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At least 523 records · Page 29

A time Fourier analysis of zonal averaged ozone heating rates

A time-Fourier analysis is presented for the yearly variation of the zonal averaged ozone heating rates in the middle atmosphere based on a model study. The ozone heating rates are determined by utilizing two-dimensional ozone distributions, the altitude and latitude, and by including the effect of the curved earth's atmosphere. In addition, assumptions are introduced to the yearly variations of the ozone distributions due to the lack of sufficient existing ozone data. Among other results, it is shown that the first harmonic component indicates that the heating rates are completely out of phase between the northern and southern hemispheres. The second Fourier component shows a symmetric pattern with respect to the equator, as well as five distinct local extreme values of the ozone heating rate. The third harmonic component shows a pattern close to that of the first component except in the regions above 70 deg between 45-95 km in both hemispheres.

Wang, P.-H.↗

Sidelobe reduction of Barker codes, part 7.1C

Barker codes can be realized as simple digital preprocessors, or with the use of a delay line, can be realized as an analogue device. Assuming the process observed has an autocorrelation time that is long compared to the code length, a gain in signal to noise, G = N where N is the number of elements in the code, may be realized. Typically Barker codes are implemented by shifting the phase of the transmitted signal by 0 or 180 degrees according to the code pattern. A typical detection scheme is shown where the output of the radar receiver is delayed by an analogue delay line or a shift register. The signal in each element of the delay line or shift register is continuously multiplied by the code and all elements are summed. A principal disadvantage was the sidelobe response. In the case of MST or ST radar echoes where there is a dynamic range as large as 60 dB, these unwanted sidelobes cause an increase in the apparent width of atmospheric layers, or some narrow layer to appear at several altitudes. The sidelobes of a Barker code may be reduced by tapering the response of the decoder. Optimum tapers, are shown. It is found that the sidelobe response is greatly reduced with very little loss in G.

Green, J. L.↗

Antigravity suit inflation - Kidney function and cardiovascular and hormonal responses in men

The effect of the lower body positive pressure (LBPP) on kidney function in normal men was investigated in experiments in which the subjects underwent 30 min of sitting and then were subjected to 4.5 h of 70-deg head-up tilt. During the last 3 h of the tilt period, an antigravity suit (60 T legs, 30 T abdomen) was applied. The results showed that LBPP induces a significant increase in effective renal plasma flow and significant changes in the kidney excretory patterns, which were similar to those observed during a water immersion or the early phase of bed rest.

Geelen, Ghislaine↗

The origin of complex organic ions in the coma of Comet Halley

The Giotto-PICCA instrument has obtained heavy-ion mass spectra in the inner coma of Comet Halley; the spectra exhibit a series of distinct mass groups separated by a constant about 15 amu, and extending to at least 120 amu, whose pattern is typical of CHON molecules. It is found that neither coma gas-phase chemistry nor UV photon, solar wind particle, or cosmic irradiation of the nucleus in its current orbit can generate enough heavy molecules to account for the PICCA abundances. It is suggested that these abundances may be supplied by UV and cosmic irradiation of the icy, precometary grains within interstellar molecular clouds and/or the protosolar nebula.

Mitchell, D. L.↗

Ulysses solar wind plasma observations during the declining phase of solar cycle 22

Since launch in October 1990, the Ulysses mission has included an in-ecliptic cruise enroute to Jupiter encounter in February 1992 and a post-Jupiter transit through a wide range of southerly latitudes and heliocentric distances. Here we present results from the solar wind plasma experiment through June 14, 1994, at which time Ulysses was at -68.2 deg heliographic latitude. During the ecliptic phase of the mission, occurring just after solar maximum, the spacecraft encountered an irregular pattern of solar wind speed and sporadic coronal mass ejections, with mass ejections most prevalent during March 1991. Irregular, small-amplitude solar wind streams prevailed until mid-1992, after which Ulysses encountered a recurrent very high-speed stream from an equatorward extension of the South polar coronal hole. Encounters with the high-density, low-speed plasma from the coronal streamer belt ceased as Ulysses moved to increasing southerly latitudes in 1993. Many forward and reverse shocks associated with corotating interaction regions have been encountered; these shocks all had observable electron foreshocks. The shocks became less prevalent with increasing latitude, with the forward shocks disappearing first because of the tilted streamer belt and the resulting meridional shock propagation. After Ulysses passed -35 deg in July 1993 the spacecraft encountered only high-speed wind, with a speed range of 700-800 km/s and a density, scaled to 1 AU, averaging 3/cu cm. Latitudinal gradients in solar wind fluid parameters generally support previous findings, with the gradient in wind speed offset by a gradient in density such that mass momentum flux vary relatively little.

