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At least 55 records · Page 3

Low gravity containerless processing of immiscible gold rhodium alloys

Under normal one-g conditions immiscible alloys segregate extensively during solidification due to sedementation of the more dense of the immiscible liquid phases. However, under low-g conditions it should be possible to form a dispersion of the two immiscible liquids and maintain this dispersed structure during solidification. Immiscible (hypermonotectic) gold-rhodium alloys were processed in the Marshall Space Flight Center 105 meter drop tube in order to investigate the influence of low gravity, containerless solidification on their microstructure. Hypermonotectic alloys composed of 65 atomic % rhodium exhibited a tendency for the gold rich liquid to wet the outer surface of the containerless processed samples. This tendency led to extensive segregation in several cases. However, well dispersed microstructures consisting of 2 to 3 micron diameter rhodium-rich spheres in a gold-rich matrix were produced in 23.4 atomic % rhodium alloys. This is one of the best dispersions obtained in research on immiscible alloy-systems to data.

Andrews, J. Barry↗

Extreme ultraviolet reflectivity studies of gold on glass and metal substrates

The paper reports measurements of the extreme ultraviolet reflectivity of gold from 44 to 920 A at grazing incidence. Gold was deposited using vacuum evaporation and electroplating on substrates of glass and polished nickel, respectively. Measurements are also presented of the extreme ultraviolet reflectivity of electroless nickel in the same wavelength region, where one of the polished nickel substrates was used as a sample. Derived optical constants for evaporated and electroplated gold and electroless nickel are presented. Additional studies of the effects of various contaminants on the EUV reflectivity are also reported. The variations of the optical constants are discussed in terms of density variations, surface roughness and contamination effects. These results ae reported as part of studies for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite program to determine acceptance criteria for the EUV optics, contamination budgets and calibration plans.

Jelinsky, Sharon R.↗

Geochemistry and origin of gold mineralization in the Kolar Schist Belt

Geological, mineralogical, mineral-textural and geochemical data of the sulfide lodes in the belt indicate that the gold mineralization could be related to low temperature, low Eh and high pH rock-dominated geothermal systems set up in the submarine volcanic pile prior to amphibolite metamorphism. A relatively long-lived geothermal system produced an economic deposit, whereas short-lived ones, because of rapid burial by younger basalts throttled the geothermal system and diffused the discharge yielding low grade ore bodies. The source for gold and iron could be iron enriched tholeiites derived from source regions enriched in komatiitic melt components and komatiitic rocks derived by very low extents of melting of metasomatised mantle sources. On the other hand, the geographical restriction of the quartz-calcite lodes, their mineralogical and geochemical data and their estimated temperature of formation all seem to suggest that a major part of the hydrothermal fluids, and a significant portion of gold could have been derived from mantle derived intrusive, sanukitoid type magma sources, similar to the Champion Gneiss occurring on the eastern part of the belt. However, the possibility of some input by remobilization of a premetamorphic sulfide protore to quartz lodes cannot be ruled out completely.

Siddaiah, N. Siva↗

Failure analysis of blistered gold plating on spot welded electrical relays

Gold-plated stainless-steel sideplates, part of a JPL Galileo spacecraft electronic-relay assembly, exhibited blistering after resistance spot welding. Unacceptable relays had heavy nonuniform gold electrodeposited layers with thicknesses 4.5-11.5 microns. SEM and metallographic investigations indicated much higher heat input generated during the resistance spot welding in unacceptable relays. The attributes of acceptable welded relays are contrasted with unacceptable relays; the possible mechanism of laminar formation of polymeric material in the gold plating is discussed; and some recommendations are provided to prevent similar problems.

Sokolowski, Witold↗

The effect of electron irradiation on YBa2Cu3O(x) with gold bead contacts

The effect of 1-MeV electron irradiation, up to a total dose of 5.7 x 10 to the 17th electrons/sq cm at room temperature on YBa2Cu3O(x) was investigated using gold bead contacts made by the melting technique. The superconducting transition temperature Tc, the critical current density Jc at 77 K, the normal-state resistivity, and the contact resistance for gold bead contacts were measured as a function of fluence on the same samples without disturbing the contacts. Tc remained constant at 91 K, and Jc at 77 K remained constant around 90 A/sq cm. The normal-state resistivity increased systematically by about 15 percent for the total dose. Finally, the surface contact resistance at 77 K remained less than 4.2 microohm sq cm throughout the radiations. These studies took place over an 8-month period, and subsequent measurements indicate that the results are definitely due to radiation effects and not aging effects. It is concluded that the superconductor YBa2Cu3O(x) with gold bead contacts would perform well in a space environment of electron irradiation.

