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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 55 records · Page 3

Grazing incidence optics; Proceedings of the Meeting, Orlando, FL, Apr. 3, 4, 1986

Papers are presented on the diffraction-limited performance of grazing incidence optical systems; transverse ray aberrations of Wolter type 1 telescopes; hybrid X-ray telescope systems; surface characterization of grazing incidence optics in the extreme UV and X-ray regions; and the surface roughness properties of synchrotron radiation optics. Topics discussed include the simulation of free-abrasive grinding of grazing incidence mirrors with vertical-honing and flexible blades; mirrors for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer; the design and development of conical X-ray imaging mirrors; thermal loading considerations for synchrotron radiation mirrors; and grazing incidence optics for synchrotron radiation insertion-device beams. Consideration is given to the interpretation of glancing incidence scattering measurements; damage processes in short wavelength coated FEL optics; the replication of grain incidence optics; and the assembly and alignment of the Technology Mirror Assembly.

Osantowski, John F.↗

Trace element abundance determinations by Synchrotron X Ray Fluorescence (SXRF) on returned comet nucleus mineral grains

Trace element analyses were performed on bulk cosmic dust particles by Proton Induced X Ray Emission (PIXE) and Synchrotron X Ray Fluorescence (SXRF). When present at or near chondritic abundances the trace elements K, Ti, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Se, and Br are presently detectable by SXRF in particles of 20 micron diameter. Improvements to the SXRF analysis facility at the National Synchrotron Light Source presently underway should increase the range of detectable elements and permit the analysis of smaller samples. In addition the Advanced Photon Source will be commissioned at Argonne National Laboratory in 1995. This 7 to 8 GeV positron storage ring, specifically designed for high-energy undulator and wiggler insertion devices, will be an ideal source for an x ray microprobe with one micron spatial resolution and better than 100 ppb elemental sensitivity for most elements. Thus trace element analysis of individual micron-sized grains should be possible by the time of the comet nucleus sample return mission.

Flynn, G. J.↗

The NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center drop tube user's manual

A comprehensive description of the structural and instrumentation hardware and the experimental capabilities of the 105-meter Marshall Space Flight Center Drop Tube Facility is given. This document is to serve as a guide to the investigator who wishes to perform materials processing experiments in the Drop Tube. Particular attention is given to the Tube's hardware to which an investigator must interface to perform experiments. This hardware consists of the permanent structural hardware (with such items as vacuum flanges), and the experimental hardware (with the furnaces and the sample insertion devices). Two furnaces, an electron-beam and an electromagnetic levitator, are currently used to melt metallic samples in a process environment that can range from 10(exp -6) Torr to 1 atmosphere. Details of these furnaces, the processing environment gases/vacuum, the electrical power, and data acquisition capabilities are specified to allow an investigator to design his/her experiment to maximize successful results and to reduce experimental setup time on the Tube. Various devices used to catch samples while inflicting minimum damage and to enhance turnaround time between experiments are described. Enough information is provided to allow an investigator who wishes to build his/her own furnace or sample catch devices to easily interface it to the Tube. The experimental instrumentation and data acquisition systems used to perform pre-drop and in-flight measurements of the melting and solidification process are also detailed. Typical experimental results are presented as an indicator of the type of data that is provided by the Drop Tube Facility. A summary bibliography of past Drop Tube experiments is provided, and an appendix explaining the noncontact temperature determination of free-falling drops is provided. This document is to be revised occasionally as improvements to the Facility are made and as the summary bibliography grows.

Rathz, Thomas J.↗

Enhanced Boiling-Metal Cooling Of Vanes Exposed To Hot Gases

Incorporation of automatic, self-powered jet pumps proposed to enhance boiling-liquid-metal cooling of vanes exposed to hot gases. In original intended application, vanes and probes thrust-vector-control devices inserted in supersonic flows of hot gases in rocket-engine nozzles; this cooling concept also applicable to vanes and blades in high-performance turbine engines. In further improvement, additional axial and transverse slots added to coolant passages in vane or probe and to coolant reservoir. Slots reduce stresses caused by thermal expansion and contraction of solid coolant.

Osofsky, I. B.↗

Bus repeater and bit injector for MIL-STD-1553/1760 communications bus

A fault insertion device (FID) comprises a transceiver and an FPGA. The transceiver receives signals from a MIL-STD-1553/1760 communications bus. The FPGA evaluates the signals received from the communications bus against a set of rules stored by the FPGA. Based upon the set of rules, the FPGA can selectively modify messages received from the communications bus prior to transmission to a remote terminal or a bus controller that is configured to communicate on the communications bus.

Krein, Jason P.↗

Chassis unit insert tightening-extract device

The invention relates to the insertion and extraction of rack mounted electronic units and in particular to a screw thread insert tightening and extract device, for chassis units having a collar which may be rotatably positioned manually for the insert tightening or extraction of various associated chassis units, as desired.