Phillips, J. L.↗

Two-Dimensional Array Beam Scanning Via Externally and Mutually Injection Locked Coupled Oscillators

Some years ago, Stephan proposed an approach to one dimensional (linear) phased array beam steering which requires only a single phase shifter. This involves the use of a linear array of voltage-controlled electronic oscillators coupled to nearest neighbors. The oscillators are mutually injection locked by controlling their coupling and tuning appropriately. Stephan's approach consists of deriving two signals from a master oscillator, one signal phase shifted with respect to the other by means of a single phase shifter. These two signals are injected into the end oscillators of the array. The result is a linear phase progression across the oscillator array. Thus, if radiating elements are connected to each oscillator and spaced uniformly along a line, they will radiate a beam at an angle to that line determined by the phase gradient which is, in turn, determined by the phase difference between the injection signals.The beam direction is therefore controlled by adjusting this phase difference. Recently, Pogorzelski and York presented a formulation which facilitates theoretical analysis of the above beam steering technique. This was subsequently applied by Pogorzelski in analysis of two dimensional beam steering using perimeter detuning of a coupled oscillator array. The formulation is based on a continuum model in which the oscillator phases are represented by a continuous function satisfying a partial differential equation of diffusion type. This equation can be solved via the Laplace transform and the resulting solution exhibits the dynamic behavior of the array as the beam is steered. Stephan's beam steering technique can be similarly generalized to two-dimensional arrays in which the beam control signals are applied to the oscillators on the perimeter of the array. In this paper the continuum model for this two-dimensional case is developed and the dynamic solution for the corresponding aperture phase function is obtained. The corresponding behavior of the resulting far-zone radiation pattern is displayed as well.

Pogorzelski, Ronald J.↗

Yamato 980459: The Most Primitive Shergottite?

The Antarctic Research Center of the Japanese National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) recently announced the discovery of a new Martian shergottite, Y98(0459). This sample is a member of the subgroup of basaltic shergottites that contain abundant olivine phenocrysts, and are thus olivine- phyric. Y98 may have special significance among the basaltic shergottites because (1) it appears to have been the most magnesian Martian magma yet found, and thus can provide valuable clues to magma petrogenesis on Mars; (2) it contains no late-crystallizing phases, but instead contains approx. 30% interstitial glass, which can provide unambiguous incompatible element patterns of the parent melt; and (3) it carries an LREE-depleted signature similar to QUE 94201, whose isotopic characteristics are the most primitive of all basaltic shergottites.

McKay, G.↗

Development of a Quantum Dot, 0.6 eV InGaAs Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) Converter

Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power conversion has to date demonstrated conversion efficiencies exceeding 20% when coupled to a heat source. Current III-V semiconductor TPV technology makes use of planar devices with bandgaps tailored to the heat source. The efficiency can be improved further by increasing the collection efficiency through the incorporation of InAs quantum dots. The use of these dots can provide sub-gap absorption and thus improve the cell short circuit current without the normal increase in dark current associated with lowering the bandgap. We have developed self-assembled InAs quantum dots using the Stranski-Krastanov growth mode on 0.74 eV In0.53GaAs lattice-matched to InP and also on lattice-mismatched 0.6 eV In0.69GaAs grown on InP through the use of a compositionally graded InPAsx buffer structure, by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements showed that the most reproducible dot pattern was obtained with 5 monolayers of InAs grown at 450 C. The lattice mismatch between InAs and In0.69GaAs is only 2.1%, compared to 3.2% between InAs and In0.53GaAs. The smaller mismatch results in lower strain, making dot formation somewhat more complicated, resulting in quantum dashes, rather than well defined quantum dots in the lattice-mismatched case. We have fabricated 0.6 eV InGaAs planer TPV cells with and without the quantum dashes

Forbes, David↗

Development, Verification and Validation of Parallel, Scalable Volume of Fluid CFD Program for Propulsion Applications