Caton, R.↗

Near-edge study of gold-substituted YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)

The valence of Cu and Au in YBa2Au0.3Cu2.7O7-delta was investigated using x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). X-ray and neutron diffraction studies indicate that Au goes on the Cu(1) site and Cu K-edge XANES shows that this has little effect on the oxidation state of the remaining copper. The Au L3 edge develops a white line feature whose position lies between that of trivalent gold oxide and monovalent potassium gold cyanide, and whose height relative to the edge step is smaller than in the two reference compounds. The appearance of the Au L3 edge suggests that fewer Au 3d states are involved in forming the Au-O bond in YBa2Au0.3Cu2.7O7-delta than in trivalent gold oxide.

Ruckman, Mark W.↗

Near-edge study of gold-substituted YBa2Cu3O(7-delta)

The valence of Cu and Au in YBa2Au0.3Cu2.7O7-delta was investigated using X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). X-ray and neutron diffraction studies indicate that Au goes on the Cu(1) site and Cu K-edge XANES shows that this has little effect on the oxidation state of the remaining copper. The Au L3 edge develops a white line feature whose position lies between that of trivalent gold oxide and monovalent potassium gold cyanide, and whose height relative to the edge step is smaller than in the two reference compounds. The appearance of the Au L3 edge suggests that fewer Au 3d states are involved in forming the Au-O bond in YBa2Au0.3Cu2.7O7-delta than in trivalent gold oxide.

Ruckman, Mark W.↗

Thermal conductance of gold plated metallic contacts at liquid helium temperatures

The thermal conductance of gold plated OFHC copper, 6061-T6 aluminum, free-machining brass, and 304 stainless steel contacts has been measured over the temperature range of 1.6 to 4.2 K, with applied forces from 22 N to 670 N. The contact surfaces were prepared with a 0.8 micron lapped finish prior to gold coating. It was found that for all materials, except stainless steel, the thermal conductance was significantly improved as the result of gold coating the contact surfaces.

Kittel, Peter↗

Electrically Conductive Polyimide Films Containing Gold Surface

Polyimide films exhibiting high thermo-oxidative stability and including electrically conductive surface layers containing gold made by casting process. Many variations of basic process conditions, ingredients, and sequence of operations possible, and not all resulting versions of process yield electrically conductive films. Gold-containing layer formed on film surface during cure. These metallic gold-containing polyimides used in film and coating applications requiring electrical conductivity, high reflectivity, exceptional thermal stability, and/or mechanical integrity. They also find commercial potential in areas ranging from thin films for satellite antennas to decorative coatings and packaging.

Caplan, Maggie L.↗

Z-Scan Measurement of the Nonlinear Absorption of a Thin Gold Film

We have used the z-scan technique at a wavelength (532 nm) near the transmission window of bulk gold to measure the nonlinear absorption coefficient of continuous approximately 50-Angstrom-thick gold films, deposited onto surface-modified quartz substrates. For highly absorbing media such as metals, we demonstrate that determination of either the real or imaginary part of the third-order susceptibility requires a measurement of both nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction, i.e. both open- and closed-aperture z-scans must be performed. Closed-aperture z-scans did not yield a sufficient signal for the determination of the nonlinear refraction. However, open-aperture z-scans yielded values ranging from Beta = 1.9 x 10(exp -3) to 5.3 x 10(exp -3) cm/W in good agreement with predictions which ascribe the nonlinear response to a Fermi smearing mechanism. We note that the sign of the nonlinearity is reversed from that of gold nanoparticle composites, in accordance with the predictions of mean field theories.

Smith, David D.↗

Atmospheric Fragmentation of the Gold Basin Meteoroid as Constrained from Cosmogenic Nuclides

Since the discovery of the Gold Basin L4 chondrite shower almost ten years ago in the northwestern corner of Arizona, many thousands of L-chondrite specimens have been recovered from an area of approx.22 km long and approx.10 km wide. Concentrations of cosmogenic 14C and 10Be in a number of these samples indicated a terrestrial age of approx.15,000 years and a large pre-atmospheric size [1]. Additional measurements of cosmogenic Be-10, Al-26, Cl-36, and Ca-41 in the metal and stone fractions of fifteen Gold Basin samples constrained the pre-atmospheric radius to 3-5 m [2]. This implies that Gold Basin is by far the largest stone meteorite in the present meteorite collection, providing us with an opportunity to study the fragmentation process of a large chondritic object during atmospheric entry. Knowledge about the fragmentation process provides information about the mechanical strength of large meteoroids, which is important for the evaluation of future hazards of small asteroid impacts on Earth and possible defensive scenarios to avoid those impacts.

Welten, K. C.↗

Gold-on-Polymer-Based Sensing Films for Detection of Organic and Inorganic Analytes in the Air

A document discusses gold-on-polymer as one of the novel sensor types developed for part of the sensor development task. Standard polymer-carbon composite sensors used in the JPL Electronic Nose (ENose) have been modified by evaporating 15 nm of metallic gold on the surface. These sensors have been shown to respond to alcohols, aromatics, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and elemental mercury in the parts-per-million and parts-per-billion concentration ranges in humidified air. The results have shown good sensitivity of these films operating under mild conditions (operating temperatures 23-28 C and regeneration temperature up to 40 C). This unique sensor combines the diversity of polymer sensors for chemical sensing with their response to a wide variety of analytes with the specificity of a gold sensor that shows strong reaction/binding with selected analyte types, such as mercury or sulfur.