Haerther, L. W.↗

Electrochemical ion insertion from the atomic to the device scale

Electrochemical ion insertion involves coupled ion–electron transfer reactions, transport of guest species and redox of the host. The hosts are typically anisotropic solids with 2D conduction planes but can also be materials with 1D or isotropic transport pathways. These insertion compounds have traditionally been studied in the context of energy storage but also find extensive applications in electrocatalysis, optoelectronics and computing. Recent developments in operando, ultrafast and high-resolution characterization methods, as well as accurate theoretical simulation methods, have led to a renaissance in the understanding of ion-insertion compounds. In this Review, we present a unified framework for understanding insertion compounds across timescales and length scales ranging from atomic to device levels. Using graphite, transition metal dichalcogenides, layered oxides, oxyhydroxides and olivines as examples, we explore commonalities in these materials in terms of point defects, interfacial reactions and phase transformations. We illustrate similarities in the operating principles of various ion-insertion devices, ranging from batteries and electrocatalysts to electrochromics and thermal transistors, with the goal of unifying research across disciplinary boundaries.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Anti-Rotation Device Releasable by Insertion of a Tool

A drive mechanism enables a socket-type wrench to rotate a shaft and prevents accidental rotation of the shaft when the wrench is not coupled to the shaft. In the original intended application, the shaft would be part of an attachment mechanism on a spacecraft, and the purpose to be served by the drive is to prevent back-driving of the shaft by launch vibrations while enabling an astronaut equipped with the appropriate wrench to actuate the shaft while in orbit. The design could also be adapted to terrestrial applications in which it is necessary to prevent rotational back-driving. The mechanism includes a gear near the tip of the shaft, and a drive nut that constitutes the tip of the shaft. The gear and drive nut are positioned in a recess in a housing. The recess is sized to receive the wrench socket that mates with the drive nut. Also contained in the housing are four linkages that include pins that are spring-loaded into engagement with the gear to prevent rotation of the shaft. When the wrench socket is inserted in the recess, it pushes on the linkages in such a manner as to disengage the pins from the gear.

Warden, Harry K.↗

Wind tunnel supplementary Mach number minimum section insert

A device is described which changes the Mach number capability of a wind tunnel without permanently altering the existing nozzle of the tunnel. An insert is removably attached to the wall of the existing nozzle expansion area thereby creating a second minimum section upstream of the model test section. The added insert may be removed without complicated and expensive changes to the basic wind tunnel. In one embodiment, a removable insert is disposed within wind tunnel nozzle walls with a portion of the flow boundary layer being bled off from the tunnel via passageway and tunnel exit to reduce the extent of separated flow normally occuring upstream of the insert contraction section.

Couch, L. M.↗

Microgravity Disturbance Characterization of the Quench Module Insert (QMI) Phase Change Device (PCD)

The Materials Science Research Facility (MSRF) is a multi-user, multi-purpose facility for materials science research. One experiment within the MSRF will be the Quench Module Insert (QMI), a high-temperature furnace with unique capabilities for processing different classes of materials. The primary functions of the QMI furnace are to melt, directionally solidify, and quench metallic samples, providing data to aid in understanding the effects of the microgravity environment on the characteristics of these processed metals. The QMI houses sealed individual sample ampoules containing material to be processed. Quenching of the samples in the QMI furnace is accomplished by releasing low-melting-point metallic shoes into contact with the outside of the sample ampoule, dissipating heat and cooling the sample inside. The impact from this method of quench will induce sample vibrations which could be large enough to adversely affect sample quality. Utilizing breadboard hardware, the sample quench sequence, releasing the shoes, was conducted. Data was collected from accelerometers located on the breadboard sample cartridge, indicating the maximum acceleration achieved by the sample. The primary objective of the test described in this presentation was to determine the acceleration imparted on the sample by the shoe contact. From this information, the science community can better assess whether this method of quench will allow them to obtain the data they need.

Gattis, Christy↗

Left ventricular diastolic filling with an implantable ventricular assist device: beat to beat variability with overall improvement

