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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1988

Infrared astronomical satellite (IRAS) catalogs and atlases. Volume 7: The small scale structure catalog

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was launched January 26, 1983. During its 300-day mission, it surveyed over 96 pct of the celestial sphere at four infrared wavelengths, centered approximately at 12, 25, 60, and 100 microns. Volume 1 describes the instrument, the mission, and the data reduction process. Volumes 2 through 6 present the observations of the approximately 245,000 individual point sources detected by IRAS; each volume gives sources within a specified range of declination. Volume 7 gives the observations of the approximately 16,000 sources spatially resolved by IRAS and smaller than 8'. This is Volume 7, The Small Scale Structure Catalog.

Helou, George↗
DOE OSTI2012

TOWARD UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGIN OF TURBULENCE IN MOLECULAR CLOUDS: SMALL-SCALE STRUCTURES AS UNITS OF DYNAMICAL MULTI-PHASE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM

In order to investigate the origin of the interstellar turbulence, detailed observations in the CO J = 1-0 and 3-2 lines have been carried out in an interacting region of a molecular cloud with an H II region. As a result, several 1000-10,000 AU scale cloudlets with small velocity dispersion are detected, whose systemic velocities have a relatively large scatter of a few km s{sup -1}. It is suggested that the cloud is composed of small-scale dense and cold structures and their overlapping effect makes it appear to be a turbulent entity as a whole. This picture strongly supports the two-phase model of a turbulent medium driven by thermal instability proposed previously. On the surface of the present cloud, the turbulence is likely to be driven by thermal instability following ionization shock compression and UV irradiation. Those small-scale structures with line widths of {approx}0.6 km s{sup -1} have a relatively high CO line ratio of J 3-2 to 1-0, 1 {approx}< R{sub 3-2/1-0} {approx}< 2. The large velocity gradient analysis implies that the 0.6 km s{sup -1} width component cloudlets have an average density of 10{sup 3}-10{sup 4} cm{sup -3}, which is relatively high at cloud edges, but their masses are only {approx}< 0.05 M{sub Sun }.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Unveiling the Liquid Electrolyte Solvation Structure by Small Angle X-ray Scattering

The fundamental understanding of the liquid electrolyte (LE) solvation structure and electrode–electrolyte interface behavior will bring more in-depth thinking and revolutionary changes to the entire electrochemical energy storage field. Regardless of the variety of techniques available, the methods employed to investigate electrolyte solvation structures over a long-range are severely limited. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is an ideal complement to Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, or nuclear magnetic resonance, which offers a unique perspective from a larger scale on clusters or networks in electrolytes. Understanding the solvation structures from a few angstroms to hundreds of nanometers will undoubtedly lay a good foundation for studying the macroscopic transport properties, such as viscosity and ionic conductivity, of the LEs. Here, in this Perspective, we discuss the use of SAXS to investigate the solvation structures in different electrolyte systems, a prospect for the SAXS broader application in the electrolyte study, and some challenges that need to be solved in the SAXS application.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1998

A Hybrid SBR/MoM Technique for Analysis of Scattering from Small Protrusions on a Large Conducting Body

For analysis of large-scale electromagnetic scattering problems, high-frequency asymptotic methods are fast but approximate, whereas low-frequency numerical methods are accurate but slow. Neither can produce an efficient and accurate solution to scattering by large bodies containing small structures. A promising approach is to combine the best features of both types of methods to produce a hybrid technique that is sufficiently fast, reasonably accurate, and applicable to a class of unsolvable problems such as the scatterers mentioned above. There are two extremes for this type of hybridization. One is simply to superimpose solutions from asymptotic and numerical methods. While this approach is most widely used in practical applications, it neglects the interactions between the two solutions, which can be significant in many problems. The other extreme is to combine an asymptotic and a numerical method in an exact manner. In this approach, the effect of a large body is included by incorporating its diffraction into the Green's function in the integral equation for the small structures, which accounts for all interactions. While this approach is accurate, it is difficult to be implemented in a general-purpose computer code because of its complex nature. A more practical approach is to develop a technique that can include all significant interactions and neglect all trivial interactions. The resulting hybrid technique can produce sufficient accuracy and can be implemented in a general-purpose computer code. In this paper, we develop a technique that combines the shooting and- bouncing-ray (SBR) method and the method of moments (MoM) to solve for the scattering by large conducting bodies with small structures mounted on their surfaces.

