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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 541 records · Page 30
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Charge-transfer energy in closed-shell ion-atom interactions

The importance of charge-transfer energy in the interactions between closed-shell ions and atoms is investigated. Ab initio calculations on H(plus)-He and Li(plus)-He are used as a guide for the construction of approximate methods for the estimation of the charge-transfer energy for more complicated systems. For many alkali ion-rate gas systems the charge-transfer energy is comparable to the induction energy in the region of the potential minimum, although for doubly charged alkaline-earth ions in rare gases the induction energy always dominates. Surprisingly, an empirical combination of repulsion energy plus asymptotic induction energy plus asymptotic dispersion energy seems to give a fair representation of the total interaction, especially if the repulsion energy is parameterized, despite the omission of any explicit charge-transfer contribution. More refined interaction models should consider the charge-transfer energy contribution.

Alvarez-Rizzatti, M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Cesium oscillator strengths measured with a multiple-path-length absorption cell

Absorption-oscillator-strength measurements for the principal series in cesium were measured using a multiple-path-length cell. The optical arrangement included a movable transverse path for checking the uniformity of the alkali density along the length of the cell and which also allowed strength measurements to be made simultaneously on both strong and weak lines. The strengths measured on the first 10 doublets indicate an increasing trend in the doublet ratio. The individual line strengths are in close agreement with the high resolution measurements of Pichler (1974) and with the calculations of Norcross (1973).

Exton, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

New solid conductors of Na/+/ and K/+/ ions

About 40 structure types for solid conductors of Na(+) and K(+) ions are surveyed. Five compounds in three structure types are discovered to be good solid conductors of alkali metal ions, capable of ion transport with conductivities in the vicinity of 0.00001/ohm-cm at 25 C. These compounds are a bcc form of NaSbO3, an orthorhombic layer structure of the composition 2M2O.3Nb2O5 with M equal to Na or K, and the Na pyrochlores NaTa2O5F and NaTaWO6. Ion exchange is required to produce each of these Na compounds. Only the 2K2O.3Nb2O5 can so far be synthesized directly from the oxides and thus is the only one which can be sintered readily. The niobate is about as good a conductor of K(+) ion as is K-beta alumina. The NaSbO3 compares well with Na beta at 280 C. A number of phase diagrams are developed.

Singer, J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

The Igwisi Hills extrusive 'kimberlites'

The petrography and mineral chemistry of volcanic rocks from the Igwisi Hills in Tanzania are discussed. There is considerable evidence to suggest that the Igwisi rocks are extrusive kimberlites: a two-component nature with high P-T minerals in a low P-T matrix; the presence of chrome pyrope, Al enstatite, chrome diopside, chromite and olivine; a highly oxidized, volatile-rich matrix with serpentine, calcite, magnetite, perovskite; high Sr, Zr, and Nb contents; occurrence in a narrow isolated vent within a stable shield area. The Igwisi rocks differ from kimberlite in the lack of magnesian ilmenite, the scarcity of matrix phlogopite, and the overall low alkali content. They apparently contain material from phlogopite-bearing garnet peridotites with a primary mineral assemblage indicative of equilibrium at upper mantle temperatures and pressures. This primary assemblage was brought rapidly to the surface in a gas-charged, carbonate-rich fluid. Rapid upward transport, extrusion, and rapid cooling have tended to prevent reaction between inclusions and the carbonate-rich matrix that might otherwise have yielded a more typical kimberlite.

Reid, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Dielectric breakdown induced by picosecond laser pulses

The damage thresholds of transparent optical materials were investigated. Single picosecond pulses at 1.06 microns, 0.53 microns and 0.35 microns were obtained from a mode locked Nd-YAG oscillator-amplifier-frequency multiplier system. The pulses were Gaussian in space and time and permitted the determination of breakdown thresholds with a reproducibility of 15%. It was shown that the breakdown thresholds are characteristic of the bulk material, which included nine alkali halides, five different laser host materials, KDP, quartz, sapphire and calcium fluoride. The extension of the damage data to the ultraviolet is significant, because some indication was obtained that two- and three-photon absorption processes begin to play a role in determining the threshold. Throughout the visible region of the spectrum the threshold is still an increasing function of frequency, indicating that avalanche ionization is the dominant factor in determining the breakdown threshold. This was confirmed by a detailed study of the damage morphology with a high resolution microscope just above the threshold. The influence of self focusing is discussed, and evidence for beam distortion below the power threshold for complete self focusing is presented, confirming the theory of Marburger.

