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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 91 records · Page 5

The recalibration of the IUE scientific instrument

The IUE instrument was recalibrated because of long time-scale changes in the scientific instrument, a better understanding of the performance of the instrument, improved sets of calibration data, and improved analysis techniques. Calibrations completed or planned include intensity transfer functions (ITF), low-dispersion absolute calibrations, high-dispersion ripple corrections and absolute calibrations, improved geometric mapping of the ITFs to spectral images, studies to improve the signal-to-noise, enhanced absolute calibrations employing corrections for time, temperature, and aperture dependence, and photometric and geometric calibrations for the FES.

Imhoff, Catherine L.↗

Active region coronal loops - Structural and variability

X-ray images of a pair of active region loops are studied which show significant, short time-scale variability in the line fluxes of O VIII, Ne IX, and Mg XI and in the 3.5-11.5 keV soft X-ray bands. Vector magnetograms and high-resolution UV images were used to model the three-dimensional characteristics of the loops. X-ray light curves were generated spanning four consecutive orbits for both loops individually, and light curves of the loop tops and brightest points were also generated. The largest variations involve flux changes of up to several hundred percent on time scales of 10 minutes. No significant H-alpha flare activity is reported, and loop temperatures remain in the four to six million K range. The decay phases of the light curves indicate radiative cooling, inhibition of conduction, and some type of 'continued heating' due to ongoing, underlying activity at the microflare level.

Haisch, Bernhard M.↗

Singular perturbation and time scale approaches in discrete control systems

After considering a singularly perturbed discrete control system, a singular perturbation approach is used to obtain outer and correction subsystems. A time scale approach is then applied via block diagonalization transformations to decouple the system into slow and fast subsystems. To a zeroth-order approximation, the singular perturbation and time-scale approaches are found to yield equivalent results.

Naidu, D. S.↗

Adiabaticity and nonadiabaticity in bimolecular outer-sphere charge transfer reactions

A model for outer-sphere bimolecular electron transfer reactions is presented which is based on a rate expression correct in the adiabatic, nonadiabatic, and intermediate dynamical regimes for an overdamped solvent coordinate. A complete discussion of the time-scale separations needed to define a bimolecular rate for these electron transfer reactions is given. Bimolecular reaction rates are predicted to display distinct solvent and electronic coupling dependencies, defined by a few experimentally variable parameters.

Beratan, David N.↗

Adiabatic criteria for outer-sphere bimolecular electron-transfer reactions

A model is presented for outer-sphere bimolecular electron-transfer reactions which is correct in the adiabatic, nonadiabatic, and intermediate dynamical regimes for an overdamped solvent coordinate. From this model, the conditions for the transfer to be adiabatic or nonadiabatic are deduced. The time-scale separations needed to adequately describe the process as an average over (distant dependent) unimolecular rates are described.

Onuchic, Jose Nelson↗

Dynamics of the Uranian and Saturnian satellite systems - A chaotic route to melting Miranda?

Miranda's anomalously large inclination, in conjunction with the postaccretional resurfacing of both Miranda and Ariel and anomalously large eccentricities characterizing the inner Uranian satellites, are presently held to suggest the disruption of resonant configurations that once existed in this satellite system. Classical analytical methods for the dynamics of resonance are here used to demonstrate how temporary capture into a second- or higher-order resonance can generate large increases in eccentricity and inclination on comparatively short time-scales. Such capture into resonance may result in chaotic motion.

Dermott, Stanley F.↗

Investigation of the flow between a pair of circular cylinders in the flopping regime

The wakes of a pair of circular cylinders are grossly unsteady when the cylinders are separated in a direction normal to the approaching flow by less than one cylinder diameter. The wakes flop randomly between two asymmetric states. The time-scale for the flopping is several orders of magnitude longer than the timescale of vortex shedding, and also several orders of magnitude longer than the timescale for instability of the separating shear layers. When a splitter plate is positioned suitably on the centerline of the cylinders, the flopping can be stopped and the flow made to assume either of the asymmetric states, or a symmetric steady state. For a range of plate positions a new, periodic oscillation occurs. Acoustic excitation can also destroy the flopping mean flow, replacing it by a symmetric flow.

Kim, H. J.↗

Variability of X-ray emission from OB stars

The variability in soft X-ray emission of 12 OB stars is studied. Two different methods of analysis, one more suitable for detecting short-term variations, the other aimed at detecting long time-scale variations, are applied to all stars in the sample. The long-term variability analysis shows that Cyg-OB2 8A Zeta Pup and Delta Ori exhibit significant count rate variations between different data sections. Similar variations are marginally detected in 15 Mon; the count rate variations for the other eight stars are consistent with statistical fluctuations. The light curve of Cyg-OB2 8A suggests the existence of two different emission levels. The short-term variability analysis detects marginal variability in Tau Sco with an effective amplitude of about 30 percent and a time scale of about 50 s. The upper limits to the effective short-term variability amplitude for all other sample stars are in the 10-30 percent range.

Collura, A.↗

On star formation in stellar systems. II - Photoionization in protodwarf galaxies

Numerical hydrodynamical calculations are used to study the effects of the onset of star formation on the residual gas in a primordial low-mass Local-Group dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the size range 0.3-1.0 kpc. It is demonstrated that photoionization in the presence of a moderate gas-density gradient can be responsible for gas ejection on a time-scale of a few times 10 to the 7th yr. The results indicate that, given a normal initial mass function, many protodwarf galaxies may have been dispersed by the onset of star formation.