Jin, J. M.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Proton structure functions at small x

Proton structure functions are measured in electron-proton collision through inelastic scattering of virtual photons with virtuality Q on protons; x denotes the momentum fraction carried by the struck parton. Proton structure functions are currently described with excellent accuracy in terms of scale dependent parton distribution functions, defined in terms of collinear factorization and DGLAP evolution in Q. With decreasing x however, parton densities increase and are ultimately expected to saturate. In this regime DGLAP evolution will finally break down and non-linear evolution equations w.r.t x are expected to take over. In the first part of the talk we present recent result on an implementation of physical DGLAP evolution. Unlike the conventional description in terms of parton distribution functions, the former describes directly the Q dependence of the measured structure functions. It is therefore physical insensitive to factorization scheme and scale ambiguities. It therefore provides a more stringent test of DGLAP evolution and eases the manifestation of (non-linear) small x effects. It however requires a precise measurement of both structure functions F 2 and F L , which will be only possible at future facilities, such as an Electron Ion Collider. In the second part we present a recent analysis of the small x region of the combined HERA data on the structure function F 2 . We demonstrate that (linear) next-to-leading order BFKL evolution describes the effective Pomeron intercept, determined from the combined HERA data, once a resummation of collinear enhanced terms is included and the renormalization scale is fixed using the BLM optimal scale setting procedure. We also provide a detailed description of the Q and x dependence of the full structure functions F 2 in the small x region, as measured at HERA. As a result, predictions for the structure function F L are found to be in agreement with the existing HERA data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

ON THE NATURE OF THE SMALL-SCALE STRUCTURE IN THE COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND OBSERVED BY PLANCK AND WMAP

Small-scale features observed by Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP ) and PLANCK in the frequency range of 22–90 GHz show a nearly flat spectrum, which meets with expectations that they originate in the early universe. However, free–free emission from electrons in small angular scale galactic sources that suffer beam dilution very closely mimic the observed spectrum in this frequency range. Fitting such a model to the PLANCK and WMAP data shows that the angular size required to fit the data is comparable to the angular width of associated H i filaments found in the Galactic Arecibo L-Band Feed Array-H isurvey data. Also, the temperature of the electrons is found to be in the range of 100–300 K. The phenomenon revealed by these data may contribute to a more precise characterization of the foreground masks required to interpret the cosmological aspect of PLANCK and WMAP data.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Micronutrient metal speciation is controlled by competitive organic chelation in grassland soils

Many elements are scarcely soluble in aqueous conditions found in high pH environments, such as calcareous grassland soils, unless complexed to strong binding organic ligands. To overcome this limitation, some plants and microbes produce chelators that solubilize micronutrient metals such as Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn from mineral phases. These complexes are taken up by organisms via specific membrane receptors, thereby differentially impacting the bioavailability of these metals to the plant and microbial community. Although the importance of these chelation strategies for individual organisms has been well established, little is known about which pathways coexist within rhizosphere microbiomes or how they interact and compete for metal binding. Identifying these metallo-organic species within natural ecosystems has remained a formidable analytical challenge due to the vast diversity of compounds and poorly defined metabolic processes in complex soil matrix. Herein, we employed recently developed liquid chromatography (LC) mass spectrometry (MS) methods to characterize the speciation of water-soluble dissolved trace elements (Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) from Kansas Prairie soil. Both plant and fungal chelators were identified, revealing compound-specific patterns of chelation to biologically essential metals. Numerous metabolites typically implicated in plant iron acquisition and homeostasis, including mugineic acids, deoxymugineic acid, nicotianamine, and hydroxynicotianamine, dominated the speciation of divalent metals such as Ni, Cu, and Zn (2-57 pmol / g soil). In contrast, the fungal siderophore ferricrocine bound comparatively more trivalent Fe (9pmol / g soil). These results define biochemical pathways that underpin the regulation of metals in the grassland rhizosphere. They also raise new questions about the competition of these compounds for metal binding and their bioavailability to different members of the rhizosphere population. Even small structural differences result in significant differences in their environmental metal speciation, and likely impact metal uptake within the rhizosphere of calcareous soils.

