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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 73 records · Page 4
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NASA NTRS1972

Measurement and calculation of the Stark-broadening parameters for the resonance lines of singly ionized calcium and magnesium.

The electron-impact-broadened profiles of the resonance lines of singly ionized calcium and magnesium have been measured using an electromagnetically driven shock tube and a rapid-scanning Fabry-Perot spectrometer. For an electron density of 10 to the 17th power per cu cm and a temperature of 19,000 K, we found the Lorentzian half-width of the Ca+ line to be 0.086 A plus or minus 10% and of the Mg+ line to be 0.044 A plus or minus 10%. Using the quantum-mechanical theory of Barnes and Peach and our semiclassical calculation for the calcium lines, we found that the temperature dependence of the theoretical curves is close to that measured, although both theories predict actual values which are somewhat large.

Jones, W. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Energy loss of fast electrons and positrons in a plasma.

Calculation of the stopping power of a plasma for fast electrons and positrons. First the classical limit is considered where beta = v/c is much less than alpha is the fine structure constant. Then the nonrelativistic Born-approximation formulas are derived; this domain corresponds to alpha much less than beta much less than 1. Finally, the general case of relativistic electrons and positrons is treated; in the relativistic case the scattering cross sections of Moller (electron-electron) and Bhabha (positron-electron) are used in the calculation. In all three energy domains the problem is broken up into cases of small and large momentum transfers. For large q, scattering off individual plasma electrons is considered, while in the limit of very small q for the quantum-mechanical domain, excitation of quantized plasma oscillations contributes to dE/dx; in the classical limit for small q the polarizability of the plasma provides the effective cutoff. The formulas for the stopping power differ slightly from those for a heavy ion going through a plasma because there are exchange effects and the fast electrons and positrons can lose a large fraction of their energy in one scattering off a plasma electron.

Gould, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1972

On the temperature distribution in a planetary atmosphere.

Criteria for the appearance of a double maximum in the absorption spectra are derived. A very oversimplified model atmosphere which consists of two isothermal layers of gas is considered. The model involves the presence of two absorption cells in series, in front of a light source that has a higher temperature than either of the cells. The possibility that the double maximum is due to a quantum-mechanical interaction is studied. It is concluded that the effect reported by Kaplan (1962) was due to noise, and that it is impossible to detect temperatures as high as 700 K in the atmosphere of Venus by means of ground-based observations of the 7820 A carbon dioxide band.

Young, L. D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Noncommuting observables in quantum detection and estimation theory

Basing decisions and estimates on simultaneous approximate measurements of noncommuting observables in a quantum receiver is shown to be equivalent to measuring commuting projection operators on a larger Hilbert space than that of the receiver itself. The quantum-mechanical Cramer-Rao inequalities derived from right logarithmic derivatives and symmetrized logarithmic derivatives of the density operator are compared, and it is shown that the latter give superior lower bounds on the error variances of individual unbiased estimates of arrival time and carrier frequency of a coherent signal. For a suitably weighted sum of the error variances of simultaneous estimates of these, the former yield the superior lower bound under some conditions.

Helstrom, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Hamiltonian cosmology.

The study of cosmological models by means of equations of motion in Hamiltonian form is considered. Hamiltonian methods applied to gravity seem to go back to Rosenfeld (1930), who constructed a quantum-mechanical Hamiltonian for linearized general relativity theory. The first to notice that cosmologies provided a simple model in which to demonstrate features of Hamiltonian formulation was DeWitt (1967). Applications of the ADM formalism to homogeneous cosmologies are discussed together with applications of the Hamiltonian formulation, giving attention also to Bianchi-type universes. Problems involving the concept of superspace and techniques of quantization are investigated.

Ryan, M.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Comparison of electron and electronic temperatures in recombining nozzle flow of ionized nitrogen-hydrogen mixture. I, II.

Relaxation of the population distribution of electronic states is studied theoretically for a highly ionized nitrogen-hydrogen mixture expanding through a nozzle wherein the hydrogen content is less than 0.1%. The analysis incorporates quantum-mechanical rate coefficients, and considers the effects of wall cooling and absorption of radiation. Calculations are carried out for a condition produced experimentally. Visible and infrared line radiations from nitrogen and hydrogen were measured with a spectrograph. The geometry and stagnation conditions were those calculated theoretically. The experiment confirms quantitatively the predictions that the electronic excitation temperatures of hydrogen and (3P) core states of nitrogen are higher than the electron temperature, and that (3P) excitation temperatures exhibit maxima within the nozzle.

