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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 685 records · Page 38
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Neutral winds above 200Km at high latitudes

Motion from multiple chemical releases between 200 and 300 km from 15 rockets launched from 4 high latitude locations are analyzed. The observations in the evening and midnight hours at magnetic altitudes or = 65 deg suggest that in these regions ion drag is the dominant force in driving neutral winds between 200 and 300 km. This conclusion is based on both the agreement between ion and neutral drift directions, and the fact that there are distinct changes in the wind associated with (a) the reversal in east-west ion drift at the Harang discontinuity, and (b) the transition from auroral belt, sunward ion drift and polar cap, anti-solar ion drift.

Meriwether, J. W.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Gravity related behavior of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum (7-IML-1)

The objective of the experiment is to investigate the effect of near weightlessness on a single cell. The test object is the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum. This cell is composed of a network of protoplastic strands which perform rhythmic contractions in the minute range. These contractions of the strands' ectoplastic walls generate the force to drive the vigorous shuttle streaming of fluid protoplasm inside the strands (hydrostatic pressure flow). A net transport of protoplasm in one direction determines the direction of the cell's locomotion itself. In this way, gravity modifies the contraction rhythm of the strands, the streaming velocity of protoplasm in the strands, and the direction of locomotion of the whole slime mold (geotaxis). The other parts of this experiment will address the major question of how this cell, which does not possess any specialized gravireceptors, gets the information about the direction of the gravity vector. Details of the experimental setup are given.

Block, I.↗
NASA NTRS1996

The Use of Structural-Acoustic Techniques to Assess Potential Structural Damage From Sonic Booms

The potential impact of supersonic operations includes structural damage from the sonic boom overpressure. This paper describes a study of how structural-acoustic modeling and testing techniques may be used to assess the potential for such damage in the absence of actual flyovers. Procedures are described whereby transfer functions relating structural response to sonic boom signature may be obtained with a stationary acoustic source and appropriate data processing. Further, by invoking structural-acoustic reciprocity, these transfer functions may also be acquired by measuring the radiated sound from the structure under a mechanical drive. The approach is based on the fundamental assumption of linearity, both with regard to the (acoustic) propagation of the boom in the vicinity of the structure and to the structure's response. Practical issues revolve around acoustic far field and source directivity requirements. The technique was implemented on a specially fabricated test structure at Edwards AFB, CA with the support of Wyle Laboratories, Inc. Blank shots from a cannon served as our acoustic source and taps from an instrumented hammer generated the mechanical drive. Simulated response functions were constructed. Results of comparisons with corresponding measurements recorded during dedicated supersonic flyovers with F-15 aircraft are presented for a number of sensor placements.

Garrelick, Joel↗
NASA NTRS2000

All-Optical Micro Motors Based on Moving Gratings in Photosensitive Media

An all-optical micro motor with a rotor driven by a traveling wave of surface deformation of a stator being in contact with the rotor is being studied. Instead of an ultrasonic wave produced by an electrically driven piezoelectric actuator as in ultrasonic motors, the wave is a result of a photo induced surface deformation of a photosensitive material produced by a traveling holographic grating. Two phase modulated coherent optical beams generate the grating. Several types of photosensitive materials are studied such as photorefractive crystals, photosensitive piezoelectric ceramics, and side-chain liquid crystalline polyesters. In order to be considered as a possible candidate for micro motors, the material should exhibit surface deformation produced by moving grating of the order of 10 micron. Deformations produced by static holographic gratings are studied in photorefractive crystals of LiNbO3 using high vertical resolution surface profilometer Dektak 3 and surface interferometer WYKO. An experimental set-up with moving grating has been developed. The set-up uses a two-beam interferometry configuration with one beam being reflected by a thin mirror mounted on a loud speaker. A ramp voltage signal generator drives the speaker. Changing voltage, polarity, and frequency of the signal can easily generate vibrating gratings or moving gratings in both directions. A vibrating grating has been applied to a photorefractive crystal of BSO controlled by an external electric field of the order of 104 V/cm. We have additionally studied effects of moving grating interaction with light absorbing fluids such as solutions of 2,9,16,23-Tetrakis(phenylthio)-29H, 31 Hphthalocyanine in chlorobenzene in capillary tubes. The purpose of using a liquid is to show that the moving gratings can force a liquid to shift. The interaction of a single low power focused laser beam at 633 nm with such fluid produced an intensive circular motion, which also might be applied to all-optical micro motors or actuators.

