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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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NASA NTRS1981

Ultimate limits to error probabilities for ionospheric models based on solar geophysical indices and how these compare with the state of the art

An ideal model based on a given set of geophysical indices is defined as a model that provides a least squares fit to the data set as a function of the indices considered. Satellite measurements of electron content for three stations at different magnetic latitudes were used to provide such data sets which were each fitted to the geophysical indices. The magnitude of the difference between the measured value and the derived equation for the data set was used to estimate the probability of making an error greater than a given magnitude for such an ideal model. Atmospheric Explorer C data is used to examine the causes of the fluctuations and suggestions are made about how real improvements can be made in ionospheric forecasting ability. Joule heating inputs in the auroral electrojets are related to the AL and AU magnetic indices. Magnetic indices based on the time integral of the energy deposited in the electrojets are proposed for modeling processes affected by auroral zone heating.

Nisbet, J. S.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Multistage variable probability forest volume inventory

An inventory scheme based on the use of computer processed LANDSAT MSS data was developed. Output from the inventory scheme provides an estimate of the standing net saw timber volume of a major timber species on a selected forested area of the Navajo Nation. Such estimates are based on the values of parameters currently used for scaled sawlog conversion to mill output. The multistage variable probability sampling appears capable of producing estimates which compare favorably with those produced using conventional techniques. In addition, the reduction in time, manpower, and overall costs lend it to numerous applications.

Anderson, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1980

An experimental study of the surface elevation probability distribution and statistics of wind-generated waves

Laboratory experiments were performed to measure the surface elevation probability density function and associated statistical properties for a wind-generated wave field. The laboratory data along with some limited field data were compared. The statistical properties of the surface elevation were processed for comparison with the results derived from the Longuet-Higgins (1963) theory. It is found that, even for the highly non-Gaussian cases, the distribution function proposed by Longuet-Higgins still gives good approximations.

Huang, N. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Evaluation and universal curves of the photon loss probability

In the transfer of radiation in a plasma, an important parameter (which measures the coupling between the radiation field and the electron gas) is the photon loss probability per scattering epsilon, defined as the ratio of collisional de-excitation to total de-excitation. The evaluation of epsilon requires normally knowledge of specific collisional excitation rates and radiative transition rate coefficients. In the considered investigation a general formula for epsilon is obtained which depends only on electron density, temperature, and line wavelength. Use is made of a simple Bethe-Coulomb expression recently derived by Kastner (1980) for the collisional excitation rate coefficient. Epsilon is obtained as a function of the three variables, and universal curves of it can be constructed with one of the variables as parameter. As an example of the application of the considered procedure, the variation of epsilon with height h in the solar atmosphere is shown in a graph for several solar lines.

Kastner, S. O.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Probable optical counterpart of a Gamma-ray burster

Sixteen million seconds, or over a half year, of optical monitoring of three Gamma-ray burst positions using the Harvard College Observatory collection of archival plates are described. The probable optical counterpart of the November 19, 1978 Gamma-ray burster has been discovered on a blue emulsion plate exposed in 1928. Optical searches indicate that the absolute magnitude of the Gamma-ray burst system at quiescence is fainter than 13, and a recurrence rate of about 10 to the -7.5/sec is found from Gamma-ray and optical data. Such a high recurrence rate precludes any model which uses a collision between a neutron star and an asteroid-like body, as well as any model requiring accretion from the interstellar matter onto a neutron star.

Schaefer, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Derivation of the collision probability between orbiting objects The lifetimes of Jupiter's outer moons

A general form is derived for Opik's equations relating to the probability of collision between two orbiting objects to their orbital elements, and used to determine the collisional lifetime of the eight outer moons of Jupiter. The derivation is based on a concept of spatial density, or average number of objects found in a unit volume, and results in a set of equations that are easily applied to a variety of orbital collision problems. When applied to the outer satellites, which are all in irregular orbits, the equations predict a relatively long collisional lifetime for the four retrograde moons (about 270 billon years on the average) and a shorter time for the four posigrade moons (0.9 billion years). This short time is suggestive of a past collision history, and may account for the orbiting dust detected by Pioneers 10 and 11.

Kessler, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Laser-excitation technique for the measurement of absolute transition probabilities of weak atomic lines

A new technique is presented for the measurement of transition probabilities for weak allowed, intersystem, and forbidden lines. The method exploits the fact that oscillator strength is proportional to the number of stimulated absorptions and emissions produced by a narrow-band laser pulse of known energy which is in resonance with an atomic transition. The method is tested for a particular transition of Mg I with a known oscillator strength value and of appropriate magnitude. The number densities are measured using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and the hook method for the lower level population and by measuring an absorption-equivalent width for the other. The apparatus consisted of a high-power tunable laser and a magnesium oven to produce excited Mg vapor, and a laser-plasma background continuum. The results are in good agreement with theoretical and other experimental data.

Kwong, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Coded error probability evaluation for antijam communication systems

We present a general union-Chernoff bound on the bit error probability for coded communication systems and apply it to examples of antijam systems. The key feature of this bound is the decoupling of the coding aspects of the system from the remaining part of the communication system which includes jamming, suboptimum detectors, and arbitrary decoding metrics which may or may not use jammer state knowledge

Omura, J. K.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Calculation of radiative transition probabilities and lifetimes

Procedures for calculating bound-bound and bound-continuum (free) radiative transition probabilities and radiative lifetimes are summarized. Calculations include rotational dependence and R-dependent electronic transition moments (no Franck-Condon or R-centroid approximation). Detailed comparisons of theoretical results with experimental measurements are made for bound-bound transitions in the A-X systems of LiH and Na2. New bound-free results are presented for LiH. New bound-free results and comparisons with very recent fluorescence experiments are presented for Na2.