There are many instances involving liquid/gas interfaces and their dynamics in the design of liquid engine powered rockets such as the Space Launch System (SLS). Some examples of these applications are: Propellant tank draining and slosh, subcritical condition injector analysis for gas generators, preburners and thrust chambers, water deluge mitigation for launch induced environments and even solid rocket motor liquid slag dynamics. Commercially available CFD programs simulating gas/liquid interfaces using the Volume of Fluid approach are currently limited in their parallel scalability. In 2010 for instance, an internal NASA/MSFC review of three commercial tools revealed that parallel scalability was seriously compromised at 8 cpus and no additional speedup was possible after 32 cpus. Other non-interface CFD applications at the time were demonstrating useful parallel scalability up to 4,096 processors or more. Based on this review, NASA/MSFC initiated an effort to implement a Volume of Fluid implementation within the unstructured mesh, pressure-based algorithm CFD program, Loci-STREAM. After verification was achieved by comparing results to the commercial CFD program CFD-Ace+, and validation by direct comparison with data, Loci-STREAM-VoF is now the production CFD tool for propellant slosh force and slosh damping rate simulations at NASA/MSFC. On these applications, good parallel scalability has been demonstrated for problems sizes of tens of millions of cells and thousands of cpu cores. Ongoing efforts are focused on the application of Loci-STREAM-VoF to predict the transient flow patterns of water on the SLS Mobile Launch Platform in order to support the phasing of water for launch environment mitigation so that vehicle determinantal effects are not realized.

West, Jeff↗

Future ATM Concepts Evaluation Tool (FACET) Interface Control Document

This Interface Control Document (ICD) documents the airspace adaptation and air traffic inputs of NASA's Future ATM Concepts and Evaluation Tool (FACET). Its intended audience is the project manager, project team, development team, and stakeholders interested in interfacing with the system. FACET equips Air Traffic Management (ATM) researchers and service providers with a way to explore, develop and evaluate advanced air transportation concepts before they are field-tested and eventually deployed. FACET is a flexible software tool that is capable of quickly generating and analyzing thousands of aircraft trajectories. It provides researchers with a simulation environment for preliminary testing of advanced ATM concepts. Using aircraft performance profiles, airspace models, weather data, and flight schedules, the tool models trajectories for the climb, cruise, and descent phases of flight for each type of aircraft. An advanced graphical interface displays traffic patterns in two and three dimensions, under various current and projected conditions for specific airspace regions or over the entire continental United States. The system is able to simulate a full day's dynamic national airspace system (NAS) operations, model system uncertainty, measure the impact of different decision-makers in the NAS, and provide analysis of the results in graphical form, including sector, airport, fix, and airway usage statistics. NASA researchers test and analyze the system-wide impact of new traffic flow management algorithms under anticipated air traffic growth projections on the nation's air traffic system. In addition to modeling the airspace system for NASA research, FACET has also successfully transitioned into a valuable tool for operational use. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) traffic flow managers and commercial airline dispatchers have used FACET technology for real-time operations planning. FACET integrates live air traffic data from FAA radar systems and weather data from the National Weather Service to summarize NAS performance. This information allows system operators to reroute flights around congested airspace and severe weather to maintain safety and minimize delay. FACET also supports the planning and post-operational evaluation of reroute strategies at the national level to maximize system efficiency. For the commercial airline passenger, strategic planning with FACET can result in fewer flight delays and cancellations. The performance capabilities of FACET are largely due to its architecture, which strikes a balance between flexibility and fidelity. FACET is capable of modeling the airspace operations for the continental United States, processing thousands of aircraft on a single computer. FACET was written in Java and C, enabling the portability of its software to a variety of operating systems. In addition, FACET was designed with a modular software architecture to facilitate rapid prototyping of diverse ATM concepts. Several advanced ATM concepts have already been implemented in FACET, including aircraft self-separation, prediction of aircraft demand and sector congestion, system-wide impact assessment of traffic flow management constraints, and wind-optimal routing.

FACET↗

Coupled Modes of North Atlantic Ocean Atmosphere Variability and the Onset of the Little Ice Age

Hydroclimate extremes in North America, Europe, and the Mediterranean are linked to ocean and atmospheric circulation anomalies in the Atlantic, but the limited length of the instrumental record prevents complete identification and characterization of these patterns of covariability especially at decadal to centennial timescales. Here we analyze the coupled patterns of drought variability on either side of the North Atlantic Ocean basin using independent climate field reconstructions spanning the last millennium in order to detect and attribute epochs of coherent basin-wide moisture anomalies to ocean and atmosphere processes. A leading mode of broad-scale moisture variability is characterized by distinct patterns of North Atlantic atmosphere circulation and sea surface temperatures. We infer a negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation and colder Atlantic sea surface temperatures in the middle of the 15th century, coincident with weaker solar irradiance and prior to strong volcanic forcing associated with the early Little Ice Age.

