Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “linear array”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3

Conformal array design on arbitrary polygon surface with transformation optics

A transformation-optics based method to design a conformal antenna array on an arbitrary polygon surface is proposed and demonstrated in this paper. This conformal antenna array can be adjusted to behave equivalently as a uniformly spaced linear array by applying an appropriate transformation medium. An typical example of general arbitrary polygon conformal arrays, not limited to circular array, is presented, verifying the proposed approach. In summary, the novel arbitrary polygon surface conformal array can be utilized in array synthesis and beam-forming, maintaining all benefits of linear array.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Langmuir probe diagnostic suite in the C-2 field-reversed configuration

Several in situ probes have been designed and implemented into the diagnostic array of the C-2 field-reversed configuration (FRC) at Tri Alpha Energy [M. Tuszewski et al. (the TAE Team), Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 255008 (2012)]. The probes are all variations on the traditional Langmuir probe. They include linear arrays of triple probes, linear arrays of single-tipped swept probes, a multi-faced Gundestrup probe, and an ion-sensitive probe. The probes vary from 5 to 7 mm diameter in size to minimize plasma perturbations. They also have boron nitride outer casings that prevent unwanted electrical breakdown and reduce the introduction of impurities. The probes are mounted on motorized linear-actuators allowing for programmatic scans of the various plasma parameters over the course of several shots. Each probe has a custom set of electronics that allows for measurement of the desired signals. High frequency ( > 5MHz) analog optical-isolators ensure that plasma parameters can be measured at sub-microsecond time scales while providing electrical isolation between machine and data acquisition systems. With these probes time-resolved plasma parameters (temperature, density, spatial potential, flow, and electric field) can be directly/locally measured in the FRC jet and edge/scrape-off layer.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Collaborative Research: Properties and Dynamics of the Shallow Crust (Final Report)

Ground motions recorded at one location are often extrapolated to nearby regions within a given radius. Here, we explore the appropriateness of spatial extrapolation using data from seven small aperture seismic network deployments in southern California. Six of these deployments are linear arrays of 4-13 stations, and one is a 2D array of 13 stations at Pinyon Flats Observatory. The spatial footprint array diameters are 3 km or less, and each array was operational for a year or more. From our base catalog (M2.5+ earthquakes; 4038 events; September 2010 - June 2023), automated methods remove temporally overprinted waveforms from nearby events (< 5 km) in quick succession (< 5 min) and data with nonviable waveforms. These 200 samples per second data are filtered at 0.5-25 Hz and must have signal-tonoise ratios (SNRs) of 2.5+. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) are derived individually from the maximum absolute values of each of the 3-component waveforms (vertical, northsouth, and east-west). Five of the seven arrays traverse the San Jacinto fault, and two do not. Ground motion observations are compared with theoretical estimates from Abrahamson et al., 2014. On average, arrays deployed within and across fault zones consistently record ground motions above theoretical expectations, whereas off-fault arrays record ground motions at or slightly below theoretical expectations. We attribute these differences to site conditions because these trends prevail for the full data suites. For each network and each individual channel, the coefficient of variation indicates that the standard deviations are ~30±6% of the mean. Exploring relative ground motion contributions from all three channels (ternary plots), as expected, most data show that vertical ground motions are attenuated compared to horizontal ones. However, this is not always the case for RA array data, where vertical motions can be ~2-3 times larger than horizontal motions for select events near Cahuilla, CA. These anomalously high vertical motions are focal mechanism-related. These results suggest that ternary plots created using only a small amount of data can be used as a data quality metric and a tool to find anomalous features in three-component data.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

SU-E-T-415: An Ionization Chamber Array with High Spatial Resolution for External Beam Radiotherapy