Boiteau, Rene M.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Higher-order derivative correlations and the alignment of small-scale structures in isotropic numerical turbulence

The classical approach to the investigation of small-scale intermittency in turbulence is based on the higher-order derivative correlations such as skewness and flatness factors. In the study of the small scales, numerial simulations can provide more detail than experiments. In the present paper, a variety of velocity- and scalar-derivative correlations are calculated over a range of Reynolds numbers. Particular attention is given to third- and fourth-order correlations, taking into account also some fifth- and sixth-order correlations to allow comparisons with the phenomenological models. The governing equations are the incompresssible Navier-Stokes equation for the velocity and transport equation for a passive scalar. Two numerical codes are used for the simulations presented. Attention is given to details regarding the numerical method used, forcing, simulation parameters, spectra and skewnesses, and graphics.

Kerr, R. M.↗
DOE OSTI2017

WinPSSP : a revamp of the computer program PSSP and its performance solving the crystal structures of small organic compounds and solids of biological and pharmaceutical interest

The direct-space methods software Powder Structure Solution Program ( PSSP ) [Pagola & Stephens (2010). J. Appl. Cryst. 43 , 370–376] has been migrated to the Windows OS and the code has been optimized for fast runs. WinPSSP is a user-friendly graphical user interface that allows the input of preliminary crystal structure information, integrated intensities of the reflections and FWHM, the definition of structural parameters and a simulated annealing schedule, and the visualization of the calculated and experimental diffraction data overlaid for each individual solution. The solutions are reported as filename.cif files, which can be used to analyze packing motifs and chemical bonding, and to input the atomic coordinates into the Rietveld analysis software GSAS. WinPSSP performance in straightforward crystal structure determinations has been evaluated using 18 molecular solids with 6–20 degrees of freedom. The free-distribution program as well as multimedia tutorials can be accessed at http://users.uoi.gr/nkourkou/winpssp/.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

Cosmological structure formation in Decaying Dark Matter models

The standard cold dark matter (CDM) model predicts too many and too dense small structures. We consider an alternative model that the dark matter undergoes two-body decays with cosmological lifetime τ into only one type of massive daughters with non-relativistic recoil velocity V{sub k}. This decaying dark matter model (DDM) can suppress the structure formation below its free-streaming scale at time scale comparable to τ. Comparing with warm dark matter (WDM), DDM can better reduce the small structures while being consistent with high redshfit observations. We study the cosmological structure formation in DDM by performing self-consistent N-body simulations and point out that cosmological simulations are necessary to understand the DDM structures especially on non-linear scales. We propose empirical fitting functions for the DDM suppression of the mass function and the concentration-mass relation, which depend on the decay parameters lifetime τ, recoil velocity V{sub k} and redshift. The fitting functions lead to accurate reconstruction of the the non-linear power transfer function of DDM to CDM in the framework of halo model. Using these results, we set constraints on the DDM parameter space by demanding that DDM does not induce larger suppression than the Lyman-α constrained WDM models. We further generalize and constrain the DDM models to initial conditions with non-trivial mother fractions and show that the halo model predictions are still valid after considering a global decayed fraction. Finally, we point out that the DDM is unlikely to resolve the disagreement on cluster numbers between the Planck primary CMB prediction and the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect number count for τ ∼ H{sub 0}{sup −1}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Spin-orbit torque induced magnetization switching in Ta/Co{sub 20}Fe{sub 60}B{sub 20}/MgO structures under small in-plane magnetic fields

Spin-orbit torque (SOT)-induced magnetization switching under small in-plane magnetic fields in as-deposited and annealed Ta/CoFeB/MgO structures is studied. For the as-deposited samples, partial SOT-induced switching behavior is observed under an in-plane field of less than 100 Oe. Conversely, for the annealed samples, an in-plane field of 10 Oe is large enough to achieve full deterministic magnetization switching. The Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction at the Ta/CoFeB interface is believed to be the main reason for the discrepancy of the requisite in-plane magnetic fields for switching in the as-deposited and annealed samples. In addition, asymmetric field dependence behavior of SOT-induced magnetization switching is observed in the annealed samples. Deterministic magnetization switching in the absence of an external magnetic field is obtained in the annealed samples, which is extremely important to develop SOT-based magnetoresistive random access memory.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2013

Infrared optical properties of α-alumina with the approach to melting: γ-like tetrahedral structure and small polaron conduction

The normal spectral emittance of α-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} single crystal has been measured from room temperature up to the liquid state and from 20 cm{sup −1} up to 10 000 cm{sup −1}, in two polarization configurations. The spectra were fitted with a semi-quantum dielectric function model. AlO{sub 4} structure units are revealed within the phonon spectral range more than a hundred degrees below the melting point when heating from the solid state. In parallel, the anomalous increase of emittance observed within the transparency spectral range with the approach to melting appears strongly correlated. Implications on the electronic structure are discussed: the existence of small polaron conduction is suggested which has never been mentioned before.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS2000

