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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

Aeroacoustic Computations of a Generic Low Boom Concept in Landing Configuration: Part 3 - Aerodynamic Validation and Noise Source Identification

Wind tunnel test data were used to validate the predicted aerodynamic behavior of a 15%-scale version of a generic, low-boom aircraft. The test was conducted in the NASA Langley 14- by 22-Foot Subsonic Tunnel to determine the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of the model. Measured steady surface pressures and global forces were used to validate predicted aerodynamic results obtained from high-fidelity simulations of the model as installed in the tunnel. Very good agreement between predicted and measured aerodynamic trends was demonstrated, providing the impetus to proceed with companion airframe noise simulations that were conducted in a free-air setting. Computed near-field flow variables acquired on a permeable data surface were used to generate synthetic pressure records for two 800-element phased microphone arrays positioned overhead and to the side of the model. The array data were beamformed to generate noise source localization maps for the clean model and several landing configurations. Primary and secondary airframe sources were identified and their relative strengths were determined. Far-field integrated noise spectra for the full aircraft, as well as individual components, were obtained from the source maps via integration of tailored regions. The analysis showed that noise produced by the landing gear was the dominant contributor to the far-field acoustic signature of the model, followed by flap noise. The effects of permeable data surface end caps, spatial resolution, array orientation, angle of attack, component interaction, velocity scaling, and numerical precision on synthetic far-field spectra were also evaluated.

low boom↗

Laser Scanning System for Pressure and Temperature Paints

Acquiring pressure maps of aerodynamic surfaces is very important for improving and validating the performance of aerospace vehicles. Traditional pressure measurements are taken with pressure taps embedded in the model surface that are connected to transducers. While pressure taps allow highly accurate measurements to be acquired, they do have several drawbacks. Pressure taps do not give good spatial resolution due to the need for individual pressure tubes, compounded by limited space available inside models. Also, building a model proves very costly if taps are needed because of the large amount of labor necessary to drill, connect and test each one. The typical cost to install one tap is about $200. Recently, a new method for measuring pressure on aerodynamic surfaces has been developed utilizing a technology known as pressure sensitive paints (PSP). Using PSP, pressure distributions can be acquired optically with high spatial resolution and simple model preparation. Flow structures can be easily visualized using PSP, but are missed using low spatial resolution arrays of pressure taps. PSP even allows pressure distributions to be found on rotating machinery where previously this has been extremely difficult or even impossible. The goal of this research is to develop a laser scanning system for use with pressure sensitive paints that allows accurate pressure measurements to be obtained on various aerodynamic surfaces ranging from wind tunnel models to high speed jet engine compressor blades.

Sullivan, John↗

Laser Scanning System for Pressure and Temperature Paints

Acquiring pressure maps of aerodynamic surfaces is very important for improving and validating the performance of aerospace vehicles. Traditional pressure measurements are taken with pressure taps embedded in the model surface that are connected to transducers. While pressure taps allow highly accurate measurements to be acquired, they do have several drawbacks. Pressure taps do not give good spatial resolution due to the need for individual pressure tubes, compounded by limited space available inside models. Also, building a model proves very costly if taps are needed because of the large amount of labor necessary to drill, connect and test each one. The typical cost to install one tap is about $200. Recently, a new method for measuring pressure on aerodynamic surfaces has been developed utilizing a technology known as pressure sensitive paints (PSP). Using PSP, pressure distributions can be acquired optically with high spatial resolution and simple model preparation. Flow structures can be easily visualized using PSP, but are missed using low spatial resolution arrays of pressure taps. PSP even allows pressure distributions to be found on rotating machinery where previously this has been extremely difficult or even impossible. The goal of this research is to develop a laser scanning system for use with pressure sensitive paints that allows accurate pressure measurements to be obtained on various aerodynamic surfaces ranging from wind tunnel models to high speed jet engine compressor blades.

Sullivan, John↗

Slotted quantum well sensor

Quantum-well sensors having an array of spatially separated quantum-well columns formed on a substrate. A grating can be formed increase the coupling efficiency.

Gunapala, Sarath D.↗

[The Extrasolar Planetary Imaging Coronagraph]

The Extrasolar Planetary Imaging Coronagraph (EPIC) is a proposed NASA Exoplanet Probe mission to image and characterize extr asolar giant planets in orbits with semi-major axes between 2 and 10 AU. EPIC will provide insights into the physical nature of a variety of planets in other solar systems complimenting radial velocity (RV) and astrometric planet searches. It will detect and characterize the atmospheres of planets identified by radial velocity surveys, deter mine orbital inclinations and masses, characterize the atmospheres around A and F type stars which cannot be found with RV techniques, and observe the inner spatial structure and colors of debris disks. EPIC has a heliocentric Earth trailing drift-away orbit, with a 5 year mission lifetime (5 year goal). The robust mission design is simple and flexible ensuring mission success while minimizing cost and risk. The science payload consists of a heritage optical telescope assembly (OTA), and visible nulling coronagraph (VNC) instrument. The instrument achieves a contrast ratio of 10(exp 9) over a 4.84 arcsecond field-of-view with an unprecedented inner working angle of 0.14 arcseconds over the spectral range of 440-880 nm. The telescope is a 1.65 meter off-axis Cassegrain with an OTA wavefront error of /9, which when coupled to the VNC greatly reduces the requirements on the large scale optics, compressing them to stability requirements within the relatively compact VNC optical chain. The VNC features two integrated modular nullers, a spatial filter array (SFA) and an E2V-L3 photon counting CCD. Direct null control is accomplished from the science focal plane mitigating against complex wavefront and amplitude sensing and control strategies.

