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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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NASA NTRS1971

Photochemistry of interstellar molecules

The photochemistry of two diatomic and eight polyatomic molecules is discussed quantitatively. For an interstellar molecule, the lifetime against photodecomposition depends upon the absorption cross section, the quantum yield or probability of dissociation following photon absorption, and the interstellar radiation field. The constant energy density of Habing is used for the unobserved regions of interstellar radiation field, and the field in obscuring clouds is estimated by combining the constant flux with the observed interstellar extinction curve covering the visible and ultraviolet regions. Lifetimes against photodecomposition in the unobscured regions and as a function of increasing optical thickness in obscuring clouds are calculated for the ten species. The results show that, except for CO, all the molecules have comparable lifetimes of less than one hundred years. Thus they can exist only in dense clouds and can never have been exposed to the unobscured radiation. The calculations further show that the lifetimes in clouds of moderate opacity are of the order of one million years.

Stief, L. J.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Modeling of turbulent transport in the surface layer

The turbulence equations as written by Donaldson using the method of invariant modeling have been applied to the following limiting cases of the surface or constant flux layer of the planetary boundary layer: (1) Neutrally stable; (2) stable (above influence of surface roughness); (3) nearly neutrally stable; and (4) very unstable (free convection). For the neutrally stable case, the equations are shown to admit as a solution the familiar logarithmic profile. By use of this result, boundary conditions suitable for the surface layer are defined and are simple to apply to rough surfaces.

Smith, G. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Compositional evidence regarding the influx of interplanetary materials onto the lunar surface

Siderophilic element/Ir ratios are higher in mature lunar soils from highlands sites than in those from mare sites. It is suggested that the population of materials responsible for the early intense bombardment of the moon had high ratios and that the population responsible for the essentially constant flux has low ratios. Arguments are summarized against the viewpoint that the siderophiles in most highlands breccias originated in basin-forming projectiles. Differences in mature soil siderophile concentrations at the Apollo 14 and 16 sites indicate a substantially greater concentration at the latter site immediately following the Imbrium event. Siderophile concentrations are used to estimate mean regolith depths at the landing sites. The long-lived flux is calculated to be 2.9 g per cm per aeon averaged over the past 3.7 aeons. Consideration of the relationship between mass fluence and time indicates that the mass flux decreased with a half-life of about 40 million years immediately following the Imbrium event.

Wasson, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A grid of model atmospheres for metal-deficient giant stars. I

A grid of flux-constant model atmospheres for stars with effective temperatures between 3750 and 6000 K, log g between 0.75 and 3.0, and (A/H) between -3.0 and 0.0 has been constructed. The line absorption is approximated by opacity distribution functions. Metal lines and molecular lines, including those from the infrared bands of CO and CN, are taken into account. The variation of the structure of the models with metal abundance and microturbulence parameter is found to be quite regular and not very drastic. The surface cooling produced by CO is important for all the models with a maximum temperature of 5000 K, while CN mainly causes a backwarming effect but is not very important for solar CNO abundances. The effects of convection, estimated by using the mixing-length approximation, are important only for the coldest models. The models compare very well with models from overlapping regions of other grids. A solar model consistent with the grid models is found to agree satisfactorily with empirical solar model atmospheres. The careful use of scaled solar models for stars with (A/H) approximately equal to zero is justified.

Gustafsson, B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

A bimodal search strategy for SETI

The search strategy and resultant observational plan which was developed to carry out a comprehensive Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) over that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum known as the terrestrial microwave window is described. The limiting sensitivity achieved was parameterized and calculated for Deep Space Network antennas as well as several radio astronomy observatories. A brief description of the instrumentation to be employed in the search and the classes of signals to be looked for is given. One observational goal is to survey the entire sky over a wide range of frequency to a relatively constant flux level. This survey ensures that all potential life sites are observed to some limiting equivalent isotropic radiated power depending upon their distance. A second goal is to survey a set of potential transmission sites selected a priori to be especially promising, achieving very high sensitivity over a smaller range of frequency.

Gulkis, S.↗
NASA NTRS1980

IR observations of the double quasar 0957 + 561 A, B and the intervening galaxy

Infrared observations of the double quasar 0957 + 561 A, B and the intervening galaxy believed to be responsible for its double appearance by gravitational light deflection are reported. Observations were obtained of each quasar at 1.6 and 2.2 microns and of the 12.5 arcsec region centered between the two quasars at 1.2, 1.6 and 2.2 microns. Extended IR emission is observed in the vicinity of both quasars and is attributed to emission from the intervening galaxy. The two quasars are found to have a constant flux ratio in all observed wavelength ranges, consistent with the achromatic imaging predicted by the gravitational lens model, and to exhibit an unusual continuum distribution in the region 0.35-2.2 microns. The infrared observations are also consistent with a giant elliptical lens galaxy at a redshift of approximately 0.40.

