science has been the study of the newly discovered high-T(sub c) metal oxide superconductors. Although many theoretical models were proposed, there is no general agreement on any theory to explain these materials. One of the peculiar features of these high-T(sub c) materials is the noninteger number of oxygen atoms. The oxygen content is extremely critical to the superconductive properties. Take YBa2Cu3O(7-x) as an example. Its superconductive properties disappear whenever x is larger than 0.5. The existence of Cu(+ 3) was considered to account for x less than 0.5. However, results from mass spectroscopy of laser desorbed species indicate that significant quantities of oxygen molecules are trapped in the bulk of these high-T(sub c) superconductors. It appears that these trapped oxygen molecules may play key roles in superconductive properties. Preparation of superconductive thin films are considered very important for the applications of these new superconductors for the electronics industry. Fluorescence spectra and ion spectra following laser ablation of high-temperature superconductors were obtained. A real time monitor for preparation of superconductive thin films can possibly be developed.

Chen, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Structure of an energetic narrow discrete arc

Particle distributions, waves, dc electric fields, and magnetic fields were measured by two sounding rockets at altitudes of 950 and 430 km through an energetic (greater than 5 keV) narrow (about 10 km) stable discrete arc. Although the payloads' magnetic footprints were separated by only 50 km, differences in the arc's structure were observed including the spatial width, peak energy, and characteristic spectra. The energetic electron precipitation included both slowly varying isotropic fluxes that formed an inverted-V energy-time signature and rapidly varying field-aligned fluxes at or below the isotropic spectral peak. The isotropic precipitation had a flux discontinuity inside the arc indicating the arc was present on a boundary between two different magnetospheric plasmas. Dispersive and nondispersive bursts of field-aligned electrons were measured throughout the arc, appearing over broad energy ranges or as monoenergetic beams. Dispersive bursts gave variable source distances less than 8000 km. Plateauing of some of the most intense bursts suggests that waves stabilized these electrons. During the lower altitude arc crossing, the field-aligned component formed a separate inverted-V energy-time signature whose peak energy was half the isotropic peak energy.

Mcfadden, J. P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Laser surface interaction of high-Tc superconductors

Chen, C. H.↗

NASA NTRS1992

The Venus ionosphere from in situ measurements

The present characterization of the Venus ionosphere gives attention to features observed by the Pioneer Venus orbiter in situ ionospheric particle measuring instrument over an entire cycle of solar activity. A striking change is noted in the typical ionospheric morphology from solar maximum to minimum. The principal source of ionization in the dayside ionosphere during both solar maximum and minimum is solar EUV radiation, while that in the nightside is a downward flux of O(+) ions that originate in the dayside ionosphere and are transported across the nightside hemisphere by a supersonic ion wind. The dayside ionosphere contains fluxes of suprathermal electrons whose energy spectra are consistent with fluxes originating in EUV photo production.

Knudsen, William C.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Theoretical study of the 2A2-2B2 separation of the alkali superoxides

The computed 2A2-2B2 separations of the alkali superoxides are in good agreement with those deduced from electron-spin resonance spectra. The calculations definitively show that the ground state of CsO2 is 2A2. The larger than expected separation for CsO2, based on the trend from LiO2 to RbO2, is attributed primarily to the differential effects of core relaxation. The CsO2 dissociation energy is computed to be 42.7 kcal/mol, with an uncertainty conservatively estimated as +/- 4 kcal/mol.

Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Optical and structural characterization of InAs/GaAs quantum wells

Three InAs/GaAs single quantum wells of two-, three-, and four-monolayer thickness were characterized using optical and structural techniques. The results of high-resolution transmission electron (HRTEM) microscopy and optical studies which combine absorption, photoluminescence (PL), photoreflectance, and cathodoluminescence are presented. Using the polarization modulated absorptance technique, we observed two absorption features in our samples at 77 K. On the basis of their polarization properties and comparison with an envelope function calculation, these structures are assigned to transitions between the confined heavy-hole and confined and unconfined electron levels. Photoreflectance spectra of the three-monolayer sample in 77-300 K range show only the fundamental quantum well transition. The temperature dependence of this transition is approximately linear with a slope of 2.2 x 10 exp -4 eV/K, which is significantly lower than in both constituent materials. Comparison to the absorption data reveals that the PL spectra are affected by the carrier diffusion and therefore do not provide direct measure of the exciton density of states. The HRTEM images indicate that, while the interfaces of the two-monolayer sample are smooth and the well thickness is uniform, the four-monolayer sample has uneven interfaces and contains domains of two, three, and four monolayers.

Ksendzov, A.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Supercritical Fluid Infusion of Iron Additives in Polymeric Matrices

The objective of this project was the experimentation to measure preparation of iron nanophases within polymeric matrices via supercritical fluid infusion of iron precursors followed by thermal reduction. Another objective was to determine if supercritical CO2 could infuse into the polymer. The experiment is described along with the materials, and the supercritical fluid infusion and cure procedures. X-ray photoelectron spectra and transmission electron micrographs were obtained. The results are summarized in charts, and tables.