Curley, M.↗
NASA NTRS2008

The Effects of Low Dose-Rate Ionizing Radiation on the Shapes of Transients in the LM124 Operational Amplifier

Shapes of single event transients (SETs) in a linear bipolar circuit (LM124) change with exposure to total ionizing dose (TID) radiation. SETs shape changes are a direct consequence of TID-induced degradation of bipolar transistor gain. A reduction in transistor gain causes a reduction in the drive current of the current sources in the circuit, and it is the lower drive current that most affects the shapes of large amplitude SETs.

Buchner, Stephen↗
NASA NTRS2010

Separation of Lift-Generated Vortex Wakes Into Two Diverging Parts

As part of an ongoing study of the spreading rate of lift-generated vortex wakes, the present investigation considers possible reasons as to why segments of lift-generated wakes sometimes depart from the main part of the wake to move rapidly in either an upward or downward direction. It is assumed that deficiencies or enhancements of the lift carry over across the fuselage-shrouded wing are the driving mechanism for departures of wake-segments. The computations presented first indicate that upwardly departing wake segments that were observed and photographed could have been produced by a deficiency in lift carryover across the fuselage-shrouded part of the wing. Computations made of idealized vortex wakes indicate that upward departure of a wake segment requires a centerline reduction in the span loading of 70% or more, whether the engines are at idle or robust thrust. Similarly, it was found that downward departure of wake segments is produced when the lift over the center part of the wing is enhanced. However, it was also found that downward departures do not occur without the presence of robust engine-exhaust streams (i.e., engines must NOT be at idle). In those cases, downward departures of a wake segment occurs when the centerline value of the loading is enhanced by any amount between about 10% to 100%. Observations of condensation trails indicate that downward departure of wake segments is rare. Upward departures of wake segments appears to be more common but still rare. A study to determine the part of the aircraft that causes wake departures has not been carried out. However, even though departures of wake segments rarely occur, some aircraft do regularly shed these wake structures. If aircraft safety is to be assured to a high degree of reliability, and a solution for eliminating them is not implemented, existing guidelines for the avoidance of vortex wakes [1,3] may need to be broadened to include possible increases in wake sizes caused by vertical departures of wake segments. Further study may indicate that it is not possible to modify existing aircraft enough to prevent wake departures. Wake-avoidance guidelines must then be adjusted to provide the desired degree of safety. It appears that steps to avoid upwardly moving wake segments have already been incorporated into the avoidance procedures used for aircraft on approach to runways at the Frankfurt Airport [6,7]. The uncertainty in the prospects for compromises in flight safety caused by rapidly upwardly or downwardly moving wake segments suggest that it be specified that aircraft do not fly above or below each other during operations in the airport vicinity where aircraft are likely to be closely spaced [20].

Rossow, Vernon J.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Navigation During the Primary Science Phase

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter began science operations in November 2006, with a suite of seven instruments and investigations, some of which required navigation accuracies much better than previous Mars missions. This paper describes the driving performance requirements levied on Navigation and how well those requirements have been met thus far. Trending analyses that have a direct impact on the Navigation performance, such as atmospheric bias determination, are covered in detail, as well as dynamic models, estimation strategy, tracking data reduction techniques, and residual noise.

MRO↗
NASA NTRS2023

A Multi-Satellite Framework to Rapidly Evaluate Extreme Biosphere Cascades: The Western US 2021 Drought and Heatwave

The increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes and complex ecosystem responses motivate the need for integrated observational studies at low-latency to determine biosphere responses and carbon-climate feedbacks. Here, we develop a satellite-based rapid attribution workflow and demonstrate its use at a 1–2-month latency to attribute drivers of the carbon cycle feedbacks during the 2020-2021 Western US drought and heatwave. In the first half of 2021, concurrent negative photosynthesis anomalies and large positive column CO 2 anomalies were detected with satellites. Using a simple atmospheric mass balance approach, we estimate a surface carbon efflux anomaly of 132 TgC in June 2021, a magnitude corroborated 28 independently with a dynamic global vegetation model. Integrated satellite observations of hydrologic processes, representing the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC), show that these surface carbon flux anomalies are largely due to substantial reductions in photosynthesis because of a spatially widespread moisture-deficit propagation through the SPAC between 2020 and 2021. A causal model indicates deep soil moisture stores partially drove photosynthesis, maintaining its values in 2020 and driving its declines throughout 2021. The causal model also suggests legacy effects may have amplified photosynthesis deficits in 2021 beyond the direct effects of environmental forcing. The integrated, observation framework presented here provides a valuable first assessment of a biosphere extreme response and an independent testbed for improving drought propagation and mechanisms in models. The rapid identification of extreme carbon anomalies and hotspots can also aid mitigation and adaptation decisions.

