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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 847 records · Page 47
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2017

Synthetic diagnostic for the beam emission spectroscopy diagnostic using a full optical integration

The beam emission spectroscopy (BES) diagnostic is used to measure fluctuations of electron density in the edge and core of fusion plasmas, and is a key in understanding turbulence in a plasma reactor. A synthetic BES diagnostic for the turbulence simulation code XGC1 has been developed using a realistic neutral beam model and an optical system easily adaptable to different kinds of tokamaks. The beam is modeled using multiple beam energy components, each one with a fraction of the total energy and their own mass and energy (mono-energetic components). The optical system consists of a lens focusing a bundle of optical fibers and resulting in a 2D measurement. The synthetic diagnostic gives similar correlation functions and behaviour of the turbulences than the usual methods that do not take into account the full 3D optical effects. The results, based on a simulation of XGC1, contain an analysis of the correlation (in space and time), a comparison of different approximations possible and their importance in accurately modeling the BES diagnostic.

Physics↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Fabrication of monocrystalline silicon x-ray mirrors

Progress within the fi eld of x-ray astronomy depends on astronomical x-ray observations of ever-increasing quality and speed. Fast and high-resolution x-ray observations over a broad spectral range promise amazing new discoveries. These observations, however, require a spaceborne x-ray telescope of unprecedented imaging power. Of the numerous technological concerns associated with the design and construction of such a telescope, the x-ray focusing optics present a particularly complex and arduous set of challenges. An x-ray optical assembly comprises many thousands of x-ray mirrors, a most critical element. Our group at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) pursues the development of an x-ray mirror manufacturing process capable of meeting the stringent quality, production time, and cost requirements of the next-generation of x-ray telescopes. The manufacturing process employs monocrystalline silicon: a lightweight, stiff, thermally conductive, and readily available material which is free of internal stress; it is a nearly ideal material for a thin mirror substrate. The process involves various traditional optical fabrication techniques adapted to x-ray mirror geometry. Presently, our process is capable of fabricating sub-arcsecond half-power diameter (HPD) resolution mirror pairs (primary and secondary) at a mirror thickness of 0.5 mm and of virtually any x-ray optical design (e.g. Wolter-I, Wolter-Schwarzschild, etc.). The mirror substrate surface quality is comparable to, and sometimes exceeding, that of the mirrors on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. This paper describes the various manufacturing steps involved in the production of x-ray mirror substrates and a present status report.

Raul E. Riveros↗
DOE OSTI2012

Inflationary perturbation theory is geometrical optics in phase space

A pressing problem in comparing inflationary models with observation is the accurate calculation of correlation functions. One approach is to evolve them using ordinary differential equations ({sup t}ransport equations{sup )}, analogous to the Schwinger-Dyson hierarchy of in-out quantum field theory. We extend this approach to the complete set of momentum space correlation functions. A formal solution can be obtained using raytracing techniques adapted from geometrical optics. We reformulate inflationary perturbation theory in this language, and show that raytracing reproduces the familiar 'δN' Taylor expansion. Our method produces ordinary differential equations which allow the Taylor coefficients to be computed efficiently. We use raytracing methods to express the gauge transformation between field fluctuations and the curvature perturbation, ζ, in geometrical terms. Using these results we give a compact expression for the nonlinear gauge-transform part of f{sub NL} in terms of the principal curvatures of uniform energy-density hypersurfaces in field space.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2008

Low Power Switching for Antenna Reconfiguration

Methods and systems for low power switching are provided. In one embodiment, an optical switching system is provided. The system comprises at least one optically controlled switch adapted to maintain one of an open state and a closed state based on an associated light signal; and at least one light source adapted to output the associated light signal to the at least one switch, wherein the at least one light source cycles the light signal on and off, wherein the at least one light source is cycled on for a sufficient duration of time and with a sufficient periodicity to maintain the optically controlled switch in one of an open state and a closed state.