Park, C.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Noncommuting observables in quantum detection and estimation theory

Basing decisions and estimates on simultaneous approximate measurements of noncommuting observables in a quantum receiver is shown to be equivalent to measuring commuting projection operators on a large Hilbert space than that of the receiver itself. The quantum-mechanical Cramer-Rao inequalities derived from right logarithmic derivatives and symmetrized logarithmic derivatives of the density operator are compared, and it is shown that the latter give superior lower bounds on the error variances of individual unbiased estimates of arrival time and carrier frequency of a coherent signal. For a suitably weighted sum of the error variances of simultaneous estimates of these, the former yield the superior lower bound under some conditions.

Helstrom, C. W.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Vibration-translation energy transfer in anharmonic diatomic molecules. 1: A critical evaluation of the semiclassical approximation

The semiclassical approximation is applied to anharmonic diatomic oscillators in excited initial states. Multistate numerical solutions giving the vibrational transition probabilities for collinear collisions with an inert atom are compared with equivalent, exact quantum-mechanical calculations. Several symmetrization methods are shown to correlate accurately the predictions of both theories for all initial states, transitions, and molecular types tested, but only if coupling of the oscillator motion and the classical trajectory of the incident particle is considered. In anharmonic heteronuclear molecules, the customary semiclassical method of computing the classical trajectory independently leads to transition probabilities with anomalous low-energy resonances. Proper accounting of the effects of oscillator compression and recoil on the incident particle trajectory removes the anomalies and restores the applicability of the semiclassical approximation.

Mckenzie, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Theoretical investigations of plasma processes in the ion bombardment thruster

A physical model for a thruster discharge was developed, consisting of a spatially diverging plasma sustained electrically between a small ring cathode and a larger ring anode in a cylindrical chamber with an axial magnetic field. The associated boundary-value problem for the coupled partial differential equations with mixed boundary conditions, which describe the electric potential and the plasma velocity fields, was solved in closed form. By means of quantum-mechanical perturbation theory, a formula for the number S(E) of atoms sputtered on the average by an ion of energy E was derived from first principles. The boundary-value problem describing the diffusion of the sputtered atoms through the surrounding rarefied electron-ion plasma to the system surfaces of ion propulsion systems was formulated and treated analytically. It is shown that outer boundary-value problems of this type lead to a complex integral equation, which requires numerical resolution.

Wilhelm, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Irreversibility

The principles of thermodynamics in relation to the irreversibility of real processes in nature are examined, taking into account an analogy used by Gibbs to present a picture concerning the time evolution of a complicated dynamical system. The significance of quantum-mechanics relations with respect to irreversibility considerations is explored. It is shown that quantum mechanical uncertainties are not necessarily required to obtain irreversibility.

Lamb, W. E., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Vibration-translation energy transfer in anharmonic diatomic molecules. I - A comparative evaluation of the semiclassical approximation

The semiclassical approximation (quantum oscillator, classical path) is applied to anharmonic diatomic oscillators in excited initial states. Multistate numerical solutions giving the vibrational transition probabilities for collinear collisions with an inert atom are compared with equivalent, exact quantum-mechanical calculations. Several symmetrization methods are shown to correlate accurately the predictions of both theories for all initial states, transitions, and molecular types tested, but only if coupling of the oscillator motion and the classical trajectory of the incident particle is considered. In anharmonic heteronuclear molecules, the customary semiclassical method of computing the classical trajectory independently leads to transition probabilities with anomalous low-energy resonances. Proper accounting of the effects of oscillator compression and recoil on the incident particle trajectory removes the anomalies and restores the applicability of the semiclassical approximation.

Mckenzie, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Rotational excitation of molecular ions in interstellar clouds

Rate constants for rotational excitation of N2H(+) by low-energy collisions with He have been obtained from accurate quantum-mechanical calculations. Rates for excitation of HCO(+) and rates for excitation by collisions with H2 are expected to be qualitatively similar. The excitation rate for molecular ions is found to be only slightly faster than that for similar neutral species, and not much faster as had been previously suggested. The implications of this for interpreting microwave observations of interstellar N2H(+) and HCO(+) are discussed.