Soifer, B. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Scientific results from the Pioneer Saturn infrared radiometer

Data on Saturn and its rings are presented, obtained by the Pioneer 11 infrared radiometer in broadband channels, centered at 20 and 45 microns. Assuming symmetry about the equator and a constant flux poleward of 7.5 deg latitude, an average effective temperature of 96.5 + or - 2.5 K indicates a total emission which is 2.8 times that of the absorbed sunlight. Temperatures at the 1 bar level are 137 and 140 K, and a minimum temperature averaging 87 K is registered near the 0.06 bar level. Ring boundaries and optical depths are consistent with those at optical wavelengths. Ring temperatures are 54-86 K on the south side, approximately 54 K on the north side, and at least 67 K in Saturn's shadow.

Orton, G. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Stratospheric eddy diffusion coefficients from tracer data

Global distributions of nitrous oxide, methane, ozone, and carbon 14 are used to estimate four sets of stratospheric eddy diffusion coefficients. A photochemical equilibrium model calculates O(3P), O(1D), H, HO2, OH, H2O2, NO, and NO2 densities, as a function of altitude, latitude, and time. The calculated O(1D), OH, and observed Cl densities are used to obtain the eddy profiles associated with the methane and nitrous oxide distributions, for altitudes between 10 and 40 km. Application of a constant flux condition to the seasonally averaged ozone data yields eddy values below 20 km. Time-dependent carbon 14 calculations produce eddy coefficients between 13 and 27 km. A composite profile is obtained by comparing the four sets of coefficients. Further, carbon 14 computations are used to test these profiles as well as those recommended in reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences in 1976 and 1979. The composite eddy profile produces the best agreement.

Massie, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Solute transport and the prediction of breakaway oxidation in gamma + beta Ni-Cr-Al alloys

The Al transport and the condition leading to breakaway oxidation during the cyclic oxidation of gamma + beta NiCrAl alloys have been studied. The Al concentration/distance profiles were measured after various cyclic oxidation exposures at 1200 C. It was observed that cyclic oxidation results in a decreasing Al concentration at the oxide/metal interface, maintaining a constant flux of Al to the Al2O3 scale. It was also observed that breakaway oxidation occurs when the Al concentration at the oxide/metal interface approaches zero. A numerical model was developed to simulate the diffusional transport of Al and to predict breakaway oxidation in gamma + beta NiCrAl alloys undergoing cyclic oxidation. In a comparison of two alloys with similar oxide spalling characteristics, the numerical model was shown to predict correctly the onset of breakaway oxidation in the higher Al-content alloy.

Nesbitt, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Cherenkov-dE/dx-range measurements on cosmic ray iron group nuclei

A balloon experiment which combined a large area plastic detector unit with electronic dE/dx-C data is presented. The correlation of the electronic data with the range data of the plastic detector stack was achieved by rotating plastic detector disks which provided in this way the passive plastic detector with an incorporated time determination. The constant flux of cosmic ray particles with charge Z greater than two was used to gauge the time resolving system. Stopping cosmic ray iron group nuclei in the energy range 400 to 700 MeV/nuc are identified using their electronic scintillator and Cherenkov signals and their etch conelengths and range data. The precise knowledge of the particle's trajectory proposes refined pathlength corrections to the electronic data.

Sermund, G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Detection of 12 micron Mg I and OH lines in stellar spectra

Infrared lines of Mg I and OH have been detected in stellar spectra near 12.3 microns. The Mg I 7i-6h transition was seen in Alpha Ori and Alpha Tau, and the R2e(23.5) and R1f(24.5) transitions of OH were seen in Alpha Ori. All lines appear in absorption, in contrast to the solar spectrum where the Mg I line shows a prominent emission core. The lack of emission in these low surface gravity stars is due to a greatly reduced volume recombination rate for the high-n states of Mg I, which is not fully compensated by the increased chromospheric scale height. The OH equivalent widths are sensitive to the temperature structure of the upper photosphere of Alpha Ori, and they indicate that the photosphere near tau 5000 of about 10 to the -5th is approximately 100 K hotter than is given by flux constant models. The OH measurements agree more closely with the 1981 semiemprical model of Basri, Linsky, and Eriksson (1981), which is based on Ca II and Mg II ultraviolet features.

Jennings, D. E.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The evolution of a coronal streamer prior to mass ejection

A model describing the quasi-static evolution of a coronal helmet streamer as it is inflated with excess mass was developed. The model produces a sequence of magnetostatic equilibria for a magnetic field configuration that includes a current sheet in the equatorial plane as well as distributed volume currents. The equilibrium solutions are given as Legendre series, and the height at which the current sheet starts is adjusted iteratively to maintain constant flux in the closed-field region. The model was fit to SMM coronagraph/polarimeter observations showing the slow growth of a coronal streamer prior to its disruption in association with an eruptive prominence and mass ejection on August 18, 1980. The results suggest that the early phase of this event is consistent with the quasi-static evolution of the corona in response to the slow addition of mass to the closed-field region of the streamer.