Bauhahn, Paul E.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Design, Fabrication, Testing and Validation of a Ruggedized Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS) for Launch Application

Fiber-optic sensors based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is desirable for structural health monitoring and is used for various aerospace applications such as measuring strain and temperature, where a single optical fiber can multiplex hundreds of FBG sensors. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) (Edwards, California) has been developing an optical fiber-based sensing suite called Fiber Optics Sensing System (FOSS) over the past two decades. Successful strain monitoring flight demonstrations such as the NASA Ikhana (General Atomics, San Diego, California) remotely piloted aircraft and the X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed (Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland) remotely piloted subscale aircraft have been performed. Interest in adapting fiber-optic sensors for aerospace applications has led to commissioning the development of a ruggedized FOSS system for spaceflight through the NASA Launch Services Program (LSP) at the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) (Merritt Island, Florida). In this paper, a ruggedized FOSS suitable for a launch environment is discussed in detail. Thermal analysis and enclosure design will be discussed as well as environmental testing such as shock, random vibration, thermal vacuum, and electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC). With all relevant environmental testing completed, a ruggedized FOSS unit has successfully passed all testing and is now deemed space-launch ready.

Allen R. Parker, Jr↗
DOE OSTI2016

Improved mid infrared detector for high spectral or spatial resolution and synchrotron radiation use

When using bright, small effective size sources, such as synchrotron radiation light beam, for broadband spectroscopy at spectral or spatial high resolution for mid-IR FTIR measurements, a marked detectivity improvement can be achieved by setting up a device matching the detector optical étendue to that of the source. Further improvement can be achieved by reducing the background unmodulated flux and other intrinsic noise sources using a lower temperature cryogen, such as liquid helium. By the combined use of cooled apertures, cold reimaging optics, filters and adapted detector polarization, and preamplification electronics, the sensitivity of a HgCdTe photoconductive IR detector can be improved by a significant factor with respect to standard commercial devices (more than one order of magnitude on average over 6–20 μm region) and the usable spectral range extended to longer wavelengths. The performances of such an optimized detector developed on the AILES Beamline at SOLEIL are presented here.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2025

When can we detect lianas from space? Toward a mechanistic understanding of liana‐infested forest optics

Abstract Lianas, woody vines acting as structural parasites of trees, have profound effects on the composition and structure of tropical forests, impacting tree growth, mortality, and forest succession. Remote sensing could offer a powerful tool for quantifying the scale of liana infestation, provided the availability of robust detection methods. We analyze the consistency and global geographic specificity of spectral signals—reflectance across wavelengths—from liana‐infested tree crowns and forest stands, examining the underlying mechanisms of these signals. We compiled a uniquely comprehensive database, including leaf reflectance spectra from 5424 leaves, fine‐scale airborne reflectance data from 999 liana‐infested canopies, and coarse‐scale satellite reflectance data covering 775 ha of liana‐infested forest stands. To unravel the mechanisms of the liana spectral signal, we applied mechanistic radiative transfer models across scales, establishing a synthesis of the relative importance of different mechanisms, which we corroborate with field data on liana leaf chemistry and canopy structure. We find a consistent liana spectral signal at canopy and stand scales across globally distributed sites. This signature mainly arises at the canopy level due to direct effects of more horizontal leaf angles, resulting in a larger projected leaf area, and indirect effects from increased light scattering in the near and short‐wave infrared regions, linked to lianas' less costly leaf construction compared with trees on average. The existence of a consistent global spectral signal for lianas suggests that large‐scale quantification of liana infestation is feasible. However, because the traits responsible for the liana canopy‐reflectance signal are not exclusive to lianas, accurate large‐scale detection requires rigorously validated remote sensing methods. Our models highlight challenges in automated detection, such as potential misidentification due to leaf phenology, tree life history, topography, and climate, especially where the scale of liana infestation is less than a single remote sensing pixel. The observed cross‐site patterns also prompt ecological questions about lianas' adaptive similarities in optical traits across environments, indicating possible convergent evolution due to shared constraints on leaf biochemical and structural traits.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Wolter imager on the Z machine to diagnose warm x-ray sources

A new Wolter x-ray imager has been developed for the Z machine to study the emission of warm (>15 keV) x-ray sources. A Wolter optic has been adapted from observational astronomy and medical imaging, which uses curved x-ray mirrors to form a 2D image of a source with 5 × 5 × 5 mm 3 field-of-view and measured 60-300-μm resolution on-axis. The mirrors consist of a multilayer that create a narrow bandpass around the Mo Kα lines at 17.5 keV. Here, we provide an overview of the instrument design and measured imaging performance. In addition, we present the first data from the instrument of a Mo wire array z-pinch on the Z machine, demonstrating improvements in spatial resolution and a 350-4100× increase in the signal over previous pinhole imaging techniques.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Dual microscopy to explore enhanced atmospheric ice nucleation on multi-component aerosols

