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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 649 records · Page 36

Quantum simulation of real-space dynamics

Quantum simulation is a prominent application of quantum computers. While there is extensive previous work on simulating finite-dimensional systems, less is known about quantum algorithms for real-space dynamics. We conduct a systematic study of such algorithms. In particular, we show that the dynamics of a d-dimensional Schrödinger equation with η particles can be simulated with gate complexity O ~ (ηdFpoly(log(g'/ϵ))), where ϵ is the discretization error, g' controls the higher-order derivatives of the wave function, and F measures the time-integrated strength of the potential. Compared to the best previous results, this exponentially improves the dependence on ϵ and g' from poly(g'/ϵ) to poly(log(g'/ϵ)) and polynomially improves the dependence on T and d, while maintaining best known performance with respect to η. For the case of Coulomb interactions, we give an algorithm using η 3 (d + η)Tpoly(log(ηdTg'/(Δϵ)))/Δ one- and two-qubit gates, and another using η 3 (4d) d/2 Tpoly(log(ηdTg'/(Δϵ)))/Δ one- and two-qubit gates and QRAM operations, where T is the evolution time and the parameter Δ regulates the unbounded Coulomb interaction. We give applications to several computational problems, including faster real-space simulation of quantum chemistry, rigorous analysis of discretization error for simulation of a uniform electron gas, and a quadratic improvement to a quantum algorithm for escaping saddle points in nonconvex optimization.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Laser Scanning and Simulation at Kennedy Space Center

We perform simulations of ground operations leading up launch at Kennedy Space Center and Vandenberg Air Force Base in CA. We use Laser Scanning, Modeling and Simulations to make sure operations are feasible, efficient, and safe.

Kickbusch, Tracey E.↗

Evaluation of the effects of solar radiation on glass

The degradation of glass used on space structures due to electromagnetic and particulate radiation in a space environment was evaluated. The space environment was defined and a simulated space exposure apparatus was constructed. Four optical materials were exposed to simulated solar and particulate radiation in a space environment. Sapphire and fused silica experienced little change in transmittance, while optical crown glass and ultra low expansion glass darkened appreciably. Specimen selection and preparation, exposure conditions, and the effect of simulated exposure are discussed. A selective bibliography of the effect of radiation on glass is included.

Firestone, R. F.↗

Creating the Thermal Environment for Safely Testing the James Webb Space Telescope at the Johnson Space Center's Chamber A

Chamber A is the largest thermal vacuum chamber at the Johnson Space Center and is one of the largest space environment chambers in the world. The chamber is 19.8 m (65 ft) in diameter and 36.6 m (120 ft) tall and is equipped with cryogenic liquid nitrogen panels (shrouds) and gaseous helium shrouds to create a simulated space environment. The chamber was originally built to support testing of the Apollo Service and Command Module for lunar missions, but underwent major modifications to be able to test the James Webb Space Telescope in a simulated deep space environment. To date seven tests have been performed in preparation of testing the flight optics for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Each test has had a uniquie thermal profile and set of thermal requirements for cooling down and warming up, controlling contamination, and releasing condensed air. These range from temperatures from 335K to 15K, with tight uniformity and controllability for maintining thermal stability and pressure control. One unique requirement for two test was structurally proof loading hardware by creating thermal gradients at specific temperatures. This paper will discuss the thermal requirements and goals of the tests, the original requirements of the chamber thermal systems for planned operation, and how the new requirements were met by the team using the hardware, system flexiblilty, and engineering creativity. It will also discuss the mistakes and successes to meet the unique goals, especially when meeting the thermal proof load.

Homan, Jonathan L.↗

Laser welding in space

Autogenous welds in 304 stainless steel were performed by Nd-YAG laser heating in a simulated space environment. Simulation consists of welding on the NASA KC-135 aircraft to produce the microgravity and by containing the specimen in a vacuum chamber. Experimental results show that the microgravity welds are stronger, harder in the fusion zone, have deeper penetration and have a rougher surface rippling of the weld pool than one-g welds. To perform laser welding in space, a solar-pumped laser concept that significantly increases the laser conversion efficiency and makes welding viable despite the limited power availability of spacecraft is proposed.

