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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 973 records · Page 54

BOREAS RSS-7 Regional LAI and FPAR Images From 10-Day AVHRR-LAC Composites

The BOReal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study Remote Sensing Science (BOREAS RSS-7) team collected various data sets to develop and validate an algorithm to allow the retrieval of the spatial distribution of Leaf Area Index (LAI) from remotely sensed images. Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) level-4c 10-day composite Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) images produced at CCRS were used to produce images of LAI and the Fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FPAR) absorbed by plant canopies for the three summer IFCs in 1994 across the BOREAS region. The algorithms were developed based on ground measurements and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images. The data are stored in binary image format files.

Hall, Forrest G.↗

Interactive and cooperative sensing and control for advanced teleoperation

This paper presents the paradigm of interactive and cooperative sensing and control as a fundamental mechanism of integrating and fusing the strengths of man and machine for advanced teleoperation. The interactive and cooperative sensing and control is considered as an extended and generalized form of traded and shared control. The emphasis of interactive and cooperative sensing and control is given to the distribution of mutually nonexclusive subtasks to man and machine, the interactive invocation of subtasks under the man/machine symbiotic relationship, and the fusion of information and decisionmaking between man and machine according to their confidence measures. The proposed interactive and cooperative sensing and control system is composed of such major functional blocks as the logical sensor system, the sensor-based local autonomy, the virtual environment formation, and the cooperative decision-making between man and machine. The Sensing-Knowledge-Command (SKC) fusion network is proposed as a fundamental architecture for implementing cooperative and interactive sensing and control. Simulation results are shown.

Lee, Sukhan↗

Global gridded anthropogenic emissions inventory of carbonyl sulfide

Atmospheric carbonyl sulfide (COS or OCS) is the most abundant sulfur containing gas in the troposphere and is an atmospheric tracer for the carbon cycle. Gridded inventories of global anthropogenic COS are used for interpreting global COS measurements. However, previous gridded anthropogenic data are a climatological estimate based on input data that is over three decades old and are not representative of current conditions. Here we develop a new gridded data set of global anthropogenic COS sources that includes more source sectors than previously available and uses the most current emissions factors and industry activity data as input. Additionally, the inventory is provided as annually varying estimates from years 1980–2012 and employs a source specific spatial scaling procedure. We estimate a global source in year 2012 of 406 Gg S y -1 (range of 223–586 Gg S y -1 ), which is highly concentrated in China and is twice as large as the previous gridded inventory. Our large upward revision in the bottom-up estimate of the source is consistent with a recent top-down estimate based on air-monitoring and Antarctic firn data. Furthermore, our inventory time trends, including a decline in the 1990's and growth after the year 2000, are qualitatively consistent with trends in atmospheric data. Lastly, similarities between the spatial distribution in this inventory and remote sensing data suggest that the anthropogenic source could potentially play a role in explaining a missing source in the global COS budget.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Typical occupancy profiles and behaviors in residential buildings in the United States

The energy performance of a residential building is highly dependent on occupant's presence or non-presence in a building and their interactions with energy-consuming appliances. Typical occupancy schedules for residential buildings must be defined for applications such as building energy modeling as well as for assessing energy savings associated with the use of occupancy sensing technologies and occupancy-dependent controls. Currently, commonly used simulation programs assume a typical occupancy schedule, however, there is significant opportunity for improvement to these schedules as this is generally based on engineering judgement. This research uses 12 years of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data to develop typical occupancy schedules for a range of household types and occupant age ranges. This is compared to currently utilized residential occupancy schedules. In many cases the developed schedules exhibit similar patterns, however, differences are also found to be as high as 41% for certain periods of time. For occupancy sensing applications, the spatial-temporal distribution of occupants in residential buildings is also evaluated. These locations vary based on temporal factors as well as demographic factors such as age and number of occupants. Finally, the results of this research work towards improved occupancy schedule development can benefit both industry professionals and researchers.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

High-temperature operation of broadband bidirectional terahertz quantum-cascade lasers

Terahertz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with a broadband gain medium could play an important role for sensing and spectroscopy since then distributed-feedback schemes could be utilized to produce laser arrays on a single semiconductor chip with wide spectral coverage. QCLs can be designed to emit at two different frequencies when biased with opposing electrical polarities. Here, we develop terahertz QCLs with bidirectional operation to achieve broadband lasing from the same semiconductor chip. A three-well design scheme with shallow-well GaAs/Al 0.10 Ga 0.90 As superlattices is developed to achieve high-temperature operation for bidirectional QCLs. It is shown that shallow-well heterostructures lead to optimal quantum-transport in the superlattice for bidirectional operation compared to the prevalent GaAs/Al 0.15 Ga 0.85 As material system. Furthermore, broadband lasing in the frequency range of 3.1–3.7 THz is demonstrated for one QCL design, which achieves maximum operating temperatures of 147 K and 128 K respectively in opposing polarities. Dual-color lasing with large frequency separation is demonstrated for a second QCL, that emits at ~3.7 THz and operates up to 121 K in one polarity, and at ~2.7 THz up to 105 K in the opposing polarity. Finally, these are the highest operating temperatures achieved for broadband terahertz QCLs at the respective emission frequencies, and could lead to commercial development of broadband terahertz laser arrays.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Distributed feedback interband cascade lasers with top grating and corrugated sidewalls