Purpose: To characterize an ionization chamber array technology with high spatial resolution and high charge collection efficiency for external beam radiotherapy. Methods: The prototype under test is a linear array of air vented ionization chambers developed by IBA Dosimetry, consisting of 80 pixels with 3.5mm spatial resolution and 4mm{sup 3} sensitive volume. The detector was characterized in a plastic phantom with {sup 60} Co radiation and MV X-rays from an ELEKTA Agility LINAC (with flattened and unflattened beam qualities). Bias voltage was varied in order to evaluate charge collection efficiency. A commercial array of ionization chambers (MatriXX Evolution, IBA Dosimetry) and an amorphous silicon flat panel in direct conversion configuration were used as references. Results: Repeatability (0.4%) and stability under continuous gamma irradiation (0.3%) are very good, in spite of low active volume and sensitivity (∼200pC/Gy). Charge collection efficiency is higher than 99% already at 150V with ∼2mGy dose per pulse, leading to a ±1.1% sensitivity change with dose per pulse in the range 0.09-2mGy (covering all flattened and unflattened applications). Measured dose profiles are in agreement with MatriXX for fields larger than 2×2cm{sup 2}, in which case the linear array offers a much better characterization of the penumbra region. Down to 1×1cm{sup 2}, measured profiles are in very good agreement with the flat panel. Conclusion: The array represents a valuable tool for the characterization of treatment fields in which high spatial resolution is required, together with the dosimetric performance of air vented ionization chambers. Such a technology would be particularly valuable in association with advanced treatment modalities such as rotational radiotherapy, stereotactic treatments (even with unflattened beam qualities) and proton therapy, due to the insensitivity of the chambers on dose per pulse. In the future, a two dimensional prototype based on this technology will be developed and tested. This research project has been supported by a Marie Curie Early Initial Training Network Fellowship of the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme under contract number (PITN-GA-2011-289198-.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗

Seismic Wave Coherence as a Function of Propagation Azimuth at the Large-N Array, Source Physics Experiment

The Large-N array of the Source Physics Experiment (SPE) consisted, in part, of 496 vertical component geophones that recorded the seismic wave field produced by the SPE-5 buried chemical explosion. Preliminary observations of the data showed a large degree of azimuthally dependent seismic scattering, particularly for post-P wave arrivals, hindering surface wave analysis. We document and quantify the azimuthal dependence of the wave field scattering in order to guide future coherent wave field processing methods. Specifically, we form three linear arrays, with different nominal source-receiver azimuths, by extracting a subset of the Large-N stations. For each linear array, we evaluate wave field coherence as a function of frequency and inter-station distance. For P waves, we observe that there is a strong azimuthal dependence of wave coherence, with the highest degree of scattering occurring in a northwest/southeast propagation direction. This suggests that there are structural elements beneath the Large-N array that affect the direct source to receiver body wave ray path. We also observe that the scattering of the post-P energy displays a coherence that is dependent on both frequency and azimuthal direction. This energy is preferentially coherent in the southwest-to-northeast propagation direction, consistent with the strike of the steeply dipping fault (Boundary fault) adjacent to the northeast side of the Large-N array, but only at low frequencies (<10 Hz). At higher frequencies, the azimuthally dependent wave coherence diminishes, suggesting that the scattering of high frequency portion of the post-P wave field is independent of the large-scale geologic structure at this site.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Spatially-periodic microplasmas in complex microchannel networks: wall-plasma interactions and dynamic behavior

Wall-plasma interactions have been observed for spatially-periodic microplasmas generated in 300–700 µm wide channels fabricated in nanoporous alumina. Examination of Ne microplasma discs produced in a standing-wave pattern in Al 2 O 3 channels illustrates the competition between electron production at the sheath-wall interface and loss by recombination in an atmospheric pressure background. Two topologies of the microplasma arrays are observed. For channel widths (d) less than 450 µm, the microplasmas are generally centered in the channel and sustained by electron generation at both plasma sheath/channel wall interfaces, presumably including the release of charge residing in the hexagonal alumina pores. As d is progressively increased from 300 to 450 µm, the microchannel plasma cross-section is gradually transformed from circular to elliptical, and its surface area declines by as much as 50% so as to minimize e - losses to the background gas. Increasing d above ~450 µm abruptly switches the topology to one in which plasmas having a triangular cross-section attach to one of the channel walls in a pattern that alternates along the channel axis. Microfabricating trapezoidal cross-section channels into complex geometries, including the Cornu spiral and intersecting linear arrays, also reveals dynamic behavior in the propagation of microplasmas. For a common spiral structure, observations of plasma expansion show the wavefront propagates over the corrugated surface or within the channel with radial and azimuthal velocities of 3 ± 1 km s -1 and 8 ± 1.5 km s -1 , respectively. Plasma formation is initiated in each ring of the spiral through electron seeding by streamers propagating radially outward at velocities approaching 200 km s -1 . In addition to electrostatic charge-mediated variations in the mean separation between adjacent microplasmas, the time-dependent interference between two 1D microplasma arrays has been observed during plasma expansion. Reproducible ignition of a microplasma ensemble along ridges micromachined into channels near the intersections of two linear arrays has also been realized. The results reported here demonstrate that microchannels with the walls overcoated with any of a variety of materials provide a promising platform for examining in detail the interaction of low temperature plasma with a surface of arbitrary composition and topography.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Temporal changes of seismic velocities in the San Jacinto Fault zone associated with the 2016 M w 5.2 Borrego Springs earthquake