Using an optical microscopy setup adapted to in-situ studies of ice formation at ambient pressure, we examined a specific multicomponent mineral, microcline, with the ultimate aim of gaining a more realistic understanding of ice nucleation in Earth’s atmosphere. We focused on a perthitic feldspar, microcline, to test the hypothesis that co-existence in some feldspars of K-rich and Na-rich phases are contributing to enhanced ice nucleation. On a sample deliberately chosen to contain lamella, a typical perthitic microstructure, and flat surface regions next to each other, we performed a series of ice formation experiments. We found microcline to promote ice formation, causing a large number of ice nucleation events at around - 27°C. The number of ice nuclei decreased from experimental run to experimental run, indicating surface aging upon repeated exposure to humidity. An analysis of 10 experimental runs of identical conditions did not reveal an obvious enhancement of ice formation at the lamellar microstructure. Instead, we find efficient nucleation at various surface sites that produce orientationally aligned ice crystallites with asymmetric shape. Based on this observation we propose that surface steps running along select directions produce microfacets of an orientation that is favorable to enhanced ice nucleation, similar to previously reported for K-rich feldspars.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

In-Cell Deployment and First Use of Digital Image Correlation for In-Situ Strain Analysis of Irradiated Nuclear Fuel Rods During LOCA Transient

Digital image correlation (DIC) is a noncontact, optical method increasingly used across industries and research environments for acquiring multidimensional strain data. At Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL’s) Severe Accident Test Station (SATS), DIC has been extensively applied to study the thermomechanical response of nuclear fuel claddings, yielding fundamental insights into material behavior. However, these efforts have focused exclusively on unirradiated materials and relied on the SATS out-of-cell infrastructure. Efforts over the past two years have been made to extend these capabilities to ORNL’s Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory SATS system within the hot-cells to enable testing of irradiated fuel cladding materials. Integrating DIC into the hot-cell SATS infrastructure presents unique challenges, including enabling remote operation of optical equipment and adapting auxiliary hot-cell systems for DIC implementation. This report discusses design, stand-up testing, and application of DIC to an irradiated nuclear fuel cladding segment. A DIC testing rig was successfully built and validated out-of-cell through extensive surrogate tests and calibrations. The rig and specialized DIC furnace were installed in the hot-cell, and a DIC test was successfully conducted. Results from that test correspond to expectations for Zr-based alloys and showed similar uncertainties compared to out-of-cell tests.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
NASA NTRS1989

Synchronizing Photography For High-Speed-Engine Research

Light flashes when shaft reaches predetermined angle. Synchronization system facilitates visualization of flow in high-speed internal-combustion engines. Designed for cinematography and holographic interferometry, system synchronizes camera and light source with predetermined rotational angle of engine shaft. 10-bit resolution of absolute optical shaft encoder adapted, and 2 to tenth power combinations of 10-bit binary data computed to corresponding angle values. Pre-computed angle values programmed into EPROM's (erasable programmable read-only memories) to use as angle lookup table. Resolves shaft angle to within 0.35 degree at rotational speeds up to 73,240 revolutions per minute.

Chun, K. S.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Application of the intensified CCD to airglow and auroral measurements

New detector technology exemplified by advanced CCD and intensified CCD (ICCD) systems have important advantages for both spectrographic and imaging research. However, to realize the full potential of this new technology, the detector and the optical system as a whole must be considered. It is frequently not enough to simply substitute an ICCD for an earlier detector; rather, to achieve optimum results, the optics must be adapted to the specific detector. Properly designed airglow spectrographs based on the ICCD detector offer the advantages of high throughput over a broad spectral range, precise wavelength stability, low noise, and compactness. Imagers having the wide field and the high sensitivity needed for airglow research are practical as well.