Manatt, Kenneth↗

Quantum Yield of Gold-Cathode Photomultipliers

Two gold-cathode EMI 6255G tubes have been investigated for their quantum yield between 3100 and 1900 A. The tubes had cathodes of different appearances. One of these, numbered 3012, had a slight bluish tinge and was very transparent to visible light; the other, numbered 3021, had a definite gold coloration. The relative quantum yield of each tube was determined with the aid of a Cary model 14 recording spectrophotometer used as a monochromator. The monochromator relative-energy output was determined from the current output of a sodium-salicylate-coated RCA 1P21 photomultiplier. Each gold-cathode tube was then operated at 3000 v, and the central 1.8 cm cube of the cathode was exposed to the monochromator output.

Childs, Charles B.↗

Reflectivity Around the Gold M-Edges of X-ray Reflector of the Soft X-Ray Telescope Onboard ASTRO-H

The X-ray astronomy satellite ASTRO-H are equipped with two equivalent soft X-ray telescopes (SXT-I and SXT-S) which cover the energy band 0.3-12 keV. The X-ray reflectors of the SXTs are coated with a gold monolayer by means of the replication technique. A series of gold M absorption edges in the 2-4 keV band causes complex structures in the energy response of the SXTs. In the same band, there are astrophysically important emission lines from Si, Ar and S. Since the SXS has unprecedentedly high spectral resolution, we have measured the reflectivity around the gold M-edges in an extremely fine energy pitch at the synchrotron radiation facility KEK PF BL11-B, with the 2 eV pitch in 2100 eV to 4100 eV band that covers the entire series of the absorption edges (M-I through M-V) at grazing incident angles to the reflectors of 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 degree, and with a finer pitch of 0.25 eV in the 2200 eV to 2350 eV band where the two deepest M-IV and M-V edges are included. In the resultant reflectivity curves, we have clearly identified the fine structures associated with all the M-edges. Using these data, we calculated atomic scattering factor f1 as a function of X-ray energy, with which we have built the mirror response function which can be applied to the Suzaku spectra. As a result, we have found that discrepancy of the spectral model to the Suzaku data of 4U1630-472 (a black hole transient) and the Crab nebula around the M-edges are significantly reduced from those with the official Suzaku response.

ASTRO-H↗

Preliminary Results, Analysis, and Overview of Part-1 of the GOLD Experiment

The Ground/Orbiter Lasercomm Demonstration (GOLD) is an optical communications demonstraton between the Japanese Engineering Test Satellite (ETS-VI) and an optical ground transmitting and receiving station at the Table Mountain Facility. GOLD was an experiment that demonstrated real-time international collaboration.

optical communications ETS-VI GOLD Table Mountain ↗

Investigation of gold embrittlement in connector solder joints

An investigation was performed to determine to what extent typical flight connector solder joints may be embrittled by the presence of gold. In addition to mapping of gold content in connector solder joints by an electron microprobe analyzer, metallographic examinations and mechanical tests (thermal shock, vibration, impact and tensile strength) were also conducted. A description of the specimens and tests, a discussion of the data, and some conclusions are presented.

Lane, F. L.↗

Influence of various surface pretreatments on adherence of sputtered molybdenum disulfide to silver, gold, copper, and bronze

Solid film lubricants of radio frequency sputtered molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) were applied to silver, gold, copper, and bronze surfaces that had various pretreatments (mechanical polishing, sputter etching, oxidation, and sulfurization). Optical and electron transmission micrographs and electron diffraction patterns were used to interpret the film formation characteristics and to evaluate the sputtering conditions in regard to the film and substrate compatibility. Sputtered MoS2 films flaked and peeled on silver, copper, and bronze surfaces except when the surfaces had been specially oxidized. The flaking and peeling was a result of sulfide compound formation and the corresponding grain growth of the sulfide film. Sputtered MoS2 films showed no peeling and flaking on gold surfaces regardless of surface pretreatment.

Spalvins, T.↗

Optical properties of thin gold films applied to Schottky barrier solar cells

The Schottky barrier solar cell is considered a possible candidate for converting solar to electrical energy both for space and terrestrial applications. Knowledge of the optical constants of the ultrathin metal film used in the cell is essential for analyzing and designing higher efficiency Schottky barrier cells. The optical constants of 7.5 -nm (75-A) gold films on gallium arsenide have been obtained. In addition, the absolute collection efficiency of Schottky barrier solar cells has been determined from measured spectral response and optical constants of the gold film.

YEH Y. M.↗