Distributed feedback (DFB) interband cascade lasers (ICL) with a 1st order top surface grating were designed and fabricated. Partially-corrugated sidewalls were implemented to suppress high order lateral modes. The DFB ICLs have 4 mm long and 4.5 μm wide ridge waveguides, and are mounted epi-up on AlN submounts. We demonstrated a continuous-wave (CW) DFB ICL, from a first wafer which has a large detuning of gain peak from the DFB wavelength, with a side mode suppression ratio of 30 dB. With proper matching of grating feedback and gain peak wavelength for the second wafer, a DFB ICL was demonstrated with a maximum CW output power and maximum wall plug efficiency reaching 42 mW and 2 %, respectively, at 25°C. The lasing wavelengths of both lasers are around 3.3 μm at 25°C.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

USING COORDINATED OBSERVATIONS IN POLARIZED WHITE LIGHT AND FARADAY ROTATION TO PROBE THE SPATIAL POSITION AND MAGNETIC FIELD OF AN INTERPLANETARY SHEATH

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can be continuously tracked through a large portion of the inner heliosphere by direct imaging in visible and radio wavebands. White light (WL) signatures of solar wind transients, such as CMEs, result from Thomson scattering of sunlight by free electrons and therefore depend on both viewing geometry and electron density. The Faraday rotation (FR) of radio waves from extragalactic pulsars and quasars, which arises due to the presence of such solar wind features, depends on the line-of-sight magnetic field component B{sub ∥} and the electron density. To understand coordinated WL and FR observations of CMEs, we perform forward magnetohydrodynamic modeling of an Earth-directed shock and synthesize the signatures that would be remotely sensed at a number of widely distributed vantage points in the inner heliosphere. Removal of the background solar wind contribution reveals the shock-associated enhancements in WL and FR. While the efficiency of Thomson scattering depends on scattering angle, WL radiance I decreases with heliocentric distance r roughly according to the expression I∝r {sup –3}. The sheath region downstream of the Earth-directed shock is well viewed from the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points, demonstrating the benefits of these points in terms of space weather forecasting. The spatial position of the main scattering site r{sub sheath} and the mass of plasma at that position M{sub sheath} can be inferred from the polarization of the shock-associated enhancement in WL radiance. From the FR measurements, the local B{sub ∥sheath} at r{sub sheath} can then be estimated. Simultaneous observations in polarized WL and FR can not only be used to detect CMEs, but also to diagnose their plasma and magnetic field properties.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Deterministic Linear Time for Maximal Poisson‐Disk Sampling using Chocks without Rejection or Approximation

Abstract We show how to sample uniformly within the three‐sided region bounded by a circle, a radial ray, and a tangent, called a “chock.” By dividing a 2D planar rectangle into a background grid, and subtracting Poisson disks from grid squares, we are able to represent the available region for samples exactly using triangles and chocks. Uniform random samples are generated from chock areas precisely without rejection sampling. This provides the first implemented algorithm for precise maximal Poisson‐disk sampling in deterministic linear time. We prove O(n · M(b) log b), where n is the number of samples, b is the bits of numerical precision and M is the cost of multiplication. Prior methods have higher time complexity, take expected time, are non‐maximal, and/or are not Poisson‐disk distributions in the most precise mathematical sense. We fill this theoretical lacuna.

Mitchell, Scott A.↗

Multipoint sensing with a low-coherence source using single-arm frequency-shifted interferometry

We demonstrate that multiple-site sensing along an optical fiber can be done with incoherent continuous-wave light. Here, using a broadband low-coherence noise source, a slow detector, and an optical modulator, we construct a single-arm frequency-shifted interferometer (SA-FSI) capable of simultaneously sensing multiple weak-reflection sites distributed either in parallel or in series along fiber links. By scanning the driving frequency of an electro-optic amplitude modulator in the range of 2.7–3.2 GHz at steps of 41.7 KHz, we demonstrate a spatial resolution of 0.3 m and a measurement range of over 1 km.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Utah FORGE: Reports on Northwestern Nevada Well Doublet Drilling and Testing by Fervo Energy

These reports review Fervo Energy's construction of a commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS). Fervo has qualified full functionality of the system through production testing at commercially relevant operating conditions. The project site is located in a nearfield setting adjacent to an operating geothermal power station in north-central Nevada and is designed to deliver an uplift in high-temperature geothermal flow rates to increase the power capacity at the facility. The project involved drilling a first-of-a-kind EGS horizontal doublet well system consisting of an injection and production well pair within a high-temperature hard-rock geothermal formation. The lithology of the target reservoir is characterized as a mixed metasedimentary and igneous formation, comprised of phyllite, quartzite, diorite, and granodiorite, representative of the geology across the most prospective geothermal areas throughout the western US. This work included a 16-stage plug-and-perforate stimulation treatment which was the first of its kind in a high-temperature mixed metasedimentary and granitic formation in a fully horizontal doublet geothermal well.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

