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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

Superposition of Cohesive Elements to Account for R-Curve Toughening in the Fracture of Composites

The relationships between a resistance curve (R-curve), the corresponding fracture process zone length, the shape of the traction/displacement softening law, and the propagation of fracture are examined in the context of the through-the-thickness fracture of composite laminates. A procedure that accounts for R-curve toughening mechanisms by superposing bilinear cohesive elements is proposed. Simple equations are developed for determining the separation of the critical energy release rates and the strengths that define the independent contributions of each bilinear softening law in the superposition. It is shown that the R-curve measured with a Compact Tension specimen test can be reproduced by superposing two bilinear softening laws. It is also shown that an accurate representation of the R-curve is essential for predicting the initiation and propagation of fracture in composite laminates.

Davila, Carlos G.↗

Probing coherent electronic superpositions of singly and doubly excited states of krypton with extreme-ultraviolet four-wave-mixing spectroscopy

Radiative nonlinear four-wave mixing can monitor the evolution of electronic wave packets, providing access to lifetimes and quantifying the light-induced couplings between excited states. In this article, we report the observation of quantum beats in an autoionizing electronic wave packet in krypton, probed using this technique. Analysis of the signal reveals that these beats originate from the contribution of previously unassigned, doubly excited states interacting with singly excited ones. We introduce a minimal theoretical model, based on multichannel quantum-defect theory, which quantitatively reproduces both the wave-packet dynamics and the static spectrum. This work combines a versatile, noncommensurate XUV-IR-based experimental scheme with a tractable model, establishing a powerful approach for the metrology and control of complex, correlated electronic states.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Introducing Quantum Entanglement and Superposition to Secondary School Students Using Portable, Hands-on Exhibits

Historically, the teaching of quantum mechanics has been reserved for advanced undergraduate physics courses, mostly due to how far removed from classical intuition the subject is. Extensive mathematical background is usually a prerequisite for college-level introductory quantum mechanics courses. However, several ways to introduce quantum mechanics at the secondary school level have been suggested and developed. Unlike most other topics in physics, it is difficult to find intuitive examples of quantum phenomena outside of a specialized laboratory; additionally, straightforward hands-on demonstrations, activities, and experiments are somewhat limited.

Educational aids↗

The superposition approach to film-cooling

Conventional film-cooling theory uses the adiabatic wall temperature as the reference temperature instead of free-stream temperature in evaluating the wall heat flux. In this study the basic character of film cooling is explained in terms of nondimensional injection temperature. An alternative to the conventional scheme is proposed, and the two schemes are compared.

Choe, H.↗

Image processing of HCMM-satellite thermal images for superposition with other satellite imagery and topographic and thematic maps

The southwestern part of Central Europe between Basal and Frankfurt was used in a study to determine the accuracy with which a regionally bounded HCMM scene could be rectified with respect to a preassigned coordinate system. The scale to which excerpts from HCMM data can be sensibly enlarged and the question of how large natural structures must be in order to be identified in a satellite thermal image with the given resolution were also examined. Relief and forest and population distribution maps and a land use map derived from LANDSAT data were digitalized and adapted to a common reference system and then combined in a single multichannel data system. The control points for geometrical rectification were determined using the coordinates of the reference system. The multichannel scene was evaluated in several different manners such as the correlation of surface temperature and relief, surface temperature and land use, or surface temperature and built up areas.

Gossmann, H.↗

The use of the principle of superposition in measuring and predicting the thermal characteristics of an electronic equipment operated in a space environment

The advantages and possible pitfalls of using a generalized method of measuring and, based on these measurements, predicting the transient or steady-state thermal response characteristics of an electronic equipment designed to operate in a space environment are reviewed. The method requires generation of a set of thermal influence coefficients by test measurement in vacuo. A implified thermal mockup isused in this test. Once this data set is measured, temperatures resulting from arbitrary steady-state or time varying power profiles can be economically calculated with the aid of a digital computer.

Gale, E. H.↗

Modified superposition: A simple time series approach to closed-loop manual controller identification

Single-channel pilot manual control output in closed-tracking tasks is modeled in terms of linear discrete transfer functions which are parsimonious and guaranteed stable. The transfer functions are found by applying a modified super-position time series generation technique. A Levinson-Durbin algorithm is used to determine the filter which prewhitens the input and a projective (least squares) fit of pulse response estimates is used to guarantee identified model stability. Results from two case studies are compared to previous findings, where the source of data are relatively short data records, approximately 25 seconds long. Time delay effects and pilot seasonalities are discussed and analyzed. It is concluded that single-channel time series controller modeling is feasible on short records, and that it is important for the analyst to determine a criterion for best time domain fit which allows association of model parameter values, such as pure time delay, with actual physical and physiological constraints. The purpose of the modeling is thus paramount.

Biezad, D. J.↗

Exposure compensation for sequential superposition holographic display

A fast and computationally simple computer-aided holographic technique for producing low-information-content 3-D displays by sequential superimposition of point-object Fresnel holograms is described. An exposure control algorithm is used to ensure uniformity of exposure across the sequentially superimposed holograms. The result is a significant increase in the number of recordable object points. The algorithm has been used to produce displays containing up to 2800 individual point exposures.