Causal model↗
DOE OSTI2026

BSMV-mediated genome editing exhibits host-specific heritability: germline transmission in barley and somatic edits in Nicotiana benthamiana

Plant RNA virus–mediated guide RNA (gRNA) delivery represents a transformative advance in genome editing technologies. Unlike conventional transformation methods that rely on labor-intensive tissue culture and regeneration for each individual gRNA delivery, viral vectors can rapidly and systemically transmit gRNAs into pre-established Cas-expressing plants, providing an accelerated route for functional genomics and trait discovery directly in planta . However, key design parameters, including subgenomic promoter choice, transcript architecture, and their effects on viral fitness and editing outcomes, remain to be elucidated for most viral platforms. We developed five Barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) vectors, each with distinct subgenomic promoter elements to drive single gRNA expression. These were initially evaluated in Cas9-expressing transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants targeting the Phytoene desaturase ( PDS ) gene to compare their editing efficiencies. Single gRNAs expressed under the duplicated γb subgenomic promoter or when fused directly to the γb genome achieved the highest mutation frequencies (up to 90% at 60 days post-inoculation), whereas β1- and β2-driven sgRNAs produced delayed and reduced editing. Thus, promoter selection critically determines gRNA accumulation and the efficacy of BSMV-mediated genome editing. The top-performing design was then applied to Cas9-expressing barley ( Hordeum vulgare ) targeting HvCMF7 (conferring green-white variegation) and HvGW2.1 (impacts grain width and weight). BSMV spread systemically throughout barley, inducing somatic and heritable mutations at frequencies up to 100%, with virus-free edited progeny. In contrast, despite robust somatic editing in N. benthamiana, no heritable mutations were detected indicating species-dependent limitations in germline transmission. Our systematic comparison of subgenomic promoter architectures establishes clear design principles for optimizing viral vector–mediated delivery. Promoter choice and transcript structure critically shape editing efficiency and viral stability. The host-specific boundary for germline editing, defined by efficient heritable editing in barley but not N. benthamiana , highlights where BSMV offers advantages and where alternative vectors or hybrid strategies are required, guiding rational platform selection for diverse crop species and applications. Collectively, these findings establish BSMV as a promising next-generation vector for rapid, tissue culture–free, and transformation-independent genome editing in cereals and other recalcitrant monocots.

barley↗
NASA NTRS2004

Measuring the Thermodynamics of the Alloy/Scale Interface

A method is proposed for the direct measurement of the thermodynamic properties of the alloy and oxide compound at the alloy/scale interface observed during steady-state oxidation. The thermodynamic properties of the alloy/scale interface define the driving force for solid-state transport in the alloy and oxide compound. Accurate knowledge of thermodynamic properties of the interface will advance our understanding of oxidation behavior. The method is based on the concept of local equilibrium and assumes that an alloy+scale equilibrium very closely approximates the alloy/scale interface observed during steady-state oxidation. The thermodynamics activities of this alloy+scale equilibrium are measured directly by Knudsen effusion-cell mass spectrometer (KEMS) using the vapor pressure technique. The theory and some practical considerations of this method are discussed in terms of beta-NiAl oxidation.

Copland, Evan↗
DOE OSTI2024

Unzipping hBN with ultrashort mid-infrared pulses

Manipulating the nanostructure of materials is critical for numerous applications in electronics, magnetics, and photonics. However, conventional methods such as lithography and laser writing require cleanroom facilities or leave residue. We describe an approach to creating atomically sharp line defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) at room temperature by direct optical phonon excitation with a mid-infrared pulsed laser from free space. We term this phenomenon “unzipping” to describe the rapid formation and growth of a crack tens of nanometers wide from a point within the laser-driven region. Formation of these features is attributed to the large atomic displacement and high local bond strain produced by strongly driving the crystal at a natural resonance. This process occurs only via coherent phonon excitation and is highly sensitive to the relative orientation of the crystal axes and the laser polarization. Its cleanliness, directionality, and sharpness enable applications such as polariton cavities, phonon-wave coupling, and in situ flake cleaving.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Peak effect and dynamics of stripe- and pattern-forming systems on a periodic one-dimensional substrate