Kaukler, W. F.↗

Updating the Thermal Vacuum Chambers at the NASA Johnson Space Center

Chambers A and B are two large thermal vacuum chambers at Johnson Space Center which enable space simulation for unmanned and human-rated missions, respectively. With the resurgence in deep space missions for scientific research and various private commercial ventures, these chambers are expected to be used frequently for at least the next decade. For qualifying the James Webb Space Telescope, upgrades to Chamber A were performed which included the addition of a 12.5 kW refrigeration system with helium shrouds capable of simulating deep space environment and an efficient and reliable LN2 natural flow thermosiphon system for the thermal shield. Continuous improvements since then have focused on ensuring operational readiness by modernizing the data acquisition, recording, controls, and visualization systems for both chambers and clean room. These upgrades will be the focus of this paper. Controlling the Cryochambers was enhanced by moving from a 32-bit SCADA system to a 64-bit architected system. Infrastructural changes involved installing redundant power circuits, adding new servers, network switches, and including load balancing with fail-over between servers to minimize downtime. Instead of distributed servers, 3 redundant servers are used to share configurations. Configurations are now kept in a shared SQL instance making it easy to deploy and maintain. During this upgrade process many sub-systems (PLCs and NI PXI interfaces to sensors) were upgraded from the prior OPC-DA to the more secure OPC-UA protocol. Cryo-system PLCs were updated to allow Ganni cycle floating pressure calculations from any cold box to be sent to any compressor. During the project, the team recreated over 70,000 live data points, 50000 historical data points, and 4000 alarms. Finally, the graphical interfaces were upgraded to support HTML 5 in conjunction shared pages were implemented reducing the total number of webpages by over 75%. These system updates reinvigorated the previous SCADA system which had reached its end of life. The same look and feel was maintained while providing operators with an updated interface to control, troubleshoot, and record. The new system architecture is more robust and easier to maintain creating a path forward to address remaining problem points and implement additional features.

Cody Schaefer↗

Updating the Thermal Vacuum Chambers at the NASA Johnson Space Center

Chambers A and B are two large thermal vacuum chambers at Johnson Space Center which enable space simulation for unmanned and human-rated missions, respectively. With the resurgence in deep space missions for scientific research and various private commercial ventures, these chambers are expected to be used frequently for at least the next decade. For qualifying the James Webb Space Telescope, upgrades to Chamber A were performed which included the addition of a 12.5 kW refrigeration system with helium shrouds capable of simulating deep space environment and an efficient and reliable LN2 natural flow thermosiphon system for the thermal shield. Continuous improvements since then have focused on ensuring operational readiness by modernizing the data acquisition, recording, controls, and visualization systems for both chambers and clean room. These upgrades will be the focus of this paper. Controlling the Cryochambers was enhanced by moving from a 32-bit SCADA system to a 64-bit architected system. Infrastructural changes involved installing redundant power circuits, adding new servers, network switches, and including load balancing with fail-over between servers to minimize downtime. Instead of distributed servers, 3 redundant servers are used to share configurations. Configurations are now kept in a shared SQL instance making it easy to deploy and maintain. During this upgrade process many sub-systems (PLCs and NI PXI interfaces to sensors) were upgraded from the prior OPC-DA to the more secure OPC-UA protocol. Cryo-system PLCs were updated to allow Ganni cycle floating pressure calculations from any cold box to be sent to any compressor. During the project, the team recreated over 70,000 live data points, 50000 historical data points, and 4000 alarms. Finally, the graphical interfaces were upgraded to support HTML 5 in conjunction shared pages were implemented reducing the total number of webpages by over 75%. These system updates reinvigorated the previous SCADA system which had reached its end of life. The same look and feel was maintained while providing operators with an updated interface to control, troubleshoot, and record. The new system architecture is more robust and easier to maintain creating a path forward to address remaining problem points and implement additional features.