OBJECTIVES: We studied the effects of left ventricular (LV) unloading by an implantable ventricular assist device on LV diastolic filling. BACKGROUND: Although many investigators have reported reliable systemic and peripheral circulatory support with implantable LV assist devices, little is known about their effect on cardiac performance. METHODS: Peak velocities of early diastolic filling, late diastolic filling, late to early filling ratio, deceleration time of early filling, diastolic filling period and atrial filling fraction were measured by intraoperative transesophageal Doppler echocardiography before and after insertion of an LV assist device in eight patients. A numerical model was developed to simulate this situation. RESULTS: Before device insertion, all patients showed either a restrictive or a monophasic transmitral flow pattern. After device insertion, transmitral flow showed rapid beat to beat variation in each patient, from abnormal relaxation to restrictive patterns. However, when the average values obtained from 10 consecutive beats were considered, overall filling was significantly normalized from baseline, with early filling velocity falling from 87 +/- 31 to 64 +/- 26 cm/s (p < 0.01) and late filling velocity rising from 8 +/- 11 to 32 +/- 23 cm/s (p < 0.05), resulting in an increase in the late to early filling ratio from 0.13 +/- 0.18 to 0.59 +/- 0.38 (p < 0.01) and a rise in the atrial filling fraction from 8 +/- 10% to 26 +/- 17% (p < 0.01). The deceleration time (from 112 +/- 40 to 160 +/- 44 ms, p < 0.05) and the filling period corrected by the RR interval (from 39 +/- 8% to 54 +/- 10%, p < 0.005) were also significantly prolonged. In the computer model, asynchronous LV assistance produced significant beat to beat variation in filling indexes, but overall a normalization of deceleration time as well as other variables. CONCLUSIONS: With LV assistance, transmitral flow showed rapidly varying patterns beat by beat in each patient, but overall diastolic filling tended to normalize with an increase of atrial contribution to the filling. Because of the variable nature of the transmitral flow pattern with the assist device, the timing of the device cycle must be considered when inferring diastolic function from transmitral flow pattern.

Non-NASA Center↗

Robot friendly probe and socket assembly

A probe and socket assembly for serving as a mechanical interface between structures is presented. The assembly comprises a socket having a housing adapted for connection to a first supporting structure and a probe which is readily connectable to a second structure and is designed to be easily grappled and manipulated by a robotic device for insertion and coupling with the socket. Cooperable automatic locking means are provided on the probe shaft and socket housing for automatically locking the probe in the socket when the probe is inserted a predetermined distance. A second cooperable locking means on the probe shaft and housing are adapted for actuation after the probe has been inserted the predetermined distance. Actuation means mounted on the probe and responsive to the grip of the probe handle by a gripping device, such as a robot for conditioning the probe for insertion and are also responsive to release of the grip of the probe handle to actuate the second locking means to provide a "hard" lock of the probe in the socket.

Karen L Nyberg↗

RF Reference Switch for Spaceflight Radiometer Calibration

The goal of this technology is to provide improved calibration and measurement sensitivity to the Soil Moisture Active Passive Mission (SMAP) radiometer. While RF switches have been used in the past to calibrate microwave radiometers, the switch used on SMAP employs several techniques uniquely tailored to the instrument requirements and passive remote-sensing in general to improve radiometer performance. Measurement error and sensitivity are improved by employing techniques to reduce thermal gradients within the device, reduce insertion loss during antenna observations, increase insertion loss temporal stability, and increase rejection of radar and RFI (radio-frequency interference) signals during calibration. The two legs of the single-pole double-throw reference switch employ three PIN diodes per leg in a parallel-shunt configuration to minimize insertion loss and increase stability while exceeding rejection requirements at 1,413 MHz. The high-speed packaged diodes are selected to minimize junction capacitance and resistance while ensuring the parallel devices have very similar I-V curves. Switch rejection is improved by adding high-impedance quarter-wave tapers before and after the diodes, along with replacing the ground via of one diode per leg with an open circuit stub. Errors due to thermal gradients in the switch are reduced by embedding the 50-ohm reference load within the switch, along with using a 0.25-in. (approximately equal to 0.6-cm) aluminum prebacked substrate. Previous spaceflight microwave radiometers did not embed the reference load and thermocouple directly within the calibration switch. In doing so, the SMAP switch reduces error caused by thermal gradients between the load and switch. Thermal issues are further reduced by moving the custom, highspeed regulated driver circuit to a physically separate PWB (printed wiring board). Regarding RF performance, previous spaceflight reference switches have not employed high-impedance tapers to improve rejection. The use of open-circuit stubs instead of a via to provide an improved RF short is unique to this design. The stubs are easily tunable to provide high rejection at specific frequencies while maintaining very low insertion loss in-band.