Kevin J Anchukaitis↗

Effects of spacecraft reflections on RF interferometer position location accuracy

This report describes one of three study tasks related to the application of an RF interferometer aboard a low-orbiting spacecraft to determine the location of ground-based transmitters. Computer modeling was used to estimate the error in the measured signal angle-of-arrival caused by reflection and diffraction off the spacecraft. Existing computer codes (NEC-BSC) were modified and used to determine the perturbation, due to the spacecraft, in the phase difference between two interferometer antennas, suspended on either side of the spacecraft. This phase perturbation was found as a function of the angle-of-arrival of the signal from a far-field source. The spacecraft antennas were assumed to be circularly polarized with a cardioid pattern. It was found that the perturbation was as much 12.4 deg within the + or - 60 deg field-of-view. This suggests that phase calibration and correction of phase measurements are essential for precision position location using this technique.

Wallace, R. G.↗

Interaction of upstream flow distortions with high Mach number cascades

Features of the interaction of flow distortions, such as gusts and wakes with blade rows of advance type fans and compressors having high tip Mach numbers are modeled. A typical disturbance was assumed to have harmonic time dependence and was described, at a far upstream location, in three orthogonal spatial coordinates by a double Fourier series. It was convected at supersonic relative to a linear cascade described as an unrolled annulus. Conditions were selected so that the component of this velocity parallel to the axis of the turbomachine was subsonic, permitting interaction between blades through the upstream as well as downstream flow media. A strong, nearly normal shock was considered in the blade passages which was allowed curvature and displacement. The flows before and after the shock were linearized relative to uniform mean velocities in their respective regions. Solution of the descriptive equations was by adaption of the Wiener-Hopf technique, enabling a determination of distortion patterns through and downstream of the cascade as well as pressure distributions on the blade and surfaces. Details of interaction of the disturbance with the in-passage shock were discussed. Infuences of amplitude, wave length, and phase of the disturbance on lifts and moments of cascade configurations are presented. Numerical results are clarified by reference to an especially orderly pattern of upstream vertical motion in relation to the cascade parameters.

Englert, G. W.↗

Improving Geolocation Accuracy of the Advanced Meteorological Imager on the GEO-KOMPSAT-2A

GeoNEX is a collaborative project led by scientists from NASA and many other international institutes to generate Earth monitoring products using data streams from the latest geostationary (GEO) sensors. Its consistent processing and common gridding systems can produce research-quality data products from GEO sensors and leverage GEO-GEO or GEO-LEO (low earth orbit) synergistic uses. Currently, GeoNEX has produced and disseminated L1G (geometrically corrected Level 1 products) from GOES 16/17 ABIs and Himawari-8 AHI, but a new Korean geostationary sensor (Advanced Meteorological Imager, AMI) onboard Geo-KOMPSAT-2A covering a large proportion of Asia and all of Oceania is in development. Our recent efforts on assessing geolocation accuracy in ABI and AHI suggest a nontrivial residual exists in both level 1B data with varying spatiotemporal patterns. The findings urge us to prioritize identifying and correcting geolocation residuals of AMI to generate accurate and consistent GeoNEX top-of-atmosphere (TOA) reflectance products and following processing chains. Here we implement a phase correlation correction approach to a visible band (0.64 μm, 500 m) using landmarks prepared from finer scale digital terrain models. We characterize spatiotemporal patterns (e.g., diurnal & daily) of geolocation residuals of AMI before and after correction. We then assess stability of datasets and quantify impact of unexpected geolocation errors on terrestrial monitoring. The geolocation corrected AMI data are further compared with GeoNEX AHI L1G products which are able to create unique stereo-type observations with AMI through leveraging the similarities of spectral bands and the sun-target-sensor geometry. Further, we discuss challenges in utilizing the GEO-GEO (e.g., AMI & AHI) satellite data for potential applications.

Geostationary Satellites↗

Room-temperature-operation visible-emission semiconductor diode lasers

There were two main approaches taken to develop shorter wavelength lasers. (1) Based on (AlGa)As and liquid-phase epitaxy, significant new results were obtained: Properties of these laser diodes (power output, spectra, and beam patterns), materials considerations, laser theory, and growth problems are discussed. The design of (AlGa)As layers is discussed from the vertical point of view, and various design curves are given. Horizontal structural requirements are also discussed. Experimental results from measurements done as a function of hydrostatic pressure are correlated with other results. (2) The first heterojunction laser structures using GaAs sub l-x P sub x and In sub y Ga sub l-y P at compositions, where the lattice constants are matched, were grown using vapor-phase growth technology and are described in detail, including experimental device results. Threshold current densities from 3,000 to 5,000 A per sq cm. and emission wavelengths from 6,520 A to 6,640 A were obtained at 77 K. The limiting factor in these devices is nonradiative recombination at the heterojunctions. Life tests on facet-coated (AlGa)As CW diodes are reported.