Wolfson, Richard↗
NASA NTRS1989

The photometric variability of the chromospherically active binary star HD 80715

Differential UBVRI photometry of the double-lined BY Dra system HD 80715 (K3 V + K3 V) obtained in December 1987 is presented. The star is found to be a variable with a full amplitude of 0.06 mag in V and a period similar or equal to the orbital period of 3.804 days. The mechanism of the variability is interpreted as rotational modulation due to dark starspots. In an attempt to detect chromospheric activity, high-resolution CCD spectra were obtained at Ca II H and K and at Fe I 6430 A and Ca I 6439 A, the photospheric lines normally used for Doppler imaging. HD 80715 shows double H and K emission features at a constant flux level for each component.

Strassmeier, Klaus G.↗
NASA NTRS1989

A PBL-radiation model for application to regional numerical weather prediction

Often in the short-range limited-area numerical weather prediction (NWP) of extratropical weather systems the effects of planetary boundary layer (PBL) processes are considered secondarily important. However, it may not be the case for the regional NWP of mesoscale convective systems over the arid and semi-arid highlands of the southwestern and south-central United States in late spring and summer. Over these dry regions, the PBL can grow quite high up into the lower middle troposphere (600 mb) due to very effective solar heating and hence a vigorous air-land thermal interaction can occur. The interaction representing a major heat source for regional dynamical systems can not be ignored. A one-dimensional PBL-radiation model was developed. The model PBL consists of a constant-flux surface layer superposed with a well-mixed (Ekman) layer. The vertical eddy mixing coefficients for heat and momentum in the surface layer are determined according to the surface similarity theory, while their vertical profiles in the Ekman layer are specified with a cubic polynomial. Prognostic equations are used for predicting the height of the nonneutral PBL. The atmospheric radiation is parameterized to define the surface heat source/sink for the growth and decay of the PBL. A series of real-data numerical experiments has been carried out to obtain a physical understanding how the model performs under various atmospheric and surface conditions. This one-dimensional model will eventually be incorporated into a mesoscale prediction system. The ultimate goal of this research is to improve the NWP of mesoscale convective storms over land.

Chang, Chia-Bo↗
NASA NTRS1990

Situationally Driven Local Navigation for Mobile Robots

For mobile robots to autonomously accommodate dynamically changing navigation tasks in a goal-directed fashion, they must employ navigation plans. Any such plan must provide for the robot's immediate and continuous need for guidance while remaining highly flexible in order to avoid costly computation each time the robot's perception of the world changes. Due to the world's uncertainties, creation and maintenance of navigation plans cannot involve arbitrarily complex processes, as the robot's perception of the world will be in constant flux, requiring modifications to be made quickly if they are to be of any use. This work introduces navigation templates (NaT's) which are building blocks for the construction and maintenance of rough navigation plans which capture the relationship that objects in the world have to the current navigation task. By encoding only the critical relationship between the objects in the world and the navigation task, a NaT-based navigation plan is highly flexible; allowing new constraints to be quickly incorporated into the plan and existing constraints to be updated or deleted from the plan. To satisfy the robot's need for immediate local guidance, the NaT's forming the current navigation plan are passed to a transformation function. The transformation function analyzes the plan with respect to the robot's current location to quickly determine (a few times a second) the locally preferred direction of travel. This dissertation presents NaT's and the transformation function as well as the needed support systems to demonstrate the usefulness of the technique for controlling the actions of a mobile robot operating in an uncertain world.

Slack, Marc Glenn↗
NASA NTRS1990

The photochemical origins of life and photoreaction of ferrous ion in the archaean oceans

A general argument is made for the photochemical origins of life. A constant flux of free energy is required to maintain the organized state of matter called life. Solar photons are the unique source of the large amounts of energy probably required to initiate this organization and certainly required for the evolution of life to occur. The completion of this argument will require the experimental determination of suitable photochemical reactions. It is shown that biogenetic porphyrins readily photooxidize substrates and emit hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst. These results are consistent with the Granick hypothesis, which relates a biosynthetic pathway to its evolutionary origin. It has been shown that photoexcitation of ferrous ion at neutral pH with near ultraviolet light produces hydrogen with high quantum yield. This same simple system may reduce carbon dioxide to formaldehyde and further products. These reactions offer a solution to the dilemma confronting the Oparin-Urey-Miller model of the chemical origin of life. If carbon dioxide is the main form of carbon on the primitive earth, the ferrous photoreaction may provide the reduced carbon necessary for the formation of amino acids and other biogenic molecules. These results suggest that this progenitor of modern photosynthesis may have contributed to the chemical origins of life.

Mauzerall, David C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Troposphere-stratosphere interactions in a one-dimensional model of Jovian photochemistry

The case of a chemically unreactive species flowing downward through the stratosphere and troposphere with a constant flux is presently treated by a one-dimensional Jovian atmosphere model which encompasses the coupling between a rapidly mixed troposphere and a stagnant stratosphere, so that the contrast between the peak stratosphere and tropopause concentrations is reflective of the variation between the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere eddy diffusion coefficients. Numerical simulations of unreactive CO and C2H6 species indicate that upper troposphere abundances may possess a substantial photochemical contribution. The implications of these modeling results for higher spectral resolution observations are noted.

Landry, Bridget↗