Here we examine the ordering, pinning, and dynamics of two-dimensional pattern-forming systems interacting with a periodic one-dimensional substrate. In the absence of the substrate, particles with competing long-range repulsion and short-range attraction form anisotropic crystal, stripe, and bubble states. When the system is tuned across the stripe transition in the presence of a substrate, we find that there is a peak effect in the critical depinning force when the stripes align and become commensurate with the substrate. Under an applied drive, the anisotropic crystal and stripe states can exhibit soliton depinning and plastic flow. When the stripes depin plastically, they dynamically reorder into a moving stripe state that is perpendicular to the substrate trough direction. We also find that when the substrate spacing is smaller than the widths of the bubbles or stripes, the system forms pinned stripe states that are perpendicular to the substrate trough direction. The system exhibits multiple reentrant pinning effects as a function of increasing attraction, with the anisotropic crystal and large bubble states experiencing weak pinning but the stripe and smaller bubble states showing stronger pinning. We map out the different dynamic phases as a function of filling, the strength of the attractive interaction term, the substrate strength, and the drive, and demonstrate that the different phases produce identifiable features in the transport curves and particle orderings.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Response of a Bifurcated Shock Train to Combustion Drive Force Dynamics

A bifurcated normal shock train in a Mach 2.2 constant area, rectangular duct is investigated in the combustion driven Air Force Research Lab RC-18 Sub-scale Direct Connect Supersonic Combustion Facility. High-speed shadowgraph images are captured simultaneously with high-speed wall static pressure measurements along the isolator and combustor walls. The establishment of the shock train following ignition is studied to better understand the flow pathways and fluid dynamical mechanisms that link combustor dynamics to the motions and stability of the isolator shock train. To that end, cross-spectral and wavelet analysis is leveraged to determine the spectral and temporal characteristics of upstream traveling disturbances on the isolator-combustor system in RC-18.

Shock Train↗
NASA NTRS2001

Magnetic Damping of g-Jitter Induced Double-Diffusive Convection

This paper describes a numerical study of the g-jitter driven double diffusive convective flows, thermal and concentration distributions in binary alloy melt systems subject to an external magnetic field. The study is based on the finite element solution of transient magnetohydrodynamic equations governing the momentum, thermal and solutal transport in the melt pool. Numerical simulations are conducted using the synthesized single- and multi- frequency g-jitter as well as the real g-jitter data taken during space flights with or without an applied magnetic field. It is found that for the conditions studied, the main melt flow follows approximately a lineal- superposition of velocity components induced by individual g-jitter components, regardless of whether a magnetic field exists or not. The flow field is characterized by a recirculating double diffusive convection loop oscillating in time with a defined frequency equal to that of the driving g-jitter force. An applied magnetic field has little effect on the oscillating recirculating pattern, except around the moment in time when the flow reverses its direction. The field has no effect on the oscillation period, but it changes the phase angle. It is very effective in suppressing the flow intensity and produces a notable reduction of the solutal striation and time fluctuations in the melt. For a given magnetic field strength, the magnetic damping effect is more pronounced on the velocity associated with the largest g-jitter component present and/or the g-jitter spiking peaks. A stronger magnetic field is more effective in suppressing the melt convection and also is more helpful in bringing the convection in phase with the g-jitter driving force. The applied field is particularly useful in suppressing the effect of real g-jitter spikes on both flow and solutal distributions. With appropriately selected magnetic fields, the convective flows caused by g-jitter can be reduced sufficiently and diffusion dominant. solutal transport in the melt is possible.

Shu, Y.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Progress in Development of the Axel Rovers