We study temporal changes of seismic velocities associated with the 10 June 2016 Mw 5.2 Borrego Springs earthquake in the San Jacinto fault zone, using nine component Green's function estimates reconstructed from daily cross correlations of ambient noise. The analysed data are recorded by stations in two dense linear arrays, at Dry Wash (DW) and Jackass Flat (JF), crossing the fault surface trace ~3 km northwest and southeast of the event epicentre. The two arrays have 9 and 12 stations each with instrument spacing of 25–100 m. Relative velocity changes (δv/v) are estimated from arrival time changes in the daily correlation coda waveforms compared to a reference stack. The obtained array-average δv/v time-series exhibit changes associated with the Borrego Springs event, superposed with seasonal variations. The earthquake-related changes are characterized by a rapid coseismic velocity drop followed by a gradual recovery. This is consistently observed at both arrays using time- and frequency-domain δv/v analyses with data from different components in various frequency bands. Larger changes at lower frequencies imply that the variations are not limited to the near surface material. A decreasing coseismic velocity reduction with coda wave lapse time indicates larger coseismic structural perturbations in the fault zone and near-fault environment compared to the surrounding rock. Observed larger changes at the DW array compared to the JF array possibly reflect the northwestward rupture directivity of the Borrego Springs earthquake.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗

Rotational Millimeter-Wave Shoe Scanner Using the Discrete Fourier Transform for Backprojection-Based Image Reconstruction

An active 3D microwave / millimeter-wave shoe scanner was previously developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) using two linear arrays scanned over a rectilinear aperture. The radar system chirps a frequency sweep from 10-40 GHz. These frequencies allow imaging through optically opaque material such as leather, rubber, plastics, and other dielectrics. The system was designed to detect concealed items in the soles of shoes while allowing people to leave their shoes on through a security checkpoint. To shrink the footprint of the system, a new iteration of the design has been developed that scans the two linear arrays over a circular aperture. This new footprint opens the possibility of it being installed in the floor of a cylindrical millimeter-wave body scanner. The backprojection-based multilayer dielectric image reconstruction developed at PNNL can easily handle arbitrary spatial sampling, accommodating the new rotational shoe scanner design. Commonly, the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is used to efficiently compute the range response from the data collected by the system as a preprocessing step to the backprojection algorithm. It was found that converting to range using the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) directly has some advantages over the FFT. For example, nonlinear and non-uniform frequency sweeps can easily be compensated for during the computation of the DFT and only the range bins of interest need to be computed and their spacing can be chosen arbitrarily. Because the range conversion step of the image reconstruction is the fastest part of the process there is very little speed penalty for using the DFT over the FFT and it can even increase the speed of image reconstruction when the ranges of interest are fewer than the total span that is calculated in the FFT.

Millimeter-wave imaging, microwave imaging, shoe s↗

High energy X-ray pinhole imaging at the Z facility

A new high photon energy (hν > 15 keV) time-integrated pinhole camera (TIPC) has been developed as a diagnostic instrument at the Z facility. This camera employs five pinholes in a linear array for recording five images at once onto an image plate detector. Each pinhole may be independently filtered to yield five different spectral responses. The pinhole array is fabricated from a 1-cm thick tungsten block and is available with either straight pinholes or conical pinholes. Each pinhole within the array block is 250 μm in diameter. The five pinholes are splayed with respect to each other such that they point to the same location in space, and hence present the same view of the radiation source at the Z facility. The fielding distance from the radiation source is 66 cm and the nominal image magnification is 0.374. Initial experimental results from TIPC are shown to illustrate the performance of the camera.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Internal Structure of the Central Garlock Fault Zone From Ridgecrest Aftershocks Recorded by Dense Linear Seismic Arrays