Clampin, Mark↗

Coherent 1-micron lidar measurements of atmospheric-turbulence-induced spatial decorrelation using a multielement heterodyne detector array

A coherent 1-micron Nd:YAG lidar system is employed to measure directly the reduced spatial coherence length rho 0 of the lidar returns caused by atmospheric turbulence. The experiments were conducted by using a 2 x 2 heterodyne detector array, which permitted real-time spatial correlation measurements of the lidar returns at two different detector spacings. The spatial correlation coefficients and spatial coherence length of the lidar returns from a hard target were measured during a day-to-night time period when the atmospheric turbulence parameter, Cn-squared, was measured to vary from 2 x 10 exp -13 to 2 x 10 exp -4 m exp -2/3. These directly measured values of rho 0 as a function of Cn-squared were found to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Chan, Kin P.↗

Laser power beams obtained by the dynamic selection of emitting elements in an array

A method for partially correcting the spatial coherence of an array of laser beams is discussed. The method trades far-field intensity for simplistic implementation and array lifetime extension, resulting in a quasi-coherent array with features of adaptive optics. An algorithm for implementing the method is described and feasible options for improvement are presented. A computer experiment used the algorithm and fast Fourier transforms to calculate typical far-field intensity distributions of such arrays. The far-field distributions illustrate beam power concentration, beam steering, and (indirectly) extended lifetime of the array.

Williams, M. D.↗

Single beam synthesis from thinned arrays

Radio astronomers have investigated spatial frequencies and their relationship to apertures with the objective to improve the resolution in radio observations. Welch (1965) has related Fourier transform theory developed for linear communications to aperture design problems, while Fakley (1959) has conducted a comparison between the performances of a time-averaged product array and an intraclass correlator. The present investigation is concerned with an approach which resembles very closely the intraclass correlator system considered by Fakley. A description is presented of a process whereby a thinned array of elements samples selected spatial frequencies from a uniform signal wave front incident on the array. The spatial frequencies are used to generate a set of synthetic spatial frequencies which behave as though they had been sampled by a fully filled array. Beam formation is obtained by summing the set of synthetic spatial frequencies.

Kaiser, J. A., Jr.↗

Spatially coherent beam formation and mode locking of an array of solid-state lasers

A study is reported on the spatially coherent beam formation from an array of four Nd-glass lasers and on mode locking of their longitudinal modes. The results indicate a nearly 16 times increase in radiance. For mode locking, only a single modulator is required. A spatial filter in the optical cavity performs the spatially coherent beam formation and the precision synchronization of the mode-locked pulses at the output mirror of the optical cavity.

Philipp-Rutz, E. M.↗

A study of a space-station-associated multiple spacecraft Michelson spatial interferometer

One approach to Michelson spatial interferometry at optical wavelengths involves use of an array of spacecraft in which two widely-separated telescopes collect light from a star and direct it to a third, centrally-located, device which combines the beams in order to detect and measure interference fringes. The original version of a spacecraft array for Michelson spatial interferometry (SAMSI) was modified so that the system uses the fuel resupply capability of a space station. The combination of this fuel resupply capability with a method of obtaining image Fourier transform phase information, necessary for full image reconstruction, permits SAMSI to be used to synthesize images equivalent to those produced by huge apertures in space. Synthesis of apertures in the 100 to 500 meter range is discussed. Reconstruction can be performed to a visual magnitude of at least 8 for a 100 A passband in 9 hours. Data are simultaneously collected for image generation from 0.1 micron to 18 microns. In the one-dimensional mode, measurements can be made every 90 minutes (including acquisition and repointing time) for objects as faint as 19th magnitude in the visible.

Stachnik, R. V.↗

Nanopore-Templated Silver Nanoparticle Arrays Photopolymerized in Zero-Mode Wavelengths

In situ fabrication of nanostructures within a solid-polymer electrolyte confined to subwavelength-diameter nanoapertures is a promising approach for producing nanomaterials for nanophotonic and chemical sensing applications. The solid-polymerelectrolyte can be patterned by lithographic photopolymerization of poly(ethyleneglycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)-based silver cation (Ag+)-containing polyelectrolyte. Here, we present a new method for fabricating nanopore-templated Ag nanoparticle (AgNP)arrays by in situ photopolymerization using a zero-mode waveguide (ZMW) array to simultaneously template embedded AgNPs and control the spatial distribution of the optical field used for photopolymerization. The approach starts with an array of nanopores fabricated by sequential layer-by-layer deposition and focused ion beam milling. These structures have an optically transparent bottom, allowing access of the optical radiation to the attoliter-volume ZMW region to photopolymerize a PEGDA monomer solution containing AgNPs and Ag+. The electric field intensity distribution is calculated for various ZMW optical cladding layer thicknesses using finite-element simulations, closely following the light-blocking efficiency of the optical cladding layer. The fidelity of the polyelectrolyte nanopillar pattern was optimized with respect to experimental conditions, including the presence or absence of Ag+ and AgNPs and the concentrations of PEGDA and Ag+. The self-templated approach for photo patterning high-resolution photolabile polyelectrolyte nanostructures directly within a ZMW array could lead to a new class of metamaterials formed by embedding metal nanoparticles within a dielectric in a well-defined spatial array.

Zero-mode waveguide↗