Noriega-Crespo, A.↗

Ballistic transport in planetary ring systems due to particle erosion mechanisms. I - Theory, numerical methods, and illustrative examples

Ballistic transport, defined as the net radial transport of mass and angular momentum due to exchanges of meteoroid hypersonic-impact ejecta by neighboring planetary ring regions on time-scales orders-of-magnitude shorter than the age of the solar system, is presently considered as a problem in mathematical physics. The preliminary results of a numerical scheme for following the combined effects of ballistic transport and viscous diffusion demonstrate that ballistic transport generates structure near sharp edges already present in the ring-mass distribution; the entire ring system ultimately develops an undulatory structure whose length scale is typically of the order of the radial excursion of the impact ejecta.

Durisen, Richard H.↗

Parametric study of statistical bias in laser Doppler velocimetry

Analytical studies have often assumed that LDV velocity bias depends on turbulence intensity in conjunction with one or more characteristic time scales, such as the time between validated signals, the time between data samples, and the integral turbulence time-scale. These parameters are presently varied independently, in an effort to quantify the biasing effect. Neither of the post facto correction methods employed is entirely accurate. The mean velocity bias error is found to be nearly independent of data validation rate.

Gould, Richard D.↗

Pressure-time history of pylon wake signature on a pusher propeller in flight

Miniature, high-frequency, pressure transducers were mounted on a pusher propeller at 3/4 and 90-percent radii. Time-history of fluctuating surface pressure over 700 revolutions and 26 flight conditions reveal intriguing phenomena. The anticipated pylon wake signature manifests itself as a negative pressure pulse over extended portions of the suction surface. The phenomenon further develops into a primarily random turbulence signature at 80-percent chord and interestingly may reevolve as a coherent wake signature further downstream. A new type of periodic disturbance of long time-scale, compared to propeller period-of-revolution, is discovered at positions beyond 0.6 chord on the suction surface in the transonic regime.

Farokhi, Saeed↗

Polar wander of an ice shell on Europa

The present consideration of a hypothesized ice shell around Europa, which is decoupled from the silicate core by a liquid water layer and possesses a spatially varying thermal equilibrium thickness profile, proceeds through the development of equations for variations in the inertia tensor of a body when second-harmonic-degree topography is added to the crustal base. Attention is given to a realistic model in which the shell and ocean are assumed to undergo reorientations as a single entity independently of the core, but subject to viscous dissipation within the shell. Shell friction is in this case noted to preclude polar wander, unless a low conductivity regolith increases the near-surface temperature by a few tens of degrees C; the ice beneath the regolith would then behave viscously on the time-scale of polar wander.

Ojakangas, Gregory W.↗

The high-overtone p-mode spectrum of the rapidly oscillating Ap star HR 1217 (HD 24712) - Results of a frequency analysis of 324 hr of multi-site photometric observations obtained during a 46-d time-span in 1986

The present high-speed photometry for the rapidly oscillating Ap star HR 1217 indicates that the 6-min light variations are amplitude-modulated, in phase with the magnetic variations. Amplitude and magnetic maxima coincide, while the mean light minimum occurs at a perhaps significantly different time. It is established that HR 1217 is an oblique rotator with a centered dipole magnetic field, as well as an oblique pulsator whose pulsation and magnetic axes are aligned. There are six principal frequencies of pulsation; the secondary frequencies indicate that the principal ones are amplitude-modulated on a time-scale of months.

Kurtz, D. W.↗

Surface winds from tropical Pacific islands - Climatological statistics

Variability space- and time-scales are presently investigated on the basis of multidecadal time series of surface wind observations from islands in the tropical Pacific. The frequency distribution of variance, derived from daily-averaged data, exhibits considerable geographical variation. Poleward of about 5 deg of latitude, the interannual variability in zonal wind diminishes sharply and the zonal and meridional wind variances become increasingly comparable. The zonal wind energy level in the 3- to 60-day band decreases with distance from the equator.

Harrison, D. E.↗

Planetary-scale waves and the cyclic nature of cloud top dynamics on Venus

Quantitative data on the properties of the planetary scale wave modes at the Venus cloud tops have been derived from eight years of Pioneer Venus UV images. At least four planetary-scale wave modes are established on this basis; it is suggested that all play an important role in the maintenance of the equatorial winds. The evidence obtained suggests that the equatorial dynamics of Venus is cyclic, with an apparent time-scale of 5-10 yr. The long-term evolution and maintenance of the Venus cloud-top superrotation reflects a complex balance among at least four eddy momentum transport equations.

Del Genio, Anthony D.↗

Simultaneous multifrequency observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 - Constant optical-infrared emission observed during large-amplitude X-ray variability

Simultaneous infrared, optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray observations of the low-luminosity Seyfert 1 galaxy, NGC 4051 are reported. A new method of reduction was developed to correct the optical flux for atmospheric variations due to seeing and extinction. The X-ray flux varied by factors of up to 2 on time-scales of tens of minutes, while the optical flux remained steady to within 1 percent. The results rule out all models, including Compton scattering and synchrotron models, in which a single electron population is responsible for the formation of both the infrared-to-optical and the X-ray spectra. The optical emission region must be an order of magnitude larger than, or completely separate from, the X-ray source.

Done, C.↗

The abundances of isotopes in the cosmic radiation

Studies of the isotopic composition of nuclei in the cosmic radiation are reviewed, including abundances of the isotopes of elements from H to Ni, together with their implications for cosmic ray origin, acceleration, and transport in the Galaxy. The review focuses on determinations of the composition of cosmic ray source material, and the extent to which the isotopic composition of this material is different from, or similar to, typical solar system material and other samples of Galactic matter. Theoretical models that have been advanced to explain the observed overabundance of neutron-rich isotopes in cosmic rays are described. Also discussed are studies of various radioactive clocks that record the time-scales associated with the nucleosynthesis, acceleration, and transport of cosmic ray nuclei, and studies of the so-called anomalous cosmic ray component, thought to represent a sample of the neutral interstellar medium.

Mewaldt, R. A.↗