Smith, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Some modifications of the theory of colloidal plasmas

Two effects leading to significant modifications of the theory of colloidal plasmas are discussed. The first concerns the fact that depending on the sign of the electric potential on a droplet in a colloidal plasma, the electrons or the ions impact on the droplet with a much higher effective temperature than their background plasma temperature. The analytical expression for this temperature is derived in the first part of the paper. In the second part, it is shown that the electron-droplet collision rate in a wet alkali-metal vapor plasma may be substantially modified by the effect of the attractive potential between a droplet and an electron because of the image of the electron in the droplet. This effect is found to be important when the droplet sizes are in the submicron range.

De, B. R.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Mineralogic and petrologic implications of Viking geochemical results from Mars - Interim report

Chemical results from four samples of Martian fines delivered to Viking landers 1 and 2 are remarkably similar in that they all have high iron; moderate magnesium, calcium, and sulfur; low aluminum; and apparently very low alkalies and trace elements. This composition is best interpreted as representing the weathering products of mafic igneous rocks. A mineralogic model, derived from computer mixing studies and laboratory analog preparations, suggests that Mars fines could be an intimate mixture of about 80% iron-rich clay, about 10% magnesium sulfate (kieserite), about 5% carbonate (calcite), and about 5% iron oxides (hematite, magnetite, maghemite, goethite). The mafic nature of the present fines (distributed globally) and their probable source rocks seems to preclude large-scale planetary differentiation of a terrestrial nature.

Baird, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Thermal alteration experiments on organic matter from recent marine sediments in relation to petroleum genesis

Three fractions of organic matter: lipid (benzene:methanol-extractable), humic acid (alkali-extractable) and kerogen (residue) were extracted from a young marine sediment (Tanner Basin, offshore southern California) and heated for different times (5-116 hr) and temperatures (150-410 C). The volatile (gases) and liquid products, as well as residual material, were then analyzed. On a weight basis, the lipid fraction produced 58% of the total identified n-alkanes, the kerogen fraction 41%, and the humic acid less than 1%. The volatiles produced by heating the lipid and humic acid fractions were largely CO2 and water, whereas those produced from heated kerogen also included methane, hydrogen gas and small amounts of C2-C4 hydrocarbons. A mechanism for hydrocarbon production due to the thermal alteration of organic constituents of marine sediment is discussed.

Ishiwatari, R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Economical synthesis of potassium superoxide

High-frequency discharge in oxygen can be used to prepare superoxides of alkali and alkaline-earth metals. Since no direct-current discharge at the electrodes is present, no sputtering can contaminate the product, hence a high conversion efficiency.

Bell, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Differentiation of the matter of the moon

The following facts were uncovered in comparing the basaltic surface rocks of the moon with terrestrial tholeiitic basalts and ordinary chondrites: (1) there is an excess of the so-called refractory chemical elements, including the group of truly refractory elements, the rare earths, U, and Th, in comparison with their content in primitive terrestrial basalts and chondrites; (2) the so-called siderophilic elements have lower contents in the lunar surface rocks than in terrestrial rocks; (3) the low alkali content (Na, K, Rb) in lunar rocks is established; (4) there is a low content of H2O and the ordinary gases CO2, halides, etc.; (5) the low content of metals with high vapor pressure, (In, Tl, etc.) has been established. It is proposed that U and Th were carried from the internal areas to the peripheral rocks of the moon during magmatic activity, i.e., up to 3 billion years ago. This redistribution of U and Th lead to their concentration in surface layers of the moon, and the heat which they generated was lost into surrounding space. The conclusion is then reached that in order to understand processes on the moon, the chondritic model cannot be used.

Vinogradov, A. P.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Development of a prototype regeneration carbon dioxide absorber

A prototype regenerable carbon dioxide absorber was developed to maintain the environmental quality of the portable life support system. The absorber works on the alkali metal carbonate-bicarbonate solid-gas reaction to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The prototype sorber module was designed, fabricated, and tested at simulated extravehicular activity conditions to arrive at optimum design. The unit maintains sorber outlet concentration below 5 mm Hg. An optimization study was made with respect to heat transfer, temperature control, sorbent utilization, sorber life and regenerability, and final size of the module. Important parameters influencing the capacity of the final absorber unit were identified and recommendations for improvement were made.

Patel, P. S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A feasibility study of ion implantation techniques for mass spectrometer calibration

An experimental study was undertaken to examine the feasibility of using ion-implanted filaments doped with either an alkali metal or noble gas for in situ recalibration of onboard mass spectrometers during extended space missions. Implants of rubidium and krypton in rhenium ribbon filaments were subsequently tested in a bakeable 60 deg sector mass spectrometer operating in the static mode. Surface ionization and electron impact ion sources were both used, each yielding satisfactory results. The metallic implant with subsequent ionization provided a means of mass scale calibration and determination of system operating parameters, whereas the noble gas thermally desorbed into the system was more suited for partial pressure and sensitivity determinations.