Gaynor, Edwin S.↗

Resolving Wave-Particle Duality Could Accelerate the Mass Production of Quantum Computers

Quantum computers, hypothesized in 1980s, use concepts of superposition and entanglement phenomena. Although theoretical propositions and associated search algorithms for accurate measurements are being generated, the development of practical quantum computers themselves are advancing very slowly requiring enormous time and investments. The underlying concepts of a quantum computer are not new to the optical domain. However, the crucial enabling concepts of Entanglement and Superposition Principle are remaining clouded under the unresolved postulates, Wave-Particle Duality (WPD), and Wave Packet Reduction (WPR), implicating incompleteness in the interpretations of the mathematical formalism behind Quantum Mechanics. The WPD debate started during late1600 between Newton and Huygens. Young’s resolution of WPD through his double-slit experiment in 1802 was effectively overturned by Einstein’s interpretation of photoelectric effect as due to “indivisible light quanta”. However, Einstein disowned his “light quanta” postulate shortly before his death in1955, even though it had earned him the Nobel Prize. We resolve WPD by synthesizing Newton’s and Maxwell’s concepts and assume atoms do emit quanta but propagate as time-finite exponential pulses. This assumption also resolves WPR for light-matter interaction with the assumption that Schrodinger’s ψ represents atom’s internal dipolar amplitude stimulations. This over-turns Born’s interpretation that ψ only represents the abstract mathematical probability amplitude, rather than the physical “internal amplitude stimulation” of the quantum entity. However, our concept of atomic pulse emission forces us to re-derive the expression for the N-slit grating-spectrometer response since the classical derivation uses CW light, which does not exist. This pulsespectrometric response function strengthens our postulate since the grating response to the exponential pulse appears to be the convolution of a Lorentzian spectrum with the classical CW response function of the grating. The Fourier Transform of an exponential function is Lorentzian and QM predicts spontaneous emission line width to be Lorentzian. Then, conceptually one can extend the grating-expression (with N=2) to get the double-slit pattern. This approach preserves the classical causality that each of the two slits, like the N-signals out of a grating, are physically real and jointly stimulate the quantum detector array at the far field to generate the “Local” cosine fringes. The detector array executes the square modulus operation on its imposed dipolar amplitude stimulation and absorbs the necessary energy to fill up their quantum cups. Hence the double-slit pattern must also be “Local”, just as the N-slit grating spectrum is generated locally at the exit spectral-plane of the spectrometer. This removes the need to believe that “single photons” mysteriously generate the double slit pattern. Quantum computers, hypothesized in 1980s, use concepts of superposition and entanglement phenomena. Although theoretical propositions and associated search algorithms for accurate measurements are being generated, the development of practical quantum computers themselves are advancing very slowly requiring enormous time and investments. The underlying concepts of a quantum computer are not new to the optical domain. However, the crucial enabling concepts of Entanglement and Superposition Principle are remaining clouded under the unresolved postulates, Wave-Particle Duality (WPD), and Wave Packet Reduction (WPR), implicating incompleteness in the interpretations of the mathematical formalism behind Quantum Mechanics. The WPD debate started during late1600 between Newton and Huygens. Young’s resolution of WPD through his double-slit experiment in 1802 was effectively overturned by Einstein’s interpretation of photoelectric effect as due to “indivisible light quanta”. However, Einstein disowned his “light quanta” postulate shortly before his death in1955, even though it had earned him the Nobel Prize. We resolve WPD by synthesizing Newton’s and Maxwell’s concepts and assume atoms do emit quanta but propagate as time-finite exponential pulses. This assumption also resolves WPR for light-matter interaction with the assumption that Schrodinger’s ψ represents atom’s internal dipolar amplitude stimulations. This over-turns Born’s interpretation that ψ only represents the abstract mathematical probability amplitude, rather than the physical “internal amplitude stimulation” of the quantum entity. However, our concept of atomic pulse emission forces us to re-derive the expression for the N-slit grating-spectrometer response since the classical derivation uses CW light, which does not exist. This pulsespectrometric response function strengthens our postulate since the grating response to the exponential pulse appears to be the convolution of a Lorentzian spectrum with the classical CW response function of the grating. The Fourier Transform of an exponential function is Lorentzian and QM predicts spontaneous emission line width to be Lorentzian. Then, conceptually one can extend the grating-expression (with N=2) to get the double-slit pattern. This approach preserves the classical causality that each of the two slits, like the N-signals out of a grating, are physically real and jointly stimulate the quantum detector array at the far field to generate the “Local” cosine fringes. The detector array executes the square modulus operation on its imposed dipolar amplitude stimulation and absorbs the necessary energy to fill up their quantum cups. Hence the double-slit pattern must also be “Local”, just as the N-slit grating spectrum is generated locally at the exit spectral-plane of the spectrometer. This removes the need to believe that “single photons” mysteriously generate the double slit pattern.

Quantum Computer↗

Calculation of potential flow past airship bodies in yaw

An outline of Von Karman's method of computing the potential flow of airships in yaw by means of partially constant dipolar superposition on the axis of the body is followed by several considerations for beginning and end of the superposition. Then this method is improved by postulating a continuous, in part linearly variable dipolar superposition on the axis. The second main part of the report brings the calculation of the potential flow by means of sources and sinks, arranged on the surface of the airship body. The integral equation which must satisfy this surface superposition is posed, and the core reduced to functions developed from whole elliptical normal integrals. The functions are shown diagrammatically. The integration is resolvable by iteration. The consequence of the method is good. The formulas for computing the velocity on the surface and of the potential for any point conclude the report.

Lotz, I↗