RIC Advanced Sensors & Controls FWP: Novel Sensors for Boilers

Overview and brief project update on 3 tasks within the RIC Advanced Sensors & Controls FWP with direct applications to coal fired boiler temperature sensing. Task 32, Field demonstration of distributed temperature measurement with optical fiber for fossil energy power generation applications. Task 47, In-situ temperature measurements via reactive particles. Task 48, Ultrafast laser measurements for power generation environments.

coal boilers↗

Remote sensing of atmospheric pollutant gases using an infrared heterodyne spectrometer

Remote sensing of the concentration and vertical distribution of atmospheric gases using an infrared heterodyne spectrometer (IHS) has been investigated, and a dual (C-13)(O-16)2 laser multichannel IHS has been developed. Analyses of nadir thermal-radiance measurements from an aircraft at 10-km altitude and of solar absorption measurements from the ground indicate that initial applications of the IHS to tropospheric measurements of NH3 and O3 are feasible with measurement precisions ranging from 0.5 to 2 ppb and 20 to 30 ppb, respectively. These analyses have included effects of potential retrieval-error sources and have resulted in specifications of measurement modes, optimum signature lines, required system parameters, and expected sensitivities. Preliminary instrument performance data are presented.

Seals, R. K., Jr.↗

Infrared heterodyne spectrometer measurements of vertical profile of tropospheric ammonia and ozone

Remote sensing of the concentration and vertical distribution of atmospheric gases has been carried out using a dual CO2 laser multichannel infrared heterodyne spectrometer (IHS). The high specificity and nearly quantum-noise-limited sensitivity of the IHS provide the capability of scanning individual signature lines of selected atmospheric constituents in the 9 to 11 micron region. A comprehensive investigation of the spectral overlap between CO2 laser local oscillator transitions and selected atmospheric constituents was performed; measurements of the atmospheric absorption of solar radiation from the ground were carried out at selected laser transitions for ammonia and ozone.

Peyton, B. J.↗

Multispectral analysis of ocean dumped materials

Experiments conducted in the Atlantic coastal zone indicated that plumes resulting from ocean dumping of acid wastes and sewage sludge have unique spectral characteristics. Remotely sensed wide area synoptic coverage provided information on these pollution features that was not readily available from other sources. Aircraft remotely sensed photographic and multispectral scanner data were interpreted by two methods. First, qualitative analyses in which pollution features were located, mapped, and identified without concurrent sea truth and, second, quantitative analyses in which concurrently collected sea truth was used to calibrate the remotely sensed data and to determine quantitative distributions of one or more parameters in a plume.

Johnson, R. W.↗

Wing and leading-edge thrust

Computer program predicts leading-edge thrust for wings of arbitrary planform at supersonic speeds. Methods used in program are based on linearized wing theory. Program first calculates lifting pressures, lift coefficients, drag coefficients, moment coefficients, and lift distributions by using aft-element sensing technique. Next, empirical function calculates set of adjusted pressure-coefficient locations along leading edge. This information is then used to determine limiting value of singularity parameter and value of local leading-edge thrust coefficient.

Carlson, H. W.↗

The intracellular responses of frog eggs to novel orientations to gravity

It is found that multiple short doses of ultraviolet light are as effective as a single large dose in producing neural defects. In addition, 180 deg rotation (inversion) of irradiated eggs reduces the ultraviolet effect. Since yolk platelets may be the gravity sensing mechanism, their size, density, and distribution in normal and inverted eggs are investigated. Large platelets are denser and for the most part are in a distinct zone in the vegetal hemisphere, whereas small platelets are less dense and occur in the animal hemisphere. When inverted, the large platelets flow into the animal hemisphere as a coherent mass and partially displace the small platelets. Inversion is thought to rearrange cytoplasmic components necessary for later neural development into an appropriate configuration.

Radice, G. P.↗

Fiber optic sensors; Proceedings of the Meeting, Cannes, France, November 26, 27, 1985

The conference presents papers on distributed sensors and sensor networks, signal processing and detection techniques, temperature measurements, chemical sensors, and the measurement of pressure, strain, and displacements. Particular attention is given to optical fiber distributed sensors and sensor networks, tactile sensing in robotics using an optical network and Z-plane techniques, and a spontaneous Raman temperature sensor. Other topics include coherence in optical fiber gyroscopes, a high bandwidth two-phase flow void fraction fiber optic sensor, and a fiber-optic dark-field microbend sensor.

Arditty, Herve J.↗

Three-dimensional motor schema based navigation

Reactive schema-based navigation is possible in space domains by extending the methods developed for ground-based navigation found within the Autonomous Robot Architecture (AuRA). Reformulation of two dimensional motor schemas for three dimensional applications is a straightforward process. The manifold advantages of schema-based control persist, including modular development, amenability to distributed processing, and responsiveness to environmental sensing. Simulation results show the feasibility of this methodology for space docking operations in a cluttered work area.

Arkin, Ronald C.↗