Ladany, I.↗

Phase-Controlled Magnetic Mirror for Wavefront Correction

Typically, light interacts with matter via the electric field and interaction with weakly bound electrons. In a magnetic mirror, a patterned nanowire is fabricated over a metallic layer with a dielectric layer in between. Oscillation of the electrons in the nanowires in response to the magnetic field of incident photons causes a re-emission of photons and operation as a "magnetic mirror." By controlling the index of refraction in the dielectric layer using a local applied voltage, the phase of the emitted radiation can be controlled. This allows electrical modification of the reflected wavefront, resulting in a deformable mirror that can be used for wavefront control. Certain applications require wavefront quality in the few-nanometer regime, which is a major challenge for optical fabrication and alignment of mirrors or lenses. The use of a deformable magnetic mirror allows for a device with no moving parts that can modify the phase of incident light over many spatial scales, potentially with higher resolution than current approaches. Current deformable mirrors modify the incident wavefront by using nano-actuation of a substrate to physically bend the mirror to a desired shape. The purpose of the innovation is to modify the incident wavefront for the purpose of correction of fabrication and alignment-induced wavefront errors at the system level. The advanced degree of precision required for some applications such as gravity wave detection (LISA - Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) or planet finding (FKSI - Fourier-Kelvin Stellar Interferometer) requires wavefront control at the limits of the current state of the art. All the steps required to fabricate a magnetic mirror have been demonstrated. The modification is to apply a bias voltage to the dielectric layer so as to change the index of refraction and modify the phase of the reflected radiation. Light is reflected off the device and collected by a phase-sensing interferometer. The interferometer determines the initial wavefront of the device and fore optics. A wavefront correction is calculated, and voltage profile for each nanowire strip is determined. The voltage is applied, modifying the local index of refraction of the dielectric under the nanowire strip. This modifies the phase of the reflected light to allow wavefront correction.

Hagopian, John↗

Near-field Testing of the 15-meter Model of the Hoop Column Antenna

The technical results from near-field testing of the 15-meter model of the hoop column antenna at the Martin Marietta Denver Aerospace facility are documented. The antenna consists of a deployable central column and a 15 meter hoop, stiffened by cables into a structure with a high tolerance repeatable surface and offset feed location. The surface has been configured to have four offset parabolic apertures, each about 6 meters in diameter, and is made of gold plated molybdenum wire mesh. Pattern measurements were made with feed systems radiating at frequencies of 7.73, 11.60, 2.27, 2.225, and 4.26 (all in GHz). This report (Volume 1) covers the testing from an overall viewpoint and contains information of generalized interest for testing large antennas. This volume discusses the deployment of the antenna in the Martin Facility and the measurements to determine mechanical stability and trueness of the reflector surface, gives the test program outline, and gives a synopsis of antenna electromagnetic performance. Three techniques for measuring surface mechanical tolerances were used (theodolites, metric cameras, and near-field phase), but only the near-field phase approach is included. The report also includes an error analysis. A detailed listing of the antenna patterns are provided for the 2.225 Ghz feed in Volume 3 of this report, and for all other feeds in Volume 2.

Hoover, J.↗

Sidelobe Reduction and Mode-Purity Enhancement of Vortex Beams from a Programmable, Rectangular Phased Array Antenna

Tapering the magnitude of the electric field excitation of a programmable, rectangular phased array has been employed to achieve sidelobe reduction and enhancement of mode purity in vortex beams, which carry non-zero orbital angular momentum. Far-field radiation patterns pertaining to a commercial-off-the-shelf, 256-element antenna were generated via electromagnetic simulation. The patterns were decomposed into weighted sums of Laguerre-Gaussian modes. The extracted coupling coefficients were used to gauge mode purity. In comparison to a uniform excitation of the phased array elements, our studies indicate that employing a tapering technique can result in a 10.7 dB reduction of sidelobe power and a 7.22 dB improvement in worst-case, mode-to-mode cross-talk.

orbital angular momentum, phased array, beamformin↗