Broadfoot, A. L.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Mode Profiles in Waveguide-Coupled Resonators

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) waveguide-coupled resonators are of considerable interest for narrow-band filter applications, though to date there has been very little published on the acoustic details of their operation. As in any resonator, one must fully understand its mode structure and herein we study the SAW mode profiles in these devices. Transverse mode profiles in the resonant cavity of the device were measured at various frequencies of interest using a knife-edge laser probe. In addition we predict the mode profiles for the device structure by two independent methods. One is a stack-matrix approach adapted from integrated optics and the other is a conventional analytical eigenmode analysis of the Helmholtz equation. Both modeling techniques are in good agreement with the measured results.

Hunt, William D.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Fiber Optic Connector Polishing Fixture Assembly

A fiber optic connector polishing fixture assembly for sup- porting a terminus of a fiber optic cable before a polishing surface. The assembly comprises: a fiber optic polishing fixture adapted to support the terminus before the polishing surface; a fixture support connected to the fixture for sup- porting the fixture before the polishing surface; and an adjustable connection between the fixture and the fixture support having user accessible adjustment controls for allowing a user to operate the controls to shift the fixture and fixture support relative to one another for substantially eliminating an apex offset of the terminus with respect to the polishing surface.

John R Kolasinski↗
DOE OSTI2017

Diffusion Synthetic Acceleration for High Order S{sub N} Transport on Meshes with Curved Surfaces

Thermal radiation transport is integral to multiphysics applications such as inertial confinement fusion and astrophysics. Materials in these problems can be exceptionally optically thick and diffusive. A transport solver must be capable of accurate and efficient solutions to such problems. Previously, Woods et al. established a proof-of-concept for high order (HO) discontinuous Galerkin finite element (DGFEM) transport on meshes with curved surfaces. They numerically demonstrated the spatial convergence is order p + 1. Remarkably, these convergence rates are relatively invariant to the amount of curvature of the spatial mesh. We present here an extension of this work that demonstrates a rapidly-convergent iterative solver for the FEM transport equations on meshes with curved sides. We use the modified interior penalty (MIP) diffusion synthetic acceleration (DSA) established by Wang and Ragusa. The partially consistent MIP equations stem from the symmetric interior penalty (IP) derivation of the diffusion equation. The IP method is not stable for optically thick cells so it was combined with the diffusion conforming form (DCF), a discretized diffusion equation derived from the discretized S N equations that is not stable for intermediate optical thicknesses. The MIP equations adapt a 'switch' to the IP method in optically thinner regions and the DCF method in optically thicker regions. The literature does not reveal any Fourier analyses performed for iterative transport on meshes with curved surfaces. Wang and Ragusa performed a Fourier analysis for orthogonal meshes and our results appear to be as expected. Previous literature has reported on some of the sensitivities that affect the spectral radius of DSA schemes: polynomial order, and scattering ratios. Presently, we focus on the sensitivity of the spectral radius to polynomial order, scattering ratio, the constant C, and mesh curvature for varying cell thicknesses. We also numerically study the behavior of the spectral radius to verify our DSA implementation. A sequence of problems is designed to exercise the acceleration. As the problems become more optically thick and diffusive, the accelerated solution continues to converge toward the analytic solution. We employ the Modular Finite Element Methods (MFEM) package, developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, to generate the linear algebraic system of equations for each angle in the discrete ordinates quadrature set, and use UMFPack to solve this system of equations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Coupled escape probability for an asymmetric spherical case: Modeling optically thick comets

We have adapted Coupled Escape Probability, a new exact method of solving radiative transfer problems, for use in asymmetrical spherical situations. Our model is intended specifically for use in modeling optically thick cometary comae, although not limited to such use. This method enables the accurate modeling of comets' spectra even in the potentially optically thick regions nearest the nucleus, such as those seen in Deep Impact observations of 9P/Tempel 1 and EPOXI observations of 103P/Hartley 2.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Compensation for nonlinear effects in an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed signal using adaptive modulation

We study the influence of nonlinear effects on symbol error statistics when a 16-QAM orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed signal is transmitted in a 1000 km length of fibre. A technique of adaptive modulation is proposed for generating signals that are resistant to nonlinear distortions. A considerable improvement of the transmission quality is shown to take effect in using an adaptive modulation scheme. (paper)

42 ENGINEERING↗