Knuble, Joseph↗

Real-Time Deposition Monitor for Ultrathin Conductive Films

A device has been developed that can be used for the real-time monitoring of ultrathin (2 or more) conductive films. The device responds in less than two microseconds, and can be used to monitor film depositions up to about 60 thick. Actual thickness monitoring capability will vary based on properties of the film being deposited. This is a single-use device, which, due to the very low device cost, can be disposable. Conventional quartz/crystal microbalance devices have proven inadequate to monitor the thickness of Pd films during deposition of ultrathin films for hydrogen sensor devices. When the deposited film is less than 100 , the QCM measurements are inadequate to allow monitoring of the ultrathin films being developed. Thus, an improved, high-sensitivity, real-time deposition monitor was needed to continue Pd film deposition development. The new deposition monitor utilizes a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device in a differential delay-line configuration to produce both a reference response and a response for the portion of the device on which the film is being deposited. Both responses are monitored simultaneously during deposition. The reference response remains unchanged, while the attenuation of the sensing path (where the film is being deposited) varies as the film thickness increases. This device utilizes the fact that on high-coupling piezoelectric substrates, the attenuation of an SAW undergoes a transition from low to very high, and back to low as the conductivity of a film on the device surface goes from nonconductive to highly conductive. Thus, the sensing path response starts with a low insertion loss, and as a conductive film is deposited, the film conductivity increases, causing the device insertion loss to increase dramatically (by up to 80 dB or more), and then with continued film thickness increases (and the corresponding conductivity increases), the device insertion loss goes back down to the low level at which it started. This provides a continuous, real-time monitoring of film deposition. For use with different films, the device would need to be calibrated to provide an understanding of how film thickness is related to film conductivity, as the device is responding primarily to conductivity effects (and not to mass loading effects) in this ultrathin film regime.

Hines, Jacqueline↗

Perspectives on the generation of electron beams from plasma-based accelerators and their near and long term applications

This article first gives the authors' perspectives on how the field of plasma-based acceleration (PBA) developed and how the current experiments, theory, and simulations are motivated by long term applications of PBA to a future linear collider and an x-ray free electron laser. Here, we then focus on some early applications that will likely emerge from PBA research such as electron beam radiotherapy, directional but incoherent x-ray beams for science and technology, near single cycle continuously tunable infrared pulses for spectroscopy, and non-perturbative quantum electrodynamics enabled by PBA electron beams. In our opinion, these near term applications could be developed within the next decade with a concerted effort by the community.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Principles and applications of x-ray light sources driven by laser wakefield acceleration

One of the most prominent applications of modern particle accelerators is the generation of radiation. In a synchrotron or an x-ray free electron laser (XFEL), high energy electrons oscillating in periodic magnetic structures emit bright x rays. In spite of their scientific appeal that will remain evident for many decades, one limitation of synchrotrons and XFELs is their typical mile-long size and their cost, which often limits access to the broader scientific community. Here, this tutorial reviews the principles and prospects of using plasmas produced by intense lasers as particle accelerators and x-ray light sources, as well as some of the applications they enable. A plasma is an ionized medium that can sustain electrical fields many orders of magnitude higher than that in conventional radio frequency accelerator structures and can be used to accelerate electrons. When short, intense laser pulses are focused into a gas, it produces electron plasma waves in which electrons can be trapped and accelerated to GeV energies. This process, laser-wakefield acceleration (LWFA), is analogous to a surfer being propelled by an ocean wave. Many radiation sources, from THz to gamma-rays, can be produced by these relativistic electrons. This tutorial reviews several LWFA-driven sources in the keV-MeV photon energy range: betatron radiation, inverse Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung radiation, and undulator/XFEL radiation. X rays from laser plasma accelerators have many emerging applications. They can be used in innovative and flexible x-ray imaging and x-ray absorption spectroscopy configurations, for use in biology, industry, and high-energy density science.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Implementation of compound refractive lenses for large field-of-view x-ray phase-contrast imaging during hypervelocity impact experiments

Synchrotron x-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCI) offers time-resolved visualization of dynamic compression phenomena, but its intrinsically small field-of-view (FOV) limits the time that key features remain in frame. A novel approach to enlarge the FOV is achieved by positioning a two-dimensional parabolic compound refractive lens (CRL) upstream of the sample to deliberately defocus the white beam. Ray-tracing simulations and XPCI measurements show that this CRL configuration can expand the beam by ∼50% vertically and ∼15% horizontally based on the full width at half-maximum of the beam. Implementing the CRL, however, attenuates the photon flux and lowers signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Task-based analysis using a calibration grid (30 μm dots) showed that both setups fail to consistently meet the Rose criterion (SNR ≥ 5) for features of this size in single-bunch imaging. Extrapolating the measured SNR Rose values suggests that the minimum consistently detectable feature lies closer to 30–40 μm for the standard XPCI setup and above 40 μm for CRL-XPCI. Despite this limitation, the CRL configuration nearly doubles the illuminated area, enabling simultaneous tracking of front and rear observations of boron carbide targets subjected to rod and sphere impacts at 1.0–2.6 km/s. Image tracking algorithms and photonic Doppler velocimetry were used to measure penetration and rear-surface velocity histories. Together, these measurements capture crack fronts, penetration, and material breakout, offering new benchmark data for validating high-strain-rate constitutive models of ceramic materials.

Ceramic materials↗