Koslin, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Molten Salt Thermal Energy Storage Systems

The feasibility of storing thermal energy at temperatures of 450 C to 535 C in the form of latent heat of fusion was examined for over 30 inorganic salts and salt mixtures. Alkali carbonate mixtures were chosen as phase-change storage materials in this temperature range because of their relatively high storage capacity and thermal conductivity, moderate cost, low volumetric expansion upon melting, low corrosivity, and good chemical stability. Means of improving heat conduction through the solid salt were explored.

Maru, H. C.↗
NASA NTRS1977

The vibrational spectrum and lattice dynamics of polycrystalline ammonium hydrosulfide

The infrared spectra of alkali metal and ammonium hydrosulfides have been recorded from wavenumbers of 200 to 4000 at liquid nitrogen temperatures, and the Raman spectra of these substances have been recorded from wavenumbers of 0 to 4000 over the temperature range 83-390 K. No evidence of a second solid phase was obtained. Internal and external fundamentals were assigned, in detail, based on selection rules, isotopic frequency shifts, and analogy with structurally similar salts. Barriers to anion and cation reorientation of 3.8 and 1.9 kcal/mole, respectively, have been calculated from librational assignments. The implications of the infrared spectrum of ammonium hydrosulfide for the possible spectroscopic detection of this substance in the atmosphere of the planet Jupiter are discussed.

Bragin, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Redox equilibria of multivalent ions in silicate glasses

Experimental studies were made on the compositional dependence of the redox equilibrium of Eu in synthetic silicate liquids, together with an empirical model describing the observed compositional dependence. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was used to measure the concentration ratio of Eu(2+) to Eu(3+) in various glasses formed by rapidly quenching silicate liquids. The compositional field studied comprised mixtures of SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, CaO, MgO, and Na2O. The proposed model describes the Eu(2+)/Eu(3+) ratio over the entire compositional field in terms of parameters easily related to each glass composition. The general applicability and utility of the model is further demonstrated by its application to the Fe(2+)-Fe(3+), Ce(3+)-Ce(4+), and Cr(3+)-Cr(6+) redox reactions in binary alkali oxide silicate glasses of Li, Na, and K.

Lauer, H. V., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1977

On the age of KREEP

It is noted that the variable Rb-Sr model ages of lunar highland rocks containing a significant amount of KREEP basalt may be best explained by some fractionation of Rb from Sr during metamorphism 3.9 billion years ago, but the uniformity of the KREEP-type trace-element pattern in different highland samples indicates that elements such as the rare earth were hardly fractionated at all during the metamorphic event. Data are presented which show that the Rb/Sr fractionation 3.9 billion years ago was due to Rb mobilization alone in most cases and that this fractionation can be accounted for by coupling of Rb to other, less volatile incompatible elements. Variations of Rb in lunar highland rocks are analyzed, a correction method is applied for the Rb/Sr fractionation, and results are evaluated separately for Apollo 16 VHA and KREEP basalts, Apollo 17 noritic breccias, Apollo 14 KREEP breccias, Apollo 15 KREEP basalts, and Apollo 15-KREEP-enriched breccias. Evidence for volatilization of alkalis from glasses of impact origin is summarized, and an apparent correlation is discussed between meteoritic component (as given by the Ir/Au ratio) and rock type (as given by the U or Rb content) for many lunar highland samples.

Palme, H.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Phase equilibria and crystal chemistry of rubidium niobates and rubidium tantalates

The phase equilibria relations and crystal chemistry of portions of the Rb2O-Nb2O5 and Rb2O-Ta2O5 systems were investigated for structures potentially useful as ionic conductors. A hexagonal tungsten bronze-type (HTB) structure was found in both systems as well as three hexagonal phases with mixed HTB-pyrochlore type structures. Ion exchange experiments between various alkali ions are described for several phases. Unit cell dimensions and X-ray diffraction powder patterns are reported.

Minor, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

High temperature heat pipe research at NASA Lewis Research Center

In the course of studies of thermionic power plants for space applications, high-temperature refractory metal heat pipes have been designed and built for alkali metal working fluids. Fabrication of tungsten wire-reinforced tantalum pipes by chemical vapor deposition is discussed; the development of reinforced pipes with integral arteries produced by chemical vapor deposition is also mentioned. The feasibility of using lithium, sodium, potassium, cesium or mercury as the working fluid in the heat pipes is also reviewed. Operation of a lithium-filled heat pipe of about 3-kW capacity for several thousand hours is reported.

Tower, L. K.↗