Cody Schaefer↗

Solar simulation with a rectangular beam

An existing space simulation test facility was modified by enlarging the solar simulator. Because of the restrictions imposed by existing equipment, the shape of the solar beam was altered from a circular to a rectangular cross section in order to adapt the test facility to test objects of increased size. This modification is described together with the results of preliminary measurements.

Feil, O. G.↗

Simulating image coaddition with the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope – I. Simulation methodology and general results

The upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will carry out a wide-area survey in the near-infrared. A key science objective is the measurement of cosmic structure via weak gravitational lensing. Roman data will be undersampled, which introduces new challenges in the measurement of source galaxy shapes; a potential solution is to use linear algebra-based coaddition techniques such as imcom that combine multiple undersampled images to produce a single oversampled output mosaic with a desired ‘target’ point spread function (PSF). We present here an initial application of imcom to 0.64 square degrees of simulated Roman data, based on the Roman branch of the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Dark Energy Science Collaboration (DESC) Data Challenge 2 (DC2) simulation. We show that imcom runs successfully on simulated data that includes features such as plate scale distortions, chip gaps, detector defects, and cosmic ray masks. We simultaneously propagate grids of injected sources and simulated noise fields as well as the full simulation. We quantify the residual deviations of the PSF from the target (the ‘leakage’), as well as noise properties of the output images; we discuss how the overall tiling pattern as well as Moiré patterns appear in the final leakage and noise maps. We include appendices on interpolation algorithms and the interaction of undersampling with image processing operations that may be of broader applicability. The companion paper (‘Paper II’) explores the implications for weak lensing analyses.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

An investigation of a sterile access technique for the repair and adjustment of sterile spacecraft

A description is presented of a unique system for the sterilization and sterile repair of spacecraft and the results of a test program designed to assess the biological integrity and engineering reliability of the system. This trailer-mounted system, designated the model assembly sterilizer for testing (MAST), is capable of the dry-heat sterilization of spacecraft and/or components less than 2.3 meters in diameter at temperatures up to 433 K and the steam sterilization of components less than 0.724 meter in diameter. Sterile access to spacecraft is provided by two tunnel suits, called the bioisolator suit systems (BISS), which are contiguous with the walls of the sterilization chambers. The test program was designed primarily to verify the biological and engineering reliability of the MAST system by processing simulated space hardware. Each test cycle simulated the initial sterilization of a spacecraft, sterile repair of a failed component, removal of the spacecraft from the MAST for mating with the bus, and a sterile recycle repair.

Farmer, F. H.↗

Measurements of the dielectric properties of simulated comet material as part of the KOSI 10 experiment

The dielectric constant epsilon of the snow-mineral used for the comet simulation in the German KOSI 10 experiment was measured in the radio frequency range from 2 to 4 GHz. The traditional microwave bridge method was used, but instead of using a waveguide that contains the sample material small lambda/4 antennas were used as sensors. A change in the dielectric properties indicates a change in density and/or composition, respectively. The method is presented as an analytical tool for measuring such density or composition changes during alteration snow-dust materials. The KOSI (determined from the German: Kometen Simulation) experiments, performed in the Space simulator of the DLR/Institut for Raumsimulation, during the last years revealed many processes that presumably take place on comets. So far, modifications of the internal structure could be identified only during the post-experiment inspection via hardness tests. It was the aim of the KOSI 10 and KOSI 10a experiments to emphasize on a synoptic detection of events like particle emission or crust formation. The composition of the KOSI 10 sample material was an ice-mineral mixture with about 10 percent mineral (olivine) content. An excellent method to investigate the change of the density of the probe material during its exposure to the artificial sun in situ is to do it via the measurement of the dielectric constant. The traditional method to determine epsilon, by using a microwave-bridge to measure the transmission and the reflection factor of the sample material for electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range, was modified, since the commonly used practice to fill the sample material into a waveguide was not compatible with the need for in situ measurements during the simulation experiment.

Ulamec, S.↗

Vacuum technology

Production of electronic thin films and space simulation in vacuum technology

THIN FILM↗