Zemke, W. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Transition probability of the Si III 189.2-nm intersystem line

Measurement of the lifetime of the metastable 3s3p(3)P(0)1 level of Si(2+) (Si III), which decays by photon emission at 189.2 nm to the 3s2(1)S0 state, is reported. The data were taken from spontaneous emission from metastable Si III stored in an RF ion trap. The Si III ions were produced through electron bombardment of SiH4 and SiF4 at pressures of 1/100,000,000-1/10,000,000 Torr. A photomultiplier was employed to count the photon emissions from the transitions. A total of 11 decay curves were generated for analysis, with Poisson statistics used to set the uncertainties at within 8 pct. Significant systematic effects were controlled, and the lifetime was found to be within 3.6 microsec of 59.9 microsec. The method used is concluded valid for determining the lifetimes of metastable levels of low-Z ions with low charge, and thereby the transition probabilities.

Kwong, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Forest inventory using multistage sampling with probability proportional to size

A multistage sampling technique, with probability proportional to size, for forest volume inventory using remote sensing data is developed and evaluated. The study area is located in the Southeastern Brazil. The LANDSAT 4 digital data of the study area are used in the first stage for automatic classification of reforested areas. Four classes of pine and eucalypt with different tree volumes are classified utilizing a maximum likelihood classification algorithm. Color infrared aerial photographs are utilized in the second stage of sampling. In the third state (ground level) the time volume of each class is determined. The total time volume of each class is expanded through a statistical procedure taking into account all the three stages of sampling. This procedure results in an accurate time volume estimate with a smaller number of aerial photographs and reduced time in field work.

Parada, N. D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Probability of undetected error after decoding for a concatenated coding scheme

A concatenated coding scheme for error control in data communications is analyzed. In this scheme, the inner code is used for both error correction and detection, however the outer code is used only for error detection. A retransmission is requested if the outer code detects the presence of errors after the inner code decoding. Probability of undetected error is derived and bounded. A particular example, proposed for NASA telecommand system is analyzed.

Costello, D. J., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Two probable optical flashes from gamma-ray bursters

Two images on archival photographic plates which are most likely records of optical flashes from gamma-ray bursters (GRBs) were examined. One of these images appears on a 1901 plate in the field of the 5 Nov. 1979 GRB, while the other is in the field of the 13 Jan. 1979 GRB on a plate exposed in 1944. The 1901 optical transient image is circular in shape, while all normal star images are trailed by 8 in. No optical transients are found in a control region which is 34.3 times larger than the GRB error regions examined. Independent limits on the optical flash rate from the sky yield a probability of less than 0.0001 that any one of the optical transients is due to a background flash. A total exposure of 2.7 years was examined for GRB flashes at known GRB locations on the Harvard plates and a total of three GRB flashes were seen, that the average recurrence time scale for optical flashes is roughly one year. The optical fluence of these optical flashes was measured. For the three currently known GRB optical flashes, the ratio of gamma-ray fluence (from a modern burst) to the optical fluence (from a archival burst) were measured to be 800, 900, and 900.

Schaefer, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Forestry inventory based on multistage sampling with probability proportional to size

A multistage sampling technique, with probability proportional to size, is developed for a forest volume inventory using remote sensing data. The LANDSAT data, Panchromatic aerial photographs, and field data are collected. Based on age and homogeneity, pine and eucalyptus classes are identified. Selection of tertiary sampling units is made through aerial photographs to minimize field work. The sampling errors for eucalyptus and pine ranged from 8.34 to 21.89 percent and from 7.18 to 8.60 percent, respectively.

Lee, D. C. L.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The oblique impact hypothesis and relative probabilities of lunar and Martian meteorites

The suggestion by Nyquist (1983) that shergottites and possibly other SNC (shergottites, nakhlites, and Chassigny) meteorites were launched from the Martian surface by the oblique impact of large meteoroids is further evaluated in the context of the subsequent discovery of a lunar meteorite. It is demonstrated that within calculational uncertainties and the current poorly known fall statistics of lunar and probable Martian meteorites, the oblique impact hypothesis provides a satisfactory explanation of the relative abundances of lunar, Martian, and other meteorites. It is noted that these results support the oblique-impact-on-Mars origin of SNC meteorites and satisfactorily explain the occurrence of a lunar meteorite.

Nyquist, L. E.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The non-Gaussian joint probability density function of slope and elevation for a nonlinear gravity wave field

On the basis of the mapping method developed by Huang et al. (1983), an analytic expression for the non-Gaussian joint probability density function of slope and elevation for nonlinear gravity waves is derived. Various conditional and marginal density functions are also obtained through the joint density function. The analytic results are compared with a series of carefully controlled laboratory observations, and good agreement is noted. Furthermore, the laboratory wind wave field observations indicate that the capillary or capillary-gravity waves may not be the dominant components in determining the total roughness of the wave field. Thus, the analytic results, though derived specifically for the gravity waves, may have more general applications.

Huang, N. E.↗