Implications from Near-Shoemaker Imaging of Eros for Small-Scale Structure and Surface Sampling

What we know about asteroids has always been bifurcated by the enormous gap between astronomical studies of small, distant bodies, and the close-up laboratory measurements of hand-sample sized meteorites. The gulf has been narrowed somewhat by improvements in Earth-based astronomical techniques (e.g. Hubble Space Telescope, radar, adaptive optics) and especially by spacecraft fly-bys of asteroids. But the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR)-Shoemaker mission has gone considerably more in the direction of bridging the gap. Any consideration of intelligent sample-return from an asteroid must be based on the best possible knowledge of the asteroid at the spatial scales pertinent to operations at the asteroid and of the sample/s. Otherwise, we are in danger of succumbing to the 'Martian Horror Story' that Bruce Murray, in the 1960's, envisioned might impair our exploration of the surface of the red planet if we tried to land on it without first bolstering the information content of our database about Mars, especially at high resolutions. NEAR-Shoemaker is helping to bridge that gap in the case of Eros. The best resolution obtained by the Galileo spacecraft on Ida was 25 m/pixel. As of this writing, NEAR has already obtained images with resolutions at least five times better (information content 25 times better) and vastly better images may be available at the time of this Workshop from the late October low flyby. Already, we are seeing that the Martian horror story looks tame compared with Eros. Everywhere we have landed on Mars, the surface has been covered with rocks and boulders, with much higher spatial coverage than seen anywhere on the lunar surface. We have, in fact, been rather lucky that none of our Martian landers have tipped over so far, and there were justified fears in the early aftermath of last year's failure of Mars Polar Lander that it had suffered from inadequate high-resolution characterization of polar regions on Mars (the failure is now known to have had another cause). Eros looks potentially even more terrifying. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Chapman, C. R.↗
DOE OSTI2013

Predicting Flaw-Induced Resonance Spectrum Shift with Theoretical Perturbation Analysis

Resonance inspection is an emerging non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique which uses the resonance spectra differences between the good part population and the flawed parts to identify anomalous parts. It was previously established that finite-element (FE)-based modal analysis can be used to predict the resonance spectrum for an engineering scale part with relatively good accuracy. However, FE-based simulations can be time consuming in examining the spectrum shifts induced by all possible structural flaws. This paper aims at developing a computationally efficient perturbation technique to quantify the frequency shifts induced by small structural flaws, based on the FE simulated resonance spectrum for the perfect part. A generic automotive connecting rod is used as the example part for our study. The results demonstrate that the linear perturbation theory provides a very promising way in predicting frequency changes induced by small structural flaws. As the flaw size increases, the discrepancy between the perturbation analysis and the actual FE simulation results increases due to nonlinearity, yet the perturbation analysis is still able to predict the right trend in frequency shift.

Acoustics↗
DOE OSTI2015

A COMPACT HIGH VELOCITY CLOUD NEAR THE MAGELLANIC STREAM: METALLICITY AND SMALL-SCALE STRUCTURE

The Magellanic Stream (MS) is a well-resolved gaseous tail originating from the Magellanic Clouds. Studies of its physical properties and chemical composition are needed to understand its role in Galactic evolution. We investigate the properties of a compact HVC (CHVC 224.0-83.4-197) lying close on the sky to the MS to determine whether it is physically connected to the Stream and to examine its internal structure. Our study is based on analysis of HST/COS spectra of three QSOs (Ton S210, B0120-28, and B0117-2837) all of which pass through this single cloud at small angular separation (≲0.°72), allowing us to compare physical conditions on small spatial scales. No significant variation is detected in the ionization structure from one part of the cloud to the other. Using Cloudy photoionization models, toward Ton S210 we derive elemental abundances of [C/H] = –1.21 ± 0.11, [Si/H] = –1.16 ± 0.11, [Al/H] = –1.19 ± 0.17, and [O/H] = –1.12 ± 0.22, which agree within 0.09 dex. The CHVC abundances match the 0.1 solar abundances measured along the main body of the Stream. This suggests that the CHVC (and by extension the extended network of filaments to which it belongs) has an origin in the MS. It may represent a fragment that has been removed from the Stream as it interacts with the gaseous Galactic halo.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