Abstract We provide high‐resolution seismic imaging of the central Garlock fault using data recorded by two dense seismic arrays that cross the Ridgecrest rupture zone (B4) and the Garlock fault (A5). Analyses of fault zone head waves and P ‐wave delay times at array A5 show that the Garlock fault is a sharp bimaterial interface with P waves traveling ∼5% faster in the northern crustal block. The across‐fault velocity contrast agrees with regional tomography models and generates clear P ‐wave reflections in waveforms recorded by array B4. Kirchhoff migration of the reflected waves indicates a near‐vertical fault between 2 and 6 km depth. The P ‐wave delay times imply a ∼300‐m‐wide transition zone near the Garlock fault surface trace beneath array A5, offset to the side with faster velocities. The results provide important constraints for derivations of earthquake properties, simulations of ruptures and ground motion, and future imaging studies associated with the Garlock fault.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Miniaturized Magnetoelastic Sensor System

This article describes the design, assembly, and implementation of a hand-held, magnetic-field-based sensor system that can be adapted for a variety of sensing applications. The miniaturized system is based on Chemical Identification by Magneto-Elastic Sensing (ChIMES) technology, which uses three concentric solenoid coils to wirelessly interrogate a sensor body comprised of a response material coupled to a magnetoelastic wire. The response material expands when it encounters a target, imposing mechanical stress on the wire and altering its magnetic permeability. The sensor bodies are passive, requiring no external power source, and they are small, measuring about 15 mm in length and 3.0 mm in diameter. Up to four sensor bodies can be configured as an evenly-spaced linear array. The sensor system operates by applying a low-frequency, current-stabilized, filtered triangle wave to a uniform-density excitation coil to switch the magnetic domains within the wire. Further, the responses from the sensors are picked up by a detection coil as stress-induced changes in the Faraday voltage, and the strong magnetic field induced by the excitation coil in the detection coil is nullified by a cancellation coil reverse-wound in series with the detection coil. The responses of the sensors in an array are separated in time by a linear gradient dc biasing coil. The sensors can be interrogated through metallic and nonmetallic barriers. The signals from the detection coil and the excitation coil are digitized by a pair of bipolar analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). A Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC) and associated software perform data acquisition and control all aspects of the sensor system hardware. The program allows the user to select the number of sensors in the array, the type of signal that is being collected, and the number of samples to take. The program also allows for signal processing of the sensor data, such as baseline correction. The program can differentiate sensor peaks from each other and calculate the magnitude of each sensor response with less than 1% error. The data are then displayed along with a graph of the signal.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

X-ray imaging and chemical analysis of plant roots

A linear x-ray tube having one or more x-ray sources is configured for insertion into the soil in proximity to a root system of a plant for emission of an x-ray beam detected by a linear array of one or more x-ray detectors. The linear x-ray tube and detector array may be inserted into rhizotrons previously inserted into the soil. Various combinations of multiple x-ray tubes and/or detector arrays may be utilized to customize the x-ray imaging of the root system.

Kumar, Nalin↗

Evaluation of Potential DAS Array Geometries for the Source Physics Experiment, Phase III

Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) is a rapidly developing technology that can record acoustic wavefields at high sampling rates and with dense spatial spacing difficult to achieve with seismometers. However, the geophysical community has not fully explored DAS survey parameters to characterize the ideal array design. A better quantitative understanding of DAS array behavior prior to SPE Phase III acquisition can help improve the quality of the data recorded by guiding the DAS array design. Here we use array response functions as well as beamforming and backprojection results from forward modelling calculations to assess the performance of varying DAS array geometries to record regional and local sources. A seven-sided polygon DAS array demonstrated improved capabilities for recording regional sources over segmented linear arrays, with potential improvements in recording and locating local sources. These results help reveal DAS array performance as a function of geometry.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Visualization of clustered protocadherin neuronal self-recognition complexes