Progress has been made in the development of a family of robotic land vehicles having modular and minimalist design features chosen to impart a combination of robustness, reliability, and versatility. These vehicles at earlier stages of development were described in two previous NASA Tech Briefs articles: "Reconfigurable Exploratory Robotic Vehicles" (NPO-20944), Vol. 25, No. 7 (July 2001), page 56; and "More About Reconfigurable Exploratory Robotic Vehicles" (NPO-30890), Vol. 33, No. 8 (August 2009), page 40. Conceived for use in exploration of the surfaces of Mars and other remote planets, these vehicles could also be adapted to terrestrial applications, including exploration of volcanic craters or other hostile terrain, military reconnaissance, inspection of hazardous sites, and searching for victims of earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, or mining accidents. In addition, simplified versions of these vehicles might be marketable as toys. The most basic module in this family of reconfigurable robots is the Axel rover, which has a cylindrical body with two main wheels and a trailing link. Inside its body are three motors and associated mechanisms for driving the two wheels and for rotating the link 360 around its symmetrical body. The actuated link serves several purposes: It is used as a lever arm to react to the wheels thrust to move Axel in multiple directions. It is used to rotate the Axel housing in order to tilt, to the desired angle, any sensors and instruments mounted on or in the Axel housing. It provides an alternative mobility mode, which is primarily used in its tethered configuration. Turn ing the link into the ground in lieu of driving the wheels causes the Axel housing and wheels to roll as a unit and thereby leads to a tumbling motion along the ground. With a tether mounted around Axel s cylindrical body, the link serves as a winch mechanism to reel and unreel the tether raising and lowering Axel over steep and vertical surfaces (Figure 1). Sensors, computation, and communication modules are also housed inside Axel s body. A pair of stereo vision cameras provides three-dimensional view for autonomous navigation and avoiding obstacles. Inertial sensors determine the tilt of the robot and are used for estimating its motion. In a fully developed version, power would be supplied by rechargeable batteries aboard Axel; at the time of reporting the information for this article, power was supplied from an external source via a cable. In and of itself, the Axel rover is fully capable of traversing and sampling terrains on planetary surfaces. By use of only the two main wheel actuators and the caster link actuator, Axel can be made to follow an arbitrary path, turn in place, and operate upside- down or right-side-up. If operated in a tethered configuration, as shown in Figure 1, it can be made to move down and up a steep crater wall, descend from an overhang to a cave, and ascend from the cave back to the overhang, all by use of the same three actuators. Such tethered operation could be useful in searching for accident victims or missing persons in mines, caves, and rubble piles. Running the tether through the caster link enhances the stability of Axel and provides a restoring force that keeps the link off the ground for the most part during operation on a steep slope. In its extended configuration, two Axel modules can dock to either side of a payload module to form the four wheeled Axel2 rover (Figure 2). Additional payload and Axel modules can dock to either side of the Axel2 to form the Axel3 rover, extending its payload capacity and its mobility capabilities.

Nesnas, Issa A.↗
DOE OSTI2025

A topological superconductor tuned by electronic correlations

A topological superconductor, characterized by either a chiral order parameter or a topological surface state in proximity to bulk superconductivity, is foundational to topological quantum computing. A key open challenge is whether electron-electron interactions can tune such topological superconducting phases. Here, we provide experimental signatures of a unique topological superconducting phase in competition with electronic correlations in 10-unit-cell thick FeTe x Se 1-x films grown on SrTiO 3 substrates. When the Te content x exceeds 0.7, we observe a topological transition marked by the emergence of a superconducting surface state. Near the FeTe limit, the system undergoes another transition where the surface state disappears, and superconductivity is suppressed. Theory suggests that electron-electron interactions in the odd-parity xy− band drives this second topological transition. The flattening and eventual decoherence of d xy -derived bands track the superconducting dome, linking correlation effects directly to superconducting coherent transport. Our work establishes many-body electronic correlations as a sensitive knob for tuning topology and superconductivity, offering a pathway to engineer new topological phases in correlated materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Diverse Manifestations of Electron-Phonon Coupling in a Kagome Superconductor

Recent angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) experiments on the kagome metal CsV_{3}Sb_{5} revealed distinct multimodal dispersion kinks and nodeless superconducting gaps across multiple electron bands. The prominent photoemission kinks suggest a definitive coupling between electrons and certain collective modes, yet the precise nature of this interaction and its connection to superconductivity remain to be established. Here, employing the state-of-the-art ab initio many-body perturbation theory computation, we present direct evidence that electron-phonon (e-ph) coupling induces the multimodal photoemission kinks in CsV_{3}Sb_{5}, and profoundly, drives the nodeless s-wave superconductivity, showcasing the diverse manifestations of the e-ph coupling. Our calculations well capture the experimentally measured kinks and their fine structures, and reveal that vibrations from different atomic species dictate the multimodal behavior. Results from anisotropic GW-Eliashberg equations predict a phonon-mediated superconductivity with nodeless s-wave gaps, in excellent agreement with various ARPES and scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements. Despite the universal origin of the e-ph coupling, the contributions of several characteristic phonon vibrations vary in different phenomena, highlighting a versatile role of e-ph coupling in shaping the low-energy excitations of kagome metals.

Electron-phonon coupling↗
NASA NTRS1978

The application of hydraulics in the 2,000 kW wind turbine generator

A 2000 kW turbine generator using hydraulic power in two of its control systems is being built under the management of NASA Lewis Research Center. The hydraulic systems providing the control torques and forces for the yaw and blade pitch control systems are discussed. The yaw-drive-system hydraulic supply provides the power for positioning the nacelle so that the rotary axis is kept in line with the direction of the prevailing wind, as well as pressure to the yaw and high speed shaft brakes. The pitch-change-mechanism hydraulic system provides the actuation to the pitch change mechanism and permits feathering of the blades during an emergency situation. It operates in conjunction with the overall windmill computer system, with the feather control permitting slewing control flow to pass from the servo valve to the actuators without restriction.

Onufreiczuk, S.↗