Nazem, Negin↗

NASA NTRS1992

Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequences of auracyanins, blue copper proteins from the green photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus

Three small blue copper proteins designated auracyanin A, auracyanin B-1, and auracyanin B-2 have been isolated from the thermophilic green gliding photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. All three auracyanins are peripheral membrane proteins. Auracyanin A was described previously (Trost, J. T., McManus, J. D., Freeman, J. C., Ramakrishna, B. L., and Blankenship, R. E. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 7858-7863) and is not glycosylated. The two B forms are glycoproteins and have almost identical properties to each other, but are distinct from the A form. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis apparent monomer molecular masses are 14 (A), 18 (B-2), and 22 (B-1) kDa. The amino acid sequences of the B forms are presented. All three proteins have similar absorbance, circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectra, but the electron spin resonance signals are quite different. Laser flash photolysis kinetic analysis of the reactions of the three forms of auracyanin with lumiflavin and flavin mononucleotide semiquinones indicates that the site of electron transfer is negatively charged and has an accessibility similar to that found in other blue copper proteins. Copper analysis indicates that all three proteins contain 1 mol of copper per mol of protein. All three auracyanins exhibit a midpoint redox potential of +240 mV. Light-induced absorbance changes and electron spin resonance signals suggest that auracyanin A may play a role in photosynthetic electron transfer. Kinetic data indicate that all three proteins can donate electrons to cytochrome c-554, the electron donor to the photosynthetic reaction center.

NASA Discipline Exobiology↗

NASA NTRS2006

Collisional Ionization Equilibrium for Optically Thin Plasmas

Reliably interpreting spectra from electron-ionized cosmic plasmas requires accurate ionization balance calculations for the plasma in question. However, much of the atomic data needed for these calculations have not been generated using modern theoretical methods and their reliability are often highly suspect. We have utilized state-of-the-art calculations of dielectronic recombination (DR) rate coefficients for the hydrogenic through Na-like ions of all elements from He to Zn. We have also utilized state-of-the-art radiative recombination (RR) rate coefficient calculations for the bare through Na-like ions of all elements from H to Zn. Using our data and the recommended electron impact ionization data of Mazzotta et al. (1998), we have calculated improved collisional ionization equilibrium calculations. We compare our calculated fractional ionic abundances using these data with those presented by Mazzotta et al. (1998) for all elements from H to Ni, and with the fractional abundances derived from the modern DR and RR calculations of Gu (2003a,b, 2004) for Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe, and Ni.

Bryans, P.↗

NASA NTRS2008

The Cosmic Ray Electron Excess

This slide presentation reviews the possible sources for the apparent excess of Cosmic Ray Electrons. The presentation reviews the Advanced Thin Ionization Calorimeter (ATIC) instrument, the various parts, how cosmic ray electrons are measured, and shows graphs that review the results of the ATIC instrument measurement. A review of Cosmic Ray Electrons models is explored, along with the source candidates. Scenarios for the excess are reviewed: Supernova remnants (SNR) Pulsar Wind nebulae, or Microquasars. Each of these has some problem that mitigates the argument. The last possibility discussed is Dark Matter. The Anti-Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics (PAMELA) mission is to search for evidence of annihilations of dark matter particles, to search for anti-nuclei, to test cosmic-ray propagation models, and to measure electron and positron spectra. There are slides explaining the results of Pamela and how to compare these with those of the ATIC experiment. Dark matter annihilation is then reviewed, which represent two types of dark matter: Neutralinos, and kaluza-Kline (KK) particles, which are next explained. The future astrophysical measurements, those from GLAST LAT, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS), and HEPCAT are reviewed, in light of assisting in finding an explanation for the observed excess. Also the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) could help by revealing if there are extra dimensions.

Chang, J.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Total Dose Testing of a CMOS Charged Particle Spectrometer

A first-generation CMOS Charged Particle Spectrometer chip [1] was designed at JPL for flight on the STRV-2 spacecraft. These devices will collect electron and proton spectra in low Earth orbit as part of an experiment to demonstrate Active Pixel Sensor (APS) technology in space. This paper presents the results of total dose testing on these chips and, where possible, attempts to extend the results to other Active Pixel Sensors.

CMOS↗

NASA NTRS1984

Fast variations in high-energy X-rays from solar flares and their constraints on nonthermal models

The results of a quantitatve analysis of quantitative the temporal properties of over 7000 hard X-ray solar flares are presented. The data were obtained with the Hard X-ray Burst Spectrometer of the SMM satellite. The data reveal examples of hundreds of fast spikes with durations of less than 1 s. The spectra of a well-observed fast spike were compared with the predicted spectra of a detailed nonthermal electron beam model, in order to determine upper limits for electron beam parameters and path lengths. The theoretical spectra were found to be consistent with the observed spectra when the separation of between the accretion site and the thick target was greater than 10 to the 8th cm. It is shown that if the separation is much greater than 3 x 10 to the 9th cm, the electrons with high pitch angles (greater than 60 deg) are either not emitted or are mirrored before they reach the footpoints.

Kiplinger, A. L.↗