Neurite self-recognition and avoidance are fundamental properties of all nervous systems. These processes facilitate dendritic arborization, prevent formation of autapses and allow free interaction among non-self neurons. Avoidance among self neurites is mediated by stochastic cell-surface expression of combinations of about 60 isoforms of α-, β- and γ-clustered protocadherin that provide mammalian neurons with single-cell identities. Avoidance is observed between neurons that express identical protocadherin repertoires, and single-isoform differences are sufficient to prevent self-recognition. Protocadherins form isoform-promiscuous cis dimers and isoform-specific homophilic trans dimers. Although these interactions have previously been characterized in isolation, structures of full-length protocadherin ectodomains have not been determined, and how these two interfaces engage in self-recognition between neuronal surfaces remains unknown. Here we determine the molecular arrangement of full-length clustered protocadherin ectodomains in single-isoform self-recognition complexes, using X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron tomography. We determine the crystal structure of the clustered protocadherin γB4 ectodomain, which reveals a zipper-like lattice that is formed by alternating cis and trans interactions. Using cryo-electron tomography, we show that clustered protocadherin γB6 ectodomains tethered to liposomes spontaneously assemble into linear arrays at membrane contact sites, in a configuration that is consistent with the assembly observed in the crystal structure. These linear assemblies pack against each other as parallel arrays to form larger two-dimensional structures between membranes. Furthermore, our results suggest that the formation of ordered linear assemblies by clustered protocadherins represents the initial self-recognition step in neuronal avoidance, and thus provide support for the isoform-mismatch chain-termination model of protocadherin-mediated self-recognition, which depends on these linear chains.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Phase-Only Beam Broadening of Contiguous Uniform Subarrayed Arrays

In modern antenna systems, beam broadening of subarrayed arrays provides continuous coverage of a wide angular extent in a cost-effective manner. While many methods have been published that address beam broadening of traditional (non-subarrayed) arrays, there is a knowledge gap in the published literature with respect to efficient beam broadening of contiguous uniform subarrayed arrays. This article presents efficient methods for beam broadening of contiguous uniform subarrayed arrays where the excitation of each element is not individually controlled, but the elements of the array are grouped together as subarrays to have the same element excitations. Particularly, this article focuses on phase-only optimization to preserve maximum power output. Additionally, three modilied iterative Fourier transform (IFT) methods and one genetic algorithm (GA) are presented to efliciently search the vast solution space of possible phase settings for a solution that satislies the desired broadened pattern. These methods are evaluated on idealized 1 x 40 and 1 x 80 linear arrays with live element subarrays and 40 x 40 and 80 x 80 element rectangular arrays with 5 x 5 element subarrays. The proposed modilied IFT methods are found to be faster than the GA approach, while the GA approach only offers a few percentage points of better effectiveness.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Multi-particle trapping and manipulation by a high-frequency array transducer

We report the multiple micro-particle trapping and manipulation by a single-beam acoustic tweezer using a high-frequency array transducer. A single acoustic beam generated by a 30 MHz ultrasonic linear array transducer can entrap and transport multiple micro-particles located at the main lobe and the grating lobes. The distance between trapped particles can be adjusted by changing the transmit arrangement of array-based acoustic tweezers and subsequently the location of grating lobes. The experiment results showed that the proposed method can trap and manipulate multiple particles within a range of hundreds of micrometers. Due to its simplicity and low acoustic power, which is critical to protect cells from any thermal and mechanical damages, the technique may be used for transportation of cells in cell biology, biosensors, and tissue engineering.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Diffraction-Based Optical Switching with MEMS

In this article, we are presenting an overview of MEMS-based (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) optical switch technology starting from the reflective two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) MEMS implementations. To further increase the speed of the MEMS from these devices, the mirror size needs to be reduced. Small mirror size prevents efficient reflection but favors a diffraction-based approach. Two implementations have been demonstrated, one using the Texas Instruments DLP (Digital Light Processing), and the other an LCoS-based (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) SLM (Spatial Light Modulator). These switches demonstrated the benefit of diffraction, by independently achieving high speed, efficiency, and high number of ports. We also demonstrated for the first time that PSK (Phase Shift Keying) modulation format can be used with diffraction-based devices. To be truly effective in diffraction mode, the MEMS pixels should modulate the phase of the incident light. We are presenting our past and current efforts to manufacture a new type of MEMS where the pixels are moving in the vertical direction. The original structure is a 32 x 32 phase modulator array with high contrast grating pixels, and we are introducing a new sub-wavelength linear array capable of a 310 kHz modulation rate

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