Green, S.↗
NASA NTRS1975

A new approach to radiative transfer theory using Jones's vectors. I Fundamentals

Radiative transfer of partially polarized radiation in an anisotropically scattering, inhomogeneous atmosphere containing an arbitrary polydispersion of particles is described using Jones's (1941) amplitude vectors and matrices. This approach exploits the close analogy between the quantum-mechanical states of spin 1/2 systems and the polarization states of electromagnetic radiation described by Jones's vector. The complete equivalence between the transport equation for Jones's vectors and the classical radiative-transfer equation for Stokes's intensity vectors is demonstrated in two independent ways after deriving the transport equations for the polarization coherency matrices and for the quaternions corresponding to the Jones's vectors. A compact-operator formulation of the theory is provided and used to derive the necessary equations for both a local and a global description of the transport of Jones's vectors. The integro-differential equations for the amplitude reflection and transmission matrices are derived and related to the usual corresponding equations.

Fymat, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Adequacy of classical inverse bremsstrahlung theory for low-temperature plasmas

The authors examine those plasma heating conditions under which a theory more accurate than the classical inverse bremsstrahlung theory should be used to predict absorption coefficients when laser energy is injected into the plasma. A correlation plot for measured absorption coefficients at three laser wavelengths versus those calculated by quantum mechanical theory yields a correlation coefficient for the least-squares fit of 0.994. A plot of the ratio of the quantum-mechanically corrected electron ion inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient to that calculated by classical methods versus plasma temperature shows that at around 20 eV and above the differences between classical and quantum predictions are negligible, but significant errors could arise from application of classical theories to lower-temperature plasmas. Some recent experiments in the literature are shown to be worthy of reinterpretation in this light.

Billman, K. W.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Quantum processes in strong magnetic fields

Quantum-mechanical processes that occur in a piece of matter embedded in a magnetic field with a strength of the order of 10 to the 13th power G are described which either are entirely due to the presence of the field or become modified because of it. The conversion of rotational energy into electromagnetic energy in pulsars is analyzed as a mechanism for producing such a field, and it is shown that a strong magnetic field is not sufficient for quantum effects to play a significant role; in addition, the density must be adjusted to be as low as possible. The pressure and energy density of a free electron gas in a uniform magnetic field are evaluated, neutron beta-decay in the presence of a strong field is examined, and the effect of such a field on neutrino reactions is discussed. The thermal history of a neutron star is studied, and it is concluded that a strong magnetic field helps to increase the cooling rate of the star by producing new channels through which neutrinos can carry away energy.

Canuto, V.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Theoretical study of the butadiynyl and cyanoethynyl radicals - Support for the identification of C3N in IRC + 10216

Quantum-mechanical calculations, using the matrix Hartree-Fock model, have been performed for the butadiynyl and cyanoethynyl radicals. A rotation constant of 4753 MHz is calculated for C4H, while for C3N the value 4955 MHz is obtained. These may be compared with the rotation constant of 4947.5 MHz derived from the recently observed doublets in the millimeter-wave spectrum of IRC + 10216, suggesting the cyanoethynyl radical as the carrier species of these lines. The electric dipole moment and hyperfine coupling constants of both species are predicted.

Wilson, S.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Comment on the relation between the nonadiabatic coupling and the complex intersection of potential energy curves

Simple relations are discussed that provide a correspondence between the complex intersection of two potential surfaces and the nonadiabatic coupling matrix element between those surfaces. These are key quantities in semiclassical and quantum-mechanical theories of collision-induced electronic transitions. Within the two-state approximation, the complex intersection is shown to be directly related to the location and magnitude of the peak in the nonadiabatic coupling. Two cases have been considered: (1) the avoided crossing between two potential surfaces, and (2) the spin-orbit interaction due to a 2P halogen atom. Comparisons are made between the results of the two-state model and the results of ab initio quantum chemical calculations.

Jaffe, R. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Theoretical study of HSiO/+/ and HOSi/+/

Results are reported for quantum-mechanical studies of the ions HSiO(+) and HOSi(+). The equilibrium geometries, rotation constants, and relative stabilities of these ions are determined using the matrix Hartree-Fock model with a basis set of Slater exponential functions. Optimum bond lengths are calculated, and an empirical correction to the computed bond lengths is introduced. The isomer HOSi(+) is found to be more stable than HSiO(+). A frequency of 35.77 GHz is obtained for the J = 1-0 transition of HOSi(+) by assuming that the vibration-rotation interaction constants for this isomer are the same as those for HCP.

Wilson, S.↗